Another hefty price increase

[MermaidMommy]

It's still $1 here, too (in Texas). McDonald's is still making significant profit even then - fountain drinks are super-cheap in terms of costs to the seller. A few years ago, I was surprised to find that even in Hawaii (home of expensive everything) the McDonald's drinks were still just $1 (though only at the non-tourist area McDonalds' - the ones by the tourist areas had much more expensive drinks).

Disney will charge what the market will bear. But, as someone who drinks a lot of soft drinks, I'll make it a point to order at least two fewer drinks on my next visit due to this increase. At least for my part, that'll guarantee that Disney loses profit due to the increase .

(Also, I am curious if Disney gives free refills during the same visit - it does make a big difference for those of us who do drink a lot of cokes...).

As PP noted, you can only get soft drink refills at the locations where you fill up your drinks yourself. Off the top of my head, I can think of Be Our Guest, Electric Umbrella, and Sunshine Seasons as the only locations where you can refill your drink.

 

[NeuroCindy]

Drinks are more expensive in the cafeteria of the hospital I work at. :/

 

[trainingupmy4princes]

I haven't been to WOF in years, but my daughter goes, and I give her cash for food there. Isn't there a Subway inside the park? Maybe I'm imagining it, but I swear there was a QuikTrip at one point. And I just checked the website and you can buy a certificate for an entrée, side and fountain drink for 13.99. I think that's a lot cheaper than Disney.

My teenage boys have the AP's to WOF and when asked they said there was no way there food cost that much. Now that is last summer as WOF hasn't opened yet.

 

[Nancyg56]

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.

I have read the entire thread and I see that you have apologized for your rude remark. It is kind of snippy to declare that people who are becoming shell shocked by the recent rash of across the board increases have their priorities wrong. It is even more rude to tell them to stay home. SOmetimes it is best to think before you react to people's honest conversations.

I really used to feel like Disney was of course more expensive than cooking at home, only a little more expensive than eating out at home, and noticeably less than most "captive audience" venues. These increases really put them right up there with the highest price theme parks and sports venues. It continues to squeeze out my options for maximizing value out of my trip, making it more appealing to stay offsite for the savings that I'll need to cover an identical amount of food from my last trip. . . Now I'll have a car. . . Maybe I'll eat offsite more often than not now. . .maybe I'll notice there's a whole lot more in central FL that I never looked at before. . . Hey maybe I'll buy tickets to some of THOSE places!

Am I the only family family like this where the sudden and dramatic increases on tickets, food, drinks, up sells (not just $.70 for one milk!) might cause us to look at totally different options compared to when we automatically gave 100% of our time and money to WDW on a trip? If it really shakes up people's decision making, you've got to sell a lot of $3 waters to make up for a couple thousand we may now spend somewhere else. . .

I am one of those who is beginning to see a bottom line here. I have not reached the end, but honestly, if after DEcembe when we return I do nto feel that my money was well spent, and that includes water, etc that the kids may want, I will need to rethink how I travel to Disney.

Wow. Reread what I said. It is a direct comparison to the cost of admission into the parks for a single day versus the cost of quick service items. What I was trying to say is that if you are ok with paying the going rate to get into the park for the day but not for the cost of a bottle of water or a soda or a milk, then your reasoning system is out

How did I insult you? I made a simple statement that if you (basically anybody) is ok with the cost to get into any of the parks for the day at the current cost of admission but they are not with the cost of a bottle of water, that their priorities are indeed out of order.
Wasn't meant to be mean to you or insult you, just an observation. I do apologize if I came across as mean. was not my intention.

Everyone has a line in the sand, and while many of us look at the total cost of the package and decide if we can live with the cost, it is the constant increases in the "little" things that hits the hardest.

Really. If you are ok with spending 100+ per day, then you *should* be ok with spending 3 bucks for a bottle of water.
Yes, both are high, but if you are ok with the cost to get into the park but all of a sudden think it is highway robbery to spend that much on a bottle of water, this would be an example of skewed priorities. Maybe I am using the wrong word, but I hope you got the idea.
Most people don't like the cost for either, but they just try not to think about it and just enjoy the experience.

I am not okay with the cost. I am not a cheap traveler, and we spend plenty when we vacation, btu I do think I am entitled to agree with those who are a little disgusted with the rapid rash of price increases. Across the board. At every restaurant and snack shop.

