No more Cotten Candy for 25 cents!

I wish that Cedar Point would spend the money and revamp their food lineup. They have some good food, but largely it's mediocre. Untill the park give me what I want, I'll vote no with my money. *** Edited 5/14/2007 8:44:00 PM UTC by Jump to Conclusions***

Those poor kids had no idea what hit them Saturday.

The blue tag at Coasters on Sunday was busting his back-side and getting things done. There was a silver tag assembling orders in the back.

Everyone else in the place looked like they were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. *** Edited 5/14/2007 9:20:24 PM UTC by Brian Noble***

I've gotta agree that it was lame the way they made a big deal out of it last year and then went back on it after one season. It just sends the wrong message to people. I don't even like the stuff that much so it's not going to ruin my day. I just hate to see CP making bonehead moves and making people feel ripped off.

If I eat at the park, it's usually at Fridays (slow service there on Saturday too) or Famous Hair I mean Dave's. A lot of the more popular spots in the park (Hot Potato and Mr. Potato are two examples) don't even take credit cards. And their ordering/preparation systems are so old and antiquated that they are probably paying a lot more staff than they need to and it still takes forever to get your food. Take order, take money, make change, go get/make food, come back, give to customer, rinse, repeat. It's scary that CP foods could learn a lot from just visiting a McDonalds and seeing how it's done in the 21st century.

The whole park just needs a unified Point of Sale system. They really are probably literally losing money because it takes so long to take people's money.

I really think parks should start using the "pay pass" or "express pay" thing American Express and MasterCard are using these days. All you have to do is tap your card on a little pad and you're done. No signing, nothing. It speeds up the checkout SO MUCH. If you could do that with your park ticket, I bet people would go CRAZY spending money. Plus, you'd quicken up the lines a lot. No one likes to wait in lines - especially when they're hungry.

CP foods have always had a problem in serving people quickly. I was in the park Sat. before it got crowded, so the service wasn't bad. I can imagine what it was like later in the day though.

I totally agree with Matt, the food process at the quick serve places can learn a lot from McDonalds.

A real POS system is something we've all been begging for since, well, forever. Again, look at Disney. One piece of plastic gets me into my room, into the park, and charges food and merchandise back to my room. I charged about $400 to that card in my three days at Disney. The average closing weekend I spend maybe $40 in cash and $60 to my debit card. Convenience = higher per cap spending.

The great irony is that they tend to keep things simple in terms of the menu choices, and they're still slow. It's mind boggling. Look at a place like Busch Williamsburg, the big Italian restaurant, and they crank people through there. The big variety counter service places in the two Universal parks, huge menus divided by genre, and they're very efficient.

It just floors me that Cedar Point shows no leadership or innovation in this area.

If you want to see efficient, check out Pecos Bills at the Magic Kingdom. They do several thousand meals every day at lunch and the lines move QUICK!! They have more than payment down to a science there.

Jeff, I couldn't agree more. The food service and technology at CP is seriously lacking. Their creative idea of higher per cap spending is simple - raise prices. How about the new prices on Dip N Dots - 5.25 and 7.25. Or how about this years "Maverick" soft drink deal, 7.99 for the cheap disposible plastic cup with 1.99 refill. Just two more minor examples of their idea of "higher per cap spending".

On Sunday, I observed a customer standing in line for about 10 minutes, for fries in front of what appeared to be an open window with employees working in front of it. Finally, the employee stated to the customer "I am not here to take orders" and I heard the customer reply "then what are you here for? - very unhappy. There are no open or closed signs and very little organization. I know it is early in the season, but it never seems to get much better as the season goes on.

Sort of like a "Cruise Card" (if you've ever taken a cruise). It wirks everywhere, and just automatically shows up.

Wow. Yes, Jeff, that would be a fantastic idea. You would think it would save the park time and money (well, time equals money).

