benny1388 Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 My family were given a Gold Passes as a Christmas gift from my parents. I was hoping folks here could clarify some things. I know I could call the park and ask some of these questions, but I'm looking for actual customer experience type of feedback rather than someone on a phone reading a script. Do I have to wait until opening day to pick up my pass or can I drive down (from Columbus) earlier and pick up our passes? I really would like to avoid a mass of people (not to mention actually get ERT on my first visit to the park) and my better half really likes Ikea and it's not far from the park (two birds, one stone). Are the Bring-a-Friend discounts restricted to certain days/dates, or is it a straight up perk of the Gold Pass? If we upgraded from Gold to Platinum between this season and next, would it be considered a 'new' pass, or would we qualify for the renewal price? Thanks in advance! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Historically they have pass processing days in the weeks leading up to opening when the processing center will be open. As for the bring-a-friend discounts, it's usually limited to certain days. If I were you, I'd contact the park. I'm not sure why you think they'd read a script instead of just answering these questions with verifiable answers! They'll know the dates, hours, details, etc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny1388 Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 I asked here because, prior to purchasing the passes my mother made two or three different calls and wasn't given consistent information about the process (of buying them as a gift) and almost just gave me the cash to buy them myself to avoid potential confusion later. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malem Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 I just checked the website, and season pass processing hours have been announced: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/hours-directions/season-pass-processing On those dates, you can enter through the south parking tolls and walk directly to the season pass center during those hours. Don't forget your printed voucher and photo ID for each passholder. If we upgraded from Gold to Platinum between this season and next, would it be considered a 'new' pass, or would we qualify for the renewal price? In the past, answers from the park have varied as to whether renewing a gold pass as platinum qualifies for renewal pricing. If renewal pricing is offered on 2016 platinum passes, you'd want to ask the park when those passes are on sale. The cheapest time to buy or renew is in the fall, before the park closes for the year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedaveyboyshow Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I renewed my Platinum Pass this year and plan on going to Carowinds prior to Kings Island to experience Fury 325. I wanted to make sure I was clear how the renewal process worked, since I live almost 3 hours away from Kings Island. I sent a quick email to the "Contact Us" link on visitkingsisland.com and found the customer care representative to be very responsive (even to my follow up questions). I work in customer care for a somewhat large company who utilizes both onshore and offshore support staff. My experience with (at least the written form) the customer care team at Kings Island has been very good. Once you have opened up a question and received an answer, you not only have your customer care rep's contact, but also an email of their supervisor is included in the signature line. I was very satisfied with the follow up of my questions. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedaveyboyshow Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Do I have to wait until opening day to pick up my pass or can I drive down (from Columbus) earlier and pick up our passes? I really would like to avoid a mass of people (not to mention actually get ERT on my first visit to the park) and my better half really likes Ikea and it's not far from the park (two birds, one stone). I was a new season pass holder last year and had the same questions, I can relate. My experience on the weekend after opening weekend last year was I was told I could use my paper print out and scan it in every time at the gate until the season ticket processing gates had calmed down or I could go ahead and process in. I ended up scanning my paper and getting in the park at first and processed in my pass as I left that evening (as the line was nearly nil). That said, if you wish to process in prior opening day, the park is open for you to do that during certain hours: https://www.visitkingsisland.com/hours-directions/season-pass-processing but that does not pick up until April 4. Good luck and have fun this season...enjoy your visits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Good answers from Kings Island are one thing. As longtime readers here know, admission to Carowinds with another Cedar Fair park's Platinum Pass can only be assured after that entry is secured. And then, heaven help you on day two. You may need it. I, for one, intend to be accompanied by my renewed Dorney Park Platinum Pass, receipt, paid credit card statement, and a prayer or two. Hopefully, that will be enough. Now that Barton Kinzel has "left to pursue other opportunities," I suspect it will be. I hope. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freaks76 Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 ^What the issue with Carowinds? Seeing I'm planning on visiting, with my KI Platinum Pass, I guess I need to cover my bases before I go. It is an eight hour trip, I would not be a happy Phil after that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Several years back, I visited Carowinds with my Kings Island Platinum Pass. Saturday. No issues. Sunday, I'm literally first in line at the North Gate. My pass had not worked at the season pass parking lot, but they let me in there anyway. Half an hour before opening, the front gates open. They start letting people in. But NOT me. "Sir, your pass shows you have already entered the park today, we cannot let you in." "But you JUST opened." "I cannot let you in." "I was here yesterday." "We cannot let you in." "May I please see a manager?" "It won't make any difference." "I want to see a manager." "I need your pass." I sigh and hand it over. Big mistake. 