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

We just refill plastic water bottles, freeze them the night before, and toss them in the backpack hanging off the 4 yr olds stroller when we go. They have always let us in the gate with water in the bag, and don't have to deal with stopping as often to get water, or hunting a fountain down.

I did grab a shot glass of water (no ice) on Sunday, and was a bit surprised. Wasn't sure if it was an out of the bigger cup situation or they just got hammered so much the last few weeks they decided to cut back on the size.

Someone said before about using plastic cups over again. That is a great idea but they would get crushed. Personally, i don't have a problem with the small plastic cups. If there is a problem with them, go use a water fountain or buy a bottle of waster .

If they are small cups, I just ask for a few.

^I dont know about CP, but last year, Dorney Park wanted to see every person getting the cup of water. We asked for 3 (1 for each member of the group) we had 2 people get the water, they said we can only get 2 because we had 2 people present. I told the guy I wasn't leaving until i got the 3 cups so after 2 minutes, i got the water.

crazy horse said:
When I was there on the 4th, they were handing out all different sized cups at different stands.

I did notice a hell of a lot more people drinking the ice water than ever before. I have noticed this on the past few visits.

In Frontier Town, by the train station, I got the 3oz size cup and later at the Garter I got the larger size.

I've noticed this also, the only time I saw people with soft drinks was at the Garter.

I liked the nice big cups CP had been giving out so far this season. My only minor complaint was repeatedly being refused ice with my water, but that's not exactly a big deal.

For those who don't like the way CP does "free" water, let me tell you about my experience at Indiana Beach this past weekend. It was in the 90's on Saturday, and my group quickly found out that they do not do free water at that park. They have drinking fountains everywhere, and they were all warm and stained green because it's straight well water. I took a sip and thought I was going to throw up from the nasty taste. The other options are to pay $2.50 for a bottle of water, or the price of a fountain drink for a cup of water from one of the stands.

Not to turn this into a trip report, but something to keep in mind if you ever visit Indiana Beach. Pay the $10 for their VIP parking, and keep a cooler full of whatever you like to drink in the trunk. You can be back at your car from any point in the park in under 5 minutes. I wish I'd known/thought of that before heading to the park.

I say those little shot glass size cups of water, that is terrible!

Any thing, I didn't think they turn on the water pressure that much on the drinking fountains. Most were really turned down to much a small arch.

I was told some time ago that it was an Ohio state law that said if a stand had tap water that they had to provide it to you free of charge.

I don't think it's a state law. But it's a customer service thing. They do want to make guests happy contrary to what everyone complains about. The problem is the water fountains ARE available. But people will clog up the lines at food stands and order water. Some will stand there and and wait until they finish the water to get a refill. Thus continuing to clog up the joint. Meanwhile guests who actually might spend a couple bucks, see the long line and crowded place and keep walking on. You've now cost the park a sale. Because you were too selfish to find a self service water fountain, and instead had to be catered to. Even though you have absolutely no intention on rewarding the park for taking care of your needs. Who knows, maybe that's everyone's goal.

I understand why the cheap, season ticket holding guest treats Cedar Point like the mall, more than a once in a lifetime experience or an event. And expects $5 dollar footlongs and a 99 cent menu on every menu board. And while I agree with some of you that the prices could be a tad bit cheaper, I understand the economics and numbers they need to produce to continue doing what they do. But I also know I could walk to my car and leave and come back if I really needed to. SO CAN YOU!

I just don't understand why people constantly expect something for nothing at an amusement park. Your admission covers the rides and the entertainment. Just like any other venue of entertainment. Food and drink will always be an expense. Yeah I know a couple SMALLER parks include this in their admission. But CP doesn't. So why expect it??

901liveson said:
I just don't understand why people constantly expect something for nothing at an amusement park. Your admission covers the rides and the entertainment. Just like any other venue of entertainment. Food and drink will always be an expense. Yeah I know a couple SMALLER parks include this in their admission. But CP doesn't. So why expect it??

Umm... because it's a good value proposition for their guests, and actually encourages guest spending?

It isn't so much that the food is expensive. It's that the quality is laughable compared to what they charge.

I would imagine that it costs the company more when they give the 3oz cups. If you give me a 12 or 14oz cup I'm going to walk away and drink it. If you give me a 3oz cup I'm going to ask for 2 or 3 of them. I'm not saying everyone does that, but I'm guessing quite a few people do. It was very hot and humid yesteday and I found myself thirsty all day. If I saw a water fountain I used it, otherwise I went to a stand and got free water. On my way onto Wicked Twister I even shelled out $3 for a bottle of water.

