$3.00 20oz are back

The parking fee is another rip off. I know everyone does it. I know it is more at sporting events. But, at least when I am at Disney World I get to ride a tram to the gate instead of hoofing it from the back of a parking lot.

Back to soda...if the park pays anything for the soda it isn't much Jeff. I agree. I am not sure that the people buying the sodas for $3.00 offset the negative perception of thousands of others who just roll their eyes as they walk by the machines.

Krispy Kreme did an intersting promotion down here last year. Every time the Marlins got 12 hits in a game each and every ticketholder could take their ticket to a Krispy Kreme and receive a dozen doughnuts for free.

The Marlins actually did that many times last year and each time it happened Krispy Kreme got countless untold value in free press. Much like...Holiday World.

The powers that be at Cedar Point likley go to Jacobs Field and buy the expensive drinks and food. But, they didn't have to lay out money to get in the place in the first place.

*** Edited 5/31/2005 7:33:59 PM UTC by Chief Wahoo***

Occasionally I would buy a 20 oz back in the day when they were $2. Haven't touched them since they went higher than that. I always get the free ice water unless I go to one of the sit down restaurants. They need to return to something like those Western Boot cups they had in 2002. For something like $10, I was able to bring it and get FREE refills all summer long. It was also small enough that with a little cramming, I could fit the thing in a pocket. I'd love to see them bring back something like that, where you can pay once and get something that will be free all season long. Most importantly, it needs to be small enough to cram into a cargo pocket so you don't need to shove money into a locker every time you ride something.

There were a lot of little things about WDW that impressed me during our trip last month. One of them was indeed the parking - from the organization of the vehicles to the efficient and safe tram service. The more we go down there, the more I want to go back.

Refillable would be nice. The TTD cups were refillable, although aqwarkd (ignore my spelling). But, the new maXair cups coast something like $8, plus $3 for a refil or something along those lines.

As bad as Cedar Point is, they're the same as the rest of the entertainment venue prices. I just tremble at $3.75 at Jacobs Field and the movies. The entire entertainment industry is greatly out of line when it comes to refreshments at events. But I see drinks far behind the games. I mean, $5 for someone to guess your weight and win a prize that the park paid $3 for?

The thing about Disney is that, while you are getting ripped off you don't really think about it. Sure, you paid to park but then you get on these sleek trams that take you to a ticket processing area that has moving lines even on the busiest days. Then, you board a futuristic monorail to go over to the front gates and get immersed in the experience.

Disney gets away with more...there is no denying that. But, they generally deliver with things like efficient parking and transportation. Now I will say that there is some griping going on when it comes to resort transportation. The busses just don't cut it for getting around property and it is something the World will eventually have to address or people will find it no different than staying off property...particularly for the price you pay.

I go to the park on an average of twice a year, so while I'm there I pay the $13 for a burger, fries, and drink at Coasters. While I'm there I don't think much of it, but it's when I get home that I realize that I spent almost $20 Canadian on ONE meal. That is the most ridiculous thing EVER. If I were to live closer to the park and visit more often and have a season pass I would deffinetly be packing my own food and drinks.

I didn't think the prices at WDW were out of line. Parking was actually cheaper - $8, I believe (with the added value of the trams). And a 20oz. pop was $2.50.

The problem I see with Cedar Point's food is that their pricing is inconsistent. For example, they charge $3 for a bottle of pop out of a machine, yet at the sit-down restaraunts you can get a pop for $2.50 or so with free refills. Sure, you're paying for the convenience of being able to drink it in line in the case of the $3 20 ozs., but it's ironic that for 50 cents cheaper you can sit down in an air-conditioned venue with unlimited refills.

Another example of this is the food. I ate at Macaroni's the last time I was at the park and got a sub and fries for around $8, and the food wasn't half bad. Yet if you go to one of those midway food places (like at Gristmill Refreshments by Snake River Falls), a typical burger and fries is $11. Basically, their prices are inconsistent, and all-in-all way too high, especially when it comes to drinks.

Hey, I usually jump to the defense of the amusement park business when it comes to ticket prices and so forth because as has been said, the entertainment industry on whole is way out of whack. Movies, sporting events, amusement parks, etc have all gotten way out of hand. But, I still go to the movies (on the rare occasion that I can) and I still go to sporting events (saw the Marlins win on Sunday).

But I'm drawing the line at a $3.00 Pepsi. Sorry, I just can't swallow it. I think I pay $6 or so for a CASE of Pepsi at Sam's Club. You can still get 2 liters for .99 cents.

I don't care really, pop dries out my mouth when I'm at the park. I stick to my free ice water between rides :)

Most things on Point I really don't bitch about too much. One thing you can't complain about is the condition the property is almost always in and that is excellent. Remember back in the 70's and early 80's when the place looked like crap? It is well maintained, the rides get painted, the signs get painted, the buildings get painted, they have slowly upgraded most of the restrooms, the place is clean and I feel safe having children there. That is why I don't mind the $35 ticket to get in (it's your own fault if you don't get them for 10 bucks off). I'll pay the rediculous price for food there because I like to eat and I only get things there I typically don't eat when I'm not on vacation (Midway fries!!). But I gotta draw the line at $3 bottled pop from a machine, and $9 for parking! They raised the parking price anticipating the parking tax from the City of Sandusky. But that ordinance never went through. I guess it wouldn't bother me so much if they spent that money on the roads and parking lot. Have you driven around perimeter road lately?

