What's with the drink prices???

[JLitfin]

Go to just about any resort area and $8, $9, $10 for a drink is what you are going to fine. We just got back from a Royal Caribbean cruise and our drinks were within this price range, even the drink of the day. Disney is a popular resort area, so yes the prices are going to be higher.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Prices are in line with what I'd expect to pay anywhere else.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Just got back from our stay.....enjoyed White Russians by the pool most days.....$8.75 per drink!! Expensive? Yup! Worth every sip? You betchya!

White Russians? Duuuude!!! (Sorry for the Big Lebowski reference).

 

[Tarabra]

So, according to the OP, if Disney cuts their prices on drinks, people would drink more, possibly making more money for Disney, but also putting more alcohol out in the Disney-going populace. So then, instead of just the occasional obnoxious person, we would have the more frequent, drunk, obnoxious person? I guess if higher prices means a person will consume one drink instead of three or four, I vote they keep the prices higher. But perhaps that's just me....

I'm not talking about turning Disney into party central...ahem...Pleasure Island, but definitely the prices are too high. I'm not going out for an evening of debauchery, I just would like a couple of drinks while hanging out at the pool. Trust me, it would take A LOT of those drinks to get crazy. By jacking up the prices, as you can see, everyone that chooses to drink will bring their own alcohol anyway. There is more of a chance of people drinking too much that way. If my husband and I have 2 drinks each, that's $40. For $40 on DCL, we could have 10 drinks! Not that we would, but it's still the principle. Even at dinner, you could get a nice mixed drink for $6. In 5 years of being a DVC member, I've bought 1 drink! I guess I'm just reverting back to my economics classes in college.

As far as Walt Disney not wanting alcohol, my husband always says Walt would be rolling over in his grave.

 

[Sandisw]

Just got back from our stay.....enjoyed White Russians by the pool most days.....$8.75 per drink!! Expensive? Yup! Worth every sip? You betchya!

That sounds really good!!! I think I will start putting away $10.00 a week from now. I have 3 months until our trip, so if my math is right, I can drink 12 of them during our trip!!!!!

It does seem high, but we expect it when we are at Disney, so not surprised. I do think, however, that if they were a few dollars less, they might make that up in volume for those that don't buy them because of the price.

DH and I are not huge drinkers, so to go through the trouble of bringing in our own alcohol probably would not make sense so we just deal when we are there.

 

[Tarabra]

The drink of the day might be something for them to consider is all I'm saying. I'd get one every day on the ship and it was fun to try the different tropical drinks. I forget how many thousands they sell per cruise, but it's quite a bit. They also have the refillable beer mugs that you buy for $14.99 and can refill I think 20 oz for the price of a 16 oz. It's something as simple as a $1 unsweet icied tea at McDonald's. I buy one whenever I'm there. If they were $1.69, I wouldn't. Call me frugal.

I also refuse to pay the prices of beer at a concert or ball game. One beer for $9??? I won't buy it. If it were $6, I'd buy 2.

 

[Tiger926]

So, according to the OP, if Disney cuts their prices on drinks, people would drink more, possibly making more money for Disney, but also putting more alcohol out in the Disney-going populace. So then, instead of just the occasional obnoxious person, we would have the more frequent, drunk, obnoxious person? I guess if higher prices means a person will consume one drink instead of three or four, I vote they keep the prices higher. But perhaps that's just me....

Tiger

 

[Hopefully]

Another voice to express that the prices at Disney are in line with what we pay in our area as well. Maybe the Northeast is higher priced (wouldn't surprise me) but it is in line with here.

 

[twinklebug]

TIW card gets you 20% off on the price of your drinks and food.

