Bigger Bang For Your Buck

One of America’s favorite past times has always been the thrill of going to an amusement park. The smell of cotton candy and popcorn in the air, the joyful screams of other visitors, and the anticipation of adrenaline running through your veins while on the different rides the park has to offer. Amusement parks can be found across the country and differ in what they have to offer. Everyone has heard of parks such as Disneyland, Disneyworld, Universal Studios, or Six Flags. From where I live none of those places are remotely close. In Northwest Colorado you have one of two choices when it comes to amusement parks. Either Lagoon in Farmington, Utah or Elitch Gardens located in Denver, Colorado. While both are well known places, Lagoon is an excellent choice even if it is an extra two hour drive.

Since I was little, my family has gotten together for family reunions and attended Lagoon annually. Not until I was an adult did I realize that there is more to choosing an amusement park than the fun you’ll get out of it. It all comes down to which one will give you the most bang for your buck. In order to determine which park has the better price there are a few criteria that need to be looked at such as price for parking, daily admission, and seasonal passes. Not only that, are you getting what you pay for when it comes to rides or entertainment. Most parks have a wide variety of rides but the one most prevalent is the roller coaster. The roller coaster tends to be an adult favorite and can also cater to different age groups.

Lagoon and Elitchs are both very similar but differ when it comes to price options for admissions and parking (See Figure 1). When it comes to parking, Lagoon has the better prices and more options. It’s $9.00 per vehicle, $12.00 per oversized vehicle, $16.00 for preferred parking, and there is the option of a $50.00 season parking pass (Lagoon: It’s What Fun Is, Web). Elitch’s has a flat rate of $15.00 daily but you can purchase VIP parking for $20.00. They also have a $50.00 season parking pass (Elitch Gardens, Web).

 

  Both parks have admission costs by age group (See Figure 2). If you are planning on just going to Lagoon for the day an adult passport costs $44.95 plus tax, a kinder (4yrs of age up to 50” in height) and senior (65yrs of age and older) passport costs $39.95 plus tax, and a toddler (3yrs of age and under) costs $28.95 plus tax. Any child 2 years of age and younger can enter the park at no charge and attend Lagoon-A-Beach. However, if they would like to ride any rides there are individual ride tickets sold within the park 2 for $1.00. The price for rides using tickets varies and you can usually count on it being 4 to 10 tickets per ride depending on the type of ride (Lagoon: It’s What Fun Is). If you are planning on just going to Elitch Gardens for the day an adult passport (48” and over) costs $43.99 and passports for children (under 48”) and seniors (over age 62) is $29.99. Any child 3 years of age and under are admitted free and do not require a ticket or season pass. You do have the option of purchasing tickets online which will save you $6.00 but there is a $5.00 processing fee for each order (Elitch Gardens).

Depending on how often you plan on attending the park there is the option of purchasing seasonal passes. Lagoon has several different options in regards to seasonal passes. If you are a senior (64yrs of age and older) it is a flat rate of $50.00. From January 10^th through June 3^rd, seasonal passes cost $102.95 per person (ages 0-64) but if 4 or more are bought together they only cost $92.95 per person. From June 4^th through September 30^th, seasonal passes cost $113.95 per person (ages 0-64) but if 4 or more are bought together they only cost $103.95 per person (Lagoon: It’s What Fun Is). Elitch’s offers a flat rate for seasonal passes of $79.99 per person (Elitch Gardens). Overall, Elitch Gardens has the better prices in all areas but parking. However, are you getting your money’s worth of rides and entertainment?

Lagoon has a total of 45 rides in the park, 8 of which are roller coasters. Lagoon also has Lagoon-a-Beach, the Pioneer Village, X-Venture (which includes the Catapult, Skycoaster, and Double Thunder Raceway), game stands, and a variety of events and shows depending on the time of year (Lagoon:It’s What Fun Is). Elitch Gardens has a total of 36 rides in the park, only 4 of which are roller coasters. Elitch’s also has a water park, game stands, arcades, and a variety of shows/concerts depending on the time of year (Elitch Gardens). In regards to getting your money’s worth, both parks fulfill customer’s expectations and are worth the price. Although Lagoon is a little more expensive, they have more rides including more roller coasters compared to Elitch’s. Not only that, Lagoon has the Sky Ride, similar to a ski lift, which transports people from one end of the park to the other. It’s a relaxing way to enjoy the views of the park and the quickest way to get to either one end of the park or the other. 

All amusement parks have a variety of rides but the all time favorite is the roller coaster. People love the adrenaline rush of going fast, the loops, and the twists and turns. Not all of Lagoon’s 8 roller coasters are solely adult rides. The Bat, Bombara, Roller Coaster (the infamous white wooden coaster originally constructed in 1921), and the Wild Mouse are all suitable for children but adults are also able to enjoy them (Lagoon: It’s What Fun Is). The other 4 roller coasters, Colossus: The Fire Dragon, Jet Star 2, Spider, and Wicked are directed more towards adults. Wicked is one of the newest roller coasters and has drawn quite a bit of attention by “launching its rider’s to the top of the 110-foot tower at speeds close to 41 mph” and “passing through steep valleys, high-banked turns, a half-pipe, a heart-roll inversion and more. (Lagoon: It’s What Fun Is)”

Amusement parks have one sole purpose and that is to entertain. Both Elitch Garden’s and Lagoon have much to offer their customers. Even though Lagoon is priced a little bit higher, but not by much, I still feel that you are getting the most bang for your buck. One customer stated, “I have been coming here since I was a kid. My family now travels 8 hours to visit even though we have an amusement park just 20 minutes from our home. We love this one because it has rides for all age groups from toddlers to teens. It also has great shade with lots of big trees, so it is never too hot. The surrounding foothills add to the view. The roller coasters are fun and they even have one, Bombora, that is perfect for the whole family, even the little ones. We've never tried the water park, it looks on the small side. You can also bring food in which saves a ton of money and they have an ample supply of water fountains. Even on Labor Day weekend, the lines are reasonable. Very fun. (Trip Advisor, Web)” Elitch Gardens can definitely compete with Lagoon but Lagoon still remains my favorite place in terms of having a good time and leaving me with a feeling of money well spent.

 

References:

Elitch Gardens: Theme and Water Park. Web. 17 Sept. 2012.

<http://elitchgardens.com/

Lagoon: It’s What Fun Is. Web. 17 Sept. 2012. <http://www.lagoonpark.com/>

 Trip Advisor. Lagoon Amusement Park. 7 Sept. 2012. Web. 17 Sept.2012. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g56983-d1064459-Reviews-Lagoon_Amusement_Park-Farmington_Davis_County_Utah.html