Cedar Point ticket prices increase

Editor's note: Justin Dietz is a Register correspondent representing CPFoodBlog.com and @CPFoodBlog on Twitter.SANDUSKY — For 2018, a single-day Cedar Point gate ticket price for those 48 inches or taller is $72, an increase of $5, or about 7.5 percent, from 2017.Add standard parking for $20, and you're just shy of $100 to spend a day at Cedar Point — and that does not include food, drinks, merchandise or extra pay-to-play activities.Admission to Cedar Point includes 71 rides, which covers all 18 roller coasters, plus three kids' play areas, live entertainment venues throughout the park along with seasonal special events such as Brew & BBQ (food and beverage are an additional cost) and Halloweekends/The Great Pumpkin Fest.Cedar Point often offers the best ticket deals directly on its website throughout the year. Grab the right sale, and ticket prices can drop to as low as $30 fairly easy.Meanwhile, a regular season pass is $144, or twice the cost of daily admission, though you would have to upgrade to a Platinum Pass to get free parking.Visit more than a handful of days in a season, and the cost per visit begins to drop drastically.Prices in perspectiveGuests generally know what to expect once they walk under GateKeeper and onto the midway.There is a reason Cedar Point is a world-renowned amusement park that continues to push boundaries and improve the park experience. Building record-setting roller coasters and debuting new attractions every few years comes at a cost, and with 161 operating days per season, there's a very limited window to bring in paying guests. Factor in weather that deters the crowds, and it has a hefty impact on the bottom line.While completely different business models, other amusement parks, like Walt Disney World, also fight for those same entertainment dollars.The industry and its various amusement park price points constantly evolve. For instance, Walt Disney World's ticket price in 2007, $71, is about what guests will pay to get into Cedar Point today. But don't forget Disney ticket prices are not typically discounted throughout the season like Cedar Point.In 1968, a customer of the Register wrote in complaining about the $1 admission price — $7.27 today factoring inflation — to Cedar Point that also required individual ride tickets of 35 cents to 50 cents each.For comparison, here is a look back at the cost of a one-day regular "adult" tickets for those 48 inches or taller to Cedar Point amusement park without any discounts, unless where noted.• 2018: $72• 2017: $67• 2016: $65• 2015: $61.99• 2014: $59.99• 2013: $54.99• 2012: $51.99• 2011: $47.99• 2010: $45.99• 2009: $44.99• 2008: $42.95• 2007: $41.95• 2006: $39.95• 2005: $44.95• 2004: $43.95• 2003: $43.95• 2002: $42• 2001: $39• 2000: $38Note: From 1996 to 1999, ticket prices reflected those for 54 inches and taller. For those years, Cedar Point offered a special "Tweener" price point for between 48 inches and 54 inches.• 1999: $32.95• 1998: $31.95• 1997: $29.95• 1996: $28.95Note: Prior to 1996, tickets were for guests 48 inches and taller.• 1995: $26.95• 1994: $25.95• 1993: $23.95• 1992: $22.95• 1991: $21.95• 1990: $19.95• 1989: $18.50• 1988: $16.95Note: Prior to the 1988 season, ticket prices were based on age rather than height.• 1987: $15.95• 1986: $14.95• 1985: $13.95• 1984: $12.95• 1983: $11.95• 1982: $11.95• 1981: $10.95• 1980: $9.95• 1979: $9.25• 1978: $8.75• 1977 to 1974- Data gap• 1973- $6.18• 1972- Data Gap• 1971- $6• 1970 to 1969: Data gapNote: At some point in the 1970s, Cedar Point discontinued the individual ride tickets and switched to an all-day admission model.• 1968: $1 admission plus 35 cents to 50 cents per attraction; 10-ride ticket book for $3.50, which included free admission; All rides, all day $4.50, which included free admission• 1967: Kiddieland 15 cents individual tickets; 75 cents for six coupons; $1.25 Kid Coupon Book for 11 rides; Monday, Wednesday, Friday ride all day for $4; Tuesday, Thursday 15-coupon book for $3.75; Saturday, Sunday 12-coupon book for $3.50• 1966: Unknown• 1965: Kid Coupon Books were $1 for nine rides; Monday, Wednesday ride all day for $3; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10-ride book for $2.50; Saturday, Sunday 12-ride book for $3• 1964: Kid Coupon Books were $1 for nine rides; Mondays ride all day for $3; Wednesdays "2 rides for the price of 1"; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10-ride book for $2.50Interestingly, ticket sales typically only account for roughly 50 to 60 percent of Cedar Fair's annual net revenue. This means, regardless what you pay for tickets, executives know they will make it up in food, merchandise, games and accommodations.In this 2016 photo, Sandusky Schools students walk through the front gates past GateKeeper at Cedar Point. People purchasing a single-day gate ticket will pay $72 this year, up from $67 in 2017.