Kings Dominion Goes Year-Round in 2023
- Thread starter Zachary
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It says tickets dated today are valid other days -- does that include if they were used today? In the past, they handed out free tickets to day ticket holders when they closed early, so that would be the same. Although it doesn't necessarily cost them to do that, I've also seen them stay open for hours when the weather turns bad, presumably to avoid doing that when the freebies would be substantial.
It does seem like they should have just closed all day, but perhaps they wanted to find out what would happen on a beautiful, sunny, coldassed Saturday. I have no doubt they would have stayed open if people had showed, but has there ever been a time when no one showed for nice weather so they closed? Probably enough people always show, but still seems to me they need an excuse, at the very least bad weather already that day, even if currently getting better. At the same time, that they opened today says that the meager turnout on the better days is considered worth bothering with, even if only to build on, so it's very unlikely they'll start deciding that's not enough, other than perhaps dropping year-round operation in the future.
It does seem like they should have just closed all day, but perhaps they wanted to find out what would happen on a beautiful, sunny, coldassed Saturday. I have no doubt they would have stayed open if people had showed, but has there ever been a time when no one showed for nice weather so they closed? Probably enough people always show, but still seems to me they need an excuse, at the very least bad weather already that day, even if currently getting better. At the same time, that they opened today says that the meager turnout on the better days is considered worth bothering with, even if only to build on, so it's very unlikely they'll start deciding that's not enough, other than perhaps dropping year-round operation in the future.
Not to discredit you, Blauer, but the parks make this decision, knowing full well that the cold temperatures could (and do) cause early closures. Now, I can understand your frustration with the early closures, but if you’re not at the park/planning to visit, how does it affect you that negatively? Most of the people going to the park right now are passholders—who can visit more frequently/easily than those who plan a trip to include a visit to KD. And yes, KD has closed early for inclement weather/cold temperatures before, but the weather today was just crappy for temperatures. I was at Busch today and it was absolutely empty to the point that all rides were walkons. I think I overheard an employee say their projected was 800, so I imagine KD closing early is 100% justified.
(Please let me know if anything sounds confusing)
(Please let me know if anything sounds confusing)
I’m no where near @Blauer ’s level of frustration, but I really do get the annoyance as there’s a lot of people saying the case for year round isn’t to lose as much money, they keep closing, and the other local park is staying open through it (especially that last one).
But with that, I will say more indoor space would really help out.
I'm in the park today and all I hear people talking about is if they'll close at any minute. Employees are putting on a strong facade knowing the hammer could drop at any moment. Lot of tension here.
Except, this is the real world, the weather isn't garbage, and guests are having a fun time getting to go on the rides.
Except, this is the real world, the weather isn't garbage, and guests are having a fun time getting to go on the rides.
From what I understand - yes. If you used your ticket to get into the park yesterday and they closed after you got there, you’d still be able to use that ticket for another day.
I went to KD yesterday (Saturday), and it was as empty, almost as empty as I've ever seen the park on a sunny (non-rainy) day. But granted, as mentioned, it was frigid yesterday, never getting out of the 30's.
Going back to the park again today, I was able to learn yesterday's attendence was around 300 people, with never more than 80 people in the park at once. So @bill s , like you mentioned, I agree in how they may have been checking to see how many people actually show on a cold, but sunny, Saturday. Where come 3 o'clock, with still so few people in the park at the time, they ultimately decided to close the two hours early.
Otherwise I completely agree with this thread's consensus is that these January/February months are purely for the local season pass holders. But what's interesting is each time I go, I'm always seeing quite a few out-of-state plates; where yesterday with the very few cars in the lot, I saw a Geaorgia and Michigan. Maybe they are transplants to the area. Or maybe, just maybe, some of the people enticed to these bonus days are travelers along I-95, who have a Cedar Fair Platinum pass.
But regardless, leaving the park at around 2:30 today, it was a much more pleasant experience, with just about all the regular rides operating... where my son and I got 5 straight runs on Twisted Timbers, which is still awesome in the cold.
It ultimately does affect my visits to Kings Dominion because now I am more leery to travel there any time the weather is unfavorable. Also, when the park loses money like this, it Can potentially end up with cuts in other areas during the regular season to make up for the losses.
If a theme park is going to have a successful winter event it should have things to do that will bring in people in chilly weather. It IS winter after all. Winterfest succeeds in doing this. This fiasco, from all reports is a total failure.
