Are Disney prices too high?

[DisneyPrince1982]

Examples:

Bottled water $3.26
Turkey leg $9.25
Dessert Party $50.00
Hotdogs $8.50
BOMA dinner $45.00 plus
1 day ticket $100 plus
Dining Plan $70.00 plus
Lunch and dinner menus the same price
Refillable mugs $18.00 only 4 refills in 90 minutes lol
Alcoholic beverages $10 $15 plus
Resort pricing exorbitant
souvenirs exorbitant

I think Disney needs to reevaluate their pricing strategy.

It also seems like the quality has gone down too. Anyway these are just a few things. What are your thoughts?

Brunette

Yes they are. Eventually, people simply won't be able to afford these trips anymore unless they're taking on unsustainable credit card debt.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Disney is worth the price. Frankly they are right at most other entertainment venues. Have you been to a pro game latterly??.........take Baseball........3 hours (not near a whole day),,,,,,family of 4 about $400.00.......concert anywhere from about $65 in the pigeon seats to thousands!.....again a 3 or 4 hours event.

AKK

 

[DisneyPrince1982]

Yes but I'm okay with it. Keeps the riff raff out.

Would be nice if that were true but it's not. Even the "riff raff" can come with proper budgeting. They can stay offsite at a place like the "WOW Resort" in Orlando, make PB&J's in the morning and take them to the park, not buy anything and just drink tap water. Really their only big expense would be the park tickets.

 

[amylevan]

Do you know how long the arguments of "Disney is too expensive" and "eventually we'll be priced out" have been around? I've heard them at least since the 90s and chances are people were complaining about prices long before then.

And yet, here it is 2015 and there isn't even really a low season anymore. It's more crowded then ever. So, I'm thinking that no, it's not overpriced. Things are priced at what the market will bear and the market is bearing them quite well, with room for raising them.

And I'll agree that a lot of the prices are no different then when I'm in Philly or NYC.

 

[rotlex]

Honestly, no, I do not think prices are too high. We just came back from a 14 night stay at a mod. 10 day park tickets, free dining etc. Total cost, including travel from PA via car, water park and more, and of course, souvenirs - $4500. For all the entertainment, food and family memories, it's worth every penny. I couldn't stay at the Jersey shore for that long with food and entertainment for less.

In the end, I hope prices stay high, or are at least have it perceived that way. Help keeps the riff raff out, lol.

 

[Nancyg56]

Disney is worth the price. Frankly they are right at most other entertainment venues. Have you been to a pro game latterly??.........take Baseball........3 hours (not near a whole day),,,,,,family of 4 about $400.00.......concert anywhere from about $65 in the pigeon seats to thousands!.....again a 3 or 4 hours event.

AKK

Lets not even talk about pro sports. Has anyone gone to a movie lately? We do take a few snacks inside, but by the time we buy tickets, and add 3-D if need be, toss in popcorn and a drink we have spent a fortune. For two hours.

I have priced vacations elsewhere, and we go elsewhere, but I am not always convinced the value is better anywhere else. A long weekend at the Ashworth At Hampton Beach was pretty darn pricey, and as much as I like the beach, we found that our experience was not as enjoyable as WDW and if we stretched that out for the length of time we stay in WDW, it would have cost more. We had meals out, needed to consider entertainment, and then the hotel fees. The only difference was that we drove and did not pay airfare. DH u have paid to fly to a warm water destination no matter the cost!!!! LOL! No more open ocean beaches in New England for us!

 

[jimandami]

Lets not even talk about pro sports. Has anyone gone to a movie lately? We do take a few snacks inside, but by the time we buy tickets, and add 3-D if need be, toss in popcorn and a drink we have spent a fortune. For two hours.

