Six Flags and Cedar Fair Merge

[brenthodge]

I don't understand their pricing AT ALL. Why w Knotts and MMtn t(hat are essentialy in the same metro area  - albeit LARGE metro) is there a discrepancy between parks for GOLD when you can use the gold anywhere. Why wouldnt abyone use the cheaper park. Its still not clear if free parking is just at home park. This is a mess. Why not make the SFPLATINUM pass one price for the whole chain with any add-ons work at all parks - price acordingly. Thgen make it a price point that shows the real value of it, then have park specific GOLD PASS or SILVER PASS that is priced relative to the market and product, or just ONE season pass with add ones like "all season parking, extended season (what Gold usually gets), drink etc. You advertise this like its a "coast to coast" product but its priced all over the ma- - even in the same state.

[BeeastFarmer]

2 hours ago, brenthodge said:

I don't understand their pricing AT ALL. Why w Knotts and MMtn t(hat are essentialy in the same metro area  - albeit LARGE metro) is there a discrepancy between parks for GOLD when you can use the gold anywhere. Why wouldnt abyone use the cheaper park. Its still not clear if free parking is just at home park. This is a mess. Why not make the SFPLATINUM pass one price for the whole chain with any add-ons work at all parks - price acordingly. Thgen make it a price point that shows the real value of it, then have park specific GOLD PASS or SILVER PASS that is priced relative to the market and product, or just ONE season pass with add ones like "all season parking, extended season (what Gold usually gets), drink etc. You advertise this like its a "coast to coast" product but its priced all over the ma- - even in the same state.

I can't remember the number, but they are basically wanting to bolster the attendance at Magic Mountain.  Id conjecture that is why the pass is cheaper there. Robbing Peter to pay Paul, but if they drastically increase pass sales at MM, they can tout this during a future earnings report. 

[BeeastFarmer]

Facebook posts are now spreading that Six Flags America has canceled Fright Fest and will have boo fest only. I saw it in the SFA connoisseur group. 

[disco2000]

Fast Lane to bankruptcy 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Kid's Boo Fest is the only event left on Six Flags America's website. Someone also posted on another thread saying an email went out encouraging guests to go to Kings Dominion for Halloween Haunt. 

 

Making the all-park passes priced park-by-park would be good for this sale only. Once the sale is over (do not extend it) they should then move to the Platinum Pass model where, once you add the All-Park Passport, all of the passes are the same price. It should also be a higher price as well! Six Flags has an unprecedented unified market reach right now. Access to 40+ parks is easily a minimum $200 value. 

Busch Gardens Williamsburg's 11-park Platinum Membership is currently on sale for $363.00, normally priced at $519.00, and is promoted to have its benefits valued at $2,355.00 on their website. That averages out to $33.00 (sale), $47.18 (standard pricing), and $214.09 (total value) per park. 

Meanwhile, Six Flags is currently offering 40(ish) parks for $95.00 through a 2026 Kings Dominion Gold Pass. Since every park has a different pass price, I'm going to use $100.00 per pass for this calculation. That is 40 parks for $100.00, with an assumed total value of $3,200.00 ($80.00 via one ticket + parking for each park). That price truly is value, considering it comes out to $2.50 per park per year. Even at $200.00 per 40-park pass, that's $5 per park per year. I think that is a little too good of a deal for a chain that needs to keep making money. 

I would like to repeat that these MVP sale passes offer unlimited access for $2.50 per park, for 17 months of access. For a park like Discovery Kingdom whose 2026 Gold Pass is $60.00 you can essentially get into each park for $1.50. Shouldn't the per-park price of a season pass cost more than the price of a Costco hot dog combo? 

 

 

Giving away the gate may indeed be the Fast Lane to bankruptcy. Some people are justified in saying that $100 is too high a price for them to buy a Kings Island season pass, but something tells me that those guests are not about to take a trip to other parks. I've already gone a little too deep with the price breakdown, so I'll stop here for now. Thank you for coming to my rant.

 

[robintodd]

8 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Kid's Boo Fest is the only event left on Six Flags America's website. Someone also posted on another thread saying an email went out encouraging guests to go to Kings Dominion for Halloween Haunt. 

 

Making the all-park passes priced park-by-park would be good for this sale only. Once the sale is over (do not extend it) they should then move to the Platinum Pass model where, once you add the All-Park Passport, all of the passes are the same price. It should also be a higher price as well! Six Flags has an unprecedented unified market reach right now. Access to 40+ parks is easily a minimum $200 value. 

