The excitement of a family trip to Cedar Point can quickly fade when you discover that your favorite roller coaster is closed for the day—after you’ve already paid the high admission fee.
This week’s Today in Ohio podcast host shared his all-too-common “gut punch” experience, which is the subject of new legislation discussed in Friday’s episode.
State Representative Sean Brennan has introduced legislation that would require major amusement parks to provide real-time updates about ride closures online or through their apps, allowing visitors to access this information before arriving at the park.
“His bill that he’s introduced would require parks to post real-time ride status updates online or in their apps and to update that info within five minutes of a ride closing or reopening,” Leila Atassi, who hosts the podcast, explained.
Currently, Cedar Point’s app displays ride closures only once you enter the park—after you’ve already paid. The proposed law specifically targets permanent attractions like Cedar Point and Kings Island, not county fairs or temporary installations, and would impose significant fines for noncompliance.
The timing of this proposal struck a chord with podcast co-host Laura Johnston, who had recently experienced the frustration of ride closures during a Thursday Cedar Point visit.
“Rides were going down left and right, so we were on that app,” Johnston explained. “We were on the Lake Erie Eagles, which is a ride that rises up in the air and goes around. And they did not start it. They came out, unlocked our doors, and told us to get off. And I don’t believe they reopened the ride all day.
Atassi believes that the financial impact on families emphasizes the importance of transparency.
“I completely understand how it would feel for someone who has a long distance to travel and is likely paying for one day admission to the park. And that is costly for your family. It costs hundreds of dollars to get your family through the door. And then the attractions you’ve come to see, the brand new coasters or these incredible rides, go down in a blink of an eye, and then they’re gone for the day. And that’s annoying,” she said.
The podcast discussion focused on the real economic implications for families planning a day at the park. When a family budgets for admission, parking, food, and possibly overnight accommodations only to discover that signature attractions are closed, the disappointment goes beyond inconvenience to become a financial issue.
While the hosts acknowledged that unexpected maintenance issues and staffing shortages can result in legitimate closures, they emphasized that transparency prior to arrival would allow customers to make informed decisions about whether a visit is worth it.
“I don’t know everything that’s going on, but I agree this would be helpful if you are deciding whether to take your time and your money and sit in traffic and go through the heat and all that if your favorite ride is not even going to be running,” says Johnston.
The proposed legislation addresses a broader consumer rights issue in today’s experience economy, where advance notice can have a significant impact on customer satisfaction. Theme parks already track this data internally, according to Brennan, who proposed the bill; the law would simply require them to share it with the public before committing their time and money.
