Tiff: Theme parks have a monopoly on your day. In addition, they have HUGE costs of operation. I've reported it here before, but back about 1978 or 79 when I was in food service at SDC, it cost three cents to fill a small cup with ice, Coke, and to pay a server for selling it to you. The guest cost for that drink was about a buck with taxes. A huge profit. Same goes for the stuff sold at shops. Remember, everytime they add a new attraction like OUTLAW RUN, it is a giant expense...I think the number I've seen on it is ten million. The prices across the entire park including your admission, help pay for those attractions. Again, if I saw the correct figures, SDC hopes about 26,000 additional visitors will come next year due to Outlaw Run. What is it now for a one day ticket, about $60? Multiply and thrown in at least another $40 per head for food, drinks, stuff from shops, and it is a significant number. Now think of the repeat guests next year that will make a special trip to ride Outlaw Run...the number roll up faster. Big money is collected by parks, but much heads out of the park in the form of them paying their bills and for employees. In the end, though, they do make a profit. That is why they open their doors again year after year.
