Food Costs: WDW vs Other Entertainment Venues

[Raineman]

One of the biggest recurring complaints on this forum is the cost of food at WDW. However, when compared to the cost of similar food items at other entertainment venues, WDW is not out of line with them, IMO. I have not been to any amusement/theme parks, other than WDW, for quite some time, so I can't make an accurate comparison there, but when you look at places like arenas, stadiums and movie theaters, some of those prices are often higher than WDW. For example, at most of our local movie theaters, you pay $5.00 for a large soft drink, $4.00 for a small bag of candy, and $4.00 for a bag of popcorn-$13.00 for something that would cost you $5-$6 at a store. If you accept that the food prices at these types of places are going to be inflated, then you are prepared going into it-I think some people are not aware and underestimate the $ they will be spending.
For those of you that visit other parks, like Uni, Six Flags, etc, how do common items like burgers, nachos, soft drinks, etc., compare in price to WDW?

 

[Minnie Mum]

Here's the thing that separates WDW prices from your average ball park, race track, or local amusement park - you are only at those other places for a few hours, or a day at most. And you arent (with the possible exception of Uni) living there for multiple days.You might have one or 2 meals, or just a few snacks. Your total expenditure isn't that great. But at WDW, if you stay on site, you're trapped into paying Disney prices for all of your food for days. So, while prices for individual items may be comparable, total expenditures will be vastly greater. I think a better comparison would be WDW food prices vs food prices in the Orlando area outside the theme parks.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

For those of you that visit other parks, like Uni, Six Flags, etc, how do common items like burgers, nachos, soft drinks, etc., compare in price to WDW?

In general, same price but lower quality. A meal at a local theme park is something you get through so you don't starve to death, it's not anything you actually enjoy.

 

[erasure fan1]

Here's the thing that separates WDW prices from your average ball park, race track, or local amusement park - you are only at those other places for a few hours, or a day at most. And you arent (with the possible exception of Uni) living there for multiple days.

Exactly, when I go to a football, baseball game... I don't have to actually eat anything. It's 3 or 4 hours, I can eat before or after at normal prices.

 

[Raineman]

Here's the thing that separates WDW prices from your average ball park, race track, or local amusement park - you are only at those other places for a few hours, or a day at most. And you arent (with the possible exception of Uni) living there for multiple days.You might have one or 2 meals, or just a few snacks. Your total expenditure isn't that great. But at WDW, if you stay on site, you're trapped into paying Disney prices for all of your food for days. So, while prices for individual items may be comparable, total expenditures will be vastly greater. I think a better comparison would be WDW food prices vs food prices in the Orlando area outside the theme parks.

Exactly, when I go to a football, baseball game... I don't have to actually eat anything. It's 3 or 4 hours, I can eat before or after at normal prices.

Good points, but I would imagine that most people that visit WDW know the costs going into their vacation and either accept the costs and pay them, or have alternate food arrangements (food from home, driving off-property to eat meals, etc). I can't see anyone arriving at WDW for a week and being shocked at paying $12 for a burger combo at a QS location. In 2018, it's one area where most of us have to grin and bear it when it comes to spending time at a Disney theme park. And I would assume that, with Orlando being the massive tourist town that it is, prices at alot of the restaurants, especially those close to WDW/Uni/Sea World/etc, are going to be somewhat higher than the same restaurant in Ocala or Lakeland. I remember seeing a steak on the menu at a TGI Friday's in Niagara Falls, just a few blocks away from the main tourist area, that was $40 or $50-something that would cost no more than $30 at a TGIF in a non-tourist town.

 

[erasure fan1]

I can't see anyone arriving at WDW for a week and being shocked at paying $12 for a burger combo at a QS location.

You would think that. But even I get knocked over sometimes with the prices and I have 30ish visits. Lol

 

[slappy magoo]

When you go to a movie, most of the ticket price goes to the studios, not the theaters, unless it's been out for a while - there's a bit of a sliding scale where the ticket price of a new movie mostly goes to the theaters but the longer it's out, the more a theater gets until eventually there's close to a 50/50 split. Problem is most movies don't last in the theaters that long anymore. So theaters jack up the price on concession, that's where they make their money.

