How does Wonderland make money?

[Sandie5]

I was there last Saturday and the line up for season's passes was really long even in the afternoon. So I'm figuring that a good 80-90% of the people are buying season's passes.

If that's so, then on a typical day in July and August, most of the people will be seasons pass holders. Where does the money come from to run the park?

The place already had money problems when Paramount owned them, now it's not any better. I can't see how they make much money at all.


The lineups were horribly long for all the rides, so I won't be going again, btw.

[skewed]

They probably make it off of the food and beverages. The prices for meals are ridiculous.

[TapemanPL]

the initial cost of the season pass...and the crazy prices for food

[rems]

I was there last Saturday and the line up for season's passes was really long even in the afternoon. So I'm figuring that a good 80-90% of the people are buying season's passes.

If that's so, then on a typical day in July and August, most of the people will be seasons pass holders. Where does the money come from to run the park?

The place already had money problems when Paramount owned them, now it's not any better. I can't see how they make much money at all.


The lineups were horribly long for all the rides, so I won't be going again, btw.

that's probably not a good assumption

[George W. Bush]

I have been there three times I think, and almost got on a ride out there (train through the mountain), but while waiting in line, they closed it as the train thingie through the mountain was broken.

a) The lines are loooooooooong.
b) A lot of immature and ******** people go there... I won't be stupid anymore and WON'T go! I rather go to the Zoo and enjoy animals than stupid ******** young teens! Down with them!

I also enjoy the Museum - nice place, usually free of retards.

[confused]

Wonderland also sells tons of group passes and make a killing on parking and souvenirs

[Techhead]

Wonderland also sells tons of group passes and make a killing on parking and souvenirs

Corporate Days.. I know the company I work for book a complete day just for employees. They got to make something form these days.

[alv077]

Shouldn't Wonderland be rolling in money?

After upfront costs, they have an almost nonexistent variable cost when people come in. Check their admission prices again and look at what they pay their employees - lifeguards make almost minimum there.

That being said, their upfront costs are huge... but I doubt they are struggling...

[ullyeus]

I often wonder how business's with huge linesups of people paying buying tickets make money....



?

[gei]

I was there last Saturday and the line up for season's passes was really long even in the afternoon. So I'm figuring that a good 80-90% of the people are buying season's passes.

If that's so, then on a typical day in July and August, most of the people will be seasons pass holders. Where does the money come from to run the park?

They actually charge money for those season passes.

However I doubt it's anywhere remotely close to 80-90% of visitors having seasons passes.

[dubbz]

im guessing from $3.50 dollar soft drinks (and the fact that they search your bags before you enter to be sure no outside drinks are coming in) and $10 funnel cakes.

i know that's how they got my $20-some odd dollars yesterday.

[BladeX]

i went to get my season pass n then the line up to get the damn pass process at 2pm afternoon was like waitin for a ride so wth?? i just left ...crazy lineups

[rems]

oh not to mention the carnival games...spend $50 to win a $5 stuffed animal...

[UrbanPoet]

food, beverages, games.
The ticket sales just help them break even on energy and maitenence cost.

[ClubberLang]

Not to mention all the branding that they attach to all of their attractions. Their park is one giant add for all of paramounts movie franchises. This isn't really something that you can place on the balance sheet but it definitely clearly fits into paramounts brand strategy.

[boonjaca]

Who owns Wonderland now if Paramount doesn't?

[professionaldude]

Well, every business is there to make money. Wonderland only have summer season so, I wouldn't be surprise if they make money.

[MoonDoggy]

you also have to include that they hire summer students at a cheap rate. i'm sure they can recover some or most of that cost from the government for hiring summer students as well.

[Kranberry]

Who owns Wonderland now if Paramount doesn't?

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company

[jason9945]

Not to mention all the branding that they attach to all of their attractions. Their park is one giant add for all of paramounts movie franchises. This isn't really something that you can place on the balance sheet but it definitely clearly fits into paramounts brand strategy.

Not Anymore. The paramount brand has pretty much been removed.

[jason9945]

I have been there three times I think, and almost got on a ride out there (train through the mountain), but while waiting in line, they closed it as the train thingie through the mountain was broken.

a) The lines are loooooooooong.
b) A lot of immature and ******** people go there... I won't be stupid anymore and WON'T go! I rather go to the Zoo and enjoy animals than stupid ******** young teens! Down with them!

I also enjoy the Museum - nice place, usually free of retards.

I believe the train things are called roller coasters, they are the attraction NOT the "******** young teens". If you were going to wonderland just to enjoy the "stupid ******** young teens" I think you may have some issues.