I have priced vacations elsewhere, and we go elsewhere, but I am not always convinced the value is better anywhere else. A long weekend at the Ashworth At Hampton Beach was pretty darn pricey, and as much as I like the beach, we found that our experience was not as enjoyable as WDW and if we stretched that out for the length of time we stay in WDW, it would have cost more. We had meals out, needed to consider entertainment, and then the hotel fees. The only difference was that we drove and did not pay airfare. DH u have paid to fly to a warm water destination no matter the cost!!!! LOL! No more open ocean beaches in New England for us!

And our movie theater has started checking purses for food...no lie! We have found our last 2 beach trips to be about as expensive as our WDW trips as well...and just not as fun.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Examples:

Bottled water $3.26
Turkey leg $9.25
Dessert Party $50.00
Hotdogs $8.50
BOMA dinner $45.00 plus
1 day ticket $100 plus
Dining Plan $70.00 plus
Lunch and dinner menus the same price
Refillable mugs $18.00 only 4 refills in 90 minutes lol
Alcoholic beverages $10 $15 plus
Resort pricing exorbitant
souvenirs exorbitant

I think Disney needs to reevaluate their pricing strategy.

It also seems like the quality has gone down too. Anyway these are just a few things. What are your thoughts?

Brunette

Bottled water=get a cup for free from counter service instead
Dessert Party=extra, don't need
Turkey leg=yuck
Hot dog=includes fries, on par with other amusement parks, if not cheaper than others (I paid $16 for a chick-fil-a combo at Kings Island)
BOMA-not needed, go offsite for sit down meals or eat counter service
1 day ticket-does anyone do that? Multi day tickets lower the cost to around $40/day. Even a week comes out to $50/day. On par with other parks.
Dining plan-not needed
Lunch/dinner same price=everywhere
Refill mugs-if you use 2-3 times a day for a week, it comes out to less than $1 per drink, plus you keep the cup.
Alcohol-we don't use it around children
Resort pricing-easy to find rooms discounted. Values under $100, mods around $175. It's actually cheaper onsite than at chain hotels in most American cities anymore.

Disney continues at record or near record attendance. For the price, Disney remains one of the cheapest vacations my family takes.

 

[AngiTN]

No, they are not too high. If they were the parks would be empty.

 

[Nancyg56]

Bottled water=get a cup for free from counter service instead
Dessert Party=extra, don't need
Turkey leg=yuck
Hot dog=includes fries, on par with other amusement parks, if not cheaper than others (I paid $16 for a chick-fil-a combo at Kings Island)
BOMA-not needed, go offsite for sit down meals or eat counter service
1 day ticket-does anyone do that? Multi day tickets lower the cost to around $40/day. Even a week comes out to $50/day. On par with other parks.
Dining plan-not needed
Lunch/dinner same price=everywhere
Refill mugs-if you use 2-3 times a day for a week, it comes out to less than $1 per drink, plus you keep the cup.
Alcohol-we don't use it around children
Resort pricing-easy to find rooms discounted. Values under $100, mods around $175. It's actually cheaper onsite than at chain hotels in most American cities anymore.

Disney continues at record or near record attendance. For the price, Disney remains one of the cheapest vacations my family takes.

I agree. If you pick and choose which items you are going to cost and then compare, you can always determine the cost is too high. I always decide ahead of time what my budget is and then I make my vacation fit that budget.

I just priced an average 3 night stay at Rydin-Hy Dude Ranch in New York. My sister and I used to take the kids with with us to vacation there during February break, and we generally tried to stay in a chalet. I think this would be like a moderate at WDW. There are a variety of lodging options there, and while each is all the same in terms of individual prices, there are minimum numbers of people who can stay in most categories. So, for for two adults and three children, 2 10 and one 7, the cost was about 1800. Now this was all inclusive, with food, beverages and activities. There is plenty to do, but not what WDW offers. Not an issue, it does not advertise that. No alcohol or arcades included. The winter rates I used are not holiday. NYE rates for the same stay are 2200.

1 child under 4 is free. each additional child under 4 9s $20 per day.

 

[tlmadden73]

There are tons of things "too expensive" .. it is all what YOU value.