I don't know what the split is when it comes to entertainment or sports events and the venues they're in. It probably depends greatly on the event and the promoter, but again, the venue doesn't see all that much from the tucket or the merch, it's the concessions.

But at Disney, your ticket goes to Disney. Your hotel fee goes to Disney. Your merch goes to Disney. And the cost of your food goes to Disney. And because of how much money it supposedly presumably brings into the local economy (which they're trying hard to minimize by picking you up and dropping you off at the airport so you never leave), they get all sorts of tax breaks. And because it's essentially its own city, they're getting amazingly low prices on the sheer volume of food and drink they buy - don't know if it's true but I remember reading in this very forum that Coke pretty much gives its syrups to WDW in exchange for the sheer volume of advertising it gets for being the official soft drink of WDW.

So I think really it's more fair to compare the prices of food at WDW to other amusement parks even though most amusement parks is a day long trip, one you've driven to so you can always leave and get food and go back, or you can leave a cooler filled with food in the car and go back when you're hungry. To that end, here's a menu from the Garden State Grille at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson NJ and bear in mind, this image was captured in 2014, so I'm sure prices have gone up since then...

Looks like a Bacon Cheese Burger is $13 without fries. In 2014. Meanwhile at Cosmic Ray's, a Bacon Cheesburger in 2018 is .30 more and includes fries. Soft drinks are .70 cheaper at Cosmic Ray's. Cheese fries are over a dollar cheaper at Cosmic Ray's (though it's fries with a side of cheese sauce). And did I mention the pic was taken in 2014?

 

[Raineman]

When you go to a movie, most of the ticket price goes to the studios, not the theaters, unless it's been out for a while - there's a bit of a sliding scale where the ticket price of a new movie mostly goes to the theaters but the longer it's out, the more a theater gets until eventually there's close to a 50/50 split. Problem is most movies don't last in the theaters that long anymore. So theaters jack up the price on concession, that's where they make their money.

I don't know what the split is when it comes to entertainment or sports events and the venues they're in. It probably depends greatly on the event and the promoter, but again, the venue doesn't see all that much from the tucket or the merch, it's the concessions.

But at Disney, your ticket goes to Disney. Your hotel fee goes to Disney. Your merch goes to Disney. And the cost of your food goes to Disney. And because of how much money it supposedly presumably brings into the local economy (which they're trying hard to minimize by picking you up and dropping you off at the airport so you never leave), they get all sorts of tax breaks. And because it's essentially its own city, they're getting amazingly low prices on the sheer volume of food and drink they buy - don't know if it's true but I remember reading in this very forum that Coke pretty much gives its syrups to WDW in exchange for the sheer volume of advertising it gets for being the official soft drink of WDW.

So I think really it's more fair to compare the prices of food at WDW to other amusement parks even though most amusement parks is a day long trip, one you've driven to so you can always leave and get food and go back, or you can leave a cooler filled with food in the car and go back when you're hungry. To that end, here's a menu from the Garden State Grille at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson NJ and bear in mind, this image was captured in 2014, so I'm sure prices have gone up since then...

View attachment 301263

Looks like a Bacon Cheese Burger is $13 without fries. In 2014. Meanwhile at Cosmic Ray's, a Bacon Cheesburger in 2018 is .30 more and includes fries. Soft drinks are .70 cheaper at Cosmic Ray's. Cheese fries are over a dollar cheaper at Cosmic Ray's (though it's fries with a side of cheese sauce). And did I mention the pic was taken in 2014?

Interesting analysis, thanks. And I think the general consensus is that amusement park food is a lower quality than what WDW offers. Also, $13 just for a burger? Wow. I’ll starve first, or stuff as many small bags of Doritos as I can fit into my pockets.

