Last call! No more free beer at SeaWorld or Busch Gardens
It's the death knell for yet another lovely American tradition: Free beer for visitors to Anheuser-Busch's theme parks. SeaWorld's three locations and Busch Gardens' two locations are capping the keg on the generosity.The free cup of beer was one of the coolest things about any theme park in America. Each park had its own "Hospitality House" where visitors of drinking age could claim one free cup of beer during a visit and, if they wanted, get a lesson about beer brewing. The parks have announced that those pavilions will be converted to something with "broader appeal" (translation: another restaurant or souvenir stand). You can still buy a beer, but it will cost you $5 a cup.
The parks used to have signs all over the place (even above the urinals) proudly proclaiming that they were American-owned. Those were quietly removed last year after Anheuser-Busch was purchased by Belgian beverage goliath InBev. It made promises not to change much, but those are proving to be hollow.
The World of Anheuser-Busch
U.S. Navy sailors ride a roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Tampa, Fla. More than 3 million U.S. and coalition service members have entered Worlds of Discovery free under Budweiser's "Here's to the Heroes" military tribute program. Here's to the Heroes has been extended until December 31, 2009. (PRNewsFoto/Busch Entertainment Corporation)
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The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales participated in the Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1 with a special float commemorating their 75th anniversary as the symbol of Anheuser-Busch. Introduced in 1933 to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition for beer, the Clydesdales travel more than 100,000 miles to more than 500 appearances each year. (PRNewsFoto/Anheuser-Busch)
PR NEWSWIRE
** FOR USE AS DESIRED WITH YEAR END--FILE ** In this Monday, July 14, 2008 file photo, cars drive past the Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis. The $52 billion sale of iconic St. Louis brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. to InBev SA highlighted what was an overall difficult year for business in Missouri. InBev agreed to make St. Louis its North American headquarters, but the merger has already taken a toll u00F4 1,400 Anheuser-Busch workers, about 1,000 of them in St. Louis, saw their jobs eliminated 2 1/2 weeks before Christmas.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
AP
** FOR USE AS DESIRED WITH YEAR END--FILE ** In this Monday, July 14, 2008 file photo, the Anheuser-Busch brewery is seen in St. Louis. The $52 billion sale of iconic St. Louis brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. to InBev SA highlighted what was an overall difficult year for business in Missouri. InBev agreed to make St. Louis its North American headquarters, but the merger has already taken a toll u00F4 1,400 Anheuser-Busch workers, about 1,000 of them in St. Louis, saw their jobs eliminated 2 1/2 weeks before Christmas.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
AP
** FILE ** In this Monday, July 14, 2008 file photo, cars drive past the Anheuser-Busch brewery in St. Louis. The $52 billion sale of iconic St. Louis brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. to InBev SA highlighted what was an overall difficult year for business in Missouri. InBev agreed to make St. Louis its North American headquarters, but the merger has already taken a toll u00F4 1,400 Anheuser-Busch workers, about 1,000 of them in St. Louis, saw their jobs eliminated 2 1/2 weeks before Christmas.(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
AP
** CORRECTS SOURCE OF PHOTO AND CUTLINE ** In this photo provided by Anheuser-Busch InBev, a newly designed Bud Light can is shown. The nation's best-selling light beer is giving a makeover to its cans and bottles next year, with a focus on the color blue and the brand's new emphasis on refreshment and on what the brewer calls "drinkability." (AP Photo/Anheuser-Busch Inc.) ** NO SALES **
AP
** CORRECTS SOURCE OF PHOTO AND CUTLINE ** In this photo provided by Anheuser-Busch InBev, a newly designed Bud Light bottle is shown. The nation's best-selling light beer is giving a makeover to its cans and bottles next year, with a focus on the color blue and the brand's new emphasis on refreshment and on what the brewer calls "drinkability." (AP Photo/Anheuser-Busch Inc.) ** NO SALES **
AP
** CORRECTS SOURCE OF PHOTO AND CUTLINE ** In this photo provided by Anheuser-Busch InBev, a newly designed Bud Light bottle is shown. The nation's best-selling light beer is giving a makeover to its cans and bottles next year, with a focus on the color blue and the brand's new emphasis on refreshment and on what the brewer calls "drinkability." (AP Photo/Anheuser-Busch Inc.) ** NO SALES **
AP
** CORRECTS SOURCE OF PHOTO AND CUTLINE ** In this photo provided by Anheuser-Busch InBev, a newly designed Bud Light can is shown. The nation's best-selling light beer is giving a makeover to its cans and bottles next year, with a focus on the color blue and the brand's new emphasis on refreshment and on what the brewer calls "drinkability." (AP Photo/Anheuser-Busch Inc.) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo provided by Anheuser-Busch Inc., a newly designed Bud Light bottle is shown. The nation's best-selling light beer giving a makeover to its cans and bottles next year, with a focus on the color blue and the brand's new emphasis on refreshment and on the brewer calls "drinkability." (AP Photo/Anheuser-Busch Inc.) ** NO SALES **
AP
Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay has particularly close ties to the beer industry, and its origins explain how a beer company got into the thrill biz to begin with. The theme park began in 1959 as a public relations center attached to a Bud bottling plant and slowly expanded to become the thrill-and-giraffe wonderland it is today. The original brewery was torn down and a wooden coaster put up in its place in 1999, but its Hospitality House still has the same mod late-'50s design, free of the faux-exotic architecture that now pervades amusement parks. It was a holdout from a simpler time.
