Kinzel: "People have to eat"

Oh, and I missed the Gordan Ramsay comment. I would pay money to see the Cedar Point version of kitchen nightmares.

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Arthur Bahl said:
Competition. That's the key to getting the big chain parks to change their ways.

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Don't limit that competition to other parks though. Certainly anything that's entertainment is competition these days.

I didn't mean to. My brother and his family bought a pool in 1995, and they (as a family) have not been back to Cedar Point since. Bad food quality was not the only factor, but it sure did not help.

Maybe it would be wise for the heads of Cedar Point and Six flags to learn from what Dollywood is doing when it comes to food at an affordable prices.

I've pretty much exhausted my viewpoint on this subject, so I'll sum it up like this:

Food on a wholesale level isn't that expensive. If you're serving a burger that costs you 50¢ and charging 6 bucks, you're making $5.50 and the burger sucks.

Why not get a higher end burger that costs you $1 and charge $6.50? Still making $5.50 profit, and people's bitching will stop when they taste the product. Instead of "$6 for this piece of crap?" it'll be "$6.50 for this burger, but it was damn good."

In his statement, he mentioned merchandise and games along with food. Bring the food prices down, and your merchandise and game income will go up. I would imagine that most people who go to a park are like me, I have a budget for the day, and I am probable going to spend every penny of it before I leave. And since I am part of the average middle class with 2.2 kids, I don't have the advantage of running the to ATM in the park and taking out an additional $100 when my cash runs out. If I have to spend all of the cash I have with me to eat, there are no T-shirts, posters, or game plush going home with me. If I can eat at a reasonable price and get cheap (or free) drinks, I will spend the rest of the cash in my pocket on throwing soft balls, knocking over milk cans, and buying overpriced logoed park crap. The park is going to get all of the money in my pocket somehow, it is up to them to decide where they want it. And in Kinzel's case, I think I know where he wants me to put it.

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Kraven the Raven said:
I would imagine that most people who go to a park are like me, I have a budget for the day, and I am probable going to spend every penny of it before I leave.

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I think so too, but everytime I say essentially the same thing, no one seems to agree with me.

People seem to say they spend more if they find value in it and less if they don't. I agree with your logic - I can spend this much...and I will.

I like how you think, Kraven. Logo merch also advertises outside the park.

I don't have a budget when I go to a park.

I don't have a "money budget", I have a "things we'll do" budget. We'll play a game or two, we'll eat a meal, we'll buy a few miscellaneous odds and ends, we'll grab something cold and sweet at some point.

I don't pay too much attention to what it costs, becuase it's not going to change a whole lot in either direction---maybe a few dollars to tens of dollars here or there. In the grand scheme of things, that just doesn't make a tangible difference.

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Brian Noble said:
I don't pay too much attention to what it costs, becuase it's not going to change a whole lot in either direction---maybe a few dollars to tens of dollars here or there. In the grand scheme of things, that just doesn't make a tangible difference.

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I agree with this too...personally, as an traveling enthusiast family who just does this for our fun/vacations. At this point, I just know what the price range is. The last two weeklong trips we took, we didn't pay attention to spending and we landed within a few bucks of my estimated cost in both cases.

But I do believe that's not how the majority of people roll - especially the regional park, one-day, one-time variety of visitor. I'd bet the majority of those guests have X number of dollars available and it gets spent.

Could be. It's hard to say who the "average" guest is---if the "average" guest does (not) change their driving habits at $4/gal, they probably also do (not) change their purchase decisions for an extra $1 here or there.

To me, its not how much it costs, but what it feels like to spend the money. When I buy an expensive and lousy meal from a park I feel ripped off, cheated even. Even though I know how much it costs and what to expect the purchase leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

When a park has reasonable prices for food and drink, I usually end up spending MORE in the park as a result. For example, if I go to Kennywood for a day, I plan on spending about $25 on food and drink. This includes lunch at Small Fry's, dinner at the Parkside cafe, a snack and a couple of additional drinks during the day. If I go to a park with overpriced mediocre food, I probably won't spend more than about $15 and in many cases much less than that.

The difference is that I would wait until I get to a park such as KW or KG before I eat while with CP, KI, etc. I would stop to eat before I get to the park. The same goes afterwards when I would go somewhere else after I leave the park.

