In posts to their social media and on park websites today, April 14, 2020), every amusement park owned by Cedar Fair announced that they are extending their 2020 season passes to cover 2021 as well. This a response to park closures and opening date delays caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
Cedar Fair owned parks include Cedar Point, Carowinds, California’s Great America, Canada’s Wonderland, Dorney Park, Knott’s Berry Farm, Kings Dominion, Kings Island, Michigan’s Adventure, Valley Fair, and Worlds of Fun. Additionally, The chain owns the Schlitterbahn water parks in New Braunfels and Galveston, Texas, which also extended their passes to 2021.
Updates to the Cedar Point 2020 Season Passholder program have been announced. For complete details please visit: https://t.co/MCdO4tZt0S pic.twitter.com/UWGNdB6atJ
— Cedar Point (@cedarpoint) April 14, 2020
Updates to the #CAGreatAmerica 2020 Season Passholder program have been announced. For complete details please visit: https://t.co/A77vcZ4nLW pic.twitter.com/BL5FLTIXAn
— California's Great America (@CAGreatAmerica) April 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/Carowinds/status/1250138397299159041
Knott’s Berry Farm actually announced a pass extension to 2021 a few weeks ago on March 20. At the time we thought the likely reason that only Knott’s had announced is that they’re the only Cedar Fair Park operating year round. That means they lost over a full month of operation even with the earlier re-opening estimates. We speculated that if closures last deeper into the season, other parks might follow suit. That happened, and reopening dates seem pretty up in the air still, so it makes sense that Cedar Fair extended the same benefit to all parks.
To stay updated on the latest information, please visit https://t.co/G7F6lP1rua pic.twitter.com/WOhk2OPqjQ
— Knott's Berry Farm (@knotts) March 20, 2020
I’m really impressed by this gesture from the chain. Definitely something they weren’t required to do, especially this early in the closures. If you were thinking of maybe getting a 2021 pass (or a 2020 pass), we suggest ordering it now. The chain could use the money while their parks sit closed, and it’d be a good thank you to them doing the right thing. Also, maybe spend some of that money you’re saving by not having to get a 2021 pass in the parks when they open back up. Buy some extra souvenirs, or get that pass add-on as a little thank you.
For all the latest info on what parks are doing in response to the pandemic, make sure you’re following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. And keep checking Coaster101 for more fun things to keep you entertained while stuck at home! There are lots of fascinating interviews we did recently up on the site, and we have a lot of new feature articles coming up!
Financially Cedar Fair can not claim revenue from a product on payment plan while closed. Season products in off season are deferred revenue, that are claimed by operating days in quarter at the park bought & expected number of usages over a season. Also, by extending products thru 2021 they are going to have to claim revenue for a 2020 product sold over 2021 too..That’s the same product over more quarters, so the quarterly results are going to be skewed & way down. During the shutdown parks will be using their cash & revolver credit lines…CF’s revolver is 275M.