More Alcohol at Parks Please and Thanks BGT

Lately I have been getting so disgusted visiting theme parks. I don’t know if it is the heat and no shade at most or the fact that I can’t believe that the majority of Americans look and dress the way they do. I think it has to do with the fact that most parks don’t sell alcohol. In the last two years my favorite times I have had at a theme park are when I am able to have a cocktail or a beer here and there. I have really enjoyed the IAAPA special events that serve liquor and all the Gay Disney events that also serve.

In the past year my #1 theme park has been changed from Cedar Point and Islands of Adventure to a park I have been visiting since I was a kid, Busch Gardens Tampa.

The main reason: Alcohol

Don’t start the lush comments and saying I should be able to have fun without a drink because I can. I just choose to have a buzz when I am out having fun with friends especially when I am paying money for a plane ticket, hotel, and park tickets. Gay people have understood this concept for years and I just have such a hard time understanding why most straight people don’t.

My last trip to BGT was so much fun. It was the best park experience I have ever had during normal operating hours. Why can’t other parks follow in the foot steps of this park? During the day if parks don’t want kids to drink always I.D.(like BGT) or give out wrist bands. So simple. Everyone just seemed to be having a much better time and I honestly think it had to do with the two free complementary glasses of beer you receive. Also the fact that every beer after that was only 5 -7 dollars and they didn’t try to over price it like most places would.

I understand that some states have laws to prohibit the consumption of alcohol on amusement park property. I think Six Flags and Paramount parks should start offering 3-5 Adult Nights a year, where the entire park is 21+. I know tons of other people who are like me and would have a much better time at these parks if they offered something like this.

I am just over the fact that all the events I go to that I can drink at a park are gay events or other special events that cost like 75 dollars to get in the door. Don’t get me wrong I am gay but I just know that there are a lot of straight people that like to drink and party as much as we do.

What are your opinions on this topic? *** Edited 7/30/2004 12:12:55 AM UTC by Malibu***

Uh, most parks do serve alchohol. IIRC, HW and Knoebles are two of the only parks I remember that don't serve! CP has a good 4-5 bars inside the park, and most (if not all) SF and Paramount parks do too.

So, whats your problem?

Do you also want a TERA TERA TERA??? ;)

There are a lot of parks that serve in one or two restruants but I would love for it to be severed all around the park.

Well as nice as it might be to have beer served on every corner, it's not that big of a deal to me to take 20 minutes out of my day and sit in the air conditioning for a drink (or four.. or five ;))

While I do think that "Adult nights" would be "interesting," I feel that most parks wouldn't want their patrons getting trashed and driving home. It may be a non-issue for resort/destination park (Disney, Unversal), but it's definitely something that a local park would have to consider. Add drinking and driving to the risk of riding unsafely (not to mention the excessive protein spills!), and it's just not gonna happen.

I guess you could be "severed" in a park if you drink too much alcohol :)

I like to have a few drinks on vacation like the next person, but honestly, I really do not drink in the parks. With all of the places that I have been to over the past two summers, I have had one drink at IOA (the first day of a vacation after I had buried my grandmother in Daytona), and a drink at CP (while I was caught in a rainstorm while waiting for friends in line for MF).

I guess I party after being in a park all day (I love the cottages at CP). I really avoid the alcohol in the parks for the most part due to the price, dehydration, and DUIs.

I do think that many parks do have alcohol, but tend not to advertise it that much. I mean, the people at most parks are jerky enough. Can you imagine them loaded up on alcohol as well?

**I have to note that the funniest alcohol related "thing" that I have ever noticed at a park was at BGW, where you can not take your drinks across bridges (state law)

If you like to tie one on, I don't see what the problem is. I've had more than my fair share of buzzed rides at Cedar Point. Ditto for SFGAm and PKI. I think you're creating an issue that doesn't exist.

I would have to disagree with the first poster. I think IOA is hindered because of the amount of alcohol. Not so much during normal business hours, but last halloween there was so much. Every 5 footsteps you could get another drink from someone. Not that I am against alcohol, it's just that it gets to be a little too much. By 11:00pm most people were so messed up it was crazy. I think that takes away from the atmosphere, although sometimes it is funny to see drunk people running into trash cans. :)

Yeah, I dont get the post. Just about every park I've been to I've been able to get a brew.

Now OTOH, I *do* wish more parks would be like BGT and give away beer for FREE (j/k). Seriously though, I think in a lot of ways, it is better to have the beers confined to certain areas. Yes, I would really like to sip while standing in line, but I would get really mad if someone made be spill my beer on the crowded midways ;). I've never had a problem with tying one on. Heck, I'm tipsy right now....(no seriously...)

lata, jeremy

Alcohol has just never been a big part of the theme park experience for me, or any other experience for that matter. I drink, but it's not critical to my enjoyment of anything. At times it's nice, but you can certainly enjoy a park without it.

And if a park doesn't serve it, than head on out to your car and down the two 40 ouncers of St. Ides and Old English you purchased at the liquor store. :)

Of course BGT is gonna have beer. Who do you think owns them? Push there product!! :>)

I feel so goofy for not remembering the exact year but Kings Island only recently started selling alcohol at the park again after a long time not. They sell mixed drinks at Lt. Dan's bar but the product is obviously restricted to certain areas.

I think a lot of the amusement parks have given most of the concessions they are going to give when it comes to alcohol sales. I doubt it will ever come to a situation where beer will flow freely out of portable carts and every concession stand. If anything, we live in a litigous and liability laden society where places are going to err on the side of caution rather than on the side of pure enjoyment.

Beer rules! I'd love to be able to get drunk and hop on the bumper cars at Knoebels, and get on the Flyers.

Lets face it. Parks don't want a news headline, "Drunken Rider Falls From Ride," We all know most people lose their marbels after a few beers.

For as much as I love to sit back and drink a few cold ones I don't think it's really a draw for parks. I can't really see a park marketing "NEW FOR '05 5 NEW WATERING HOLES". After all parks aren't really built for the over 21 crowd. Plus the $5 or $6 for a beer tends to get a bit much if you want to tie one on if your a seasoned drinker.

An adult night would be cool for a park but how many people over 21 would actually go to a park to hang out and ride rides and drink over priced beer?

Remember they needa license to sell it and that cost a lot of money!

I noticed at SFKK, the rules on alcohol sales are alot more lenient.

They did infact have stands on wheels selling bottled beer and you can walk around the park freely with a beer in hand.

Of course this is Kentucky we are talking about. :)

Liquor licenses don't "cost a lot of money." What are you talking about? When you're selling 20 oz. beers at $5 or $6 each, you're making a killing, tens of thousands of dollars every day at a park the size of Cedar Point. That's not bad considering it's sold at only three locations.

Just smoke in the parking lot.

Sorry I though they would cost a lot more. My bad! :>(

Only 3 Jeff? I could've sworn there were more than that... But perhaps it's my impared memory that's at work ;)
*** Edited 7/30/2004 4:43:35 AM UTC by rOLLocOASt***

well Corey, our favorite drinking place (TGI Fridays) is outside the park gates, remember?

so that leaves Red Garter, Hofbrau, Game Day Grille, and Lusty Lil's errr... Last Chance Saloon inside the park. I don't think I'm missing any on the inside.

Also - for a beer experience like no other - SFDL. They allow beer to be brought into the park from the campground, provided it is in cans. I believe you are allowed to have up to 6 when you enter:-D I saw a bunch of people with mullets running around with coors/bud light cans in their hands, and soft-side coolers over their shoulders. *** Edited 7/30/2004 4:52:26 PM UTC by Raven-Phile***