Anyone else pleased at Disney food prices?

[MinnieLovesMickey]

I find WDW prices to be cheaper than Disneyland's.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

We don't eat counterservice very often. I prefer a restaurant for meals. I think Disneyworld is very expensice for 10 year olds who are considered adults by Disney and they have to pay adult prices at the sit down restaurants.

I also think their holiday pricing is expensive

 

[goofy4prez]

While I hardly consider WDW food prices a great value, they are much more reasonable than other destinations I've been to. The most expensive I've ever been to were:

Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in Nassau Bahamas: I don't mind spending a few bucks for fine dining but this place was outrageous. We shared a shrimp cocktail for an appetizer, both had a ceaser salad, I had a 16oz ribeye, my wife had a chicken breast, we both had mashed potatoes, 2 bottles of water (you don't want tap water down there), and for dessert we both had creme brulee. We had no alcohol and the final bill came to $203.00 and add the mandatory 15% gratuity and this place can add up quicker than a N.Y. City taxi cab meter.

Niagara Falls Canada: I was shocked at how expensive a quick three day family get-away could be. We ate at a rinky dink Mexican Restaurant one day that cost $75 for the three of us that we would pay $30 bucks back home. And I should say that we chose not to pay $8 for a single basket of chips and salsa that is complementary back home.

So with those experiences I guess I could restate my first paragraph and say I do find WDW to be a value compared to other tourist destinations.

**EDIT**

I should read a little closer, you did mention CS. I still think WDW, while not cheap is still better than many other amusement parks. Places like Sunshine Seasons and Tangierine Cafe are actually not a bad value for the money.

 

[jojomoore]

Quickservice meals for a family of 4 - two adults and two children costs between $30 and 40.00 per meal (usually closer to 40.) This is quite a bit more expensive than where I live. If you have a small family, you don't actually save alot of money by using the DP. We do eat at Disney Table Service restaurants. I factor the cost of meal into my trip budget. I really don't mind paying for the atmosphere and character experience of table service meals. To me its part of the experience.

 

[rance]

Guess you haven't met my wife and 2 year old daughter.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

We always compared Disney prices to those at major sporting events. Just look at a bottle of water at Disney World - $2.50. I challenge people to go to any sporting event and get a bottle of water for that price. Places I've been routinely charge at least $4. And don't get me started with beer prices at sporting events. I can get a Bud Light for $5.50 at Epcot. Think at least $8 when you want to watch a game somewhere. The topper of them all is a small pizza at a NASCAR race. $24! And people buy the things!

Disney World is not as cheap as a dollar menu meal at any of the fast food places but it's certainly less expensive that a lot of other places with a captive audience. Even look at an airport and see what they charge.

I just got back from a baseball trip to Milwaukee, Cleveland, Detroit and Cincinnati with a coupla minor league games in Toledo. Cincy was the worst with $5.50 large Coke and $5.25 brats. But $7.75 was standard for 16 ounce beers, and we split a Little Caesar's pizza in Detroit for $17.50. And the total for our less than great seats for 4 major league games was almost $150. Give me Mickey prices anytime.
At Universal last year it was over ten bucks for a Nathan's hot dog, fries and a Coke. I love ddp. But if you want cheap prices, try HolidayWorld. Prices are amazing.

 

[shawnh199]

We just got back a couple of days ago from a trip to Six Flags in San Antonio and we found ourselves wishing for Disney prices on just about everything (except souvenirs). Water was $3-4 a bottle, two crappy small pizzas with two small side salads cost almost $30 (no drinks in that cost), almost $5 for a cup of lemonade.

It made us appreciate our trips to Disney so much more and for lots of different reasons.

 

[BABY_EINSTEIN'S_MOM]

Wow, no wonder all us in KY are so fat. McDonald's for 2 adult meals and 2 kids Happy Meals is $20. Not sure where you find a QS meal for 4 for that cost at WDW. As for cost, we DxDDP and enjoy the dinner shows, CRT, and other signature restaurants. I can't finish all the food, but the show and quality of food is terrific.

LOL...yep, I agree! It usually costs our family of 5 about $25 to eat at McDonald's. At WDW we usually spend around double that for CS.

 

[angelmav]

I think the OP is a CEO for Disney and most of you have just green lighted a huge price increase!

Alot of folks want to compare Disney with a day at the ballpark or a day at a local amusement park and I dont think the comparison holds unless you also consider WDW a day trip place. For being captive for several days it is expensive, some places better some places worse but dont kid yourself into thinking its cheap!

For us, food has usually been the most expensive item of our trip, outpacing tickets, room and transportation. Thats not a complaint, just the reality we have experienced.

 

[rance]

I think the OP is a CEO for Disney and most of you have just green lighted a huge price increase!

.

That's funny. Definately not a ceo. I had some friends come back from disney a couple years ago and there trips had cost them over $5,000. So that is what I had in my mind.
When I crunched the numbers I was pleasantly surprised.

rented akl dvc points $800
Tickets around $600
Dining plan $ 580 (2 adults, 5 year old, 2 year old)

So I was pleasently surprised. Our grocery bill alone at home is usually over $200.So thought eating out for 6 days at a theme park is pretty good for under $600.

 

[diseverestfan]

You guys have to take a trip to Knoebels in Pa great food prices and free admission.

http://www.knoebels.com/

Knoebels is awesome! I live less than 30 minutes from Hersheypark, but would much rather drive an extra hour to go to Knoebels. I've been to many, many parks from California to New Jersey, and that place is an absolute gem. Perfect place for families. Love it, could just go on and on...