 

[danyoung56]

A meal at a local theme park is something you get through so you don't starve to death, it's not anything you actually enjoy.

Wow - you need to find some better places to eat in the World!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Wow - you need to find some better places to eat in the World!

I said "local theme parks." I love QS at WDW.

Polite Pig, Earl, Casey's, Cosmic Ray's, Harbour House, Pecos Bill's, Seasons, Tangerine Cafe, Yorkshire Fish, San Angel, Flame Tree, Satuli, Harambe, etc.

 

[danyoung56]

I said "local theme parks." I love QS at WDW.

I saw what you said after I posted. Sorry bout that.

 

[PiXie Mom]

DD and myself are both gluten free vegans. Finding healthy options for us at affordable costs can be a challenge anywhere especially the theme park scene. Though I feel Disney offers good gluten free menu options their prices can seem high for the first timer, but not if you have visited even regional amusement parks and tried similar fare as already said as a example above.

 

[bunnyman]

Being from the NYC area, I always equate going to WDW and what the daily costs are (i.e. admission ticket, food, etc.) on a par with going out to see a Broadway show, one of the local professional sports teams, a concert, etc. Given those comparisons, WDW is actually pretty much on par with dining out in Manhattan, or going to Yankee Stadium or the Barclay's Center, etc. Heck, the local concert venue charges $16 for a beer!

 

[DarthVader]

For those of you that visit other parks, like Uni, Six Flags, etc, how do common items like burgers, nachos, soft drinks, etc., compare in price to WDW?

I think any amusement park has expensive food. I can't say if Disney is more expensive or not. I expect to pay through the nose regardless of the park I go too.

With that said, there are plenty of vacation venues that you can go to that are cheaper, but still have a high quality vacation. I mentioned cost and New Hampshire in another thread. I find that I can take a great vacation up in the White Mountains of NH and not pay through the nose for food. There are expensive places, there, don't get me wrong, but there are many places that offer a good meal for a decent price.

 

[LAM378]

Eating for a week at WDW costs the same as if I ate out for a week at home. It costs more than cooking, but not more than eating out anywhere else.

My family of 5 went to the movies last week — a large popcorn, 2 large drinks, one order of pretzels, and 3 kids packs (which include popcorn, fruit snacks, and a drink) ... $50.

Had dinner at the Seaside boardwalk in NJ last week - 2 slices of pizza, 2 large drinks, kids meals (chicken tenders, fries, and drinks), and a plate of chicken quesadillas. Everything was mediocre and it cost $60.

Hitting the drive through at McDonald’s costs $40 or so for the 5 of us.

And from what I remember of a day trip to Sesame Place last summer, food prices were very in line with WDW, for absolute garbage.

I’ve had maybe one or two bad QS meals at WDW. For the most part, the food is good, portions are large, and it definitely tastes better than typical fast food. The specialty snacks can be a little pricey, but again, they’re large and they taste good. The prices are just the cost of eating out.

 

[CLEtoWDW]

Honestly if you know where to eat the value for the park food is a little more palatable. For instance, the ABC Comisarry at HS is actually a really good counter service option with a lot of great variety and unique food options. When I’m there I don’t mind paying $14 for my entree because I’m getting quality in return.

 

[jaklgreen]

Honestly if you know where to eat the value for the park food is a little more palatable. For instance, the ABC Comisarry at HS is actually a really good counter service option with a lot of great variety and unique food options. When I’m there I don’t mind paying $14 for my entree because I’m getting quality in return.

Exactly. We always find some decent food and stay away from the typical burger/chicken strips. Cosmic Rays has had a rotisserie chicken meal forever and we would get that and have our kids split one of those meals, plus there was usually enough for me to eat also. So for the 4 of us we could easily share 2 of those plates. At Epcot it is very easy to find much better food. We love Tangierine Cafe in Morocco. We can also split a couple of Shawarma plates and those are under $15. There are definitely meals that are a much better value all over WDW, but its not the burgers and chicken strips.