Another hefty price increase

[yulilin3]

Remember ice water is free in all counter service restaurants, you can also ask for a cup of water to go at table services

 

[Mitzicat]

So let's put this into some perspective because Disney prices are in line with all other places large crowds of people flock to.

This past Saturday I was at an event at the Wash DC Convention Center. I wanted a snack, waited in line and paid $6+ for an 10oz fountain soda and a small prepackaged Rice Crispie Treat. A basket of chicken tenders (2 or 3 pieces) was $10 and a basket of french fries (about the size of McDonalds Large) was $5.00. I didn't buy the chicken/fries - but had I would have been at $21+ tax for one person. That's nuts.

Couple months ago my boyfriend and I went to the Air and Space Museum in DC (on the mall). We were hungry. McDonald's runs their "cafe." I believe my bill was $25 for a double cheese burger meal and a Big Mac meal both small because you can't take your drinks into the museum so why waste the money on a larger beverage.

Don't even get me started on Sporting Events!

 

[Mitzicat]

a 20 oz bottle of Coke is now $3. Might be before tax too. I'll buy them on short visits but on long ones I'll buy them elsewhere.

Doesn't much help to buy them at the airport anymore, they are almost as much there now.

At my work a bottle of soda is $1.90. Hotels (non-Disney) they are usually $2.75 to $3. I think Disney is keeping in line with everyone else. It is expensive, but you either pay it, run to walmart, have it delivered to your room from an outside company, or you drink the free water.

 

[Tomh]

Locally, most convenience stores / deli's etc are getting at least $2.00 for a 20 oz bottle of soda. I expect that it is going to cost more at a destination like Disney, so $3 doesn't really surprise me. That doesn't mean that I make a habit of paying it. On occasion, I find myself really wanting a bottle of Sprite Zero in the park, but mostly I drink the free water, and life is good. There are other price increases to be concerned about, this one isn't really on the radar for me.

 

[Nancyg56]

Looking at my old Disney spreadsheets back in 2005 or 2006 (not sure the exact time I pulled the data), the Dining Plan was $35 for an adult and $10 for a child. Which included an appetizer, dessert and tip for Dinner. When I went in Jan of this year it was $61.82 for adult and $20.98 child and does not include the appetizer or tip. We were spoiled back then!!!

Ah but remember the complaining back then? I don't want the appetizer. I don't eat dessert! I want to control that hefty tip the server is gaining! It should be adjusted to remove what I do not want. Too much food!!! Disney listened......No appetizer, and no tip.

 

[anniemae]

I hope that rumor about no outside food/water does not start being enforced now that they hiked prices. Yikes! We get a case of water delivered to the hotel and bring our own in. I just CAN"T drink FL tap water.

 

[UncleMike101]

Remember ice water is free in all counter service restaurants, you can also ask for a cup of water to go at table services

Yup.....
We stopped drinking soft drinks at restaurants, and all other venues, years ago.
In fact since we've shaken the addiction to syrupy soft drinks neither of us drink them at home either.
We'll drink water whenever we're thirsty.
The price of a 2 liter bottle of Coke is $1.25 at the Krogers down the road and we only buy that over the Holidays for our Son.
The only way the prices will ever become fair again is if people stop paying the stupid markup prices for items that Disney gets at a HUGE discount from their partners like Coca Cola.
JMO

 

[Praying Colonel]

1.99 up to 2.69 for milk seems hefty to me!!

35%.

 

[Dreamin192]

So let's put this into some perspective because Disney prices are in line with all other places large crowds of people flock to.

This past Saturday I was at an event at the Wash DC Convention Center. I wanted a snack, waited in line and paid $6+ for an 10oz fountain soda and a small prepackaged Rice Crispie Treat. A basket of chicken tenders (2 or 3 pieces) was $10 and a basket of french fries (about the size of McDonalds Large) was $5.00. I didn't buy the chicken/fries - but had I would have been at $21+ tax for one person. That's nuts.

