The Passports are subjective to being worth it from person to person, and menu item to menu item.
The last couple of years my family has saved hundreds of dollars using the Tasting Passports. They have also offered us the opportunity to try more options of the Seasonal Foods because of the prices of each choice being about 1/2 the price as the regular price of each item, leaving us more money to spend on food, and the servings being smaller, leaving us more room in our tummies to sample more.
Keep in mind when I am saying that a Tasting Passport choice is approximately 6 dollars. You are not paying 6 dollars at the restaurants or stands. The 6 dollars I am referring to is based on my calculations, based on the price of the Passports, and dividing that price by 5 (you get to choose 5 selections with each Passport). Making each item on the Passport cost you about 6 dollars per a choice.
Some items are full size, some are only 1/3 of the regular size serving, most are 2/3s of regular size.
The Waffle Cones are always full size, of course the ice cream ones are full size. But, so are all the others. Like all the Mac and Cheese Cones. My son loved the Mac and Cheese with Sausage Cone at Harvest Fest 2022. The Cashew Chicken Cones (my husband's absolute favorite), the Bang Bang Shrimp Cone and the Cheesecake Cones. The savory Cones are normally about 13 dollars. So it's a fantastic deal with the Tasting Pass. The dessert cones are usually about 7 or 8 dollars. So still not a bad deal. The Pumpkin Cheesecake Cone was delicious!
Tater Twists are always full size. Regular price is between 9 and 12 dollars depending on the choice. So it is a very good value as well.
The Kettle Corn is usually a full size family bag. And the Bread at Eva and Delilah's Bakery is also usually a whole loaf of Bread. As well as most the Baked Goods and Bread Puddings.
Street Fest 2022, the Grilled Sandwiches were full size. I'm sure the regular price of the Reuben sandwich was probably 12 to 14 dollars. So only 6. And getting the full sandwich you are saving half the price. 2022 Fall Fest also gave full size Pumpkin Butter and Marshmallow Fluff Grilled Sandwich.
In 2021 at the Rivertown Smokehouse, we received 3 ribs and a side. So 6 dollars for that was extremely worth it. For my husband and I, 3 ribs (large and meaty) and a side was a entire meal. We couldn't get a McDonald's meal for 6 dollars, not to mention we were really full with this choice. Often we are still hungry after a McDonald's meal. Note in 2022 it came with a 1/4 a rack of ribs, no side was given. So more ribs and no side. It was still worth it to us. But, I admit that 2021 was a better deal with the side. But, for someone doing low carb this is perfect. And we did still get it more than once in 2022, because the ribs are delicious!
Also at Harvest Fest you got a 7 1/2 inch pizza for one of the choices. Regular size was 8 inches and regular price 12.00. So again 6 dollars half the price of the regular one. And honestly the sizes we're so close I couldn't tell the difference till I seen them side by side. And they were only about 1/2 to 1 inch across at most different.
Now then there is other options that are smaller, so their value will be subjective.
The Hotdogs. At Fall Fest 2021 you got a corn dog plus French fries for the one punch (6 dollars per a punch if you add tax to the 32.50 and divide by 5). A good deal when regular price was 10.00. But, at Street Fest and Fall Fest 2022, regular menu was 2 hotdogs and Tater Tots for like 12 dollars, Tasting Passport you only got one hot dog and no Tots. So if you didn't want Tots and just wanted to try one hot dog then it may be a good value for you. But, for someone who wants more than 1 hotdog and wants Tots that wouldn't be a good deal. My kids only eat the corn dog and won't eat the Tots, so it still ended up being worth it for them. They got the Corndogs a few times.
Most the Skillets, Soups (sometimes the soup is pretty close to full size though), Mac and Cheese (in a bowl not in a cone), Loaded Fries & Kettle Chip type selections, you get about 2/3s of the size of a full size regular portion of most these. A full size portion of most of these are about 14 dollars. By my calculations you save about 3 dollars for the serving size you get. (2/3s of 14.00 would be 9.00 and you are paying approximately 6 dollars per a choice on the Passport).
However, here is where subjection to the individual comes in. I personally like having a smaller portion of the Skillets. Their full size is too large for me. The Skillet meal full size makes me feel guilty and no room left to try anything else. The Tasting Pass size, I feel fine with and I have room left to try something else, a little bit later. I usually am still full enough after the Tasting Passport size to have to wait a bit before eating something else. But, not so stuffed I can't eat anything else the rest of the day like I am from the full size portion.
The Potato Tumblers, I think they are like 10 or 12 dollars for 3. The Tasting Pass you get 2. I think that's a good deal. (2/3s again) Plus, again subjective. I wouldn't want 3 because that's a lot of potatoes and I think of them more as a side then a main course. 2 is great. Can try them with out having to finish so many. And we can afford both price wise and tummy room wise to have them as a side and not a meal. Price matches up great.
The Funnel Cakes are one of the smallest portions on the Tasting Passport. You usually get about 1/3 size of what the full regular size usually is.
Here again is where subjection to personal preference comes to play. The Funnel Cake, I often am left finishing by myself because my family doesn't like them much and will only eat a bite or two. Then I feel extremely guilty eating the majority of a huge Funnel Cake or having to throw it away. The smaller Funnel Cake is perfect. My family can have a few bites I can finish it without guilt or throwing it away. If your family likes Funnel Cakes and you have more than one person to help you eat it. Than a full size one without the Tasting Passport may be a better option for your family.
Street Fest 2022, had Kabobs, regular was 3 for like 10 dollars. Tasting Pass was 1 for like 6 dollars. So in my opinion probably not worth it, to me. As I could easily eat three Kabobs. And I think for the price you should get at least 2. However, for someone alone and just wanting to try one. It might be worth it.
I personally do not feel most the Bakery items like a Cinnamon Roll or Danish are a good value on the Passport, as my Season Pass Discount makes it less expensive than a choice on the Passport. However, someone who only has one day to use a Tasting Pass all by themselves and didn't want some of the other options listed and loves Silver Dollar City's Danishes/Cinnamon Rolls etc and wants to use up their last punch, it may be the perfect choice for.
We have inexpensive refill mugs, so I would not use a punch on the drinks.
I have the popcorn bucket, making it 2 dollars for me to get the full size bag of Kettle corn so I don't use a punch for that. Without a refill bucket though, worth a punch. It's a great snack for several people to share all day.
It's value will depend on choices you make, to use it for and your individual likes and portion wants and needs.
I will say, my family shared the Passes. And 5 punches for sure can feed at least two people all day. Unless you are extremely large eaters or only choose the extremely small portioned selections.
Do your research on what the portion size is vs the prices that they are regularly. And they can be a amazing value monetarily to you for many items. And some selections may still be a good value for you personally if you are really wanting a smaller sample of something before purchasing full size or just because your appetite isn't large enough for the full size portion.
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