Higher Food Prices in 2008

I'm still waiting to hear about the beer refills. I may've found my new favorite bar if it's what it sounds like. I doubt it is, but I can dream.

That would increase there beer sales. I would take them up on that. Beer allowed in queue lines, and refills also?

Well, I saw this coming...

I understand when a place raises their prices because they really need the money. Like the Detroit Zoo for example. They raised their food and gift shop prices, but they are hurting bad. Their money goes directly to keeping the zoo open. So when I over pay there I fell like I am contributing to saving the zoo.

But come on, does CP really need the extra money? It's rediculous. They probably are thinking of all the people who don't know the area out side of CP that well and will just eat the park for the convenience. So those people really don't have a choice but to pay their high prices.

The Captive Audience pricing mentality has been prevelant for years, not only at amusement parks but ball parks, theaters, fairs, etc. It's bad enough, but now with prices on everything going through the roof due to energy demands, it allows these venues to thoroughly gouge the customers, and we're expected to lie down and take it.

I was at CP last week for a total of 6 days, Sunday thru Friday. I'm no cheapskate and I'm not broke, but after paying nearly 8 bucks the first day for a corndog and a pop, I decided to get smart. This is how I beat it. I decided on 1 large meal a day, so on 2 of those days I had an early lunch at Midway Market. I used my coupon. (and even though the food isn't all that great, it's not that bad. There is variety, you get drink and dessert, and you can sit there all day if you want. I didn't leave there hungry.) On 2 other days after early ride time I ate at the Hotel Breakers breakfast bar. Once again, ok food, as much as you want, and 10 bucks. It kept me going for the day, and I really didn't need lunch or snacks. (Breakwater has the same deal, and it's not crowded and quite pleasant after the park opens for the day.) On one evening I ate at the pizza buffet at Hotel Breakers. 10 bucks and because they were slow offered to custom make any pizza I wanted. Pasta, salad, dessert and drink.

For the hotel I took my own pop in a cooler. (Pepsi in the machines is 2.50) and a box of cereal to snack on .

In the park, if I felt the need for a snack or something sweet, I would go to just about any retail store cash register and get a couple of York patties, .20 each. They did the trick.

Even at TGI Fridays there was a deal. When I paid for my cocktail my receipt had a survey that when answered gave me a free appetizer. So while I sat there drinking and watching TV I got on my phone, got my code, and in a few minutes had free potstickers to go with my Long Island.

I had Toft's one day, and I thought the price wan't bad, considering I pay about the same or more at some of our premium ice cream stores in Columbus. But I could see out the window, and the kids were lined up literally across the midway for crappy $7.50 Dippin Dots. Yikes.

Maybe Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Obama should call for a park food holiday. In the meantime I'll try to get by as cheaply as I can.

There are no beer refills.

I was retarded and was sold under "false pretense" probably because I heard what I wanted to hear.

I was told there was a refillable mug I could get at Red Garter, so I am like sweet. Drink this one down and come back and get it refilled. But no its you drink your $7.99 beer or whatever out of the crappy collectible cup. Than you come back and pay $5.99 or whatever it is per drink to fill your refillable collectible cup.

I was like no free refills, and shes like "hah, free beer are you kidding?"
I am like they do it at Busch parks :)

Tell you what - there's a market there when it comes to beer refills. I'd gladly pay $25-$30 for a cup that runneth over. :)

-Josh

Jesz said:

But come on, does CP really need the extra money? It's rediculous. They probably are thinking of all the people who don't know the area out side of CP that well and will just eat the park for the convenience. So those people really don't have a choice but to pay their high prices.

Yes they do need the money. As I'm fond of pointing out, Cedar Fair lost money last year. And I don't care if it was a "rounding error".

^ Yeah, but do you think that they need it that badly to sell $5 hot dogs and $14 for 1/2 a sub, soda, and a bag of chips? The Detroit Zoo raised their prices because they were about to close the doors if they didn't get money quick. And their food prices are still lower than CP's. Maybe Cedar Point did lose money last year.

But I'm sure that they wern't going to close their doors on the account of it. I see maybe raising their prices a little bit. But from what Iv'e heard, they have raised them to where it's rediculous.

