No more free beer at SeaWorld or Busch Gardens

[ligirlz]

I am not too happy about this move as for I have an annual pass and go to Sea World to walk around and enjoy a beer while having a nice lunch. I think this is a bad move on InBev's part.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2009/01/no-more-free-be.html

[wendy46001]

I totally agree....

not to mention they are also cutting the employee free beer program...boo them...

guess we wont be going to sea world for awhile

[bgirldeb]

I was just looking for a place to post this. I'm going to miss those free Black &Tans :drinking1 !

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jan/05/051302/anheuser-busch-inbev-stops-flow-free-beer-parks/

[DOOM1001]

I'm not much of a beer drinker but just about every time I went, there was a new unknown beer or malt beverage,like Mikes hard lemonade that I used to always sample.One of the true special things about these parks is now gone.However if I recall from my visit to the Virginia park,they haven't had the free beer at the Williamsburg park for a long time.They still had the beer school but as I recall I never saw a hospitality house with the free beer.

[xmas16]

What!!!! No more free beer, that's it. This place needs to be shut down. Yes I'm being sarcastic but honesty while this is a bummer it isn't too much of a big deal except that the penny pinching is not a good sign.

[Metro West]

I saw that in the paper today and I'm not the least bit surprised. I don't drink beer that much but it was a nice perk of the parks. Oh well... :rolleyes:

[SingleandLovinIt]

Well, that sucks. Part of the fun about going to Sea World and Busch Gardens was the free beer. How did they come to the conclusion that taking it out was a good idea?

[FlirtyMeg79]

They're taking it away because it's free...they think people will just buy more beer.

[MissionMouse]

I am not too happy about this move as for I have an annual pass and go to Sea World to walk around and enjoy a beer while having a nice lunch. I think this is a bad move on InBev's part.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2009/01/no-more-free-be.htmlIts not about selling beer its about selling the amusement parks. Inbev is selling AB Amusement parks and Inbev is not a company concerned about community ties or relationship...their reputation speaks for itself.

[ChrisK]

Hopefully the free beer is still available @ BGT this weekend. I will be attending and I would like to celebrate the last days of this tradition.

[Jason71]

Its not about selling beer its about selling the amusement parks. Inbev is selling AB Amusement parks and Inbev is not a company concerned about community ties or relationship...their reputation speaks for itself.

Exactly. The idea is to remove all ties to Anhauser-Busch in the parks--the clydesdales are on the way out, too. Any new buyer won't need these things, anyway.

Here's hoping they use the massive Hospitality House space to open up a second quality table-service restaurant, to rival Sharks. Of course, it will probably just (i) be an oversized cafeteria like most of their other offerings, or more likely (ii) sit empty for years.

[Metro West]

Hopefully the free beer is still available @ BGT this weekend. I will be attending and I would like to celebrate the last days of this tradition.The paper reports the changes will take place February 1st.

[CDN Prince Charming]

Does this also affect Discovery Cove??

[Jessfrogger88]

I think this sucks.. I loved the hospitality house... again not a big beer drinker, but it was ncie to sample strange brews!

InBev sounds like a pretty awful company from what I've heard.

[Megan07]

Like another poster mentioned, does this affect discovery cove? Everything is included in the price included unlimited beer. Hmm.. anyone?

[wdwwishes]

InBev is a frugal company so it's no surprise. once the parks are under new ownership it would end anyway. The new owners probably won't be brewers or beers sellers. The Clydesdales will probably leave the parks too but more so do the fact that new ownership won't be tied to them. For now, InBev is keeping the Clydsdales as a part of the A.B. heritage but scaling back operations. InBev is a European company with a totally different way of doing business. I also think that given the economic times we're living through, more and more companies will be looking at ways to cut costs. Look at Disney itself, rumors of temporary resort closures, fewer "little extras" etc. I will miss the freebies though. The were good and cold and always welcome.

[markndean]

Arrived in Orlando yesterday, and heard the news this morning. We have the next 2 weeks to make the most of it before it stops on the 31st January!

[Cinderella1122]

Well, that sucks. Part of the fun about going to Sea World and Busch Gardens was the free beer. How did they come to the conclusion that taking it out was a good idea?


The hospitality houses at the parks were paid for by the beer portion of Anheuser-busch (the structure, labor, beer, etc), so the beer side was absorbing all of the costs, and used as a marketing tool. Since in-bev came on board they decided to forgo spending that area. With the economy the way it is, I doubt the park side wants to spend that kind of money to run the hospitality and brewmasters clubs as well.

[donaldduck352]

OK no more free samples..I think as A buisness person this wrong..
You would want future customers too buy your product..What is wrong with this picture?:confused3
InBev owns or will be owning A-B.Do they have A clue about marcketing??:confused3
I guess not.Wrong move to keep Budwieser or Bud Light the best selling beer in the world!!
They close down the Hospitallity Houses and turn them into A second rate restruant is going too drive sales down and the trickle effect will be the parks..Instead of world class theme parks that they are now,it will turn into your local Six Flag park..:sad2:

This is my opinion only,and I'm sure others feel the same way!!!

ITS A SAD DAY FOR BUSCH GARDENS AND SEAWORLD PARKS AROUND THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!

What is cut next,SHAMU??

[MissionMouse]

Its a normal business practice to remove logos, trademarks and other symbols or items of recognition belonging to the parent company when selling off a component of a company you no longer want.

In this case, Inbev needs to sell these amusements parks very fast since it was a critical component of them being able to finance the purchasing of AB.

[donaldduck352]

I cant let this go.We have been going to BG Tampa -Seaworld since I was in diapers and this is just a sign of things too come too these parks!!:sad2:

InBev get A clue or the Busch family buy the entertainment part of the buisness!!SHAMU is next then the Clydsdales!!Please dont let this happen!!