Couple months ago my boyfriend and I went to the Air and Space Museum in DC (on the mall). We were hungry. McDonald's runs their "cafe." I believe my bill was $25 for a double cheese burger meal and a Big Mac meal both small because you can't take your drinks into the museum so why waste the money on a larger beverage.

Don't even get me started on Sporting Events!

I agree 100%. We took DD to see some Monster Trucks in our town a few weeks ago. I got two hotdogs and a cheeseburger, two bottles of water and a gatorade...almost $50. The movie theater is just as bad. In reality the pricing is on point with pricing at other events/locations.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Old and broken: "The Disney Difference"

New hotness: "Everybody Else Does It, Too"

 

[lovethattink]

We noticed 20 oz bottles of soda in the machines at CSR were $3 25.

Hefty price to pay for a juice box or little carton of milk.

Ice water at CS is always free

 

[pa. dad]

A 24 pack of water costs 6 dollars. I'll never understand how they get away with the prices they charge for water bottles. Esp when they get it on wholesale

The price of these items- sodas, milk and water- are NOT going up in the supermarkets to any major degree. The price of sugar and plastic bottles are also pretty steady so there is no other way to look at this than PRICE GOUGING.
The fact that some airports and stadiums may charge as much or more does not excuse it. Airport and stadium vendors have to pay large chunks of their revenue back to the city and state as part of their contracts.

 

[Nayan]

My best friend and I are headed on a road trip to the Grand Canyon next week and he asked what to expect as far as costs go. After looking at the menus I told him to expect Disney prices in the park, so we agreed to grab food/water to take with us but we will splurge on one nice meal while there.

 

[ashleyrm]

Old and broken: "The Disney Difference"

New hotness: "Everybody Else Does It, Too"

Exactly. (insert heavy sigh here).

 

[HM]

Good thing we pretty much don't drink anything except ice water at WDW.
I went to a college spring football game on Saturday. Box of popcorn $6, 16 oz Sprite $4.
I can see paying that on a one time/day basis (had to get it for my elderly FIL who was looking peekid after the walk to the stadium), but not for vacation every day, possibly several times a day. I'm glad Disney hasn't gotten there...yet.

 

[mindeola]

Comparing it to a festival or sporting event is like comparing apples and oranges though. I hate the high prices there too. BUT... at least they are a singular event. We can also choose to eat on our way there or just budget it into the price of going to an event. Most people are at Disney for at least a week, many are there without vehicles. The only place you can really conveniently buy food is in the parks or hotel.

 

[lugnut33]

Consider most restaurants charge $2-3 for fountain drinks, those prices aren't horrible.

As stated above .. compared to a sporting event that is pretty good.

The costs of the "kids" drinks are pretty expensive though. I am not sure how large those are (hopefully larger than a juice box). What is shocking is you usually get juice or milk included with kids meals at most restaurants. Those kid's meals cost as much total as some of these drinks.

so we shouldn't be upset about price increases until they get to sporting event prices? Let me tell you, most of their QS and TS places now exceed the prices for food at most sporting events.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

there is usually a 25 cent markup for using the vending machines.

If I were going to be there for a week, and I want a diet coke a day (it's my caffeine, I don't drink coffee) I can order some and have it delivered, or I can run over to the service station near the Boardwalk and buy some at a cut rate. not convenient but can be done. If it's less than a week I will just buy them. Unless I happen to be staying in the Boardwalk area.

and technically, it isn't price gouging. Price gouging is overcharging for limited access to a necessity. It's overpricing but it's not a necessity and can be had cheaper in other ways.

 

[MariMama]

As stated above .. compared to a sporting event that is pretty good.

The two things aren't comparable.

 

[gorkt]

Yeah, this doesn't effect me too much since we usually get bottled water and soft drinks delivered to the resort or drink ice water.

Anywhere where you are a captive audience, food prices are bound to be high. I am surprised at the frequency that they are raising prices these days though.