Cedar Point’s beloved HalloWeekends has long been a fall tradition for thrill-seekers and families across the Midwest, but a new price strategy has Today in Ohio questioning the theme parks a la carte approach.
This year, fans of the spooky seasonal event are in for a shock that has nothing to do with the ghosts and ghouls roaming the midway – a significant price increase that’s raised eyebrows and tempers alike.
“Starting this year, if you’re headed to HalloWeekends, the haunted houses which used to be included in your admission to the park are now going to cost extra,” explained Leila Atassi on the podcast, discussing a story by Susan Glaser.
“They’ve rolled out a new Haunted Attractions pass that’ll run you anywhere from 10 bucks to 30, depending on the day that you go. And again, that’s on top of the regular park admission, which starts around $50.”
The change represents a significant shift in Cedar Point’s approach to its seasonal events. Previously, all haunted attractions were included with regular admission. Now, even loyal season pass holders will need to dig deeper into their wallets.
The new pricing structure covers all indoor haunted houses and one outdoor maze called “Corn Stalkers 2.0,” while most outdoor scare zones remain free with admission. Park officials claim the change will improve the experience by making “the scares more intense” and reducing crowds in popular attractions.
Social media reaction has been mixed. Some fans view it as a reasonable attempt to manage crowds during the park’s busiest season, while others see it as pure corporate greed – a way to extract more money from loyal customers who already pay premium prices for admission, food, and accommodations.
The price increases don’t stop at haunted houses. Cedar Point has long sold what Atassi calls “a total scam” – the “No Boo” necklace that allows fearful guests (often children) to walk through scare zones without being targeted by actors.
“So, if you have little kids and you want to walk through the back of the park where they set up the HalloWeekends, and you don’t want your kids to be crying and clinging to you, you have to spend 25 bucks a kid,” Atassi said.
This pricing strategy may signal a broader industry trend. As Chris Quinn noted on the podcast, “I wonder if this is the beginning of all theme parks reverting to the way they used to work way back in the day. People paid as they went. If you wanted to go on a ride, you paid for that ride.”
Indeed, major parks like Disney have already implemented similar upcharge models for line-skipping privileges, and Six Flags parks have charged extra for Halloween attractions for years.
For a family of four with young children, a day at HalloWeekends could now easily cost hundreds of dollars when factoring in admission, haunted house passes, and “No Boo” necklaces – before even considering food, games, or souvenirs.
Will Cedar Point’s gamble pay off, or will they scare away their most loyal customers? The scariest thing at HalloWeekends this year might just be the final bill.
Listen to the discussion here.
Listen to full “Today in Ohio” episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.
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