2026 Gold pass good for all parks

[IndyGuy4KI]

Merged the KD thread with this one.

[DonHelbig]

It’s a great deal they’re offering but giving away the gate like this is basically telling people you’re the Walmart of the industry—not something premium or worth paying more for.
 

[BeeastFarmer]

5 minutes ago, Diamondback_Is_King said:

Here it is:

https://www.visitkingsisland.com/season-passes/all-park-passport

Looks like the Gold Passes are $155 and the All-Park Passport is $80 extra.

Are you discussing the 2025 pass ( which they are still selling) or the 2026 pass ( which is not being sold at KI yet)?

[Diamondback_Is_King]

11 minutes ago, BeeastFarmer said:

Are you discussing the 2025 pass ( which they are still selling) or the 2026 pass ( which is not being sold at KI yet)?

I edited it after realizing that this was in fact for the 2025 season passes, not 2026  My bad

2026 KI MVP Sale starts July 31

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2025/07/25/kings-island-season-pass-all-six-flags-amusement-parks/85361124007/

[BeeastFarmer]

Thanks for the clarification!

[super7]

Well they just cancelled Holiday in the park at Six Flags over Georgia.   Carowinfs has  also cut their summer operating hours from what was previously advertised.    Kings Dominion canceled their Winterfest after advertising it with 2025 season pass sales last year. 
 

look for more of this kind of bait and switch to happen with these cheap season passes. 
 

we know that cheap season passes took six flags in the gutter in the past and now they’re going to bring the former Cedar Fair park into that same gutter I’m afraid

[robintodd]

On 7/24/2025 at 3:17 PM, KI FANATIC 37 said:

I am not complaining. Frankly for the consumer, seems like a no brainer. But it does concern me that the company felt that this was the best decision financially. How bad were estimates for next year looking on their end?

After thinking about it, you can only physically be at one park.  The old way if you didn't have the all park passport and were near another park you probably wouldn't go in, but with the early purchase deal you would and be more likely to boost attendance at all parks, therefore increasing spend at the parks.  The bigger picture is if more people are going to the different properties, you'll get more reviews/word of mouth so you better be on your best behavior.

Being a former platinum/current passport holder, this is great news personally.  That money I'm saving on the all park passport will end up being spent in the parks.

As far as "giving away the gate" it seems that it may be a reversing trend in attendance if it keeps declining.  Alot of people have been laid off and things are getting more expensive and with insurance preminums increasing and the cuts in federal programs people will start having less to spend.  The reduction in attendance is not just a KI thing, it seems to be industry wide.

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

Am I tweaking right now? Do my eyes deceive me? Call me old fashioned, but I don't think Six Flags can include "Unlimited Visits to Gilroy Gardens" on their 2026 California's Great America season pass sales benefits page without, y'know, owning/operating/having a deal with Gilroy Gardens. This tells me that someone probably either went back and copied/pasted an old Season Pass benefits list or does not know that Six Flags doesn't own that park. Maybe it's just a really bad typo, maybe it's sloppy AI, maybe there's something I don't know. Massive shrugs and confused noises over here.

The link: https://www.cagreatamerica.com/season-passes

[disco2000]

^Maybe KD will offer unlimited visits to Winterfest 

[CedarPointer]

Don't worry, they sent SFA passholders an email BEGGING them to go to KD instead since they stole their Halloween event from them.

[DJSkyFoxx]

It will be interesting to see the official price of a Gold Pass with the added APP built in for the promotion. It's a mixed bag really. While it's great for the customer to be able to purchase an insanely good deal on a season pass, like it has already be said so many times, it's a bad sign for the current state of affairs. Not to mention all of these extra passes just means even longer lines and diluted quality in the parks themselves. 

I'd be lying if I said I didn't plan on taking advantage of the pass sale. I live relatively close to the park and having Cedar Point up north, it's pretty silly to pass up something that I know I will use. But I also realize on the other hand that I will then be bearing witness to more dissolving of quality. It's tough to both want to take advantage of a great deal but also knowing that great deal comes at a cost far greater than the pass itself. 

