shocked-beware

[disneydeb]

just back from disney world and the biggest shock for me this trip (i had just went in august) was how much the price of food had gone up since august! most items have gone up by as much as 2 dollars, example the delicious little bag of kettle corn that was 3.50 in august is now 5.30 with tax , also the kid meals that were 4.99 are ranging around 6.99 and if you get a adult meal with drink expect to pay between 13-14 dollars for a counter meal, the sit down dinners were alot more too, just a warning to folks not expecting the prices of food.

 

[PudgetteD]

Hmmm. . .do you think they raised the prices so drastically to make the dining plan seem like a better deal?

 

[PrincessAurora]

That sounds like a sound hypothesis. I know for myself, I had been on the dining plan for every trip except my last one because it priced out to be cheaper paying out of pocket (if you go with a plan and a budget). This trip they are having free dining so I'm only factoring in the places that are not covered, booze and tips. Over $5 for a chip sized bag of kettle korn is insane. I mean honestly, I think popcorn costs $100 a silo but I'm sure those impulse take away items are money spinners.

 

[minnie mum]

OP when was your trip? Was it during the period when the high season premium pricing was in effect?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

OP when was your trip? Was it during the period when the high season premium pricing was in effect?

High season pricing only comes into effect, if you're dining at buffets, family style restaurants, & dinner shows. It wouldn't make a difference for anything else.

 

[catne]

we just returned from a quick weekend trip (Jan 20-Jan 22) and it's absolute "low season" at Disneyworld, so meal prices are not being affected by seasonal increase...there's no premium pricing on the buffets, and also very low rack rates on rooms (well, low for Disney) and I have to agree with OP: the food prices have gone UP.

2 Flatbreads at counter service were almost $20 (just the 2 individual-sized flatbreads, no drinks, no chips. The flatbreads were not very good, either)

2 burgers, 2 fries and one large coke ran us $20 in MK. (Pecos Bills...and this was good. But expensive)

Not sure if it's due to the dining plan...I would think it's more due to Disney keeping prices down for the last couple of years in order to encourage spending during the severe economic downturn. And now that the economy is turning around, they are raising prices and cutting down on the discounts.

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

food in general has gone up around 12% so I'm not surprised by Disney raising prices. They have margins to maintain.

Last year at our local grocery we were paying 7.99 for choice rib-eye steaks and this year they are 11.99..it's inflation..

 

[mommyof3princess27]

guess I am staying on the dining plan and allowing more money for snacks!

 

[shoney]

I think they were going to raise prices across the board and had to increase the dining plan as a result. It's just that those prices for the DDP were published first.

We are going in Feb and have free dining. I poured over menus to get an idea of where to eat. I kept thinking to myself, if this weren't free, I would NEVER buy it. It seems impossible to actually save!

From what I have read, snack credits are usually for items under $4, have they now included snacks in the dining plan that cost $5.00 plus or are these items no longer available?

(**yes we looked into room only discount, but it only saved $448.00 and I know we'll spend more than that on food for a week)

 

[tchrrx]

I was wondering about this also. I understand that prices need to raise, but I hope that our snack choices remain the same!

 

[shoney]

I was wondering about this also. I understand that prices need to raise, but I hope that our snack choices remain the same!

I reposted my question in the DDP section since that was the focus. Let's see if anyone has had any experience as of yet.

 

[disnut8]

Just wondering if anyone has compared their grocery bills to the same time frame and applied percentages. Yeah, prices at Disney World have gone up but it has in real life too.

I still go back to Disney World being cheaper than going to a sporting event. It's $4 for a bottle of water at a sporting event where you are not allowed to take in your own but you can at Disney World. You can also take in your own snacks at Disney World but you can't at a sporting event.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

food in general has gone up around 12% so I'm not surprised by Disney raising prices. They have margins to maintain.

Last year at our local grocery we were paying 7.99 for choice rib-eye steaks and this year they are 11.99..it's inflation..

You truly are mickeysbestfriend.

 

[Micca]

To me, the food at WDW is expensive. It's kind of already "off the scale" for me so if a cupcake that was $7.00 last time is $9.25 next time, I'm not sure I'd notice, it's still way too high.

