What Freebies Have You Gotten at a Theme Park?
Soft drinks, gum, food -- what free samples have you gotten at a theme park?
Was talking to a good friend of mine who said this past summer he got a free bottle of Sprite Remix when he exited Six Flags. And when he visited another Six Flags park, he got some new type of gum.
My question is this - what have you gotten for free outside an amusement park and what would you like to see given out? (Being realistic of course.)
I was at Universal Studios Hollywood last week, and was asked to be part of a survey (approached near the Blues Brothers stage), it ended up being for Burger King and a new Tangy Chicken Sandwich... I got to eat 2 full sandwiches (actually ended up eating about 1/2 of each of the 2), plus I got $10 in park script for about 1/2 hour of my time.... Free Lunch and $10, not bad...
I also did a survey in mid 2002 at USH, some type of chip dip, got $3 for that one...
Also, I got a free 10 minute Zen Zone water massage last week at Universal Citywalk...
I went to Cedar Point and attended Coastermania last June, since I was a Knott's AP holder, the entire event was free, including a nice buffet lunch...
Also, I got some free bags of Corn Nuts at Six Flags Marine World when exiting this September...
Last July, for Disneyland's BD, I collected some free postcards, and got a free pin... also got a free pin for "performing" in the Parade of the Stars. Also have gotten a couple of free buttons (Flik's AP previews, and the Pirates movie premiere)
And there is always the CLASSIC free thing at a theme park... Free Beer at SeaWorld San Diego, you get two 8 ounce samples of Anheuser-Busch beers...(of course, 21 or older only)
And with the Passport Member coupon machines for SeaWorld San Diego guests, I have gotten free games in the arcade area (won an small Elmo last visit), plus I also got a free gallon of Frazee Paint from the coupon machine.
Last year at SFGAM they gave away free strawberry favoered gum, i think from the company that makes chicklets.
Also at the ace coastercon PKD gave every member a nice goodie bag that contained a PKD poster and a t-shirt that listed all of the coasters in the various paramounts parks and several other small items.
Also at a ace event at SFGAM the park gave a goodie bag to all attendee's that had a souvenirs from Shockwave/Whizzer and a couple of other rides. All of this wasnt expected but was a very nice touch by the parks. Also forgot a plastic cup from BGW that marked the 25th anniv. of Loch Ness Monster.
A CM at American Experience in EPCOT gave my kids free ice cream for being well behaved.
He said that he had spent the day asking parents to not let their children pick up rocks from the decorative planter & throw them into the fountain. After asking the family next to us for the 2nd time, he went into the kitchen & brought out the ice cream for my boys, making a big deal out of the fact that they were being so good.
It was a good lesson for all the kids involved and, I thought, a nice compliment.
Free Chocolate at Hersheypark. Yummmm....
^ Not as good as free beer, but a good runner-up :)
Hopefully will get a chance to check it out after the new Intermin opens up....
Of course (mentioning beer) I've had my fair share of samples at Busch Gardens Tampa and Sea World Orlando - gotta love the hospitality house!
At Universal, I agreed to take a "taste test" for a taco shell company, got 2 tacos and all the fixings, along with $20 Universal bucks (my wife went on a seperate survey for types of croissants) - now I SEARCH for the guys with clipboards in the middle of Universal (look for them by the Monster Cafe!)
Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween gives out GOBS of candy on slow nights, and lots of cookies and hot cocoa at Mickey's Christmas Celebration.
And, of course, Universal's Mardi Gras parade is good for..well, lots of junk (beads, dubloons, etc)
Still like the Hospitality house the best - SeaWorld Orlando's back bar (behind the main one by the "beer school", which is also fre) usually has the new items that are being pimped by Anheiser-Busch - you can get energy drinks (whole cans!), Doc Otis Slushies, etc. on different days. Fun, if you can remember it after your visit!
BFD
At SFGRADV I have gotten gum/soda/cereal/candy samples
on the way out. At USF I did
some yogurt survey. It was probably the only healthy thing I ate that whole trip.
Red
From Jeff Arons
Posted February 8, 2004 at 4:33 AM
At Six Flags, there's this "coaster" that twirls you around and around, and they give you a
free chance to get off.
From Mr. D. T.
Posted February 8, 2004 at 8:46 AM
LOL Which Six Flags? What's the coaster?
As that old Main Street USA song would state "I could [name] a million [Six Flags Parks]"
From Jeff Arons
Posted February 8, 2004 at 5:04 PM
Oops...it was Magic Mountain...and it's not really a roller coaster...it's called Sierra Twist...it's one of those rides that twirls you around on a fixed track.
