Platinum Pass Benefits Discussion

[Nicole]

To clarify my position a bit.  My observations about the Platinum Pass have to do with two types of eroding benefits.

1. As discussed in another thread, apparently as a Williamsburg-based pass holder, I do not have access on-line to all of the BGT offers that Tampa-based customers do.  Maybe this is a system glitch, or maybe not.  I do know that the chart I looked at on the pass holder site seems to imply that most of my perks are now restricted to VA.  That was not the case last year.

2. At CT they offered a special deal to CT pass holders that was better than the Platinum discount.  To me this violates the spirit of the Platinum Pass.

I'm not threatening to burn my pass or boycott the park.  I'm merely looking at a pattern and wondering if the park is trying to phase out the Platinum Pass.

 

[Zachary]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

I do know that the chart I looked at on the pass holder site seems to imply that most of my perks are now restricted to VA.

If true, this is absolutely absurd. I'd fight that with everything I could. You were sold a SEAS Platinum Pass. A Platinum Pass should be a Platinum Pass no matter what. Complete insanity.

 

[Nicole]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

I apologize for hijacking this thread...

Here are the benefits that got my attention.  Note the limitation to "park of membership:"

[font=Arial, sans-serif]- 10% off food and beverage at park of membership[/font]
[font=Arial, sans-serif]- 10% off merchandise at park of membership[/font]
[font=Arial, sans-serif]- Savings on strollers, wheelchairs,and motorized cart rentals at park of membership[/font]
[font=Arial, sans-serif]- Savings on select Adventure Camps, Animal Interaction Programs and select Up-Close Tours at park of membership[/font]
[font=Arial, sans-serif]- Savings on single-day admission guest tickets at park of membership[/font]


I have no idea what "park of membership" means and not having tested this, I don't know if I can still get those discounts in Florida.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

^^

I've gotten 4 of the 5 discounts you've listed in all the Florida parks, I haven't gotten the other one because I haven't tried it.

 

[Nicole]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

How recently?  I got them as recently as August, but this list is new.

 

[Jrbgwfan06]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

Oh sorry, yes my last visit was in August too. I didn't know this list was new. That's weird because just yesterday I was looking at the list of benefits for the Platinum pass members too, and didn't notice this. I don't see how they could've taken them away without some sort of massive outcry yet. I think we're still able to get those perks in other parks, technically we are a member of every park in SWP&E (excluding DC). But I'm going in April, so that's the closest time I'd be able to find out for sure.

 

[Bill]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

Nic, where did you see that specific wording? Somewhere accessible on the main BGW site?

 

[Nicole]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

I logged into the Pass Member site with my new name and password (as opposed to the old barcode log in) and clicked on the  "Benefits" tab.  There is a chart from which I pulled the information.  I can't find my "park of membership" listed anywhere.

My hope is that the phrase is really in reference to the annual passes and not the Platinum Pass, but it is completely ambiguous.

I looked because of those special offers that Bill could get in Tampa that didn't seem to be available to me.  They made me curious.

 

[Party Rocker]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

I found these all updated for 2014 and nothing about "at park of membership" for any of the passes.

Benefit Chart

1-park/2-park Pass Guide

Platinum Pass Guide

 

[Bill]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

Under that Benefits tab, in the large white box that makes up most of the page, I see Pass Benefits, and to the right a drop down box with Select a Park:... it shows me the three parks on my pass (BGT, AI, SWO). Do you have a drop down box? And if so, what does it show?

 

[Nicole]

RE: Free WCUSA Pass With BGW Fun Card Purchase

I get to it from the BGT site, so it defaults to that.  It recognizes my passes and has all of my correct account information.

I can't provide a link, because you have to have an account to be able to access it.

 

[Bill]

This is what I see on my log in. Note the drop down box that lists the parks my pass is valid for. My assumption would be that a Platinum Pass gives you "membership" to each of the chain's parks (excluding Discovery Cove).

 

[Nicole]

But those aren't the only parks where you can use the Platinum Pass.  It is only the parks that currently link directly to the new pass member site.  It isn't clear that that drop down has anything to do with park of membership.  Where I logged in from the SWO site, the drop down defaulted to that park; ditto when I linked from BGT.  And the My Passes information lists me as BGW/WCW, which isn't on the drop down.

These are all of the parks:

Unlimited general admission to Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Antonio, SeaWorld San Diego, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Sesame Place, Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark, Orlando, Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark, San Antonio, Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark, San Diego, Adventure Island, Water Country U.S.A.

 

[Bill]

I understand what you're saying - I only have a three park pass, therefore it is showing correctly for me. Am I correct in assuming that through the BGW site that this log-in option doesn't exist yet? Might explain why it's only showing the Florida parks if those are the only ones the system is really built for at this point.

 

[Bill]

Since assumptions aren't always the best idea, I've emailed my contact at Busch Gardens Tampa to see if we can get some clarification on what "park of membership" means. I've also asked for clarification on "Florida" offers and whether or not they are available to other states' platinum pass members.

 

[Nicole]

Thanks.

And yes, the BGW site still has the old two log in system with the separate bar code.

It could all be a database issue, since BGW hasn't converted to the new log in. Or it could be some other computer glitch. But who knows.

 

[wombat96]

I really wish BGW would finally start implementing the perks the Florida parks do. On certain roller coasters and rides you show you're platinum pass to the ride ops and they let you go twice. I rode everything twice at Sea World with my pass.(I sadly had to walk through the entire line for Manta again even though there was no wait because the guy said "Manta is not included in the ride again program." I then looked at what rides were included and Manta was on their but I decided to be nice and do as he said.) Also this would come in handy with their shows because during HOS it's a mad house.

 

[netdvn]

My biggest beef with a policy like that is that it can slow ride lines down on busy days. If the ride has an hour wait and everyone in front of you has a Plat pass and wants to ride twice, the wait time is doubled. That's not likely to happen, but waits can increase, especially with low capacity rides.

 

[Parkgoer]

IIRC the plat reride in FL has always been for the Fl card holders as well as food discounts.  I have never had an issue with it. Signs in the parks have said "Park of Membership" for years but theyve never turned us away from them.  Free preferred parking has never been an issue either.

 

[pandorazboxx]

My "home park" is BGW, but i've never been denied a reride at SWO or BGT. I also was very surprised when i got free preferred, but I am not going to complain. 
I'm also interested in this "park of membership" thing.