KaliSplash
Well-Known Member
Yes, it's very expensive. Yes, we don't go as often or for as long as we used to. Yes, it's worth every single penny
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Cost of Disney
- Thread starter kathy stomber
- Start date
correcaminos
Well-Known Member
I think that is true. We're in the midwest and the food prices at Disney are very high for the quality we get. We have good quality meats (thanks for local farmers) and Disney just is meh to us on that.
I did smile about the room cost in your other post. As a NYer if you say room costs are high, than you know they have to be! My company is based in midtown Manhattan so I stay often in hotels and the costs for NY hotels puts Disney to shame. Never mind what we'd pay here.
I agree, I left the precise time you did, I had an annual pass 2000-2015, I went a lot, when there was cheap airfare we were there (25 days/yr) always wanted to go back, now I don't care if I ever go back.
matt9112
Well-Known Member
you think the entire place is premium?
RustySpork
Oscar Mayer Memer
Yes, especially that All Star Sports resort.
Sirwalterraleigh
Premium Member
Actually music...country Western
Agree with this. With the exception of Pandora the crowds were very manageable. That heat is a beast though.
spacemtnfanatic
Active Member
I found myself at Cape May Cafe the other day, I was on WDW property for the first time in ages. For $49.99 before tip, I got a buffet with pretty good seafood, an average cut of prime rib, paella with sausage that was so overcooked that it crunched, and Golden Corral quality sides and desserts. Had what was on the buffet been $30-$35, it would have been appropriately priced. Had the quality of the food been what Walt Disney World once offered and is capable of offering, the going rate of $49.99 would have been fair. And this, my friends, is the disconnect. At some point charging premium prices for a better than average but not even close to premium experience, be it dining, resorts, or parks, is going to discourage folks from coming. Or at least you would think.
21stamps
Well-Known Member
I don’t think it will discourage people from visiting Disney World, it may discourage them from visiting a certain restaurant if the food is over cooked on a regular basis.
I think a lot of people expect to pay more when at Disney World..the same as people pay more for food when at any establishment that falls under “entertainment”.
I can tell you that my $22 margarita (premixed) at a football game is not as good as a margarita I can order at a bar.. for about $7 less.lol
spacemtnfanatic
Active Member
Right, but I was simply using this dining experience as an example. Experiences in the parks or staying at the resorts fall right in line with this same structure. Present day, you are paying five star prices for a three star experience. Whereas back in "the day" you were paying four star prices for a four star experience. This encompasses parks, resorts, dining, etc.
I think your your restaurant analogy is right on. People have an expectation when you go to a high end buffet, as you mentioned, its not just the fact of paying more because you are in Disney. If they sold a 12oz can of Coke for $2, you realize and have the same expectation of that Coke to be the same as whats purchased in a store, even though the price is 4 times higher, yet the same in not expected if the Buffet is 4 times the price.
Dunston
Well-Known Member
It's far too expensive for everything and just as is the case with all other areas of consumer economics, the price of everything has been increasing while wage growth has stagnated. Girlfriend and I wanted to go to Disney World after our graduation, but that trip would end up running way too expensive. This is also before even considering the cost of food in the parks. It's way too much for an average person in theiir 20's to do without going with one's family... rather take a road trip or go to a music festival something.
John park hopper
Well-Known Member
This was the experience we had at The Garden Grill $45.00/per person. It was our WDW trip after many years. For the price the food was average, as you state $30 would have been appropriate. Garden Grill was nothing like it was when you could order off a menu
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jimbojones
Well-Known Member
I used to really enjoy eating at Disney, I never thought it was "premium" dining but it was always tasty and I like not having to cook and cleanup . Having someone bring food to me and take away the dirty dishes is one of the small pleasures in life
Now I bring more food with me just because the food costs are so outrageous for what you get. It is changing my consumption patterns but I am still going back
correcaminos
Well-Known Member
Very good analogy. We were looking at options for Chinese for Christmas dinner, which I expect to have an upcharge. We found a place that had a good buffet for $32 with lots of seafood and prime rib as an option among other Chinese and American based foods. Comparatively to the $50 for Cape May.. the quality is slightly better an the cost is much less for what I'd say is comparative items. To add children 6-12 are $15 and under 6 are free.
The disconnect in pricing is found often throughout Disney too. Compare the price of a resort and the service you get and you'll see a big disconnect as well.
John park hopper
Well-Known Member
Prime example (may seem trivial) is I really love the Mickey Mouse ice cream the chocolate covered ones with the mouse ears and face on a stick. They taste so good on a hot day but come on $5.00 is alittle over the top. I realize WDW has high over head but I get the feeling they want to squeeze every penny out of you. Don't get me wrong I have a great time WDW and would go more often if it were not so expensive.
disneyfirstLJ
Well-Known Member
I have compared the cost of our week long summer vacations in Maine to our week long winter/spring vacations at Disney World over the past 4 years for my family of 2. The only cost that is higher for us in that comparison is transportation. We drive to Maine and fly to Disney World. So our transportation costs are higher for a Disney World trip. Otherwise the expenses for a place to stay, food and souvenirs come out to be similar. In Maine we rent a house for a week where as at Disney we stay at a value resort with our park tickets included in the package. I enjoy both of these vacations for very different reasons and it is interesting to see that the cost is pretty much a wash either way with the exception of transportation.
Cameron1529
Active Member
It is very interesting when you compare other trips and destinations. I would not have thought they would be around the same money.
matt9112
Well-Known Member
good points but keep in mind alot of the packages can still be good deals. (free dining for example) rack rates can make it a bit outrageous. I haven't stayed at the valued resorts in ages. not because I'm all high and mighty but the flamingo crossings hotels are cheaper (most of the year) and give you a far better value. on the other end of the spectrum you can find me at the swan or dolphin because at that price there value also can't be beat. the Disney resorts are a poor value IMHO.
Liane Layman
New Member
Yea Disney is expensive which I really hate but I love the place and I hate staying home and I save a lot of money other ways like food, hotel, air fare. And when you get the tickets on Disney's web you save money, especially the more you buy.