The freebie was one of the most gratifying pleasures of a visit to an Anheuser-Busch Adventure Park, which are set apart from the others by serving particularly good food options. Because I cover theme parks quite a lot, claiming my free brew became a regular habit whenever I visited. The practice surely couldn't have cost the parks much to do (just one little bar, usually staffed by only one or two people), and in my case, I am much less likely to drink a Budweiser product unless someone gives me one for free, so the giveaway was an easy way to get me to try the company's products.
But that's not the only gaffe the big parks made this week: SeaWorld Orlando hiked its one-day adult admission price from $70 to $75, and Busch Gardens Africa inflated them by $2. In a time when customers are more alert than ever to value, you have to wonder what they're thinking.
What's next? Sending the Clydesdales to the glue factory?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
1-06-2009 @ 11:48AM
EAH said...
We've been Platinum pass holders for 5+ seasons. We spend tons of money at the Busch parks. I have to say too many changes will force us to look more closely on how our entertainment dollar is spent. Come on InBev, dont screw with something that has been successful (Busch Theme Parks) for so long!
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1-07-2009 @ 10:12AM
Allison said...
Not happy about the way companies are down sizing just about everything?
Check out this list for secret customer service numbers and voice your opinion. Bigger business’ always hide contact info and drive me nuts!
http://www.curiousread.com/2007/09/secret-customer-service-numbers.html
1-07-2009 @ 10:51AM
Ben said...
Can I just say, as somebody who's worked in both the service and retail industries, there's nothing less motivating that when somebody uses their previously spent money as leverage? I'm sure InBev has something called Market Researchers. And seeing as InBev was about to buy our A.B., they're probably doing a good job.
1-06-2009 @ 12:30PM
KW said...
It is sad to hear that they tore down the factory. I have great memories of the visit I took there in My younger days.My family and I rode "the escalator to the stars" I think that is what they called it then . We rode it to the top floor of the factory and took the tour that started at the top floor and ended at the bottom floor .I can picture My Dad and older Brother going to the sample counter a few times on our visit then. I guess They weren't so picky on how many samples You had then. The monorail was a new thing then and I recall that it had a glass bottom and went over the animals in the park. The day We went We saw an elephant knock an ostrich about 20 feet with it's trunk. I bet that ostrich didn't mess with that elephant again. To bad that They are stopping the free samples.I was looking to go back and have one now that I am several years older than the drinking age now. I have a feeling that We are going to see a lot of this type of thing happening in the near future.
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1-06-2009 @ 12:43PM
Bob Skilnik said...
Maybe just a rumor, but it's my understanding that InBev will cut the theme parks loose.
They might be trying to fatten up the bottom line to make the parks look more attractive for potential buyers.
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1-06-2009 @ 8:44PM
Meme said...
Bob Skiinik -- It's no rumor.. My husband works for an outside company that hauls AB products and InBev is talking about getting rid of the parks. They SAY that they don't want to shut them down so I do hope there is a buyer out there and have those at least be American owned. The whole situation is sad. AB is (was) a great American Icon company and we were saddened to see it go to the Belgans. As far as work, my husband's work has slowed down some, but not much. Budweiser is still a very popular product here in the states. Another poster was also correct - it was not greed on the Busch's part, the Shareholders over-ruled them and the second time, they won. It's too sad seeing any American companies leaving the country, but the long time American Icons, IMO hurt more to see go. The Clydesdales are safe - no glue factory and to our knowledge, they'll be taken care of and kept in the country, still as a big part of the AB company.
1-06-2009 @ 1:23PM
j said...
Busch Gardens and Sea world have always been the most expensive tickets anyway, so this comes as no surprise. As Disney is giving out deals to get people to come raising prices and dropping freebees does not sound like a good plan. I know they have to pay for the new waterpark but too much hitting the customer in the wallet can lead to trouble. Look at Hard Rock- not giving out deals to families worked out well for their park (closing the season early and near bankrupt)
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1-06-2009 @ 4:36PM
j said...
Sorry I've since found out that Hard Rock Amusement Park is going into chapter 7 bankruptcy. Instead of trying to reorganize and reopen it looks like they are trying to close for good. I feel sorry for Myrtle Beach which should have had a nice new attraction but now has nothing. Sea world and Busch Gardens take note these are tight times for your customers wallets and you are going to have to give us something more if we are going to open our wallets and you are going to keep your doors open.