25 minutes later, I DEMAND my pass. They give it to me. "Are you letting me in?" "No." no apology. No nothing. I got in my car and drove 8 hours home. Disgusted. Six weeks later, on these forums, I read the SAME thing has happened to another KI Platinum Pass holder. Two years later, it happened to me again, this time at Kings Dominion. They graciously fixed the issue but had to convert me to a Kings Dominion Platinum Pass to do it. Last fall, I tried to renew my KI Platinum Pass at Dorney. They couldn't do it. You see, my 2014 Kings Island Platinum Pass showed up in their system as not valid. Never mind it had gotten me in at the gate. Two weeks later, the RENEWED 2015 Dorney Platinum Pass was rejected at Kings Island. That 2014 one? IT still worked. Cedar Fair really needs to fix the park interoperability issue with its Platinum Passes. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricsun Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 ^What the issue with Carowinds?I can only speak to my issue. On my first visit to Carowinds, my friend and her son went through with no issue. Got to me and she almost wouldn't let me through. Pass came up fine but she said the picture didn't look right and was a fake. It was very clearly me but must look different from their set-up. I had to tell her that my pass was processed at KI (even though that was on the Platinum Pass at the time). She looked very confused and finally let me through. I haven't had issues since but I always hold my breathe when I hand over my pass there...just in case. They at least let me in. Others haven't been so lucky. **coughTheInterpretercough* 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bansheeback Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Several years back, I visited Carowinds with my Kings Island Platinum Pass. Saturday. No issues. Sunday, I'm literally first in line at the North Gate. My pass had not worked at the season pass parking lot, but they let me in there anyway. Half an hour before opening, the front gates open. They start letting people in. But NOT me. "Sir, your pass shows you have already entered the park today, we cannot let you in." "But you JUST opened." "I cannot let you in." "I was here yesterday." "We cannot let you in." "May I please see a manager?" "It won't make any difference." "I want to see a manager." "I need your pass." I sigh and hand it over. Big mistake. 25 minutes later, I DEMAND my pass. They give it to me. "Are you letting me in?" "No." no apology. No nothing. I got in my car and drove 8 hours home. Disgusted. Six weeks later, on these forums, I read the SAME thing has happened to another KI Platinum Pass holder. Two years later, it happened to me again, this time at Kings Dominion. They graciously fixed the issue but had to convert me to a Kings Dominion Platinum Pass to do it. Last fall, I tried to renew my KI Platinum Pass at Dorney. They couldn't do it. You see, my 2014 Kings Island Platinum Pass showed up in their system as not valid. Never mind it had gotten me in at the gate. Two weeks later, the RENEWED 2015 Dorney Platinum Pass was rejected at Kings Island. That 2014 one? IT still worked. Cedar Fair really needs to fix the park interoperability issue with its Platinum Passes. Ugh, that must be frustrating!!! Could they have at least called corporate or Guest Services at KI? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsus Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Yes, they could have and they should have. Any employee refusing to do so really deserves either disciplinary action or retraining. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 No, they couldn't. No one was at Kings Island to call. It was opening weekend at Carowinds, weeks before Kings Island opened. At 9:30 AM on a Saturday. Who were they going to call? The situation would be no different in 2015 as to calling Kings Island. Note that two weeks after purchasing my 2015 "renewal" Dorney Park Platinum Pass it didn't work at Kings Island. The Platinum Pass program and interpark operability at Cedar Fair is clunky at best. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricsun Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Not Ghostbusters, that's for sure. Wait...Hrm...never mind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedaveyboyshow Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Now I am a bit concerned, as the final email from Kings Island customer care was.... Correct, as long as your payments are current and you have the season pass ending in #_______. Worse case scenario, once you’re down there, give us a call at 513-754-5700 and someone will be able to help figure things out for you. Kind of makes me concerned now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 At least back then, no one answered that number at 9:30 AM on an off-season Sunday. Kings Dominion was unable to contact Kings Island admissions during the day on an in-season Saturday. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedaveyboyshow Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Sounds like there needs to be a Cedar Fair Platinum Pass hotline. We are paying the premium...why not fully support it? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freaks76 Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 ^Yea, I'm kinda concerned about this. Seeing, you have no way of knowing before you make the trip. I normally don't get to upset. But driving more than 4 hrs (which everywhere but KI is for me) would be enough to send me over the edge. