Fast Food Chains in Parks

I have never really liked park food too well, and I usually eat outside the park for lunch or dinner. What are the possibilities for installing regular fast food chains like McDonald's or Arby's? I know PKI has a Subway that sells 6 in. subs (more like 4 in.) for about the same price as a footlong anywhere else, so cost is obviously an issue, but park food is usually expensive anyway. Do you know of other parks that have fast food restaraunts?

There's a McDonalds at California Adventure. Kinda bogus if you ask me. They could have at least made it look historic.

Along the same lines, I was wondering what kind of food if offered in non-US parks.

PKD has Subway now, but I agree the cost of the subs are alot. I'm like you the food in parks doesn't really do anything for me. The only park I don't mind eating in is BGW.

Disney sells McDonald's fries, SFWoA has a Subway. That's all I've ever seen. I don't think its a good idea, I think amusement park food is another thing that is special and unique about your day at the park. Polluting the place with Burger King and even my beloved Wendy's (hmm ... haven't been there in a while ... almost lunchtime ... hmm ...) would really detract from things I think. Keep park food.

AstroWorld has a McDonald's tucked away in the back corner of the park. I don't think it's open much,though.

I think the fast food has really infiltrated parks in the past few years. I know SFWoA has stands that sell KFC, Subway, etc. SFMM has a McDonalds where the "value meals" sell for $7-plus. The Columbus Zoo (which shares a parking lot with Wyandot Lake) actually has a fully functioning brick Wendy's inside its gates.

I do not eat fast food at parks for several reasons:

1) It usually costs twice as much, and usually the same restaurants are right outside the park. HW is the only park I can think of that isn't surrounded by fast food.

2) It doesn't taste as good as the "real thing."

3) Why would you want bland fast food when eating "park food" like chili fries, corn dogs and funnel cakes is half the fun of going to a park in the first place? :)

Well SFWoA has several fast food chains in it. They have We're Rolling Pretzel Company, Ben and Jerry's Scoop Shop, Mr. Hero Express, Taco Bell Express, Subway and Arthur Treachers Fish and Chips.

Some of these have more than just one location also.

*Edit* Den I remember seeing a KFC place there too. I just looked at their site and it didnt say anything about KFC though. The only place it lists chicken as being served is at Alfonso's Tuscan Grill. *** Edited 1/14/2004 5:12:34 PM UTC by Sarah Jackson***

Magic kingdom has a cart "McDonald's Golden Fries Splash Mountain. Great Adventure has a Nathan's Hotdogs.

HersheyPark has or had at one time a Taco Bell located about near where the station for Storm Runner is going.

Last time I went, I remember seeing a McDonald's at SF Great Adventure somewhere behind Jump. It was closed though.

My favorite is the stand that sells Mcd's fries between Pirates and Splash Mt. at Magic Kingdom. They are sooo salty and hot and are sooooo yummy :-p ,especially with a sugary, fizzy beverage. It's hard to get fries in that condition at a normal McD's these days.

-Darnit, now I have a craving for McDonald's.

Mr. Stitch, you beat me to it. And I would like to add the McD's at AK, which isn't fully a McD's due to the burgers being a little different. *** Edited 1/14/2004 5:26:13 PM UTC by dexter*** *** Edited 1/14/2004 10:25:11 PM UTC by dexter***

The parks are going that way b/c they are finding that the average guest would prefer to buy food, even at a greater cost, that they are familiar with. The McDonald's at Downtown Disney is hugely popular as are the fry stands inside the parks.

In some cases, like Cedar Point and Friday's, the park chain buys a franchise instead of just leasing space to an outside company. That way the park still maintains complete control.

Great Adventure has Mcdonalds and Nathan's, which is not half as good as the original in Brooklyn! Still a nice touch for the Boardwalk theme though...

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wahoo skipper said:The parks are going that way b/c they are finding that the average guest would prefer to buy food, even at a greater cost, that they are familiar with.

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You are absolutely correct. This is also the reason we get the same crappy movies every summer. And why they're always box-office hits.

I love eating at that Friday's next to Cedar Point! We also always went to that Pizza Hut right outside the park that had an all day buffet, but I think they are closed now. That's what I would really like to see-a Pizza Hut or Papa John's place in a park.

I went to that Pizza Hut outside CP once, and it was about 80 degrees and packed inside. They wouldn't let you order from the menu; you had to get the buffet. But they were putting out maybe one pizza every 10 minutes. We stayed there for an hour and we were still hungry.

Worst. Restaurant experience. Ever.

I'm all in favor of park food when it's good...but honestly, I can't think of anything I've ever enjoyed eating at a chain park, especially in the way of sandwiches/pizza/fries. Usually greasy, cold, and flavorless, and sometimes even results in feeling sort of ill. :( Eat a pronto pup at IB and then a corn dog from CP and taste the difference.

So when visiting a big park, I don't mind overpaying for Subway or something...though I'll admit it's not as good as the "real thing" it's still better than my other options.

Now to see something even more unappetizing than soggy garlic fries click on my sig and enjoy. ;) *** Edited 1/14/2004 5:55:00 PM UTC by dawnmarie313***

Alton Towers has 2 McDonalds, a KFC and a Pizza Hutt.

I think it's the best thing ever because all the other restaurants are good, but a nice greasy bigmac gives enough energy to run between several rides!

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Antuan said:
Great Adventure has Mcdonalds and Nathan's, which is not half as good as the original in Brooklyn!

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Agreed that it's not as good as the original, yet every time I'm there I feel compelled to stop. Bonus if I spot a Sabrett's pushcart as well. Double bonus if the Sabrett's is spotted on the way to/from the Nathan's (appetizer or dessert, depending on the order)...

--Greg, who really DOESN'T eat that way all the time, honest! Last night's dinner was fresh steamed spinach and a small scoop of cottage cheese -- when you get home from work at 8:30 and THEN need to eat, you aim for fast...

I hate chain restaurants in parks. An amusement park should be an escape from everyday life, having food places like McDonalds or Subway in the park takes something away from that.

SFKK has couple Subways.

WDW has two full fledged McDonalds on property in addition to the fry "carts" found in Magic Kingdom, Disney MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom. At Epcot and Animal Kingdom they also have locations that sell other McDonalds items such as chicken nuggets, McFlurry's, etc...

I have a mixed opinion on the whole idea of these chains in the parks. In a way its a good idea since people want what is familiar. I cant tell you how many times I get asked "wheres the mcdonalds" when im working down there.

On the other hand, it does take away from the whole idea of going to a theme/amusement park plus they are usually very expensive...

i mean seriously...$10 for Panda Express (in Baja Ridge no less) at SFMM is ridiculous...now if they opened an In and Out Burger I'd have to reconsider...hehe