The Safari ride had always been an upcharge since the day it started. It’s a tour.
Rhino was a ride, with a few animals, the safari you can feed giraffes.
Attraction Skyride
- Thread starter CoastersRUS
- Start date
Rhino was a ride, with a few animals, the safari you can feed giraffes.
Yes, but Rhino Rally existed to give a ticket-included way to get out into the animal enclosures. BGT killed the included way and started pushing the paid way hard throughout the park.
Anyway, all that aside, has anyone seen any reporting from BGT yet today about how things are implemented at the Skyride? It's supposed to open today, yeah?
Anyway, all that aside, has anyone seen any reporting from BGT yet today about how things are implemented at the Skyride? It's supposed to open today, yeah?
This is making me think that BGT is starting to treat the attractions associated with the animals as an additional upcharge and not included in the entrance fee. Rather than thinking of this as paying for the maintenance of the sky ride, it might be more along the lines of subsidizing the costs of the animals. Last time I was at BGT I did a behind the scenes tour of the elephants. The amount of food they consume is extraordinary and I image it's the same for a lot of the animals. At the time they were looking to let the number of elephants reduce in size naturally. When you consider that the cost of admission covers the maintenance and running of the rides in addition to the upkeep of the park, finding ways to charge a little more to maintain the animal exhibits might be considered reasonable. Think of it this way - at BGW your admission covers the park and a few animal displays. At BGT you get that and a full safari.
I'm going to guess that 99% of people on this page are pass holders.
So this charge does not afffect us
Just like the Tower at SWO.
As many times as i havbben to SWO and ridden the tower I have never once heard someone complain about the charge
So this charge does not afffect us
Just like the Tower at SWO.
As many times as i havbben to SWO and ridden the tower I have never once heard someone complain about the charge
I am not a pass holder. I visit BGT once a year when I travel down there for IAAPA. I pay for a day ticket; I am not paying for any rides that should already be included in admission!
Just because something doesn't impact me directly right now doesn't mean I shouldn't be furious about it anyway. People are being harmed by an unjustified action by a corporation in an industry I'm interested in. That's plenty enough for me to speak up.
That's what BGT's nearly unrivaled ticket, food, beverage, merch, add-on, etc. prices go to fund.
The non-discounted starting price for a BGT ticket is notably more than the non-discounted starting price of tickets to the Disney or Universal parks in Orlando. All we have to do is look at SEAS' quarterly reports to see how insanely profitable the chain is. They're not hurting for cash. This isn't even approaching a matter of necessity. It's just greed.
That's what BGT's nearly unrivaled ticket, food, beverage, merch, add-on, etc. prices go to fund.
The non-discounted starting price for a BGT ticket is notably more than the non-discounted starting price of tickets to the Disney or Universal parks in Orlando. All we have to do is look at SEAS' quarterly reports to see how insanely profitable the chain is. They're not hurting for cash. This isn't even approaching a matter of necessity. It's just greed.
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As I said before, it is not clear whether Platinum Members will be charged or not. Since they do treat Florida Members differently than everyone else, it isn't necessarily obvious. Moreover, I believe ParkFans has a lot of BGW-only and KD-only pass holders.
Regardless of whether most of us can ride it for free, that isn't really the point. The issue is that a park which charges for entry (rather than by attraction) has made a transportation ride, which is also one of the few ways to see a massive component of the park, an upcharge for some (no idea what percentage) of its guests.
I see a lot of rationalizations attempting to justify this sleezy (in my opinion) cash grab. It is to offset the cost of maintenance. It is offset the cost of the animals. Other parks do it too. As I said before, they are a massive theme park chain that has been successfully managing their costs for decades. They charge more than $100 for entry. What exactly is that (probably inflated) price getting you? I can get into a Disney or Universal park for the same price. They don't seem to need to randomly charge for rides after upgrading them.
I'm sorry but I do not see a legitimate reason that can stand up to any level of scrutiny that can justify this. Maybe there is something going on behind the scenes that is driving 5% surcharges and $5 fees, but if no one knows about them it just looks trashy from the outside.
Regardless of whether most of us can ride it for free, that isn't really the point. The issue is that a park which charges for entry (rather than by attraction) has made a transportation ride, which is also one of the few ways to see a massive component of the park, an upcharge for some (no idea what percentage) of its guests.
I see a lot of rationalizations attempting to justify this sleezy (in my opinion) cash grab. It is to offset the cost of maintenance. It is offset the cost of the animals. Other parks do it too. As I said before, they are a massive theme park chain that has been successfully managing their costs for decades. They charge more than $100 for entry. What exactly is that (probably inflated) price getting you? I can get into a Disney or Universal park for the same price. They don't seem to need to randomly charge for rides after upgrading them.
I'm sorry but I do not see a legitimate reason that can stand up to any level of scrutiny that can justify this. Maybe there is something going on behind the scenes that is driving 5% surcharges and $5 fees, but if no one knows about them it just looks trashy from the outside.
You’re making a fair argument, but I strongly disagree with it. BGT is a zoological theme park. Part zoo, part theme park.
Compared to other major theme parks, BGT really doesn’t have that many rides. A handful of coasters and minimal other rides. Until the past few years, a visit to BGT might have involved spending as much or more time looking at the animals than experiencing the rides. Much more so than a park like BGW, where the animals are much more of a secondary attraction than a main draw, the animals at BGT are a core part of the park’s proposition.