[DOOM1001]

I have heard the possibility of the Busch family buying the parks,possibly with another investor and keeping the Busch name in the parks,maybe if something like that were to happen the free beer and hospitality house would come back.It's pretty much been said that InBev will sell the parks,there's been all kinds of different rumors as to who will buy them,different theme park companies,even different buyers for different parks,so in my opinion keeping them all with the Busch name and family who'll likely keep the quality of the parks as they've been seems like a good idea.

[Cinderella1122]

Its a normal business practice to remove logos, trademarks and other symbols or items of recognition belonging to the parent company when selling off a component of a company you no longer want.

In this case, Inbev needs to sell these amusements parks very fast since it was a critical component of them being able to finance the purchasing of AB.

It could be awhile...the purchce of 10 theme parks could be pretty expensive. With theme park spending being down across the nation, I highly doubt anyone wants to spend that pretty penny. I'm surpised that in-bev wants to sell, the parks are a huge marketing tool and part of the reason that bud and bud light are so sucessful and the introduction of mich ultra and BL Lime. I was in Seaworld Orlando this past summer and BL Lime was everywhere.

[MissionMouse]

It could be awhile...the purchce of 10 theme parks could be pretty expensive. With theme park spending being down across the nation, I highly doubt anyone wants to spend that pretty penny. I'm surpised that in-bev wants to sell, the parks are a huge marketing tool and part of the reason that bud and bud light are so sucessful and the introduction of mich ultra and BL Lime. I was in Seaworld Orlando this past summer and BL Lime was everywhere.Inbev may have gone over their heads financially as the global financial markets have declined since Inbev started the AB deal. Their financial deal involves selling the amusement parks and they have a payment schedule they have to meet too.

Inbev must sell the parks to pay their AB purchase...they also are focused on the beverage industry only. Amusement parks are going...how fast and at what price is to be seen, but don't be surprised to see them go as soon as 2009. Also you shouldn't expect the parks to be sold as a group of 10 and they may be offered at a price lower than full market value, since time is money too. Additionally, there are bargain shoppers even in these economic times too. We will have to wait and see what happens, but one thing is for sure, sadly the era of AB running these parks is over.

If you want to see Clydsdales or get free beer you will need to go to Grant's Farm in St. Louis...it was part of the deal to the AB home city. The parks played more of a public relations and visability role than actually driving sales.

There are also a lot of micro breweries in the US who currently make beer the way AB use to make beer too. New Belgium Brewing Company, Breckenridge Brewery, etc...

[fairfax]

I think I am almost more upsed about the Clydesdales leaving! One of my kids' favorite things to do is go visit 'Kelly' and the other horses.

I'm also sorry to see the beer tasting go, that's how we discovered Shock Top and a few other types that my husband enjoys. However I am also not surprised by it. We are planning to visit this Saturday to enjoy a last call and say goodbye to the horses.

[MissionMouse]

There is a restaurant in St. Louis called the Bevo Mill which was built by August A Busch Sr in 1916 with a five story windmill and AB Inbev just gave it to the City of St Louis. The restaurant management group was making payment to AB and now they will just make them to The City of St. Louis.

The restaurant is halfway between the brewery and Grant's Farm, which was then Busch's home and is now a family attraction open to the public.

I point this out since they just gave away what is considered a city icon to the city for free and it will now provide the city a new income stream.

[Cinderella1122]

Inbev may have gone over their heads financially as the global financial markets have declined since Inbev started the AB deal. Their financial deal involves selling the amusement parks and they have a payment schedule they have to meet too.

Inbev must sell the parks to pay their AB purchase...they also are focused on the beverage industry only. Amusement parks are going...how fast and at what price is to be seen, but don't be surprised to see them go as soon as 2009. Also you shouldn't expect the parks to be sold as a group of 10 and they may be offered at a price lower than full market value, since time is money too. Additionally, there are bargain shoppers even in these economic times too. We will have to wait and see what happens, but one thing is for sure, sadly the era of AB running these parks is over.

If you want to see Clydsdales or get free beer you will need to go to Grant's Farm in St. Louis...it was part of the deal to the AB home city. The parks played more of a public relations and visability role than actually driving sales.

There are also a lot of micro breweries in the US who currently make beer the way AB use to make beer too. New Belgium Brewing Company, Breckenridge Brewery, etc...

In-bev has a list of 5 things and they need to sell 3 of them. Right now the parks are being offered as a group of 10 since the parks are so intertwined. Almost every park as a sesame element now, plus the sesame park here in pa.

[CDN Prince Charming]

Still wondering if anyone has heard whether this affects Discovery Cove or not??

[Cinderella1122]

Still wondering if anyone has heard whether this affects Discovery Cove or not??

As for the free beer in Discovery cove, I would imagine that it is included in the all-inclusive package price.

[gardener14]

Ten parks sounds like a lot for one company to buy as a package, however, five parks (three SW parks and two BG parks) constitute the bulk of the package. The others are smaller water parks and the smaller Sesame Place (which itself is in large part a water park) and most of these are ancillary to one of the primary five parks. Looking at it that way, I think it's much more reasonable to believe that a major company could purchase the parks as a package.

[Dax]

One thing I mentioned to DH before..

If In-Bev wants us to try there beers, why not showcase them as well as the Bud and BudLite.

I remember the days when there was the bar in the back room that served the specialty drinks. They had the bacardi's hidden back there. That was where the line always was. I am NOT a beer drinker, but go for the specialty drinks all the time. I tasted a lot, and then went out and bought them later.

Sadly, all those days are gone...It is really the end of an era..SW/BG will never be the same. I only hope the Busch family can find a way to purchase the parks that have been a staple in this area for so long.