Snack and beverage increases! Oh my

[Pumbaa_]

If you haven’t already seen the news, prices are going up, a lot! My precious Diet Coke is now $4.50! I will be getting a grocery delivery for beverages and bringing my own with me. A mickey bar is just not worth $5.75, to me.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...bean-beach-resort-now-accepting-reservations/

Previous prices are in parentheses

• • Bottled Water – $3.50 ($3.00)
    
  • Bottled Sodas – $4.50 ($4.0)
  • Fountain Drink, Small – $3.99 ($3.29)
  • Fountain Drink, Large – $4.49 ($3.79)
  • Mickey Bar, Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich – $5.75 (5.00)
  • Frozen Banana – $5.75 ($5.25)
  • Olaf Frozen Bar – $5.50 ($4.75)
  • Strawberry Fruit Bar – $5.25 ($4.50)
  • Mickey Pretzel – $7.00 ($6.00)
  • Churro – $6.25 ($4.50)

 

[ToxicRoyalty]

That pretzel price, man.. ooof. It makes the popcorn refills slightly less attractive too.

 

[ToxicRoyalty]

Though the churro price jump is definitely the most ridiculous to me

 

[verleniahall]

I read on Fb that the lg went to $5.50? Could have hit the wrong number I guess? (Them, not u)

 

[mom2rtk]

People, this is a CRISIS. I'm sure Iger needs his and hers chalets when he retires. Just pony up already.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Makes me feel even better about getting the Dining Plan for our trip in a few weeks!

There is even more value to the DDP now. Those little increases add up, even over a few days for a couple people. Could be a big value for larger familys and longer trips!

I had done some math on what we'd expect to spend out of pocket and the cost of the DDP was slightly more money but I still went with it for the "pre-paid/ all-inclusive" feeling and the ability to chose what we want off the menu without guilt. The math was close. These snack and beverage changes certainly tip the scales in the other direction.

 

[ellbell]

So glad I got free dining bouncebacks. With 6 people and 3 of them teen boys paying all those drink and snack prices would kill me.

 

[Pumbaa_]

This definitely puts an advantage to the Dining plan

 

[MinnieMSue]

Yep those prices are in ridiculous territory. I can’t see paying $7 for a pretzel. At our zoo yesterday in Columbus they were $2! Bring on the free cups of water cause that’s all we will be buying. I might have to do new math to figure if dining plan works. We do have AP discount on table service so I need to whip out my calculator but dang that’s nuts!!!!!

 

[herrmannpt]

Wow! My Dinning plan snack credits just got more valuable. I dread the day when my Disney kids age out and become Disney adults...

 

[GillianP1301]

Nobody really likes price increases, but I personally don't see this as a sky is falling moment. I think it's been awhile since any significant changes in snack pricing (I'm sure somebody on here will have the data on here of when that was), so it was kind of inevitable. The biggest problem with trying to hold your prices over a long period of time is when you do get around to an increase, they are usually pretty substantial. It won't change how I buy snacks while I'm at WDW, so for me personally this isn't a huge deal. However that churro increase is a bit puzzling since it's proportionately so much more than the others.

As for the dining plan, I would fully expect we'll see the increase in these prices reflected in the new dining plan prices that generally go up a little at the start of each year anyway. I'm locked in with a free dining plan bounce back, so already getting current year pricing for next year's vacation, thankfully. Love the bounce back!

 

[AnnaS]

Wow - not just 25 or 50 cents.......I am sure everything else will be going up too (price of dining plan, room, etc.).

 

[cadien]

That makes me appreciate the unlimited free Mickey bars on Disney cruises even more.

 

[Farro]

We still don't eat enough to justify the dining plan, even with snack price increases. We don't really buy snacks all that often, unless sake or champagne counts as a snack.

Still, prices increases are never fun!

 

[DLgal]

Though the churro price jump is definitely the most ridiculous to me

Seriously. I can buy a 25ct box of Tio Pepe churros from Smart & Final for $10.99. That is a retail unit price of $0.43 per churro. These are the ones they sell at Disneyland, exactly. I'll just stock up at home.

 

[mmps108]

Makes me feel even better about getting the Dining Plan for our trip in a few weeks!

There is even more value to the DDP now. Those little increases add up, even over a few days for a couple people. Could be a big value for larger familys and longer trips!

I had done some math on what we'd expect to spend out of pocket and the cost of the DDP was slightly more money but I still went with it for the "pre-paid/ all-inclusive" feeling and the ability to chose what we want off the menu without guilt. The math was close. These snack and beverage changes certainly tip the scales in the other direction.

We have a trip booked for January (8 days Pop) and December (6 days on my parents DVC points) 2019. We are finally getting AP and trying Disney, for the first time in 6 trips, without the Dining Plan. After I saw this price increase I hopped on WDW's site to see if we could get our same room/dates with the "free dining" package this winter and we can't. I'd have to go to All-Star Sports. But using my spreadsheets, we'd save about $500 and we wouldn't have to worry about what we ate. I was really hoping the AP/TIW discount was going to finally cure us of the Dining plan but now I'm wondering if it makes sense. If we book a package, we lock in our tickets (before the increase) and the food is paid for up front. UGH. SO HARD TO DECIDE!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

It doesn't seem like much but after a week in the parks with a family of four it can really add up.

$7 for a pretzel. Ouch!

 

[Pumbaa_]

Exactly! 75 cents doesn’t seem like a big deal. But paying $4.50 for a bottle of soda! Ouch

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Exactly! 75 cents doesn’t seem like a big deal. But paying $4.50 for a bottle of soda! Ouch

We don't really drink soda. The only time we do is when we order pizza at home or eat out. At Disney I try to drink lots of water and skip soda since we are eating out for every meal. This just seals the deal for me. I will be drinking free ice water 95% of the time. We will get water for the room and DD can get a refillable mug. No way am I spending $10 a MEAL on soda!

 

[gharter]

I suspect you'll see even more people bringing in food from outside the park. Last trip, we saw a stroller loaded with a big cooler and so much food and snacks, there was barely room for the baby.