Call for Ideas: New Membership Program Perks

[MAZ]

Hmmmm....'Innovative' ideas for member perks. I'm thinking outside the park. 1- add a line on the membership application page for inserting a current pass number. Similar to a promo code. This member who convinced you to purchase the membership will in turn receive one bring a friend ticket added to their account. (Not valid for renewals)
2- they already know how much money we spend in the park if we scan our pass for the discount. Why not mail people vouchers for food/drink/merch as an appreciation for spending X amount of money in the park. Or a quick queue. Or a VIP experience to a concert of their choice.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

I love the idea of a simpler passmember page. Why not combine the ideas though? Maybe premier memberships get their own site where they can just get the coupons with an email notification? It saves them money on postage and paper, and they can apply the discount via your phone.

 

[warfelg]

I’m sure BGW like all other parks does promo stuff and shoots commercials here and there. How about instead of using actors and actresses; send something out to all pass members and have a “promo” day. Shoot all your promotoins for the next year using passholders. In exchange offer like a free meal and a snack or something like that.

 

[halfabee]

"Would all sexy passholders please step to the front of the crowd shot, please."

;-D

 

[Merboy]

I think this might be asking for the moon but could there be any discounts for local hotels? I'm not sure if out-of-town guests compare heavily to local guests but I know hotel prices are a big decider of whether or not I make the trip and visit the park at all.

 

[warfelg]

One I would like:
What about a "pet membership"? We can pay extra right now for all you can eat dining, all you can drink, the pub clubs.....what not a fee for members to pay for kennel stays for our four legged kids?

Include a little fenced in area (there's the space behind the Kennel) for our furry friends to move around some off leash.

I partially wonder if a "night in the park" would be possible? Tents in Festhaus field, by Parakeet Glenn, and a few other places; maybe RV's for a higher upcharge. Use a day the park might be closing early then the park opens admission for people staying. Then when members are let in, have a few select rides open, like Nessie, Apollo, Battle for Eire, and a few others. Karaoke in in Abby Stone Theater. Royal Place Theater showing a movie. Das Festhaus turned into a club. A few escape rooms in DarKastle, Pompeii. Special meals at a few places for that night only. Special merch for the night. Then the next day there's a wakeup call, breakfast in Festhaus, and out the doors (so kinda a quick morning).

I think that would be a really cool thing to do. A chance to see the park and have it used in a way that's likely never happened.

 

[..…]

What about a more robust member's section on the app, like maybe adding a "members connect" social media type thing? If you're feeling social, you could log in and see what other members are currently in the park that might want to meet up for a ride or a drink or something. I usually go to the park with my husband, who's not nearly as much of an enthusiast as I am. He rides a few roller coasters, but I'm usually riding them by myself. While I'm perfectly okay with this, it would still be fun to make friends with other members and have company once in a while. (And I'm sure my husband would appreciate a few beer drinking member buddies, as I'm not that much of a drinker.) I can't imagine we're the only members with this type of situation.
If a members connect section within the BGW app could facilitate the formation of member friendships (alliteration completely unintentional), this could benefit the park by further reinforcing its already robust social media presence, and attracting members to the park more often if they know friends who are going.
Since I'm by no means a social media guru, I have no idea how this would work. I'm guessing some type of safe guard would need to be put in place to weed out creeps with more nefarious objectives than simply meeting and spending time with fellow park members. Also, an "invisible" option should also be available (or the option to just not log into a social section) for days when a member is at the park but not feeling particularly social.

 

[Merboy]

I usually go to the park with my husband, who's not nearly as much of an enthusiast as I am. He rides a few roller coasters, but I'm usually riding them by myself.

Aww, I'll ride with you. <3

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

What about a more robust member's section on the app, like maybe adding a "members connect" social media type thing? If you're feeling social, you could log in and see what other members are currently in the park that might want to meet up for a ride or a drink or something. I usually go to the park with my husband, who's not nearly as much of an enthusiast as I am. He rides a few roller coasters, but I'm usually riding them by myself. While I'm perfectly okay with this, it would still be fun to make friends with other members and have company once in a while. (And I'm sure my husband would appreciate a few beer drinking member buddies, as I'm not that much of a drinker.) I can't imagine we're the only members with this type of situation.
If a members connect section within the BGW app could facilitate the formation of member friendships (alliteration completely unintentional), this could benefit the park by further reinforcing its already robust social media presence, and attracting members to the park more often if they know friends who are going.
Since I'm by no means a social media guru, I have no idea how this would work. I'm guessing some type of safe guard would need to be put in place to weed out creeps with more nefarious objectives than simply meeting and spending time with fellow park members. Also, an "invisible" option should also be available (or the option to just not log into a social section) for days when a member is at the park but not feeling particularly social.