 

[marciemi]

As PP noted, you can only get soft drink refills at the locations where you fill up your drinks yourself. Off the top of my head, I can think of Be Our Guest, Electric Umbrella, and Sunshine Seasons as the only locations where you can refill your drink.

I know Backlot Studio at HS and thought Restaurantasaurus at AK.

 

[1lilspark]

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

Give it time I'm sure tptb will start to charge for that

 

[UncleMike101]

I have read the entire thread and I see that you have apologized for your rude remark. It is kind of snippy to declare that people who are becoming shell shocked by the recent rash of across the board increases have their priorities wrong. It is even more rude to tell them to stay home. SOmetimes it is best to think before you react to people's honest conversations.



I am one of those who is beginning to see a bottom line here. I have not reached the end, but honestly, if after DEcembe when we return I do nto feel that my money was well spent, and that includes water, etc that the kids may want, I will need to rethink how I travel to Disney.




Everyone has a line in the sand, and while many of us look at the total cost of the package and decide if we can live with the cost, it is the constant increases in the "little" things that hits the hardest.



I am not okay with the cost. I am not a cheap traveler, and we spend plenty when we vacation, btu I do think I am entitled to agree with those who are a little disgusted with the rapid rash of price increases. Across the board. At every restaurant and snack shop.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^All of this^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Except for the part about December.
We'll be making our decision after our May visit.

 

[Ellwood970]

I've already crossed the line I won't go anymore I'll keep my good memories. For all I care they can charge 5 dollars for the bottles of water and soda and 50 dollars for every CS meal. By the way Florida water from the drinking fountains is good.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Give it time I'm sure tptb will start to charge for that

Possibly, but maybe only for the empty cup, water will still be free.

 

[Slapshot1188]

The 25% profit in 2015 was too low, despite the fact that it's the highest of Iger's tenure and up 20% vs prior year..

Well. Next Orlando trip is in May for memorial Day and we are staying at Universal. We will just make Fastpass reservations 2 nights to stop in, hit 3 rides, watch the fireworks and head back.

 

[powellrj]

We are going for food and wine in september. I have already bought tickets before the last price increase and have already bought my gift cards for food and wine. I was just talking to DH and for the first time ever I think we will be bringing drinks in. I enjoy tea and dh loves his mountain dew so I guess we will start taking a small cooler in. We already gave up on-site years ago and stay in condos and pool homes because on-site became too expensive and we didn't use the extras so it was wasted on us.

We also live in $1 any size sodas at McDonalds and $1 any size tea at Steak and Shake and the c-stores offer anysize sodas for under a $1 so I guess we are spoiled. Everyplace also offers free refills and a case of bottled water is $2.69. I took the grandkids to the movies a few weeks ago to see Zootopia and we got the kids snack pack which was a nice serving of popcorn, a small soft drink and a mini m&m package for $3. I better not move since the prices are so low around here.

We have been going to Dollywood which offers refill deals on soda and popcorn and their food prices are less than WDW. We won't even get into Holiday World which offer free soda and sun screen and their food prices are crazy low. Like I said, we have been spoiled.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have read the entire thread and I see that you have apologized for your rude remark. It is kind of snippy to declare that people who are becoming shell shocked by the recent rash of across the board increases have their priorities wrong. It is even more rude to tell them to stay home. SOmetimes it is best to think before you react to people's honest conversations.



I am one of those who is beginning to see a bottom line here. I have not reached the end, but honestly, if after DEcembe when we return I do nto feel that my money was well spent, and that includes water, etc that the kids may want, I will need to rethink how I travel to Disney.




Everyone has a line in the sand, and while many of us look at the total cost of the package and decide if we can live with the cost, it is the constant increases in the "little" things that hits the hardest.



I am not okay with the cost. I am not a cheap traveler, and we spend plenty when we vacation, btu I do think I am entitled to agree with those who are a little disgusted with the rapid rash of price increases. Across the board. At every restaurant and snack shop.

I think you have summed up quite nicely how many of us are feeling.

 

[1lilspark]

A little tidbit the Speedway stations in property charge speedway prices and not Disney prices I ment to share that in my last post

 

[mom2rtk]

Well. Next Orlando trip is in May for memorial Day and we are staying at Universal. We will just make Fastpass reservations 2 nights to stop in, hit 3 rides, watch the fireworks and head back.

That's exactly what I suggested as an optimal touring plan with FP+ back when it was rolling out. It's no secret I'm not a fan of FP+, but I think this is a great use of it. I hope you have a great trip!

