coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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 4/20/2005 2:47:43 PM
As we are heading south from Maryland to reach PKD I have never seen rain like this on the way to a park. I have had excellent luck with the weather on most of my vacations. As we enter the park they have one parking window open and it has no cars. I pull up and they give the no raincheck spiel, but of course they charge that 8.00 lord forbid if they don't get every penny. When we walk up with our seasons passes we show the lady to get a ticket to get in. She informs us no raincheck,WTF, I didn't give you any money. The ticket taker then gives the same spiel. I will learn why later but right now I'm thinking could you be less inviting.
Upon entering the park they say they will only run three rides in the rain, then even though its still raining they start running others. This place really has a weird aura today. After buying a poncho we start toward flight of fear, however the shockwave is now running, so we take one ride on that and now proceed to the Congo section. We get in all the rides in the area and rode Volcano 3 times. There is almost noone at the park so we are flying thru lines. I am loving it because I have a strong distaste for most people. I am beginning to think rain days are the days for me. We skip FOF in case they start closing some rides later. We grab a quick bite of food which wasn't bad and head back toward the wooden coasters, since Ananconda isn't running. A good ride on Rebel Yell followed by two good rides on Hurler. The weather is starting to break and I am even happier since now there is good weather and no people. We ride richochet, old cars, flyers, sponge bob but I can't do the flume because they just closed it. They also won't let me in because it was closed 30 seconds ago. I find that weird but whatever. We keep walking and head toward the kid area which looks like a ghost town. We ride scooby and when we get off we find they have closed the whole kid area. So we go to eat and now we find out they are closing the park because there are not enough people there. WTF we are ok to walk through pouring rain, but not to enjoy the weather. Man am I peeved. Supposedly they made one announcement a little earlier, but I didn't hear it. They have closed all the shops already so no souvenirs though I doubt I would have spent any money. They are giving out free tickets to return any day this year. Since I am from Indiana that does me no good. The two tickets are for sale to anyone reading this TR. Of course no refund on the parking, I guess Paramount needs the money after the crappy films they have been releasing.
That was the end of my day. Overall I like the park and it has an interesting park layout. However their customer service was the worst I have seen. Besides closing early(which is enogh to ruin anyday) most employees were very unwelcoming and so far we have gotten no response to our complaint of what to do with a ticket that is only good for one year. I realize I have a season pass, but the reason I purchased it was because this day and 2 days to PKI makes me even. But that was under the assumption of a full day. I have no idea how peeved I would be had I paid to get in. It could have been one of the greatest park days in my life, but instead it makes me long for the customer service at Kentucky Kingdom.
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Sometimes you can't choose. It's like heads they win, tails you gonna lose. -Poison-
coaster count - 135 37 Wooden
Message updated 4/20/2005 9:24:48 PM by coaster05
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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4/20/2005 3:06:50 PM
Well, that sounds a lot like my dad minus the rain. I still cant get over that "not enough people thing...". That's bush leauge. I've heard of parks closing due to horrid weather, but never understaffing. I hope you got around to writting that letter..
As for the souvenirs, I thought they all sucked, if that makes you feel any better.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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4/20/2005 7:37:17 PM
There is a difference between closing due to imminent weather threats. I have been in a park when they closed because a huge line of thunderstorms was coming and was not going to let up for the rest of the day. That is ok to me, but not this case (he even said the rain had let up and it was sunny)
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My Online Photo Gallery with 706 photos and counting as I dig up my CD's from last summer.
My Coaster Record thanks to coastercounter.com, which is a great site. Currently, I am re-doing my site a bit, making it look nice, but it will be back soon enough.
Total Mind Bender rides: 613 2005 Mind Bender rides: 1 (Finally)
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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4/20/2005 9:22:18 PM
But the park can still close due to lack of patronage.
A few things here. What time did the park close? Was it noon, two, possibly later. You never say. The park repeatedly informed you that there would be no rainchecks. So much so that you seem to have gotten sick of hearing it. That should have told you something. April 2 was the day we here in PA got torrential rains (and I was foolish enough to go hiking anyway), many river communities got their fifty year flood for the second time in six months. Heck, that was the day Bushkill Park got flooded again. The park had good reason to close, why should they expect anyone else to show up?
I can even forgive the employees a bit. It was a pouring, misserable day. Would you want to be working out in that, or better yet, standing out in that with no one at the park?
