Another hefty price increase

[OhMari]

Have the dining plans prices been raised 3 times in past weeks also, or just OOP choices?

Someone made a joke, that Disney forgot to look at the calendar and thought the last two weeks were the weeks before and after Easter. Food prices were suppose to go up for these 2 weeks because of Easter. (I know, Easter was in March). It will be interesting to see if prices drop back down next week. I know TS meals are always more expensive during Easter.

 

[Hikergirl]

It's funny you said that. I have been reluctant to jump in on the DLR vs WDW costs because I thought I was the only one who seemed to bleed money in DLR. We fly to WDW and the cost was comparable. The hotel wa across the street and was indeed less money than any WDW resort, but the savings ended there. We had to rent a car, and the food and beverage! Yikes! I never leave WDW counting what is left in my wallet, but the day before my sister and I came home, there we were, both checking our funds.

Granted we were visiting her DD< who was in the college program, so our wine bill was probably higher thatn normal, (my sister would have been curled up in a ball after teh fist day! LOL) as was dessert ( always is an answer when stress takes over, LOL) but given we were not trapped on property I was surprised at what we ended up spending.

Oh boy now I'm really sorry LOL, I didn't go to DLR, I was up in the Big Sur/Monterey/SF areas. I just wanted to make a point that when a family goes on vacation anywhere food costs can be outrageous.

 

[Nancyg56]

Oh boy now I'm really sorry LOL, I didn't go to DLR, I was up in the Big Sur/Monterey/SF areas. I just wanted to make a point that when a family goes on vacation anywhere food costs can be outrageous.

Lol! Especially if you are with your niece or daughter who is "spontaneous " lol!!!

My sister needed a week just to recover! We had s blast but I was glad I was past that age group! Lol!

 

[MariMama]

Oh you are certainly not the only family thinking along these lines. Even if we only visit WDW on our next trip, we'll be staying offsite, not buying breakfast or lunch in WDW, not doing character meals....honestly we might just eat offsite the entire trip!

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

We visited Disneyland last summer instead of our usual trip to Disneyworld. We were shocked by the price difference in the parks. A bottle of water or soda was $4.00. It was hard to find fountain drinks outside of long line dining locations and they were $3.79 a pop. Free water was non-existent. We spent way more on food there than we ever did at WDW. A mickey pretzel or ice cream was $4.50. Prices everywhere have gone up. I have two children at home and if we eat a single fast food meal it will cost me around $30 for the three of us and we get less food than at WDW. We went to six flags last summer and spent $150 to get in and $70 on one meal that tasted like rubber. Our last trip we tried Universal and spent almost $700 for two days of park to park tickets (we only went one day because my teens didn't like it) and lunch was almost $60 for burgers and nuggets and was horrible. Food in any tourist place is going to be expensive, but I think Disney is still the most reasonably priced with the best variety for a quick meal. Just my opinion.

We were at DL last summer for the 60th and got free ice water everywhere we asked. And due to the heat we asked a lot. Some CS like Hungry Bear you had to get in a separate line as they were trying to push the dinner people through but still got some. Sorry to hear you got a CM who wasn't informed.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

My DH is convinced that Disney is trying to force guests to go with the Dining Plan. To him that explains the jacked up prices for food & drink and the TIW card.

DDP is not cheaper than these options. Most guests still have to do some major planning to make the DDP so much as break even.

 

[kittyab]

DDP is not cheaper than these options. Most guests still have to do some major planning to make the DDP so much as break even.

You dont have to go with the deluxe dining. I think they are pushing the Magic your way package.

 

[dp911]

still cheaper than at concerts! could not believe what they wanted for a bottle of soda and water, it was over $5 each.

 

[Tomh]

Just wondering. What kind of sandwiches can you bring into Disney in the heat without a cooler? I cannot eat warm cold cut sandwiches. How do they stay with the impressive Florida heat?

Well, I didn't say anything about "without a cooler" I have a (alien green, I swear to it, DIS color all the way) soft sided cooler that *should* fit in the large locker, as well as two sets of ice packs for it, so I can have one set freezing at the house, and the other set in the bag. I intend to bring almond butter and polaner all fruit sandwiches and bottled water, and then just put the cooler in the locker until lunch time.

 

[RedAngie]

You are correct. It won't break my bank. But... based on a Google search:

20 oz cup of soda with ice requires 8.75 oz of product or $0.12
20 oz foam cup cost $0.07
Lid for cup costs $0.01
Straw costs $0.015
Total Cost = $0.215 or rounded up $0.22 per soda

This is not Disney specific, but it gives a sense on typical fast-food soda markups, so I'd say Disney (whose cost is even lower I suspect due to volumes) was doing just fine on their soda profits before this new markup.

!

There are additional costs than those above associated with the retail price of fountain drinks. There are the initial purchase of the equipment, maintenance, depreciation, cost of CO2, electricity, water filters, etc. There is also labor involved in non self-service locations. The truer cost is about 40 cents for a 20 ounce fountain drink. For those giant 44 ounce super size drinks, the ratio is lower than 2:1, higher for small 12 ounce size.

