Does Kings Island's All Season Dining Plan Affect Other Businesses?

[BoddaH1994]

Here's an interesting debate point for you:

 

I was talking to a waitress at the Waffle House near Kings Island a few weeks ago.  She was adamant that Kings Island was near bankruptcy because they (that Waffle House locations) wasn't getting the "Kings Island rush" - immediately after park close - that they had always gotten in the past.  I think we can all rest assured that Kings Island isn't going  bankrupt, but why the drop in business?  Is it possible that much of their customer base was season pass holders who would typically eat outside the park after a visit?  Would those customers eat inside the park instead?  For those of you who still eat outside the park (locally) after a visit, are you noticing shorter lines?

 

It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this.

[jcgoble3]

I visited McDonald's up by exit 25 following the midnight close on July 25, and had to wait about five minutes for my turn to order and another ten minutes to get my food because it was so busy. Also, the drive-through when I walked in was lined up to the point of blocking all of the handicap spots and then some; I think the line to order was about six to eight cars long, not counting all the cars that already ordered and were waiting to get to the pick-up window.

[shark6495]

We had family come down and usually during the day we would all go to the Skyline up the road.  Instead they got meal plans for the day $30, and we all ate in the park multiple times during the day.  There was no rush to Skyline...

 

But to be honest, there are so many more options right there that its possible the drive thrus are getting the increased business from the park 

[ohioparksrock]

We stop at Wendy's or McDonald's by Great Wolf fairly regularly after going to KI for ice cream. Their drive thru lines are usually a pretty long wait!

[Thrill_Biscuit]

Could Wendy's strategic move, as well as the relatively recent additions of restaurants next to the Harley Davidson shop have affected business that far across the Interstate?

[silver2005]

I wouldn't start at Waffle House to begin an assessment of the businesses along Kings Mills Road.  There are better places to eat than that.  Often after a day at the park, I try and get some water to sip on for the drive home and I always see places like Taco Bell, McDonald's and Wendy's very busy.  I imagine most people want to eat on their way home or something easy to bring back to a hotel rather than a sit down restaurant.  That'd be my guess.  

[medford]

2 seasons ago, before the meal plan, we'd often hit the park, mid week about 5:30, ride for about 3 or 3.5 hours, then head over to Jimmy John's or Chipotle just north of KI.  Since the meal plan, we typically eat in the park, stay to about 9:30 or 10:00, skip the pretzel snack we used to get on our visits since we eat an actual meal there are an earlier time.  Occasionally we'll stop and get DQ on the way home, but never an actual meal.

 

We are but 1 family, but I'm guessing we're somewhat typical for the season pass holder that visits on a regular basis.  We don't have much need to squeeze in "1 more ride) since we'll be back the next week.  Diner is already paid for on the meal deal, so there is little incentive to leave the park to eat elsewhere (even though both JJ & Chipotle are better than any of the food served in the park, save several offerings at The Reds HOF Grille, at least IMHO).  Overall, we probably spend a little less on food on our weekly adventure.  If you add in the cost of the 2-3 Auntie Ann's pretzels in the park plus eating dinner outside of the park, compared to eating 1 meal, with the meal plan, inside the park I think we come ahead on our 12-15 visits a year.

[ohioparksrock]

I've priced our per meal cost at about $2.30 with the meal plan. We bought the platinum one in the fall for $89. 40 meals between three parks and its been a steal!

[The Interpreter]

Meanwhile, full freight paying would be diners (which would have been high profit margin) see the slow service and long lines and sashay right out of the park, taking their wallets (and profits) elsewhere.

[WindingSon]

I'd think the inconvenience of leaving the park outweighs waiting a few extra minutes for food within the park. I don't think there's many who would.

When I'm in the park, the last thing I want to do is leave and come back and have to re-park. The only time I leave is if I'm not coming back.

[shark6495]

People got to eat.... that thought process is why a Combo is $15....

[The Interpreter]

And why, other than Reds Hall of Fame and Chick-Fil-A, the quality and service are so abysmal.

