Dick Kinzel's Revenge! (Shot Glass size Free Water Cups)...

Just so we're clear, what they gave out for a free cup of water USED to be, I would guess, 8 oz which I agree is a normal serving, although thanks to the ubiquity of pop top soda cans and Starbucks, sometimes 12 oz is considered 'normal.'

In any case, the original grunt of this thread was that, sometime this season, they switched to tiny plastic cups that hold about half that. Dixie makes 3 oz and 5 oz cups, and I've used them both, so based on the little plastic cup I got at the park Sunday I'm guessing that it's about 4 oz.

*whew*

ETA: Aaaaand we're up to 15 pages.

"Normal serving size" is not the point. Sometimes I drink to keep cool. With the lack of shade at CP you can easily get over-heated. Maybe I'm not thirsty and dont *need* over the normal serving amount, but I would like some to keep cool in the 90 degree heat. 2+ hours of waiting in line that little cup is not going to last.

I'm not worried about it. I have my own ways of getting fluid.

"Thanks for proving my point about you being a passive-aggressive moron."

I guess you can call me that because I don't agree with you.

It's kinda funny that your getting all bent out of shape over an argument about ice water.

I still can't figure out why you agree with what they are doing, and see nothing wrong with it.

djDaemon said:
Again, 8 oz. is, in fact, a "normal" serving size. Problem solved.

Except the cups are not 8 oz., they are 5oz. djDaemon

Just so we're all clear on serving sizes and such other fluid related things, the previously used (and still used if you're lucky, though certainly not the majority) were 12oz. Pepsi cups. The current cups are 8oz I believe. That is roughly a 33% decrease in serving size (though if they are indeed 5oz, then that is about a 60% decrease and would have more immediate/severe results with the following anecdotal evidence).

As anecdotal evidence, I would usually consume a cup of water (using the 12oz cup as the standard) every hour-hour and a half in previous years. On my latest trip to the park and encountering both the 12oz. and 8 oz. cups, when I received the 8oz. cup I was returning to a stand in about 5 minutes for another cup. I was actually drinking more water than before. Logically I should have felt cooler/more hydrated than before, but I was actually feeling less hydrated/warmer. Obviously this is a psychological side effect, and I would guess (although note I am not a psychologist, and am just venturing a layman's guess) that it is a rather common occurrence, especially among park-goers that were conditioned to consuming 12oz. of water. While you are getting more, you perceive that you are actually getting less is the basic gist of that.

However, I think Jeff nailed the issue squarely on the head on the last page. I think it is nothing more than a rather underhanded and insensitive way to tell you to buy the pop at highway robbery prices. Hopefully it comes 'round and bites them in the butt.

Every decision that Cedar Point makes is with a goal of maximizing profits. Its why they are in business. And sometimes with the myriad of decisions to be made, businesses get it wrong. Perceived benefits may prove to be lower than expected. Perceived costs may prove to be higher than expected. Decisions are constantly re-evaluated and revised if deemed appropriate. Maybe the water decision is one that will be changed. We shall see.

But a few thoughts from my perspective. One, I never expect any business to "give" me water. It just never occurs to me that they should. Only time I expect to get water without an express charge is at a restaurant (and I have been to a few restaurants that will only give you bottled water charging you for it). And many times the waiter/waitress will give you a look of disgust when you order water because they know they are missing out on tips on drinks (often times alcohol makes up 1/5 of the total tab). Don't necessarily blame them though because just like businesses, they are there to make money. And I drink water exclusively.

Two, I think much of America has become water stupid. So many people are obsessed with drinking water every 5 minutes. I have coached kids in sports who tell me they can't practice/play today because they left their water bottle at home despite the fact that a healthy kid can certainly run around for 2 hours without drinking water. Kids in schools sit with water bottles on their desks (my kids are in a very small handful of kids who do not have water bottles at school) on the apparent notion that kids will dehydrate walking around in 65-75 degree buildings if they don't have constant intakes of water.

Bottled water companies have helped play into our stupidity. To me, Lake Erie tap is the best tasting water in the world. I prefer it over every bottled water I have ever tasted. But we spend huge amounts on bottled water. Two best selling bottled waters are filtered tap water. And many of the so called spring waters are bottled in plants surrounding the Great Lakes. What is Evian spelled backwards again?