Is the TIW card good at the Resort pool bars? I never remember to bring it when I'm swimming with the kids, but if it is I will. 20% off is like buy 5 get one free

 

[crisi]

The drink of the day might be something for them to consider is all I'm saying. I'd get one every day on the ship and it was fun to try the different tropical drinks. I forget how many thousands they sell per cruise, but it's quite a bit. They also have the refillable beer mugs that you buy for $14.99 and can refill I think 20 oz for the price of a 16 oz. It's something as simple as a $1 unsweet icied tea at McDonald's. I buy one whenever I'm there. If they were $1.69, I wouldn't. Call me frugal.

I also refuse to pay the prices of beer at a concert or ball game. One beer for $9??? I won't buy it. If it were $6, I'd buy 2.

Drink of the day is a great thing on a cruise ship - and almost necessary to supplement the income of the waitstaff. The dynamics are very different at a 47 square mile resort where anyone can walk into the pool area or a lounge than they are on a ship where everyone who is there is your 'guest' and has already paid big money to be on the ship. Similarly, the business drivers at an offsite bar where they have happy hour are going to be different than those onsite.

Disney doesn't care that much if you drink or not on an individual level. Their cost accountant review pricing and have decided they have pricing set optimally for their business - that is their job. When their alcohol revenue decreases, they might decide to take a margin hit to see if they can't regain the profit in volume. But apparently, that hasn't been the case and they are happy with their margins and profit.

 

[Tarabra]

Drink of the day is a great thing on a cruise ship - and almost necessary to supplement the income of the waitstaff. The dynamics are very different at a 47 square mile resort where anyone can walk into the pool area or a lounge than they are on a ship where everyone who is there is your 'guest' and has already paid big money to be on the ship. Similarly, the business drivers at an offsite bar where they have happy hour are going to be different than those onsite.

Disney doesn't care that much if you drink or not on an individual level. Their cost accountant review pricing and have decided they have pricing set optimally for their business - that is their job. When their alcohol revenue decreases, they might decide to take a margin hit to see if they can't regain the profit in volume. But apparently, that hasn't been the case and they are happy with their margins and profit.

But I'm not happy. So...I guess after Disney reads this thread, they'll be like hey...we can keep the prices high...nobody seems to care.

 

[twinklebug]

But I'm not happy. So...I guess after Disney reads this thread, they'll be like hey...we can keep the prices high...nobody seems to care.

I really believe that while on vacation in Disney people don't care. The cost of a $9 drink is insignificant when compared to the cost of the hotel rooms and passes. The general feeling is one of "I'm on vacation, I worked for and have earned this, I'm having a drink, $9 or not." When they do care is when that bill comes in

We don't need alcohol to survive. We have the option of not buying it or not. The cost of bottled water gets me though as we do need that to survive. I've managed to pinpoint my favorite stands that will give out free cups of water though

 

[crisi]

But I'm not happy. So...I guess after Disney reads this thread, they'll be like hey...we can keep the prices high...nobody seems to care.

If you think Disney makes decisions on prices based about people complaining about prices on a message board, you don't understand how business works.

Disney will lower prices when the cost negatively effects the demand. As long as people buy the drinks at those prices - and apparently people are - Disney will sell them at those prices. Your choices are to buy them, or do something else - as myself and other people on this thread already do - a LOT of us bring our own bottle to Disney for the pool and the room. DVC will even give you a blender, so if you want your margaritas on ice, you can do it.

 

[dcamdad]

But I'm not happy. So...I guess after Disney reads this thread, they'll be like hey...we can keep the prices high...nobody seems to care.

If you're not happy with the price then don't buy it, as others have said $8-$9 for a mixed drink is not really out of line with most resorts or any other public place for that matter. I normally pay around $8 for a margarita at most places. This past weekend we were at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg and a bottle of "their" beer which is brewed and bottled next to the park was $5 and some change. Is Disney (not DVC as you indicated) making a healthy profit off alcohol sales, of course they are its called convenience, you have the option of bringing your own as many do, but if I'm walking around Epcot and want a margarita from Mexico (one of my favorite things to do) the last thing I'm thinking is "Wow I think I paid $2 - $3 too much for this". Nope I'll gladly pony up the $ and enjoy myself.

