SeaWorld has been running their parks into the ground, can't keep stable leadership, and is so weirdly mismanaged someone created a "SeaWorld Work Order" Twitter account. Sure they throw you some coaster but they also closed tons of other rides without replacement. I don't want them within a six-foot radius of SF.
The irony if this happens. Apx. 30 years, or so, ago....in the little Ohio town Geauga Lake, there were two parks, one on each side of the lake. The one park was Sea World, which would close down in a few years. The second was a small amusement park that was bought by Six Flags and sold again to Cedar Point, and closed down fairly soon after the acquisition.....A strange twist.
Yes, I agree on Geauga Lake being a trashy park. I drove up there once or twice nearly every summer for thirty years, so I was present for just about every incarnation, though I would say the first two years with Six Flags it was probably the cleanest and the best attraction years. But it went back downhill pretty quick. Sea World though was a vey clean park, but I'm not into those kinds of parks so I didn't go there much. Going to Geauga Lake after attending my neighborhood Kennywood Park was night and day. On our Geauga Lake trips we would jokingly comment that 'we were slumming it'. The only way Geauga Lake could look good is if someone had a huge dose of childhood nostalgia to cloud their memories......and comparing Geauga Lake to Cedar Point or Kings Island would be like a street carnival to an amusement park.I went to Sea World in Aurora a number of times. It was a nice park, family friendly, and I really enjoyed the animal shows. I loved Shamu, the dolphins, and all of them but really enjoyed the Clyde and Seamore show. Heck, I remember watching the water skiing show on the lake and enjoying it. When it closed, I was pretty sad. I didn't get to Geauga Lake until after Six Flags had purchased it, although I would stare across the lake longingly. When I did go, it was Six Flags World of Adventure and it was trashy. I was comparing it to Cedar Point (hit both parks in one trip although I had been going to the Point every year for two decades) and there was no comparison. Cedar Point had fast and friendly ride operations and was clean. Six Flags was the opposite in every way.
Yes, completely, with the exception that I don't want them within a six-foot radius of CF. They can do what they want to Six Flags (SF). It seems like their management is always searching for the next person or a new identity. Also, I don't think that they are good enough to run that many parks, especially since the CF parks are very different due to seasonality and guest expectations. Plus, I'm scared of SEAS due to Paramount's wrecking of the parks when they owned them.
It will be good to have all the mid-tier parks under one brand. Having BGT/SWO lumped into CP/KI/KD/BGW top tier passes will help fluff Orlando's numbers.
Yes, I went to Kings Dominion and then BGW on a tripI get people are loyal to their home parks, but I've been to Cedar Fair parks and SeaWorld parks and I've always found the SeaWorld parks a step above the Cedar Fair properties in most respects.
It’s amazing to see people complain about SeaWorld taking over cedar fair and say SeaWorld will drag them down. I’m more concerned with cedar fair draining SeaWorld. I’ve been to there flagships(parks) of both minus wonderland in Canada over the last 5 years and if you believe CF is above SEAS your not concerned with the park overall, operational, shows, food, and balance. yet more worried about coasters. Don’t say “well SeaWorld added thrill rides so…” what a joke they continue to update parades, shows, and events(big thing) to keep balance.
Let's not forget that Six Flags offered $4 billion to purchase CF. Here, they would be getting $600 million less. When you factor in that and rising inflation, that sounds like a rotten deal.
I don't see it happening.
I get people are loyal to their home parks, but I've been to Cedar Fair parks and SeaWorld parks and I've always found the SeaWorld parks a step above the Cedar Fair properties in most respects.
I have complained about CF, and CP, mismanagement before. The amount of attractions they've removed for food venues, when they can't run the current ones at full capacity, is insane. They totally messed up their 2020 and 2021 operations and let dollars fly over their heads to pick up pennies.
But I would take CF daily operations, maintenance, and management over SW any day of the week plush Schmursdays. Rides are open, updates are made, and things are moving forward. SW stops, starts, and resets every few years to varying degrees of success.
SeaWorld Orlando messed up so badly their highly touted E-Ticket dark ride is now permanently closed because they didn't plug in the batteries during the shutdown. With that level of mess maybe I'm not the one who's loyal to their home parks (which is for me, Kennywood).
Yes, I went to Kings Dominion and then BGW on a trip
I hadn't been to either in many years and wow, night and day
I've always said:
Six Flags Parks feels like I'm getting less than I paid for
Cedar Fair Parks feels like I'm getting exactly what I paid for
Sea World Parks feel like I'm getting more than I paid for