Breakers Hotel Experience...

But... But... It's all part of the conspiracy! Wal Mart and Six Flags are turning everything into the same.

I'm all for eating at non-chain restaurants when I'm on vacation. That's what I like to do. Doesn't mean I'll complain if I wind up at a TGI Fridays or Macaroni Grill. It also doesn't mean that CP wouldn't benefit from something of that sort.

Honestly, the type of "chain" restaurant I would like to see go in at CP is something that is known for good food, but isn't located in or around ohio. For instance something like Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen or Wolfgang Puck's, Emeril's etc... Hell, I'd even be happy with a Planet Hollywood or something of that sort.

Something to do after the park closes, and that's got an "experience" to it would fit the bill nicely.

I can see something different as exit english suggests. And what is there now is OK. I just don't want to turn the place into a giant food court or interstate highway exit.

dj - That's the issue. I do get out a lot. I travel extensively throughout the US and it seems like every city has the same options now. Building two Home Depots in Manhattan is a prime example of big box retailers creating The Franchised America. Theme parks are becoming quite the same too. The biggest disappointment to me is Downtown Disney. Disney was founded on the principle of "escaping reality" - entering into a fantasy world. But, now its like any big entertainment city in the world. Virgin, Wolfgang, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest, McDonalds (rolleyes), etc... At least the resorts have somewhat stayed true to their roots and kept unique restaurants in them. That's always where I like to eat - someplace I can only eat at there, and nowhere else. mmmmmm Flying Fish.

Like I said, if CP wants to install a plethora of franchises on the point, more power to them. But, if they were to create something unique, I bet they'd see a higher ROI and larger customer base. People from the surrounding area may even come in for dinner or drinks or something if it wasn't readily available on Rt 250.

halltd said:
I don't think that's true. I've had plenty of friends (non-enthusiasts) tell me how they've been on a ride and it was the "same" as ride so-and-so.

And they're probably the same people that think Raptor and every Vekoma SLC is the "same" too.

halltd said:
People eat at chains because they're easy. Like you said, they know the food, so they eat there. Can't expect much more from lazy Americans.

Nonsense. It's not about being lazy, it's about safety. You can go into any Friday's in the country and know precisely what you're going to get, and you don't need to worry about whether or not little Cindy Lou Who is going to have something she likes.

halltd said:
When I lived in NYC, I was amazed at the tourists that would eat at Olive Garden and TGIFridays in Times Square when there were so many amazing restaurants in the city 400 times better.

Is Sandusky like NYC? I can't seem to find all of the great ethnic restaurants in the greater Sandusky area. Give me a break. Bay Harbor is about as good as it gets, and there's no culinary challenge there to speak of, at least not the last time I was there. I had never been to Tommy's until someone I know who lived in the area showed it to me. It's not like they're advertising during the local news.

Even in defense of the NYC tourists, if I'm not with a local or someone who spends a lot of time there, I wouldn't know where to look.

Its called the internet Jeff. Or, you can pick up travel books pretty much anywhere. See what I mean about Lazy?

But then you're trusting you dollars to some guy you don't know. I take the opinion of a friend at a million times the opinion of some critic.

A place could be raved by every critic out there, but if I have one friend who had a blah experience, I'm not going to waste my time. I'll go find a place I trust.

I don't trust anything coming from a guy who drives a Dihatsu. :)

Oh yeah, the Internet, that's exactly what I have access to when I'm standing on a busy street corner in a big city. How silly of me!

But, can't you just plan out your entire trip? I mean, right down to every last detail, such as where to eat, pee, and which garbage cans to use? I mean, anything less is just lazy. Stupid lazy Americans...

Its a Daihatsu thank you. :) Besides, the company pays for it 100%, so I'm not complaining. The island is only like 15 miles long and 1 mile wide, so its not like I drive that far. When I'm back in the States, I'll have my cool cars back again.

Bring in more franchises. Great idea. LOL!!

In this case, it is a great idea. With the single exception of Bay Harbor, the CP-original restaurants are anywhere from horrible to barely adequate. Generally, the franchised places are better.

I have to say i really dislike franchises. And yes i do do my homework before i get into a big city and pick out a handfull of places throughout so that whereever i find myself i have a few choices that aren't a chain that i'm familiar with.

And i have to also agree with the observation that there is a certain amount of sameness that is happening to many places throughout the country and even throughout westen Europe. Certainly in any spot that is heavy into tourism. From my experience it is hard to find unique shopping in any big American city unless you know where to look off the beaten path. Unique is something that remains in locally used areas of a city which most people won't ever get to see.

With all that said i have to say this franchise/samness whatever you choose to call it does make great financial sense. Whether someone feelsl like it's a safe bet or doesn't want to be bothered in finding a good mom and pop place (where frankly it is as often bad as it is good) the general run of the mill sort prefers something they recognize. Hell even i have to admit i broke my general rule while in Europe. After a week of doing research and working to find a good meal it was nice to just walk into a McDonalds and order my usual. Plus in Europe it's interesting to see the differences. Does that make me a hypocrite? I guess so, but we all are that from time to time.

But a point i wanted to make is that franchises are super easy to run. Brian Noble just made the point that the CP original restaurants are in general not up to par. And that makes sense to me. Starting a restaurant concept and managing it from the ground up isn't something that is easy to pull off. An owner must make a serious comitment to bringing in the right people, and that's assuming that the concept is decent to brgin with.

Bottom line is that until there is a major shift in our culture plan to see more and more chain everything out there. And it's silly to claim to think that companies will not do so just because some people would rather see unique places (myself included). We just are in the minority there.

Regarding McDonalds in Europe, I can see what you're saying. While in Tours, a relatively small city a couple of TGV hours south of Paris, the McDonalds seemed to be pretty popular. That was until we got to Paris, and saw a line out the door at that McDonalds. People were standing in line for just under an hour to get their "menu Maxi". Complete insanity.

It's amazing, because I'll stand in line for just under and hour to get something that ISN'T McDonalds. :)

I guess I would rather take a chance and try something new than eat or frequent a chain of anything. Even if I was standing on the corner of some big city without internet (uh hi smartphone :) ), I'd rather wander around a couple blocks and just try something than go to McDonalds (or any other chain). Even if it wasn't the best food, it was a new experience. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I just got back from the breakers a week ago and i loved it. i got the best view of every single ride(except for magnum and half of wicked twister), but the hotel was great!

omg enough with the damn restaurant posts. geesh.

Somebody sounds hungry.

;)

Well I guess that we can all agree that the bon air section needs some help...

halltd said:

I took someone to Dorney Park and they have no desire to return there because it was "the same" as Cedar Point.

LOL. Because of snoopy and a silver and red roller coaster? I wish.

e x i t english said:

Something to do after the park closes

That's the key. People like me who live 8 hours away usually visit CP for multiple nights only once a year. I can't tell you how horrible it was to come back from the park only to find out that NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING, was open. Our thinking was: the park's only open until 10, so let's put off having supper until after we get back. Wrong! The first night we had to eat pop tarts and potato chips for supper because we couldn't find anywhere to eat. Everything on the point seems to close an hour after the park, which isn't much considering everyone is still getting in line for the MF and TTD up until closing. Every night I wanted an ice cream float from that place in the Breakers, and every night it was closed by the time I got back. They even kick you out of the pool! The last thing I wanted to do at 11 PM was go to bed, but it's what we ended up doing just because there was NOTHING else to do.