Remember, a single day ticket to BGT costs over one hundred dollars. When I buy my ticket, I’m buying it to experience a zoo and a theme park wrapped into one. For that price, I better be getting some damn good rides and some damn good animal experiences. If you strip away the animals (which they already are doing), no way in hell is this park worth even a fraction of what they’re charging.
Just to actually apply some numbers here to demonstrate just how incredibly correct @Mushroom is...
A Busch Gardens Tampa ticket purchased online right now (so with current promos) starts at $99.99.
A Cedar Point ticket purchased online right now (so with current promos) costs $49.99—and that's good any day of the season.
Meanwhile, a SEASON PASS to ZooTampa—a very well regarded zoo just down the road from Busch Gardens Tampa—is $47.95. That even includes their Halloween and Christmas events.
By combining the theme park and zoo experiences into one property, Busch Gardens Tampa is realizing enormous cost savings if you compare their operating budget to that of both Cedar Point's and ZooTampa's combined. Despite that, even at its cheapest price with current promos, a single day at Busch Gardens Tampa costs more than both a day at Cedar Point and a YEAR at ZooTampa COMBINED.
And the kicker? Busch Gardens Tampa is a way worse run park than Cedar Point and a way worse run zoo than ZooTampa. It features a notably smaller collection of animals and exhibits vs ZooTampa and a downright small attraction collection when compared to Cedar Point.
I lied, that's not the kicker. The kicker is that even at their respective prices, ZooTampa turns a profit WHILE ALSO OPERATING A HANDFUL OF RIDES and Cedar Point finds plenty of net revenue DESPITE ALSO HOUSING SOME ANIMALS.
Oh, but wait, you see, I actually lied again. The real kicker? Cedar Point is still running their Von Roll skyride free of charge without issue DESPITE IT BEING MORE THAN TEN YEARS OLDER THAN BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA'S!
Really makes you think, huh?
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I really love the "SEAS" parks and have so many wonderful memories, but the way they are being run is disgusting. It's an insult to anyone who went there when they were practically in the same level as Universal. But since they Universal soared and SEAS has been trying to grab every buck they can as fast as they can.
The hardest and saddest part for me is my kids absolutely love the parks. If it wasn't for them I'd sadly probably drop my membership. I wish my kids got to experience them the way I did. Not as a poorly run money grab. Hopefully the tires will turn at some point because if not they will eventually hit a breaking point.
The hardest and saddest part for me is my kids absolutely love the parks. If it wasn't for them I'd sadly probably drop my membership. I wish my kids got to experience them the way I did. Not as a poorly run money grab. Hopefully the tires will turn at some point because if not they will eventually hit a breaking point.
And at its maximum capacity with a mere 8 second trip interval.
SEAS, Cedar Fair, Six Flags have one business model right now. To gouge as much money out of the existing customers as possible while cutting costs for short term profits.
They have no business plan to provide a great experience to get people to return. I honestly believe an investment in any three of these companies right now is a bad investment because they do not have a future plan to grow revenue or attendance.
They have no business plan to provide a great experience to get people to return. I honestly believe an investment in any three of these companies right now is a bad investment because they do not have a future plan to grow revenue or attendance.
Understand that I'm not defending the $5.00 charge for riding the skyride but are you serious with trying to compare a combination of ZooTampa and Cedar Point to Busch Gardens Tampa?
ZooTampa is a 501(c)(3), making it a little difficult to compare to anything with Busch Gardens Tampa. They pull in a TON of corporate, public, and private sponsorships and donations as well as government grants to be able to provide everything that they do. It should also be noted that the "SEASON PASS" at ZooTampa that you mentioned is not a season pass - it's buy a one-day ticket and get the rest of the year free. For actual membership costs you would need to look at ZooTampa Membership.
Peak pricing for the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden is $24.95. Tickets to the Bravard Zoo are $32.95. Admission to the Miami Zoo is $22.95. The most expensive ticket offered by the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is $44.95.
I picked the most expensive Florida zoo I have looked up for my post and I used the current promo pricing for all examples to keep it fair.
I picked the most expensive Florida zoo I have looked up for my post and I used the current promo pricing for all examples to keep it fair.
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The problem being you can't use a zoo in a comparison to a theme park. Nor can you use a random amusement park in Ohio to prove your point. Neither of those things are similar.
I get it. Busch Gardens Tampa hurt you by charging $5.00 for the skyride to non-members. That's okay though. Show them it hurt by cancelling your pass and not reporting or commenting on what's occurring at the park.
So just to be clear, you can't compare a zoo (which BGT is) to a zoo or an amusement park (which BGT is) to an amusement park...? Quite a position to stake...
Yeah, the classic "if you don't like it, leave" when I'm highlighting that consumers are being taken advantage of and ripped off. Very cringe.
I’m confused. Why can’t you compare (a Florida zoo) + (a large chain amusement park with world class coasters and more flats)
to
(a theme park that is both a zoo and a large chain amusement park with a world class coaster)?
And why would a BGW-based Platinum Member cancel his pass in response to something at BGT? That would be a self-defeating temper tantrum. And really, what would it achieve?
Raising awareness of the issue, especially for a theme park site, is the responsible, community-oriented thing to do. Not petulantly “burning my pass” in some dramatic huff.
Y'all are both right. Why would anyone have an issue with using the combination of a gigantic 501(3)(c) zoological park and an amusement park with the most rollercoasters in the country to a singular theme park?
Cue the "So about the skyride" post.
Fine. Be pedantic. Compare it to Six Flags Great Adventure. They redid their skyride a few years back, and didn't feel the need to charge for it. And they're a bunch of money grubbing sonzabitches.