Vote of the week: Should theme park pizza be slices or individual pies?

July 22, 2010, 9:04 PM · As I mentioned in my Great America trip report earlier this week, we ordered Papa John's pizza for lunch while we were visiting that Six Flags theme park.

But we didn't get a slice or two from the same type of Papa John's pizza you'd get if you ordered one at home. Instead, we got a "personal size" individual pie:

Papa John's Pizza at Six Flags Great America

Which brings me to this week's vote. Which would you rather have when you order pizza in a theme park? An individual-sized pie, like we got, or a slice from a larger pie, as you'd get in a Sbarro in an airport or mall?

Logistical issues often dictate why theme parks choose one option over the other. As with any fast food, a park wants to avoid having too many one any item (which leaves them with unsold, wasted food), while also not leaving customers waiting for an item that wasn't yet ready when they ordered. The popularity of individual pies in quick-serve locations such as theme parks and sports stadiums suggests to me that the industry sees those as the more efficient solution.

But is it the one you want? Vote here, and please leave a comment:

Once again, thanks for reading Theme Park Insider!

Replies (18)

rick stevens

July 22, 2010 at 9:42 PM · I voted for slices, bit I think it would depend on the pie. A really good pizza can only be eaten by the slice.

Mike Gallagher

July 23, 2010 at 1:48 AM · I voted for the individual pie, but considering the quality of most amusement park pizza.....that's like standing in Wal-Mart and choosing between CDs by Justin Bieber and Hannah Montana.

Although if that's a picture of the actual pie you got, Robert, and I assume it is, it looks decent.

Everyone raves about Cesari's pizza at Knoebels, but it did nothing for me.

I may be be wrong, but I believe there used to be a Pizza Hut in a park I visited (maybe Dorney?) years ago.

Anthony Murphy

July 23, 2010 at 5:16 AM · I went with the pie since I really haven't seen a slice being sold at a theme park. If anybody could point out if there is a theme park that does that, I would stand corrected.

On another thought, the pizza at SFGA is probably the best food/value there.

kjay

July 23, 2010 at 5:19 AM · I agree with Rick- a good pizza can only be eaten by the slice. I have never found the type of pizza I like as an individual pie. Mike's cd choice analagy is spot-on, though- considering all the pizza I've seen for sale at parks, it's really just the lesser of two evils.(Ok, I admit it, I'm a bit of a pizza snob...)

24.187.26.227

July 23, 2010 at 6:18 AM · I say slice, but like Mark, why get pizza at a theme park anyway.

Terry O'Neal

July 23, 2010 at 6:22 AM · Individual pie. More crust.

Andy Guinigundo

July 23, 2010 at 7:08 AM · Kings Island still serves pizza by the slice. They use the LaRosa's Recipe which is a Cincinnati original.

For whatever reason, to me those really small individual pizzas don't taste as good as pieces from a big pie (regardless whether they are triangles or squares). Maybe a mental thing...

Robert Niles

July 23, 2010 at 7:41 AM · I think it's a crust-to-cheese ratio thing. There's too much crust handle on an individual pie.

FWIW, I had a Giordano's stuffed spinach last night, so I've got pizza on the brain now.

steve lee

July 23, 2010 at 8:07 AM · I voted for slices (based solely on Kringle's Cafe at Holiday World), but I'd prefer it if we didn't have to make a choice. Why can't a park offer both options? Have one location that sells by the slice and a different location that serves the individual pies...

TROY DAVIDSON

July 23, 2010 at 8:10 AM · Universal IOA sells pizza by the slice, It's actually quite good, but I must admit I love Universal parks so maybe it's just me.

Phil B.

July 23, 2010 at 11:36 AM · I'm definitly a pizza snob. If it isn't from the NY Metro Area then forget it. Only way I go that route is if a transplanted local from NY will attest to the quality of the pizza, other than that, I'm not traveling several hundred miles to eat something I can get at my local Chuck E. Cheese. Oh and I chose a slice in the poll :)

Brandon Mendoza

July 23, 2010 at 10:15 AM · I voted for individual pies as I understand the speed and supply needs for a Theme Park are different than a regular hole in the wall restaurant. By the slice usually isn't that much better... like Pizza Port in Tomorrowland.

However, I agree that NY Style Pizza is the best! I've only found two places in San Diego that have NY quality Pizza in NY Style... Bronx Pizza and Pizzeria Luigi's. Anything else is just not good enough. But I'm not against Pizza & Beer places like Pizza Port in Carlsbad/ Solana Beach, etc. Chicago Style isn't bad either.

Emily G

July 23, 2010 at 10:53 AM · I voted slice mostly because they are likely to have more topping compared to crust than a little pie

24.92.85.18

July 23, 2010 at 12:01 PM · SFGAM used to have great pizza by the slice at Firehouse pizza, before they brought in the crappy pizza from Papa Johns. At a theme park it is very hard to find decent pizza, and at a park I perfer single slice pizza as the pies have way too much crust and very little cheese.

Will Chilcote

July 23, 2010 at 2:43 PM · agree with the comment about King's Island pizza. It was really good the time i was there. Kings Dominion also used to have good pizza and they sold it by the slice.

Marc Ricketts

July 24, 2010 at 6:43 AM · All theme park pizza I've had is simply awful. They could make it in the shape of Glenn Beck making out with Rosie O'Donnel as long as it tastes good.

Pyra-Danny V

July 24, 2010 at 9:34 AM · by the freakin' slice of course!!!

WHY???

Pizza by the slice from a theme park conjures up mammoth, cheesy, foot-long, dripping over a soaky crust-- NEW YORK big pizza. You don't get that much goodness in a personal pizza.

Steve Ward

July 26, 2010 at 4:55 AM · wow its actually gone 50/50

i went for Individual pizza.. dont know why really just thought its a nice idea
plus the picture made me hungry

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Vote of the week: Should theme park pizza be slices or individual pies?

Replies (18)

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