Platinum Pass Parking

[DontWantToWait42mar0]

Does anyone else feel that a Platinum Pass should get you Preferred Parking at Kings Island? I mean there never seems to be many cars in that parking lot anyways.

[PKIVortex]

You can if you pay the difference between the normal parking price and preferred.

[Creed Bratton]

I kind of agree, but also think that there would be numerous possibilities for it to be full during peak times. So yes and no.

[shark6495]

No because I remember the old Gold Pass Parking at the fiasco that was.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Magenta Lizard]

I think it should stay as a way for KI to make money off people willing to pay (each time) for the benefit, personally.

[BoddaH1994]

The main reason they got rid of Gold Pass Parking was that it wasn't uncommon for the lot to fill up before noon, thus giving the illusion of a disservice to Gold Pass holders that arrived after that. You'd run into the same issue with Platinum.

Plus, 70% of Gold Pass holders would attempt to enter the lot, not knowing there was another tier.

[CedarPointer]

The main reason they got rid of Gold Pass Parking was that it wasn't uncommon for the lot to fill up before noon, thus giving the illusion of a disservice to Gold Pass holders that arrived after that. You'd run into the same issue with Platinum.

Plus, 70% of Gold Pass holders would attempt to enter the lot, not knowing there was another tier.

I'd bet "I came to the park at 9pm and nobody was checking gold passes in gold pass parking!" has something to do with it too.

[DJSkyFoxx]

Although the idea sounds nice, I can easily agree with the above statements.

As a former Gold Pass holder, that whole parking thing was a nightmare. Now as a Platinum Pass holder, same thing applies...I am sure it would be an even bigger nightmare since all the Gold Pass holders would be wondering why they don't get THEIR own lot...and so on and so forth.

Unless they can come up with a better system, I don't see any of the former parking methods being brought back.

[Guest dtk1376]

Agree, I never really used the Gold Pass parking lot very much back in the day, it was always full. They do need to make some more perks for the Platinum pass other than being able to go to other parks though, going to another park just isn't in my budget (gas, hotel accommodations, etc.)

[malem]

Agree, I never really used the Gold Pass parking lot very much back in the day, it was always full. They do need to make some more perks for the Platinum pass other than being able to go to other parks though, going to another park just isn't in my budget (gas, hotel accommodations, etc.)

If you're not going to visit other parks in the chain, gold is the tier for you. If you wait until gold goes away, you simply get to pay more.

Platinum ends up being a good value for those it is geared to, at least in this region. (Those in Carowinds's market could buy gold passes to both Carowinds and Kings Dominion for less than one platinum pass.)

[Guest dtk1376]

Agreed, maybe Cedar Fair can buy Coney Island & The Beach that way it would be more lucrative hehe. I have a Gold Pass and love it (free parking pays for it's self after a few visits alone), just have never seen the allure of going up to the next tier, but like you said, if you are in a region like Carowinds/Kings Dominion it does make sense.

[medford]

^^^

According to Googlemaps, Kings Island to Cedar Point is a shorter trip than Carrowinds to Kings Dominion, by more than an hour; don't know where exactly you live, but I'm guessing a majority of KI gold pass holders live in a "region like that"

[Guest dtk1376]

I think malem was more referring to people that live in the Carowinds area buying a Platinum pass to go to both Kings Dominion & Carowinds. I may be mistaken, but I don't think he was referring to going to Carowinds from Kings Island. If that was the case, then yeah Cedar Point is closer to me, but not far enough to make a drive up and then back like I can with Kings Island.

[jbum123]

We have 7 Platinum passes in our family and premium parking wouldn't really do us any good as we like to move our vehicles around during the day. Start off in the wet side parking area then move our vehicle to the dry side parking.By the time we moved to the dry, I am sure it would be full.

Same with Cedar Point. We park back in the Soak City lot but rather than move to the front lot, we just stay there.

