Should Disney offer a Non-Alcoholic Compromise on Dessert Parties?

[HopperFan]

As much as I'd like to attend a few of these "parties", being forced to pay full-price for an event that offers "All you care to responsibly enjoy alcohol" built into the price when you don't drink at all is kind of ridiculous.

If the current price structure is $79 for adults and that includes anyone older than 12, it's just highway robbery, especially considering anyone 12-20 can't drink in the first place.

I don't know if I would say those who chose not to drink or can't drink should pay the childs price, but maybe if they changed the tiering to something like

Adults 21+ Who Want Alcohol $79
Anyone 12+ and 21+ Who Don't Drink $49
Anyone 11 Under $29

It's not even that difficult to police if at check-in they afix wristbands to those who are 21+ who bought the booze option for the party.

Anyone else in agreement?

MK Dessert Party doesn't offer alcohol and having just gone, the desserts were a high disappointment.
And they sell that thing out at ...
Admission is $84 per adult and $50 per child (ages 3 to 9) including tax.
So clearly the lack of alcohol doesn't prevent folks from being okay to pay those huge prices.


Disney Dining Plan includes alcohol in the package and there are no price breaks for non-drinkers.

HDDR includes alcohol in the price with no non-drinker prices.

Private events like Club Villain included alcohol in the package and there were no non-drinker prices.

Highway in the Sky event includes alcohol in the package and there are no non-drinker prices.

There are plenty of offerings at Disney that handle it the same way.

To the wristband thing, that won't work.
Adult A buys the drink ticket, Adult B does not.
Adult A gets a drink and Adult B drinks it.
Disney doesn't want to have to approach guests doing this ... and guests will.

I have no issue with how they do it, I am fine with a set price ......
...... because in the end EVERYTHING is OPTIONAL.


NOTE: I have an adult DS who does not drink, I understand I will pay the same for him.

 

[Anthony1971]

No offense but in this case the price is the price and the price is for the event... If you pay for a wedding you have a choice to have an open bar or some places just Wine and Beer and at some places a pay bar...where I am from its all or nothing...and every wedding here is all... anyway you choice it is per head not per person who drinks or does not. The majority of people drink and will only have one maybe two drinks... the extreme minority will have more... so if I go and only want one drink my ticket should be less as well as paying the 30.00 premium someone assumed for one drink is very steep....With events you are paying little for the food and Drink if included its about the event itself and your decision to eat or drink what is included...seriously there are not many people who will eat more than a few small items anyway at these things....Maybe fruit or like but a lot of sugar just does not sit well with most people.... But possibly my brother in law could eat the entire 20 dollar cake

 

[Hopefully]

OP. To answer your question: NO I do not think Disney should offer a “ compromise “. Don’t go if you don’t want. Not everything is for everyone, anywhere in life. Just move on

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

Unless someone is treating one of these dessert parties like a college frat party and really pounding those drinks, a single person is not going to be able to drink all that much in the hour or so that the alcohol is available. What they spend per drink getting it wholesale is minimal. It's not a full bar and the drinks aren't anywhere close to being on the same level as the drinks you can purchase in the parks just outside of the party. They have cheap wine, one or two cheap beer selections, and a couple of weak mixed drinks with cheap rack liquor. They probably spend maybe 50 cents per drink actually handed out. Even if someone manages to have 8 drinks in that hour, they're still likely spending less than $5 on the alcohol for that person, and I don't imagine most people are realistically having anywhere close to that many drinks. If someone doesn't partake of the alcohol, they are likely drinking the non-alcoholic beverages and possibly even eating more of the desserts since alcohol and a ton of sugar don't tend to settle well for most. That costs money too. What it costs Disney for a guest to have 5 alcoholic drinks and a small serving of fondue is probably not much different than a guest who drinks 3 non-alcoholic drinks and samples a little bit of all of the food. Our table for the FEA party was about 12 feet from the bar and I only ever saw a handful of people go up to it. It costs them very little to have alcohol available, but helps to draw in a few more people.

It may seem like you are paying extra for something you won't drink, but the price would likely be the same even without the alcohol. The adult cost isn't less at the MK parties which don't serve it at all.

 

[LilyWDW]

OP. To answer your question: NO I do not think Disney should offer a “ compromise “. Don’t go if you don’t want. Not everything is for everyone, anywhere in life. Just move on

100% agree and I don't drink.

Sorry OP. If the value isn't there then you have the choice not to go. But Disney shouldn't have to cater to every single person.

 

[goodeats]

The dining plan now includes alcohol - I can't see them "discounting" the plan for teetotalers. Then they'd have to discount it for vegetarians, people who don't eat beef, etc.

If there is value in the dessert party for you than go, if there's not than don't.

