Downgrade to a Silver Pass?

[DonHelbig]

I just received another message through the Kings Island app today (June 2) is the last chance to save on a 2025 Silver Pass. They must really want me to downgrade from Gold with the All Park Passport to the Silver Pass as many times as I have been pelted with Silver Pass messages the past 30 days via the app and text messages.

There’s no reason to be receiving these messages when I’ve already bought a higher level pass. Instead of the plethora of Silver Pass messages, I’d like to receive info on the Food & Wine Festival, RiverRacers, new menu items, the new nighttime fireworks and drone show. That’s the kind of email, app and text messages I’m receiving from other chains. 
 

[IndyGuy4KI]

Do you know if there is a way for the system to know that there is already a pass associated to an email and cell phone # so it can exclude those people?

[brenthodge]

1 minute ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Do you know if there is a way for the system to know that there is already a pass associated to an email and cell phone # so it can exclude those people?

It’s 2025. Yes. There’s a way. 

[Tr0y]

2 hours ago, DonHelbig said:

I just received another message through the Kings Island app today (June 2) is the last chance to save on a 2025 Silver Pass. They must really want me to downgrade from Gold with the All Park Passport to the Silver Pass as many times as I have been pelted with Silver Pass messages the past 30 days via the app and text messages.

There’s no reason to be receiving these messages when I’ve already bought a higher level pass. Instead of the plethora of Silver Pass messages, I’d like to receive info on the Food & Wine Festival, RiverRacers, new menu items, the new nighttime fireworks and drone show. That’s the kind of email, app and text messages I’m receiving from other chains. 
 

If you currently have a 2025 Gold pass and have no interest in the food plan or the All park passport. You can save money by renewing to Silver for 2026. Then once Gold passes go on sale in august 2026 for the 2027 season, you renew to a Gold Pass for 2027, and they will honor the pass for the 2027 season for the remaining of the 2026 year. (Haunt and Winterfest) A $35 savings alternating from Gold to Silver every other year. While not losing any perks. So, in certain cases, yes, buy a Silver Pass. 

Then there is Canada...

[DonHelbig]

1 hour ago, IndyGuy4KI said:

Do you know if there is a way for the system to know that there is already a pass associated to an email and cell phone # so it can exclude those people?

They have the technology to do that. 

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

The system seems very poorly set up. It would be nice to see this be fixed as part of whatever new system gets implemented as everything continues to be merged. Looking at how this company is run though, that probably won't happen. 

[DoomPlague]

2 hours ago, Tr0y said:

Then there is Canada...

That's my motto for 2025.

I've been pelted with these silver pass notifications too. It's not uncommon for apps to have a separate notification channel for the app in general and users signed into the app, so it shouldn't be hard for them to fix this.

Of course I also get "buy a membership" notifications from the Six Flags app but currently that app just sees my pass as a "daily ticket" or whatever.

[CedarPointer]

On 6/2/2025 at 2:34 PM, IndyGuy4KI said:

Do you know if there is a way for the system to know that there is already a pass associated to an email and cell phone # so it can exclude those people?

They have always had issues with this. I didn't get emails from them for YEARS in spite of signing up for the newsletter, buying passes, signing up for the website, signing up for the app, etc. Then the only ones I have gotten this year are, of course, for the silver pass. The whole thing just feels very telling about just how many people decided to "take a year off" from buying passes after their experience last season. The push for silver also feels odd considering it wasn't that long ago that they finally gave in and started selling gold passes year round.

[Tr0y]

6 minutes ago, CedarPointer said:

They have always had issues with this. I didn't get emails from them for YEARS in spite of signing up for the newsletter, buying passes, signing up for the website, signing up for the app, etc. Then the only ones I have gotten this year are, of course, for the silver pass. The whole thing just feels very telling about just how many people decided to "take a year off" from buying passes after their experience last season. The push for silver also feels odd considering it wasn't that long ago that they finally gave in and started selling gold passes year round.

They are simply using the Silver pass as a means to get you to their site because of its low price point. Then from there they can mention for as little as $35 you can gain access to Haunt and Winterfest with upgrading to gold. Which I believe most people would.

It’s a pricing ladder strategy.

[DonHelbig]

56 minutes ago, Tr0y said:

They are simply using the Silver pass as a means to get you to their site because of its low price point. Then from there they can mention for as little as $35 you can gain access to Haunt and Winterfest with upgrading to gold. Which I believe most people would.