Three, on trips to CP, I have water before I get to the park, at lunch and then at dinner. Sometimes I may grab a bottle of water during the afternoon. Never would think to ask for a "free" glass of water. Paying $3-4 is no big deal. No interest in carrying a water bottle around with me all day. And in 40+ years of going to the park, I have never been even close to dehydrated or had any problems with insufficient fluid intake.

Four, I never drink from water fountains. I have just seen too many studies showing water fountains with only slightly fewer germs than toilets for me to have any interest in using one.

djDaemon said:
Again, 8 oz. is, in fact, a "normal" serving size. Problem solved.

That's true for soda in particular. Also irrelevant, because the cups I've seen handed out are absolutely not 8 ounces.

Packing a few bottels of water in a small cooler in your car goes a long way when taking a break from the park.

crazy horse said:

I still can't figure out why you agree with what they are doing, and see nothing wrong with it.

Yeah, that's exactly what I've been saying. /sarcasm

You do realize how easy it would be for me to knock that straw man down, right? You fail at conversation, badly.

OK, so the cups are 5oz. That doesn't mean its "normal" to get 4 cups at each visit, with several visits each day. That's being an ass.

Go back to kinzel now.....move along.

Everything I say, you try to argue about it.

"OK, so the cups are 5oz. That doesn't mean its "normal" to get 4 cups at each visit, with several visits each day. That's being an ass."

It's not normal to want a average amount of water? If that's being an ass, I guess I am....lol

Once again, I get it. YOU don't see anything wrong with it. That's fine. But please do not sit here and rag on me because I(and many others) happen to.

You fail at trying to win an argument with baseless facts. So bad, that you have to resort to name calling.

Dj, you know I'm a no-nonsense guy normally, but I really do think you're way off base telling crazy that he's being an ass for asking for four cups of water when he wants his water. If I was thirsty enough and didn't feel like going to the nearest water fountain to refill every 5 seconds, I would do the same thing. Once again, I'm someone who doesn't like being an idiot to employees of any business, especially employees who work in a park that I know rather well and what its like to work there. But if I want 20oz. of ice water right now, you can rest assured that I will be asking for as many cups as it takes. The man wants 20oz. of ice water when he walks up to the stand and they've now shrunk the cups to the point where it takes 4 cups to satisfy that? I say go ahead, that's not being an ass at all. If they can't accommodate the want of the customer in an efficient way that is the problem of the business.

And once again, I'll point to my post a few above here. I think it also has a lot to do with the perception of what you're getting. When they gave you the larger 12oz. cups he maybe didn't ask for more than one very often because he was thinking that was a good amount. I know looking at it, that 12 oz. cup looks pretty satisfying when filled with water. These newer, much smaller cups, however, leave a very different impression in my mind as to how satisfying/hydrating it is. It appears that crazy horse has the same experience as I do. Despite actually drinking more water (20oz. vs. 12oz.) it feels like you are getting just as much with the 4 smaller cups as with one of the larger cups. Sure, its all in your mind, but it really does make a difference. Maybe you don't "suffer" from the "perception problem" I've described. If not, hey, that's great. But I would guess the majority do encounter that "perception problem."

BlueStreak64 said:
...if I want 20oz. of ice water right now, you can rest assured that I will be asking for as many cups as it takes. The man wants 20oz. of ice water when he walks up to the stand and they've now shrunk the cups to the point where it takes 4 cups to satisfy that? I say go ahead, that's not being an ass at all.

Well, that's just like, your opinion, man. I see it as him being passive-aggressive and thinking that he's fighting The Man and making a difference. Maybe he is just thirsty enough to warrant several 20-24oz trips to concession stands each day. I find it rather interesting that he's that thirsty, yet in his many visits he's never thought of a better means of quenching that thirst. Its as if he's going out of his way to be a douche.

To me (a logical, do everything the efficient, easy way kinda guy), waiting in lines at concessions stand even once in my day is a monumental waste of my time, especially if I could have avoided said line by going to any of a number of fountains located around the park. After all, drinking all that water has to mean he's pissing at least a few times during the day, and there are fountains near every bathroom, no?

If they can't accommodate the want of the customer in an efficient way that is the problem of the business.

Despite crazy's repeated assertions to the contrary, I've never claimed the park was doing the right thing. Not once.

Regarding the "perception problem", I drink enough water to keep hydrated, period. I don't base my intake on anything other than that. Perhaps that's partly due to the fact that I'd rather use fountains, as its infinitely easier and requires no extra time spent on my part. I don't like waiting in lines at concession stands when there's an easier alternative.