Do you know how much it costs a park the size of PKD to operate for one day? SFGAdv has a cost of nearly two million dollars per day to operate. I would expect the cost to be similar for PKD. Why should they not cut their losses?
It sucks that you traveled all the way from Indiana to have such a terrible day. I really feel for you, and was even thinking about you going that very day (I had half expected to be there that day myself, but the event there got postponed), but the park DID give you free passes even though you were told otherwise before you entered the park, and even though you had season passes, and even though you did get some riding in. It is reasonable for the passes to be good only in the 2005 season considering most visitors are local and it is the beginning of the season. What I would do is write a nice letter (via snail-mail) and explain how far you traveled, and that you would not be able to get back to the park this season, and ask them to call you. Be reasonable and polite and you will likely get results.
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Coaster Events Page Updated 4/18/05
If I must choose between righteousness and peace, I choose righteousness. -Theodore Roosevelt
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/20/2005 9:33:36 PM
Cyclonic they didn't close because of the weather though, it had gotten much nicer. Had the whole day been rain I would have totally understood. It was 2:00 and the weather was improving. Trust me I understand the cost of being open, but they could have rotated rides and closed most shops etc to help with the money. Heck they could have even given a 2 hour warning announcement so you could have rode whatever you have missed. What I am mad about is the longer I look at it here is what I think happened. They figured it would rain out because of theat horrible storm, hence making the raincheck policy come into effect, that didn't happen so then they decided to cut their losses. You can try to justify this anyway you want but they were more then happy to take my money. I have wrote them an email so we will see. I guess I look at it like this I have been to a water park on a cold day run by a small company and the only people there were the 150 kids on our field trip. They made no real extra money and let us in for a discount so I can't imagine percent wise how much that hurt them, but they let us stay our whole time. PKD could have bit the bullet and ran that day. I know I'm only one person but if everyone of those 300 feel like I do that is a lot of people who hear how they crapped on their customers.
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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4/20/2005 9:50:14 PM
Did they crap on their customers, I don't think so. They gave you free passes. Yes, they are only good for the season, but jeez, they gave you something they origonally said they wouldn't. I'd bet the majority of those 300 peeps were locals (who probably also had season passes), and they were thrilled with the free passes. To them it was unexpected, and they will be back. I am sorry for your circumstance there, but I think the park needs no defense here, they did the right thing.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/20/2005 9:51:36 PM
I'm torn here. I partially agree with coaster, but I also agree with Cyclonic. I can see how they would close. Is it right from the standpoint of a customer? No. Business wise? Yes. Did they give you ticket to come back? Yes. That is all they could do. They were making annoucements too. Cyclonic said it... most of their business comes from around the area. Those people won't be displeased too much because they can find a time during the summer to go, which is probably something that they were planning anyway. If they are season pass holders, then they can sell them for some extra cash or give them to friends and bring them. It sucks for you, sure, but I don't think that those people are really going to say anything bad about the place. They might even say good things. And, the staff gets a free pass. Well, half of a free pass. I know that it sucks when it is that kind of day, but sure, it is still nice to be a little cheery when dealing with people. Sure they could have tried to run the park and taken a hit, but by you saying that they took your money, but they really did give it back in those passes. So they did lose the money that they took in that day, at least for admission. I can see that you are mad about it, but you have to look at it from all the angles too. I'm sure you will see results from sending a nice letter or email or something, then you might forget all about it. Oh, and I'm sure the raincheck policy is always in full force, everyday. It's printed all over tickets. They just picked this day that it was raining to point it out to you hardcore. You can't be mad at them because they did tell you that over and over. They closed. It may not have been because of the weather, but the raincheck policy covers them from all things. So if they want to close, they can close no matter if you like it or not.
EDIT: Was typing while Cyclonic posted that...^^^
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"I could never design another ride like Hercules." - Curtis Summers
Message updated 4/20/2005 9:52:58 PM by Hercules
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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4/21/2005 1:57:10 AM
^Not to be picky, but I'm pretty sure it is illegal to sell the passes, not that anyone would ever know, but still...
Cyclonic does bring up some good points, and them giving passes is nicer than I thought after he brought up the "no rain checks" policy.
However, I still have a bit of distaste because the weather had cleared up, so I guess I will ride the fence.