[WindingSon]

Baffling to me that Reds has some of the best food at some of the cheapest prices. I can get a decent meal there for $10 or less.

[The Interpreter]

The International Restaurant was the same way. Sit down service, great food or grab and go near crap--about the same price.

[malem]

Kings Island's quick service food is much better than Cedar Point's. This season, I have been served the following at CP:

• Cold pizza (twice)
• Cold fries
• Cold chicken strips
• A buffet with dry, salty "food"

I have used my meal plan enough at other parks that the above meals were essentially free. So they were worth almost as much as they cost.

[ohioparksrock]

I've been overly impressed by our recent service at Reds Hall of Fame Grille. Their iced tea with free refills is my favorite "treat" in the park now. I don't do the drink cup so its a good value.

We used to frequent the Skyline by The Beach but I agree with WindingSon. I don't want to go through the hassle of leaving for Skyline when the three way in the park is only $8.59 and enough food for three to split (if I didn't have the dining plan)

[The Interpreter]

A. It's Skyline.

B. It's not even very good for Skyline.

[benny1388]

I was going to say that the other options nearer the park are probably why Waffle House is not seeing the rush they used to see. The meal plan probably is a factor as well, but I'm guessing mainly from the pass holders, not the folks buying single day tickets (do have any idea what that ratio is on a typical day?).

 

As far as leaving the park to eat, we do. A single meal in the park costs us about $80 after drinks for my my family of four (two of which are teen boys), where Wendy's is $30 or less. I'll find a new parking spot for those savings. We packed a picnic lunch last time and went to the car for lunch.

 

Next year, we may do the meal plan. We're undecided, really. We have a 90min drive to the park, so we don't get to go as often as someone living in the area. It would save us money, but whether it saves us enough to be 'worth it' is still something we're deciding on.

[Outdoor Man]

A. It's Skyline.

B. It's not even very good for Skyline.

 

 

C. their wifi sucks!

[Gabe]

In my visits, the food consistency and quality is all over the map.  I am a gold pass holder and didn't buy the meal plan.  On one visit, my girlfriend had a salad at the La Rosas in Rivertown that was nothing but brown lettuce.  Upon complaining to the manager, she was given a 'fresh' salad that, while it looked ok, was sorely lacking in taste.  On a recent visit, my daughter and I ate at Subway in the (i guess former?) Coney Mall.  It tasted like any other subway-which is to say it was fine. On that same visit, I was watching Fun TV when they featured a behind-the scenes interview with KI's executive chef, who (for the cameras anyway) was making a fresh mango salsa for some tacos which he said would be served in the park.  Never in any of my visits did I ever see anything close (in terms of look and taste) to what he was making.

[bjcolglazier]

Just speaking on behalf of one family (of 5) here, but we used to leave once or twice a day, and go to McDonalds/Burger King/Wendy's.  Got the season meal plan this year, and always eat in the park.  Been pretty happy with it honestly.  The biggest challenge for us is coordinating everyone so that they all get what they want to eat without walking the entire park for one meal.  We live 3 hours away, and thus aren't able to attend the park as frequently as we might wish, so I'm quite certain the park is happy with the profit they've made on all 5 of us.  It's money that would have left the park if the meal plan wasn't available.  And like I said...we've been pretty happy with the convenience of staying at the park, and have enjoyed the food as well.  Lines are sometimes an issue, but have yet to ruin our day.

[Italian Job 2005]

I have a friend who works in the Chick Fil A at Kings Island and he said that lines are much worse than in previous years, most from the hours of 8:00pm on. He blames dining plans.

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[Joncars05]

And why, other than Reds Hall of Fame and Chick-Fil-A, the quality and service are so abysmal.

My wife says she is surprised that LaRosa's even puts their name on the "pizza" served at KI. We save our money for the real LaRosa's in Batesville, IN on our way home.

