Just tried to get a soda refill at the festhaus and was informed that food service now closes at 7pm on Sun - Wed and 9pm Thur - Sat... Is this a new thing?

Not for festhaus food service

Just tried to get a soda refill at the festhaus and was informed that food service now closes at 7pm on Sun - Wed and 9pm Thur - Sat... Is this a new thing?

 

For several years, food service locations not on International Street have closed one hour before the park itself closes. Those non-IS locations also typically open one hour after the park opens.

Because per caps are not apparently that important at Cedar Fair parks.

Coincidentally (or not), meal plans started last year.

They close early so they can get through all the customers in line just in time for the 10pm closing time.

 

 

(Just kidding. I don't know anything about this.)

Because per caps are not apparently that important at Cedar Fair parks.

Coincidentally (or not), meal plans started last year.

 

Huh? They were introduced at Kings Island in 2014. I had a dining plan both of the last two years.

IS food locations are now doing similar to what rides are doing. They are taking guests in line up until closing time, then at closing time, no else can get in line. If you are in line, you will be served, but if not, then you are too slow

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And they took a year to figure out they can save money by closing most food establishments an hour earlier and opening an hour later, since they now have a large percentage of peeps' money.

I can eat from my cooler anytime.

And I can leave and go to Putz's.

And have.

I didn't used to do that.

I experienced a similar experience on Sunday 5/22, it was at the bar near the pond in Oktoberfest, I was in line before 7pm, park closed at 8, but told at 6:58 after standing for a few minutes that myself and no one behind me would be served. I felt it was kinda in bad taste since myself and a few other guests were allowed to wait before being notified that they were not taking any more customers.

Seems someone is forgetting who is a guest, what customer service is and who pays the bills.

And still people line up to pay to be held hostage to such a system.

You pay up front. We decide later, and can redecide at any time, what you get, when, at what level of service, and how.

Such a deal.

And, oh yes. No refunds.

Festhaus, chicken shack, auntie Anne's, snoopy cafe.. All closed at 7pm.... Thankfully I got a refill at the drink kiosk in front of the Eiffel Tower but it's super irritating when those drink only kiosks are conveniently closed.

The park's attitude on this seems to be:

You get what you get

And you don't get upset.

Me? I'll Putz around.

Festhaus, chicken shack, auntie Anne's, snoopy cafe.. All closed at 7pm.... Thankfully I got a refill at the drink kiosk in front of the Eiffel Tower but it's super irritating when those drink only kiosks are conveniently closed.

I found it interesting that the kiosk in RiverTown closed practically at 6pm on Sunday . The group I was with wanted refills and we went to the Tower. I'm sure if that was closed they would have been p'o'd. And later in Festhouse we were sitting and just as if someone passed gas, the place cleared. I looked up and all of the lights in Panda Express and Larosa's were out.... 7pm on the nose.... So off to I Street Larosa's. ... And like Festhouse the entry doors closed earlier than usual. It's almost as if they are intentionally forcing guests to decide to leave.

Prior to 2015, International Street LaRosa's routinely stayed open after park close. I haven't seen that happen since.

This isn't that new a thing.  I remember at RT Potato Works, we stopped making new food around an hour before close and left only 1 register open.  When we ran out of food or at about a half hour until park close (whichever came first), we closed.  

My how times have changed. When I worked food service we stayed open until the last customer was served. Then we broke down all equipment and cleaned the work areas. There were times that I might have left at 2 or 3 in the morning.

In general, I think it'd be good if places would publicly display the time it closes, as the time that they will cease serving people.. which they do... But, I wish they'd take it more seriously and schedule the employees to leave 30 minutes after the publically known time. No annoyance, no guilt by the polite people wanting food when the employees break things down and clean the kitchen 20 minutes early because they thought they'd be done.

When I worked at Cracker Barrel, we once had an entire BUS full of elderly people arrive at 9:58. We closed at 10.

But, we served them, per the company policy, because they arrived before close. All with a fake but convincing smile on our faces while we resented every moment, mind you. But, the servers who were asked to stay thankfully got tipped handsomely and I got an extra hour on the clock, of which only about 10 minutes involved actual work (I was cashier, and technically not allowed to leave my post, and as cashier, they don't interact with me until the end of the meal). So I guess all was well that ended well.

* This poster is no longer in any way affiliated with Cracker Barrel Old Country Store other than as a customer thereof. The opinions expressed in this post belong solely to the poster and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store or its employees nor any current or former employer of the poster.

It appears that a recent change in Ohio law as to when minors can work affects park staffing, I have been told by a member of a group with which I am associated.

So, food service closing early -- shouldn't this end once schools are no longer in session if this is the reason?

Rides stay open and staffed?

Cedar Point is also in Ohio?

Terp -- one answer, so many new questions caused by it?

When does the bus pick people up? If the last bus picks up say 10-15 mins after park closes they may be doing it so the employees have a ride home

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Not all districts are out yet. So, maybe a blanket stopping point in order to cover their bases regardless of where the students go to school is easier and more efficient for employee scheduling?

How old do ride ops have to be this season compared to food workers?

They would never close the gift shops right at closing.  To do so would be to leave money on the table, I don't understand why the food service isn't any different.  

 

There are a few places not on the meal plan that make perfect sense to stay open for a while after closing (Blue Ice Cream Shop in Planet Snoopy, Cinnabon, Funnel Cake Shop on I Street, possibly Starbucks and Graeters as well)

It appears that a recent change in Ohio law as to when minors can work affects park staffing, I have been told by a member of a group with which I am associated.

So, food service closing early -- shouldn't this end once schools are no longer in session if this is the reason?

Rides stay open and staffed?

Cedar Point is also in Ohio?

Terp -- one answer, so many new questions caused by it?

as far as I know, most of Cedar Point's staff stay in the dorms, you must be 18 to stay in the dorms at Cedar Point, so I assume it doesn't have much effect on them 

And not to compare apples to oranges but I can make a reservation at Disney restaurants an hour before the park opens or right at close. They have meal plans as well.

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I have had this happen to me at the Coney Island Skyline eariler in the year.  Waited 30 minutes or more to get the window to tell me they were out of all food. It was still 45 minutes before closing.  I now know to adjust my visits so we can eat dinner around 6:00.

Or use my idea to stop at KI for food on your way to KK and then head home in time to eat a second meal at KI. Better yet just go to a Six Flags park.

My how times have changed. When I worked food service we stayed open until the last customer was served. Then we broke down all equipment and cleaned the work areas. There were times that I might have left at 2 or 3 in the morning.

That's exactly how it was when I was in food service. We didn't close until there was no more money to be made. Unless your pre close was phenomenal you weren't leaving until 3. I remember sleeping in the parking lot and sometimes In the office on multiple occasions