I bought my 2010 Cedar Pair Platinum Pass at Dorney on September 13th. I was photographed and validated at that time and am ready to go for 2010...or so I'm told. I also have the receipt showing what I paid for a 2010 Pass.

Here's what's odd. I was showing a colleague the pass yesterday, and I realized that nowhere on the pass itself does it give the year the pass is valid. I know the picture and everything scans in the computer. But if someone were to attempt to use next season's pass during, say, Halloween this year they couldn't, right? Is this standard card graphics for CF? I haven't had one the last two years, so I dunno.

Basically, I'm rather surprised the year of validity does not appear ON the card.

Mike

Mike,
When they scan your pass, all that stuff shows up on the employees screen. I'm sure a big red X or something will show up if you try to use a pass that has already been swiped or is not valid.

Paul

CF bought the admissions system that was developed by Paramount. Everything is stored electronically. Your photo, personal identity info and validation is all keyed to the barcode on the back of your pass card. Until you go thru season pass processing, the pass is simply a generic blank card with nothing more than a unique serial number on the back.

The upside of this is that there is nothing on the card that you might have to wait for. In the "old world", you filled out a piece of paper, waited in line to get your picture taken, then waited while your personal information was typed in and the new season pass, with your photo, printed on a machine that tended to break down often.

Today, every step of this process is separate and independent. Season pass replacement and renewal is simple for everyone. They just scan your old pass and add a year onto the valid dates in the computer. No need for a new picture, make a visit to the park or pay for (and wait for) them to mail it to you.

Unfortunately, without the computer system, you can't really tell anything about the pass other than what they asked you to write on the back when you got it... your name. That is just for your use, as without what you wrote the pass looks just line everyone else's. You may also write anything else on the back if you want, such as the last time you renewed it or for what year it is valid. Of course, next time your renew it (perhaps online) then any dates you wrote on the back are obsolete.

It's actually a pretty neat system. Eventually all the parks will be tied together and your picture will pull up no matter which park you enter or where you bought it. Also you will be able to renew it anywhere... eventually. I hope that answers your question, Mike.

> Until you go thru
> season pass processing, the pass is simply a generic blank
> card with nothing more than a unique serial number on the
> back.

My understanding is that the pass is now ready for use at any CF park in 2010. They indicated there's no other processing I have to go through and that it's all set.

>
> > Eventually all the
> parks will be tied together and your picture will pull up
> no matter which park you enter or where you bought it.

I thought that was already the case..that is, if I go to CP or KI in '10 before I go to Dorney, my picture will scan up.

Mike

Also
> you will be able to renew it anywhere... eventually. I hope
> that answers your question, Mike.

> My understanding is that the pass is now ready for use at
> any CF park in 2010. They indicated there's no other
> processing I have to go through and that it's all set.

Yes, that should be true.

> > > Eventually all the
> parks will be tied together and your picture will pull up
> no matter which park you enter or where you bought it.

> I thought that was already the case..that is, if I go to CP
> or KI in '10 before I go to Dorney, my picture will scan up.

I don't know if everything is in place just yet,
but presumably that is the long range plan.

> I don't know if everything is in place just yet,
> but presumably that is the long range plan.

My 2009 Plantinum Pass from Dorney could be used at the entrance gates of Dorney (of course), Cedar Point, and King's Dominion. It did not work at Michigan's Adventure and King's Island where I had to go to Customer Relations. Hopefully this changes for 2010 and all park gates will have access to the information.

>
> My 2009 Plantinum Pass from Dorney could be used at the
> entrance gates of Dorney (of course), Cedar Point, and
> King's Dominion. It did not work at Michigan's Adventure
> and King's Island where I had to go to Customer Relations.
> Hopefully this changes for 2010 and all park gates will
> have access to the information.

Considering that MA and KI are places I plan to use my pass at in 2010, I hope those changes come to fruition.

Mike

I bought two Plat. Pass at Worlds of Fun in '08 since my wife and I were going to KI and CP (for the first time BTW). We simply were issued '08 passes with a Joe Cool sticker on them since we got them in the '08 season. I didn't know what the sticker was for until next year. I asked a WOF employee at the gate one spring day and they said it was just simply a way to tell the '08 to '09 passes during the '08 season. The passes are all in a computer system. The only issue we had using them was in OH, every different employee was amazed as they had not seen a WOF PP before LOL. BTW I am jealous that you have KI at your disposal. It is a GREAT park and we liked it. Gary

BTW I am jealous that you have KI at your
> disposal. It is a GREAT park and we liked it. Gary

At my disposal? Nah, it's ten hours away. But I love the park.

Mike