As for that museum, I hear its a good one! You hardly ever run into a person who actually still uses the term "********", and if you do they are usually 12.

[Carnage]

The place already had money problems when Paramount owned them, now it's not any better. I can't see how they make much money at all.


The park didn't have money problems with Paramount, and it doesn't have money problems now.

Wonderland is the highest attended seasonal theme park in the world.

I got an investment package for Cedar Fair from a few years ago, and it's revenue is about 40% concessions and 50% admissions. That's corporation wide, but probably accurate for Wonderland.

[CanadaBoy]

im guessing from $3.50 dollar soft drinks (and the fact that they search your bags before you enter to be sure no outside drinks are coming in) and $10 funnel cakes.

i know that's how they got my $20-some odd dollars yesterday.

I always bring food in a lunch bag (snacks and plastic bottles)

The only thing they care about is metal/aluminum cans which have to be thrown out into those big bins (I took opened by can and took a few sips before throwing it out)

[ian1386]

So I'm figuring that a good 80-90% of the people are buying season's passes.

80-90% sounds like a HUGE over-estimate. The reason that line stays long into the afternoon is because:
a) It takes a while to actually fill out the form/take a picture/print the cards, etc. Much longer than just paying admission to get in.
b) There's only one line (I think).
c) Seasons pass holders are more likely to go in the afternoon, as they don't care as much to 'maximize time'.
d) It's the start of the season.

I would guess that in the summer, the amount of people in the park with seasons passes is no more than 20%.


The lineups were horribly long for all the rides, so I won't be going again, btw.

That answers the question of 'how they make money'...

[batman321123]

The printing press.

[Spor 13]

I used to be a ticket seller at wonderland when it was still Paramount and there's still a very large portion of people who bought day passes. Every day in the summer, there's a 2 hour rush usually from 9:30am to 11:30am. There were 13 seller booths open and at the end of the day, my total sales would be around 35K-50K. I worked in parking tolls the year before when parking was $6.50 and on a busy day (...every day in the summer, busier on wknds obviously), my car count was around 5-600 (there were around 10 toll booths) and I'd work a shift from 8am-3pm.

Multiply that by how many ever summer days in a season and that's a fairly large part of revenue not including group sales, season pass sales, parking pass sales. Also, on festival days (italian day, portuaguese day, indian day, chinese day, etc) its a very high ratio of people who buy day passes to season pass holders.

[najibs]

the same way movie theaters make money...not from the movies they show, but rather from concessions...aka: food, beverages & snacks

[Carnage]

the same way movie theaters make money...not from the movies they show, but rather from concessions...aka: food, beverages & snacks

They couldn't possibly be making anything off of the $15 they charge for a hamburger platter at Coasters diner.

Oh wait ... :D

[nfnx]

most season pass holders buy it for a good deal but never end up going more than once :)

[KorruptioN]

Kind of related, but who's heard the Wonderland radio commercials? They say "6615" at the end of every clip. I wonder what it represents.

[deep]

I often wonder how business's with huge linesups of people paying buying tickets make money....?
OK, that made me grin.

[Carnage]

Kind of related, but who's heard the Wonderland radio commercials? They say "6615" at the end of every clip. I wonder what it represents.

66 rides / 15 coasters/

[at1212b]

Its also hiring basically minimum wage highschool kids that are desperate.. just like when we all used to work at the CNE :cheesygri

[matdwyer]

The best toy in Ring toss cost 1.00 to make yet I spend 100 bucks trying to win a giant stuffed woody wood pecker ... I am ********.

Watch out or you'll get banned for personal attacks!

On a serious note, the parking charges disgust me. You are already getting my money for admission and yet you charge me $10 to park?

I went sunday to get my pass processed ( at like 4pm ) and ended up sitting in line for 2 hours as they bounced me from line to line... went in the park only to see line ups of at least an hour... ended up watching the dance/music show and leaving... i'll gladly go one wednesday at 6:30 or a rainy tuesday... I hate lines. I also pledge not to spend a penny on any of their food... I'll gladly walk to subway or wendys and come back

[urameatball]

I rarely goto wonderland but whenever I do, it's roughly $100 out of my pocket...

they make money off me :P... and I don't mind, cuz it's fun.

[skewed]

I rarely goto wonderland but whenever I do, it's roughly $100 out of my pocket...

they make money off me :P... and I don't mind, cuz it's fun.

Well, if you had fun spending the $100....it is money well spent. :D I have no problem spending $100 for a day like that. I doubt I would ever buy a season pass since once every 2-3 years is good enough for me.

[Carnage]

Watch out or you'll get banned for personal attacks!