[robintodd]

15 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Am I tweaking right now? Do my eyes deceive me? Call me old fashioned, but I don't think Six Flags can include "Unlimited Visits to Gilroy Gardens" on their 2026 California's Great America season pass sales benefits page without, y'know, owning/operating/having a deal with Gilroy Gardens. This tells me that someone probably either went back and copied/pasted an old Season Pass benefits list or does not know that Six Flags doesn't own that park. Maybe it's just a really bad typo, maybe it's sloppy AI, maybe there's something I don't know. Massive shrugs and confused noises over here.

The link: https://www.cagreatamerica.com/season-passes

Looked at Gilroy Gardens website and it looks like a fun little park.  Love the themeing of the rides!
If you look at Gilroy Gardens website they have FastLane (which is a copyright thing for Six, I think). 

Interestingly enough I think this is a play to have Gilroy Gardens take some market share from Six since Great America will be closing by 2027.  At Gilroy they call it a "membership" and you get all season for $104.  Since Gilroy is ran by a 501 (c) the membership is tax-deductable.  Could be that Six has a deal where they "purchase" a membership for each season pass holder and get to claim that amount as a tax deduction.

Either way, great move on Gilroy's part to try a syphin off some people from Great America while it is still around.  They probably will be getting an attraction or two from them considering the close proximity of the parks.

[Timchat2]

Gilroy Gardens is a pleasant place to visit and rides like the Garlic Twirl are fun and unique. It feels very different from the usual Cedar Fair/Six Flags park.

[jimlaheyscar]

If you're near Atlanta, they have the gold pass for $55.  These prices are crazy.  First year I haven't bought my passes from Canadas Wonderland in awhile.

[Coastercrush]

2 hours ago, jimlaheyscar said:

If you're near Atlanta, they have the gold pass for $55.  These prices are crazy.  First year I haven't bought my passes from Canadas Wonderland in awhile.

Your just saving about 50 per pass instead of 250 per flp by going home through wonderland

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

9 hours ago, robintodd said:

If you look at Gilroy Gardens website they have FastLane (which is a copyright thing for Six, I think). 

Fast Lane is trademarked by Millennium Operations (Cedar Fair/Six Flags). The interesting thing here is that Gilroy Gardens was managed by Cedar Fair as part of the 2006 purchase of the Paramount Parks and its management contracts, however Cedar Fair and the City of Gilroy chose to not renew their contract that expired at the end of 2021. 

I could assume GG still has the rights to use the Fast Lane trademark, but that doesn't explain why the CGA website offers unlimited visits to GG. Knott's participates in the Los Angeles-based Go City All-Inclusive Pass that offers admission to it and other LA attractions, but that is specifically categorized as a completely separate ticket. CGA's pass offers access to GG directly as a pass benefit. Whether there is a deal between the parks or not, it feels really weird to have that benefit listed on that page and that page only. 

[flightoffear1996]

I know it might sound bad but if the parks are having trouble drawing in the crowds lowering prices is not the way to do it.  They need to the keep the experience premium.  Add new things to do, create awesome new events.  Dont take away and lower the prices.  Time is more valuable than money.  

[Losantiville Mining Co.]

This is why I advocate for adding more shows and entertainment rather than buying a ton of rides right now. Most people will still buy/renew a pass if its price were raised a little. Those same people probably would not buy/renew a pass if the experience is janky and rough. That's one of the main reasons why the perception of Six Flags has been so bad: it is seen as the budget option where the quality isn't very good. 

The little vignette shows Kings Island had in 2021 added to the experience a ton. A few of those with an added festival would encourage more visits to the parks overall. 

I wonder how well an event like a new early-season Food Truck Festival or an artisan festival would do. The artisan booths they have for Winterfest surely generate some money for the park via the vendor fees. A new Value Days event wouldn't be so bad of an idea either for parks who need to increase passholder attendance. I can think of a few items that would sell awesomely if they were 50% off for a day. If those don't end up working, then the lesson will have been learned. Six Flags can use some of the lessons from the past to guide them, but it might be time to try again now that it is a new company and a new decade.

