Are Disney food prices really over the top?

[LuvtheGoof]

This is so condescending it’s actually hard to read.

Hmm, not sure why it's condescending to state that we don't eat at fast food places. At our age, we are just trying to eat healthy on a day-to-day basis. Where we do eat a very occasional burger, it is $15 without a side, but so much better than any fast food burger.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

There's no shame in that kind of approach, and it's made easy in these days of ubiquitous hotel mini-fridges and grocery delivery. It's a dining model my own family is gradually moving back to, since our response when Disney raises prices isn't to pay more -- we simply buy less.

^^^ This.

 

[SaucyBoy]

For us, the price of meals at the QS places are fairly reasonable. Even in my rural town, a burger meal at the fast food joints are starting to inch close to around $10-11 bucks a person. We feel the price of the snack items are on the higher side, almost $6 for an ice cream sandwich is crazy for example.

 

[Andrew25]

I think it needs to be broken down by location type.

Quick Service - reasonably priced (excluding beverages + desserts)
Counter Service - depending on the item, it can be either expensive or fairly priced
Table Service - outrageously priced

The only "good deal" that I've found on Disney property would be the floats from Sunshine Terrace

 

[Weather_Lady]

I think it needs to be broken down by location type.

Quick Service - reasonably priced (excluding beverages + desserts)
Counter Service - depending on the item, it can be either expensive or fairly priced
Table Service - outrageously priced

The only "good deal" that I've found on Disney property would be the floats from Sunshine Terrace

I thought quick service and counter service meant the same thing. For purposes of your analysis, what is the difference between them?

 

[flynnibus]

I thought quick service and counter service meant the same thing. For purposes of your analysis, what is the difference between them?

Probably 'cart' aka ODV... vs real counter service...

 

[Andrew25]

I thought quick service and counter service meant the same thing. For purposes of your analysis, what is the difference between them?

Quick Service would be places like Connections Eatery, Satuli, Docking Bay, etc. that serve meals.
Counter Service typically serves snack items.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Quick Service would be places like Connections Eatery, Satuli, Docking Bay, etc. that serve meals.
Counter Service typically serves snack items.

Thank you. Disney uses the terms a little differently (defining "quick service" as "cafeteria-style or counter-service venues" and referring to snack venues as "snack carts"), so it's helpful to know what you meant. Understanding the terms as you intended, I totally agree with your analysis.

Help

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disneyworld.disney.go.com

 

[Beacon Joe]

You shoulda gone to New Orleans. Pat O'Brien's still sells their signature Hurricane cocktail for $11.50!

And to make matters worse, what Pat O'Brien's now sells as a Hurricane..... really isn't a Pat O'Brien's Hurricane and only bares a passing resemblance to the cocktail that made them famous.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

I agree that Disney food prices are hugely inflated, but it's hard for me to get too mad about it when every local festival and amusement park in my own locale does the same thing, and when I have a meaningful choice to do something different. Disney still allows us to bring in our own food, and (subject to capacity restrictions), I'm free to come and go from the parks to dine at less expensive offsite locations if I choose. I'm fully aware that if I pay $20 for a Disney hamburger, I'm not paying for a great-quality hamburger (because it probably won't be): I'm really paying for the convenience of not having to pack it, or travel to it, myself.

As much as Disney wants its guests to think that onsite dining is a "must-do," especially for non-locals staying for long periods, it's not, and never has been. I spent my childhood Disney visits (all done on a shoestring budget, staying at the campground in our second-hand popup) eating bologna sandwiches, apples, and potato chips out of my mother's giant magical Mom purse, much as @Lilofan describes above, and the closest we came to a character meal was dinner by Chef Boyardee. There's no shame in that kind of approach, and it's become even easier to do (and to do healthfully) in these days of ubiquitous hotel mini-fridges and grocery delivery. It's a dining model my own family is gradually moving back to, since our response when Disney raises prices isn't to pay more -- we simply buy less.