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/21/2005 10:31:16 AM
but it's not illegal to buy coaster05 autograph for say $60-$80 and if he wants to throw in the two passes as a "bonus"
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/21/2005 10:28:35 PM
Larry I think you had mentioned you may want them in a thread. I am good with 40 for the pair I believe that is less then half price.
For the other two guys who are justifyinh this from a business sense I once again say I understand they would lose money but this is not a rain check thing. They closed so raincheck is invalid. Bottom line I would say about half the people when leaving seemed ok with the pass and I do realize that most were locals and if I was a local to this park it wouldn't bother me as much. However I'm not and they did not offer my parking fee back and it has now been a week on the email so I'm guessing they aren't that concerned for me. That's fine like I said I'm sure paramount is not going to go under from me but Don't you think a billion dollar corporation would want to make a compensation to me. For example if they gave us free season passes for next year they would be out what 140 dollars most of which they would recover in park fees, food and souvenirs.
To be honest here I really hope this happens to you on a vacation in the near future. I will love to see how diplomatic you are when they don't really seem to care, until this happens to you, you really can't say how you'd handle it. Lord knows I never even considered something like this. They were "understaffed" and not prepared for the change in weather. They made this error and for that they should do something more. Like I said by more I'm looking for two season passes or even a ticket that would be good next year It's not like I'm suing for emotional damage and want 50,000 bucks.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/21/2005 10:57:16 PM
Hey now, two season passes seems like a little much here. Just send another email or actually mail a letter and I'm sure you will hear something. Just calm down there buddy.
This kind of thing has happened to me before, just not in the amusement park form. Sure, I get made about things, but I'm a pretty melo guy. I would be a little mad, but I would realize that they have the no rain check thing in place for a reason. A "rain check" does not just pertain to rain. It is for any reason. I would have just had to find something else to do for the day and then would ask for the tickets to be valid for a longer period of time. I don't think that I would ask for season passes. I think that is crossing the line. They gave you tickets to the place. Just cool it dude. I know what I would do in this situation, and it wouldn't equal acting like a psycho.
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Cyclonic
Posts: 2636
Registered: 7/19/2002
Rank: Experiment 626
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4/21/2005 11:05:26 PM
Here, let me play the world's smallest violin for you. Jeez, what a cry baby. Yeah, they closed early, and they compensated you. I think if you took the moment to call or actually write the park and explain your situation (you living in Indiana and all), they would probably try to help you out. If I were a PR person I would send you tickets for PKI that you might instead be able to use. Have you actually tried doing that?
It has happened to me, actually quite a bit. Several years ago on a visit to Indiana Beach they closed the park early on me due to weather. Two years ago I went to CP specifically to ride TTD and it was down the entire time I was there, still haven't ridden it. Last year a hurricane was being down on Wildwood, and Moreys closed just an hour after opening. They gave me a raincheck, which really surprised me. I have on two occations gone to SFGAdv after work on a rainy day (40 minutes each way, plus the tolls) to find the park closed.
You simply went on a bad day. It is not your fault, it is just dumb luck, it happens. I feel for you, it sucks, but it happens, and the park did what they could to compensate you, actually going above and beyond what they had to do, yet you still piss and moan about it. Don't you think it is time to grow up?
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/21/2005 11:16:03 PM
You know what Herc whatever. Again It's a billion dollar corporation I think they could handle it. Heck most restaurants are more then happy to offer you another free meal if you are not happy with the one they served. Foot locker returns almost any shoe within 60 days for a brand new one if they don't meet your quality not theres. I noramlly spend another 50-70 bucks everytime I go to the park, so there "free" season passes would pretty much be paid for by Spring Break next year.
It was not a rain check they did not close because of the rain, storm, or any safety issues. That excuse is not justified and by giving us passes when we left they were acknowledging that they screwed up. Your comment about being a little mad I find ironic since I have read your comments about the loss of your coaster and the way Cedar Point is cannobalizing your park, so I think I'm far from a psycho. Also do you read my letter to PKD so how would you know I'm Psycho. We mentioned our displeasure and thought that their compensation was not adequate for someone who is visiting from 12 hours away. We then mentioned the only reason we bought season passes this year was to combine 2 trips to PKI and one to PKD. Hence saving about 20.00 bucks in ticket fees. Now by having a 3.5 hour day with a ticket refund good for 1 year do the math who made out in this deal the teacher or the billion dollar corporation. So the idea of a free pass the next year is not that far fetched.
