SeaWorld Introduced Weather Guarantee, Expected Other Chains Will Follow

[Leland Wykoff]

SeaWorld recently introduced weather guarantees where by guests can get a make-up day in park should extreme heat or rain interrupt or spoil a guest visit.  Now it is expected other chains will soon follow with similar guest friendly policies:

https://www.planetattractions.com/news/SeaWorld-‘laying-down-a-blueprint’-with-industry-leading-extreme-heat-policy/2738 

[disco2000]

That is why CF opted for this paid add-on LOL

 

[SonofBaconator]

It’s gets people into the park a second time which could mean increased sales in food and merchandise on make-up visits.

[Leland Wykoff]

4 minutes ago, SonofBaconator said:

It’s gets people into the park a second time which could mean increased sales in food and merchandise on make-up visits.

You are correct.  This policy reminds me of two business tactics from years ago.  On point, Dollywood offered in special "After 3:00, Next Day Free" ticket.  This promotion ran successfully for many years.  It had a triple advantage: 1. It created a sense of a bargain, 2. It increased on-park expenditures, and, possibly most importantly, 3. It reduced crowding by shifting a significant number of park visits to the slower evenings thus improving guest perceptions and reducing operating costs.

Some years ago Walmart realized people were not buying snow sleds, dishes, and other winter recreation gear as they were waiting for a big snow event.  So Walmart instituted a snow guarantee--buy the merchandise before a certain date, and if no snow arrived over the winter you could return the equipment for a full refund.  It worked out extremely well.  Early sales increased dramatically thus freeing up display for other merchandise and few items were actually returned.  

SeaWorlds Weather-Or-Not policy works in much the same way, it reduces the hesitancy to purchase tickets on dicey days, overcoming objections by guests to commit to purchase.  As a sales technique it is quite clever.     

[brenthodge]

Never understood why Dollywood discontinued that. Was wonderful! Especially for first time visits-could check out the park, get a feel for it- have dinner and still come back the next day. By not feeling like you had to “cram it all in one day” I know we spent way more time eating and shopping since we also felt like we got “a bargain” on the park. Seem like short sighted, bottom line thinking that got rid of it.