That's a very interesting idea. I personally probably wouldn't use it, but it just may be popular.

 

[Shane]

One I would like:
What about a "pet membership"?  We can pay extra right now for all you can eat dining, all you can drink, the pub clubs.....what not a fee for members to pay for kennel stays for our four legged kids?

Include a little fenced in area (there's the space behind the Kennel) for our furry friends to move around some off leash.

Oh! Yes! That is an amazing idea. I live 4 hours away from the park now and have to bring my pooches along. With the increased price for the kennel, adding Pet Membership to my human membership would be fantastic!

 

[warfelg]

Oh! Yes! That is an amazing idea. I live 4 hours away from the park now and have to bring my pooches along. With the increased price for the kennel, adding Pet Membership to my human membership would be fantastic!

I'm not even that far and I want to bring her along. I would love a "Pets in the park" day but that's so hard to work out with allergies, fears, and stuff like that. Maybe at WCUSA the day after it closes for the season. Keep the wave pools (don't turn them on), the lazy rivers, and the splash parks open to take your dogs in.

A local park in State College with some slides, a splash park, and lazy river did this the day after it closed. You could bring in your dogs before the pools were drained, let them swing with you, but you had to keep them on a leash. I did it with my pup and she had so much fun just swimming in the lazy river along with me as I floated around.

 

[Zachary]

Dog days at water parks aren't actually unprecedented in the industry. Knoebels does it yearly for charity. Link

That ultimately seems more like a special event for anyone than a membership perk. Very interesting idea though. I can imagine it being popular in Hampton Roads.

I'm intrigued by the idea of a pet membership addon option. I honestly don't know the economics involved with the pet kennel service or how much open availablity there is on an adverage day, but it is a very neat idea.

 

[warfelg]

Dog days at water parks aren't actually unprecedented in the industry. Knoebels does it yearly for charity. Link

That ultimately seems more like a special event for anyone than a membership perk. Very interesting idea though. I can imagine it being popular in Hampton Roads.

I'm intrigued by the idea of a pet membership addon option. I honestly don't know the economics involved with the pet kennel service or how much open availablity there is on an adverage day, but it is a very neat idea.

I would imagine having a "prebook" for members. Usually when I bring her along it's a full day visit since they are first come first serve (which really isn't right if you ask me but oh well). The economics is for someone far smarter than me to figure out, haha. Bit I would really appreciate something like that.

And I'm thinking either: Include the pets in the park day as part of the membership, or use it as a pilot program with members before turning it into a open event just to see how it goes.

 

[VonDerrick]

Something I read in the Minor Changes thread for KD; how about members get free lockers from the first two hours and then pay $1 or so every hour after. The park can still make money, but at least it gives members a cheaper option for lockers.

 

[Peej1212]

Im with merboy on the hotel perks. My family have been debating for years if we want to get a yearly membership to the park but the distance for us just is not feasible for us to drive down and back each time. If we could get discounted pricing on hotels that would really sway us more towards purchasing a membership.

 

[Nicole]

It looks as if we don't have a Member Lounge/Concierge/Private Entrance (yet?), but we have gotten a few of our requests:

 

[warfelg]

Hey it's something!

EDIT:
I wasn't expecting a separate entrance, members lounge, or concierge to be there this year. In fact that would be near impossible. Would look for it next year. But I like that they took some of the things they could turn around and use quickly and showed they are listening to what passionate membership holders want.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

I have two thoughts on this. The first thing is that shirts are easy to make and can be ordered somewhat quickly.

The second point is that they will be doing some announcments and several sessions for people to ask questions about the new membership. I expect some more benefits will be announced then.

 

[lilleape]

I really, really, really would like to see the Preschool Pass extended to include HoS and CT for the children of members! That's something that could easily be implemented this year!

 

[warfelg]

Question:
If they did a luncheon round table with some executives for 'passionate pass holders' say 3 times this summer, and for $50 you get to tour the park with them before opening, attend a round table, and get a lunch at the end of it; would you do it? Think of it as a way of taking this thread and going to the park with it.

I know, even if I had to pay for something like that, I would 100% do it. They asked about this in the membership questionaire they sent out over the winter before implementing this system.

1 - In that setting they have to listen to you.
2 - Getting membership face to face with park leadership would be a great way to get a great net promoter score (NPS is basically how likely you are to recommend something to a friend).
3 - Putting a voice and a face to leadership, and vice versa, would be amazing for the park.
4 - As someone who always goes to the park alone, it would be nice to have a mixer to make some friends to go to the park with.