I blame all the guide books, yes sites like this for the fascination with some Disney Restaurants. For some of the in park ones, I get it because you are really limited in where you can go without leaving, but I have yet to find a hotel resort option that was so amazing I would drive to it instead of driving right off property to somewhere better.

 

[Lilofan]

I think it needs to be broken down by location type.

Quick Service - reasonably priced (excluding beverages + desserts)
Counter Service - depending on the item, it can be either expensive or fairly priced
Table Service - outrageously priced

The only "good deal" that I've found on Disney property would be the floats from Sunshine Terrace

I think for hungry appetites - Biertgarden Epcot for lunch. After all u can eat lunch, I ate so many apple strudels for dessert . No motion rides that afternoon

 

[larryz]

And to make matters worse, what Pat O'Brien's now sells as a Hurricane..... really isn't a Pat O'Brien's Hurricane and only bares a passing resemblance to the cocktail that made them famous.

But you still get (bang! bang! bang! bang!) four shots of rum...

 

[Lilofan]

And to make matters worse, what Pat O'Brien's now sells as a Hurricane..... really isn't a Pat O'Brien's Hurricane and only bares a passing resemblance to the cocktail that made them famous.

Watered down Hurricanes ? When we went to Mardi Gras it was mint juleps and hurricanes all night long until 6am for us.

 

[Beacon Joe]

Watered down Hurricanes ? When we went to Mardi Gras it was mint juleps and hurricanes all night long until 6am for us.

Not watered down. Larryz got it right that the original and the current Hurricane served at Pat O'Brien's both include 4 shots of rum.

The current one they serve uses premixed jugs of passionfruit syrup, OJ, lime juice, and a lot of simple syrup. With grenadine added for color and which makes the current version bright red instead of the subtle orange it used to be. The original used equal parts passionfruit syrup (or possibly fassionola), lemon juice, and no additional sweeteners. And that's it. I actually like both versions, but prefer the dryer original. A much different cocktail. And despite what Pat O'Brien's claims nowadays, that three ingredient recipe is Louis Culligan's original recipe.

At least Pat O'Brien's doesn't dump some rum into watered down Hawaiian Punch and call it a day, like some bars do nowadays.

 

[mdcpr]

You shoulda gone to New Orleans. Pat O'Brien's still sells their signature Hurricane cocktail for $11.50!

Patos!!!! Mardi Gras memories.

 

[Prince-1]

I mean shoot, the "Big Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger Triple" at my local Wendy's costs $8.29, upfront at least...

View attachment 637576

After medical expenses and a funeral, we're talking tens or even hundreds of thousands!

That looks so gross.

 

[mp80237]

Lol. Happy Mother's day gang . The reason why I ask is because I'm currently in Las Vegas and I just paid 34 for a Pina colada.

I immediately thought this place could give Disney a run for the money

For sure. Food quality has gone downhill. I was there in February. Everywhere we used to love to eat, the food quality wasn't there (of course that didn't stop the price increases). When I spend $20 or $30 for breakfast and ask for scrambled eggs, I would expect them to be real scrabbled eggs. Not the eggs you get with your complimentary breakfast at a hotel (ie Embassy Suites - eggs that come from a box and have additives).

 

[John park hopper]

For sure. Food quality has gone downhill. I was there in February. Everywhere we used to love to eat, the food quality wasn't there (of course that didn't stop the price increases). When I spend $20 or $30 for breakfast and ask for scrambled eggs, I would expect them to be real scrabbled eggs. Not the eggs you get with your complimentary breakfast at a hotel (ie Embassy Suites - eggs that come from a box and have additives).

30 bucks can buy you a dozen real eggs and a pound of good bacon and still have money left over. I guess you are paying for the magic not the food. Disney is just following the industry standard- box eggs. Following the industry standards like charging for resort parking. Disney is sliding down the hill

 

[Dutch Inn '76]

WDW food is expensive, but it's not what I would consider "over the top." Vegas is over the top. NYC is at most outlets.

Tourist "traps" are called that for a reason...

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

You shoulda gone to New Orleans. Pat O'Brien's still sells their signature Hurricane cocktail for $11.50!

Hand Grenade > Hurricane