How much do you eat at parks?

I was wondering (as I chow down a pint of Ben&Jerrys ;) ), on any given day at a park, do you eat much? Do you spend time sitting down at a sitdown restaurant, do you just stop for a soda and fries everynow and then? For me I usually just eat lunch and grab a few Pepsis (at least at CP, Why does SF have to only serve Coke? argg) throughout the day. My main problem is that I am in a rush to get all the coasters done, but in the past year I've sorta slowed it down a little bit to actually relax and grab a bite to eat. I mean awesome fries vs. awesome coasters..why not have em' both?

Whats your routine?

On my way from ride to ride, I stop a second and get a few Mini-Donuts and a drink(Mountain Dew). Its hard to resist the smell of bakeries and fries so I have to get some! As for the drink, its hot and I need to drink something even if it is $2.85 for a meduim sized drink!

Depends on which park.

At Kentucky Kingdom, Kings Island, Cedar Point, etc., we take food with us and eat as little of theirs as possible.

At Indiana Beach if we stay at the motel inside the park we eat all our meals for the weekend at the Sky Room. If we stay at the bed and breakfast we'll eat breakfasts at the b & b and lunch and dinner at the Sky Room.

At Holiday World we'll eat their wraps down in the water park and the full pan pizza up on the hill, one for lunch and the other for dinner.

At Kennywood we'll eat lunch and dinner at the Parkside Terrace Cafeteria.

At Dollywood we go as much for the food as the rides. We could spend a week eating at the various DW stops.

At Busch Gardens we eat dinner at the German nationality restaurant, and snack at the other nationality outlets. *** Edited 6/13/2004 3:08:12 AM UTC by Trekker Park***

I absolutely ADORE traditional amusement park food! At CP or SF I usually eat only enough to sustain me, but get me somewhere else, and it's bad... Potato Patch fries & corn dogs & boardwalk fries & taffy & funnel cakes & chicken 'n waffles & pizza & HW fudge, the list goes on - they all put me in a happy place. It's only an occasional indulgence though - after all, I'm on Vacation.

My husband and I eat breakfast before going into any park. On average, we're in a park approx. 10 hrs. We generally get a slice of pizza about half way through the day. If it's really hot, we might get ice cream, but not usually. We also drink lots of water. We buy a bottled water, and then whenever possible keep refilling it at water fountains. Not only is park food too expensive, but it's often heavy, greasy stuff that can spoil a day of coaster riding, especially when it's very hot outside. I like that parks are finally starting to offer fruit and salads. But I'll admit, we save our time for riding coasters, and our money for the gift shops!

Not much- I usually buy a few waters and grab a slice of pizza. Also a beer or two (or three). I save my time for the rides.

It sure does depend on the park. As mentioned in a recent thread on PointBuzz, I don't eat a ton of anything at Cedar Point because the food generally sucks. At BGT I can't get enough (especially the desserts).

Other than soda or water I very rarely eat at the parks. I'm more inclined to leave for a bit and grab a bite.

For what you have to pay in the parks I'd rather give up a little time and eat elsewhere.

I did try the Panda Express that they've added to the Farmers Market area at SFGAm and it was much better than the other park food. However, it's much higher priced than the one's I've visited in malls and places like that *** Edited 6/13/2004 5:01:51 PM UTC by Brad G***

I don't eat much either. I thinks sometimes I don't even get enough water and get dehydrated. I am usually in such a rush to get as many rides as I can in. There has been times where I have not stopped for food or drink the whole day at a park. I know that is bad and as I get older I think I'm starting to not rush as much. But what am I talking about getting older, I'm only 18.

Ya need water, Overkill. It's good. Drink it....lots of it! It's great on the rocks. ;-)

I usually don't spend much in food at the chain parks unless it's something I HAVE to have like CP's chili cheese fries, or anything in Disney World. :-D. Other than that I will make exceptions. As far as proper hydration I rely on water fountians/bottled water for the most part. Soda is awesome but it will get you so far on a hot, humid day. Clean H2O is you best friend........save the sodas for mealtime and the booze for the motel room. :-)

As far as the smaller/traditional park I will go crazy. The prices are reasonable and the recipes are usually something that has been handed down for years. :-)

-Tina

*** Edited 6/13/2004 4:05:47 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN*** *** Edited 6/13/2004 4:11:40 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Jeff, if you ever make to where I am, I bet you would love our food. And yes, CP's food is bad. Fridays is okay, but that off the shelf US Foods stuff they buy is unbecoming of them, especially with other parks in the region doing great things.

