Beverage pricing: They're still not listening

How much does SF charge for fountain drinks?

Kyle2154 said:
What's everyone crying about? Disney is $2.49 a fountain drink? Ok, well, buy a souvenir cup ($7.99 with platinum pass) re-fill at any point throughout the season 11 times for $1.99 for an effective cost of $2.49. Guess the only difference would be you get a nice souvenir cup.

I think most of us, on this site anyways, will be in the park enough in a year to buy 10 or 12 drinks.

The problem with this is that most of us don't want to have to carry around a souvenir cup the whole day and then have to either leave it with a non-rider or get a locker when we want to ride Millie or TTD.

Kyle2154 said:
What's everyone crying about? Disney is $2.49 a fountain drink? Ok, well, buy a souvenir cup ($7.99 with platinum pass) re-fill at any point throughout the season 11 times for $1.99 for an effective cost of $2.49. Guess the only difference would be you get a nice souvenir cup.

Well, that, and the fact that you have to carry around a useless piece of plastic just to get that "deal".

Yeah, no thanks. I'll not be a moron and drink water instead. :)

Speaking of, what is the design for the souvenir cups this year?

I remember last summer I bought a souvinier cup at six flags for $12, and had free refills for the rest of the day.Refills after that day were at a discounted rate(can't remember the price). For the price of $12, we just bought a new cup the next day.It was big enough for 2-3 people to drink out of.

The souvinier cups at cedar point this year are pink with a black band in the middle.

Six flags is about 50 cents cheaper than cedar point on fountain drinks.

Here is a menu from a six flags park ...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/2648816304_f438af2e9c.jpg?v=0

If you look, you will see that a refill cup is $12.99, with free refills all day, and only 99 cents to refill the cup for the rest of the season.

tcgolfer said:

Kyle2154 said:
What's everyone crying about? Disney is $2.49 a fountain drink? Ok, well, buy a souvenir cup ($7.99 with platinum pass) re-fill at any point throughout the season 11 times for $1.99 for an effective cost of $2.49. Guess the only difference would be you get a nice souvenir cup.

I think most of us, on this site anyways, will be in the park enough in a year to buy 10 or 12 drinks.

The problem with this is that most of us don't want to have to carry around a souvenir cup the whole day and then have to either leave it with a non-rider or get a locker when we want to ride Millie or TTD.

Don't forget it cost money to get a locker which adds to the price of your refill, and you also have to make a special trip back to the locker whenever you get thirsty!

^ I do agree that it isn't perfect. It would be nice if they would sell a drink wrist band that granted you access to $1.99 refills the whole season, but somehow I think screwing you a little bit with the locker trick factors into the cup equation.

EDIT - perhaps a perk for Platinum Pass holders in 2011. General public can buy the wrist bands for $9.99 anytime, but they come free with your 2011 platinum pass. $2 drinks all season long.

I might write a letter to Pepsi. Tell them they need to control the prices that their clients charge for their products. "In order to afford a Mountain Dew at Cedar Point this summer, I aim to buy 10 fewer Pepsi products per month everywhere else (grocery store, Taco Bell, etc)."

Kyle - or they could up admission by 5 bucks and just have free drinks included with admission.

They could call them Pepsi Oasis and scatter them around the park.

Why has anyone else not thought of that?;)

I have a couple people in mind...

The problem with my wristband idea is I could just buy $1.99 drinks and distribute them to friends. This is a little worse than the current sharing the same drink cup.

@Juggs: I don't know if someone ever answered how much season pass prices were affected in other chains that went to free drinks, any idea? I would probably pay $200 for a Platinum Pass anyways, but to speak relatively, I think a hike of $20-$40 on the season pass would be coming/reasonable with free drinks.

I'm decidedly 'meh' on the free beverage idea. I'd rather see the focus on other ideas:

-- Meal plans for resort guests, day guests, or whatever other guest type. I like the picnic buffet deals they've been offering.

-- Beverage add-ons for ticket holders or passholders. If abuse from unlimited refills is a concern, simply put a cap on it that's reasonable for one person (something like 4 maximum drinks per day, for example).

Is ice water free? I know at King's Island it is.

Walt said:

-- Beverage add-ons for ticket holders or passholders. If abuse from unlimited refills is a concern, simply put a cap on it that's reasonable for one person (something like 4 maximum drinks per day, for example).

I like that idea, or they could sell 10 drink tickets for $20 that get punched everytime you get a drink. 2011 platinum pass comes with 3x 10 drink tickets!

Yes icewater is free*

*Sometimes they will not allow you to get icewater at Subway Challenge Park, Chic-Filla, and other locations that have self serve fountains.

Even better yet, why don't they just lower the prices of the drinks? Problem solved...no wristbands, tickets, hassles....ect.

My ideas have that assumed. :)

Playing the role of apologist fan boy is...

Kyle2154 said:
What's everyone crying about?