disco2000

And the pass sale is bringing out all the new passholders with their shiny new toy LOL

So is FL now not valid during Winterfest like it has been in recent years, or was this copied from the previous single rider line when the park didn't have FL for Winterfest?

The confusion creates job security for guest services lol

Probably, I guess a pre-sale purchase counts as "prepare for an immersive plunge into terror" LOL, but it could be interpreted as opening then as well.

FL for the major rides out the queue today. Meanwhile in the boardroom "see lowering the gate price increases attendance" And the cycle continues...

And all Subject to change without notice.

So this opens 8/11?

Granted the temperature is finally nice, but you can tell everyone is using their new shiny pass - food lines out the door. The Bat is PAST the TUNNEL and many other lines are full and, many new pass pictures being taken at entrance clogging entry for existing passholders. And the park is packed, further demonstrating to the c-suite that this short term brings money and attendance.

And the flooding of the inbox will continue after you purchase as well

Just their typical roll-out leaving more questions than answers. We saw this when they rolled out the Prestige pass. We saw this when they eliminated platinum and went to an all-parks passport add-on. And even in years where they didn't make changes from the previous year, social media channels were blowing up with people having questions. Is it really that hard to roll-out a pass sale....

That is because they are going to get you with the Terms and Conditions Legalize - the parking is free at all parks if you PURCHASE the all parks add-on after this promotion, but since you are getting all parks FREE as part of the promotion, you then don't get parking at other parks I joke, but you never know LOL....

While that makes sense and is likely something a privately held company will do as they can think more long term, we have seen for as long as KI's owner has been publicly traded that giving away the gate is the go to whenever they need cash. They have to look at quarterly results. Planning and putting together an event likely has expenditures in the prior quarter(s) to said event. Let's say that is $100,000 they spend for an event that happens the following quarter. A private company looks at that as an investment that they hope brings in $100,000+X during the run of the event. The publicly traded company, on the other hand, needs to show results right now, and unfortunately, historically lowering the gate price brings in bodies and revenue for that quarterly results. It is a vicious cycle and takes leadership willing to take the short-term hits and in many publicly traded companies that just doesn't exist and certainly doesn't exist with this current c-suite. The former Disney guy is probably the last time we had someone willing to stick their neck out for the long term.

The park had to know that it faulting like that is going to happen many times over a season. But there is no shortage in that line, so those that actually visit the park don't care. The people commenting on articles like that probably never even been to the park LOL.

Fast Lane to bankruptcy

^Maybe KD will offer unlimited visits to Winterfest

Trademark it before they steal that from you too

^Basically a click bait article. People get evacuated off older rides as well, including Beast and Bat and Congo and Invertigo and even our B&Ms, to name a few. Doesn't mean they aren't safe. Of course if Sirens sensor throws a fault it is going to be at the tilt - that is where the most sensors are and shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. Sirens Curse continues to have long lines, as does TT2, so the general public that actually goes to the parks are unfazed by it. As I have said before, and we may not like it, but they have the metrics and bids that show a ride opening "late" doesn't show a measurable impact on attendance, especially when they account for the savings by not paying a premium for a ride to be ready by season opening. Heck they have the metrics that show new rides regardless of when they open don't move the attendance needle. School trips and Music in the Parks will occur whether the new ride is ready or not. Passholders will show up whether it is ready or not. July is the summer money maker and sadly that is when they want the attractions ready. Maybe trends in the future will change that, but that is what the numbers are saying from a business standpoint. What we should be more worried about is them starting the season later or reduced operations like 9pm closes. I would rather the park be open in April and the new ride not ready until June than the park decide to open the season Memorial Day weekend. And with the whole push for comfortably crowded and chopping off days of lower attendance, nothing is safe right now.

People underestimate their coaster collection. I have said for years they are a hyper or giga away from really putting Dollywood on the radar of a lot more people.

You sure they aren't selling Six Axe's in the gift shop

Almost like they are trying to ensure that the Q2 call goes so bad that the investors demand the chain declare bankruptcy...

Wasn't one of the touted benefits of the merger was for CF to gain access to parks across the country with differing climates to better offset the colder climates most of their parks were in....

Fast Lane to bankruptcy...

Fast Lane to bankruptcy...

KI always sees a spike in attendance when new passes go on sale because they allow all the pass add-ons to work immediately, so everyone wants to use their shiny new pass. The first couple of weekends that passes go on sale is a tough time to visit the park because the food and FL can get overwhelmed at times.

Because they were going to use it as a Haunt Maze