Attraction Skyride

[MysteryManBGT]

Welcome to the Tampa Bay Fair ya'll. But seriously... I'm hoping they rethink this... I think after opening weekend it's just going to be primarily pass members riding this. $5 one way Per Person, groups of guests aren't going to see the price justifiable for riding IMO...

 

[Zachary]

I have to imagine that not many people are going to pay this absurd upcharge which really begs the question of how this even makes sense as a theoretical money making endeavor. They're going to have to pay to install, staff, and maintain a bunch of systems to facilitate payments for a small handful of guests most days. Sure, on busy days they'll make a little money, but if those resources were instead pushed to boosting dining thoroughput or the like, wouldn't they stand to make significantly more...?

Yes, this is all a disgusting scam on its face and BGT deserves to have absolute hell unleashed on them for trying it. That said, I also suspect that it's just a very stupid, unprofitable, moronic scam to run in the first place. Even if BGT doesn't value guest perception or experience at all (which they clearly don't) and, hence, are willing to throw those metrics out the window entirely, I'm pretty certain there are much better ways to invest the park's limited resources that would generate significantly more profit than this nonsense possibly stands to make.

 

[Thrills & Chills WQAQ]

What. The. Fuck. This is so scummy

 

[tursiops]

Next month train rides $7 per segment (plus don't forget the bullshit 5% greed charge)

 

[MysteryManBGT]

Next month train rides $7 per segment (plus don't forget the bullshit 5% greed charge)

They better not charge for the train or I'm coming after them haha. But in all seriousness, the train would be the only ride I would somewhat except them charging for. It costs way more to maintain and operate than the Skyride... Also, the one good thing they have done recently is get rid of the Surcharge, no longer a thing anymore.

 

[Zachary]

I've put together a comprehensive list of all of the upcharge rides that are acceptable at a park with tickets that cost more than $100:

 

[MysteryManBGT]

I've put together a comprehensive list of all of the upcharge rides that are acceptable at a park with tickets that cost more than $100:

Agreed 100%

 

[Mr. Porkchop]

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[Thriller]

SEAS and Cedar Fair are racing to the bottom of theme park operations. Six Flags is already there but maybe they can go lower.

First, the sleazy 5% surcharge now this

 

[tursiops]

This is even worse because the Skyride is one of the extremely few non coaster rides.

 

[halfabee]

Creeping social contagion is very much a thing in business. One player or industry pulls off something new and cynical and lucrative, and a ton of others feel "inspired" to try the same over time.

Expanding the upcharge model from luxury add-ons (first class, VIP festival experience, Skycoaster) into more basic aspects of the customer journey (coach seat selection, digital ticket "delivery," skyride) succeeds only if people quietly agree to participate.

They will keep adding charges until the plebians push back hard enough to give them pause for reasons of profit, market share, embarrassment, or all three. Only then will they feel they have maximized their achievable take. And whatever they ultimately get away with, others are likely to try too.

So don't participate. At all. Be vocal about it.

Fortunately the skyride is much easier for most BGT customers to avoid than, say, TIcketmaster fees for a live music lover. Just pretend the skyride is still broken until the fee goes away. If that means the skyride goes away too, then -- as essential as the skyride is to the BGT experience -- it wasn't really ever "back" in the first place.

 

[bill s]

I've skipped the BGW skyride the last few times due to the line. As a view it would have been worth it, but as a fast transportation it wasn't that day. Still probably wouldn't have paid for it. I don't know if that's a big problem at BGT. But certainly those paying day ticket prices are as worthy of skyrides as members.

This wouldn't be the place to discuss the whole issue of pay-one-price and overcrowding, except BGT made it so. There is a point of crowds that changing the POP system could make sense, as disappointing as that may be. At least a fastpass system that keeps a regular line can adapt to different crowd levels.

 

[SLC Headache]

I've put together a comprehensive list of all of the upcharge rides that are acceptable at a park with tickets that cost more than $100:

This is the same reason I believe go-karts at paid entry amusement parks should go the way of the dodo (unless somehow they decide to make them free), and that they belong at free entry pay-per-ride establishments.

 

[CoasterRattler🐍]

Did you have to pay a upcharge while it was operating before?

 

[Zachary]

Did you have to pay a upcharge while it was operating before?

Nope. It has always been included with park admission like all of BGT's other rides.

 

[nick]

More frightening than $5 to me is, what’s next?

What will United Parks do, start up-charging you for front row, back row, and edge seats on rides a la United Airlines?

Express walking lanes?

The train?

 

[Python_Survivor]

More frightening than $5 to me is, what’s next?

I'm awaiting the "Kumba Maintenance Fee"...

 

[Python_Survivor]

Sorry to double post, but it does appear they removed that wording from the website....

SkyRide: Cable Car Lift Ride | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Get a bird's eye view of Busch Gardens Tampa and take in the spectacular scenery as you fly through the air in an overhead cable car.

buschgardens.com

 

[nick]

Sorry to double post, but it does appear they removed that wording from the website....

SkyRide: Cable Car Lift Ride | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Get a bird's eye view of Busch Gardens Tampa and take in the spectacular scenery as you fly through the air in an overhead cable car.

buschgardens.com

View attachment 31359

But below, in the question and answer portion:

“Tickets to the Busch Gardens Tampa SkyRide may only be purchased at each boarding station, one in Cheetah Hunt Plaza or the station in Stanleyville.”

“Guests will not be able to purchase multiple one-time rides. One-time rides will need to be purchased separately prior to boarding.”

“Busch Gardens Pass Members will not be able to use their guest tickets at the SkyRide.”

“Busch Gardens Tampa Busch Bucks will not be accepted at the SkyRide.”

“There is no charge to ride the Serengeti Express Train, one of the best ways to take in the breathtaking beauty of Busch Garden’s Serengeti Plain. There is also no charge for the parking lot trams.” Well, thank goodness. No charge for the tram from the parking lot.

“Yes, each guest that has a valid Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Pass, Preschool Card or Fun Card will be able to ride the SkyRide for free. Pass Members will need to present their valid pass to the ride attendant at the ride entrance.”

 

[Python_Survivor]

But below, in the question and answer portion:

“Tickets to the Busch Gardens Tampa SkyRide may only be purchased at each boarding station, one in Cheetah Hunt Plaza or the station in Stanleyville.”

“Guests will not be able to purchase multiple one-time rides. One-time rides will need to be purchased separately prior to boarding.”

“Busch Gardens Pass Members will not be able to use their guest tickets at the SkyRide.”

“Busch Gardens Tampa Busch Bucks will not be accepted at the SkyRide.”

“There is no charge to ride the Serengeti Express Train, one of the best ways to take in the breathtaking beauty of Busch Garden’s Serengeti Plain. There is also no charge for the parking lot trams.” Well, thank goodness. No charge for the tram from the parking lot.

“Yes, each guest that has a valid Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Pass, Preschool Card or Fun Card will be able to ride the SkyRide for free. Pass Members will need to present their valid pass to the ride attendant at the ride entrance.”

That is true. We shall see. It wouldn't shock me to see them reversing course over the extremely negative outrage over this.