Busch Gardens Williamsburg Membership Program

[Zachary]

Basic, Unlimited, and Premier all had price drops of $2 each so, if you add Water Country USA to them, the prices are the same as when the program was first announced. I have no problem with that aspect of the change. In fact, I think it's a good one.

That said, I have huge problems with the Premier/Platinum issues.

Platinum Membership basically equals Original Premier Membership + (Unwanted) PhotoKey - Long-Granted Perks in Non-VA Parks + $7 Per Month Price Hike

Meanwhile, the New Premier membership gains essentially nothing while losing what has, historically, been an incredibly valuable perk (access to all other SEAS parks).

I expect incremental price increases for passes to keep up with inflation, increasing costs of doing business, etc. That said, I expect those price increases to be applied across the board. I don't understand why only the Premier Membership holders are having to foot the bill here.

 

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I suppose if you still have hold out platinum you'd be able to get ride again privileges as well as anything else that is flash your pass based vs scanning? This will be a mess.

 

[Mamunia]

The two key questions are:


1. How are they going to handle grandfathered Premium (I have emailed them asking).

It was confusing enough having some people keep their “passes” while others had “memberships.” Now they’ll have to contend with “grandfathered membership” vs “new membership.” I can see me now trying to convince the tollbooth that I do, in fact, get entry into WC with my grandfathered premier. As we’ve all experienced at one point or another, making sure customer service has all the correct, consistent info isn’t BG’s strong point... I see a whole lot of confusion coming.

 

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Basic, Unlimited, and Premier all had price drops of $2 each so, if you add Water Country USA to them, the prices are the same as when the program was first announced. I have no problem with that aspect of the change. In fact, I think it's a good one.

That said, I have huge problems with the Premier/Platinum issues.

Platinum Membership basically equals Original Premier Membership + (Unwanted) PhotoKey - Long-Granted Perks in Non-VA Parks + $7 Per Month Price Hike

I expect incremental price increases for passes to keep up with inflation, increasing costs of doing business, etc. That said, I expect those price increases to be applied across the board. I don't understand why only the Premier Membership holders are having to foot the bill here.

Like I said earlier, I think parity with other parks platinum is a good thing, but if it costs the same at all the parks, I'd want it to give the same benefits.

How hard could it be to ACTUALLY bolster the platinum pass with free-for-the-chain addons to justify a price jump. I really wouldn't be mad if they did this as opposed to making the top tier pass a LESS attractive offering. For goodness sakes, it's a product we want, just let us have it.

 

[warfelg]

Platinum Membership basically equals Original Premier Membership + (Unwanted) PhotoKey - Long-Granted Perks in Non-VA Parks + $7 Per Month Price Hike

This is my biggest issue. Now I had the top level this year because I planned to travel, and that never happened. But now I don't have the chance because I don't get perks in the Non-VA Parks.

Meanwhile, even though I don't love KD as much, if I get the CF top level pass it's cheaper and I get the perks at all parks.

I just don't get how one corporate entity would screw themselves over like this chain wide to boost single park sales.

Like I said earlier, this feels like a tactic to get people off memberships, buy single day tickets, which likely boosts the end revenue more.

 

[musicman3204]

The loss of benefits outside of Virginia makes me want to price out purchasing a Florida-based pass.

I did this, and having to add Christmastown isn't really that bad. If changes to all of the other parks passes doesn't come, this is a very attractive option. The other alternative is looking into just being an unlimited member at BGW&WCUSA and just buying the SW/BGT/Aquatica pass. It is only about 60 dollars more but I wouldn't have to buy the Christmastown pass (if they do it this year). Of course that is more complicated.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

One thing that struck me is that there are now 7 different membership options. The whole thing about the new memberships was to make things simpler and that lasted less than a year. You've now made people who visit Florida decide if getting two different memberships to the same chain is cheaper than the new Plat pass.

 

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I did this, and having to add Christmastown isn't really that bad. If changes to all of the other parks passes doesn't come, this is a very attractive option. The other alternative is looking into just being an unlimited member at BGW&WCUSA and just buying the SW/BGT/Aquatica pass. It is only about 60 dollars more but I wouldn't have to buy the Christmastown pass (if they do it this year). Of course that is more complicated.

It is worth noting that Christmas town details are forthcoming. It might get rolled into the other areas platinums

 

[warfelg]

One thing that struck me is that there are now 7 different membership options. The whole thing about the new memberships was to make things simpler and that lasted less than a year. You've now made people who visit Florida decide if getting two different memberships to the same chain is cheaper than the new Plat pass.

That one blows my mind. So if I'm in Tampa visiting my uncle for a week I'm better off with the cheap BGW pass and cheap BGT pass than the highest level pass.

