Ridicoulus Prices on Bottle Pop

How many of you think its ridiculous on what parks charge for bottle pop and water. I know its a good profit. But come on $3.50, $3.00 or $2.75 for a bottle pop or water? I have also noticed in they charge different prices through out the park also. Gas stations and stores only charge $1.05 which is reasonable. What does everyone else think?

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Inverted coaster coming soon to Valleyfair!
*** This post was edited by VIPER on 8/6/2001. ***

Gas stations and grocery stores don't build multi-million dollar attractions every other year, either.

If they charge too much, people will either buy fewer sodas throughout their visit or drink water, and the park makes less money. If they charge less, the increased volume they may get will not be enough to compensate for the lower prices.

'Reasonable' is a relative term. On a hot day in the park, $3 seems pretty reasonable to me. Parks (and other establishments) only charge what people are willing to pay.

Every time I drop $3.00 for a bottle of soda at a theme park, I do grumble about it...But have I ever said 'No way!'? Nope. It is outrageous in most situations to charge that much for soda, but I agree that the Shell station isn't building $15 million rollercoasters every year so they can afford to charge so little.

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If bees make honey, then do earwigs make chutney?

I agree with you (VIPER) and that parking 9 bucks in parking alone they've taken in almost a millions in (1) day not to mention 40 bucks to get in it's crazy so what they build a million dollar attraction they've made it back in (1) day! + hear at SFWOA you have to do pick nicking outside of the park which is in a very Small area

The thing I don't get is that Cedar Point tried last year (or maybe it was the year before) to up the price to $2.50 and sales just plain stopped. I'm not sure if it's because of the fact it requires or returns change, or if it was because the price was too much. In any case, it went back to $2 even within the week.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"From the global village... in the age of communication!"

It doesnt bother me. I found it cheaper to buy a soda out of the machines, or get a souvineer cup and refil it. I have never heard soda called "pop" before. No one says it in NJ.

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Nitro: The Most Explosive Coaster on the Planet explodes at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2001.

Jeff is correct. Until people stop paying the prices (which we may be seeing the beginning of this summer) the parks will continue to push them up.

Parking for $9 is cheap! How much do you pay at an Indians game or a Browns game? It is $20 at a Dolphins game and you still have a pretty lengthy walk.

I am tired of people moaning about theme park prices without taking into context entertainment prices in general. NSYNC tickets were going for over $200 bucks a pop! (A young girl told me that.) Madonna was as much or more. Heck, I think it costs $10 to park at a Miami Sol game and that is women's basketball!!!

NitroExplodes: "Pop" is a Midwest thing. My relatives from Boston say "soda" as well. They also call a milkshake a "frappe." Those crazy New Englanders.

Jeff...

Cedar Point raised the price to $2.50 this season, but just a few weeks ago DROPPED the price back down to $2. And when I was up there yesterday I saw the machines getting more sales than they had all season.

Parks will charge whatever they can get away with for that stuff, and so long as some of you rich idiots are willing to pay the $3 or whatever, they will keep jacking the price up. If you think the price is ridiculous, DON'T BUY IT. At least with the drinks we have other alternatives. I just wish we could do the same with the parking fees.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

That's what's nice about the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. Most of the hotels in the area offer complementary shuttle service. This last time we walked to the park we were so close.
As far as the bottled pop prices Rideman is absolutely right. They will charge as much as what they can get away with,so just say no!

Ask my boyfriend: I love my soda pop, morning, noon and night. But at a park? No. I'm not parting with $3 to get a soda.

I haven't been to Great America this year, but last year, when they had vending machines conveniently outside the gates, I'd buy a soda at the grocery store ($1.25) and walk in with it. Never had a problem. Either they didn't care, or they assumed I was carrying a soda bought from one of the vending machines.

My thing is, as long as these parks keep putting up great rollercoasters and other fine attractions, I'll happily pay what they charge for a drink.

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Incidentally, while it isn't a great deal of difference, the stand/cup prices are usually slightly better than those in the machines, if you're not looking to be able to carry it around, close up the bottle, etc. I agree that the prices are ridiculous, but no more so than the price of parking, or the overall $40-$50 just to get in (regardless of what you do). It's entertainment, pure and simple, and so long as people want to continue to be entertained, they'll keep paying those prices. If you don't like the $3 for a soda (I'm in FL now, so it's soda, when I was in MI it was pop...), find a drinking fountain. I've yet to be in a good, reasonably large park that didn't have them.

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/

Rides are extremely expensive. Someone has to pay for them. I agree with what people said about sporting/music events. It's the same thing. Parking, merchandise, food/beverages, parking, are easily just as expensive if not worse at those kind of events. Most theme parks have limited seasons to make their money. If you don't like the price, just drink some free water at the waterfountain. It's better for you and it doesn't dehydrate you like caffienated sodas can.

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Batwing-Bow Down

Six Flags prices are the worst of them all. I didn't really pay that much attention this year, but last year it was $3.00 for a coke and if you you were hungry, OMG! you have better bring your ATM card. Thinking of all their advertisers and such, parks can afford to drop prices a lil bit. Also, if a park is buying products in such a high volume, then their markup is probably over 200% or more. I say, take a cooler and boycott parks overpriced food and drink.

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Everybody loves me, and I intend on keeping it that way.
-Cruel Intentions

We as humans like to complain so when something we think is overpriced, we aren't afraid to open our mouths. Think about this: If you are at CP by yourself, how many times are you going to drink pop or water during the day from the machines? I've got one pop a day from the machines and maybe one from the food stands. One water is all you need as you can fill it up from the free fountains. $2 for unlimited water all day doesn't sound bad to me (though at home its free all the time, except when the $60 water bill comes along)

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Beeman65
Assistant Webmaster
Kennywood Park Unlimited
www.kpunlimited.com

Jeff said:
"The thing I don't get is that Cedar Point tried last year (or maybe it was the year before) to up the price to $2.50 and sales just plain stopped. I'm not sure if it's because of the fact it requires or returns change, or if it was because the price was too much. In any case, it went back to $2 even within the week."

Wow. I didn't notice that it was only $2 (or $2.50 even) when I was there. That is pretty decent.

WoF and Valleyfair both charge $3 !!! You'd think with all that extra money they are making that they could add some better rides (don't get me wrong - the Morgans are great - but both parks need more than 2 good thrill rides).
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Current favorite coasters:
Wooden: 1) Beast 2) Raven 3) Son of Beast 4) The Boss 5) The Legend
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What about almost 5 bucks for lemonade at Magic Mountain. I was so pissed but it tasted so good. Curse Magic for there good lemonade. The last time I went I end up spending over 30 bucks on drinks alone.

I agree that Six Flags Parks are the most expensive!! Last year i took my kid to fright fest and spent 25$ for 2 cheeseburgers, 2 fries, and 2 cokes. BOY WAS I PEEVED!! those 2 meals could have totalled out to be 15 bucks all together and they would have made a great profit! i know because i used to be a manager of a burger king and the food is cooked all the same and the food cost is all the same. The only difference is that six flags puts that fake cheese sauce on their burgers and yes i admit is is good..lol.

Heck is is not just at theme parks that we pay a crapload of money for food and drinks.Look at the movies,concerts. I just got two tickets to see Tim McGraw in Dallas and spent 64 dollars a ticket and I know I will spend a bunch more to park and eat!!:( When I go to Six Flags I just grit my teeth and buy it!! I always buy refillable sport cup there and only pay like 2.25 for refills- thats not bad.I like my coke and If I need my caffeine fix at Six Flags I will buy it no matter what the price!!:)
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TITAN CRAZED!!