[Beasttamer]

This is why I advocate for adding more shows and entertainment rather than buying a ton of rides right now. Most people will still buy/renew a pass if its price were raised a little. Those same people probably would not buy/renew a pass if the experience is janky and rough. That's one of the main reasons why the perception of Six Flags has been so bad: it is seen as the budget option where the quality isn't very good. 
The little vignette shows Kings Island had in 2021 added to the experience a ton. A few of those with an added festival would encourage more visits to the parks overall. 
I wonder how well an event like a new early-season Food Truck Festival or an artisan festival would do. The artisan booths they have for Winterfest surely generate some money for the park via the vendor fees. A new Value Days event wouldn't be so bad of an idea either for parks who need to increase passholder attendance. I can think of a few items that would sell awesomely if they were 50% off for a day. If those don't end up working, then the lesson will have been learned. Six Flags can use some of the lessons from the past to guide them, but it might be time to try again now that it is a new company and a new decade.

To your point, in my experience this year, I bought a gold pass for the first time since like 2018, and I’ve been to the park three times. Since we can go whenever we want there isn’t as much pressure to get as many rides in as we can and it’s really nice to go through and enjoy the “park” aspect of things. Between the events they have at the tower, the shows on the theater and the arcade, it makes the experience feel more “complete” than just trying to ride the coasters as many times as possible. That being said, I do hope that we get a new coaster within the next few years. I know things are different and I haven’t paid all that much attention to the cooperate aspects of the merger, but I am hopeful that KI is still seen as one of the most valuable parks in the chain. Probably a discussion for another thread though.

[disco2000]

3 hours ago, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

This is why I advocate for adding more shows and entertainment rather than buying a ton of rides right now. Most people will still buy/renew a pass if its price were raised a little. Those same people probably would not buy/renew a pass if the experience is janky and rough. That's one of the main reasons why the perception of Six Flags has been so bad: it is seen as the budget option where the quality isn't very good. 

The little vignette shows Kings Island had in 2021 added to the experience a ton. A few of those with an added festival would encourage more visits to the parks overall. 

I wonder how well an event like a new early-season Food Truck Festival or an artisan festival would do. The artisan booths they have for Winterfest surely generate some money for the park via the vendor fees. A new Value Days event wouldn't be so bad of an idea either for parks who need to increase passholder attendance. I can think of a few items that would sell awesomely if they were 50% off for a day. If those don't end up working, then the lesson will have been learned. Six Flags can use some of the lessons from the past to guide them, but it might be time to try again now that it is a new company and a new decade.

While that makes sense and is likely something a privately held company will do as they can think more long term, we have seen for as long as KI's owner has been publicly traded that giving away the gate is the go to whenever they need cash.

They have to look at quarterly results.  Planning and putting together an event likely has expenditures in the prior quarter(s) to said event.  Let's say that is $100,000 they spend for an event that happens the following quarter.  A private company looks at that as an investment that they hope brings in $100,000+X during the run of the event.

The publicly traded company, on the other hand, needs to show results right now, and unfortunately, historically lowering the gate price brings in bodies and revenue for that quarterly results.

It is a vicious cycle and takes leadership willing to take the short-term hits and in many publicly traded companies that just doesn't exist and certainly doesn't exist with this current c-suite.  The former Disney guy is probably the last time we had someone willing to stick their neck out for the long term.

[brenthodge]

On 7/25/2025 at 11:34 AM, DonHelbig said:

It’s a great deal they’re offering but giving away the gate like this is basically telling people you’re the Walmart of the industry—not something premium or worth paying more for.
 

Right? It’s hard to ever come back from this and start confidently selling your product for what it’s worth ever again. Companies that go down this route usually wind up downgrading their product to align with their new pricing (look at all the premium brands that started popping up at TARGET with cheaper versions of themselves). People keep saying “this is cut just until they get settled”, no. I fear what’s gone is gone and there’s more to be cut. 

[robintodd]

2026 passes are for sale on KI's website. MVP sale till Sept 1st.

GOLD is $115 New or $99 Renewal All 40 parks, Free parking, Haunt and Winterfest included.

PRESTIGE is $199 for New and Renwal

Drink Plan is $36.99 or $53.99 for Icee and hot beverages.  Looks like only paper cup is available.

