Beware the rip off............

[DanMartin]

Quick note as just back from two memorable weeks! Seems churlish to make a complaint after such fun, but here we go........!

A warning - Epcot, and the Rose & Crown pub; went for the fireworks (as you do) ordered 2 pints (one a shandy no less) for me and a mate and the bill was 16 US dollars.............when we questioned why we were paying £6 for half a lager and lemonade, we were told "welcome to Disney" with a sarcastic grin..........we paid and left - dont waste your money being ripped off with such a flippant attitude. If we all boycott such a con then they will have to re think.............

Also, has anyone else sold their flexi tickets on to a "ticket sales booth" whilst out there when finished with??

Other thoughts - kids "ponchos" sold out really quick in the parks, so get yours from a local supermarket (cheap) if going now as there are some spectacular downpours about 5.00 pm!

Best parks for two adults and two boys? (10 and 8) - we liked Seaworld best and Aquatica for a rest next door afterwards. AK was good, as was the Star Wars weekend at Hollywood studios. Epcot more relaxed, Blizzard had some great rides, Typhoon very quiet late afternoons, MK worst of the lot - a bit like our local fair in parts and our two just found it too "girlie" - each to their own...Downtown and Citywalk at night kept us busy, as did Disneyquest.

Not been with the children before, so we all got alot out of it!

Thanks to those who gave me pointers before going, this proved a very valuable site.

Cheers Dan.

 

[higgy66]

A warning - Epcot, and the Rose & Crown pub; went for the fireworks (as you do) ordered 2 pints (one a shandy no less) for me and a mate and the bill was 16 US dollars.............when we questioned why we were paying £6 for half a lager and lemonade, we were told "welcome to Disney" with a sarcastic grin..........we paid and left - dont waste your money being ripped off with such a flippant attitude. If we all boycott such a con then they will have to re think.............


Cheers Dan.

In some sort of defense for Disney - I don't think they are any different from Theme Parks in general. Even in the Uk - such as legoland - you pay over the top prices for everything especially drinks. . Those that do sell Alcohol make you pay a premium.

If I'm honest I'd still rather pay £6/pint and be drinking in the Rose and Crown Epcot than pay £4/pint and be sat in my local!

 

[wayneg]

Can you call it a rip off/con if you know upfront what they are charging and its your choice to pay it(or not).
I know Disney prices for drink and choose not to pay it, I know they overcharge but wouldn't call it a rip off/con.
Last time I went to Amsterdam 2 years ago it cost me euros 4.50 a pint(I guess between 5-6 euros now), after 10 visits and great times over there decided their prices are too high not going back again, yes expensive but not a con in my opinion.

 

[DanMartin]

At £4 a pint it wouldn't be my local for long.............!

I have to agree that its better to be there than here, but it was the attitude I didnt like; and that price is just taking the P.

Also, I didnt experience it elsewhere - didnt drink much due to the heat but I remember a Bud at Seaworld and one at Blizzard Beach and paid nothing like that much. In fact I found prices for food and drinks quite fair around the other parks.

Cheers!

 

[DanMartin]

In our defence we didnt know the price in advance - I havent been for 10 years. After pouring them I couldnt exactly hand them back!
Anyway, I wont fall into that trap again, and whether you call it a con or not, I still feel "conned".............

 

[wayneg]

In our defence we didnt know the price in advance - I havent been for 10 years. After pouring them I couldnt exactly hand them back!
Anyway, I wont fall into that trap again, and whether you call it a con or not, I still feel "conned".............

I wouldn't buy anything in Disney without asking price 1st, I guess they didn't get a tip out of you.
Glad you had a great time apart from that.

 

[fairytale]

Also, has anyone else sold their flexi tickets on to a "ticket sales booth" whilst out there when finished with??

QUOTE]

Did you do this during your trip

Not heard of this before !!!!

 

[T16GEM]

Welcome back, glad you had a good time, I don't think it's a rip off, tbh I paid £4 for a pint at the Ricoh arena on Tuesday night, if you want it you pay it don't you? DH won't pay the price that the R&C wants for a cider as he can now get it at Publix much cheaper and just wait till we get back to the villa and the kids are in bed, much more enjoyable floating round on the pool lilo!!

 

[Just-Pete]

Working in the Theme Park Industry msyelf (nothing as exciting as Disney) I have to say that I think there's nothing unusual about the pricing stategies, its pretty much along the line of.... "We've hooked and reeled em in, now lets rinse their wallets".

That said if one of my staff members ever responded to a guest in such a way, I'd be pretty quick to act on it. The worst thing is, two of my best mates are currently spending a year in Epcot, working in the Rose & Crown, I hope its was neither of them!!!

>Pete.

 

[Goofyish]

In our defence we didnt know the price in advance - I havent been for 10 years. After pouring them I couldnt exactly hand them back!
Anyway, I wont fall into that trap again, and whether you call it a con or not, I still feel "conned".............

For future reference here's all the WDW restaurant menus and prices

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

I guess exchange rates play a big part in the perceived value for money. When it was $2 to the £ the drinks would be similar to in a posh pub or hotel in the UK.

We only tend to drink soda which with unlimited refills at most restaurants so don't suffer the high alcohol prices.

 

[scarletlancer]

Welcome back, glad you had a good time, I don't think it's a rip off, tbh I paid £4 for a pint at the Ricoh arena on Tuesday night, if you want it you pay it don't you? DH won't pay the price that the R&C wants for a cider as he can now get it at Publix much cheaper and just wait till we get back to the villa and the kids are in bed, much more enjoyable floating round on the pool lilo!!

