Beverage prices drop

[keithomas]

Once you exceed the "optimum" price for an item people buy less of it. It only stands to reason (yeah, difficult word to use when discussing a company run by Eisner) that someone realized that they had exceeded the optimum pricing. Most people would probably agree that they expect to pay a premium for things like drinks/food in the parks. However, with commodity items like bottled soda/water that everyone has experience purchasing at home, the amount of premium that can be charged is only so much. I think Disney would be wise to look at their entire pricing structure to see if there are other areas where a price DROP could increase profits by increasing sales by a larger margin than the decrease in price.

 

[Ti2gerrr]

Any other info on the price reduction?

 

[raidermatt]

Good point...has there been any verification that the prices have or will drop?

 

[MaryJ]

Considering some amusement park (Holiday World?) can give away soft drinks for free

That's right...Holiday World has been giving away free soft drinks for at least two years now! They have drinks kiosks set up around the park. You just go in, grab a cup, fill it up and go! It sure would be nice if Disney (the big guys) could learn something from the "little guys" and follow suit. But, a price reduction is better than nothing!

 

[EltonJohn]

Originally posted by Jeff in BigD
Uhm, I don't want to alarm anyone, but I think this quite possibly might be the 7th sign & we should expect the 4 horsemen to be ariving pretty soon.

OMG Jeff in BigD that means I have "left behind", what do I do???



diane

Sorry out there, I just couldn't resist

 

[All Aboard]

Holiday World is a regional (perhaps even local) amusement park. I doubt they draw many guests (or at least an extremely low percentage) from outside a 100 mile radius. Certainly, folks don't drive or fly from across the country or from around the world on a regular basis to visit Holiday World. Given that, free soda is probably a pretty good marketing strategy for them to draw in more locals to their parks. It's quite possible a family's decision concerning what to do on a hot Saturday afternoon could be swayed by the fact that there is free soda at Holiday World.

WDW, on the other hand, would drive virtually no additional guest traffic by doing so. It's hard to imagine that free soda would make or break a decision to travel to WDW or whether it's a 5 v. 7 day trip. Disney would simply be flushing away revenue.

Maybe a good idea for Holiday World, bad idea for WDW.

On the other hand, reducing soda prices may actually cause total revenue to rise. They've probably whipped out the old marginal revenue graph and done a little price elasticity study. No doubt, with the bag checks, they've noted just how many guests are bring water and sodas into the parks.

 

[Bob O]

This is just what disney could do to get some great press and make their guests happy, give them more than they expect to receive!!!! Will it make or break people's decision to go to disney, no. But im sure it isnt the reason people go to Holiday World which is ranked as one of the cleanest parks with one of the most friendly staffs!!!
If a small park which is in need of more in park revenue and has alot shorter season to make money can get by by giving their guests freebie's, their is no reason that disney couldnt do the same if the park was run in a proper manner!!!
One park try's to exceed expectations while one try's to gougge their guests at every opportunity!!! Its easy to see which one is following Walts footsteps!!!

 

[DisOrBust]

Just an FYI the same bottle of H2O in the parks that sells for 2.50 is for sale in the GF's minibar for 3.45. Just for those with money to burn,lol!

 

[AmyA]

The price decreases were to go into effect today---anyone have any news on whether they actually did?

I agree w/ DoeWDW. Before I had to be truly desperate to buy water at one of the parks. At $1.50/bottle, I will be more willing to buy a bottle instead of filling up my Brita bottle from a fountain, especially if I want my water to be ice-cold (I can't seem to keep the water I bring in cool for very long).

 

[rangebob]

The prices are the same as of today.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Originally posted by Ocean
I think we all know that food and souvenirs in all theme parks (not just Disney parks) are overpriced compared with "outside" prices. Now I'm not complaining about that. That's the way any theme park works once it has a captive audience. However, I'm wondering what the reaction might be if Disney did the unthinkable and lowered some prices.

For example, when I hear most people talk about budgeting, they're saying things like "$9 for a fast food meal, $30 per child for souvenirs, $10 for snacks, etc." People are not saying, I will buy one fast food meal, one souvenir, one snack, etc.

I'm wondering, if the prices were lower, would you still spend the same amount of money? For example, if that $9 fast food meal dropped to $5, would you spend the extra $4 on something somewhere else at WDW? If the child's souvenir was $20 instead of $30, would you let the child spend the extra $10 on something else?

Somehow I get the impression that most people would spend about the same amount of money in the parks. But if the prices were lowered a bit, I think most people would feel they were getting better value for their money. Of course the result of that could easily be even more spending in the parks: if you think things are a pretty good value, you're a little more willing to spend more money. I think it would probably work this way for me. For example, on a really hot day, I will spend the $2.50 to buy a bottle of Coke. But if the price dropped to $1.50, I would probably buy two of them, and Disney would have $3 of my money instead of $2.50.

