News: Happy Friar’s Fresh-Cut Fries Fest returns to Cedar Point

RCMAC:

You can get a vanilla malt (who else drinks those anyway?)

I guess people don’t know what they’re missing!

Regarding your theory of availability, I don’t think chili dogs, delicious vanilla malts, or fries with non-taco cheese sauce are any more available than they used to be. And, it’s not like you can’t get BBQ outside the park as good or better than what BackBeatQue serves, so I’m not convinced that availability is the reason my traditional favorites are no longer sold at CP. I suspect it’s just a matter of consolidation/inventory. If they can get away with using the same taco cheese sauce and meat for both tacos and fries, then why not? Maybe they figure that those of us who enjoy traditional park fare don’t have discriminating enough tastes to care. I may be unique in that I enjoy a good meal, and my family has dined at many high end restaurants. But, I guess for me, part of that amusement park experience is enjoying those nostalgic favorites. At Disney, I will enjoy a turkey leg for lunch, then dine at a fancy restaurant for dinner, giving me the best of both worlds.

You may have me on the “God knows how long ago” comment. I hadn’t been to CP since the late 90s or so, before returning for the past four years. I honestly don’t remember if I had a chili dog since returning, but I did have fries last year, and they had the traditional cheese. I thought Toft’s had malts up until last year, but I’m not sure.

For the record, I had no problem with the texture or temperature of the funnel cake fried shrimp I had at the Grand Pavilion; I just didn’t particularly care for the combination of tastes. I think I’m in the minority, though.

I wouldn't want to live in a world where there was no such thing as BBQ that was better than what Cedar Point served

Its back for 2024! Four flavors. Looks like the two good flavors are at the Hot Potato location, with the other two being at Happy Friar. I refuse to step foot up to the Hot Potato counter, and eat their trash fries out of loyalty to the Happy Friar and their top notch fries. Let me know how those flavors are this year.

• Five Alarm
• Pierogi
• Nashville Hot
• Chicken Parmesan

https://www.cedarpoint.com/...fries-fest

They actually reduced the price this year. Didn't get a look at the quality/quantity.

Yikes, what was it last year?

I think they were just under $15 last year and the portion size is definitely smaller than the normal baskets. Its still enough for a person though, especially if you want to try several kinds and have a person or 2 to share them with. I haven't been there yet this year, maybe tomorrow so I am not sure how the portion size compares to previous years.

Yeah, my comment was meant to be mildly sarcastic. Last year they were $14.47. We'll save a whole 48 cents.

pointbuzz.com #630788

Look at the bright side, that $.48 savings covers the first small sip of a cold one from the nearby drink stands to wash down the fries.

That seems a little much. Depending on the items, you could get two to three things at Epcot Food & Wine for that price, and I can guarantee it'll be better food.

I have only been to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival once but my wife and I loved it. Once the kids are older we are planning to go there for that again. I was also surprised that the portions for both food and drinks were, at least in my opinion a good value for the amount of money they cost. We were there last year for the Festival of the Holidays and were impressed with the food quality, portion size and value as well. We stayed at the Boardwalk as our entire plan was to either be at Epcot or Disney Springs for the 3 days we were there, no doubt you pay a big premium for convenience but walking to the hotel each night after Luminous was worth it.

Jeff:

That seems a little much. Depending on the items, you could get two to three things at Epcot Food & Wine for that price

And for $16 more than the cost of a single day ticket to Epcot you can buy a gold pass for the entire 2025 season at Cedar Point.

Expensive is all relative.

You're not wrong, but that shows how weird the revenue model is for FUN. If you Walmart the gate, you can't really expect the people attracted to cheap are gonna spent like crazy on the inside.

Boardwalk/Beach/Yacht Club are where it's at if you like to eat and it's during a festival. F&Y has unbelievably been open for more than a week and we haven't had a chance to get there. Definitely an Epcot lunch in my future.

Jeff:

If you Walmart the gate, you can't really expect the people attracted to cheap are gonna spent like crazy on the inside.

I know this is quoting from a previous post, but it it is worth repeating. When one gets in the gate for virtually nothing, I would expect the collective attitude to be that spending "up" on anything is not worth it, because one already got in the gate for less than a trip for 3 to the Olive Garden.

Why would the average person tip a crazy amount or splurge on a crazy dessert when they got the salad and breadsticks for "free"?

A lot of us view Cedar Point as being the filet mignon of amusement parks, which is arguebaly pretty accurate.

The park sells itself as a pork butt-steak.

My last trip to Epcot with the family = $$$$$$$$$$

My last trip to Cedar Point with the family = $

That's only because you had to travel there I'm sure, and because Disney doesn't give away the gate. In-park spending is competitive, if not slightly lower for food.

Kevinj:

The park sells itself as a pork butt-steak.

And over the past few years the operations have been as inconsistent as one too.

The infrastructure of the park (the selection of rides, the lake and all of the beach activities, the resorts and the Live-E when they have it) absolutely set CP up to be the filet mignon of non-Orlando parks. But if they were charging Orlando prices while delivering as they currently are in regards to inconsistent operational efficiency, terribly unnecessary rain and weather closure rules for rides and the major cuts in Live-E there would be an even bigger issue as far as guest satisfaction. The last several years at the Busch Gardens/SeaWorld parks are a prime example of this.