That sound you hear? It’s the return of theme park normalcy (almost, anyway.) After significantly shortened seasons (if even opening at all) in 2020, all of Cedar Fair’s amusement parks returned to a “closer to normal” schedule for 2021. While several parks in the chain still require reservations and have capacity restrictions in accordance with state and local governments, with the announcement of a new roller coaster coming to Kings Dominion last week, dare we say that normal (much like Kings Dominion’s “X-peditions”) is on the horizon.
When we published our annual “Pricing out a Cedar Fair Season Pass” article in 2019, if you were able to take advantage of the 2019 season pass sales in advance of the 2020 season, you’re likely still “riding the wave” of admission and benefits from two years ago, as Cedar Fair extended all Season Passes and benefits through the end of 2021. (Several parks have extended further, as well!) But, for the first time in two years, you may be in the market for a season pass for your local Cedar Fair park. Curious how the prices have fluctuated and what it will cost to experience your local parks in the manner in which you’ve become acustomed to in the past two years? We’ve got you covered in the article below.
[Author’s Note: These Prices Are Current as of 8/14/2021]
California’s Great America
- New Season Pass Cost: Silver: $67.00, Gold: $82.00
- Parking Included: For Gold & Platinum Passholders
- All-Season Dining: $83.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $275.00
- All-Season Fun Pix: $49.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: Yes
- Special Events Included: Halloween Haunt and Winterfest (Gold & Platinum Passholders)
- Additional Parks Included: Gilroy Gardens (Pre-K, Gold & Platinum Passholders)
California’s Great America debuted South Bay Shores in 2021. With only a $15 difference between a silver and a gold pass, we’d recommend a gold pass for anyone who is going to drive to the park in their own car during the season — you will get to park all season for less than the cost of parking for one day.
Canada’s Wonderland
- New Season Pass Cost: Regular: $74.99 CAD, Gold: $99.99 CAD
- Parking Included: With Platinum Pass. $53.00 CAD to add to a Regular or Gold Pass.
- All-Season Dining: $89.99 CAD for Regular Passholders, $99.99 for Gold Passholders. Gold All-Season Dining valid at Haunt and WinterFest
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99 CAD
- All-Season Fast Lane: $499.00 CAD
- All-Season Fun Pix: $39.99 CAD
- All-Season Lockers: No
- Pre-K Pass Available: No
- Special Events Included: Halloween Haunt and Winterfest for Gold and Platinum Passholders only.
The last Cedar Fair park to reopen following COVID, Canada’s Wonderland opened in early July 2021 has extended 2021 Season Passes (which also included passes purchased in 2019 and 2020) through Labor Day (spelled “Labour” north of the border) 2022. In 2021, the park opened Mountain Bay Cliffs and Beagle Brigade Airfield. Next season, the park promises four seasons of world-class experiences, events and entertainment for guests of all ages, including a new International Food Festival featuring a diverse menu of culinary tastes, treats and drinks from around the world. In addition, Canada’s Wonderland will be expanding its culinary offerings in 2022 with the introduction of a multi-level, rustic lodge-restaurant that will be the park’s largest dining facility to date.
Carowinds
- New Season Pass Cost: Gold: $107.00
- Parking Included: Yes
- All-Season Dining: $99.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99, VIP Metal Tumbler: $49.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $375.00
- All-Season Fun Pix: $49.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: Yes
- Special Events Included: SCarowinds, WinterFest
Carowinds added Grand Carnivale to the park’s already stellar special event line-up in 2020, along with Boogie Board Racer, the southeast’s longest mat-racing water slide.
Cedar Point
- New Season Pass Cost: $99.00
- Parking Included: Yes
- All-Season Dining: $109
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $850.00
- All-Season Fun Pix: $64.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: Yes
- All-Season Lockers: No
- Special Events Included: Halloweekends
- Additional Parks Included: Cedar Point Shores
Cedar Point recently announced the closure of Wicked Twister. Only time will tell what the park will do to replace the Inverted Impulse coaster. The park also promises a new Chef-Inspired signature dining experience in Frontier Town in 2022. In 2021, Cedar Point celebrated their 150th Anniversary (+1) with an all-new parade and the Snake River Expedition.
Dorney Park
- New Season Pass Cost: $89.00
- Parking Included: Yes
- All-Season Dining: $89.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $225.00
- All-Season Photo Pass*: $59.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: Yes
- All-Season Lockers: $129.00
- Special Events Included: Halloween Haunt
Dorney Park added the option for Fun Foto at the park in 2021, but it is not integrated into Cedar Fair’s greater FunPix system. The park will also add the new Seaside Splashworks water play area inside of Wildwater Kingdom.
Kings Dominion
- New Season Pass Cost: $89.00
- Parking Included: Yes
- All-Season Dining: $89.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $299.00
- All-Season Fun Pix: $49.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: Yes
- All Season Lockers: $120.00
- Special Events Included: Halloween Haunt, WinterFest
The lone Cedar Fair park to make a major capital announcement for 2022 (so far), Kings Dominion will open the S&S 4-D Freespin, Tumbili, along with a newly re-imagined Safari Village – now known as Jungle X-Pedition, complete with a new signature dining experience and retail outlet next season. This winter, Kings Dominion will debut the WinterFest Wonderland parade at the return of WinterFest to the park!