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny1388 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 UGH, this is making me reconsider upgrading to Platinum after this season. Granted, we'd most likely use it at Cedar Point and not a major road trip. I'm hoping we'll see reports (either success or failure) on these forums this season on folks' success at other parks. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkroz Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 Given the correct customer service, a glitch should not endanger your day. It may postpone your entry into the park. I'm not saying that's right or okay or fair, but it was Carowinds inane treatment of the situation that ended it so poorly. Kings Dominion handled the same situation well. The Platinum Pass thing needs figured out. But I wouldn't cancel a trip or try to return your Platinum Pass over it. If something happens to you, that's different. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny1388 Posted February 2, 2015 Author Share Posted February 2, 2015 The Platinum Pass thing needs figured out. Guess that's my 'problem'. I work in IT. I've been involved in merging the infrastructire of two of the largest banks in the world, then again for two of the largest electricity producers in the country. My mind is blown that a company can't read/recognize a barcode/magstrip at a location other than the origination. One wonders if it's actually a training/education issue for the staff and not a technical issue... I hope it's something that gets figured out sooner rather than later. I'd love to be able to drive 90min to KI, 2hrs to CP and not have to worry about parking/admission to either, but will probably refrain from upgrading for the time being after reading some of the posts here. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 The problem, from what I understand, never happened between CP and KI. It was KD and Carrowinds, from what I understand... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldieButGoodie Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I cannot compete with those horror stories! I've managed to use our KI Platinum Passes (albeit when all of the parks were open for the season) at Carowinds, KD and CP with absolutely no issues. They hinted a problems last year at CP since we hadn't gotten new pictures done in a while (renewals activate the existing pass - no need to process through Season Pass processing). Apparently they thought maybe the passes didn't belong to my sons at Soak City @ CP - but they let us in anyway and suggested we get the pictures updated. We attempted to do so while at CP but they told us they can't do that (that ought to be fixed!). So, we did it next time at KI. My horror story was from when Cedar Fair took over from Paramount. The fall preceding that event they took the 'hard cards' and issued paper 'temporary passes'. That was the extent of the dialogue, discussion, and communication. I had *no* idea I'd need those pieces of paper (used to let us in that last operating day) the next spring. They would not make it right even though I had my credit card receipt - they apparently could not find us in the system. I suspect that they had misspelled my name, but no way to tell. Drove 40 miles back home, found 3 of the 4 temporary passes. Drove back. They happily made passes for 3 of us, mine they could not do without a 'lost pass' fee. I wasn't going to pay that fee, as I had not yet received a pass for that season! When I went over to Guest Relations to find an adult, the 'supervisor' at pass processing raced over and asked them not to take care of me. I saw the security guys circling and tightening. Went home, wrote a letter to Cedar Fair corporate (had zero impact, did not even garner a response). In July I conceded, because I wanted to hit the park. Walked up, credit card receipt in hand, $20 in hand, told my tail. They apologized, could not find me in the system, pushed all of the documentation and my $20 back along with a ticket, apologized and asked me to process through season pass processing. Worked the next week, didn't have parking on it the week after. Went back to season pass processing. "Can I help you?"... "I seriously doubt it, but am willing to try!" - relayed the long story. 'Oz' behind the curtain instructed them to put parking on my pass. All was well in the world after only half a season lost. All because I couldn't speak to an adult in Guest Relations. Did NOT renew the following year, but have since. Things have much improved in my experience. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
electricsun Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 I wouldn't let the issues that some of us have had deter you from a Platinum Pass. I've been to Knot's Berry Farm, Michigan's Adventure, Cedar Point, Kings Island, and Carowinds with three different Platinum Passes (no renewal benefit at the time and I may have been worried about losing my pass during the offseason) and have had one problem. If you are concerned about it not being recognized, I would either have a copy of your receipt scanned and emailed to yourself or on your phone or have the physical copy with you. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 And that's EXACTLY what I do. It's a pity, but I'd not even think of going to another Cedar Fair park with a Platinum Pass without that receipt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedaveyboyshow Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 The Platinum Pass thing needs figured out. One wonders if it's actually a training/education issue for the staff and not a technical issue... I am in customer care for IT....I promise this sounds like a training issue, not a technical thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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