I guess look at it this way who is losing more money here Paramount by giving two season passes or the 1,000+ dollars I spent on vacation to head out there. 50% of the reason being able to try this park.
As one last little note since you seem to understand my displeasure the next day I went to BGW I was talking to there customer service rep in line. They were open the whole time that same Saturday and they had 471 guests in the par. They stayed open to close. PKD stayed open 3.5 hours. Now do you really believe that they also didn't lose tons of money. Heck the Sunday I was there they only had about 2,500 people in the park according to some ride ops. Almost every attraction was open. That is customer service. You know I worked in retail for years and we never close the mall because there is not enough customers. Other retail businesses would lose their ass if they did something like that.
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/21/2005 11:21:53 PM
Cyclonic do you READ. I mailed them explaining my situation and they did not close because of the weather. The weather was only bad for the two hours that they were actually running most of their rides. If it would have rained all day and I would have only rode the FOF I would not be "crying" a bit. I mentioned my problem you guys wanted to know more so I expanded. Everyone of your stories involved weather so it is not the same. Notice I am also not complainign cause Grizzly was down along with anaconda and hypersonic those are all accceptable risks. Trust me if they respond to my letters I'll be the first to tell you, but until then I have the right to be upset about how this situation is being handled.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/21/2005 11:41:28 PM
Ok. I know that it is bad customer service. I'm not saying that they did something right here. It was bad customer service and still is. Howeva (in a Steven A. Smith voice) they did give you the tickets. Are you going to be going to King's Island with your passes? That is what I thought. So you are going to be getting your relative moneys worth from that. You did get the tickets. Now, if they get back to you and they say that they are good for another year or season, now won't you be a little more happy? I just think the you wanting season passes for next year is a little off the wall. That is all. Are they supposed to stop eveyone that is coming out of the park to ask them "Oh, are you a season pass holder?" or "Oh, are you from the area?" Sorry that you spent a lot of money to go there, but I'm sure that there were other things that you could have done with your time. Virginia is a nice state.
Good point with the Busch Gardens thing. They are clearly a better run business.
I'm not a psycho for the Cedar Fair thing and what not. Sure, I'm a little displeased, but I'm not bashing walls about it. It may seem like I'm crying about it, but I'm not really. I'm just telling you what is going on. It's not the end of the world. I'm still getting my season pass to Dorney and I'm still going to make the best of it. Oh well. Life goes on. Sure I'm kind of living in the past, but I liked it better back then. Yet, I'm not going to let it drag me down and keep it from bothering me too much. I speak what I think about the situation. I guess it is over emphasized on the computer. It is nothing that is going to drive me to death.
But yeah, they gave you the passes for another time. They are not going to give you season passes. Like I said, that is crossing the line. Why don't you sue them? I'm sure you could find a way to get money out of it  Besides, you are a teacher, you have the summers off anyway  you can go back (That comment is not intended to offend)
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larrygator
Posts: 4654
Registered: 11/7/2002
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 12:18:06 AM
I once went to a restaurant for a business lunch with about 12 people. We sat for half an hour before the waitress came by with the menus. Then took another 20 minutes to take our order. 40 minutes later we still had not seen appetizers. Finally, at the two hour mark the appetizers showed up. With an explanation that there were problems in the kitchen (the chef had quit that morning) but the entrees would be out shortly. About 20 minutes later the entrees started coming out 3-4 at a time and it was 15 mintues more before the last entree arrived. We finally finished eating after 3 hours. After a lot of complaining the person picking up the tab was negotiating with the manager. The manger wanted to offer free dessert, but we didn't have another hour to wait. Needless to see we never returned and in turn told everyone we knew how bad the restaurant was. The restaurant was closed one month later.
Free dessert didn't mean anything to us, we didn't have time. Along the same line the free passes don't mean much to Coaster05 if he can't use them.
However, I can understand Paramount's point of view. Customers enjoyed the park for a couple of hours and can now return at no charge (or bring friends). Hopefully a manager in the customer service department can address your concerns properly and offer discounted season passes for next year. I would also think it unlikely that two free season passes would be offered, but some companies do give their managers fiscal leniency to make customers happy at all costs.