It’s a pricing ladder strategy.

Historically, they have not done as many extensions as they’ve done this year. That tells a story. 

[robintodd]

On 6/2/2025 at 12:42 PM, DonHelbig said:

I just received another message through the Kings Island app today (June 2) is the last chance to save on a 2025 Silver Pass. They must really want me to downgrade from Gold with the All Park Passport to the Silver Pass as many times as I have been pelted with Silver Pass messages the past 30 days via the app and text messages.

There’s no reason to be receiving these messages when I’ve already bought a higher level pass. Instead of the plethora of Silver Pass messages, I’d like to receive info on the Food & Wine Festival, RiverRacers, new menu items, the new nighttime fireworks and drone show. That’s the kind of email, app and text messages I’m receiving from other chains. 
 

The only think I could think of is by sending out the silver pass messages is that it spreads by word of mouth.  I may already have a gold pass but if I get this email it may remind me to tell someone I know who doesn't have a pass but is thinking about it that they could get one.  It may not be effecient, but considering they don't have phone/emails of those without passes I could see it as effective.  

I've been receiving emails like this ever since I've had a pass.  I only get like 1 or 2 every year so it's never bothered me much at all.  

Finally there may be more expense in changing the algorithm (someone would have to go in and change the programming/logic) than to just let it be (all be it a small expense).  So maybe it's just not in the budget or there are bigger problems that we don't know about to take care of.

[DonHelbig]

11 minutes ago, robintodd said:

The only think I could think of is by sending out the silver pass messages is that it spreads by word of mouth.  I may already have a gold pass but if I get this email it may remind me to tell someone I know who doesn't have a pass but is thinking about it that they could get one.  It may not be effecient, but considering they don't have phone/emails of those without passes I could see it as effective.  

I've been receiving emails like this ever since I've had a pass.  I only get like 1 or 2 every year so it's never bothered me much at all.  

Finally there may be more expense in changing the algorithm (someone would have to go in and change the programming/logic) than to just let it be (all be it a small expense).  So maybe it's just not in the budget or there are bigger problems that we don't know about to take care of.

What they accomplish most by peppering those with a pass with pass messaging is opt-outs for the text alerts and uninstalling the park mobile app. After extending the 20% off on a Silver Pass to June 2, they’ve now extended the offer to June 8. Multiple extensions across the company are not normal. 

[MysticTimberwolf]

This isn't a budget issue, it's not even a staffing issue, it's sheer incompetence. Here’s what literally any competent company would do, using 100% free tools:

• Export your passholder database.

• Use Mailchimp, Sendy, or even LibreOffice Calc to segment users based on pass level.

• Add a basic logic rule: IF “Gold+” THEN exclude from Silver campaign.

• Done. No more irrelevant spam.

Honestly, if an indie band can separate emails by merch buyers vs show attendees using a free Mailchimp account, a multimillion-dollar park chain has no excuse.

[robintodd]

15 minutes ago, DonHelbig said:

What they accomplish most by peppering those with a pass with pass messaging is opt-outs for the text alerts and uninstalling the park mobile app. After extending the 20% off on a Silver Pass to June 2, they’ve now extended the offer to June 8. Multiple extensions across the company are not normal. 

I do agree as I was the president of a childrens sports league about too many emails/texts tend to have people turn them off or ignore them.  I was always very selective on how many I sent out.  Then again we only had about 1,000 kids in the league but your point does scale.  

I've always noticed extensions an there may be more this year but remember that it's not just CF running the show.  There is a massive debt and I think the extensions are mostly show for the stockholders so the company can say "look we've done alot to try and increase our stock price."

I've always wanted to see a world without the stock market.  As I've said before the biggest problem with the stock market is that people who run a company don't base their decisions on the customer, the employees or a combination of both.  They cater to the stock holders who may be neither a customer or employee and that is no way to run a business in my opinion because the only winners are the stock holders at the expense fo the customers and the employees.

 

[brenthodge]

12 hours ago, DonHelbig said:

Historically, they have not done as many extensions as they’ve done this year. That tells a story. 

Was just thinking that. There’s ZERO urgency right now. Dolly might look cheap, but she’s no Wh***. When she says done, it’s done. You can’t even buy Diamond passes for the season anymore. It’s nice to see a compliment HFE with integrity and the solid business to support their decisions.