Ikon Pass Changes and New Resorts for 2023

[mikec142]

I'm a full Ikon Pass holder. Assuming that I renew my pass at the same level, was there anything that was removed for the upcoming year. I see 14 unlimited destinations, but I thought there were 15 unlimited destinations for this year (I could be wrong).

The three additions are mighty interesting to me!

 

[Tonyr]

Im not sure where you stayed but we stayed at the Cliff Lodge the last 2 seasons and had great experiences both times. The outside of the hotel doesn't look very inviting but the inside was just fully renovated and nicely done. The staff was great to us both times and the hotel has everything you need so you don't ever have to leave the property while your there.

 

[thebigo]

I'm a full Ikon Pass holder. Assuming that I renew my pass at the same level, was there anything that was removed for the upcoming year. I see 14 unlimited destinations, but I thought there were 15 unlimited destinations for this year (I could be wrong).

The three additions are mighty interesting to me!

Crystal unlimited to seven days.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Wow, I was well-aware Vail races to close down its ski areas, but I never saw it laid it out like this to see just how stark it is:

April 23 to 24, Ikoners could choose between Killington, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Sugarbush, Squaw Valley, Solitude, Winter Park, Mammoth, Crystal Mountain, Sunshine, Lake Louise, Norquay, Snowbird, Alta, Mount Bachelor, Summit Central, Alpental, Copper Mountain, Arapahoe Basin, and Snowmass.

Epic Pass holders could go to Breckenridge or Nakiska.

 

[Tonyr]

Wow, I was well-aware Vail races to close down its ski areas, but I never saw it laid it out like this to see just how stark it is:

Yes that looks pretty bad seeing it all laid out like that.

 

[snoseek]

Wow, I was well-aware Vail races to close down its ski areas, but I never saw it laid it out like this to see just how stark it is:

The real sucky part about this is in years past Breck was somewhat enjoyable that time of year when all the summit areas were open. Now it just funnels all those people into one resort so no more late April sleeper days.

 

[machski]

More surprised than anything. Doubt Shawnee would be overrun either way. My daughter will have a number of races in the MWV next year, thought we would mix in a few nights but not that big of a deal. 4X Ragged, 2X pats midweek, 2X Ikon base will be by far the most I have ever spent on passes but still better than giving fail a penny.

Boyne has not announced New England Pass pricing or details yet. They had said they may keep Shawnee separate. We will see if it is added at any level to the NEP. It would land there first before an Ikon landing.

 

[jaytrem]

Wow, I was well-aware Vail races to close down its ski areas, but I never saw it laid it out like this to see just how stark it is:

Whistler (Blackcomb side) is open that weekend.

 

[machski]

Interesting with all the added areas on the Base Plus pass that are off the base, how many will go full now? I mean a full Ikon is only $110 more than the base Plus and all the blackouts go away with that. Also interesting how they list Alta on the base +, almost makes it look like you get 5 days at Bird AND Alta on a base + vs 7 COMBINED on a full. Hmmm.....

 

[thetrailboss]

This is interesting. I'm not sure if the owners of Alta own all of the hotels and restaurants at the resort but the owners of Snowbird own everything on the the property. More crowds at Snowbird equals more opportunities to spend on hotels, shops, and restaurants which is why I'd guess they wouldn't mind the crowds as much. Alta definitely will be less crowded next season, the Mineral Basin lines are going to be an even bigger disaster on the weekends and powder days.

It was about appeasing passholders. Alta is doing it. At least they listened.

As to the idea that hotels and restaurants generate the revenue to make up for a discounted day ticket, John Cumming and Snowbird still have not learned in four years that this conventional wisdom is simply not the case when most of the visitors are IKON passholders who live in their backyard. They are not booking rooms or even ordering food. So that means less revenue and an endless effort to "chase" revenue by doing things like Fast Tracks, changing prices on merchandise, or charging for other things. Too bad they pissed away that $10 million book of season pass business......

As for me, this pretty much is it for me with Snowbird. I will likely take a break from them next year. Their service, accessibility, and product are all terrible. The only thing they can do is take money. Anything else is a mess.

