Six Flags Food Prices - why are they so high??

[TupperMom7]

Okay, we went to the Six Flags amusement park in our state today and I was shocked at the prices of the foods and drinks. $3.75 for a bottle of water. Soda $3.50 for small up to $12.99 for a refillable cup.
Food - 4 mozzerella sticks $8.50, Pizza $9.50, Fried dough $7.00 - why are the prices so high? I mean the water probably costs the 25 cents per bottle at the most - really!
It was nice and sunny when we got there, but it rained later so I never got to check out the prices for the ice cream, but the cotton candy was $6.95 for a bucket - almost $7.00 for a 1/2 cup of sugar spun into cotton candy.
Popcorn was the same. Of course, you could spring for $8.95 per bucket and then bring the thing back with you the next time for a refill.
I think it's a shame that things have to cost so much that you cannot afford to eat. I would bring our own food, but they don't allow it in and I'm not about to walk all the way back to our $10 parking spot to eat in the car - especially when it gets hot out.
How do you all economize at the amusement parks? We have a return ticket that we were able to purchase for $12 today , but I don't know how to afford the food and drinks. Help!

 

[here757]

wow.. those are kinda high.
but amusement parks charge high prices because they know u are there all day. and will very liklely pay it..

 

[crazelion]

I don't eat amusement parks period. I will buy one bottle because they will not let bring it. But I will refill the bottle with water out the water fountain. When I get hungry leave the park and get hand stamp on the way out so I can come back.

I really don't eat eat when it's hot outside.

 

[disney1990]

I always hear people say how expensive Disney is. I have found that other amusement parks and especially sports facilities, have much higher food costs.

 

[ragtopday]

And at least Disney has some very nice restaurants with good food that you don't (always) mind paying higher prices for.

But amusement parks tend to be day outings, whereas Disney is a destination of several days or more (for most people). I think people have a different mindset about the two experiences. It's a shame, but it seems the food at amusement parks has gone the way of movie theater food. No solutions here, just commiserating!

 

[bigbabyblues]

How do you all economize at the amusement parks? Help!

We don't go. We live close enough to Kings Island that we could go for an evening and a full day, and when I priced it last year, it would cost us about $500 (incl. tix/food/gas/hotel/etc). Nope, not gonna happen. Especially when I don't ride much of anything and neither do the kids!

My employer does have discount tix for KI that include a wristband to get drinks (non-alcoholic, of course) for the day included, those were a good deal but it's on a Saturday and my DH works Saturdays.

 

[pearlieq]

We don't go.

That's our basic strategy. I've added up what it would cost for a day to go to our local Six Flags, and it just isn't worth it.

At WDW we pay the same price, or often less, and get SO much more. I'd rather save my money for that.

Not saying that all local theme parks are bad, I've just experienced the same thing and that's how I personally decided to deal with it.

 

[McDISer]

At Six Flags in Chicago it costs $15 to park and $25 to park 25 rows closest to the park. They really don't want you to go to your vehicle and eat.

Is this a new rule with carry-ins. We always brought a backpack in and had our own water. That is ridiculous.

 

[wishtdream]

We have season passes for six flags they were $89 each and $49 for the parking pass. Six flags is more of a local attraction than a vacation destination I would not pay $70 to get in there for the day. We buy their drink cup each year and then refill it for $1.07 each time we want a new drink. The cups are huge. We also do not eat there. The food is wayyy too expensive DD knows she may have one treat each time we go (about once a week in summer) she usually chooses Dippin Dots. A small cup was $5.50 last month.

 

[tnkr_bell]

We actually went to Six Flags today for the first time in years. We got season passes this year through my Mom for $30 each. It was just too good to pass up, or so we thought. While it's a great deal for the season pass, it also cost $15 to park. We went ahead and bought a season parking pass for $45. So next time we go back it won't be so bad, but we will probably be walking out to the car and trying to find a shady spot to eat lunch. At least with the season pass we got coupon booklet that will help and we will probably buy the refillable mugs. I have to say, I do like the idea of one treat per visit.

 

[DOOM1001]

Six Flags is in heavy debt and trying to work itself out of it.So what do they do to get rid of the debt they charge high prices,park admission went up somewhat but is still not over the top as you could probably find daily admission for $30-$40 by buying it online or a discount tickets.They also offer a decent price on season passes like $75 or so,pretty cheap.But after you buy your tickets that's when they get you $15 to park,a burger,fries and a coke for $14,making you put your stuff in lockers before you ride a coaster and so on.

 

[lauralana9]

I remember the first trip to WDW paying my own way. I was shocked at how CHEAP the food was. I was so used to going to Six Flags here in NJ. My thinking was if the food is this expensive and terrible here then WDW would cost me WAY more and be even more horrible.

We go to Six Flags maybe once a summer DH hates coasters and will only ride a handful of rides. Its always so crowded I hate making him wait in like for a ride he isn't even going on even though he says he doesn't mind. Dear man waited 3hrs in line for Kingda Ka with me.

