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August 29, 2006

Theme Parks...charging extra for front of the line priveledges and other ramblings

August 13, 2009 09:56 PM EDT

views: 94 | comments: 22

This is something that has bothered me for some time. I first saw it many years ago at Six Flags and I thought how terrible. Now most of them do this...to me it isn't fair. Theme parks shouldn't be allowed to charge for this. Disney has a free program FastPass and that's fair. Everyone has a shot to go on a specific ride. Being charged extra is plain wrong. Plus what if everyone bought a front of the line pass..hmmm

Plus ..why are people foolish, they are duped into nearly doubling their entrance fee. If people would just not pay for it....they would re-think their policies.

Another thing that ticks me off...parking fees for the parks...huh..why are we charged to visit. 12 dollars is alot of money for nothing.

I do have alot of praise for Busch Gardens. They have reasonable prices. I bought the platimum pass. It is the highest level. It cost me about 139.00, with this pass I get alot. I get preferred parking, 10 percent off purchases, entrance to all the parks..ie. Busch Gardens- Tampa & Williamsburg, Aquatica, Seaworld(all), Water Country, Sesame Place for a year.

A few of the Florida theme parks are offering eat all day plans...this is a good deal. Busch Gardens in tampa had this and we even got the 10 percent off..so for food/drink..it came to 28 dollars and change. Universal was the first one to do this that I saw. LOL..I wish Disney had this deal...their "meal deal" isn't the greatest deal...especially when you see what else is offered.

These are my ramblings...and this will be my last year for a long time that I will be hitting the theme park circuit. My youngest is 16 so...my theme park trips are coming to an end.

Tags: vacations, trips, orlando, theme parks

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Comments: 22

Marilyn is looking for whatever there is. N. Aug 13, 2009, 10:01pm EDT

Hi,
Our "only" is almost 31, so our theme park days came to an end quite awhile ago - they charge extra for things like that? I never knew that until, well, just now! People pay it? Wow. I don't know how anyone can even afford to go to these, especially since they're family-geared so there will definitely be more than one person going. What a rip-off!

Wow...

Marilyn

donna h. Aug 13, 2009, 10:19pm EDT

I just don't understand why the people do!!

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Marilyn is looking for whatever there is. N. Aug 13, 2009, 10:01pm EDT

I'm in shock, really, our old theme park of sorts closed and who bought it? Six Flags, so they must be doing the extra charging too! Ack!

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Cindy DeLanoy Aug 13, 2009, 10:04pm EDT

Oh dear...I refuse to give up theme parks just because my children no longer live with me (though I have started over, so now get 18 years of "excused" bliss there!) I am a Disney fanatic, and I would NEVER give it up due to lack of children!

P.S. I even got married at Disneyland!

donna h. Aug 13, 2009, 10:20pm EDT

LOL...my friend asked me to go next year after I said I am not going! well if I do the expense will only be me!

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Risa G. Aug 13, 2009, 10:06pm EDT

I've always been pissed off at the expense of an amusement park - especially Disney, which I think is the most expensive of all of them. I've heard lately that they have cut their prices extensively to get people to come to FL. I thought $500 to get the pass to go from one park to the next was expensive for a 3 day pass and this was about 5 years ago. I always thought the food was too expensive and parking was ridiculous. We don't go to amusement parks any longer. My son was never big on them. We got sick of all the crowds and the lines. I agree that they shouldn't charge for Front of the Line stuff. I think that they should charge one fare for a pass and with it comes these priviledges and a discount on souveniers and food.

donna h. Aug 13, 2009, 10:22pm EDT

Disney prices are horrible. You don't get the deals that the other parks give. I already have my passes so I am not sure what deals are happening.

Risa G. Aug 13, 2009, 10:26pm EDT

I was just talking to a friend the other day and she said they just got a great deal at one of the Disney hotels - really ridiculously cheap. She said they were lowering all the prices - on everything - because they have lost so much money with the recession and unemployment and all. She said that the first night she was staying outside of Disney and then for 5 nights she was going to be staying at a Disney hotel for really cheap - I think she said $50 a night??? Something like that. We stayed in Kissimmee when we went because it was $60 a night and it was like $300 a night at a Disney hotel but this was 5 years ago.

donna h. Aug 14, 2009, 7:37am EDT

I got a 59 dollar rate last summer for All Stars....I nearly was jumping up and down! originally I booked for 84, then saw an ad for 69...called up and the woman got me 59! I added nights and got money back...so far the Disney Cruise line has not been so accomendating

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Princess Spanky Pants ~ The Real, Original, Heather T Aug 13, 2009, 10:28pm EDT

A few years ago, Cedar Point started offering a "VIP Pass"- it's $375 per person (per day- as opposed to $40/day). While front of the line would be nice, it seems like a rip to me (for instance, you are paying $335 more per person than the average person who walks in the gate, but you still have to pay $10 just to park your car). You are required to have at least 2 people in your party, no more than 8. Anyone with you who didn't buy the pass, can't ride the rides with you, etc.