Busch Gardens Williamsburg's 11-park Platinum Membership is currently on sale for $363.00, normally priced at $519.00, and is promoted to have its benefits valued at $2,355.00 on their website. That averages out to $33.00 (sale), $47.18 (standard pricing), and $214.09 (total value) per park. 

Meanwhile, Six Flags is currently offering 40(ish) parks for $95.00 through a 2026 Kings Dominion Gold Pass. Since every park has a different pass price, I'm going to use $100.00 per pass for this calculation. That is 40 parks for $100.00, with an assumed total value of $3,200.00 ($80.00 via one ticket + parking for each park). That price truly is value, considering it comes out to $2.50 per park per year. Even at $200.00 per 40-park pass, that's $5 per park per year. I think that is a little too good of a deal for a chain that needs to keep making money. 

I would like to repeat that these MVP sale passes offer unlimited access for $2.50 per park, for 17 months of access. For a park like Discovery Kingdom whose 2026 Gold Pass is $60.00 you can essentially get into each park for $1.50. Shouldn't the per-park price of a season pass cost more than the price of a Costco hot dog combo? 

 

 

Giving away the gate may indeed be the Fast Lane to bankruptcy. Some people are justified in saying that $100 is too high a price for them to buy a Kings Island season pass, but something tells me that those guests are not about to take a trip to other parks. I've already gone a little too deep with the price breakdown, so I'll stop here for now. Thank you for coming to my rant.

 

It must be noted that 90 - 95 % of pass holders at KI will never go to another park, let alone all 40+.  I see this as away to drive early pass sales and I prefer it to the "Fast Lane pass that can only be used when the sun is out, it's and odd number of degrees and there are more women than men in the park (over exageration).  Point being that fast pass that could only be used at certain times was confusing, this is not.  As I stated in another post I have always had a platinum/passport because my wife and I go to CP 3 times a year but if we are near another park because of business or pleasure travel we will go because we get in free and will end up buying merch for that park since we don't go all the time.  Yes we got in free, but we bought merch the time we went where as we don't always buy merch at KI or CP every time we go.

I think the most confusing thing may be the way the drink/meal plans will be structured.  If I understand it correctly, one drink plan will be for your "home park" and another will be for all parks.  Same thing with the meal plan.  Even at $200 or $250 the pass is absolutely a value for me because I go about 50 times a year at $120 or just $2.40 a visit, close to your $2.50 per park .  

Either way we'll find out tomorrow, all I know is I will be purchasing my pass.  Still the best deal in the entertainment industry IMO.

[DiamondbackFan]

More coaster removals coming soon?

https://www.sixflags.com/greatamerica

 

The sale says 280 coasters, but RCDB lists 294 operating coasters at SFEC (SBNO and Under Construction are not in the count)

https://rcdb.com/12488.htm

294 coasters

-9 coasters at SFA = 285 coasters
+4 2026 additions (SFNE, SFMM, SFM, SFOT) = 289 coasters
+1 Pantherian at KD = 290 coasters
+1 Montezooma's Revenge - The Forbidden Fortress at Knott's = 291 coasters
+2 SBNO coasters that could reopen (Timberwolf at WOF, Flash V2 at SFDK) = 293 coasters

 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Closing/selling another park would definitely bring that number down to 280...

I think all of these numbers are rounded to include a zero, so any additional coaster removals might bring that number down to 284. Knowing the current Six Flags I could also be led to believe that they had the wrong number in the first place. 

It might be worth noting that Michigan's Adventure currently has 8 coasters (293 - 8 = 285), CGA has 9 coasters (293 - 9 = 284), La Ronde has 8 coasters (again 285), and Frontier City has 5 coasters (293 - 5 = 288). Even if a park doesn't close Six Flags may try to get out of a management contract at a park like LaRonde or Frontier City. 

[BeeastFarmer]

No comment:

https://investors.sixflags.com/news/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Six-Flags-Entertainment-Corporation-Reports-2025-Second-Quarter-Results-Provides-July-Performance-Update-and-Updates-Full-Year-Guidance/

[BeeastFarmer]

Comment:  Good thing or bad thing?:

https://investors.sixflags.com/news/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Six-Flags-Announces-CEO-Succession-Plan/default.aspx

[Tr0y]

26 minutes ago, BeeastFarmer said:

Comment:  Good thing or bad thing?:

https://investors.sixflags.com/news/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/Six-Flags-Announces-CEO-Succession-Plan/default.aspx

Big bonus from the merger, now that things aren’t shaping up well so it’s time to find the exit door.

