Jump to content

An Interesting Drink Pass A Park Employee Offered Me Today


Miythandria
 Share

Recommended Posts

I think it would be great if there were some master PDF sheet that detailed the Dining Plans, Drink Plans, Dining & Drink Plans, and other assorted promotions the park runs. Sure, things are subject to availability. But even as a park fan, I'm baffled and confused by the tiers of plans. At this point, I would just like to know

  1. what Plans exist
  2. that the Plan will continue to exist reasonably long enough to purchase it and use it
  3. that when presented with the Plan, employees will recognize it enough to know what to offer / what action to take

I don't think asking for any of that is outrageous. Of course things are in flux and test-and-adjust and that's fair and fine. But at this point, the general sense I get is that employees are just as baffled as the general public must be. 120 minutes? 90 minutes? Is it loaded onto a pass? A wristband? And now the OP says that a new, unadvertised drink special is loaded onto a barcode? Souvenir cup refills versus a Drink Plan? Some are available at ticket windows or guest relations. Others are only available at restaurants, but not advertised - you're just depending on the employee to bother to ask. And then, turn around and many of the employees aren't sure what you're talking about when you say you've bought an unadvertised all-day drink wristband plan!

(Do I expect Kings Island's front-line, part-time dining team to operate like a well-oiled machine? Well, no. And it's too late in the season to call everyone together for a mandatory training seminar on the myriad of plans and how to address them. But a memo would help guests AND employees.)

These are great deals and great money-makers for the park. I just don't see why it's so confusing. I know we don't have MagicBands or anything to unite all these systems, but right now I barely know what plans are available. Is there some master PDF sheet that compares all of these plans that I'm just missing?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wouldn't be surprised if someone hasn't already questioned it.

Employee: "Hey, for ten bucks you get free refills all day! I'll just scan this barcode and you're all set."

Employee at the next booth: "I don't think we have anything like that... Hey, have you guys heard of a drink-all-day pass? No, not the souvenir cup one. No, not the group wristband one. No, not the VIP tour one. It isn't on the website. It isn't on the menu. There is no master list available to customers, so it's not on there. Yeah, I haven't heard of that. Who sold it to you?"

Which of these two situations is most ideal:

Customer 1: "I've been ripped off."

Customer 2: "Oh, I was told this might happen. Please call the front office to verify that this plan exists."

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've used the drink wristbands (for 20 oz drinks, not souvenir cup refills) on each of my past three visits, and have never been questioned about it. Some employees have even spotted the wristband and asked if I want a drink with the meal without me prompting them.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think it would be great if there were some master PDF sheet that detailed the Dining Plans, Drink Plans, Dining & Drink Plans, and other assorted promotions the park runs. Sure, things are subject to availability. But even as a park fan, I'm baffled and confused by the tiers of plans. At this point, I would just like to know

  • what Plans exist
  • that the Plan will continue to exist reasonably long enough to purchase it and use it
  • that when presented with the Plan, employees will recognize it enough to know what to offer / what action to take
I don't think asking for any of that is outrageous. Of course things are in flux and test-and-adjust and that's fair and fine. But at this point, the general sense I get is that employees are just as baffled as the general public must be. 120 minutes? 90 minutes? Is it loaded onto a pass? A wristband? And now the OP says that a new, unadvertised drink special is loaded onto a barcode? Souvenir cup refills versus a Drink Plan? Some are available at ticket windows or guest relations. Others are only available at restaurants, but not advertised - you're just depending on the employee to bother to ask. And then, turn around and many of the employees aren't sure what you're talking about when you say you've bought an unadvertised all-day drink wristband plan!

(Do I expect Kings Island's front-line, part-time dining team to operate like a well-oiled machine? Well, no. And it's too late in the season to call everyone together for a mandatory training seminar on the myriad of plans and how to address them. But a memo would help guests AND employees.)

These are great deals and great money-makers for the park. I just don't see why it's so confusing. I know we don't have MagicBands or anything to unite all these systems, but right now I barely know what plans are available. Is there some master PDF sheet that compares all of these plans that I'm just missing?

More importantly, it would be nice if all the staff were informed of the details of each option. I did the single day meal deal last year on a Saturday during Haunt and had several food vendors look at me like I had 2 heads when I tried to order something off of their menu that was included on the "master PDF" I was given.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The drink wrist band is the best deal. Honestly though if I had the souvenir cup I'd rather have $.99 refills all day than pay $8 for free refills because there is no way I'd get my money's worth and I'm a big drinker. I'd have to drink more than necessary to feel I got my money's worth and in that case I'd be spending money to save money aka not saving money.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A number of offerings are in testing this year. As such, when, to whom, at what price, where...various things are offered varies. I suspect seeing how much the bands are used is part of the tests.

I'm actually waiting for Knott's to go the Season Long Dining Plan route. Now that I'd pay for...

Who else besides KI actually offer the Season Long? If any?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Let me share my experience with this drink pass with y’all. On Saturday, I went to the park. I went to the stand near Banshee (across from The Chicken Shack) and asked for “an all day drink wristband.” The cashier was friendly and knowledgeable, and explained the wristband (which has a barcode on it) was indeed available. I purchased three of them and used my Platinum Pass discount. I had no previous souvenir cup. I paid about $9 per pass. I personally found this to be FANTASTIC, and was able to walk up to any counter all day, have them scan my wristband, and be hydrated with the Coke product of my choice. After my initial drink and first refill, the pass had paid for itself. To me, this is a no brainer. I hate, hate, hate carrying around that plastic cup all day. This is a golden idea! KUDOS to Kings Island!!!

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

More importantly, it would be nice if all the staff were informed of the details of each option. I did the single day meal deal last year on a Saturday during Haunt and had several food vendors look at me like I had 2 heads when I tried to order something off of their menu that was included on the "master PDF" I was given.

That was last year, when there was indeed a lot of confusion over that stuff. This year, while there was some confusion early in the season over what exactly was included in the dining plans, I haven't encountered anyone that didn't know about the dining plans or drink wristbands. I think they've done a good job this year of properly informing employees as to exactly what all of these deals are.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

At least you weren't told you had already been in the park (half an hour before opening?) and denied entry.

It's a Carowinds thing.

Man, Terp - there are two kinds of luck in the world! I had to 'test' my KI-issued pass at KD a couple of years ago, since we could walk from the hotel to the gate faster than the shuttle could get us there. Sure enough - it opened the 'pass parking' gate. Of course I had no way to make the darned thing close (it timed out)! Guess my luck was all positive that year. :rolleyes:

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have bought this drink band twice this year. Mainly because I was going with people who would spend the day at the park and were going to ride rides all day. I didnt want to carry around the Banshee cup. I feel like this would be a great option to go with the season long dining plan.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...