 

[musicman3204]

It is worth noting that Christmas town details are forthcoming. It might get rolled into the other areas platinums

That's what I am hoping. If that happens, I will most certainly buy a platinum pass from another park. BTW, I would fully support an expensive pass that supports the exact same benefits across the entire chain. Give me 15% off, free preferred, ride again, photo key, pass member lounges, pass member entry lines, and the list could go on and on. All of this chain wide??! I'd probably pay $35-45 dollars a month for it.

All of this screams that they are slowly individualizing the individual parks passes. I just feels like the wrong direction, if they do this more and more. I could be wrong, but it feels like Williamsburg is getting pushed farther and farther from the rest of the chain.

 

[Mamunia]

Basic, Unlimited, and Premier all had price drops of $2 each so, if you add Water Country USA to them, the prices are the same as when the program was first announced. I have no problem with that aspect of the change. In fact, I think it's a good one.

Ah ok, I know the price had gone up in April, but for whatever reason I was thinking Premier membership is $240. In that case then I agree that seems fair, and I will shut up about that part. ?

 

[WDWRLD]

Paitently waiting for CT....if they offer really cheap tickets or a pass that would be the biggest slap in the face ever......

 

[Nicole]

That's what I am hoping. If that happens, I will most certainly buy a platinum pass from another park. BTW, I would fully support an expensive pass that supports the exact same benefits across the entire chain. Give me 15% off, free preferred, ride again, photo key, pass member lounges, pass member entry lines, and the list could go on and on. All of this chain wide??! I'd probably pay $35-45 dollars a month for it.

All of this screams that they are slowly individualizing the individual parks passes. I just feels like the wrong direction, if they do this more and more. I could be wrong, but it feels like Williamsburg is getting pushed farther and farther from the rest of the chain.

I don't think it is safe to assume that the other parks in the chain are not going to the same system.

If they do and you get a Florida-based pass, you will lose your discounts and other benefits in Virginia. And who knows if Tampa benefits would continue to work in Orlando and vice versa.

I would wait to see if the rest of the SEAS parks stick with the old passes or upgrade to a home-park-based membership program like Williamsburg.

That is why I think it is more complicated than looking at the current prices.

 

[warfelg]

I don't think it is safe to assume that the other parks in the chain are not going to the same system.

If they do and you get a Florida-based pass, you will lose your discounts and other benefits in Virginia. And who knows if Tampa benefits would continue to work in Orlando and vice versa.

I would wait to see if the rest of the SEAS parks stick with the old passes or upgrade to a home-park-based membership program like Williamsburg.

That is why I think it is more complicated than looking at the current prices.

Fair enough.

I just don't get the not using the SF/CF model. Same tiers, same benefits, ability to travel, price based on 'home park' (based on home address).

 

[warfelg]

Paitently waiting for CT....if they offer really cheap tickets or a pass that would be the biggest slap in the face ever......

For the 'really cheap tickets' part....to me that depends on the day. If the 'cheap tickets' are like Thursday nights or after Christmas/NYD....eh. If they are $15 on a Saturday that's wrong.

 

[musicman3204]

I don't think it is safe to assume that the other parks in the chain are not going to the same system.

If they do and you get a Florida-based pass, you will lose your discounts and other benefits in Virginia. And who knows if Tampa benefits would continue to work in Orlando and vice versa.

I would wait to see if the rest of the SEAS parks stick with the old passes or upgrade to a home-park-based membership program like Williamsburg.

That is why I think it is more complicated than looking at the current prices.

Oh I plan to wait. These are just what-if scenarios. I find it very absurd to not offer some type of chain-wide pass that gets you the same benefits across the board. Maybe they're doing this in the interim, to make a chain wide pass that is fairly expensive more attractive. If that is the case, I don't care what they do, but don't take my chain wide benefits away until that pass is available. lol.

 

[RKRCC]

I changed to the new system in March and decided on the Unlimited Pass. It was discounted $2, so it only costs me $15/month. I enjoyed the perk of going to Water Country this summer. Will I be able to go to WCUSA next summer under my current rate since I signed up in March or do I have to upgrade to the $17/month plan by next summer? I hate having this confusion and changes only 6-1/2 months into my new membership.....

 

[Nicole]

We have emailed the park, asking about grandfathered passes. I will share what they tell us, as soon as we hear back.

In the meantime, I recommend reading everything from today in this thread, as some people have called and asked customer service specific questions and reported back.

 

[WDWRLD]

Look like those discount Christmas Town tickets willl still be offered.

 

[Johnkleindl]

The park is saying premier memberships will be grandfathered as long as your ez-pay is active. Just cause they say it though, doesn't mean I believe it.