Food costs??

So how much money would you likely spend on food per meal as an employee? I know there is an employee cafeteria but what are the prices and options there like? Also, if you try to pack a lunch is there silverware and microwaves at the dorms you could use or would you have to use them while in the cafeteria? Just trying to figure out total cost of living there.. Thanks!

Starting last year the employee cafe implemented a dollar menu.
Pizza
Burgers
Chicken Strips
Pretzels
Fries
and fountain drinks
are all on the list, as well as a few others (I really only ate those items). So it's pretty easy to eat meals for around $2-3.
Though I would not limit yourself to just the dollar menu, they have a full grill in the back and their entree meals are usually pretty good, and priced reasonable (around $2-4)

Of course you can also eat at any restaurant in the park but you pay normal park price for those. The only location in the park you get a discount is the employee cafe.

As for meals at the dorms, there is a small store that has microwaves and sales packaged meals. You can also head to the local grocery store and pick up meals. Though you will probably have issues with storage of food (roommates, fridge space, etc)

Silverware and any other "ware" is on you. You buy it yourself unless you have nice roommates like I did. We would all buy stuff for the room like paper plates, plastic cups, gallons of juice, and bottled water. We just shared with each other it was great. Just dont depend on your roommates being that generous especially if you dont know them.

The cafe had some nice deals but the food isnt really anything to get excited for. They added a salad bar last summer. The prices are very reasonable the food just kinda sucks.

You can also order pizza and subs from local places thats deliver. You can also catch the employee bus to the mall or walmart and walk to eateries. Applebees is right across the street from walmart, and Ryan's , taco bell, long john silvers, and bdubbs is a lil further down the road.

Pizza hut is a small walk from the mall as well as mcD's, and wendys. If you're into tattoos its a nice tattoo shop a medium walk from the mall too. Its called Sandusky Tattoo. I got one done there, the artists are good. Um anything else just msg me..

Food prices were reasonable... my suggestion would be if you have the money before you come down bring enough food for about two-three weeks. Food does seem to deplete your savings up pretty fast. Also, the employee cafeteria is great for their prices but not for their food, but it's reasonable... I mean it's being cooked in baulk so it's not going to be great but it's edible and it's cheap... Also, the employee break areas have vending machines in them and they are cheaper than the vending machines in the park. The commons store is nice because they sell microwavable foods and they also have microwaves available for use. I don't know of they sold plastic ware though and if they did I just never paid attention. The commons store also sells snack food, and other things you might need!

With regards to topic discussions, let me share what I've read. According from it, Americans spend less on groceries than most other developed countries. Unfortunately, we also spend more on junk foods than vegetables and fruit.