How tone deaf was it for Disney to announce price increases right now?

[MICKIMINI]

Food prices went up in the fall as well, just before we visited around Halloween. We're DVC and hosted son and DIL, so we spent a fortune anyway and I'm just over it. We've spent so much at Disney over the years that I just budget accordingly each year and never look back.

Timing at this point sends the wrong message Disney, when the parks are closed and people are suffering...what were you guys thinking? Oh, right, you weren't!

 

[Truly's Adventures]

Walt's dream was to build a place where people could take their small kids and have an overall experience like never before. That dream is no longer possible for the average lower level income family with small kids, it will only be a pipe dream for most. We can't even afford a ticket to the parks let alone a hotdog .

 

[hertamaniac]

To help offset higher in-park costs, I thought you could bring your own food. Has that changed?

 

[MICKIMINI]

You can bring food, just no coolers or ice. We bring a couple frozen waters, PB crackers and dried fruit. People spend some serious money on food...we've learned over the years how to eat a few nice meals, split quick serves and snack and spend less.

 

[disneysteve]

Food prices went up in the fall as well

Food prices get adjusted periodically. This is different, though. These aren't 25-cent or 50-cent increases. These are sharp price hikes with things going up by as much as $4.00 for some items. Raising prices 20% right now when there is record unemployment and we're almost certainly in the early days of a recession just comes across as a slap in the face.

Look, will we pay some of these prices the next time we go whenever that is? Sure because we have to eat. But I can tell you we'll be drinking the free water, not getting a Coke, we'll be sharing whenever possible, and we will hardly buy any alcoholic drinks because $17 for an old fashioned is nuts.

 

[disneysteve]

You can bring food, just no coolers or ice. We bring a couple frozen waters, PB crackers and dried fruit. People spend some serious money on food...we've learned over the years how to eat a few nice meals, split quick serves and snack and spend less.

One advantage to us always having our own car is that if we want to, we could pack a cooler and leave it in the car and just go out to the parking lot when we're hungry. Not at MK but at the other 3 parks. We haven't done that previously but I'd certainly be willing to in the future.

 

[GAN]

we will hardly buy any alcoholic drinks because $17 for an old fashioned is nuts.

Sure ...but that's the one with the .375 of Bourbon in it ...isn't it?

 

[robinb]

Yes and no. They won’t be aware before they get there. But it will feed the narrative of “Disney is too expensive. I can’t believe how much things cost. It was $12 for a hot dog. We’re never doing that again.”

Disney doesn't care if that family comes back. There is an endless supply of new families to take their place and pay for their once in a lifetime trip.

 

[hertamaniac]

You can bring food, just no coolers or ice. We bring a couple frozen waters, PB crackers and dried fruit. People spend some serious money on food...we've learned over the years how to eat a few nice meals, split quick serves and snack and spend less.

That's what I thought. Since we are local, we usually drive and just put our snacks (almonds and other heat resistant foods) into a backpack and are good for most of the day. I only drink water, so I just pack my bottle for refilling.

This allows us to spend more on dinner with the monies saved by eating breakfast before going into the parks and not having a lunch.

 

[disneysteve]

This allows us to spend more on dinner with the monies saved by eating breakfast before going into the parks and not having a lunch.

Prices went up at the resorts and the parks so if that dinner is at a Disney hotel, that got more expensive too.

They also eliminated many menu items which will help keep their costs down, so you may find that some of your favorite things aren't there anymore.

 

[disneysteve]

Sure ...but that's the one with the .375 of Bourbon in it ...isn't it?

I don't know the details. I just know they upped the price from $14 to $17, so over 21%.

 

[MICKIMINI]

With a walking disability it is too much of an issue for us to go in and out of the parks, though we sometimes have Tonga Toast late morning (under $10) at the Poly and then hop the monorail to MK. We find food at supermarkets in FL costs much more than in NH and if we make several meals and have breakfast at our villa daily (I budget our normal groceries) and bring what snacks and non perishables I can pack in checked luggage, we can budget about $75 a day for meals (for 2) some days being $25 and others $125. I'm a 47 year veteran , so I have a bit of "street cred" with WDW budgeting LOL!

 

[GAN]

I don't know the details. I just know they upped the price from $14 to $17, so over 21%.

That was a joke, Steve! Sorry, I should have put an emoji for some inflection.

 

[disneysteve]

That was a joke, Steve! Sorry, I should have put an emoji for some inflection.

I thought it might be. Sometimes hard to tell online.

 

[kylenne]

I thought about it some more and it leaves a really unsavory impression in my mind. So many local companies are trying to be generous with donations and also work with customers affected. Our utility company has already sent out notices they won’t suspend services to anyone for nonpayment during this time. It seems like every account I log into, banner messages indicate assistance is available for those that need it.

And no Disney doesn’t owe anyone anything... but geez don’t be gross either.

Not to sound like a corporate shill but this is a weird comparison to make imo, utility companies, mortgage companies etc all deal in life necessities. Disney World is not a life necessity no matter how much we all have the Dole Whip shakes right now

 

[Paul1955]

Yeah, it is bad timing. I wonder if the price increases were already set to the system? Food prices seem to always get a bump up right before Christmas and Easter.

I have been wondering the same thing. I cannot imagine that anyone in Disney PR knew about this. Can you imagine the amount of bad publicity this would generate for Disney if the mainstream media got wind of this?

 

[Carol_]

I expected that all of the now much less crowded restaurants would need to at least double their prices across the board to make up for lost tables. WDW has a lot of lost revenue to make up so the Bobs can start collecting their paychecks again.

 

[kylenne]

I have been wondering the same thing. I cannot imagine that anyone in Disney PR knew about this. Can you imagine the amount of bad publicity this would generate for Disney if the mainstream media got wind of this?

Idk how to tell you this but right now the mainstream media literally could not give less of a toss about hot dogs at Disney World costing $2 more or whatever. People are literally dying my friend

Please folks don't think I'm defending this at all, it sucks and is quite typical but like...there are so much bigger fish to fry in the world right now. The only reason we even know is because there is a small cottage industry of Disney media with literally nothing else to do right now and no news to report from closed theme parks and resorts.

 

[disneysteve]

it sucks and is quite typical

I agree that it sucks. I don't agree that it's typical. But I realize the company is losing hundreds of millions of dollars being closed for a couple of months and feels they need to recoup that somehow. I can't wait to see what the next ticket price increase looks like.

 

[rteetz]

To help offset higher in-park costs, I thought you could bring your own food. Has that changed?

Nope