Let's not tell too many people about it, though. I like it just the way it is!

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Pricing out our upcoming trip and I was pleasently surprised at the cost of food for a theme park.
Some of the character meals are a bit pricey, but all things considered feeding 2 adults and a child at a qs is about the same price as going to mcdonalds.
I think that's pretty good for a theme park, especially since you can bring drinks and snacks into the park.

Was wondering whether other people feel it is good value or do some feel it's too expensive?

Disney's prices for CS meals have gone WAY up since my first visit in 2003 when we paid less then $20 for 3 hamburgers fries and a drink. Now in 2008 we paid for the same meal for 3 people at MK and it ran us abit closer to $26. Also, in 2004 we paid $17.99 per adult for Donald's Breakfastosaurus. Still loved it. The prices are maybe a dollar or 2 more. But WDW now charges higher prices for higher volume times of the year

Now you want expensive goto ANY Six Flags and eat there. $8 for a beer or $3.50+ for a 20 Oz bottle of coke.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

Disney's prices for CS meals have gone WAY up since my first visit in 2003 when we paid less then $20 for 3 hamburgers fries and a drink. Now in 2008 we paid for the same meal for 3 people at MK and it ran us abit closer to $26. Also, in 2004 we paid $17.99 per adult for Donald's Breakfastosaurus. Still loved it. The prices are maybe a dollar or 2 more. But WDW now charges higher prices for higher volume times of the year

Now you want expensive goto ANY Six Flags and eat there. $8 for a beer or $3.50+ for a 20 Oz bottle of coke.

Of course old friend, it's a much longer drive now to a Six Flags than it used to be too. High prices and long lines on slow days had a big hand in bankruptcy.

 

[beroh2253]

Knoebels is awesome! I live less than 30 minutes from Hersheypark, but would much rather drive an extra hour to go to Knoebels. I've been to many, many parks from California to New Jersey, and that place is an absolute gem. Perfect place for families. Love it, could just go on and on...

Let's not tell too many people about it, though. I like it just the way it is!

We don't care for Hershey but are about 40 minutes from Knoebles, me and DW just walk around and eat then ride the train and pick up a freshly roasted bag of peanuts for $2, they have one of the best pizzas, now I'm hungry think this may be a good weekend to go. So I'll tell no one else.

 

[AirGoofy]

Guess you haven't met my wife and 2 year old daughter.

So thought eating out for 6 days at a theme park is pretty good for under $600.

The last time we stayed off-site we tried to "cut corners" and eat at the nearby restaurants. The food was horrendous and really not much cheaper, if it all, than what Disney charges.

We consider the dining experience at Disney part of our vacation. I rarely eat that much food at home and the cost does seem outrageous, but we look it is a part of our vacation and just have fun. Where else can you go and have a Disney theme park one day, pool/water slide, a Luau one day, eat with princesses in a castle, and then a fine dining experience.

 

[flicx]

We don't care for Hershey but are about 40 minutes from Knoebles, me and DW just walk around and eat then ride the train and pick up a freshly roasted bag of peanuts for $2, they have one of the best pizzas, now I'm hungry think this may be a good weekend to go. So I'll tell no one else.

Knoebels is great, best theme park food I have ever had.Super prices too.If you want a good day at a park with great counter service food this is it.Disney should send someone up there to get there pizza recipe!I personally am not impressed with disney food prices, in the part of the country we live in a McDonalds meal is alot cheaper than what is being quoted here.We use the dollar menu and have a Mcdouble, small fries,and small drink for 3.18 a person.They could do better on counter service,when we go to vegas there are lots of McDonalds,subways etc.These places would be great for the family on a tighter budget.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

We always enjoyed dining at Disney and felt the prices were fair. However, we just went to Atlantis, now I think Disney is a steal for a theme park. Atlantis food was ridiculously expensive and nothing that good or inventive. My husband initially got hooked on Disney because of the food. Helping me plan our ADRs is still one of his favorite things to do. At atlantis a wrap at a CS (no drink or side) was $11. That is a cold 5'' long wrap. We ate at one fancy restaurant that left us with a bill of $250 for 3 adults and 1 16 month old. The food wasn't bad but I've had better at home for under $30 a person.

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

Disney food prices are high. I have to say though, we've never really ate a meal, TS or CS that we weren't satisfied with. Most times, we were more than satisfied! Although on the high side, the majority of the food we have eaten was very tasty and I look so forward to getting back there to get certain food items that I miss so much. I don't really mind paying a bit more if we leave somewhere that we thought the food was tasty and we were filled.

Now 6 Flags is another story! Last summer, we were starving and I don't remember what the rest of the family got but I had a foot long hot dog....it was expensive and it was gross. I usually like hotdogs and am not picky with them but this was barely edible. Most of it stayed in my basket and I ate the bun and fries.

 

[Mamu]

I've never found their prices to be overpriced. I find Disney CS a touch above your average CS restaurant. But Disney's restaurants are not chain's. Each of there restaurants are themed and unique. I actually like some of their CS restaurants and find the food to be very good.

 

[4orm]

I another Canadian that find the prices fair. We don't eat at fast food places much and when we do it's from South Street Burger or Great Burger Kitchen which servers hormone-free meats. We pay $15+ per person often.
One thing I have to hand to Disney is their quality. My husband and I have very sensitive stomaches. The first time in Disney together we were worried about how we'd handle eating so much fast food although we ate TS a lot. We never got sick once. We don't eat meat mind you, but the thing us picker eaters did eat were of a higher quality for a CS than we'd expect for a theme park and many regular fast food joints. I'll pay for quality any day.