For a few years, CP did do like Disney with the fastpass- you went to the ride at the start of the day, and got a stamp. They stopped doing it when people complained too much about how unfair it was (free- anyone who wanted to could do it, and yet, still complaints?).

If we were rich, I'd love to do the VIP tour for just 1 day, but I still have fun at theme parks without it.

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Karen M. Aug 13, 2009, 11:07pm EDT

We are headed to Disney next week... We will be using the FREE DINING Plan....that is the only reason we got it!

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Sue * Aug 13, 2009, 11:56pm EDT

Hi Donna! We haven't been anywhere but Disney for a while, but I know my daughter did the food plan at Universal, and was a bit disappointed there weren't more choices of places they could get food. She loved it when SeaWorld did it, but then they stopped doing it.

As for Disney prices etc. I do think the tickets are very expensive, but even at the price they are now...where else can you go and get that much entertainment in one day? You can "visit" other countries, see several performers of all kinds, see wild animals, watch multiple parades, fireworks, laser shows, amusements rides, train and boat rides and so on. I think it becomes much harder for families to afford to go these days, but I also think that once you are there you certainly get your moneys worth.

I can only speak about the Disney hotel where my daughter works, but they are sold out most nights and they are not discounted until peak season is over. Disney has had some layoffs, and adjusted some positions...but, actually I think Disney is doing just fine. They have so many international visitors, and it seems cheap to many of them. As for ticket prices, they actually just went up this month. The most cost effective way to go is to buy tickets for several days, as they get cheaper the longer you stay. The Free Dining Plan is wonderful when it is offered, and it is still a good deal even if you have to pay for it, particularly for families with growing kids.

I bet you go even after your daughter is older. Your girls are still going to want to travel with you:)

donna h. Aug 14, 2009, 7:33am EDT

Seaworld's dining plan was awesome last year, Busch Gardens was good this year(tampa) but not as good as last year. Universal's plan this year was not as good as last, but at least it was an all day deal.

I couldn't get the free dining plan...LOL. I tried! I could have switched around stuff but then would have lost the hopper portion...and we hop. I know what you mean about the shows...for all the parks, but years ago I would not have been able to afford all this.

I used to buy the 10 day no expirations..but then figured out that the extra fee to make it not expire was almost as much as the regular ticket! so now we just buy for our stay.

LOL...as for my girls wanting to travel...LOL...!!now they want me to do europe!!!

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Sophie S. Aug 14, 2009, 1:35am EDT

The last time I went to Six Flags I was sucked into one of those passes because everyone else in my party went in on one. It was either pay ten bucks for my share or stand in line alone, while they played games/watched shows and then came to the front of the line.

I must say that I did and saw more that day than any other time I have been to the park. I actually had the chance to get on every ride and still see four shows, play some of the games and watch a couple concerts, not to mention ride several of the shorter line things.

donna h. Aug 14, 2009, 7:34am EDT

Six Flags has the worst in line waits...I have can't figure why! but all of the parks should do the Disney way....an equal chance for all

Sophie S. Aug 14, 2009, 7:40am EDT

The one thing that I was pleased about this last time, was that they totally crack down on line jumpers now. They never seemed to care before and it was so frustrating. Now, they watch and then they pull you-- its beautiful.

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Monica H. Aug 14, 2009, 1:45am EDT

I am not looking forward to those prices when ours get old enough to want to go to a theme park. My five year old daughter already asked me if we could go to Disneyworld someday.

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Monica H. Aug 14, 2009, 1:48am EDT

I don't know how we would ever afford it, but who knows? Maybe, someday.

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The Red Headed Witch of Gather G. Aug 14, 2009, 6:03pm EDT

yep they charge for anything and everything nowdays

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Amanda "middle of nowhere" C. Aug 15, 2009, 10:56pm EDT

I remember going to Busch Gardens when I was a child. I had a great time. I do wonder how some families do theme parks. Even Dollywood is expensive and it, too, charges for going to the front of the line. It may be good if you have a special needs child that can't stand...but in those cases, the park should make it free. It might also be good for people who are trying to do one park in one day.