Is $5+ too expensive for a cup of coffee?
Is $100 too expensive for a pair of jeans?
Is $400 too expensive for new smart phone (not counting the monthly data plan cost)
Is Cable TV too expensive? $75+/month (not counting internet) for hundreds of channels your family doesn't watch most of the time?
Is beer at a stadium too expensive? $8 for a 16 ounce cup
Is paying $100+ for a ticket to a 2 hour concert too expensive?
Is paying $10/ticket to see a two hour movie expensive? Is $12 too expensive for a soda and popcorn at the same movie too expensive?

Yet people do all this stuff .. all the time .. and easily spend more on this in a given year than a Disney Vacation.
Cut any one of these things for a year or two and I bet you'd easily be able to pay for a Disney Vacation.


And the Disney parks are crowded all the time ... Because the cost for several DAYS of 12+ hours of entertainment/food/service is worth it to them.

 

[minnie-apple-mouse]

Examples:

Bottled water $3.26
Turkey leg $9.25
Dessert Party $50.00
Hotdogs $8.50
BOMA dinner $45.00 plus
1 day ticket $100 plus
Dining Plan $70.00 plus
Lunch and dinner menus the same price
Refillable mugs $18.00 only 4 refills in 90 minutes lol
Alcoholic beverages $10 $15 plus
Resort pricing exorbitant
souvenirs exorbitant

I think Disney needs to reevaluate their pricing strategy.

It also seems like the quality has gone down too. Anyway these are just a few things. What are your thoughts?

Brunette

WDW is packed, and only going to continue to increase-so it must be acceptable to more folks every year.

That said-there are some less expensive examples.

The deluxe area of the Boardwalk (basically an extension of EPCOT's back gate, and a boat or walk from DHS) has some pretty good prices IMO. As do the Value Food Courts below.

Hot dog $4.25 (Foot-long Hot Dog $5.25)-not $8.50.

But we like the Meatball sub $5.25,
or Grilled Chicken Sandwich for $5.25
or Pulled Pork Sandwich $4.25

Boardwalk To Go
BoardWalk - Resort
All Day Menu

Menu Date: May 2015
Disney Dining Plan:
-- Snack (2015)
Buffalo Chicken Wings - 6 wings $6.75

Buffalo Chicken Wings - 10 wings $8.75

Hamburger - $.50 to add cheese; $4.25

Hamburger Basket - includes fries and a fountain drink $8.75

Hot Dog $4.25

Hot Dog Basket - includes French fries and drink $8.75

Foot-long Hot Dog $5.25

Foot-long Hot Dog Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.75

Corn Dog $4.75

Corn Dog Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.25

Mozzarella Sticks $4.75

Mozzarella Sticks Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.25

Chicken Fingers Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.50

Grilled Chicken Sandwich $5.00

Grilled Chicken Sandwich Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.50

Breaded Chicken Sandwich $4.50

Breaded Chicken Sandwich Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.00

Meatball Sandwich $5.25

Meatball Sandwich Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.75

Fried Ravioli $4.75

Fried Ravioli Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.25

Foot-long Corn Dog $5.50

Foot-long Corn Dog Basket - includes French fries and drink $9.75

Uncrusted Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich $2.50

Fried Macaroni and Cheese Bites $4.00

Pulled Pork Sandwich $4.25

Onion Rings $4.25

Pulled Pork Sandwich Basket - includes French fries and drink $8.75

Cheese Fries $4.75

French Fries $3.75

Chili Fries $4.75

Chili & Cheese Fries $5.25

Nachos with Cheese $4.75

Deluxe Nachos - chili & cheese $5.25

Chili Dog $4.75

Cheese Dog $4.75

Chili Cheese Dog $5.25

Tater Tots $4.00



Food courts at Allstars are not that bad either IMO.