I will say The best place to eat in the park to us was The Reds Grille by far. Free refills, good food, air conditioning, and tv's make this place a good spot to take a break and eat.

That being said, the only thing we will now eat in CF parks are snacks like funnel cakes, ice cream, or ICEEs. The quality and price of the food even if you buy the season meal plan for us is not worth it. Plus when we go to the park we usually go from open to close. So we leave the park for food and treat that as a break from being in the park to rest up for a little while.

[TheCandyMan]

I look at it this way: Who cares. It's not my worry if a business outside of Kings Island doesn't make as much money due to more guests choosing to spend money in the park on goods and services there. If they feel a hit, they need to find a way to try and recapture lost customers. Before it was easy, crappy food, high prices, it was a no brainer to not go up the street to McDonalds or Chipotle. Now that I can spend a bit over $100 for the whole season for food, deal with less than stellar service, and stay in the park, it does what it's supposed to do. Unless someone has a deal or reason to take me outside of the park to eat I won't. Currently the biggest drive for me to eat and drink outside of the park is the lack of competent full service bars. The specialty "craft" brews KI had created for them are a joke. I'll go up the street to enjoy a proper IPA or Stout.

[shark6495]

I have a friend who works in the Chick Fil A at Kings Island and he said that lines are much worse than in previous years, most from the hours of 8:00pm on. He blames dining plans.

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In all fairness, last year CFA wasnt on the dining plan, so I would expect they would see an uptick in their sales...

[The Interpreter]

Yes, but...,

At the end of the season, will the LaRosa's, Skylines, Subways, Panda Express, Chicken Shack, Reds Hall of Fame, etc. Individually be profitable? More so than before?

If not, will tge park overall be more so? The chain? If so, will food service be subsidized? If not, will prices go up? Meal plans be discontinued?

Sure, revenues may be up, but if the costs of goods sold plus labor and other selling expenses is up more, EBITDA suffers...

The adipose female ain't warbled yet.

[shark6495]

OH I dont doubt that at all.  I was just speaking about the lines.  Lines would be up more than last year since last yr that restaurant was not on the meal plan and this year it is.  

 

 

My dad used to tell me (who ran restaurants) that your profit margin on food is subtle, but its the profit from soft-drinks that are large.  A case of pop (5 gallon of the syrup) ran for 20-30 dollars (whole sale for the restaurants a few years back) and would make about 300 soft drinks.  If you only sold the drinks for a dollar then you made a 60-70 dollar profit just on drinks... I would expect KI to pay today probably in the $50-60 range, and a drink is $5.... So if you got 1500 on a 60 dollar case, thats huge... dont know if its enough to off-set the price of the food, but I dont know...

[malem]

^ For large venues, there's also revenue from sponsorship & pouring rights, of course. (Assuming that the net price KI pays for syrup is substantially less than the wholesale price, profit potential would be even higher.)

[XGatorHead 8904]

I wouldn't start at Waffle House to begin an assessment of the businesses along Kings Mills Road.  There are better places to eat than that.  

 

Better places to eat than Waffle House?!?  Don't let Gordon Bombay hear you say that!

[Voicetek]

My wife and I don't visit the park enough times in one season to make the meal plan worthwhile for us.  When we do visit, it's just for a few hours or so at a time.  That being said, we've never bought food inside the park except during the Dollar Days.  One of the times we were there this past season, my wife was hungry and decided that maybe she'd splurge for some pizza in the park.  We walked into LaRosa's and saw the prices, almost $15 for a combo.  She immediately turned and walked out.  She decided she wasn't hungry enough to pay those prices, and I agreed.  We ended up hitting up one more ride then left the park and grabbed some food at Wendy's across the street.  There really isn't a happy medium for us.  The meal plan doesn't really offer us a deal cause we would not use it enough to get our money's worth and the regular prices are just too high to justify.  I'd rather leave the park and eat than pay those prices.

 

We've heard good things about the Reds Hall of Fame Grill, and want to give that a try sometime.  Hopefully we'll get to check it out before the end of this season.