On a serious note, the parking charges disgust me. You are already getting my money for admission and yet you charge me $10 to park?

I went sunday to get my pass processed ( at like 4pm ) and ended up sitting in line for 2 hours as they bounced me from line to line... went in the park only to see line ups of at least an hour... ended up watching the dance/music show and leaving... i'll gladly go one wednesday at 6:30 or a rainy tuesday... I hate lines. I also pledge not to spend a penny on any of their food... I'll gladly walk to subway or wendys and come back

Get a parking pass then.

$10 is pretty much the minimum charge for parking at theme parks. Most of the Six Flags parks are up to $15. And Disney/Universal I'm sure are upwards of $15.

Getting a season pass processed in the first few weeks of the season is a bad idea. The trick is to go before the park opens for the season, and you'll walk in and out in 5 minutes.

[dubbz]

I always bring food in a lunch bag (snacks and plastic bottles)

The only thing they care about is metal/aluminum cans which have to be thrown out into those big bins (I took opened by can and took a few sips before throwing it out)

well, i know when i was in line to get in, there were bottles upon bottles of plastic pepsi and cokes, bags of chips, and bottles of water right beside the metal detectors. I assumed there were just taking them from people's napsacks and strollers. might be a better idea to just leave your stuff in the car.

In any case, waited in line for a while to process the seaons pass. the line nearly reached the parking lot but moved nicely. and on a side note, it was worth the wait as i got to ride on the first front seats on Behemoth. amazing drop on that one. :D

[KorruptioN]

$10 is pretty much the minimum charge for parking at theme parks. Most of the Six Flags parks are up to $15. And Disney/Universal I'm sure are upwards of $15.

Ontario Place charges upwards of $20 for parking if there's a concert going on at the Amphitheatre or if the CNE is on.

[Sprite_TM]

i havent been to wonderland for a LONG time. maybe 5years. they search ur bags now for drinks?

[dubbz]

i havent been to wonderland for a LONG time. maybe 5years. they search ur bags now for drinks?

well, they were when i went on Sunday. i was with the gf and she had her purse searched and had to walk through the metal detector. i had to go to a dood who checked me with his metal detector. i didnt have a bag with me but i did have to empty my pockets.

as mentioned earlier, when i passed the metal detectors, i noticed maybe 20-30 bottles of pop and maybe 5 large bags of chips sitting on top of 2 garbage bins.

[aZian_]

I worked at revenue Control, so i can give you roughly about how much they make and where revenue comes in.

I think the busiest night I've seen was on Chinese day ( wonderland hosts random [race] day) and Chinese day is the busiest i believe. And just the one restaurant made i believe 40-50k

Believe or not the hot dog stand in the front makes about on average 4-5k easily achieve 10k. Main source are the foods. Than you got other places like the arcade, games, locker rentals, clothes stores, beverages, ice cream, oh and also parking and non pass holders.

Funnel cakes are crazy sellers, thats 10$ for one funnel cake, and they sell like 100s per hour so you do the math.
Same with the hot dogs which with drinks are about 10$. At the end of the nights we would be counting 100s of thousands till 3-4am.

[Carnage]

Sell 2.5 million funnel cakes and that gets them a good roller coaster. ;)

[426Hemi]

I also enjoy the Museum - nice place, usually free of retards.

LOL

[gordholio]

Obviously Canada's Wonderland makes enough money to operate and make a profit or else the owners and investors would put their money into some other venture. Season's passes, day passes, etc., food, souvenirs.

[BornRuff]

As far as the question in the title of this thread, anyone who actually went to the park would not be asking that.

On top of all of the other reasons that people have already mentioned, you seem to be ignoring the fact that people pay money for the season passes. The costs of running the park don't go up that much for each visitor to the park. They have to build and maintain the park before you even get there, so having people willing to fork out money to them before the park even opens is a huge boost for them.

Once you buy the pass, you useually end up spending a good chunk of money there with every visit as well.

The average season pass holder could easily spend 20 bucks per visit, on top of the 80 or however much they paid at the start of the year. The average family of 4 going to the park could easily drop 300 bucks per visit.

So while your assumption of how many people buy seasons passes is way off, selling lots of seasons passes is certainly a good thing. If every visitor to the park bought a seasons pass, and they kept the same number of visitors, they would be happy as can be. They would love to get your money now rather than have to wait to see if you actually make it out to the park this year.

[Homer88]

Forget Wonderland... I wonder how Ontario Place makes money... But then again they're government operated so it doesn't matter whether they make money or not...

[matdwyer]

Get a parking pass then.

