This is just plain stupid! The park is ONLY open 3 or 4 days a week and they are only going to open the grill on Saturdays. Lempke strikes again! And don't try to tell me this is not his decision. At the level of what is and is not open it is with his knowledge and his decision.
Grogans Grill
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
They could have used it open last night. Food options were very few and what was open were packed.
Kevin may have okayed the decision, but in his defense, he might not have had much of a choice. It’s well documented that SEAS’ chairman of the board Scott Ross has put immense pressure directly on the park presidents to reduce costs and increase profits however possible. Kevin and his team probably wish they could do more with Grogan’s Grill than they are, but can’t.
That said, I’m glad they’re opening Grogan’s to add more food capacity on the park’s busiest days, but damn. Imagine being told 10 years ago that Grogan’s authentic Irish stew and meats — or even just a few years ago when the restaurant was revamped with all of O’Tators’ creative potato dishes — would be replaced with hot dogs and chicken tenders. This is, in my opinion, the most dramatic representation yet of how far BGW’s culinary operation has fallen.
What a sad day. O’Tators may have been a running joke for it’s name, but I always enjoyed the food I got there. And Grogan’s Grill before that was always a good option for some less-than-typical theme park food when it was open.
I think it’s very important to make this distinction right now for all things SEAS related.
I just don't buy into the argument that they are reducing costs and increasing profits. If that was the case explain to me the logic behind building more and more expensive rollercoasters at the expense of everything else? If the food service is up and running everywhere possible you are selling food and drinks to the people in between rollercoasters and turning more profit. What does a rollercoaster do for you? Sure, you might get more people in the park. Like they really need that. Once you spend the money on a rollercoaster it doesn't turn any profit if there is nowhere for people to eat and drink. Oh, wait a minute! Maybe they could start charging per ride on all of those rollercoasters. Then they could turn more profit. They kind of already do that with QQ don't they?
Just an example. We are going to the park tomorrow. We are literally spending more time trying to figure out where and what will be open to get something to eat and drink. My wife pulled out her popcorn bucket but then I reminded her there may be no place open to use it. Pre-covid I never gave a thought about what and where to eat. I happen to be one of those "old folks" and I talk to the older workers at the registers and in the park. I was shocked to learn some of them have been there for as much as 10+ years without a raise. They definitely don't get benefits and then some of them dropped the real bombshell on me. You know why you see so many seniors working there? It's not because they are available. It is because they are on Medicare! Seas doesn't have to worry about health insurance for them! It might not mean anything to you now but one of these days you'll get to experience the same thing. Yeah, BGW and SEAS are going to the dark side and it's not even making a difference. Doesn't seem to bother anybody as long as a rollercoaster is running.
Just an example. We are going to the park tomorrow. We are literally spending more time trying to figure out where and what will be open to get something to eat and drink. My wife pulled out her popcorn bucket but then I reminded her there may be no place open to use it. Pre-covid I never gave a thought about what and where to eat. I happen to be one of those "old folks" and I talk to the older workers at the registers and in the park. I was shocked to learn some of them have been there for as much as 10+ years without a raise. They definitely don't get benefits and then some of them dropped the real bombshell on me. You know why you see so many seniors working there? It's not because they are available. It is because they are on Medicare! Seas doesn't have to worry about health insurance for them! It might not mean anything to you now but one of these days you'll get to experience the same thing. Yeah, BGW and SEAS are going to the dark side and it's not even making a difference. Doesn't seem to bother anybody as long as a rollercoaster is running.
Grogans grill should be open during hos while squires is closed for remodel
One concern I have with that is can they setup a covered and heated seating are without ruining the atmosphere of the area. Squires gave them the ability to hide the tent on the back porch there really isn't as easy of a place to hide it in Ireland.
I believe it hosted Santa's Fire Side Feast last year and I assume will do so again.
last year it was used as a dressing room for the stilt walkers in jack is back, as well as being a make-up area for the scare actors.
It’s a damn shame that Killarney doesn’t have a theater with a built-in dressing room and make-up area sitting unused during HOS.
It seems like it makes more sense to use a room right off the maze so that scare actors stay out of public view and surprise preserved rather then having them walk through a crowded walk way. Using Grogans instead of Squires during HOS seems like an even exchange as all if Squires seating I'd outside uncovered at that time of year anyways. The heated tent usually doesn't go up till right before Christmas Town.
abbey stone is used as well, but instead just for the dancers and the different actors who play jack in the show and for the photo op.
in total there are 4 different areas used as green rooms/dressing rooms in ireland:
- killarney diner actors are split between the basement underneath CoS and the ireland employee break area
- jack is back actors are split between CoS (stilt walkers) and abbey stone theatre (dancers/jack actors)
- actors for the terror-tories get their make-up done in CoS as well
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Does any happen to have the old potato soup in a bread bowl recipe?
Reading that and making me think of some more Irish food options got me thinking they really should fire this place up in the colder months for some comfort fare. A January dose of shepherd's pie? Oh heavens yes. Especially if it's actually good (which I know may be the trickier part for them).
Cant exactly sell Irish/UK comfort food in the summer that well unless people enjoy feeling like bags of lard, but I'd take something warm and hearty anywhere from October to March any day.
Cant exactly sell Irish/UK comfort food in the summer that well unless people enjoy feeling like bags of lard, but I'd take something warm and hearty anywhere from October to March any day.