Other opinions?

That's from the other thread you linked to but it's an older thread and the topic is virtually the same here so I'm going to reply here.

I totally get what you are saying and even though it seemed that the majority of the posters on the other thread disagreed, *I* am one of those people you speak about.

I'm the person that on our 9 day trip to Orlando during Christmas time didn't buy a THING besides an autograph book, a few sodas and counter service meals in WDW the entire time we were there- but I bought a LOT of stuff in the discount stores offsite (Disney themed items for my family/kids) and I also bought the refillable mugs at US/IOS and a few themed items there too (the prices didn't seem quite as high).

So now you tell me how WDW would lose money with people like ME out there? They got NONE of my money (besides the above mentioned items) where as if their prices were cheaper they would get my money.

I'm also the one that will spend money at The Disney Store.. but didn't at the WDW parks. I also brought our water and some snacks because I will not spend that much on water/snacks while there.

I'm the type that when I go into any store- if the prices are high, I buy nothing. Seriously. But if the prices feel like a fair price or even better- a bargain, I will spend hundreds.

I am the type of person that might set a budget (which I did while there both times) but STILL won't spend that money if I feel I'm wasting my money buying high priced items, food, or drinks. I will go elsewhere to spend that budget (and that's exactly what I did). Soooo.. I'm the type of person that if I have a $100 budget per day for incidentals, souveniers and the like- I will NOT spend it if I feel the item is overpriced. I will only spend it where I feel it's worth the money... and if that means waiting till I go offsite to get it cheaper, then that's what I will do (and did).

When the prices are too high for my mind to handle, I bring my own (such as bottled water bought cheaply at Walmart or Publix) but if the price isn't TOO high (although higher than Walmart or Publix/etc) then I will opt to not bother buying it ahead of time and bringing it along. It's worth the little extra cost to not go to that trouble. I wouldn't be surprised if they figured out (if that is actually what is going on) that they went over that limit. That they went so high that everyone felt it was better to just bring you own bottled water. They could certainly notice this when checking bags on admission to the parks.

There are a lot of people out there like me. Trust me...

 

[KNWVIKING]

Can anyone verify a price drop yet ??? Or are we still in rumor mode ?

 

[discoduck]

Having my own well water my whole life,it makes it hard for me to pay for water in a bottle. What we do is use a one gallon water purifer pitcher we take along, fill it in the room add some ice and fill a few bottle. It might not stay cool all day but a warm bottle water is better than spending 2.50 for a bottle,and if we run out in the park we just fill up at a water fountain.

 

[AKemel]

Just back from the world on 3/14 and the price for soda is still $2.50. I think that the price went down, but cast members are pocketing the difference

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I'm wondering something... Personally, Im not so sure this price decrease is going to happen.

-BUT-

If it does... notice how CocaCola now has those 16oz bottles that look just like the 20oz? I'm wondering if that's what's going to be the $2.00 soda.

(By the way... I beleive the 20oz bottles are already only $2.00 in vending machines... and have been for as long as I can remember)

 

[roymccoy]

I think that for a longtime, Disney had almost a "governmental" approach to it's prices and budgets. If the money wasn't flowing in fast enough, raise taxes (I mean prices!)
What they forgot was that they AREN'T immune to competition and people are starting to say "I really loved Disney when I was a kid, but it's too pricey for the family now."
With Knott's, Sea World, the Queen Mary and Universal Studios all basically giving you a year's pass for the price of one day's admission (or sometimes a little but more) Disney is finding itself looking like it is gouging the public. $2.50 for a bottle of water?? That was just plain dumb. I also resent the fact that there are less drinking fountains in DCA compared to DL. What, guests needed more water in the 50's?? Serves em' right to have to lower their prices...let's hope it's a new trend.

Roy

 

[KNWVIKING]

While I don't like the current prices of soda or water at WDW, I also realize that they are the same price at SW,US/IOA,etc. As for the annual pass prices at SW,US/IOA, of course they are going to be much less because there is so much less to do at there. There is a thread over on the DVC board asking "After so many trips,what still haven't you done" and its amazing to look at some of these lists. Since '95 we have been 10-12 times and we still plan a few "something new's" for every trip.

 

[crusader]

If it does... notice how CocaCola now has those 16oz bottles that look just like the 20oz? I'm wondering if that's what's going to be the $2.00 soda.

Very good point.

Tyler since you are onsite, hopefully you could shed more light on this topic.

I am in the "I'll believe it when I see it" category.

 

[Sanka]

geez... anyone who's ever played roller coaster tycoon knows you can only put the prices so high before you tick everyone off and they go home and don't come back! LOL

 

[d-r]

drinkstand 1 is very good value