$10 is pretty much the minimum charge for parking at theme parks. Most of the Six Flags parks are up to $15. And Disney/Universal I'm sure are upwards of $15.

Getting a season pass processed in the first few weeks of the season is a bad idea. The trick is to go before the park opens for the season, and you'll walk in and out in 5 minutes.

I did... I suppose spending 33 bucks is better than 10 bucks a time... It still bugs me though... It just seems to me like parking should be free, especially when they could turn that land across the street (north of major mac) into a big free parking lot.

They should just charge $1 extra a ticket and have parking free... its just a ridiculous extra expense in my mind when I'm already paying to go in there... but thats toronto for you (and everywhere else I suppose)

[Carnage]

So while your assumption of how many people buy seasons passes is way off, selling lots of seasons passes is certainly a good thing. If every visitor to the park bought a seasons pass, and they kept the same number of visitors, they would be happy as can be. They would love to get your money now rather than have to wait to see if you actually make it out to the park this year.

Selling lots of seasons passes CAN be a good thing. As long as they are priced properly.

"giving away the gate" isn't always a good thing. Six Flags used to practically give away their season passes. The cost of a Six Flags season pass often would be only slightly more then a standard admission. And really they wouldn't make much off of these people. Although that is just one of many strategies that nearly ran SF into the ground.

On the flip side you have the Disney parks, where season passes are more then triple the cost of a Wonderland season pass, and single days cost more then a Wonderland season pass. But then again, you step inside a Disney park and you see a quality and attention to detail that you would never see in a Six Flags/Cedar Fair park. Probably also partly why Disney can afford to build 100 million dollar attractions. ;)

I did... I suppose spending 33 bucks is better than 10 bucks a time... It still bugs me though... It just seems to me like parking should be free, especially when they could turn that land across the street (north of major mac) into a big free parking lot.

They should just charge $1 extra a ticket and have parking free... its just a ridiculous extra expense in my mind when I'm already paying to go in there... but thats toronto for you (and everywhere else I suppose)

That's just the RFD in you talking. ;)

These are corporate parks who out to make a profit off of us. They aren't going to give anything away for free. Why give away millions of dollars worth of parking tolls, just to make some people happy? The park has to answer to their shareholders, and not a single one is going to support giving away millions of dollars. They're not running a charity.

There are parks that have free parking, and there are also parks that give away free soft drinks. But these are always the smaller parks with a fraction of the attendance of the big corporate parks like Wonderland.

[Rehan]

I can't see how they make much money at all. Getting their employees to work as unpaid "volunteers" helps the bottom line, I suppose...
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=593097

[Squiggles]

There is an illgal Nike sweatshop under the mountain.

[jason9945]

There is an illgal Nike sweatshop under the mountain.

You are so wrong... its a huge meth lab

[Squiggles]

You are so wrong... its a huge meth lab

Actually, we're both right, it's a Nike meth lab. Just do it!!!!!!

[Angela V]

I haven't been to Wonderland in about 9 years so good to know about the drinks being carried into the park. Since both my kids are big enough for rides we were thinking of a trip this year to Wonderland. Don't remember the metal detectors either! Also don't remember the funnel cakes being so pricey... maybe we can all split one? :)

[jp06]

Watch out or you'll get banned for personal attacks!

On a serious note, the parking charges disgust me. You are already getting my money for admission and yet you charge me $10 to park?



Just like any big event, it generates revenue. Compare that $10 parking to the $20 parking at like the ACC or Roger's Centre.

Also if you don't charge for parking, then ppl will just park there for free and take the bus to work. Alot of people do that in Mall parking lots and I don't think Malls are happy when you take up parking spots for potential customers. You could probably park at Vaughan Mills and walk over to Wonderland :cheesygri

[rpeatt]

Do you think theme parks exist for the locals?

[Carnage]

Do you think theme parks exist for the locals?

Depends on the theme park.

Wonderland gets the majority of it's business from people local in the GTA.

A park like Cedar Point draws more peope from father away due to name, and a lack of a local population base.

Disney on the other hand is almost entirely people from farther away coming in on vacation.

[matdwyer]

Just like any big event, it generates revenue. Compare that $10 parking to the $20 parking at like the ACC or Roger's Centre.

Also if you don't charge for parking, then ppl will just park there for free and take the bus to work. Alot of people do that in Mall parking lots and I don't think Malls are happy when you take up parking spots for potential customers. You could probably park at Vaughan Mills and walk over to Wonderland :cheesygri

I see your point, but I think there is a huge difference. I understand paying for parking downtown, as there are not many spots and huge demand... but wonderland has a ridiculously big parking lot and room to expand it (hell they started expanding the park into the parking lot with that stunt show).