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BobFunland
Posts: 7962
Registered: 8/9/2001
Rank: Site Moderator
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4/22/2005 12:28:59 AM
I'm not going to get deep into this one, but I would like to point out something about the season pass: Paramount charges abour $85 for their pass. Now, if you wanted a Season Pass from Six Flags, which is $5 more than a one-day ticket (here, at least), I think your wants would be more reasonable (not that you would neccessarily get it anyway), but $85x2 is quite a bit to be giving out. Like Cyclonic pointed out, they closed to avoid a major day of losses, so giving out those season passes would kinda defeat the purpose. Plus, Paramount isn't in the financial situation of Dolly Parton.
I dont know, I have never been turned away from a park due to under-staffing/low-crowds, but I think the reimbusement of the ticket is at least a nice gesture, though to have it available to use more than just this year would be nice, but with the current "on the block" status of Paramount, any potential new owner might not accept the passes, so you could end up getting screwed again. Again, I ride the fence. 
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 12:31:44 AM
EDIT: This was before Bob posted and is directed towards Larry's post
Right. That is a good story. It is all about personal value, and those tickets don't mean much to him. It is a shame that the customer service is that bad, but it is not necessarily that bad. That is basically what you get more often than not with big corporations. It's pretty sad.
Now, look at it from their business stand point. They did what they thought was good enough. They compensated their main market, being the people that were in the area that are going to make return visits.
I wish it were different. If I were a manager or an owner, I would be pretty embarassed if I found out something like this happened, or I would have been there to make sure that it didn't. However, just keep bugging them until you get your way. I realize that it is horrible that they haven't gotten back to you, but if it means that much to you, be mad at them but still get your way. I emailed Cedar Point, not as a complaint, but just asking them about some of the packages that they offer because my girlfriend and I are planning a trip there. They got back to me within 24 hours.
It's bad customer service yes, but just try to get your way without crying about it. They did what they did, if you were one of the few that it did not satisfy, them I'm sorry. You won't get season passes out of it. The best you will get are tickets that are good for next year or the next couple of years. It's like wanting a Jaguar when you can only afford an Eclipse.
Message updated 4/22/2005 12:34:02 AM by Hercules
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 8:22:10 AM
Again I understand the tickets solved the problem for a lot of people and unfortunately I am not one. Again I state I was giving you guys more information my orginal post did not have "crying" in it. Again no one here has been in a park they closed for staffing concerns. Last bob the passes are not 85 each when theny put them in the 4 pack and we all now the real reason they do passes is to get repeat business, which I would give them. Plus they threw 90 dollars in free tickets at me, so how much more would a pass be less then another 90. I also never said I wouldn't go to PKI I said I was planning to go to 3 parks total on my pass making it a wise choice. If paramount acknowledges that the day I went didn't really count because they gave a free day back that gives me two days on that pass. That is what I was saying.
Herc I would never even think about suing hence the joke about it in my post so once again try something new and read the whole post. My summer is off but entirely too full to make it out there again. I also mentioned I would go back there the next year so obviously I must not be to traumatized by the event.
Lastly don't you guys think that maybe by asking for the season paas I might get it where as if I don't ask I have no chance. I also said to you not to them that I would be happy with tickets that don't expire till next year.
Bottom line I will go to another paramount park, I will never buy there season pass again because I live to far away from any park to risk something like this again. I will always mention this story to people when I go to parks for the rest of my time, maybe I will also mention how they provided wonderful customer service maybe not. However my definition of customer service is not to just throw money at it. You guys weren't there you didn't see how the only person who looked remotely sorry or concerned was a nice 24 year who joked that she didn't hear me say Can I sell the tickets. No other choices, no place on site to voice your concerns. Just money all the way around this decision was made for money.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 10:33:08 AM
I was being sarcastic about the suing thing I was saying that I thought that you asking for season passes was over the edge and you might as well just go all out and sue 
Well, sorry that you don't find the money thing to be right, but you basically killed your own argument at the beginning. However much you paid for your season passes, you now have paid less because you are going to sell those tickets that you have. So now, two season passes, I heard 40 dollars somewhere, so now you basically paid 20 dollars less a season pass. Sorry if that is not enough for you. But just because you are asking for season passes doesn't make it right. I think that it is past the line. Sure, if you don't ask then you wouldn't have a chance. I'm sure they are reading that and just laughing at you. Like I said before, it is like wanting a Jaguar when you can only afford an Eclipse. Now I'll throw this one in there... it is like getting a car for Christmas when you only deserved a box of candy canes.