I can't honestly see what knowing the price in advance, or paying it if you want it has to do with it being a rip off or not, if a place, be it Disney or anywhere else hikes the price of an item just because they know that they have a captive audience that is a rip off. Likewise I don't think 'they all do it' is any kind of mitigation.

 

[wayneg]

In my opinion its not a rip off if you have a choice. They might be over charging slightly(although I feel its the exchange rate here mostly to blame, not many were complaining of prices at $2/£1) but its your decision if you want to pay it or not, see definition below none apply.
Maybe as a business owner I see it differently but Disney is a business and they have to make as much money as possible for their shareholders while keep guests happy, not an easy balance.
Prices they charge I think they have it at a good balance, I certainly would not want cheap alcohol in Disney and encouraging more drinking.

rip⋅off  /ˈrɪpˌɔf, -ˌɒf/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [rip-awf, -of] Show IPA
–noun Slang.
1. an act or instance of ripping off another or others; a theft, cheat, or swindle.
2. exploitation, esp. of those who cannot prevent or counter it.
3. a copy or imitation.
4. a person who rips off another or others; thief or swindler.

 

[maleficent_man]

I would imagine it would cost Disney a bit to source/import the beers they offer so I can understand it a bit. Personally it's about choice. Some American's and other guests might be happy to pay that to try some traditional British/Irish beers. Personally for me I wouldn't but I might pay it in one of the other WS locations to try 'traditional' food.

 

[juliebro]

Also, has anyone else sold their flexi tickets on to a "ticket sales booth" whilst out there when finished with??

Yes - we've done it a couple of times when we've had a few days left on our flextickets. Got a few dollars for them.

 

[scarletlancer]

In my opinion its not a rip off if you have a choice. They might be over charging slightly(although I feel its the exchange rate here mostly to blame, not many were complaining of prices at $2/£1) but its your decision if you want to pay it or not, see definition below none apply.
Maybe as a business owner I see it differently but Disney is a business and they have to make as much money as possible for their shareholders while keep guests happy, not an easy balance.
Prices they charge I think they have it at a good balance, I certainly would not want cheap alcohol in Disney and encouraging more drinking.

rip⋅off  /ˈrɪpˌɔf, -ˌɒf/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [rip-awf, -of] Show IPA
–noun Slang.
1. an act or instance of ripping off another or others; a theft, cheat, or swindle.
2. exploitation, esp. of those who cannot prevent or counter it.
3. a copy or imitation.
4. a person who rips off another or others; thief or swindler.

I see what you're saying, but the choice to take it or leave it is not really a choice at all imho thus definition 2 seems quite apt

 

[jen_uk]

, MK worst of the lot - a bit like our local fair in parts

Wow where do you live? My local fair is a dump, I need to visit yours!

 

[Lizzybear]

Have to agree with Wayne on not wanting cheap alcohol in Disney.
I can't quite see how it's exploitation when it's a choice to drink alcohol and also to visit WDW in the first place. I don't think it's just a Disney thing... I've been to several Leeds festivals in the past and the price for food and drink there are through the roof, much poorer value than Disney IMO, yet plenty of people pay the prices for the convenience of not having to bring their own from home or the nearest supermarket.

 

[scarletlancer]

Have to agree with Wayne on not wanting cheap alcohol in Disney.
I can't quite see how it's exploitation when it's a choice to drink alcohol and also to visit WDW in the first place. I don't think it's just a Disney thing... I've been to several Leeds festivals in the past and the price for food and drink there are through the roof, much poorer value than Disney IMO, yet plenty of people pay the prices for the convenience of not having to bring their own from home or the nearest supermarket.

Don't get me wrong, I am not at all bothered about the prices of alcohol at Disney and I agree that having the place awash with drunks would be a very bad thing. Indeed my criticism is not really of Disney at all but the very idea of exploiting captive audiences in the way that (as you noted) has become standard practice. The argument that just because people pay it, makes it OK is not a very strong one imho, this is particularly true for Disney who are a unique company who rely almost totally on symbolic capital to maintain this persona of uniqueness.

 

[stevechase]

Can you call it a rip off/con if you know upfront what they are charging and its your choice to pay it(or not).
I know Disney prices for drink and choose not to pay it, I know they overcharge but wouldn't call it a rip off/con.
Last time I went to Amsterdam 2 years ago it cost me euros 4.50 a pint(I guess between 5-6 euros now), after 10 visits and great times over there decided their prices are too high not going back again, yes expensive but not a con in my opinion.

Fair point Wayne

My wife went to Amsterdam with friends last year, they forked out over 7 euros for a beer. We have been to most of the big cities, Paris, London (NY soon) and she did say that Amsterdam is one of the pricyest. Think they are trying to get away from the stag and hen do brigade!

Look at the counter, just loooookkkkk at the counter!!!!!!

Steve

 

[wicket2005]

I am glad you had a lovely holiday.

I think in general anything America imports is expensive, Epcot sells loads of imported products and then adds a premium on top of that which makes them more expensive especially when knowing the price of the product back home. It's probably best to avoid any imports and stick to local brands when you can.

If you were not happy with the price I am sure you could have said you were not paying that price. Americans are quite quick to complain if something doesn't suit them and expect good service, us Brits tend to take it on the chin then have a good grumble afterwards.