I always thought about parking in the grocery store by mcdonalds on major mac, but I would be scared to get towed :lol:

I understand they are there to make money off me, it just angers me everytime a dollar goes out of my pocket on stupid things like parking in the suburbs lol

[rems]

I see your point, but I think there is a huge difference. I understand paying for parking downtown, as there are not many spots and huge demand... but wonderland has a ridiculously big parking lot and room to expand it (hell they started expanding the park into the parking lot with that stunt show).

I always thought about parking in the grocery store by mcdonalds on major mac, but I would be scared to get towed :lol:

I understand they are there to make money off me, it just angers me everytime a dollar goes out of my pocket on stupid things like parking in the suburbs lol

Well Wonderland has to pay to use the land for the parking lot. And if it costs $10 to park there and u go with 3 friends, that's $2.50 that you're paying to park there for an entire day

[AcidBomber]

Actually, we're both right, it's a Nike meth lab. Just do it!!!!!!

LOL :cheesygri

[HKPolice]

Can anyone else confirm the no outside drinks thing? not even bottled water?? I was there last year and they didn't search bags or pockets as far as I remember.... what the hell?? :confused:

[kingfencer]

water=6 bucks, powerade=6 bucks.... ripped off, but my little ones were thirsty.

[skeletor]

aren't tickets like $50 if you buy them at the gate? There's probably just under a million people who buy it straight from there every year.. that alone is more than enough to run the park.

[Sheek]

don't forget the $10 for parking, even if you have a season pass

[alv077]

Can anyone else confirm the no outside drinks thing? not even bottled water?? I was there last year and they didn't search bags or pockets as far as I remember.... what the hell?? :confused:

Yep. Can definitely confirm that. They open up bags and everything. I saw this lady move around looking for lines that didn't check though (I heard her tell her kids, "not this one, they check for drinks")

I just get my friends working there to bring in drinks though. Works well for me.

Otherwise, you might want to consider buying their cups. $2 refill isn't bad if you share it with the family... you'll probably break even on trip 1. Otherwise, buy the extra large drinks from the walk-in stores - about $5 for a tub of coke that should last the day.

That being said, wonderland food is a scam.

[sPiKyAZN]

Forget Wonderland... I wonder how Ontario Place makes money... But then again they're government operated so it doesn't matter whether they make money or not...

They usually don't...I heard last year was like the first year they made money. A lot of it is because the employees are unionized getting them higher pay than workers at Wonderland.

[HKPolice]

Yep. Can definitely confirm that. They open up bags and everything. I saw this lady move around looking for lines that didn't check though (I heard her tell her kids, "not this one, they check for drinks")

I just get my friends working there to bring in drinks though. Works well for me.

Otherwise, you might want to consider buying their cups. $2 refill isn't bad if you share it with the family... you'll probably break even on trip 1. Otherwise, buy the extra large drinks from the walk-in stores - about $5 for a tub of coke that should last the day.

That being said, wonderland food is a scam.

I remember they had free water fountains last year, did they take those out too?!??

[Carnage]

I remember they had free water fountains last year, did they take those out too?!??

There's still water fountains by the bathrooms.

[HKPolice]

There's still water fountains by the bathrooms.

Ok so I guess theres nothing they can do about bringing in dedicated plastic water bottles? (not the disposable spring water type)

They can't make you throw those out can they?

[Aznkid2000]

Also wondering what do they do with all the food, water and things they confiscate at the entrance since you aren't allowed to take them inside???

do they bring it in and sell it???

[Carnage]

Also wondering what do they do with all the food, water and things they confiscate at the entrance since you aren't allowed to take them inside???

do they bring it in and sell it???

Of course they don't sell it.

It just gets thrown out.

[kingfencer]

they confiscated all food and bevarge. lady in front of me bought water, she explained to the guy, and the guy let her through.

[pakwan]

I brought 3 bottled waters when we went in and they never told us anything.
It says on the paper when we got our passes that bottled water is fine and dietary foods can be brought in.

[zfmduel]

I have been there three times I think, and almost got on a ride out there (train through the mountain), but while waiting in line, they closed it as the train thingie through the mountain was broken.

a) The lines are loooooooooong.
b) A lot of immature and ******** people go there... I won't be stupid anymore and WON'T go! I rather go to the Zoo and enjoy animals than stupid ******** young teens! Down with them!

I also enjoy the Museum - nice place, usually free of retards.

Really? you picked the wrong day...... I went on wednesday and man the only thing i spend 30mins+ is the pud pud golf....... I can even play the water rides over and over again with out getting out of my seat~~~