Leaderboard

I think it's generally an unwise business practice, though I also have a feeling that the company does not lose out on that much money all things considered. The type of people who are likely to visit parks in more than two regions are also probably the type who are willing to spend more in the parks. As with the rest of the season pass/membership sales I think seeing the numbers would help us understand a lot. The current leadership team probably does see the looming hand of bankruptcy coming down at some point and could be working to lead the company away from it. John Reilly especially is trying to at least improve the guest experience with what he has. If that leads to Six Flags declaring bankruptcy even after the quality upgrades then that's what will happen. We'll see corporate reorganization, parks sold off, and maybe even some parks closed. In that case I just hope Kings Island can be part of a new company instead of being handed over to Herschend. They're too big for what they need to be IMO. Their hands are in too many pots for them to hold any more big ones. If Six Flags ends up selling more parks, I don't think it would be until 2028. Unless they want a repeat of 2026 with the sale of 7 parks it just doesn't seem like a good idea if they can help it. All of this said, my field is creative arts and planning so I'm also not the most in-the-know about good business practices. I just call it as I see it.

It's not supposed to, but I've already seen complaints that the cashier is able to ring them up on the "wrong" dining plan and use one of their 20 or 30 meals instead of their 2026 dining plan.

Honestly, the perks and other differences between the passes have confused me so much that I've just written off even trying to know the differences. The lack of clarity and consistency all the way around has turned me off as a consumer. Could I figure it out? Yeah, but I shouldn't need to dig and investigate for something like this.

Unless more property’s are sold. I can’t envision Six Flags avoiding bankruptcy at this point. Too little too late to be jacking the prices up to what it is so far for the 2027 season. Not suggesting what they are asking for is wrong per se but doubling the price on add ons is going to be a hard pill to swallow for most folks. This price point should have been achieved by steadily increasing the prices on these add-ons and passes since post-covid when the parks saw a boom. But the past is the past and I hope this works out for them. Considering Legacy SF attempted to jack up their prices only to reverse course doesn't give me much hope that it will.

I think the problem is that there's no indication that there will be any actual improvements to the guest experience next year to go along with the increased prices. Even just publishing an operating calendar, committing to continuing Winterfest, and publishing a menu for their $400 dining plan would go a long way, but I don't think it's surprising that people aren't happy about a place that's gone downhill so much over the last few years demanding more money from them. The slight increase in pass prices isn't going to help with the crowding or clientele issues, and the ruining of the dining plan just makes me think there will be even more reduced staffing and reduced availability for food next year.

(You’re right, though. Totally nailed it.)

Passes and meal plans, etc. were too cheap. Maybe this could (in hindsight) be looked at as an over correction a year or two from now, but the reality of of the situation is that they spent years giving away the gate, handing out meal plans for a “dime,” and watched as the masses poured in. It’s not so much that the majority of passholders “abused” the situation, but it’s obvious, post merger, that that model is not sustainable in this new Six Flags reality. Seen plenty of plenty of negative reactions online about this today. These are a lot of the same folks who bragged about much “advantage” they got out of their pass, dining/drink plan, etc. Interpret that however you want. Theres a balance. At the end of the day, the situation is what it is. Between the merger and the ultimate failed strategy of passholder add-ons, cheap passes, and whatever… things have changed. The price of gold/prestige passes have, for a long time, been priced way under what they should have, market value be darned. Look no further than the returns, reaction, and overall value when it comes to attendance vs. in-park spending. Whether it’s Disney or Six Flags, less can be more if/when it comes to attendance if guest are still spending money. And in many cases, guests are still willing to renew and pay regardless. That being a good or bad thing is certainly up for debate. Trimming the fat, increasing prices, etc., I hope would/will result in a higher quality output in terms of new additions, cleanliness, added events, and more. Look no further than Haunt. Sure, it’s an upcharge now when it historically wasn’t, but the quality of the event been better, right? I mean… Conjuring? Order of the Dragon? The reported $60k investment in the new Jason maze? Not to mention the concerns about crowds, clientele, and beyond. I personally don’t want to see anyone out-priced from visiting KI the same way I want to be able to take my family to Disneyland without selling a kidney. But it’s hypocritical to celebrate the perceived value of season passes, drink and meal plans, perks, etc., and then turn around and complain about crowds, added retail/alcohol sales, increased prices, lack of non, thrilling “thoosie additions.” I don’t care for the majority of any of these changes. But I’m personally willing to let my dollar go farther when it comes to the overall park experience, given the current status of the chain as a whole. And ironically, it’s not all bad. Look at the aforementioned Haunt experience, PT:OE, certain food experiences, operations… I mean, it’s stellar. But that’s not to say there hasn’t been a handful of miserable fails over the last season or two. Because there are plenty. At the end of the day, I hate to come across like a fanny pack wearing, apologist, thoosie chud. but looking at this as an opportunity to “right the ship” and increase quality as a whole could be for the best. If corporate is committed to that. That’s a big “If.” Who knows. Shareholders are weird. Business is weird. Eh. I don’t know, gang. It’s ultimately irrelevant in the grand scheme of it all, in life, and everything. This is what’s supposed to make me happy…. More importantly, what’s your favorite seat on Adventure Express? I need some levity and optimism.

You have to break a few eggs to make an omelette. Alternately, some times you have to plunge a toilet to flush a turd. For too long, alot of management at the company has been turds. Flush them out. With less passes sold, maybe they will take notice and new blood can reinvorgarate. The problem with a park like KI that is highly penetrated is that people will still come. Nostalgia can be a stronger motivator than price. KI is hurting from too much penetration.

The passes are priced higher than last year but still a very good deal. I think they are still too low. But with higher pricing comes greater expectations.

When you go to watch BeachBlast X-Treme! and you see the last Vice President and General Manager of Kings Island, Mike Koontz, in the audience with you. Mike says he is enjoying retirement and doing well!