If the event is only regurgitating season pass holders, it is bringing in very little revenue and resulting in a loss. I think this is the reason for the closures. Not 35° weather which works for Winterfest.
The decision to open Kings Dominion these months was one of the dumbest things I have seen at a theme park. They basically close their eyes and hope for 50° days every weekend.
BG Has a better event planned out. There are enough things to do if the temperature turns cold Including indoor entertainment.
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What “reports” are you citing here? Pretty much every review in this thread from someone who’s visited KD’s winter weekends has been overwhelmingly positive. Hardly sounds like the fiasco you’re trying to make it out to be.
This is a case where being a little more forthcoming on what types of conditions may result in closure and what the remedy will be. I don’t really have issue with them closing when the weather turns bad, but being transparent about this would be customer friendly.
Oh for sure. A simple reminder of park may close for inclement weather, including temperature related issues.
I've never seen someone so angry about something they aren't even doing.
On the day they closed at 1pm only 40 people had come in the park all day and only 6 were there at close.
If some of these grumps knew the entry exit numbers they’d completely understand the early closure decisions.
It makes no sense to stay open with 150+ workers making $17-18 a hour for 20 people most of whom have season passes and just eat meal plan food not really spending extra.
Staffing is not the issue attendance is that’s why even for winterfest the Wednesday and Thursday operation were canceled fast. That last Wednesday they operated in winterfest they had only 300 customers show up vs normal winterfest attendance numbers of 5000-6000 people per day/night.
If some of these grumps knew the entry exit numbers they’d completely understand the early closure decisions.
It makes no sense to stay open with 150+ workers making $17-18 a hour for 20 people most of whom have season passes and just eat meal plan food not really spending extra.
Staffing is not the issue attendance is that’s why even for winterfest the Wednesday and Thursday operation were canceled fast. That last Wednesday they operated in winterfest they had only 300 customers show up vs normal winterfest attendance numbers of 5000-6000 people per day/night.
At the park today, talking to some staff, apparently Jungle X will open on March 11.
When the area opens, not all the coasters are planned to open. But by the week prior to Hanover school's spring break - which is the first week of April - or during spring break week itself, the remaining couple of coasters will open.
Otherwise both Outpost and Chicken Shack will open with the area, with Jungle Market Eatery opening a week or two later. The Outpost news is big for me, as there in early March, with some still potentially cooler days, it will be nice to have another indoor restaurant; where otherwise I'm just looking forward to some good ol' prime rib, chicken, and sausage
When the area opens, not all the coasters are planned to open. But by the week prior to Hanover school's spring break - which is the first week of April - or during spring break week itself, the remaining couple of coasters will open.
Otherwise both Outpost and Chicken Shack will open with the area, with Jungle Market Eatery opening a week or two later. The Outpost news is big for me, as there in early March, with some still potentially cooler days, it will be nice to have another indoor restaurant; where otherwise I'm just looking forward to some good ol' prime rib, chicken, and sausage
Attendance reports. It doesn’t matter if the small attendance enjoys it if it’s not financially viable.
It’s just more proof of what a financial failure this attempt is. They did not plan an event to attract enough people in winter weather.
Their early closures help establish their reputation and this is part of the reason there was that low of attendance on that day. People are not going to come if they think the park is going to close.
At least they have apparently learned somewhat of a lesson and this weekend closure is a total closure.
Or, maybe people aren’t going to come because the weather is less than ideal? Yes, the park has a reputation of closing early, but they usually are doing it as a result of weather. Weather is usually a direct result of low attendance. So, citing weather is completely understandable.
Are you saying you have access to the park’s official attendance records, or is your conjecture purely anecdotal?
Regardless, we have no idea whether or not the event is financially viable, no matter how crowded or not these events seem. There are a number of ways this event might be financially beneficial to the park, even if attendance is relatively moderate:
- Ability to charge more for future season passes, or drive more season pass sales, thanks to the added “year round” value
- Potentially low incremental operating costs given that the event is rumored to be operated mostly by full-time employees, whom the park must pay in full regardless of whether the park is open
- Ability to generate additional revenue through add-ons and up-charges (see ice skating, alcohol, Flights and Bites event, etc.)
So without any internal data from high up in CF’s marketing and finance departments, it’s really impossible for any of us to speculate on whether this year round operation is financially viable. The best indication will be whether or not they do it again next year.