We are already getting one heck of a deal with our passes. Why do people think they should be entitled to even more? We have more than paid for our pases with just going to CP so far this year and it's only June. Throw in the near weekly trips to Kings Island and lets not even include the 10% discount we already get or the season long dining plan.

In 30 days, I we are packing up and hitting all of the Cedar Fair parks on the East Coast. All with free admission and parking and if you take into account how much we have saved by having passes, the entire trip is paid for.

Provide me a place to park and I will be keep the visits coming!

[NightlyBeast]

I wouldn't be opposed to a platinum only lot. It might actually help drive platinum sales a bump.

[The Interpreter]

Agreed, maybe Cedar Fair can buy Coney Island & The Beach that way it would be more lucrative hehe. I have a Gold Pass and love it (free parking pays for it's self after a few visits alone), just have never seen the allure of going up to the next tier, but like you said, if you are in a region like Carowinds/Kings Dominion it does make sense.

Cedar Fair bought Geauga Lake. How'd that work out?

Terp, who likes to ask questions.

[Guest dtk1376]

Hey now, I never said Cedar Fair buying Coney & Beach wasn't a selfish bad business short term idea

[BoddaH1994]

It's unlikely that they'll ever have benefits beyond "other park stuff" for Platinum. They're just asking for confusion at that point.

[WHODEY2007]

I never parked in Gold Pass parking because I did not want to get stuck in there if there happened to be an incident that made everyone leave the park at the same time, not including close of the park. I was glad to see it go just for the safety of the guests. Any time I go to KI now, I rarely see the Preferred Parking area full so I am not as concerned. Still wouldn't pay extra to save a few feet of walking compared to what you do in total for the day.

[NightlyBeast]

In my opinion they should overhaul the tiers at KI and just have standard and platinum. Just make the free parking the early bird special on the passes that expires after Memorial Day. Less confusion all around.

[medford]

I think malem was more referring to people that live in the Carowinds area buying a Platinum pass to go to both Kings Dominion & Carowinds. I may be mistaken, but I don't think he was referring to going to Carowinds from Kings Island. If that was the case, then yeah Cedar Point is closer to me, but not far enough to make a drive up and then back like I can with Kings Island.

I agree, but you made it sound like people in KI's footprint, which is many on this site, live in a similar region where platinum would be useful to split time b/w CP & KI

[harmony29]

Being a new Platinum pass holder, I absolutely cannot complain about the benefits I get. I love the option of going to other parks, that was the main reason we went with Platinum as I knew we would be going to Cedar Point. I wish we lived a little closer to check out some other parks but maybe next year. I understand that KI needs to make money thus having the preferred parking, but for people like me on a budget I just cannot do it. I had a hard time seeing people parking there as I do have a hard time walking with my hip injury. I used to have a handicap permit but it got in the washer by accident, now that I'm in Kentucky I can't replace it so I'm just waiting until I go to the specialist to see if I can get a new one.

[DontWantToWait42mar0]

People keep in mind that on any given day 50+% of people in the park are there with their Gold Passes.

Now what % do you believe are there with a Platinum Pass? I'd guess less than 5% !

I don't think bringing up the previous Gold Pass parking lot is that relevant to this discussion because everyone and their mom has one of those things practically. The idea of "exclusive" Gold Pass parking just sounds silly/pointless.

It would be nice to get a single other benefit with a Platinum Pass other than entrance to multiple parks. The preferred parking lot is almost always a ghost town anyways.

[jbum123]

People visiting the parks are about to embark on a multi mile walk anyway. Whats a couple hundred more feet when it really comes down to it?

After eating all of the unhealthy food in the park, the additional steps are good for you.

[thegajone]

I would have gone up to Platinum if the difference between Gold and Platinum was like $30-40 instead of $85 or whatever it was. I might hit up CP for a day this summer, but that would be about it. As far as I can tell there are no additional perks to Platinum over Gold other than admission to all Cedar Fair parks, so you'd have to visit other parks twice to make up for the difference, and 2 visits would only barely cover the difference, so really it would take 3 or more visits to other parks for me to really see a value in Platinum. For some people Platinum is a huge value, but I am obviously not the target consumer for that deal.

