AstroDan
TS Team
- Favourite Ride
- Steel Vengeance, Cedar Point
I have just come back from the USA and visited many parks. It was my first visit to the States since 2019. It was fairly expensive back then, but since it is quite something to see what is going on in many of the major theme park chains. We managed to save some money overall by buying a season pass, seasoning dining pass and season drinks pass for legacy Cedar Fair parks, as we were visiting six of them. In total, we visited Dorney Park, Hersheypark, Kennywood, Cedar Point, Kings Island, Dollywood, Carowinds, Busch Gardens Williamburg, Kings Dominion and Six Flags Great Adventure. Prices more widely in the USA were not dissimilar to what you pay in the UK - around $5-8 (£4-7) for a pint, $15-20-25 (£12-16) for a waiter-service main meal at a restaurant etc.
Dollywood does not come into this debate, as all prices there were within what you would expect at a theme park. With taxes, a typical good quality table-service lunch was $20 (£16), beers were around $9 (£7) + tip at the hotel and soft drinks in the park around $5 (£4).
At legacy Cedar Fair parks, soft drinks were around $6.50 (£5.20), counter-service meals (which were on the whole good quality as CF invested a lot into this over the past few years) were around $24 (£19). Snacks such as dipping dots ice cream were around $11 (£9). But I could not believe the price for a pint - around $15-17 (£12-14) was typical - plus $1 tip per drink. Thankfully our season dining was good value - and for anybody visiting legacy parks more than 6x per year, this would be a no brainer as it entitled you to two meals per day.
Kennywood, operated by Parques Reunidos was also expensive. Soft drinks were around the $6 mark (£4.80), beers similar to legacy Cedar Fair at $15-18 + tip and fast-food type options such as a sandwich and crisps or burger and chips were around $20 (£16). Quality was mediocre. At Hersheypark, an independent, prices were similar but quality was better.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, we start to see the p*ss taking come into play. The parks operator, United Parks & Resorts, have maintained a 5% service fee on top of local and state taxes. This meant that where you saw a $10 price, you'd be paying around $11.50. This was on all purchases - food, retail, whatever. Meals did vary. A sausage sampler at the Festhaus, which comprised 3 sausages, sauer kraut, potatoes and sauce, was $20 all in (£16). However, counter service at Trappers Smokehouse was around $29 (£24). For a counter-service meal, this was extremely high. The all-day plan was also not really value for us at it was $68 (£54) once taxes/fees were added on. Beers at Busch were similar to Cedar Fair parks, around $18 all in (£14). I have complained about the 5% service fee and look forward to hearing from the park. Bottles of soft drinks (such as water or coca-cola) were $6 (£4.80).
The biggest affront was Six Flags Great Adventure. Given how tatty and worn the park is, they clearly need the money. Hopefully the merger with Cedar Fair will enable them to improve. But the food was dreadful AND extortionate too. Far worse than Aramark. Dry chicken tenders and chips to take away? $20 (£16). Candy Floss? That will be about $11.50 with taxes. That is over £9 for a candy floss! A medium latte? How does $11 sound? Think about it. Almost £9 for a latte. NINE POUNDS. Add an extra shot of coffee for $3.20 (£2.60)... it's about $1 everywhere else! I walked out. A coke? Try over £8. That is over £6.50 for ONE DRINK. A bag of crisps? $7! That is nearly £6 for a PACKET OF CRISPS. Beers at Six Flags were similar to other parks, around $18 a pint (£14-15). Thankfully, after the merger with Cedar Fair, the 5% service fee was removed across legacy Six Flags parks. The idea of paying even more than the above is incredulous.
Visiting the USA is a pleasure, and the quality of rides cannot be underestimated. But the prices that many of the major park chains now charge is beyond even the high price you would expect in the first place.
Whatever you would expect to pay in a theme park, add at least 50% if you are visiting Six Flags or a United park, add 30% for legacy Cedar Fair or Parques Reunidos. Herschend were much more reasonable. Surely, with this kind of price gouging, guests are going to decreasingly spend money in the parks. It's absolutely crazy.
It is unbelievable. I have attached a couple of menus from Six Flags for you to see (all prices exclude tax, which is around 6% and any tip for the coffee)...
Wow. Just wow.
Dollywood does not come into this debate, as all prices there were within what you would expect at a theme park. With taxes, a typical good quality table-service lunch was $20 (£16), beers were around $9 (£7) + tip at the hotel and soft drinks in the park around $5 (£4).
At legacy Cedar Fair parks, soft drinks were around $6.50 (£5.20), counter-service meals (which were on the whole good quality as CF invested a lot into this over the past few years) were around $24 (£19). Snacks such as dipping dots ice cream were around $11 (£9). But I could not believe the price for a pint - around $15-17 (£12-14) was typical - plus $1 tip per drink. Thankfully our season dining was good value - and for anybody visiting legacy parks more than 6x per year, this would be a no brainer as it entitled you to two meals per day.
Kennywood, operated by Parques Reunidos was also expensive. Soft drinks were around the $6 mark (£4.80), beers similar to legacy Cedar Fair at $15-18 + tip and fast-food type options such as a sandwich and crisps or burger and chips were around $20 (£16). Quality was mediocre. At Hersheypark, an independent, prices were similar but quality was better.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg, we start to see the p*ss taking come into play. The parks operator, United Parks & Resorts, have maintained a 5% service fee on top of local and state taxes. This meant that where you saw a $10 price, you'd be paying around $11.50. This was on all purchases - food, retail, whatever. Meals did vary. A sausage sampler at the Festhaus, which comprised 3 sausages, sauer kraut, potatoes and sauce, was $20 all in (£16). However, counter service at Trappers Smokehouse was around $29 (£24). For a counter-service meal, this was extremely high. The all-day plan was also not really value for us at it was $68 (£54) once taxes/fees were added on. Beers at Busch were similar to Cedar Fair parks, around $18 all in (£14). I have complained about the 5% service fee and look forward to hearing from the park. Bottles of soft drinks (such as water or coca-cola) were $6 (£4.80).
The biggest affront was Six Flags Great Adventure. Given how tatty and worn the park is, they clearly need the money. Hopefully the merger with Cedar Fair will enable them to improve. But the food was dreadful AND extortionate too. Far worse than Aramark. Dry chicken tenders and chips to take away? $20 (£16). Candy Floss? That will be about $11.50 with taxes. That is over £9 for a candy floss! A medium latte? How does $11 sound? Think about it. Almost £9 for a latte. NINE POUNDS. Add an extra shot of coffee for $3.20 (£2.60)... it's about $1 everywhere else! I walked out. A coke? Try over £8. That is over £6.50 for ONE DRINK. A bag of crisps? $7! That is nearly £6 for a PACKET OF CRISPS. Beers at Six Flags were similar to other parks, around $18 a pint (£14-15). Thankfully, after the merger with Cedar Fair, the 5% service fee was removed across legacy Six Flags parks. The idea of paying even more than the above is incredulous.
Visiting the USA is a pleasure, and the quality of rides cannot be underestimated. But the prices that many of the major park chains now charge is beyond even the high price you would expect in the first place.
Whatever you would expect to pay in a theme park, add at least 50% if you are visiting Six Flags or a United park, add 30% for legacy Cedar Fair or Parques Reunidos. Herschend were much more reasonable. Surely, with this kind of price gouging, guests are going to decreasingly spend money in the parks. It's absolutely crazy.
It is unbelievable. I have attached a couple of menus from Six Flags for you to see (all prices exclude tax, which is around 6% and any tip for the coffee)...
Wow. Just wow.
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