At SFMM last october they handed out sample packs of corn nuts, and the wrigleys grapermelon gum stuff.
From Joe Lane
Posted July 10, 2004 at 6:26 PM
... FReeee... BIE? What is this "Freebie" you speak of?
From Rick Seidl
Posted September 8, 2004 at 2:14 AM
Have you ever been to Holiday World. Free parking, free soft drinks, free sunscreen at Splashin Safari, no tube rentals. It's not the biggest park, but it is great.
Back when BGW still had the brewery tour, you received two samples of Busch products (lousy beer, but at least it was free). They used to hand out sample packets of their Eagle brand snack foods (pretzels, honey-roasted peanuts)at the park exit, but that brand no longer exists.
I have gotten several free park maps ay several different parks. Got T-shirt at Worlds of Fun Once just for filling out a survey for Mamba
I don't think that I've gotten anything free from theme parks, but I think that should give you discount coupons so you can return to the park for cheap.
I got two free childs admissions with 2 paid adult admissions to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay from a cereal box back. We also got free bronse fun cards to come back from April to December free. We got several trips to the park for under $100 for a family of 4.
I organized a group to go to SFMM 3 years ago. 2 years ago they sent me a free general admision pass. I went and the park was run so poorly that I didn't even use the free one they sent me this year.
I managed to gain a free large Coke from the Disney corporation yesterday when they cocked up my lunch order at Disneyland Paris. I know it's not very exciting, but when was the last time any one you know got anything free from Disney?
From Ben Mills
Posted September 10, 2004 at 10:42 AM
I can beat that. When we had lunch at Walt Disney Studios last year, they stuck some trainee on the till before the food collection booth, and she had no idea what she was doing. We ended up not only with th two salads and burger meal we'd ordered, but also two hot dogs, one large Coke and some sort of yogurt.
So that's why WDS is losing so much money...
The last time my family was at WDW was the summer of 2000 and we were staying at the Boardwalk Inn. We had been at Universal all day and came back to cops and helicopters and what looked like a complete mess. When we got into the lobby we found out about the current hostage situation and that we were not allowed to return to our room but would be transfered to the Contemporary for the night. Disney provided each of us with free "care packages" that included a t-shirt, shorts, toothbrush and paste, and contact lense supplies (for those who needed it). Also in the lobby was free food (ice cream bars, chips, etc). After returning the next day from the Contemporary, there was a message on the phone saying that we would be credited the previous night's stay on our bill due to the inconvience. Needless to say, my family was quite pleased on how Disney handled the whole situation and now we have a great story to tell!
From Coaster X
Posted September 11, 2004 at 4:27 PM
I got a free bottled Coke at Dollywood due to me waiting so long for Thunderhead on the Passholder's Sneak Preview Day.
Check out this freebie! I got it while I was employed doing the best WDW job ever ...
In the fall of 1982, I was working at the Magic Kingdom. I was a skipper for the Walt Disney World Jungle River Navigation Company, Ltd.
It was just after EPCOT Center opened and the drinking age in Florida was still 19.
Of course, as you all know, I am blessed with boyishly good looks. Thus, although I was legally allowed to drink, I was carded constantly.
One afternoon, while working in the park, my area manager approached me and asked me how old I was and whether or not I drank. When I answered "20 and yes" she asked me if I wanted to participate in the Disney shopper program. Specifically, she told me I would be tasked with the responsibility of pairing up with a youngish looking girl and go to all of Disney's bars and restaurants on the property, and find out if the servers were carding.
I immediately expressed concerns. While the opportunity was enticing I was not about to become the company snitch and get people fired.
However, I spoke with security and learned that, unlike traditional shopping programs, this one did not involve naming cast members but rather identifying restaurants and bars. After all, I was of age and a server who served me booze was not breaking any laws. Disney higher ups had decided that they wanted to keep the servers guessing. In other words, a restaurant's entire staff would be told, "Hey we were shopped and the server didn't card the guy." By not naming names, everyone in the restaurant would be kept off balance and thus be more inclined to ask for ID.
Anyway, the job lasted a week. I drank at every Disney bar, ate at a bunch of Disney restaurants and got SLAMMED! I ate at almost every restaurant at EPCOT -- missed Chef du France and -- of course -- the Coral Reef and Norway were not open. I ate
at all the resorts and around Lake Buena Vista.
Disney paid for my food. Paid for the booze. And, better yet, paid me to do it.
If you have a better freebie...post it!
Man, TH, if Kevin didn't hate you before....
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