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
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4/22/2005 12:58:21 PM
40 dollars for my pass where did you get that from. Once again try reading. If I sell those tickets it will help I agree. But why should I go through this they closed not me. I am most confused with the idea that season passes are like gold or something. You do realize they lose admission money on those right and that they make it up by repeat visits which generate sales and parking fees. If they give me a pass do you really believe they will notice that on their balance sheet. They may do it they may not they may do nothing. I was expressing my displeasure about the situation. You guys are expressing your opinion what I'm surprised by is the whining and crying comments. Did I some how insult you by stating my opinion. I don't remember adding name calling to my earlier posts. I am a big picture type of guy and this will probably always be a sour point on my experience but I'll live either way. Like I said they may do nothing and thats ok. You asked what I did and what happened and i told you, you don't agree and thats fine. I am not sure why you are so into defending that small privately owned company but whatever you are entitled to your opinion. My opinion is this they should have handled it different, my action will be I won't order a season pass again. Will they notice probably not. Will I feel robbed again by Paramount definately not. Either way this incident is over and if you don't want to hear what I think about something then don't ask. I am extremely honest so I gave you the truth of my experience. You were not there so you are speculating. You don't really acknowledge how these other parks afforded to stay open on days with low attendance you just blast me for asking for something. So whatever at least this became my most responded to trip report.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 1:19:22 PM
Quote:
coaster05 said:
Larry I think you had mentioned you may want them in a thread. I am good with 40 for the pair I believe that is less then half price. |
Gee, I wonder where I got the 40 dollars from. Maybe I should try reading next time
Will they see it on their balance sheet in either way? No. They won't see it by giving you the passes, but they won't see it in your repeat business either. Sure they are not gold, but they are season passes. They gave you the tickets for the one day. You were there for one day and they gave you the tickets for that day.
I was not trying to defend to corporation, I was just coming from their side of things. I even said that it was bad customer service. I'm not justifying what they did in anyway, and I even said that Busch was the better place for staying open. Maybe you should try reading , actually take our words seriously, and not just see it from your view. As I said, things like this have happened to me before, but what are you going to do about it?
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 2:44:16 PM
Your posts says this so now, two season passes, I heard 40 dollars somewhere, I read as bein 40 dollars for my pass hence your use of a comma right after you phrase about passes. IE bob, my neighbor, has a dog. See I refered to bob and the commas added an extra detail. Hence what I read,
Why is this such a hard concept. Please tell me when you were at a park and they closed 7 hours early not because of the weather. That is the only example that is similar to mine. Hershey closed 2 hours early on me last year due to weather and I had no problem with it. Like I said they gave out 90.00 worth of tickets I can't use. I would be more then happy to return them and pay 80.00 for two passes next year, but since they won't respond that makes it hard to negotiate. If they write back\ I will continue to ,handle my interaction with them on a professional level. This forum is where I can complain about it and get it off my chest. I swear you think I wrote a letter that says hey AS##les give me two free season passes now.
As far as looking at both sides of the issue I have acknowledged countless times that I understand they were losing money so did I. I lost my parking fee, gas, tolls and a night in the motel. Please stop acting like I don't understand why they did it I am saying that if other businesses like a mall just closed due to lack of customers they would probably go under. Maybe PKD should look at not being open so early if they are not drawing the crowds to be profitable. Just address the issue of when a park closed that early just because of lack of guests.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 3:04:23 PM
I'm just going to drop this because you are not getting what I'm saying. You are just putting words in my mouth.
I never said that you were calling them names and being mean in your asking and your letter or email or whatever it was. I was just saying that asking for season passes is a little much, that is all.
Oh, and maybe the reason they had such a small crowd was because of the weather to begin with, not because they don't get crowds. But who am I to "justify" anything
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 6:16:59 PM
You never acknowledge my statements hence your frustration level with my comment. I am not puting words into your mouth. I stated my opinion and I asked when a park closed early on you that is all the rest is just heresay.
I do get what you are saying you said this. I shouldn't ask for passes because that is too much. You said parks closed early on you lots of times because of the weather. You accused me of acting psycho. So I understand fine. I also understand that in most of these forums with most people everything turns personal. My first trip report said nothin derogatory about anyone. Then instead of people just giving me there opinion like hey you probably won't get a pass, memebers who were not there started with the whining, crying, and psycho comments. So who threw the first stone and made a big deal out of my complaint. To be honest I never asked for your F**king approval. You put your two cents in with an insult and then got mad when I stood up for myself. Notice I have no comments directed to bob or larry. Gee why is that neither one are supporting me on this issue so why am I not arguing with them. Oh yea no psycho comment so next time if you want to keep a conversation diplomatic state your opinion without the personal attacks. You don't know me so don't act like you do.