Still, fountain drinks are a high profit item at practically every place that sells them: convenience stores, fast food places, stadiums, theme parks, etc. That's why C-stores can occasionally offer all sizes for 99 cents and still make a tidy profit.

 

[3DisneyFanz]

There are additional costs than those above associated with the retail price of fountain drinks. There are the initial purchase of the equipment, maintenance, depreciation, cost of CO2, electricity, water filters, etc. There is also labor involved in non self-service locations. The truer cost is about 40 cents for a 20 ounce fountain drink. For those giant 44 ounce super size drinks, the ratio is lower than 2:1, higher for small 12 ounce size.

Still, fountain drinks are a high profit item at practically every place that sells them: convenience stores, fast food places, stadiums, theme parks, etc. That's why C-stores can occasionally offer all sizes for 99 cents and still make a tidy profit.

My family used to own a restaurant and both our local Coke and Pepsi distributors offered the machines and basic installation for free as long as you agreed to purchase product from them. They were about 3% higher than other options but with the free items it made sense for us to go with them. Our cost per drink was about 25 cents which still didn't stop my sister-in-law from yelling at everyone who filled up our own cups.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

DDP means "Disney dining plan," not necessarily "deluxe dining plan." Having to maximize it goes for any of the dining plans. Actually the most difficult plan to save any money on, is the quick service plan. If you buy a dining plan and then end up trading most of your meals for snacks, you're not going to recognize any savings.

Coolers are fine at WDW if you can carry them instead of roll them, and they are soft-sided.

 

[kittyab]

Well, I didn't say anything about "without a cooler" I have a (alien green, I swear to it, DIS color all the way) soft sided cooler that *should* fit in the large locker, as well as two sets of ice packs for it, so I can have one set freezing at the house, and the other set in the bag. I intend to bring almond butter and polaner all fruit sandwiches and bottled water, and then just put the cooler in the locker until lunch time.

This is really the way to go, why waste time fighting for a quick serve for lunch. I just hope that Disney doesn't ban the soft sided coolers.

 

[Tomh]

In the past, we have always gone with the dining plan, usually on the free dining promotion. Money is a bit tighter for us this year, and prices have increased, so we had to make some changes in order to make the trip happen. Essentially, either we were visiting for half as long, or finding a way to save some of the cost. As a result, we are staying offsite, with a rental car, and making some changes to our dining. Food, and lodging are the two easiest ways to save money on a Disney World trip.

 

[maxiesmom]

This is really the way to go, why waste time fighting for a quick serve for lunch. I just hope that Disney doesn't ban the soft sided coolers.

Unless it was truly the only way I could make a Disney vacation work, I would never bring in my own food. For me, eating in the parks adds to the experience.

 

[pa. dad]

We visited Disneyland last summer instead of our usual trip to Disneyworld. We were shocked by the price difference in the parks. A bottle of water or soda was $4.00. It was hard to find fountain drinks outside of long line dining locations and they were $3.79 a pop. Free water was non-existent. We spent way more on food there than we ever did at WDW. A mickey pretzel or ice cream was $4.50. Prices everywhere have gone up. I have two children at home and if we eat a single fast food meal it will cost me around $30 for the three of us and we get less food than at WDW. We went to six flags last summer and spent $150 to get in and $70 on one meal that tasted like rubber. Our last trip we tried Universal and spent almost $700 for two days of park to park tickets (we only went one day because my teens didn't like it) and lunch was almost $60 for burgers and nuggets and was horrible. Food in any tourist place is going to be expensive, but I think Disney is still the most reasonably priced with the best variety for a quick meal. Just my opinion.

Couple of things
1. Disneyland ticket prices are less.
2. For whatever reason, the sports stadiums out there are as high or higher than anywhere else for their concessions. Dodger stadium especially. I think about 2/3 of DL visitors are from CA so that may play into it.

 

[kittyab]

Unless it was truly the only way I could make a Disney vacation work, I would never bring in my own food. For me, eating in the parks adds to the experience.

We have BTDT with the dining, I rather spend my time for parades, fireworks, etc. Not to mention, I rather spend my vacation dollars elsewhere.

 

[monorailrabbit]

Bottom line is that it doesn't matter if a price increase is justified or not. If the bulk of your customers see it as excessive and greedy, you have a problem

This! And, just for the record... here in Nebraska McD's drinks are $1 too

 

[maxiesmom]

We all need to keep in mind that we on the the Dis are a tiny fraction of the number of people that go to WDW. We could all agree that prices are too high, and we are still only a tiny fraction stating that.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

Unless it was truly the only way I could make a Disney vacation work, I would never bring in my own food. For me, eating in the parks adds to the experience.

I know I shouldn't admit to this, but... If I had to plan laying in supplies for lunches and make them each day for my family of picky and mostly disagreeable eaters, I'd just as well stay home. No vacation for me!

But people do whatever they can manage to still be able to visit WDW, so no judgment.

And, by the way, I love my super-size McD's coffee here in NYC - - $1!