Kings Island
- New Season Pass Cost: $110.00
- Parking Included: Yes
- All-Season Dining: $120.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $625.00
- All-Season Fun Pix: $54.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: No
- All-Season Lockers: $150.00
- Special Events Included: Halloween Haunt, WinterFest
Kings Island will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2022. Guests will join the park in commemorating the landmark anniversary with limited time events, enhanced food offerings and all-new live entertainment – each telling the stories of Kings Island’s first 50 years and sure to delight all ages and create lasting memories. The park will announce more anniversary details in the coming months.
Knott’s Berry Farm
- New Season Pass Cost: Regular: $110.00, Gold: $135.00
- Parking Included: Only included with Platinum Pass, Can be added for $75 to a regular or gold pass
- All-Season Dining: $135.00
- All-Season Beverages: $35.00
- All-Season Fast Lane: $575.00
- All-Season Fun Pix: $54.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: No
- All-Season Lockers: $160, only available to Gold & Platinum Passholders
- Special Events Included: Knott’s Merry Farm (excluding 12/18/21-12/31/21) and Season pass holders get a discount on Knott’s Scary Farm tickets. Full-Season Access is $TBD)
- Additional Parks Included: Knott’s Soak City (With a gold or platinum pass.)
This past season, the park opened the Triotech Interactive Dark Ride, Knott’s Beary Tales: Return to the Farm and hosted its postponed 100th Anniversary celebration. In 2022, the Knott’s Berry Farm hotel will undergo a massive renovation.
Michigan’s Adventure
- New Season Pass Cost: $79.00
- Parking Included: Platinum Passholders Only. All others pay $46.00
- All-Season Dining: $81.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $125.00
- All-Season Fun Foto: $59.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: No
- All-Season Lockers: No
- Special Events Included: N/A
Both Season Pass and All-Season Dining prices for Michigan’s Adventure have decreased more than any other park in the chain between 2021 and 2022 prices. Michigan’s Adventure opened their new Camp Snoopy kids area in 2021, as well as debuted the new Photo Pass. Like Dorney Park and Valleyfair, the Michigan’s Adventure Photo Pass is not linked with the rest of Cedar Fair’s Funpix program.
Valleyfair
- New Season Pass Cost: $78.00
- Parking Included: Yes
- All-Season Dining: $81.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $235.00
- All-Season Fun Foto: $59.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: Yes
- All-Season Lockers: No
- Special Events Included: ValleySCARE!
Grand Carnivale transformed the midways of Valleyfair during 2021, and is quickly becoming a signature event at the park.
Worlds of Fun
- New Season Pass Cost: $89.00
- Parking Included: Yes
- All-Season Dining: $89.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $230.00
- All-Season Fun Pix: $49.99
- Pre-K Pass Available: Yes
- All-Season Lockers: $139.00
- Special Events Included: Halloween Haunt
Worlds of Fun opened Rip Tide Raceway, the world’s longest mat racing water slide in 2021. Unfortunately, WinterFest at Worlds of Fun is not taking place in 2021. Not sure if this is a temporary COVID casualty or a more permanent change.
Schlitterbahn Water Parks
The newest member of the Cedar Fair family, admission to Schlitterbahn Water Parks was included with Cedar Fair Platinum Passes starting in January 2020. Though the two parks have the same pricing structure, season pass admission is only valid at its respective park, unless you purchase the Texas 2-Splash Ticket, valid at both parks!
Schlitterbahn Galveston & Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
- New Season Pass Cost: $99.99,
- Texas Two-Splash: $115.00
- Parking Included: Yes
- All-Season Dining: $79.00
- Two-Splash All-Season Dining: $89.00
- All-Season Photos: $39.99
Cedar Fair Platinum Pass
- New Season Pass Cost: $198.00
- Parking Included: Yes, at all Cedar Fair Parks
- All-Season Dining: $135.00
- All-Season Beverages: $32.99
- All-Season Fast Lane: $875.00
- All-Season Fun Pix: Price paid valid at all Cedar Fair parks.
- Pre-K Pass Available: No
- Special Events Included: All Halloween Events except Knott’s Scary Farm (Discounts available). All Winter events included.
I’ve been a platinum passholder for six years now. I never leave home without it!
TL;DR
If you’re visually minded, this chart is for you. If you’re curious about how numbers have changed from 2020 Season Pass Sales in Fall 2019 to 2021 Season Pass numbers, we’ve included last year’s chart. Some numbers have gone up, others have gone down, and others have stayed the same!
Season passes for 2022 are now on sale. Be sure to buy your passes now before prices go up! The earlier you buy, the prices will be the lowest, and there are also bonus incentives!
I m wondering if the GOLD Cedar Point pass can be used at other parks of Cedar Faire??
Hi Dennis,
The Cedar Point Gold pass can only be used at Cedar Point. What you’ll need at the other parks is the Platinum Pass!
Is it me but I cannot find the Platinum Pass (good at all parks) on sale online anywhere. Do you have a link?
Never mind — The Platinum pass @ each park is good for all the parks. I’m guessing you moderate the comments. Feel free not to post. (I feel like such an idiot.)
Is the Platinum pass for Cedar Fair Parks valid for 12 month from date of purchase?
No, it’s good for the season.
Cedar Point is our home park, and we have Platinum passes. If we add on drinks for the season, is that good at all parks, or just Cedar Point?
All parks, goes for food for season also.
if i buy fast lane add on to cedar fair platinum pass does that go for all cedar fair parks