^ Yeah all places should charge like that. I went on a cruise durning spring break and the cruise card was perfect. It was a boarding pass, room key, credit card. One bill at the end and never needed cash on the whole trip.

Mr. Potato really went up. It was like 3.15 for plain fries then it was 4.39 this year. The only prices that seemed fine was Chick-fil-a.

They need to bring back the 25 cent cotton candy. Not everyone has a lot of money to spend in the park, especially with the gas prices being what they are.

The Chick Fil A prices were around twice the price you'd pay in a mall food court. Cedar Fair needs to consider that if they lower the prices, the volume of product sold will increase significantly.

Also, they REALLY need to put in a POS system. I usually do not like to carry cash with me to the park because if I do I tend to spend too much on games. The across the board capability to accept credit cards would be a welcome and appreciated convenience. They could get the pinpads like McDonalds has and they'd be all set..Just some food for thought CP.
*** Edited 5/15/2007 2:35:48 AM UTC by ltrain2006***

I never even saw any 25 cent cotton candy last year! Where was it?

There we're a few scattered around the park......but the only one I remember seeing was the one by Skyhawk. Other than that I remember 25cent cc at the candy shop by DT.

I know alot of people are complaining about the price of the food, but did anyone else experience any quality issues? I needed my annual fix for some Hot Potato/Happy Friar fries, but when myself, and the others in my party received them, they were all undercooked. And they came from two batches. The thicker fries were still pretty solid in the middle. In addition the park no longer has Vinegar to put on the fries (no, I'm not Canadian). Then when I went to Fridays on the beach on Sunday night, numerous guests were complaining about the slow service, and it was taking about 30-40 minutes on average to bring out entrees.

I think it's pretty clear that the Foods department has some kinks, and pricing issues to work out this season.

4.25 for a normal sized Hot Dog? Ridiculous.

Jeff,

If the man that controls the purse strings doesn't believe in the benefits of technology then there will be no technology. I assure you that there likely isn't a person in the Food Service department that doesn't see the benefit of POS.

As for slow service on opening weekend....should it happen? No. Does it happen every year? Yes. You are operating those restaurants with few experienced individuals and the training curve ain't short. It isn't an excuse...just a fact. I still say they should go way back to the good old days and have a "Sandusky Day" where locals are invited to the park for free and get to be the guinea pigs in order for the staff to get the feel of operation.

A hot dog is $4.25? Now THAT is madness. I would plan to not buy any food in the park.

With the exception of Busch Gardens (and I doubt they do much better on opening weekend) you guys named examples of restaurants that are open year 'round with year 'round staff. Pecos Bill and the Universal restaurants should have the food service down to a science since they practice 365 days a year.

Now, technology would certainly HELP at Cedar Point but it wouldn't make much of a difference on opening day.

I had to get my fix of the fries as well. You can still get the vinegar but you have to ask and they put it in a small cup. Don't know why...... As for prices....I got the kids a chicken finger basket with 3 chicken fingers and a average amount of fries.......$8.70....that was a little steep for me.

$8.70 for three strips and fries?

Prediction:

Cedar Point attendance will be down once again but per cap and revenue will be up. Thus, attendance will drop again next year as people feel they have been bent over a chair the previous season.

I'm telling you...they can't keep this up. Sooner or later the increase in per cap is not going to keep up with the attendance drop and no new ride is going to fix it.

They are looking at short term strategies which is NOT going to fix what is amounting to a long term problem.

Yet another reason why Mr. Kinzel staying at the helm isn't necessarily the right move. I like him...but it is time for some new ideas.

Hmm... Pointer... where did you get your fries. When I bought them at the place over near Wicked Twister (the name escapes me), I asked for vinegar and they said they didn't have it. Were your fries at least cooked all the way through?

If they don't have vinegar, then what's the point of buying the one sacred food left at Cedar Point?

I bought them by the Gemini. They were cooked through and just like I remember them, but when I paid $9 for the Chicken I was a bit sick to my stomach. lol