News Chick-fil-A Replacing Bengal Bistro

[John tibby]

Amusement Insider (@AmusementInside) Tweeted:
Looks like a Chick-fil-A is finding its way into Busch. It will take place of the Bengal Bistro. https://t.co/7q1TZc08xJ

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[Zachary]

Have they published the rest of the document anywhere?

My initial reaction to this is very much...

But I definitely need more information about the actual execution to better judge its impact on the park environmentally.

 

[DECoasterGuy]

Why is this a bad thing? They’re getting a well-liked, reliable fast food option

 

[musicman3204]

Personal reasons, but to me this is a terrible idea. No matter the execution, it could look exactly like it fits and is perfect, and I would hate this decision.

 

[Zachary]

Why is this a bad thing? They’re getting a well-liked, reliable fast food option

Because I don't think chain fast food belongs inside most* theme parks.

Even if it is just CFA served inside of an appropriately themed restaurant exterior, I believe themed culinary is an integral part of the larger theme park experience. Certain sacrifices must be made to make dining accessible to more pedestrian palettes (read: offering burgers/pizza/chicken fingers somewhere in the park), but I believe actual culinary investment should take place on the themed dining front.

If Three Broomsticks at Universal started serving Chick-fil-A, people would be (rightly) confused and angry. The same principles should apply to Busch Gardens parks in my opinion.

Theme parks sell immersion and escapism. If I'm strolling around 18th century Europe and stumble upon a Chick-fil-A, something has gone terribly wrong.

---

* Chick-fil-A in a theoretical modern, GA-themed, park area? Perfect. Chick-fil-A in an area of a park themed to a chicken farm? Clever AF. There are themes that could reasonably house a Chick-fil-A inside a theme park—none of those themes currently exist at a SEAS park though.

 

[belsaas]

Why is this a bad thing? They’re getting a well-liked, reliable fast food option

Chick-fil-A’s Owner Is Bankrolling Hate Groups Targeting Trans Kids

“They’re doing hardcore, extreme stuff, but they make it seem like it’s a bunch of soup kitchens.”

www.them.us

Chick-fil-A is under attack over its CEO's ties to a Christian charity accused of trying to squash proposed LGBTQ protections. Here's what we know about the chain's donations.

Chick-fil-A is facing backlash over its CEO's donations to the National Christian Charitable Foundation.

www.businessinsider.com

Yes, Chick-fil-A Is Still Doing Harm to the Queer Community

The fast food chain’s billionaire owner is currently funding a campaign to derail the Equality Act.

www.out.com

Also as @Zachary said, chain fastfood in a theme park makes it feel cheap to me. I expect that of a Six Flags, not a SEAS park.

 

[Thomas]

Yummy chimken

 

[Jonesta6]

Though Disney did this with McDonald's for awhile...

Is it still jarring for you to see a CFA in the Safari Village at KD either?

 

[Zachary]

Though Disney did this with McDonald's for awhile...

Yes, sometimes more tastefully than others, but in my opinion, universally bad. (And, note, Disney has long since reversed course and no longer does this.)

Is it still jarring for you to see a CFA in the Safari Village at KD either?

Technically Planet Snoopy I think... But regardless, yes. And Kings Dominion isn't even a theme park in my opinion.

 

[Nicole]

You know, in many bad ways CFA would suit the theme of Dinoland nicely.

Birds are descended from dinosaurs, and Dinoland is supposed to be a cheap, roadside carnival. Fast food chicken seems right.

 

[wombat96]

This sucks.

Even though I really enjoy CFA, it’s going to look incredibly out of place and only lead to more and more and chains slowly infiltrating the parks.

 

[Thomas]

The real reason that this is bad is that theme park CFAs never have the full menu so it will be thematically bad and not even have all the good stuff to eat. Everyone loses.

 

[warfelg]

At least it’s not build-a-bear

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[Zachary]

At least it’s not build-a-bear

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If they offer SEAS exclusive bears, clothes, and accessories, I'm down with this honestly.

 

[Jesy]

At least it’s not build-a-bear

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Until I see compelling evidence that Build-a-Bear is anti-Queer, I don't care. And if there are any SEAS ip-type animals included, and given my first sentence, I am actually in favor of this.

 

[ryguyof87]

1) It's crappy theming.
2) It's kind of mixed-messaging to have a bunch of pride merch company-wide and then bring in a vendor that is actively working to hurt my community.

Then again, I'm used to #2, sadly. But it still sucks.

 

[warfelg]

If they offer SEAS exclusive bears, clothes, and accessories, I'm down with this honestly.

I guess my thing with this is (and we will have to wait and see on the exclusive stuff) I rather see outside restaurants than merchandise. Both will be overpriced but at least the food will have a minimum quality to it. The CFA in HP is really good and better than the other options at times.

I get the theming issues, just pointing this out.

edit:
Article says exclusive clothing and accessories. But not bears. Feel like they missed with that.

As for the…other….issues with CFA; I truly get the issues many many many have with it. Many companies do a ton of virtue signaling in June, so sadly many companies mix message themselves without it being an outside vendor.

 

[John tibby]

I was looking on the other parks websites for any other possible closed down restaurant that might also become a chain fastfood restaurant in park and the Rio loco grill at SeaWorld san antonio has been closed for awhile and it's the only restaurant in the park that remains closed

 

[Thomas]

Remember: it might be hard for SEAS to get other companies to align with them at all... they kinda have a bad reputation.

 

[horsesboy]

Remember: it might be hard for SEAS to get other companies to align with them at all... they kinda have a bad reputation.

Or it just happens to be one of the largest and still one of the most actively growing FF chains in the country. It also has a proven track record of running restaurants in parks all of which seem like significant plusses.

I was looking on the other parks websites for any other possible closed down restaurant that might also become a chain fastfood restaurant in park and the Rio loco grill at SeaWorld san antonio has been closed for awhile and it's the only restaurant in the park that remains closed

My prediction is that IF they add one at BGW it goes where Joslyne's is/was. Seems like the most logical place.