FunPix is $56.99

FastLane $699 for home park, $999 for all park

Gold Home Park Dining is $135

Gold All Season Dining Gold - All Park Add-On is $155

Gold All Season Dining Gold - All Park Upgrade is $25

Presige Home Park Dining is $135

Presige All Season Dining - All Park Add-On is $155

Presige All Season Dining - All Park Upgrade is $25

 

Still pretty confused on the 2026 All Season Dining Gold - All Park Upgrade ($25) and the 2026 All Season dining Gold - All Park Add-on ($155)

Looks like they're trying to get more prestige (making it less prestige).  I'll pass and keep's me GOLD

[Diamondback_Is_King]

10 minutes ago, robintodd said:

2026 passes are for sale on KI's website. MVP sale till Sept 1st.

GOLD is $115 New or $99 Renewal All 40 parks, Free parking, Haunt and Winterfest included.

PRESTIGE is $199 for New and Renwal

Drink Plan is $36.99 or $53.99 for Icee and hot beverages.  Looks like only paper cup is available.

FunPix is $56.99

FastLane $699 for home park, $999 for all park

Gold Home Park Dining is $135

Gold All Season Dining Gold - All Park Add-On is $155

Gold All Season Dining Gold - All Park Upgrade is $25

Presige Home Park Dining is $135

Presige All Season Dining - All Park Add-On is $155

Presige All Season Dining - All Park Upgrade is $25

 

Still pretty confused on the 2026 All Season Dining Gold - All Park Upgrade ($25) and the 2026 All Season dining Gold - All Park Add-on ($155)

Looks like they're trying to get more prestige (making it less prestige).  I'll pass and keep's me GOLD

It's got it's own thread too. Beat you to it by a few minutes 

 

[Tr0y]

4 hours ago, brenthodge said:

Right? It’s hard to ever come back from this and start confidently selling your product for what it’s worth ever again. Companies that go down this route usually wind up downgrading their product to align with their new pricing (look at all the premium brands that started popping up at TARGET with cheaper versions of themselves). People keep saying “this is cut just until they get settled”, no. I fear what’s gone is gone and there’s more to be cut. 

Some of the cuts are more or, less “market corrections” based off their price point, this does not put them outside the norm of what is being done elsewhere. For example, instead of having two ride op’s on each side of the train checking restraints to now only one. Holiday World for example, only uses one ride op to check restraints for each side of the coaster train.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we see 9pm closures during the weekdays next summer. During the weekdays the following parks currently close at these times:

Holiday World 8pm.

Dollywood 930pm.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg 9pm.

Kentucky Kingdom 8pm.

In my opinion actual cuts would be something along the lines of a reduction of shows, overflowing trashcans, things being out of stock, and or reduce portion sizes, ect. Some of which we actually have seen this season. But, I am in the camp of increasing prices on season passes to maintain the status quo. I’m not too thrilled that some of these changes were / are being made, but it’s not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

 

 

[jimlaheyscar]

On 7/30/2025 at 12:51 PM, Coastercrush said:

Your just saving about 50 per pass instead of 250 per flp by going home through wonderland

I don't buy add-ons. Thus, SFoG was my best deal.

[brenthodge]

3 hours ago, Tr0y said:

Some of the cuts are more or, less “market corrections” based off their price point, this does not put them outside the norm of what is being done elsewhere. For example, instead of having two ride op’s on each side of the train checking restraints to now only one. Holiday World for example, only uses one ride op to check restraints for each side of the coaster train.

It wouldn’t surprise me if we see 9pm closures during the weekdays next summer. During the weekdays the following parks currently close at these times:

Holiday World 8pm.

Dollywood 930pm.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg 9pm.

Kentucky Kingdom 8pm.

In my opinion actual cuts would be something along the lines of a reduction of shows, overflowing trashcans, things being out of stock, and or reduce portion sizes, ect. Some of which we actually have seen this season. But, I am in the camp of increasing prices on season passes to maintain the status quo. I’m not too thrilled that some of these changes were / are being made, but it’s not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

 

 

So, as you mentioned, cuts ARE happening. You (and I) would rather pay more and keep the same (or get better) experience-wise. But my point is, others aren’t and the leadership is counting on those happy with more for less to keep filling the parks, accepting less and less. Once they seee success with that low level, there’s no incentive to “recover” and restore from the cuts.