DonHelbig

Good to see the interest in Haunt remains strong with guests quick to purchase the product.

Some do but not the majority of Passholders. It doesn’t make the money you think it does.

A lot of locals who have a season pass, drink plan, dining plan that aren’t spending any additional money to visit the park during WinterFest.

Six Flags likes winter events but they have to cut expenses and that’s why you’re seeing events cancelled. It’s not what they want to do. It’s what they have to do right now.

Enjoy WinterFest this year.

Carowinds cut some Fridays, too. The 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. hours can work if they market it and promote it right.

On the latest episode of Tower Topics, Ryan Suhr and I sit down with Barry Hutzel, one of the original crew members on The Beast. Watch here:

Swoop was going to be the name. It would have been a good name, better logo.

It’s always a rough ride after a merger. In 3-4 years, I believe things will be heading north for the company and we’ll be excited about the things they’re doing.

“It’s going to be fine, Cedar Fair will be running it” said many when the merger was announced.

They’d have to have a bunch of scareactors in the mazes for them to have nothing to do.

When did Tricks and Treats become a night event?

When the merger was announced, I said on the Tower Topics podcast one of the things people would see is the mazes being an upcharge at Kings Island and legacy Cedar Fair parks. I was told by a lot of people that I was wrong, that wouldn’t happen. I haven’t heard from any of those people today.

Decisions, decisions. My thoughts on the Six Flags MVP offer. https://themeparksbydon.com/renew-upgrade-or-wait-weighing-2026-six-flags-mvp-choices/

Decisions, decisions. My thoughts on the Six Flags MVP offer. https://themeparksbydon.com/renew-upgrade-or-wait-weighing-2026-six-flags-mvp-choices/

Someone on a podcast about Kings Island said after the merger was completed last summer this was one of the things guests would see coming to Kings Island and the legacy Cedar Fair parks.

Families have comprised the majority of the park’s annual attendance since 1972.

The Peanuts gang may be nearing their final curtain call at parks like Kings Island, Cedar Point, Carowinds, and Kings Dominion. https://themeparksbydon.com/uncertainty-looms-over-future-of-peanuts-characters-at-legacy-cedar-fair-parks/

Richard A. Zimmerman, president and CEO of Six Flags, will step down from his role by the end of 2025, the company announced. https://themeparksbydon.com/six-flags-ceo-richard-zimmerman-to-step-down-by-end-of-2025/

Will some rides be cut from the Haunt lineup? Will fewer restaurants be open? Will cuts be made elsewhere at a park with higher attendance? Stay tuned! Addition by subtraction.

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Fridays for Haunt were just cut in September for Valleyfair and Worlds of Fun. Michigan’s Adventure had its entire fall season cut. Several legacy Six Flags parks just had their holiday event cut. While Kings Island added Thursdays in October, other parks lost days or entire events. There’s a trade off for adding those Haunt nights. They didn’t add without taking something away.

With all the smart people in the marketing room in the building in Charlotte, NC, it shouldn’t be this difficult for current Passholders and new Passholders to understand what the pass they just renewed or bought is valid for. People shouldn’t have to be waiting on hold for 20-plus minutes to try and get an answer from a park. And is that answer correct? It’s the Most Vague Pass (MVP) offer ever!

This offer ends Sept. 1, they’ll shout and flood your inbox with. Only for the offer to be extended until Sept. 5.

Transparency, clarity, responding to guest questions… that’s become foreign territory.

Friend of mine renewed this morning for 2026. They had 2025 with the all park passport and dining. Went to get a meal today at CP and were told their dining plan wasn’t valid until next year. They used their pass for two meals yesterday at CP.