901liveson said:
I understand why the cheap, season ticket holding guest treats Cedar Point like the mall, more than a once in a lifetime experience or an event. And expects $5 dollar footlongs and a 99 cent menu on every menu board. And while I agree with some of you that the prices could be a tad bit cheaper, I understand the economics and numbers they need to produce to continue doing what they do. But I also know I could walk to my car and leave and come back if I really needed to. SO CAN YOU!

My entire family has season passes. I take offense at the "cheap" comment, when I have over $800 invested in those passes. (5 adult platinum passes and 1 junior platinum pass).

I don't expect a 5 dollar foot long or a 99 cent menu at any park. I have been to enough parks, ball games, concerts, what have you to know that just ain't gonna happen. What I do expect is decent quality at a fair price. My wife and I both have worked in food service. I can guarantee you that CP makes at least a $4 profit on every 32 oz soda they sell at the park at $4.49.

The buffet at Midway Market is $12.95 a person. Only two of us will actually come close to eating that much in food at a single meal.

Our solutions? Cooler in the trunk filled with lunch stuff. When everyone is hungry, we grab the cooler, head to the picnic area and have some lunch and relax for 45 min or so. Need a drink? Grab one of the 4 water bottles that we froze last night from the backpack on the youngest kid's stroller. They will let you in with your own bottled water.

When the quality of the food gets better and CP brings the price down some, we may consider buying more food and beverage in the park. Until then, I'll spend 15 bucks at Kroger to feed and hydrate my family of 6 every Sunday.

Give CP it's due--it provides picnic shelters. If they were truly evil they would charge you for their use. Or tear them down, put in something that generates revenue and leave you eating without shade or tables.

Most parks have the shelters....just saying.

901liveson said:
The problem is the water fountains ARE available. But people will clog up the lines at food stands and order water. Some will stand there and and wait until they finish the water to get a refill. Thus continuing to clog up the joint. Meanwhile guests who actually might spend a couple bucks, see the long line and crowded place and keep walking on. You've now cost the park a sale. Because you were too selfish to find a self service water fountain, and instead had to be catered to. Even though you have absolutely no intention on rewarding the park for taking care of your needs.

I understand why the cheap, season ticket holding guest treats Cedar Point like the mall, more than a once in a lifetime experience or an event. And expects $5 dollar footlongs and a 99 cent menu on every menu board.
I just don't understand why people constantly expect something for nothing at an amusement park. Your admission covers the rides and the entertainment. Just like any other venue of entertainment. Food and drink will always be an expense. Yeah I know a couple SMALLER parks include this in their admission. But CP doesn't. So why expect it??

-I guess I am lazy for wanting to get free water. Although there are water fountains in the park, some of them are dirty and they are warm. I am okay with small water cups, and there is no problem with people wanting to drink healthy water from a cup, rather than 3.50 bottled water with no minerals in it.

-When they are charging like $7 for a half of a sub, it is crazy. I could get $5 for a half and $10 for a whole but I think it is ridiculous. Not all of the food in the park is overpriced in my opinion, only chain restaurants and places that sell chicken baskets.
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I see absolutely no problem with people wanting to bring their own lunch. It is not right to bring your food into the park though. It is like bringing your own food into a McDonalds, they have food so buy it. Also, if they did have a picnic venue in the park, people would have to worry about someone slipping things into the food, stealing food, etc.

Captain Hawkeye said:
Give CP it's due--it provides picnic shelters.

I do give CP their due. I appreciate the picnic shelters incredibly. Especially after seeing Kings Island's picnic area (4 tables under umbrellas next to the season pass office). Economically, feeding 2 adults, 3 teenagers, and a 4 year old is impossible for us at the prices in the park. Thats why we pack a picnic.

@coolkid: we leave our cooler full of food and ice in the trunk of the car. Getting there early for ERT, we normally get a great parking spot. So it's no big deal to walk out, grab the cooler and head to the shelter. When we're done, cooler goes back in the trunk and back to the rides we go. I don't leave ours in the pavilion because I'm more worried about theft and birds getting into the food than anything. I can't count the number of birds I've seen go right through the plastic bag on a loaf of bread someone left unattended.

^ I know I was just saying in general that is what people do. At Kennywood, they allow it and being that Kennywood has had a few problems in the past with gangs, violence, and theft (80's-90s), I just don't think it is a good idea for any park unless they check the coolers.

Well, they're back.

When we visited in May, we got 12 oz. glasses for both water and ice.

Yesterday, I asked for a cup of ice and got the shot-glass treatment. The kind 1st year worker told me she knew how ridiculous this was, and gave me 7 cups of ice to put in our water bottles.

1 word: insulting.

Whoever is behind this decision should be dragged behind the woodshed.

Has anybody gone to a park official (not a seasonal) to complain and/or ask what the deal is? I sure as heck hope so, given all the complaining going on.