If it's my homepark... I'll usually have little to nothing for the day except a few bring-with-me-can drinks.

If it's Cedar Po!nt... I'll usually chow down at the Midway Market buffet & that'll last for the day... but most other parks, I just don't have an appetite for food. When I'm active & kept busy (yes, standing in lines counts as "busy"), I'm rarely hungry... but the thirst will kick in.

It's cheapest to bring your own, or use the drinkin' fountains provided. It's just not worth it to spring 2 or 3 bucks for bottled water or a 16oz cup of Coke. Your only penality is walking out to your car, so you best be getting there early to get a close parkin' spot.

For breakfast for me, I usually eat something light right before we go to the parks so it's not all heavy and full in my stomach when I'm riding all the rides. I then have bigger lunch mid-afternoon after I've gone on all the major attractions and that it won't be the "lunch rush hour". That usually ties me over for a long time and for dinner I just usually pick something to munch on, like ice cream or a soft pretzel :-)

I have started bringing my cooler along, especially on long road trips. It will save you a TON. Pack it full of sodas and sandwiches and you are good to go.

-Tina

I only drink pop or water when at a theme park. If I'm hungry I leave the park and go eat at the nearest fast food joint, or sometimes I bring a cooler with cold food in it I can eat. Park food prices are just insane, so I prefer to take an hour of my day outside the park to find food.

I'm among those who rarely eat in the park....the food is way too expensive & the lines too long.

A case in point was yesterday at SFA,the park was so jam packed with people that the lines at any given food court could rival those of the rides....that & after drinking a coke(which tasted like crap) I came awfully close to losing it after an extended trip aboard Octopus.

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Coaster ChickN said:
I absolutely ADORE traditional amusement park food! At CP or SF I usually eat only enough to sustain me, but get me somewhere else, and it's bad... Potato Patch fries & corn dogs & boardwalk fries & taffy & funnel cakes & chicken 'n waffles & pizza & HW fudge, the list goes on - they all put me in a happy place. It's only an occasional indulgence though - after all, I'm on Vacation.[/quote]

Amen sista! (minus the fudge and funnel cakes....don't like sweets)

Six Flags food, for the most part, is pretty nasty and WAY too expensive. There are a few exceptions though, including a VERY tasty chinese place at Magic Mountain. :-)

As far as Cedar Point I have enjoyed everything I have tried so far. I tried Macaroni's for the first time on opening day and enjoyed the sub and fries I ordered.

-Tina

*** Edited 6/13/2004 4:24:22 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

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When we go to the Point we go back to the camper to make lunch. If we are on vacation we always eat in the park. SFGAm is my home park and depends on if i'm to lazy to pack lunches or don't want to lose my great parking spot. At Cedar Point I alway get their Garlic fries and the Gourmet pretzel on the right side of the midway by the sky ride. The best pretzel you will ever have. Drools now wanting one. :)

coasterqueen, no Holiday World creamsicle fudge? You poor thing! I bought two lbs of the stuff Mem. weekend! Probably shouldn't have though (want to be able to get on MF:)

I reiterate the water thing. If you get too dehydrated & have to go to first aid, your ride time will be cut a lot more than the few minutes it takes to drink some.

I agree with everyone that the cooler is a huge money-saver. I load it before a road trip with soda, water, sandwiches, fruit, & cheese cubes, along with a bag of crackers & munchies. Then just run by a grocery store wherever you may be & re-stock. Keeps me from buying icky fast-food on the road, & saves at the park if you don't eat the food there. Also, if I'm staying a few days we'll get a hotel with a kitchenette & just buy groceries.

That reminds me...Panda express is now open at SFA.

The new exterior looks good but from what I hear the food inside isn't all that great.