One more thing. If I ever happen to be traveling in the Altoona, PA area during the summer, I would consider stopping at DelGrossos just for the food. It's good and cheap. Maybe I might just happen to take a couple of rides as well while I am there. One reason that this park does things the way they do is because the DelGorssos main business is food.

*** Edited 8/10/2008 3:37:35 PM UTC by Arthur Bahl***

I am the same way Arthur. I have a blog post saved about how much money my fiance and I will spend if Kennywood ever creates a season pass compared to this year. We would go to Kennywood for dinner on a Friday night. Fries and a couple coaster rides would be a perfect evening for us.

The only time I don't eat outside of a park is when I am rushed for time, or want to make sure I can ride everything that I went to X park to ride.

I agree with the Gonch & Kraven The Raven philosophy that I budget X amount of money to spend for a day to eat while going to a park. I still try to eat outside of the park because I know that's where I feel I get the most value for the money spent. 9 out of 10 times eating outside of the park allows me to spend the leftover money that I had budgeted for food on something else, or have extra money when I return home.

This topic has been coming a lot lately. I know many of you have read my trip reports about Dorney and Cedar Point visits where I really felt gouged for the food that I got for the money spent at those parks. It has just gotten out of hand in the past 2 - 3 seasons at Cedar Fair parks. I have actually had cheaper meals and better food at Six Flags parks recently, and that was something that was unheard of 2-3 years ago.

There are only a few parks I go to and plan to eat at those parks. Knoebels, Kennywood, and Busch Gardens Europe are the three. I am sure that most of you know why.

Most of the people I know try to avoid eating inside the parks, or limit themselves to one meal. I tell my friends to eat heavy before leaving for a park, and since we mostly hit coasters, by the time we hear our hunger pangs, we are on the road looking for the nearest food joint.

Dick Kinzel's remark is very blunt, but I agree. If I'm hungry, nothing short of an alien invasion will come between me and a meal.

Although, I was in Canada's Wonderland around end of June this year, and their CDN$6 footlongs were amazing, and I think is a good value. No extra charge for relish, onions and ketchup thank God!

Not Cedar Point, but of late quite a few of the Great Adventure radio commercials are touting lower prices and affordability.

While the gate prices were altered with the "Big 6" deal, I feel that peeps will feel decieved when they pull up for 15 bucks for parking and are charged whatever they have been for food, drinks, etc.

I (for one) would love to see parks go after parks (by name) in ads touting whatever they felt was better. (Food, prices, extras i.e. water-park included, etc.)

I am also certain that it would never happen.

Most parks that are within striking distance from me have lousy food. I pick up breakfast along the way, but I don't want to leave a park lose my spot, etc, to eat and cut into my riding time.

When I'm with the family, it's breakfast and dinner on the road and a quick snack in the park.

People have to eat, but they don't have to come to the parks. And when you try to over gouge at every aspect they will quit coming in the same quantities.

If parks would offer quality food and drinks at reasonable prices, they could make the same profits and over gouging and causing people to avoid purchases all togehter. Plus it would leave people with a better experience and wanting to return, instead of feeling fleeced.

But the American way continues.....

Then do not eat there and pack a lunch. Most people are not willing to plan ahead and bring a lunch with them.

While we all know that the food concessions are over-priced, Kinzel did not have to state it in the fashion that he did.

However, the key to a business is to exploit the willingness of the general public to purchase a desired item.

It would not hurt though if the food in the park was a bit better. Chick-Fil-A is way overpriced. Your best bet is a burger, fries, and drink at the Friday's in Breakers. Its about $12 but its not a bad meal.

I think most of you are pissed about the frankness of the comment.

Now that I have read the quote again....its not offensive at all. Its just truthful.

Here is another thought....they could just pass off the entire cost to the admission ticket and people would still go to the park.

They have a difficult job when deciding how to raise revenue. It looks better to have a more tolerable ticket and pricy food.

Its really no different that from going to a professional sporting event or a concert.

Here is one more idea, brought to light by my wife. Your food purchase is a choice. At least they have raised the prices on something you choose to purchase or not purchase.

PS...I brown bag it for work.

*** Edited 8/12/2008 12:31:38 AM UTC by MotorCityCoasterFan*** *** Edited 8/12/2008 12:35:15 AM UTC by MotorCityCoasterFan*** *** Edited 8/12/2008 12:37:03 AM UTC by MotorCityCoasterFan*** *** Edited 8/12/2008 12:37:59 AM UTC by MotorCityCoasterFan***