Were Your Cedar Fair Season Passes Affected by Coronavirus Cancellations?

Cedar Fair amusement parks’ season pass holders say they’ve been unable to get the company to issue refunds for unused passes due to park closures. The issue is another concern for consumers already feeling pinched by the coronavirus financial impact.

Did You Purchase Cedar Fair Season Passes?

Cedar Fair Amusement owns several theme parks across the U.S. and Canada. While most Cedar Fair properties are amusement parks, the company also operates several indoor and outdoor water parks and hotels.

In addition to Knott’s Berry Farm and Great America in California and Valley Fair in Minnesota, Cedar Fair has parks in Ontario, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Missouri, and Texas.

Each year some 25 million people visit Cedar Fair parks, with Knott’s Berry Farm averaging approximately 4 million visitors on its own, according to the company. While some visitors purchase single-day passes or two-day passes, many opt for season passes. In addition to allowing visitors to return to the amusement park as many times as they want in a year, season passes also offer deals on retail items and concessions. However, season passes cost much more than a day pass. Depending on the park and the type of season pass, the cost is between $90 and several hundred dollars for a single pass. Families who purchase passes for all members may pay $1,000.

Were Your Cedar Fair Season Passes Affected by Coronavirus Cancellations?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Cedar Fair had to close down operations at some of its parks or otherwise limit the number of visitors. Even parks that are open may not be operating at 100%. For example, dining and retail may be open, but no rides. According to Cedar Fair, some parks that were open over the summer averaged 20% to 50% fewer visitors than usual for the same time period. Many Cedar Fair customers who purchased season passes prior to the outbreak of the pandemic may be wondering whether they are entitled to a refund due to park closures.

While some parks, including Knott’s Berry Farm, have shut down rides, parks like Michigan’s Adventure Waterpark have opened under enhanced safety protocols such as mandatory pre-visit health screenings, requiring reservations for all visitors, mask and social distancing mandates, and enhanced cleaning procedures. Some guests may still not feel comfortable going to theme parks, despite these safety precautions.

Whether or not the parks are open may depend on the state where they are located. Michigan allowed the waterpark to open over the summer, but California has not allowed any amusement parks to open since the pandemic outbreak in March. The coronavirus economic impact of the lengthy closures is yet to be known.

Are There Refunds for Cedar Fair Season Passes?

Some Cedar Fair pass holders who have attempted to receive a refund have reported difficulty getting reimbursed for season passes. Some Cedar Fair parks have extended the life of a season pass to include the 2021 season, which may be an acceptable solution for those who purchase a season pass every year. However, for people who purchased a season pass to use during a vacation, or who no longer live near the park for which they purchased the pass, extending the life of the pass may not be as useful. Several people have complained to the Better Business Bureau that they have moved away from the park for which they purchased season passes and would prefer a refund rather than a time extension.

Others have reportedly attempted to call, email, and use online chat functions to request a refund, only to be told that their pass could be extended but a refund was not available. These consumers say that the park is stealing their money since they paid for tickets they are unable to use. A class action lawsuit against Cedar Fair has been filed.

If you have purchased Cedar Fair season passes and have been unable to get a refund, you may be eligible to speak with an experienced attorney about the legal options available to you. Some consumers may be able to join or file a class action lawsuit against the company in order to pursue compensation.