BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Darien Lake and all other Six Flags amusement parks are preparing to operate with limited capacity and reservations.
All Six Flags parks are implementing a reservation system with a capacity set for each park. Anyone with a ticket, season pass, or membership will be required to make a reservation online in advance.
Season pass and membership holders will be granted access to the system first. When you make the reservation online, there are social distancing guidelines listed.
Six flags said the reservation system will go online shortly before Darien Lake opens. There is no set opening date yet.
Brittany Bandinelli and her three kids go to Darien Lake several times throughout the summer.
“My kids are always bothering me to go. Every summer. My kids love it,” said Bandinelli.
Brittany has been a season pass holder for 5 years. She frequented the park with her 9-year-old and 7-year-old daughters and 4-year-old son.
“It's going to be different. We're used to going. But with the coronavirus, we can't go. As much money as we spend on these season passes, we're not going to be able to go,” Bandinelli said.
Bandinelli’s family won’t be headed to the park because her son Jayson has severe asthma.
“Their protection is number one. I want to protect them from anything that's out here,” Bandinelli said.
She pays about $36 per month for two Gold Plus membership season passes. Money that she says she can't get back. She has both called and emailed the park.
“I told them I can't go. My son has health issues. I can't risk him or my other children. They told me they are not issuing refunds for anybody,” said Bandinelli.
Brittany said the park offered to upgrade her membership instead of giving her a refund.
“It's really messed up. Me being a single mom of three. I live on a budget, like right now me being out of work, having to raise three kids on my own. It's just not fair. They should give a refund,” said Bandinelli.
Six Flags provided the following statement:
“Season passes are by their terms, non-refundable. In recognition of the unprecedented circumstances, we have provided day-for-day extensions for each operating day we are closed, which will extend season passes into a portion of the 2021 season. If closures continue for an extended period, we may consider adding additional benefits on a park-by-park basis.”