I havn't been to WDW recently (been about 4 years), but the last trip I stayed on property for the first time. I loved it! Unless something has changed, I never waited more than 10 mins for a bus during peak hours and maybe 15 mins during off-peak hours. I usually get a rental car (cheaper than paying airport transportation for 5) and snag a $2.00 styrofoam cooler from wally world in Kissamee and stock up on snacks, soft drinks, milk, OJ, and cereal for breakfast. Then, keep the stuff in the cooler in the room and eat breakfast before we head out for the day. We'll eat a good sit down meal mid-day then snack the rest of the evening. Saves probably $250 in food and drinks over a 5 day stay at Disney.

I hesitate to draw too many comparisons between the Mouse House and CP. It's kind of like comparing Windsor casinos to Vegas casinos. The casinos in Windsor are nice, but they aren't VEGAS nice. CP is nice, but it isn't WDW nice. And I say that as a lifetime admirer of CP. It isn't a slam, it's just 2 different kinds of parks in my opinion. Please, don't hate me... :)

CPLurker

"Bring back the Penguins!"

Actually, it is fairly standard pricing for fountain drinks to be cheaper than bottled drinks. Go to any bar/tavern and you will find that draft beer is usually cheaper than bottled beer.

$3 for a 20 Oz bottle isnt bad...not when you compare it to the $3.50 bottles of water and the $7.00 LITE BEER (yes, SEVEN DOLLARS) at United Center in Chicago.

i cant say i would PAY $3, but heck, compared to other places....

I don't think a person can really compare Cedar Point to Walt Disney World. While Disney has built several high-class thrill rides, they have and always will be much more of a "family" park. They theme the heck out of every single attraction, while Cedar Point themes, well, almost nothing. Cedar Point definently caters more to the adult/coaster enthusiast crowd, with a smaller emphasis placed on children's rides. Disney also has so much more money than Cedar Point, from its 4 theme parks and 3 waterparks in Florida, 2 theme parks in California, international parks, and of course the movies. Disney is, well, Disney!

Chief Wahoo said:
The busses just don't cut it for getting around property and it is something the World will eventually have to address or people will find it no different than staying off property...particularly for the price you pay.

This is actually subjective to which resort you're staying at. If you're at one that offers other transportation options besides the buses, they will be less reliable. But I've stayed at the All-Star resorts every single time I've been there and the buses always arrive every 10 minutes and they are always empty buses with nonstop trips to the destination.
*** Edited 5/31/2005 10:26:42 PM UTC by CPMatt***

People go to Vegas MAINLY for the casinos, people come to Windsor and say "hey! there's a decent casino (we just have one, which by the way is getting a multi-million dollar expansion very soon with convention centres etc. to make it more like a vegas casino, cp lurker), lets stop by."

Lots of people go to Cedar Point just to ride the world class coasters. (I know it also has lots of other attractions for the entire family, I'm just making my point). People bring the whole family along to Disney because it is a park that is themed for small kids, look at all the Disney movies out there, most of them are for kids. While Disney World does have some coasters, they aren't the main attraction.

Sorry Vince, wasn't slamming the Windsor casino (shows how much I paid attention when I was there - didn't realize there was only one. I was in a Limo for a bachelor party, and there was this... uh... never mind ;) ) Most people from NW Ohio come to Windsor for the casino, so in a way it is a gambling destination for a lot of Ohioans.

I was going to use the Laughlin NV casinos as an example but didn't figure anyone had been to Laughlin before! :). I'll have to make a return trip to Windsor after the expansion!

I would characterize WDW as a true 'Theme park' and CP as a more traditional 'Amusement Park'... thus why you can get in trouble trying to compare the 2. I love them both but for different reasons.

CPLurker

"Bring back the Penguins!"
*** Edited 5/31/2005 10:56:47 PM UTC by CPLurker***

I've worked at a movie theater since I was 16, and I've seen those prices rise about every 6 months. When I started a 16oz fountain drink was $2.75, and now it's up to $3.25. It's almost like a dixie cup. And the funny thing, at my theater, the fountain soda, 20oz bottles are cheaper than the fountain soda 16oz at the stand. The 20oz is $3.00. I laugh at the people that pay $3.00 for a 20oz Aquafina. especially the ones that complain about the price, and then shell out the money, granted we don't give bigger than a 10oz cup of water for free. Whatever, it's a crazy world. The movie theater actually needs these high prices because it's where they make all of their money. (Concession, game room, advertisements on screen before the movie)

I've been trying to decide whether or not at the movie theater, it would do them better to lower prices from their 5000% mark up to something more reasonable bringing more sales in. Generally, MOST people will pay whatever price is set for food and drink in a closed place (theater, amusement park, ball game) I'm gonna have to say that its smarter for them to gouge people than to have reasonable prices considering people are going to pay the fiddlers fee. *** Edited 5/31/2005 11:09:29 PM UTC by Geewhzz***

This past weekend when I was at the park, I have to admit that I was thinking about shelling out the money for a 20 oz. but then my mind drifted back to these discussions and my vow never to give them 3 bucks for a bottle of pop.

I used to think that 3 bucks was absolutely out of the question, but I'm beginning to think that it's more dependent on what I'm making at my current job. Back when they first shot the price up tp $3.00 I was making just twice that an hour. Now that I'm making substanitally more than that it doesn't hurt the wallet as much to pony up the money. With that said, I still won't pay it because of the principle of it.

If they would drop the prices of a bottle of pop to $1.50 would it really make them less money overall? I know that they would have to foot the bill for more trash removal and the employees would have to stay on top of emptying the trash cans more often, but seriously the volume that they would sell would probably quadruple what they sell now. I would have to think that it would be equally as, if not more beneficial to the park than what they are currently doing. At least it would make the guests feel less like they are being ripped off, let alone insulted.