Soups/Salads
Create Your Own Salad - with choice of Salmon, Chicken, or Steak $11.49

New England Clam Chowder $3.99

Chicken Orzo Soup $3.79

Tomato Basil Soup $3.29

Beef and Barley Soup $3.79

Vegetable Soup $3.29

Pizza
Large Pepperoni Pizza $15.49

Large Cheese Pizza $13.99

Large Vegetable Pizza $17.99

Six Breadsticks - with Marinara Sauce $5.99

Hot Italian Sandwich - with Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or House-made Chips $9.49

Individual Vegetable Pizza - with side salad $9.69

Individual Cheese Pizza - with side salad $9.19

Individual Pepperoni Pizza - with side salad $9.69

Create Your Own Pasta - Choose your pasta and sauce combination with choice of Beef Meatballs, Panko-crusted Chicken, or Shrimp $11.49

Entrees
Taco Salad - LUNCH ONLY $8.39

Nachos Supreme - LUNCH ONLY $7.99

Grilled Steak Sandwich - with Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or House-made Chips $9.49

Chicken Quesadilla - served with Rice and Black Beans $9.29

Beef and Blue Focaccia - with Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or House-made Chips $10.49

Turkey & Muenster Focaccia - with Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or House-made Chips $9.49

Cajun Mahi Sandwich - with Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or House-made Chips - LUNCH ONLY $10.49

Barbecued Pork Sandwich - with Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or House-made Chips - LUNCH ONLY$9.49

Grilled Chicken Sandwich - with Ham, Cheese, and Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or House-made Chips $10.49

Chicken Breast Nuggets - 8 pieces with Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or French Fries $8.99

Vegetable Burger - with choice of Cucumber Salad, Coleslaw, or French Fries $9.99

Create Your Own Chicken Burger - with choice of Cucumber Salad, Coleslaw, or French Fries $10.99

Create Your Own Angus Burger - with choice of Cucumber Salad, Coleslaw, or French Fries $10.99

Create Your Own Hot Dog - with Coleslaw, Cucumber Salad, or French Fries $9.99

Side Dishes
Chili-Cheese Fries $4.99

For Children Ages 3-9
Macaroni & Cheese - with grapes and carrot sticks $5.99

Cheese Pizza $5.99

Pasta with Meatball $5.99

Pepperoni Pizza $5.99

Hot Dog - with grapes and carrot sticks $5.99

Hamburger - with grapes and carrot sticks $5.99

Grilled Cheese - with grapes and carrot sticks $5.99

Chicken Nuggets - with grapes and carrot sticks $5.99

Cheeseburger - with grapes and carrot sticks $5.99

Fish Sticks - with grapes and carrot sticks $5.99

Uncrustables PB&J - with grapes and carrot sticks $5.49

Roast Turkey - DINNER ONLY $6.99

Grilled Chicken Tenders - DINNER ONLY $6.99

Turkey Sandwich - with Grapes and Carrot Sticks $5.99

Tilapia Sandwich - with Grapes and Carrot Sticks DINNER ONLY $6.99

 

[wookiebeck]

Would be nice if that were true but it's not. Even the "riff raff" can come with proper budgeting. They can stay offsite at a place like the "WOW Resort" in Orlando, make PB&J's in the morning and take them to the park, not buy anything and just drink tap water. Really their only big expense would be the park tickets.

HEY, that's me and my family...minus the riff-raff part, lol.

 

[GreatLakes]

Some people confuse price and value. Pricing is pretty straightforward and tied to demand. As long as people are buying the product or service at the given price it isn't too high.

Value, though, is subjective. If you don't think a particular item at Disney is a good value for the money then you shouldn't buy it. There are a lot of things at Disney that I don't think are a good value so I don't usually purchase them. Deluxe resorts, most character meals, some of the extra a la carte offerings, etc are not a value to me so I don't spend money on them. I do still see a value in the overall product though when those individual line items are eliminated so I continue to go.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Let's face it, "gouge the tourist" seems to be the favorite international pasttime. On top of that, there are numerous places in the world at which tourists are a prime target for a variety of vicious scams, or worse.

