Question about little kids and free passes

[mckay]

I have a season pass to a small ski area and they are requiring season pass holders who have children under 6 to buy a kid's pass for $50 if they want to take them out on the slopes. Even if it's just on the bunny slope which only has a magic carpet. Is this normal??

I ran into to a problem yesterday when I tried to take my 4 year old out to the bunny slope just for some coasting around. My wife does not have a season pass and 90% of the time she will be with us and paying for a lift ticket, which "entitles" our daughter to ski free. The children of season pass holders must buy the $50 ski pass for children under 6.

I understand that it's hard to make money running a ski area, but isn't this a little ridiculous? I guess if you have 3 or 4 kids who can all ski and are riding the lift all day, maybe it makes sense to add a little to the season pass, but even then it just doesn't seem worth the effort and the ill will it creates.

 

[snoseek]

i know some areas let anyone ride the bunny lifts for free. As far as the rest of the mountain, children have to have tickets or passes just like the rest of us. Is it 50 dollars for a day pass for the kids? that seems $$$. maybe add 100$ or so to mom or dads season pass price would be fair.

 

[mckay]

No, it's $50/kid, per year. I guess you think that's reasonable. I don't understand why, if children under 6 are free at every ski are I've seen, it should cost anything for little kids.

 

[freeheel_skier]

I think the $50 is worth it....You don't have to stand in line every Sat/Sunday to get a ticket. Just ski right to the lift.

 

[snoseek]

I think 50 dollars per year is very accptable. I realize that resorts need to turn on new skiers/boarders, but that's a pretty small fee which they need to cover the everyday cost of running a ski area. I'm sure the occasional weekend skier is paying more than their fair share of the operating cost already.

 

[mckay]

Well, at this particular place you never go right to the lift. All season ticket holders must go to a window and get a lift ticket. Also, this is a small place and a lift ticket is only around $250. And, I think they should only make you pay the $50 if your kid is actually riding a lift. I'm hoping my daughter will make it onto a lift this year, but all she can do now is ride the magic carpet. I guess I think it's a little crappy to ask a season ticket holder to pay extra so their little one can coast around in the bunny area.

I shouldn't complain. I should be happy to give a little extra revenue to a place that's only 30 minutes from my house. I'd hate to see them close down.

 

[snoseek]

yeah, magic carpet should be free for everyone. you still have to get tickets with a pass? where is this place?

 

[mckay]

yeah, magic carpet should be free for everyone. you still have to get tickets with a pass? where is this place?

The Crotch. They do offer a vip season pass for a whole lot more than the regular one that allows you to skip the ticket window. I really like skiing there and I'd hate to see it fail, but geez this seems petty.

 

[Bumpsis]

No, it's $50/kid, per year. I guess you think that's reasonable. I don't understand why, if children under 6 are free at every ski are I've seen, it should cost anything for little kids.

It is a rip! If you already spent for a season's pass, a kid under 6 ought to be able to ski free. As a parent, you're more than likely pay or have paid for in some other ways to the ski area for the privilage to get your young one up on the boards.

Parents who ski/ride and bring their kids to the mountain, through the years will spend have spent on daycare, then learn to ski programs, rentals and of course, the mountan cafeteria.

I always really appreciated (and showeded with my patronage) the ski areas that made it reasonable to introduce your youngster to skiing. One of the best deals that I found was at Cannon, where a parent could buy just a beginner's lift ticket for a fairly nominal amount and the kid could ski free.