What's hilarious there is Japan is otherwise filled with vending machines on every street and street corner selling all manners of drinks and occasionally fancier things.
Vending machines at venues are great for convenience, but reduce opportune for upselling. Which is why I find it annoying when movie theaters don’t have them. 90% of the time, I just want a bottle of water. But they are determined to make me wait in a line in the hopes that I’ll buy some candy and popcorn, too.
I recently visited Disney Sea and found it very strange that food carts (10+ popcorn flavors each in different carts) never sold drinks. They were 1 item only. Popcorn or ice cream or nuts but only that 1 item. Drinks were only available at the very few vending machines or at full restaurants. I think they are missing a big upsell opportunity.
I was at Magic Mountain recently and got very annoyed that there was nowhere and nothing that sold just beverages.
Every option was a tens of minutes wait behind people ordering food.
I did eventually find a cart selling, also inexplicably, only pre-packaged frozen slush type treats. Serviceable enough for my thirst. Yet, still, for no discernible reason, the very short line took tens of minutes.
I had a pretty lousy time despite it being one of my favorite places on earth. It was hours of waiting and being thirsty for a grand total of four rides only to see all the queues shut down an hour before close.
It's the unix philosophy applied to food service: do one thing, and one thing well. (Whether they have lived up to the second part of that is in the eye of the beholder).
Every other park is filled with them, so you never lack for something to drink.
I’m still not sure whether I’m impressed or annoyed.