I would definitely be all for CF offering more season pass options at higher price points with more creative perks, but I'm sure they've looked at countless options and feel that the options they offer now best optimize revenue while minimizing confusion.

[The Interpreter]

In my opinion they should overhaul the tiers at KI and just have standard and platinum. Just make the free parking the early bird special on the passes that expires after Memorial Day. Less confusion all around.

Be careful what you wish for.

Cedar Point sells only two tiers of season passes.

The ONLY way to get season pass parking at Cedar Point is with a Platinum Pass. Period.

[MantisMan]

Long live Gold!

[BoddaH1994]

In my opinion they should overhaul the tiers at KI and just have standard and platinum. Just make the free parking the early bird special on the passes that expires after Memorial Day. Less confusion all around.

Be careful what you wish for.

Cedar Point sells only two tiers of season passes.

The ONLY way to get season pass parking at Cedar Point is with a Platinum Pass. Period.

Under Dicky I'd have no doubt that they'd try that.

[homestar92]

I spent two days at Canada's Wonderland this summer. The Platinum Pass upgrade was almost exactly $100.

One day ticket at Canada's Wonderland is $39.99 CAD (or about $37.50 USD) if purchased three or more days in advance. Two days and we're at $75. Now, consider that parking at Canada's Wonderland is $20 CAD (18.75 USD) per car per day. For two days, I'm up to an additional 37.50, bringing the total up to $112 USD. At this point, I'm $12 ahead of where I would have been buying a Kings Island Gold pass and paying my way into CW with a day ticket. Now factor in the 15% discount on all purchases at Canada's Wonderland, and I get to save even more money.

It definitely depends on which parks you plan on going to, but a Platinum Pass can more than pay for itself in two days at many of the Cedar Fair parks. You can't forget to factor in things like parking, in-park discounts, and special perks, as those are definitely part of the value.

And now, my Platinum Pass has already made itself worthwhile, and if I chose to take a weekend trip to, say, Cedar Point, Michigan's Adventure, Worlds of Fun, or any of the other reasonably nearby parks, it's almost like I'm going for free.

[BoddaH1994]

I spent two days at Canada's Wonderland this summer. The Platinum Pass upgrade was almost exactly $100.

One day ticket at Canada's Wonderland is $39.99 CAD (or about $37.50 USD) if purchased three or more days in advance. Two days and we're at $75. Now, consider that parking at Canada's Wonderland is $20 CAD (18.75 USD) per car per day. For two days, I'm up to an additional 37.50, bringing the total up to $112 USD. At this point, I'm $12 ahead of where I would have been buying a Kings Island Gold pass and paying my way into CW with a day ticket. Now factor in the 15% discount on all purchases at Canada's Wonderland, and I get to save even more money.

It definitely depends on which parks you plan on going to, but a Platinum Pass can more than pay for itself in two days at many of the Cedar Fair parks. You can't forget to factor in things like parking, in-park discounts, and special perks, as those are definitely part of the value.

And now, my Platinum Pass has already made itself worthwhile, and if I chose to take a weekend trip to, say, Cedar Point, Michigan's Adventure, Worlds of Fun, or any of the other reasonably nearby parks, it's almost like I'm going for free.

^ That was a really good post.

I don't think anyone's discounting the value of a Platinum Pass. You either plan on going to other parks or you don't. If you plan on doing a CP trip (or wherever) it's a no brainer.

I just think that Platinum should be just that - a park hopper. With augmented benefits at a single park it's enticing people make a purchase in which the main benefit isn't something one would take advantage of.

You want to know why we have Gold Passes? Studies have shown that if you purchase earlier in the season it increases your total amounts of visits. So if you purchased in April you'd make a few extra visits in addition to the ones you'd make if you purchased in early June, and it does not necessarily detract from your late season visits. Whatever Cedar Point does seems to work for them. They're a resort-type deal so it changes the mentality a little bit.