 

[thetrailboss]

Interesting with all the added areas on the Base Plus pass that are off the base, how many will go full now? I mean a full Ikon is only $110 more than the base Plus and all the blackouts go away with that. Also interesting how they list Alta on the base +, almost makes it look like you get 5 days at Bird AND Alta on a base + vs 7 COMBINED on a full. Hmmm.....

The whole Snowbird Only on Base vs. Alta/Snowbird day thing is going to confuse a whole lot of people and cause a lot of headaches.

 

[jaytrem]

As for me, this pretty much is it for me with Snowbird. I will likely take a break from them next year.

So what's the plan for next year then?

 

[cdskier]

Interesting with all the added areas on the Base Plus pass that are off the base, how many will go full now? I mean a full Ikon is only $110 more than the base Plus and all the blackouts go away with that. Also interesting how they list Alta on the base +, almost makes it look like you get 5 days at Bird AND Alta on a base + vs 7 COMBINED on a full. Hmmm.....

The comparison page looks pretty clear to me...

 

[thetrailboss]

The comparison page looks pretty clear to me...

View attachment 53457

View attachment 53458

Makes sense to me and you, but we are not the "average" person.

 

[thetrailboss]

So what's the plan for next year then?

Don't know. If parking reservations are still the deal at Alta we will stay there. Brighton Twilight season pass for me as well. Boyne has got a lot of our business this year as has Alta.

Hopefully your 5th Grader can get a Utah Passport that you mentioned. Ski Utah all but killed it last year--the protests and pitchforks made them reconsider. They had limited it to M-F non-holiday which no kid in school could reasonably use....

 

[KustyTheKlown]

My experience staying at a Snowbird hotel (2019) was so terrible that I cant fathom it with "more" crowds. I'd never stay at a Snowbird property again unless I had confirmation it was fixed, or I had confirmation that there was going to be >= 12 inches of snow incoming (and it would be a 1 night stay).

And I should note, I am NOT picky at all when it comes to hotels, but the incompetency, lack of employees, service closures (despite what their service posting said) and employee unhappiness was IMO over-the-top.

I stayed at the snowbird lodge at the base on Feb 2020 with a bunch of friends and we had a great time, everything was open and staffed, we were steps from the lifts, the hotel was never crowded, and the mountain was never crowded on the weekdays. Wtf are you talking about

 

[snoseek]

If you're willing to shell out the cash to stay up in lcc any of the lodges over at Alta are an infinitely better experience. Lowest staff turnover rate in a resort setting I've seen by a huge margin. The staff down at Snowbird seemed saltier that the lake itself.

 

[Tonyr]

It was about appeasing passholders. Alta is doing it. At least they listened.

As to the idea that hotels and restaurants generate the revenue to make up for a discounted day ticket, John Cumming and Snowbird still have not learned in four years that this conventional wisdom is simply not the case when most of the visitors are IKON passholders who live in their backyard. They are not booking rooms or even ordering food. So that means less revenue and an endless effort to "chase" revenue by doing things like Fast Tracks, changing prices on merchandise, or charging for other things. Too bad they pissed away that $10 million book of season pass business......

As for me, this pretty much is it for me with Snowbird. I will likely take a break from them next year. Their service, accessibility, and product are all terrible. The only thing they can do is take money. Anything else is a mess.

You may be right that not enough pass holders spend money at the resorts. That was one of the complaints I've read from Stowe's local business owners. They get all the crowds but not much spend at the local businesses from all of the pass holders. I did notice though that the restaurants within the Cliff House were packed each night and the hotel was definitely sold out the week we were there.

 

[thetrailboss]

I stayed at the snowbird lodge at the base on Feb 2020 with a bunch of friends and we had a great time, everything was open and staffed, we were steps from the lifts, the hotel was never crowded, and the mountain was never crowded on the weekdays. Wtf are you talking about

It has gotten worse since then. They expect people to jump up and down for $9.50 an hour. Ain't happening. And even with a slight increase they are not getting great people. It's sad.

 

[thetrailboss]

If you're willing to shell out the cash to stay up in lcc any of the lodges over at Alta are an infinitely better experience. Lowest staff turnover rate in a resort setting I've seen by a huge margin. The staff down at Snowbird seemed saltier that the lake itself.

I never understood why they were bitter but now it is abundantly clear.