 

[disfan07]

To me, the food at WDW is expensive. It's kind of already "off the scale" for me so if a cupcake that was $7.00 last time is $9.25 next time, I'm not sure I'd notice, it's still way too high.

It might be expensive but when compared to other vacation destinations, amusement parks, and sporting events its not bad. And they let you bring in your own food so it's not like they are forcing you to purchase their food.

We've never had a bad meal at WDW. We've had some that are not as good as others but I don't think we've eaten anywhere that was absolutely horrible. So while it is expensive, we personally don't find the prices outrageous for what we have experienced. But we have also only experienced exceptional service when it comes to my allergies while we are there so that alone is worth the cost for us.

It's all a matter of opinion. That, and when buying groceries and food in Orange County (near Newport Beach) and in Los Angeles, not much food wise seems outrageously expensive anymore. In addition, it usually costs me $12+ for a sandwich (just turkey, cheese, and lettuce), fries and drink at the hospital cafeteria when I am there for appointments....believe me.....WDW is MUCH better...lol

 

[tarheelmjfan]

It might be expensive but when compared to other vacation destinations, amusement parks, and sporting events its not bad. And they let you bring in your own food so it's not like they are forcing you to purchase their food.

We've never had a bad meal at WDW. We've had some that are not as good as others but I don't think we've eaten anywhere that was absolutely horrible. So while it is expensive, we personally don't find the prices outrageous for what we have experienced. But we have also only experienced exceptional service when it comes to my allergies while we are there so that alone is worth the cost for us.

It's all a matter of opinion. That, and when buying groceries and food in Orange County (near Newport Beach) and in Los Angeles, not much food wise seems outrageously expensive anymore. In addition, it usually costs me $12+ for a sandwich (just turkey, cheese, and lettuce), fries and drink at the hospital cafeteria when I am there for appointments....believe me.....WDW is MUCH better...lol

A guests residence does pay a big part in whether or not they think the food is expensive. Obviously, food isn't the same price all over the country. Incomes aren't either. The areas in the country that have the highest food prices also have the highest salaries. You can eat out much cheaper in the south, for example, than you can in New York. Those on the DIS who live in areas with higher incomes don't seem to realize food isn't as expensive everywhere as it is where they live. Yes, WDW food may be a good deal for someone from the north or west coast, for example. For someone from the south who is making $11/hour, & is used to being able to take their family to a table service dinner for $40 or less, it's very expensive. At WDW everyone pays the same price, regardless of their income. It makes perfect sense that some would think it's a good deal & others would think it's a rip-off.

IMHO, we all need to be more understanding of the other person's situation. I won't tell someone they should be happy to be spending more than they make an hour for a burger at WDW. After all, that burger would have cost more in Yankee Stadium. For most, that's totally irrevelant. Anyone who chooses to vacation at Disney has to suck it up & pay for food. To be told they should be happy it doesn't cost more adds insult to injury.

disfan07,
My post isn't directed at you. Please, don't take it personally. It isn't. You just happened to post something I've been seeing on here for years, & I finally decided to say what I think every time I see something similar posted. I really believe many people who say the food is cheap at WDW doesn't realize food isn't the same prices everywhere. I don't think it's that expensive either, because the prices are comparable to what we pay around here. I'm originally from the mtns. of NC though, & it's very high compared to food prices there.

 

[catne]

A guests residence does pay a big part in whether or not they think the food is expensive. Obviously, food isn't the same price all over the country. Incomes aren't either. The areas in the country that have the highest food prices also have the highest salaries. You can eat out much cheaper in the south, for example, than you can in New York. Those on the DIS who live in areas with higher incomes don't seem to realize food isn't as expensive everywhere as it is where they live. Yes, WDW food may be a good deal for someone from the north or west coast, for example. For someone from the south who is making $11/hour, & is used to being able to take their family to a table service dinner for $40 or less, it's very expensive. At WDW everyone pays the same price, regardless of their income. It makes perfect sense that some would think it's a good deal & others would think it's a rip-off.