Anyway back to food, at our Six Flags there are lockers right outside the gate. We pack sandwiches in a small cooler and stow them there. That way we dont have to walk all the way back to the car. For drinks we have those giant cups a previous poster mentioned. We get it filled then pull up a bit of curb for lunch. Always other families doing the same thing.

 

[Kathi OD]

That's why I never understood people complaining about the cost of counter service meals at WDW......I keep thinking, "Have they never been to Six Flags?"
Evidently not.

We don't go to Six Flags any more. The last time I was there was almost 10 years ago. Even then the parking was $10. The food was outrageously expensive, the lines were horribly long, and the place was desperately in need of maintenance. Admission for adults was somewhere around $35.

IMO, Disney has always been the better deal.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I do not go to the local Six Flags - it is REALLY ghetto - but when I lived in Virginia Beach, we went to Busch Gardens a lot. It was a 1 hour drive, so we brought bagels/breakfast sammies in the car for the trip up, brought in iced tea mix and used that with the free water fountain water, and split 2 big meals for lunch (we ate at a German CS that used to make the most colosal sandwiches that came with a side of hot potato salad and pickle spears). We stopped on the way home for dinner.
If Six Flags sells full lunches like that place I remember from Busch Gardens, it might be economical to buy 2 or 3 adult lunches and split them. Snacks do tend to be high-priced (and largely disappointing).

 

[christa112]

They have those prices because they can. What are people going to do not eat? How much at WDW CS? (I can honestly say I don't know because we have done the DDP and never really look at the prices.)

We have season passes to our Six Flags and I see a lot of people pack lunches and go back to their cars and eat. When we go we usually eat a big breakfast right before we leave. The kids get a slice of pizza and bread sticks which they split. I get a chicken strips basket that we share. We also have a mug that we can fill for 99 cents and we do have the bucket for popcorn or cotton candy that we can fill for 99 cents. I can go with my 3 kids for the entire day and spend between 25-30 bucks. Not too bad in my opinion. When DH that is a different story you can add about $10 onto that total.

 

[eliza61]

That's why I never understood people complaining about the cost of counter service meals at WDW......I keep thinking, "Have they never been to Six Flags?"
Evidently not.

We don't go to Six Flags any more. The last time I was there was almost 10 years ago. Even then the parking was $10. The food was outrageously expensive, the lines were horribly long, and the place was desperately in need of maintenance. Admission for adults was somewhere around $35.

IMO, Disney has always been the better deal.

Kathi,
I am so with you on this. Six flags NJ is ridiculous.

 

[dvcgirl]

That's our basic strategy. I've added up what it would cost for a day to go to our local Six Flags, and it just isn't worth it.

At WDW we pay the same price, or often less, and get SO much more. I'd rather save my money for that.

Not saying that all local theme parks are bad, I've just experienced the same thing and that's how I personally decided to deal with it.

Same here...we don't go. In the past when we have gone (years ago), we spend most of the day comparing Great Adventure to Disney and how GA's experience pales in comparison. The food....awful, the customer service...pitiful, the grounds maintenance terrible. And then throw in hoards of roving obnoxious teens bused in from all over the place and you have the makings for a pretty miserable day.

 

[ArielRae]

I worked for Six flags Great Adventure here in NJ for six years. 1996-2001. Just a tip that will help with the high food prices. When I worked there if you dropped any of your food on the ground you could go right to the front of any line that sold the food you got and tell them what happened and they will give you new food to replace the food you dropped free of charge. This is great for families where the kids drop food by accident and then the parent get upset (that food cost alot) cause they don't know they can just get new food. Now that they are using alot of name brand food places I am not sure if this still holds true so you might want to ask when you go. But this was a tip they didn't want people really knowing cause it is a thing that can be abused but they will honor it no questions asked. Just as at your local six flags next time you go.

 

[BarbWB]

Six Flags in San Antonio is insane, also.

We were having a reallllly bad day, so the kids got ice cream and I got a beer for me and dh. He paid for the ice cream, so I don't know how much that was (nor do I want to), but when I went to pay for the beer -- 2 regular size bottles of Heineken, it was $15!!!! Wha????? I said, no, I only got 2 bottles. And the cashier said, yes, $15. I nearly fell over. That's worse than any sporting event!

Plus, most of the rides were broken and we got stuck on EVERY SINGLE ride, including the freakin' TRAIN, for 20 minutes! At that point I kind of flipped out and demanded to speak to a manager. We got a 6 free meal certificates and some front of the line passes. But, ugh, not really worth it. Disney spoils us.

 

[Kathi OD]

They have those prices because they can. What are people going to do not eat? How much at WDW CS? (I can honestly say I don't know because we have done the DDP and never really look at the prices.)

But, evidently it is those prices that are driving people away from the Six Flags parks. And to answer your question, yes, not eat at the park. Last time we went, I told the kids we would go to McDonald's down the street afterward. They were happy and I so was I.

Charging exhorbitant prices, just because you can, isn't always the best business practice, especially when it comes to people's discretionary dollars. As previously noted by another poster, Six Flags is having serious financial difficulties. I wonder how much of that has been caused by their pricing? People who feel unduly taken advantage of will generally find other places for their entertainment dollars.