As someone reported, that's why the Herschends were so reluctant to enter the coaster market in the first place. They correctly prophecied that we would then start to expect bigger and better every year, and the investment would never slow down.
As for all the talk about the economy, let's face it: it's not so much the economy as it is one isolated part of the economy - gasoline prices. If those level out and people get used to them, things will pick up, but if they make another quick climb next year, expect attendance to stay low and local.