[Diamondback_Is_King]

Any idea of when they might announce 2026 rides?

[CoasterJack]

12 minutes ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

Any idea of when they might announce 2026 rides?

What new rides? It's not like we promised new additions or anything 

[silver2005]

I also have a feeling with things outside the park that I can't discuss due to the TOS (one of those things begins with a T) will also have an effect where what additions we do get will be whelming.

[brenthodge]

1 hour ago, silver2005 said:

I also have a feeling with things outside the park that I can't discuss due to the TOS (one of those things begins with a T) will also have an effect where what additions we do get will be whelming.

Huh? 

[disco2000]

I believe you can mention tariffs, it would be any political commentary after that would be a violation....

[disco2000]

Ouch.  People weren't buying their optimistic phrases....

 

[shark6495]

On 8/6/2025 at 11:24 AM, disco2000 said:

I believe you can mention tariffs, it would be any political commentary after that would be a violation....

I was listening to the Disney Dish and they spoke about tariffs impacting Disney. Basically they said  it could delay or stop a ton of future plans if things have not already been purchased. 
 

-company gives park a price

-tariffs hit

-company states the old price is off

-company asks suppliers for all new prices 

-company gets new cost and sends it to park

-park approves then tariffs change again

 

basically they said everytime a tariff changes that process has to change as well. 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

I wonder if Six Flags is avoiding listing tariffs as a secondary cause/scapegoat for project delays because they either 1) are euphemizing everything including tariffs, or 2) are hoping to get some kind of relief from the federal government if/when they declare bankruptcy (as companies like GM have in the past).

[BeeastFarmer]

They have never, in my memory, listed any reason for delays other than "waiting on a part."

They would risk alienating their customer base with political inferences, which they don't need.

As far as the bankruptcy, I personally don't see why in the world the federal government would take partial ownership in six flags as they did the two automotive companies.  Much much smaller industry and much less of a full time, benefited union type employment base. 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

I didn't really think about the part where they'd take partial ownership, which as you said doesn't make a lot of sense. My understanding about the automotive industry bailouts is still coming into focus (even though it's been almost 20 years). Thank you for reminding me about that. Alienating sections of the customer base would indeed also be bad. 

I will mention the fact that (IIRC) Kings Dominion only gave "finishing our theming efforts" for Pantherian. Six Flags is going to be in some trouble when they officially announce that they've cancelled a number of their previously promised 2026 additions, so hopefully they will do some actual work to offset that. 

[CoasterJack]

Former CF CEO posted earlier last week on his LinkedIn page...

[IndyGuy4KI]

An article by the legendary Dennis Speigel.

Six Flags’ Future After a Disastrous Q2 2025: Why Reimagining, Not Just Rebuilding, Is the Only Path Forward

https://interthemepark.com/sixflags2025.html?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMJshNjbGNrAwmNk2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEecB_hjFfNhyqLIVzPImvHc04AMwq6pUvq2AI3bvzfcKqJW21qx8ZVGOQWsx8_aem_GKv5IWGWPSd9cH8XH7JIhw

Quote

The clock is ticking. Six Flags and Cedar Fair merged to create the largest regional theme park company in North America. But scale without strategy is just a bigger target for failure. Right now, the company is in danger of obliterating the very rationale for the merger.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

The new Six Flags not only needs to reimagine their strategies, they need to complete a comprehensive refresh of what they are as a company and who it is that makes their decisions. I cannot imagine a scenario in which they survive well by continuing to entirely be the "budget amusement park chain".

In my opinion there at least needs to be a visual redesign and a renaming of the company along with its assets. They cannot hope to improve their reputation while clinging onto the recognition and images of the Six Flags name that has repeatedly brought negativity and turmoil to that chain over the past 20+ years. 

Reimagine yourself, rename the company, drop the Six Flags branding from parks like Great Adventure and Magic Mountain, and get rid of those industry professionals that have continually contributed to the doom and destruction of the brand. 