 

[Tarabra]

Yes...I chose not to buy the alcohol. I just thought MAYBE I'd get some support over here. It may not have seemed so excessive had I not just got off the ship as I've mentioned. 2 for 1 drinks, at $6. 2 for $6!! I don't need to get slammed/flamed! Silly!

And yes Disney does read the boards. So if no one else thinks the "drink of the day" is a good idea, I'll drop it. I just thought it would be a good suggestion. I'll go back to my DCL board now.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Ahhh yes, plus we enjoy our afternoon cocktail hour on the balcony.

Yes, and not to forget the mid to late morning, late morning to mid afternoon, late afternoon to early evening, evening, and late evening cocktail hours.

 

[dbs1228]

Yes...I chose not to buy the alcohol. I just thought MAYBE I'd get some support over here. It may not have seemed so excessive had I not just got off the ship as I've mentioned. 2 for 1 drinks, at $6. 2 for $6!! I don't need to get slammed/flamed! Silly!

And yes Disney does read the boards. So if no one else thinks the "drink of the day" is a good idea, I'll drop it. I just thought it would be a good suggestion. I'll go back to my DCL board now.

I agree that 9.00 for a drink is over the top! We went to VWL for "a" drink there was 8 of us and the bill was over 80.00 for 1 drink each! I will not be doing that again I will make my own and have happy hour on the balcony. I like the drink of the day idea myself and I would certainly buy into that. It is not only the drinks that are getting out of hand it is all the nickle and diming Disney has been doing (especially the past few years). Seems like whenever there is free dining or pay 4 nights get 3 free prices for everything else across the board goes up. Locker rentals went from 7.00 to 12.00 a day in the parks , what the hay is that!

 

[Tiger926]

I'm not trying to insult the OP, but this whole thread is silly, IMHO. Alcohol is a luxury, not a necessity, so why the heck would they discount it? They don't need to, as this thread proves that people will pay anything to drink. Discounting is for when sales are hurting or necessary, like on the cruise. They have much smaller groups of people in which to cater to, so they need to sell the alcohol or toss it out. Discounts or sales are not rewards, but are used as marketing ploys - the parks don't need to discount drinks as people will buy regardless, as proven on this thread. Plus, the parks have so many more guests that will purchase alcohol at restaurants and such, so they probably have a much higher turnover rate for the product itself.

By the way, you can start the same thread for bottled water, Mickey ice cream, character buffets, etc. Why does Disney charge higher prices? Because they can!!!!

Tiger

 

[KSDisneyDad]

With the exception of a wine pairing at V&A's for our anniversary, and a day at the F&W Festival at Epcot without the kids, I think I can count on one hand the number of drinks we've purchased at WDW, primarily, because the prices are too high. However, we rarely order drinks out at home for the same reason (and because I refuse to drive after drinking even one drink).

Even though the prices are less expensive on DCL, we find that we still don't drink that much on board. Generally, we only order drinks when we're at the adult pool (a BBC is about $5.00 and the drink of the day is less than $4.00) or when we're on Castaway Cay (2 for 1 between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm!!). Plus, there's no tax on the cruise ship! However, we do splurge at the sailaway party and buy a drink for all of us, including the kids. I do it even though I find it outrageous that DCL charges the same for the same drink whether or not they spike it with rum for the adults or virgin for the kids, it's a tradition for us. It's still less expensive than a drink at WDW and you get a "free" souvenir glass.

This fall, we're doing a 20th Anniversary trip to the Board Walk (first time using our DVC membership!) and a 4-night trip on the Wonder sans kids. We will visit Epcot and I plan to enjoy a Grey Goose Slushie or Grand Marnier Slushie (or both!!) regardless of price. I've been wanting to try one the last couple of trips, but haven't done so.

I agree that its all simple supply & demand on pricing. At certain price points, we just say no.

 

[pditullio]

The cost is justified when it's the closest drink to you.