IMHO, we all need to be more understanding of the other person's situation. I won't tell someone they should be happy to be spending more than they make an hour for a burger at WDW. After all, that burger would have cost more in Yankee Stadium. For most, that's totally irrevelant. Anyone who chooses to vacation at Disney has to suck it up & pay for food. To be told they should be happy it doesn't cost more adds insult to injury.

disfan07,
My post isn't directed at you. Please, don't take it personally. It isn't. You just happened to post something I've been seeing on here for years, & I finally decided to say what I think every time I see something similar posted. I really believe many people who say the food is cheap at WDW doesn't realize food isn't the same prices everywhere. I don't think it's that expensive either, because the prices are comparable to what we pay around here. I'm originally from the mtns. of NC though, & it's very high compared to food prices there.

So true...prices back in my home-area of the US (Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri) are NOTHING like WDW prices. That $8.95 for just the burger at WDW would more than buy the whole meal at home (that would be including fries & soda with the burger) The $40 steaks in the WDW restaurants...that would be two steaks in Nebraska (bigger, and better, steaks, BTW...and come with rolls, large dinner salad, and a large loaded baked potato. Instead of a 1/2 serving of veggies like it does at WDW) However, the wage level is much lower in Nebraska, too. So, yes, it all evens out. But the difference in costs does surprise people, especially if they haven't traveled much prior to visiting WDW.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I think they were going to raise prices across the board and had to increase the dining plan as a result. It's just that those prices for the DDP were published first.

We are going in Feb and have free dining. I poured over menus to get an idea of where to eat. I kept thinking to myself, if this weren't free, I would NEVER buy it. It seems impossible to actually save!

From what I have read, snack credits are usually for items under $4, have they now included snacks in the dining plan that cost $5.00 plus or are these items no longer available?

(**yes we looked into room only discount, but it only saved $448.00 and I know we'll spend more than that on food for a week)

I have the 2012 Snack thread and it does seem to me that while they may not have raised the level (previously $4) to say $5, what they have done is keep most of the items as a SC even after the price rises to over $4. But that being said, not all items in the low $4 range are counted as a SC.

Link to my thread is in my siggy.

 

[minniebeth]

I agree that WDW food prices have gone up...and up. We were in WDW last January, June, October and again this January. There are definite price differences even between the few months. I know overall food prices have gone up and therefore, WDW needs to raise food prices...I get that, truly, I do. But, the problem I have with it all is that it seems like:
1. portions are smaller...in some ways that's ok, as some portions were very large to begin with
2. it seems like they've replaced a lot of products inferior substitutions
3. things like condiment bars, and choices in variety of many items are disappearing.

I don't mind paying Disney food prices, I know what to expect...but I do get irritated when the quality has declined, which I found to be so true for so much food on my recent January trip...I was so disappointed overall.

 

[disneydeb]

I AM THE ORIGINAL POSTER, I WAS THERE IN AUGUST AND I JUST RETURNED JAN 16TH-22ND, I LIVE IN CT SO IM USE TO HIGH PRICES AND I AM A NURSE SO I CAN AFFORD THE HIGH PRICES, I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH THE PRICES WENT UP SINCE AUGUST, I WENT INTO GHIRADELLIS AND WALKED RIGHT OUT BECAUSE THEIR HOT FUDGE SUNDAE THAT WAS 6 DOLLARS IN AUG IS NOW 9.50. I DID SUCK IT UP AND EAT AT T REX BECAUSE I LOVE THE OMIVORE SALAD, IN AUG I PAID SOMETHING LIKE 13 THIS TRIP IT WAS 1130 IN THE MORNING AND IT WAS 17.99 JUST FOR THE SALAD! YOU CAN STILL GET THE KETTLE CORN ON THE SNACK PLAN I WAS TALKING TO ONE OF THE CASHIERS AND SHE DIDNT REALIZE HOW MUCH THE PRICES HAVE GONE UP EITHER, EVEN THOUGH SHE DISCOURAGED ME FROM BUYING ONE OF THOSE REFILL CUPS SHE SAID UNLESS YOUR THERE FOR A FULL 3 DAYS THEY ARE NOT WORTH IT AND THEY HAVE GONE UP TO 14.99 OVER 15 DOLLARS WITH THE TAX, I WAS ALMOST THRU WITH MY VACATION WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT BUYING THE REFILL CUP