Stolen All-Season Drink Cups

The signs just say Adult, X price, Child, Y price, Senior, Z price. Nothing specifying that's per person. Trust me, I've had plenty of time to study the price boards while waiting in line. My parents love their buffet restaurants. (On one of my visits, we decided to go to lunch, and my mother hauled a rubber-banded pile of buffet restaurant menus in order to find the one offering senior discounts that day.)

To be honest, I have no problem with a couple or a family sharing a cup; it was the suggestion that a large group of people bought one cup that struck me as abusing the system.

noggin said:

The signs just say Adult, X price, Child, Y price, Senior, Z price. Nothing specifying that's per person.

If that sign didn't give you adequate indication that those are per person prices... well then, I honestly don't know what to tell you. I guess that's why we live in a world full of fine print, where literally everything needs to be explained, even if it is perfectly, plainly obvious common sense stuff.

So an all you can eat buffet price gives adequate indication that the prices are per person, but an all you can drink cup price does not? Interesting.

No, it's "all you can eat" versus "unlimited free refills".

To-may-to, to-mah-to. If I can buy one refillable cup and quench the thirsts of a crowd, then I should be able to buy one refillable plate at the buffet restaurant and feed a crowd.

As a connoisseur of buffets, how are you not aware of the FDA mandate that you are not to refill a plate at a buffet? It's not a refillable plate. You're purchasing admission to the buffet. A souvenir cup, by contrast and definition, is a refillable vessel.

A buffet's finite element is the person, since you're purchasing admission for a person.

A souvenir cup's finite element is the cup, since you're purchasing a refillable cup.

I cannot believe I've wasted this many minutes explaining the difference between a buffet and a refillable souvenir cup...

When people start comparing a season cup at one establishment to some random ****ty buffet:

in the interest of brevity, I went with refillable cup / refillable plate; my apologies if that was confusing. Sorry, I still think buying one cup for a large group of people is abusing the system.

Pete said:

Cool, an easy option would be to add a season drinking plan to your pass, like season dining.

I agree this is the only option that makes sense to satisfy just about everyone. The problem is the park puts the value of the program on an insecure object which is not necessary with the technology now at the park.

For season pass holders, just put the drink plan on the pass just like the dining plan. The park should then allow you to get your refill in whatever type container you want. For those that like the convenience of the souvenir bottle, buy one at a much reduced cost and carry it with you all year. It is not likely to get stolen because there would be very little value to it.

If you want your refill in a disposable cup they should put it in a disposable cup for you. You have paid for free drink for the whole season so it shouldn't matter what you put it in (as long as it is limited to 32 oz or so per container).

For those that don't have season passes, purchase a daily wrist band. Or for those that are tech savvy, send them a scan code for their mobile device.

It doesn't make sense for 'everyone', the park gets substantial repeat revenue from the souvenir cups being: lost, stolen, forgotten at home, washed in the dishwasher, broke.

It is obvious that from the parks standpoint this program is extremely popular and successful, I would not expect a change in the way this operates.
They even expanded it this to an all-season plan, which shows how confident they are in the repeat purchase of cups.

To satisfy everyone is simple- don't like it, don't buy it.

Really? The "substantial profitability" of the free drink program is counting on the pour souls that have had their cups stolen, lost or broken?

I bet last year when they charged 99 cents for a refill, you thought that that they should never drop the 99 cents per refill because of the substantial revenue loss and how extremely popular and successful the program was. I'm glad they dropped the silly 99 cents and the program is much better this year. I doubt they are losing money on the drink programs this year and the convenience factor has improved tremendously.

Convenience is an important consideration in overall perceived value and a positive customer experience at the park. If you read all the posts in this thread, of running out to your car, or hiding it in a bush, or purchasing a locker, the current offering is not very convenient and affecting the overall customer experience.

Cedar Point can adjust the pricing accordingly on a souvenir cup free program just like they did this year, if they really feel they are losing "substantial revenue" from the poor customers that had their cup stolen, lost or broken.

Instead of listening to all the feedback they received last year on the .99 program and making a positive change, maybe they they should just tell everyone "don't like it,don't buy it"? I think not!

"Pour souls?" I see what you did there, even though you didn't mean it.

Where did I say "substantial profitability", I didn't. But that kind of blows a hole in your entire rant if that isn't what I said or even implied.

I also addressed the all season plan which clearly gave an option instead of the 99 cent refills. :)

My statement still stands.

And don't you think that maybe one person in marketing may have thought of the wristband (which they already use in certain situations) or the season pass add on (like they already do for dining) ideas?
These cups self promote, encourage locker sales, allow for upcharge options and create repeat revenues.

maverick said:

.... they should just tell everyone "don't like it,don't buy it"? I think not!

Why should the park have to tell anyone "don't like, don't buy it"? That's just simple common sense.

XS NightClub said:
These cups self promote, encourage locker sales, allow for upcharge options and create repeat revenues.

Totally agree with that. So CP should charge double for a season drink plan that goes on your pass. That would make up for the lost locker and upcharge options and get the money from people who would never buy a cup because of inconvenience.

Good idea Pete, maybe next year it will be an excellent option for us.

Sorry I assumed you meant profitability because that is the only way your rant makes any sense. I assure you that Cedar Point didn't feel the program was a success because it increased "revenue" last year. If that were the case, why drop the .99 charge?

By the way this is the first year for the "free" drink option so Cedar Point will not know if this current program is "extremely popular and successful" as you say, until the end of the year when they compare "profitability" and customer feedback vs the .99 cent program last year or to even no program at all.

I am pretty sure that Cedar Point is constantly monitoring the objectives they are trying to achieve with this relatively new program. They are listening to feedback and keeping all options and ideas open to maximize the customer experience and their profitability.

I am positive that your innovative solution to the customer concerns regarding the cups of "don't like it, don't buy it" is not the way Cedar Point plans to "satisfy everyone".

They didn't drop the .99 charge. They are selling two different cups at two price points. The cheaper green cup costs .99 to refill while the more expensive orange cup has free refills.

What Pete said +1,

I'm pretty sure that's plastered all over most every available as space in the entire park and every CF website.

You are correct Pete I should have clarified. I was specifically talking about a year to year comparison of the season plan cups from a 3 plus visit, season pass holder point of view

Also, I am glad you agree with the no cup option. I am not sure that double the price is the right price point but a no cup offering should be an option which, at the right price point, would attract many new plan customers.