See, I agree with you on every point. It was you constantly calling him an ass for getting 4 waters at once that bugged me. If the guy is doing it out of spite alone, I can see calling him out as an ass, but I don't see the spite being the only reason behind his asking for 4 cups at once.

I don't ask for 4 cups at once, but what I do do is get a cup at a stand without a line, and if its one of the 12oz cups I'm usually satisfied. If its the smaller Dixie cup, I walk away, down it and stop at the next stand with a one person wait or less, and ask for another cup of water. If its a 12oz cup, I'm done, if its another small cup, I repeat until I am either satisfied or receive a 12oz. cup. I also use the water fountains rather frequently as well. I know it may seem like people are drinking unnecessarily large amounts of water in this manner, but I think it all comes down to the perception issue. You get by on less water than others. I, on the other hand, drink like there's no tomorrow (and actually, I probably use the restrooms less than others). I'm pretty much conditioned to drinking lots of water (I would go through my 1500mL [approx. 40oz] water bottle in about 45 minutes to an hour when I was working), so what I consider a normal amount of water is probably more than the average.

I think many people do drink unnecessarily large amounts of water. And that is based on a medical/biological amount of water that folks need. And I think you are exactly right as to the cause: people are conditioned to drinking lots of water.

Its not that I consume less water. I just see no reason to waste the oil/trees it takes to make the cup, when I can get the very same water into my body (or my empty water bottle) without it.

I consume at least a gallon of water per day. I sometimes carry a gallon jug around and drink right from it. The interesting thing is, I've never felt this overwhelming need, that I may die if I don't have exactly a 12 Oz. cup of water.

I'm perfectly content staying bent over a water fountain for a minute and quenching my dry mouth. If I *do* get a cup of water, I can always refill it at the drinking fountain.

I think Dj is right on this - why is it necessary to get 4 cups of water? You have to realize that the water from the fountains comes from (wait for it...) the exact same place as the stuff you get at the stands. Sometimes, it's probably a little bit better, because it doesn't have to share a nozzle with pink lemonade. (Not to mention, by using 1 cup and refilling, you're generating less excessive waste, especially with they're plastic - but I'm guessing most "enthusiasts" don't care about that..)

The sense of entitlement is one of the very reasons I've stayed home this year, aside from buying a house.

edit: Dammit Brandon you beat me to the environmental aspect.. :)

"I see it as him being passive-aggressive and thinking that he's fighting The Man and making a difference."

That's not the case, but even if it was....so what? Why should that bother you so much?

" Maybe he is just thirsty enough to warrant several 20-24oz trips to concession stands each day. I find it rather interesting that he's that thirsty, yet in his many visits he's never thought of a better means of quenching that thirst. Its as if he's going out of his way to be a douche."

I may hit the concession stand 2-3 times all day for some water. How is that being a douche? Again...you keep bashing me and calling me an ass, a douche, and a passive-aggressive moron, all because I don't agree with you or what they are doing. Why are you getting so angry? I suggest you seek help if such silly little things couse you to get that upset. How old are you? The last time I was called any of those things was maybe in jr high school.

I have brought in a water bottle into the park before. It's a pain in the ass to carry around all day, and you can't bring it on some of the coasters.

If I or anyone else needs more than 1 tiny cup of water at a time...so be it. Don't keep knocking me for it.

Lol...so now it's about the trees?

If the park wanted to be green, they would continue to give me the normal size cups instaed of me having to ask for more now. At busch and disney, they give you the paper cups like you get at wendys or white castle.

What the park is doing is in very poor taste....simple as that.

Hey, I've got a great idea...why don't you keep a gallon jug of water on ice in a cooler in your trunk then you can go out whenever you want and take a swig. No cups, no line, no dehydration.

crazy horse said:
Again...you keep bashing me and calling me an ass, a douche, and a passive-aggressive moron, all because I don't agree with you or what they are doing.

Again, you can keep propping that lame straw man up all you like, but its not helping your argument, or changing my perception of you. But whatever - keep making stuff up if that's what gets you off.

Lol...so now it's about the trees?

When did I ever claim that it was only about X, and not about anything else? See above.

What the park is doing is in very poor taste....simple as that.

And I've never claimed otherwise. Not that such a fact would prohibit you from claiming as much.

So I should have to go all the way out to my car every time I get thirsty? Why do that when I can get ice water in the park?

I already go out to my car to go get lunch outside the park.

And by the way...it's not that I am dehidrated, it's just that I am thirsty. And last time I checked, it was not a crime to be thirsty.