MDRF 2012

[Sir Edward]

MDRF is changing their admission pricing and so on:

he Maryland Renaissance Festival announces a new ticket pricing structure to increase savings opportunities and address traffic and crowd size for 2012. The website has updated prices where we have reduced all gate prices (except group tickets) to 2004 pricing for the first four weekends, no discount coupons will be necessary and the discount is extended an additional weekend. The last five weekends represent an increase in prices due to huge demand for attending during that period. The prices are at or below most major renaissance festivals across the country, of which Maryland is in the top one, two or three in attendance annually. Due to the increased development in the area, heavier traffic in general and parking limitations we are working to make the experience for our neighbors and our customers more pleasant by encouraging more customers to attend when fewer traditionally do. The number of tickets sold will be limited so as to improve access and egress. Tickets will be offered at the box office as always and on-line if customers wish to be certain they have tickets for the day they wish to attend but the number of tickets combined will be limited to the number that can be parked. Thereafter for the rest of the day only ticket holders (including multiple day pass holders) will be parked or admitted.

[Sir Wolf]

hmmm i read that on fb 2day. so  prices low then higher as faire goes on hmmm kinda like renting a home at the beach...

[Sir Edward]

It's an interesting idea. This past year in particular had pretty good traffic in the first half of the season, and really bad toward the end. This might be a good way to homogenize the attendance.

[Sir William]

So, should we be buying tickets now?

[Sir Edward]

I don't know if ticket sales are open yet or not. I usually order my season pass in July or somewhere around there.

[Sir James A]

Hmm. I hope they still do the 6 day option. My schedule is too varied to guess at days in advance, and the cost of gas is more than the cost of admission so going more than 6 days is highly unlikely. I wonder what the tiered pricing means for multi-day passes?

[Sir Brian]

Heh, I need a twelve day option. Nine Sundays a couple of Saturdays and Labor Day.

[Sir Edward]

Heh, I need a twelve day option. Nine Sundays a couple of Saturdays and Labor Day.

Yeah, that's called a "season pass".   I suppose you could always buy two of the 6-day passes though!

[Sir Edward]

It looks like the multi-day passes aren't tiered:

2 Day    $   30.00
6 Day    $   66.00
9 Day    $   90.00
Season Pass    $ 120.00 (Good All 19 Days)

So it looks like the season pass is more cost effective per-day than the 9-day pass if you go for at least 12 days, and it's still cheaper than two 6-day passes.

[Sir William]

I know I'll never make all the weekends...but a 6 day pass might not be a bad idea.

[Sir Brian]

Well it looks like I'll just have to go in earlier on some Saturdays and show up later at faire, at least during the first four weekends before attendance gets insane!

[Sir William]

Heh, I'm with you, Sir Brian.  Once it gets to 'standing room only' I notice my enjoyment factor scales down considerably...never cottoned to waiting for ale to be served! 

[SirNathanQ]

I'll get a 6 dayer. Then I'll have an incentive to get my money's worth 

So the Order have any planned days where we are all going to meet?

[Sir Matthew]

I'm planning to try to get down on the Sat. of Labor Day Weekend. That's traditionally when I make my trip, but last year I didn't make it down at all. Being on cast at PaRF it's tough to make the trip, but I'm going to try to get one day to come down.

[Sir Edward]

During the season, I'm there more often than not. The only day I usually skip by design is Labor Day itself (3 days of faire in a row is a bit much), but I often end up missing several more for one reason or another. If I go to DoK, that's a whole weekend out right there.