By contrast, WDW is a safe place where you can still enjoy a variety of adventures. Yes the food, souvenirs and many hotels are overpriced. For us, the value resorts are worth it because we don't drive, so we need the shuttle bus perks. I really believe that the multi-day prices for park tickets are very reasonable. They want you to stay longer, so they do make it worth your while.

As for souvenirs, we usually buy a hat and/or tee shirt. We can wear these at home and on future theme park trips. Food? We usually have one or two counter service meals per day, and the rest of the time, we get by on protein bars. They are pretty filling, and a good meal replacement (but make sure you have bottles of water if you're going to bring protein bars; they make you incredibly thirsty). We buy protein bars by the box at Costco.

Honestly, IMO, they should increase the prices at the gate and lower the prices for everything inside the park.

Higher gate prices would relieve the crowding, and improve the quality of the experience for everyone there. Enough people would be willing to pay more to get in, if they knew that the park will be less crowded and the wait times more reasonable. Disney makes the same amount of money form ticket sales, but from a lower (and happier) number of customers. Let's not forget that a theme park is a finite space, and can only accomodate so many people before it becomes an unbearable sardine can. Disney does seem to have forgotten that.

The lower prices for food and souvenirs would appease people angered by the attendance price hike. Lower food prices would mean less people bringing in "outside food". Lower profit margins on merch would be offset by increased sales in the shops. People would have less sticker shock, and more often just go for their impulse buy. I can't tell you how many times we've said: "I love this, but...it's just too expensive." Or: "maybe we can get something similar back home."

I know, I know, it'll never happen.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I think that the prices are too high but I also think that it's true that they should charge what the market will bear. If you think that the prices are out of hand then you are right. It's subjective.

I would like to know where these mobs are finding all of this money though. Is the middle class really so rich right now?

It's the magic of plastic money. Slap it on the credit card, worry about it later!

 

[Nancyg56]

It's the magic of plastic money. Slap it on the credit card, worry about it later!

Not us. We saved and just enjoyed 8 days at the Grand for 9 of us. 7 day hoppers. DDp on one room and Dxddp on the other. Several extras and spending money. We just controlled our daily expenses and live below our means. no new cars, no mtg payment, and no new furniture.

 

[gtpoohbear]

Honestly, IMO, they should increase the prices at the gate and lower the prices for everything inside the park.

Higher gate prices would relieve the crowding, and improve the quality of the experience for everyone there. Enough people would be willing to pay more to get in, if they knew that the park will be less crowded and the wait times more reasonable. Disney makes the same amount of money form ticket sales, but from a lower (and happier) number of customers. Let's not forget that a theme park is a finite space, and can only accomodate so many people before it becomes an unbearable sardine can. Disney does seem to have forgotten that.

As someone who currently has 16 days of park admission (and 19 water park admissions) on NE tickets, I would selfishly LOVE for Disney to substantially raise ticket prices, lol! It wouldn't cost me a dime more, and it would surely be less crowded. And if they subsequently lowered prices on food inside the park, that would just be icing on the cake. One can dream, right?

 

[Magpie]

Would be nice if that were true but it's not. Even the "riff raff" can come with proper budgeting. They can stay offsite at a place like the "WOW Resort" in Orlando, make PB&J's in the morning and take them to the park, not buy anything and just drink tap water. Really their only big expense would be the park tickets.

TIL I'm "riff raff"!

(Well, actually we stay at the Pop.)

 

[snowwhite84]

Not us. We saved and just enjoyed 8 days at the Grand for 9 of us. 7 day hoppers. DDp on one room and Dxddp on the other. Several extras and spending money. We just controlled our daily expenses and live below our means. no new cars, no mtg payment, and no new furniture.

Agree here. It feels snide to say "Oh, these people must be bank rolling their vacation with credit card debt." We absolutely live within our means. If a Disney vacation wasn't a financially sound decision, we would make different plans.