News WDW Food and Beverage Price Increases 10/1/2019

[Sirwalterraleigh]

The more I travel, the more I eat in NYC or London, and the more Disney raises its prices for processed, packaged food that it unwraps and pretends is fresh—the more Disney dining feels like a ripoff. Sadly, this gouging just started over the last few years.

The dining plan was a setup for the start...both with hook pricing, reduction of benefits, and ridiculous rise in retail costs of food and bev to make it “valuable”

...I could give a speech...and Indeed I did on other forums circa 2006-2009...
...but I won’t here

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

No. Greed would be Mobil or BP raising gas prices to $7 a gallon, knowing that people can't live without it. Greed is pharmaceutical companies charging an arm and a leg for life saving medicine.

Disney is just engaging in a questionable pricing practice with their guests to see how much they're willing to pay for a non-essential item. Nobody needs to go to Disney World nor do guests there need to buy a coke (a cup of water is always free). Thats why I hope at some point (and we're obviously starting to see it by way of decreased admission), people start actively voting with their wallets by NOT purchasing any item that has a price that far exceeds it's true market value. I know many folks, even with cast discounts, who have started to decrease their merchandise and food purchases. $4+ for sugar water at a park you've just paid over $100 to enter or $20+a day parking fee at a "deluxe" hotel that you're paying $380+ to stay there just doesn't make a lot of sense..but until people stop purchasing these items or agreeing to such fees, it won't stop.

Indeed...post of the day

 

[Mainahman]

It looks like mostly popular snacks and QS desserts and sides have gone up. They haven’t touched drinks (a wise move). The most egregious increase I could find is at Pecos Bill’s - Rice / Beans have gone from $2.99 to $4.49. A 50% increase.

Makes me wonder if i could smuggle a can of beans and a can opener in the park..... LOL

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Apparently they don't understand why they have decreased attendance and are doing the opposite of remedying the situation.

I said it on another thread: a recent conversation with a travel agent regarding what’s coming out of wholesale booking indicates top down the mandate is there will be no price breaks in 2020 even though the numbers are looking terrible.

They see it as a bridge year and are dug in.

So when I tell people to knock off “for the 50th” nonsense...the chickens are coming home to roost. Just feeding the monster and what we should be doing is punching them in the wallet

Call me a cynic---- I guess since they donated a million dollars to the Bahamians for hurricane relief Disney is not going to take out of their profits --make it up by raising prices we the consumers pay

Yeah...price increases are decided upon In a bubble...it has nothing to do with anything other than revenue forecasting

 

[Sonconato]

Meanwhile, I also have an annual pass at Sea World and I received this email with quite the dining offer. How could you go wrong with this?! 14 months for $120!

 

[ToTBellHop]

Meanwhile, I also have an annual pass at Sea World and I received this email with quite the dining offer. How could you go wrong with this?! 14 months for $120!
View attachment 415496

But Sea World sucks and abuses animals. Disney only abuses its fans.

 

[Sonconato]

But Sea World sucks and abuses animals. Disney only abuses its fans.

Still a full CNN Blackfish believer? There is ALWAYS two sides to a story which requires a lot of additional research which I have done.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

But Sea World sucks and abuses animals. Disney only abuses its fans.

Still a full CNN Blackfish believer? There is ALWAYS two sides to a story which requires a lot of additional research which I have done.

That was sarcasm

 

[Sonconato]

That was sarcasm

But I believed the fan abuse because I am one...No Burudika soon!

 

[Horizons '83]

I don’t think you really mean that

Of course I do! You keep me honest!

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Isn't the plan to raise prices in order to price people out to help with crowds?

Nope...

That “theory” was actually dropped on the ground as Mr. Ed walked by...

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

as a former Merchandise castmember, I can't tell you how many times someone will ask the price of something, then I tell them and they scoff and say they don't want it or make some remark. and while I agree, it's often rude. I don't set the prices, don't blame me!

Making this a tad personal, aren’t ya??

Considering the price they paid to even get to that point with you (assuming you work in the parks), what did they honestly expect? That the cost was all front-loaded and food/merchandise were going to be dirt cheap? It boggles my mind how many people don't understand how parking fees/admission is not where the profits are generated.

The reactions are a subconscious reaction to the huge AGGREGATE increases...the slow burn over time.

Books should be written about the Iger years - by the way, Igers book is embarrassingly short...he can’t even make his boring life look good in print.

Anyway...the dining plan was a huge red flag that turned out exactly the way I fear. I’ll take that back...actually it’s much worse. I Never thought people would embrace huge upcharges at restaurants and they have fallen for them like a blind roofer.

The increase in standard prices during the Great Recession was the second warning...

The third - “phase ME” - is the cheap factioning off of normal hours and attractions and repackaging them as “exclusive”

It does not take Scotland Yard to follow the trail back to how we got here.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Upon further review...these increases seem rather minor.

Don’t think this is the les miserables moment that it was originally portrayed as

 

[tissandtully]

Refillable mugs up $1, QS snacks up $.50, QS meals up $1.00, Refillable Popcorn up $2, Churros up $.50
Roughly a 5-20% hike.

The refillable popcorn price was always too good to be true. Only 500% profit before, now almost 1000%.

 

[Disorbust]

I know many folks, even with cast discounts, who have started to decrease their merchandise and food purchases.

Yup, both my kids with "real" jobs rarely buy anything in the parks anymore. Its sad when they have priced out their own employees.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I know many folks, even with cast discounts, who have started to decrease their merchandise and food purchases.

Yup, both my kids with "real" jobs rarely buy anything in the parks anymore. Its sad when they have priced out their own employees.

But they’re still IN the parks

This is the Disney “tale as old as time”...they have never cared that much about employee consumption.

 

[Markiewong]

It does look like it will be that or Chapek, at this point.

I'd just be happy with someone that truly cares about Walt Disney's legacy and the parks.

Catherine powell has left the chat

 

[Lilofan]

I know many folks, even with cast discounts, who have started to decrease their merchandise and food purchases.

Yup, both my kids with "real" jobs rarely buy anything in the parks anymore. Its sad when they have priced out their own employees.

Perhaps a few are waking up to reality and are getting their financial closets in order? Perhaps paying off debt, meeting monthly expenses on time so they don't lose their house, or condo, or car, to the bank?

 

[John park hopper]

Is there any basis for these price increases -has the inflation rate sky rocketed, has the cost of production increased, has the cost of raw materials increased, labor costs up? I suspect it is simply a case of we are Disney and we can and the lemmings will not even notice.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Also I am not sure if anyone has posted this elsewhere the premium Magic Bands that can be ordered are now a bit higher. They started out at $10.00 when that was first released. I am now seeing some for $15.00 and $20.00 as well. There is still one or two that are $10.00 and of course the solid color ones that are free, as a choice though. Marie