 

[Planogirl]

That's exactly what I suggested as an optimal touring plan with FP+ back when it was rolling out. It's no secret I'm not a fan of FP+, but I think this is a great use of it. I hope you have a great trip!

We've done what the other DISer suggested a few times too. It's not necessary to spend much time at most of the Disney parks nowadays. MK is still a problem but otherwise you can be in and out of a park in half a day easily. (Even though I like AK enough to spend more time there.)

 

[tinawv]

Since folks didn't like my comparison to museums/sporting events/one day type locations and the prices they charge I did some digging. As you can see Disney is pretty "nice" to allow folks to bring outside food in. You can pack your lunch and enjoy it while sitting outside the Pirates or Haunted Mansion. But try and do that in Seuss Landing and you will be in big trouble. Probably won't even get through the front gate with that PBJ - unless it fits in that tiny cooler.

Universal Studios:

Acceptable items:

• Bottled water
• Small snacks that do not require heating
• Any food required for medical purposes and medically–indicated nutritional supplements
• Any food required for special dietary needs
• Baby food/baby formula
• Soft-sided insulated bags no larger than 8.5" wide x 6" high x 6" deep

Prohibited items:

• Picnic lunches
• Food that requires heating or refrigeration
• Alcohol and glass containers
• Hard-sided coolers
• Soft-sided coolers larger than 8.5" wide x 6" high x 6" deep
• Coolers, suitcases, and bags with wheels

Kings Dominion: Virginia (Owned by Cedar Fair - so this rule applies to all locations 14 total)

Am I permitted to bring my own food and beverages into the park?
For everyone's safety, guests are not permitted to bring coolers, outside food, or other drinks into Kings Dominion. Three shaded picnic areas are available in the guest parking lot. Grills and open fires are not allowed. Individuals who have special diets or need items due to a medical condition are asked to visit Guest Services located at the Front Gate for accommodation.

Hershey Park: Pennsylvania

Other than one sealed water bottle per person, Hersheypark does not permit food or drink to be brought into the Park. Guests with special dietary needs can review our food and beverage information. The Outpost restaurant features allergen friendly food

Is it crazy to pay $3.00 for a bottle of soda - YES / NO / MAYBE
Do you have to pay it? YES / NO / MAYBE
Do you want to pack your lunch or leave to go somewhere else and eat? YES / NO / MAYBE

See what I did there - choices! That's what this is all about. We should be happy that we have choices. Just look above! Does it bother me that someone wants to leave and purchase their lunch off-site - heck no. Means that there's one less family looking for a dining location in the park. Does it bother me that a family is sitting eating their lunch that they packed - heck no. Do I want to leave the park and find lunch or put a PBJ sandwich together in my room and throw it in my bag? Nope - it's not for me. But that's ok. Because not everything is going to appeal to everyone. It's the old saying:
You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time

And don't be surprised if this changes in the not to near future. I see it as a real possibility with all the other changes we are seeing.

 

[disneydeal]

I haven't been to WOF in years, but my daughter goes, and I give her cash for food there. Isn't there a Subway inside the park? Maybe I'm imagining it, but I swear there was a QuikTrip at one point. And I just checked the website and you can buy a certificate for an entrée, side and fountain drink for 13.99. I think that's a lot cheaper than Disney.

There is a subway at both WOF and OOF. The QT your thinking of was at the Sprint Center when it first opened.

 

[disneydeal]

There is a subway at both WOF and OOF. The QT your thinking of was at the Sprint Center when it first opened.

We live 1 mile from WOF. Last season we added season long dining plan to our season pass. We made money on that deal. Think it was like a 90.00 add on and you could get a meal every 4 hours for the whole season. We prob got 150 worth thru season.

 

[disneydeal]

My teenage boys have the AP's to WOF and when asked they said there was no way there food cost that much. Now that is last summer as WOF hasn't opened yet.

WOF is open.. we went Saturday and Sunday.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

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.

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.

It is called the going rate combined with inflation and a higher cost of operation.

Inflation? Really? Higher cost of operation? Not sure I'm buying that. This is Disney greed, plain and simple. They have no shame lately. Wonder what this latest leadership goes home and tells their wives and kids at the end of the day. Sheesh.

On the flip side, I guess we should be applauding the fact that these new soda prices make the refillable mug and DAH prices look better!