Our economy is in real poor shape right now, and A LOT of people don't have much money anymore. They want to go to CP to get away from their troubles and have a good time. Not go in debt over a breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

If CP kept their prices down maybe more people would come more often and they could get more money from admission. But the gas prices and food prices will probably turn a lot of people away, because they just don't have the money. I know it would turn my family away.

You are not just saying o it's around $30 to $40 for a ticket and then some gas money. You are also talking about getting to the park and having to eat. And for a family of 4 that can get very expensive quick.

Sure people can bring their own lunches. That's a very good conclusion. And that's probably what a lot of people will do. But I still think it's unfair that they would have to do that because CP has to jack up their prices so high.

I guess I do not understand the hatred towards Midway Market. I think a previous post said the cost for lunch, including tax, is $13.80. Where in the park is there a better value? I have never had bad food there, the drinks are included in the price, and I get all the ice cream and cherry cobbler that I want. I agree that the food is not the best in the world but to me it is better quality than any of the random hamburger or hot dog stands. And it certainly beats paying $14 at Subway.

Cedar Point is going to make loads of money on the general public who simply don't know to seek out the better options. Subway and Dippin Dots will sell like crazy because they're so visible, and they're something that Joe Schmo can identify with.

Thankfully, most of us here are more discerning than that, especially when we're at the park more often than the common man.

For my money, TGI Friday's and Tofts are stellar. And yes, I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the ice cream they give out at Toft's -- for $5 I had a waffle cone packed to the top and a little past. That's comparable to a good quality ice cream place outside the park.

(I was just there yesterday, and I'm planning to post a trip report some time soon when I get the time to write something up)

For what your paying for in park food...you mys well go to Famous Daves or TGI Fridays and enjoy a little more upscale meal in an air conditioned area for near the same price.
I do enjoy Panda Express for $11.27; you can get a plate of rice, fried rice, chow mein, and orange chicken, or mandarin chicken, and a few other kinds of dishes, and a soda.

That's what I've been doing lately, well last year from 2007. It seemed like every trip I went on, I would go to Famous Daves for lunch and then wait until I left for the day and went down the road to McDonalds. In the past I've packed submarine sandwiches in a cooler with Chips and something to drink. I still buy in the park, but its usually for the Fries.

The Fries by Gemini are really good. I'll pay the extra dollar for food like that. I also love Donut Time. Yeah you guys are going to say they're expensive, but if you look at the size of the donuts(Hugh), it's worth it. Another place that has good food and reasonable prices are underneath the grandstands by Top Thrill Dragster. You can get some real good Italian Subs for like $5.00. Toft's I haven't been to yet, but I want to try it.

I suggest either getting something before or after you enter the park. Subway will overcharge you abotu 13 dollars. You can go get a footlong sub for about 5 dollars, 7 with the meal; so about half of what you pay in the park.

I don't visit the park really often, usually about once a month so I don't mind spending the money when I'm there. I like to enjoy some good food at Panda Express around 1 and then some Dippin Dots later in the day and that's usually enough for me until I get home.

On one of our trips last year, we packed a cooler and left it in the picnic pavillion. When we returned for lunch, a couple came over and pointed out a teenager who had been in our cooler and helped himself to a drink. (He still had the drink in his hand). The irritating thing was that he was with a group that had cases of pop piled high and covering a whole picnic table. Man, that made me mad. And it seems like it takes way too long to buy food at the park. I guess we'll just eat a big breakfast and hold out for Steak - n - Shake on the way back to the hotel!

Why not just leave your stuff in the car until you are ready to eat?

You know, I'd just rather not negotiate the parking lot with my little kids if I don't have to. We walk in and we walk out. But... as you mention, that will change whether we're going out to get the cooler or leaving for an off-site restaurant. At least the kids are getting bigger and they're not quite so squirrly!!!

Park in the Soak City lot, its a lot smaller and should be easier to navigate with kids.

CP should take a page from Disneys book and offer deep discount group packages for food. Like for $18.99 per adult you'd get one counter service meal and two snacks with a refillable mug. Better yet, for every adult food package you buy kids eat free. Get creative and advertise that CP is helping the average family cope with gas price and get thier vacation too.