Another hefty price increase

[Hikergirl]

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.

No, you can order drinks and food from grocery stores and have them delivered to your room. We've done it every year, and Disney has a very liberal policy about food in the parks, you can bring it in.

These prices are not horrible, I pay $2.39 for a regular soft drink at McD's here, less than a $1 differnce at WDW isn't so bad.

 

[Nancyg56]

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.

I agree, it is as if there is some sort of schedule that must be met.

 

[Kimberly9701]

We have season passes to a Cedar Fair park here called Kings Island. Opening day was this past weekend. Prices are again higher than they were last year for food and drinks. They do offer refil cups and a dining plan.. Which I don't do. Mainly bc I don't want to carry around the cups lol..

Regardless, theme park pricing is always ridic for these things.

 

[HopperFan]

If you have an AP, go inside shops with drink coolers and you can apply your 10% off the bottled drinks.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You can apply your 20% off too, if you have TIW and you are purchasing a bottled drink from a food court that has them and accepts TIW (value resorts, SSR or POFQ) so long as it's not a holiday blackout date.

 

[MariMama]

No, you can order drinks and food from grocery stores and have them delivered to your room. We've done it every year, and Disney has a very liberal policy about food in the parks, you can bring it in.

These prices are not horrible, I pay $2.39 for a regular soft drink at McD's here, less than a $1 differnce at WDW isn't so bad.

I pay $1 for a large soft drink at McD's.

 

[Hikergirl]

I pay $1 for a large soft drink at McD's.

When I used to order sweet tea I think that was $1 and it was JUMBO size LOL. Now I don't drink it so I get a bottle of water, which is smaller than a regular one you get in the store, its $1.79.

 

[hakepb]

What were WDW soda prices 10-15 years ago?

I'm my recollection, WDW seemed to be a leader in pushing the near $3 soda when most others were much lower.
For the past few years, it has almost seemed like every one else caught up while WDW stagnated.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Didn't Josh say they had raised food prices three times in the last 3 months? I'm sure they just didn't want the drink prices to feel left out.

Actually, Josh said that they've done three quick service price increases in the past six WEEKS. March 1, April 3, and again this past weekend.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Universal had $3 Coke long before Disney did. That's for bottles, I prefer those to fountain.

 

[ArwenMarie]

The increases are not hefty. If you want to see price gouging, buy any of the listed items at an airport or a sporting event.

Yes but you don't stay at an airport or sporting event for a week.

 

[Crystal824]

This is why we order drinks from a delivery service and take a small cooler into the parks. We never order drinks with QS meals.

 

[Hikergirl]

Actually, Josh said that they've done three quick service price increases in the past six WEEKS. March 1, April 3, and again this past weekend.

Wow that is alot of increases in a short amount of time.

 

[mom2rtk]

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.

To me that's what makes this different.

 

[mom2rtk]

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

You would think there would be a huge markDOWN for not needing a CM to ring it up and dispense it to you.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree, it is as if there is some sort of schedule that must be met.

That's what is so striking about all of this.

 

[Dan Murphy]

OP here. What shocked me more than the actual item prices was the rate of increase.... 10%-35%. Items in that price range increase 5¢, maybe 10¢, not 70¢. I do feel Disney is trying to make up for Shanghai a bit too quickly.

 

[disneykelly]

Let me do some math.

Last June I bought 11 bottles of water over a 5 day period at 2.75 per bottle. That was 30.25 in total.
On my next trip here in a few days, let's say I buy the same exact amount of bottles at 3 dollars per. That is 33 dollars.
The differential is 2.75.
That figure is not going to break the bank.
Yes, we get it, no one wants to pay more than what something is worth. But if you go to a destination where the resources are controlled by the destination, then the options are to either buy it or not.
It could be a lot worse. Disney could enact a rule stating no outside food or drink. If they did that THEN people could rightfully call greed.
But they don't. If you bring in containers within their rules, you could easily do the parks without buying a single food or drink item.

 

[HopperFan]

I pay $1 for a large soft drink at McD's.

HAHA, reminds me of story. DD did DCP for a year. Right after arrival she was desperate for a soda after work and drove through McD. Ordered and they told her some crazy price around $3. She told them "NO, I want the $1 any size drink" to which they replied they didn't know what she is talking about. Even off property she wasn't far enough out of the Disney bubble to get real world prices.

 

[disneykelly]

Yes but you don't stay at an airport or sporting event for a week.

Then don't go. If you are ok with spending the what most rational people consider hefty price just to get into the park, but not for a 3 dollar bottle of water, then your priorities need to be examined.