1-06-2009 @ 1:37PM
Robert Batzel said...
Shame on you! For the cost of the ticket alone (not to mention money spent on food and souvenirs), you would think your "good will" could afford to give me a free drink. I, and my family of four have been to the Dark Continent 3 times and the Williamsburg park at least 25 (yes! twenty-five) times in the past 36 years. My wife, myself, and 2 sons, and another couple and their 3 children go to Williamsburg every year. We go there (a 5 1/2 hour drive from home) instead of the Jersey shore, which is a mere 2 hours away. How much money do you think I spend on a vacation like that? We usually stay a week. How much shopping do you think we do at the Pottery Factory, Hotels, Outlets, Target, Wal-mart, K-Mart, antique stores, etc., Restaurants, and other historic sights? We could go to Great Adventure, Hershey Park, Knoebel's, Kings Dominion (which we have also visited), or other much closer sights, but we choose Virginia. AND YOU CAN'T GIVE ME 1 FREE DRINK!!!! Perhaps the Busch family should have kept family control of it's brewery's. Perhaps the new owners should think a little bit about the customer in these trying times when a buck or two for a drink could say "Thank-you" for coming. Please come again! And to think we were considering bringing another generation of family and friends to the "Virginia Is For Lovers" state.
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1-06-2009 @ 8:12PM
shell said...
Well one great thing is there may be less drunks around ..
Its supposed to be a family place why would you want alcohol around your kids anyway????
Save it for the bars and at home when your kids are sleeping ..
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1-06-2009 @ 9:12PM
Lori said...
Shell,
Uhm...it's ONE drink. I hardly think it's a 72oz'er or even anything remotely close. I've not had the luxury of this "free beer" but I'm doubting it was anything over 16 oz. Hardly something to "wait until your kids are asleep" to enjoy. lol. Wow.
1-07-2009 @ 9:54AM
walt said...
its not getting drunk its 1 freakin beer you cow
1-06-2009 @ 8:12PM
shell said...
it wasn't the busch's choice they were out ruled by share holders ....
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1-06-2009 @ 9:48PM
ANDY said...
Sorry. The Busch family couldn't care less. They made out very well. I have family members who have worked for AB for 40 plus years. August Busch III made out very well; so did his family. Greed rules.
If they wanted to keep AB in the family and American hands, they could have easily done so. So it goes with money you didn't earn.
The first generation builds, the second conserves. The third squanders
because they have no appreciation for what others have done before them; that which allowed them to be where they are in the first place.
I used to only drink AB products out of loyalty, when I drank at all. Many other beers are superior in quality; AB products were never that good to begin with. No one else,except the Japanese brew their beers with rice in the recipe. No cheers here. Bye Anheuser-Busch, it was a great ride. :(
1-06-2009 @ 8:28PM
Lizard@mac.com said...
This is very old news in VA. BG closed the hospitality house and it's one per customer free beer several years ago, long before the buy out. We have seen no change in the amount of ticket buyers due to the lack of a free 12 oz beer.
We still love the park and will keep going there with our kids. The park in Williamsburg is always clean, and is one of the prettiest, friendliest, nicely landscaped, well kept and maintained parks we have ever been in. VA is a clean family oriented state that has a lot to offer in it's history, theme parks, beaches and mountains. Still very much worth your while to come here and enjoy, even if there is not a free beer involved.
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1-06-2009 @ 8:37PM
Lorri said...
Just more money grabbing by the GREEDY CEOs. This will never change because "they" will never learn. Unfortunately, the world is overrun by members of the "Only Me" generation.
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1-06-2009 @ 9:10PM
WLG said...
Sad to say, I too remember the brewery/factory tours and loved them as well as the free beer that was a wonderful break in a day with the children at the park. We too have not opted to renew our tickets this year as we can see the no changes policy is an empty statement.
Signs of another foreign buyer tearing apart part of an American memory for alot. Doesn't mean anything to them other than a bottom dollar profit line that evidently isn't making or going to make the profit margin they are looking for.
You can be the horses will be next....just a matter of time I am sure.
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1-06-2009 @ 9:17PM
Lori said...
Shell,
Oh wait I have to comment on this separately.
Because they are doing away with the ONE FREE DRINK there will be LESS DRUNKS AROUND? LMAO...this was just too funny. "Whoa! Hold it right there! Don't dare drink that ONE 12-oz. beer....we don't want any funny business going on in this park! No sirreee! Just ONE of those Budweiser's...well...it'll just put ya right over the edge into a state of drukeness!"
Haha...ohh myyy.
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1-06-2009 @ 9:22PM
Woody said...
So do a boycott on Anheuser-Busch products! Maybe they'll go back to giving away that 4 oz. cup of beer. I don't drink their products, so frankly my dear, I don't give a damn!
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1-06-2009 @ 9:27PM
J T said...
Shame on them for taking our free beer. That was one of our highlights at Sea World San Antonio, Tx. I have not renewed our season passes yet.
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