[Coasterphreak]

So wait, are people that work in the area using HH as a weekday cafeteria? Yeah, I can see how that would cause problems.

[Glitch99]

So wait, are people that work in the area using HH as a weekday cafeteria? Yeah, I can see how that would cause problems.

Including much bigger problems than a few lines at noon....

[Coasterphreak]

So wait, are people that work in the area using HH as a weekday cafeteria? Yeah, I can see how that would cause problems.

Including much bigger problems than a few lines at noon....

It'll kill the all season dining plan.

[Glitch99]

So wait, are people that work in the area using HH as a weekday cafeteria? Yeah, I can see how that would cause problems.

Including much bigger problems than a few lines at noon....

It'll kill the all season dining plan.

If I lived within 20 minutes of the park, the food cost of all the meals I'd eat would exceed the price I paid for the meal plan and season pass combined. So I cant criticize the behavior, it is what it is.

I'd think the immediate concern would be how such lines affect regular park visitors. Maybe we'll see a "meal plan only" cashier at harmony hall, to keep the other registers open for paying customers? Tweaking the plan itself is another matter, not sure how they could effectively limit "lunch break" usage, but still accommodate the "all season" concept. Maybe delay your first daily use of the plan until 1 hour after entering the park, forcing people to stick around awhile if they want to eat?

[yawetag]

That meal is costing them, at most, $2 to serve to you. They aren't worried about a few dozen people that come on their lunch break each day.

We live 10 minutes away and found the dining plan worth it. We've already "paid" for it in our visits and it's not even June. And, we haven't gone but a couple of times the past two weeks - and may only visit another once or twice in June.

The wife and I joked that it'll become our dinner place every evening once the kids are out of school. Eat a meal, ride a few rides, still get home before the sun is down. And, other than the gas, it's free.

[Wood Coaster]

Carowinds Black Pepper BBQ Seasoned Sausage
Blue Ridge Country Kitchen

Has anybody tried this yet?
Is on the Meal Deal Plan.

[Glitch99]

Is that some version of mac and cheese with it?

[yawetag]

Wife had it a week or so ago. Said it was good. And, yes, it's a version of mac and cheese. Penne noodles, though. Also good.

On a side note, I love the Copperhead Strike hot sauce they have in the Blue Ridge Kitchen. I've heard they were going to bottle and sell it, but can't find it anywhere in the park.

[Glitch99]

That meal is costing them, at most, $2 to serve to you. They aren't worried about a few dozen people that come on their lunch break each day.

I'll bet some of those meals are $3+ cost all-in. Regardless, its not about the incremental usage, it's the overall usage. They sell the meal plan at a price that's based on expected usage (indications are it's around 13 meals, but that's a guess and really isnt important to the point), and every usage over that requires an under-utilized plan to maintain an acceptible average. Daily traffic jams at noon only indicate it may be becoming more of an issue.

Again, not criticizing; as I said I'd be doing the exact same thing if I lived closer. It is what it is.

[yawetag]

They sell the meal plan at a price that's based on expected usage (indications are it's around 13 meals, but that's a guess and really isnt important to the point)

The POS system rates the meal at $8. At $100 for the dining plan, it's 12.5 meals to "get your money's worth." But, that implies you'd pay $8 for your meal in the park (you'd pay more) AND that you'd pay $8 for a meal outside the park (eating out is close to that; eating at home is cheaper). Personally, we put our cost-per-meal at $3, which is roughly what we'd pay for a meal at home, to determine how much we saved for the year. We aren't quite at the 34 meals per person, but will definitely make it by the time the year is over.

You also have to consider that the dining plans are subsidized by the $14/meal non-plan holders are paying AND the additional souvenirs and snacks/drinks plan holders are getting. Your lunchtime crowd may not fork up $8 for a funnel cake that day, but they may do so this weekend. Even the $30 drink plan is profitable to them, when it's costing them about 6 cents for a cup and soda.

As for Cedar Fair making money on the plans, I haven't heard them complain and, if I recall correctly, either they or Six Flags specifically mentioned the "add-on" plans as a great investment for them.

[Glitch99]

They sell the meal plan at a price that's based on expected usage (indications are it's around 13 meals, but that's a guess and really isnt important to the point)

The POS system rates the meal at $8. At $100 for the dining plan, it's 12.5 meals to "get your money's worth." But, that implies you'd pay $8 for your meal in the park (you'd pay more) AND that you'd pay $8 for a meal outside the park (eating out is close to that; eating at home is cheaper). Personally, we put our cost-per-meal at $3, which is roughly what we'd pay for a meal at home, to determine how much we saved for the year. We aren't quite at the 34 meals per person, but will definitely make it by the time the year is over.

I agree completely, but that's irrelevant. Carowinds allocates $8 revenue to the food stand redeeming a meal plan. That $8 comes out of the $100 paid for the plan. It isnt about what's a value for you, it's about what Carowinds is expecting to provide. If "everyone" exceeds 13 meals (or whatever their number is) over the season, the meal plan account will run a deficit. Who knows how much of a deficit they would tolerate - there's some give, due to those factors you mentioned - but there also is a bottom line.

We've seen reductions in some meals since last season as it is. "Daily" meals (not literally, but "more frequent than average") is only sustainable as an outlier usage pattern. And it progressively becomes less and less of an outlier.

[Distopia]

Glitch99 wrote:
They sell the meal plan at a price that's based on expected usage (indications are it's around 13 meals, but that's a guess and really isnt important to the point)

Wouldn’t a season pass be priced the same way.

[Glitch99]

Glitch99 wrote:
They sell the meal plan at a price that's based on expected usage (indications are it's around 13 meals, but that's a guess and really isnt important to the point)

Wouldn’t a season pass be priced the same way.

There's no incremental cost incurred by walking through the gate.

[Coasterphreak]

As for Cedar Fair making money on the plans, I haven't heard them complain and, if I recall correctly, either they or Six Flags specifically mentioned the "add-on" plans as a great investment for them.

Most of the parks in both of the chains you mentioned don't have tens of thousands of people living and working in the "lunch break radius", which is about twelve minutes if you assume a one hour lunch break.

[CarowindsFan]

Glitch99 wrote:
They sell the meal plan at a price that's based on expected usage (indications are it's around 13 meals, but that's a guess and really isnt important to the point)

Wouldn’t a season pass be priced the same way.

Actually they are complete opposites. When you pay for a year long meal plan, the park has made all of the money it will make on the meal plan when you buy it and each meal you get from them is that much less money they will end up with as net profit. So the park wants you to use it as infrequently as possible. With a season pass, not only does it not cost them anything tangible each time you come, but there is a good chance that you will spend additional money while there. For season passes, the park wants you to come as often as possible.