Teens coming less

[Ilovthevu']

Amusment Today reports that less teens are coming to the park over the past 5 years - about 9% less. http://www.amusementtoday.com/teen-them ... e-decline/

They automatically blame it on price. I do believe that part of it does have to do with price, but I think another big factor is that parks are putting in less BIG THRILL machine coasters. Most Cedar Fair parks for a year have been putting in a Windseeker which I don't think is that wonderful of a ride. I think it's okay. Cedar Fair also has been putting in Dinosaurs Alive which I doubt attracts a lot of teens. Six Flags has been putting in 5 or 6 Skyscreamers which is again, I don't think it's a spectacular ride. Last year, Cedar Point's big thing was a show at night, and so was SFGAm's thing this year. Going back a little, how thrilled are teens over the Tony Hawk type of coasters, or the Dark Knight?

[monsterfan99]

If you are grouping 12 year olds with 17 year olds, I 100% get this study. The amount of families I've seen down here went from holding regional pass holders along with Orlando trip to just an Orlando trip. Even add to that is waiting more years between trips. Income for those families is not going up while cost of theme parks are going up.

As the study says, they use social media of all types along with forums to keep that buzz going. Since I started on Disney forums way back in 1999 (because I am that old) there really was not many folks there besides dorks. Around 2005-ish things kicked into high gear with regular folks who love their vacations becoming members. When the recession hit there were daily post of "had to cancel this years trip, hope to go back in 2 years". They have not really stopped since.

The big problem I have is grouping tweens and teens together. I never knew many 12 year olds buying their own season passes the same way I didn't know many 17 year olds who mom drove them each trip. But hey, this is the information the researchers wanted.

Going back a little, how thrilled are teens over the Tony Hawk type of coasters, or the Dark Knight?

In SF STL's case, Tony Hawk was something teens loved. Outside of the ones getting sick, I always saw teens coming off the ride with a huge grin and talking about the others reactions. The Dark Knight on the other hand, while I love it, not so much.

[Ilovthevu']

I wish they would have differentiated between amusement parks and theme parks in this article. ^You are right that theme parks are getting so out of hand in regards to ticket prices, and why people are canceling their trips.

Back to the regional amusement parks, weather is also a factor too though. For instance at Hurricane Harbor this year, a person has said that it's been the worst season in attendance since the waterpark opened.

[monsterfan99]

I wish they would have differentiated between amusement parks and theme parks in this article. ^You are right that theme parks are getting so out of hand in regards to ticket prices, and why people are canceling their trips.

What would amaze me is if those number were just for the Disney, Universal, Sea World/Busch, Cedar Fair and Six Flags chains. Granted the number are off sample sizes, but still. On a whole there are large chucks of the country not within a day trip to parks (entire gulf coast comes to mind.)

[Chitown]

^Entire gulf coast? Busch Gardens, all of the Orlando area parks, Legoland Florida, Kemah Boardwalk, and Galvaston Pleasure Pier are day trip parks from the Gulf.

[UWW-10]

but I think another big factor is that parks are putting in less BIG THRILL machine coasters.

Any park can build a multi-million dollar "big thrill" coaster (provided finances are there and they want to spend), but....what larger theme park is really missing some major model from their lineups?? Most are pretty well-rounded in terms of what they offer.

It may seem like parks put less in......but it's more like the parks you are thinking of already have a lineup of coasters/thrills that aren't missing some huge ride concept.

[FParker185]

until now, I'd say the most glaring hole in an amusement parks lineup is a full circuit invert at Kings Island. I guess you can also also count the complete lack of Hyper Coasters in Florida and at Knotts.

[Ilovthevu']

but I think another big factor is that parks are putting in less BIG THRILL machine coasters.

Any park can build a multi-million dollar "big thrill" coaster (provided finances are there and they want to spend), but....what larger theme park is really missing some major model from their lineups?? Most are pretty well-rounded in terms of what they offer.

It may seem like parks put less in......but it's more like the parks you are thinking of already have a lineup of coasters/thrills that aren't missing some huge ride concept.

There are a lot of different types of coasters out there that parks don't have. Fiesta Texas, St. Louis, Worlds of Fun, Dorney Park, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags New England, and Over Texas don't have any type of Flying Coasters. None of them have Dive Machines, or 4th Dimension Coasters. I don't think any of them have Euro Fighters. There are plenty of other coasters out there I can mention, but that's not even my point of the post.

What have people been complaining on there for so long? Oh, we haven't got a thrilling major coaster since 2003 with Superman until 2012... Blah, blah...

I'm not one to say that you need a coaster every year because I think that's dumb, but Skyscreamers and Windseekers in my opinion are not that great of rides. They are okay. They remind me of Sky Trek Tower, but being outside. You see some view, and you get some wind in your face. Nothing to write home about, and these parks are buying so many like they are the greatest things in the world.


^About Kings Island for instance, yes they should get a full circuit B&M Inverted Coaster, but I don't think that the park is perfect. I think a lot of people complain about the Arrow coaster Vortex. The park could build a B&M Floorless, or Sitdown in that spot instead. I also wouldn't mind Kings Island adding 1 or 2 more flats.

[rb1]

You can also blame the economy parents are not spending a lot anymore because everything went up taxes, groceries, gas, utilities families are spending more on the basics than traveling or other stuff they wanna do. Jobs are still scarse specially for teens an average family would probly spend all of their food budget or budget for the whole month if they go a themepark ie SF. Thats why the parks always busy whenever they got a good deal on admissions.

[w00dland]

^Bam.

The #1 reason there are less teens at the parks in the past 5 years has been the economy, the parks attracted more families due to less disposable income for vacations.

The #2 reason is how much extra spending has gone into these parks in the past 3/4 years and what they are building, much of it has gone into the Disney/Universal parks to put in incredible new attractions (See Harry Potter or Carsland) that attract families more than teens into traveling to their parks (now that disposable income in back on the rise).

Regional parks are starting to build big coasters again, but it'll never be like it was 14 years ago when Six Flags went on its spending spree and Cedar Fair had to catch up. That's just not really sustainable for most parks.

[Viper 88]

Personally I'm glad less teens are coming as I don't wanna hear their stupidity and bear witness to their jackasseries (yes I make up words). I also don't wanna see their pants hanging so far of their asses I can give advice on that odd bordered mole. Where I don't care for children I tolerate them more because usually they are more well behaved than teens. That and they fall asleep, or are in the kids areas or are strictly there for the waterpark.