 

[littleblackegg]

Disney makes choices just like any other corporation. That is according to demand. It seems like these parties are always full, and they sell-out of them every night. Disney will price items and offer items based on what guests are willing to pay. If these parties remain as popular as they are, I don't see them having tiered pricing or reduced pricing. People are happy to pay. People who attend these parties are casting their votes with their dollars. Those of us who look at the pricing and offerings and decide on another nice dinner are doing the same.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

OP. To answer your question: NO I do not think Disney should offer a “ compromise “. Don’t go if you don’t want. Not everything is for everyone, anywhere in life. Just move on

Absobloodylutely!

I'm chiming in. What if I don't watch fireworks? Should I get a discount on my CR room facing MK? What if I hate water but love the beach boys music, should I get a discount at typhoon lagoon?

What if animals creep me out but I love Dinosaurs, should I get a discount at AK. Blast I could go on and on. but I love the debate. Had to chime in.

 

[jenjersnap]

I wish there was a discount for 10-20 year-olds at parties that serve alcohol, but I do realize that will never, ever happen.

 

[Skippyboo]

Whatever activities the dessert party gets you be it watching the fireworks, going on FEA etc. You can do that same activity as a regular park guest for no additional charge. If people are going to dessert parties, why would they tier the prices? They just raised the prices. None of the dessert party are good value based on what you would eat or drink at one. Some may value the reserved viewing spots.

 

[greg9x]

Disney is about making money, not lowering prices.. As others have said, the alcohol cost is minimal to Disney, they throw it in to make it more 'worth it' to some. But none of the desert parties are near worth the cost, they're a way to sell reserved experiences.

 

[danikoski]

My biggest issue is charging a 10 year old as an adult, but that's across the board at Disney, not just the dessert parties. I truly believe the child age should go up to 12, but I'm not going to change that. We just won't do the DDP for our family, and we won't eat at as many buffets or character experiences. We will, though, be doing the HEA dessert party because I enjoy not being in the general crowd in the hub.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I think there should be an over/under 21 price structure. If people are not legally permitted to drink, they shouldn't be charged for it.

 

[mckennarose]

............ Then they'd have to discount it for vegetarians, people who don't eat beef, etc.........

I agree. I am gluten free, not by choice but necessary for medical reasons. I've done a few dessert parties and never once thought I was over paying or should have a discounted price because I don't get to eat all the pretty desserts. You're paying for the entire experience including the special view, you're not paying by the item.

BTW, I'm not knocking the way Disney handles dietary requests, because they are wonderful. I'm just saying that my experience is different from the standard that most people get when they pay for the dessert party. And I'm ok with that.

 

[kandb]

I agree it stinks but that's like a thin person who doesn't eat a lot wanting to pay differently at a buffet than a obese person who eats a lot. It's also ridiculous IMO to have a 10 year old child pay the same amount as a large adult who will eat 5 times as much as the 10 year old child. We don't do buffets anymore because of this. We have an upcoming ohana adr that just my husband and I are going to because I refuse to pay almost $50 for my 15 year old children who are picky and don't eat 75% of what they serve.

 

[Hopefully]

I agree it stinks but that's like a thin person who doesn't eat a lot wanting to pay differently at a buffet than a obese person who eats a lot. It's also ridiculous IMO to have a 10 year old child pay the same amount as a large adult who will eat 5 times as much as the 10 year old child. We don't do buffets anymore because of this. We have an upcoming ohana adr that just my husband and I are going to because I refuse to pay almost $50 for my 15 year old children who are picky and don't eat 75% of what they serve.

It is an untrue, unnecessary bias to state thin people don’t eat a lot.
It is untrue, unnecessary bias to say obese people eat a lot.

 

[kandb]

It is an untrue, unnecessary bias to state thin people don’t eat a lot.
It is untrue, unnecessary bias to say obese people eat a lot.

I am sure there are exceptions but for the majority, larger people eat more than thinner people. For the majority, weight is based on calorie consumption. I know some have thyroid or other medical issues that might make them overweight but that is not the majority. The point is, everyone is getting charged the same and some eat a little and some will sit and consume large amounts of food.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Well I am not sure about 10 year olds boys, but I know a lot of 15 year olds who can out eat just about anyone : )

 

[BrianL]

Yeah, I mean, I get it as I am someone who doesn't drink, but how could they really police it. It just kinda is what it is, and that's the deal. The only way it could work would be to lower the price and serve no alcohol at all. Then again, the MK desert party doesn't even offer alcohol and it is just as expensive. You're really paying for the event anyway, not just what you consume. I found that I got plenty of value out of the Star Wars desert party I attended, and as I said, I do not drink.

 

[BrianL]

Well I am not sure about 10 year olds boys, but I know a lot of 15 year olds who can out eat just about anyone : )

Oh yeah. Most teenage boys could totally crush a desert party!