Your last sentence is a perfect example of how you don't understand what I am trying to say. I said maybe they shouldn't be open that early in the season if they are having trouble drawing crowds. You respond with the weather was the reason for the small crowd. GEE NO Kidding. Do you think that might be why I said they should not be open that early in the season because the weather is more likely to be bad in April then say July. I'm not putting words in your mouth what I was assuming is you actually put thought into your response.
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Hercules
Posts: 4037
Registered: 10/13/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/22/2005 11:59:14 PM
Maybe you should have been more specific. Great Adventure and Six Flags parks open early in the season, and they have not seen that much bad weather and their parks, at least Great Adventure, are seeing good crowds. You said nothing about the weather being a problem, you just said that it was early.
I'm sorry if the psycho comment offended you, that is just how I talk and I never mean anything literally. It is just slang. You probably would have understood it if this weren't the computer  So I really am sorry about that. However, I think that you still don't understand me and I must not understand you, eventhough I'm pretty sure I do. Bottom line, I never meant to make it personal. I guess it slipped or something. Sorry for the misunderstanding there, but I still think that asking for a season pass is a little too much.
This doesn't even seem like that great of a park anyway. It actually seems like one with a really bad coaster selection; one that does not make me want to go there. The only reason that I would is if I went to Busch Gardens and stayed in Virginia for a weekend, that and Tomb Raider. Paramount parks also have this reputation, at least from what I have heard, about the poor staffs. I was too young to remember now what it was like at Paramount's Great America back when I was 7, so I can't comment on that. However, it seems that among the big chains, Busch is at the top followed by Cedar Fair and then oddly Six Flags and then Paramount (of course Disney and the other big boys must be miles above, but I wouldn't really know).
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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4/23/2005 12:22:01 AM
See that is all I was looking for. Your opinion of me asking for too much is fine I have no problem with disagreements. You may be right maybe I went for too much and now I'll get nothing, but nothing is what I have pretty much unless I drive out to Virginia this year which is not going to happen with the awesome summer I have planned. When I talked about opening early I was including all the things that could go wrong by opening there. IE school events weather etc. this is the fourth spring Break I have been to a park and I have yet to see a parking lot even a quarter full. I always figured they found this to be a good time to train. Actually if I go back to college even the first of May the crowds were really sparse. Hence my comment.
I liked the park the layout was nice and the coasters though not fantastic were solid and I didn't get a chance for 4 of them. Volcano and hurler were both nice and richochet was a really good mouse.
My wife actually wrote most of the letter and it mentioned this either reduced or free passes for next year. A ticket to PKI instead which we would give to friends, or a ticket good for PKD next year. That letter was redirected to someone else and has now been sent for a second time. So we have three options on what would make us feel better compensated. So we'll see.
Like adriahna has said in some of her posts the park service is really on a downslide with Paramount. I really do feel that too many parks just add a ride or don't really address issues. You think a properly trained staff would be a lot more affordable then new rides each year, but who knows. Like we always say maybe the GP doesn't realize there are small parks who appreciate your business and still treat you like it is there honor for you to be there instead of vice-versa.
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/2/2005 11:27:39 PM
Sent the letter a third time. They don't even send a computer generated response. Like I said oh well we tried and even if you don't agree on what we asked for although after rereading are letter the free pass thing was an option not a demand or even a request more of a choice, I would think that most of you guys would be slightly dissapointed in the response.
I guess it is safe to say I won't be on the renew list for next years passes.
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fergusonat
Posts: 813
Registered: 5/2/2005
Rank: Gold Critic
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5/3/2005 8:20:29 AM
Man, PKD is my home park and it makes me feel bad that it's been getting such a bad rep these days. The big difference between Busch Gardens and PKD is that at BGW, if there are only a few people at the park, they will cater to your every need, while PKD throws you out cold in that horribly paved parking lot...
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coaster05
Posts: 6207
Registered: 2/29/2004
Rank: Platinum Critic
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5/3/2005 9:16:54 AM
Were you there that day or has this happened more then once. I'm curious since it was a nice looking park but the customer service did not match the park appearance.
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