[Captain Nemo]

Quote

"Six Flags doesn’t need a shiny new ride - it needs a full-body MRI.“

Very well put! The entire article (albeit at times patting himself on the back) lists many of the problems that is going wrong at SIX. Unfortunately I don’t see a way out of this without someone at the top floor at Six Flags choosing to sell more parks. One thing not mentioned is a Parks role when the parent company is publicly traded (Six) vs private (Herschend)

[DiamondbackFan]

2 hours ago, Captain Nemo said:

Unfortunately I don’t see a way out of this without someone at the top floor at Six Flags choosing to sell more parks.

It sounds like that is part of the plan.

Non core parks they own: Six Flags St. Louis, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Six Flags Great Escape, Valleyfair, Worlds of Fun, Michigan's Adventure, Schlitterbahn New Braunfels.

La Ronde is a ground lease and Six Flags could sell all of the rides and operating rights there.

[brenthodge]

3 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

In my opinion there at least needs to be a visual redesign and a renaming of the company along with its assets. They cannot hope to improve their reputation while clinging onto the recognition and images of the Six Flags name that has repeatedly brought negativity and turmoil to that chain over the past 20+ years. 

Reimagine yourself, rename the company, drop the Six Flags branding from parks like Great Adventure and Magic Mountain

I’ve been banging that drum from day 1. They kept the 6 name for brand recognition, oblivious to the fact that it was NOT a good impression. 

[KI Guy]

Questions that need answers:

1. Are very affordable—say sub-$150 passes—still a sustainable business model chain-wide/industry-wide? If so, what is the replacement? (Very?) expensive season passes, no season passes?

★One thing I'll say is that I think sometimes the very concept of a pass devalues the product. Historically a day at a pay-one-price amusement park was a special day, not a place to kill a few hours on a Wednesday or a place to get rid of the kids. Going all the time makes it less special, i.e. valuable.

2. Are fast lanes a net positive? Positives: appealing for big spenders i.e. additional revenue.

Negatives: Devalues season pass and daily ticket in terms of number of expected rides per visit, potential hostility and hard feelings from single ticket and standard passholders.

3. Are meal plans a net positive for overall profit of food sales all things considered? Are there other business models that would be better, (no meal plans with more affordable/better food, switching to a being a landlord for private restaurateurs)?

4. Is the current park clientele part of the problem? If the clientele is a problem are payment plans for passes a net benefit?

★★ One issue that seems to be way out of whack is that the park seems to want to cut hours. Historically, cutting hours was the same as cutting revenue. With a few exceptions, if the gates were open they were making money. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore and it doesn't lead to great attitudes towards customers in general.

[CedarPointer]

I'm sure it's really going to help matters that people are figuring out that making a purchase from Six Flags is like flushing your money down the toilet, because they can and will change the rules on you at any time. Customers LOVE feeling like they were misled!

[CoasterJack]

9 hours ago, KI Guy said:

Questions that need answers:

1. Are very affordable—say sub-$150 passes—still a sustainable business model chain-wide/industry-wide? If so, what is the replacement? (Very?) expensive season passes, no season passes?

★One thing I'll say is that I think sometimes the very concept of a pass de-values the product. Historically a day at a pay-one-price amusement park was a special day, not a place to kill a few hours on a Wednesday or a place to get rid of the kids. Going all the time makes it less special, i.e. valuable.

2. Are fast lanes a net positive? Positives: appealing for big spenders i.e. additional revenue.

Negatives: Devalues season pass and daily ticket in terms of number of expected rides per visit, potential hostility and hard feelings from single ticket and standard passholders.

3. Are meal plans a net positive for overall profit of food sales all things considered? Are there other business models that would be better, (no meal plans with more affordable/better food, switching to a being a landlord for private restaurateurs)?

4. Is the current park clientele part of the problem? If the clientele is a problem are payment plans for passes a net benefit?

★★ One issue that seems to be way out of whack is that the park seems to want to cut hours. Historically, cutting hours was the same as cutting revenue. With a few exceptions, if the gates were open they were making money. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore and it doesn't lead to great attitudes towards customers in general.

United Parks (SeaWorld & Busch Gardens) have been running a sale where you can get season access to one of their parks a local water park for $118. Though part of the catch with them is you have to pay for parking every visit, which I believe was $45 for general parking last time I checked, which is insane.

 

Something I want to add here, Cedar Point just updated their Early Entry policy for next year. Looks like Gold is no longer included. Now, you already had to have the All Park passport to enter, you couldn't just get in with your standard gold pass. But it's interesting that now only Prestige and Hotel guests will be able to enter an hour before the official park open.