Food/Drink Prices: WDW vs Theme Parks

[Raineman]

Having seen more than a few posts on the price of food and drink at WDW, I decided to compare the prices with the price of similar items at the more standard theme parks in North America. To clarify, I am not speaking of the stuff at table service restaurants-just your basic, quick service theme park fare, like soft drinks, bottled water, nachos, burgers, pizza, etc. It turns out that WDW prices are right on par with other theme parks, and in some cases, a bit lower. Even if you look at the prices at the only major theme park in my native country-Canada's Wonderland-the prices at WDW are, for the most part, lower (even if you figure in the horrible exchange rate us Canucks are getting for the US $ right now). I think WDW undeservedly gets a bad rap for this. Also, to their credit, WDW seems to offer more healthier alternatives than most standard theme parks.

 

[sfeinst]

I fully agree. I have checked prices at other parks (Universal, Six Flags) and other locked in places (baseball stadium - in my case Fenway Park), etc. And Disney has consistently been the same or less. People like to pick on Disney about this, but really, name a place where you have limited outside access and I'll show you very high prices for everything.

 

[bethymouse]

Prices are high everywhere!

 

[NYwdwfan]

I paid $12.50 for a bottle of water at an Islanders game last season. A churro was $5. If you leave your house and go to a contained environment where you need to purchase food and drink they charge what they can get people to pay.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Disney has made a decent effort to make meal choices healthier. Theres still a lot of guests grumbling about a lack of choices but they havent prepared beforehand to learn about whats available. Yes Disney can be expensive but if you are wise there are ways to manage the food costs and Disney is from what I've experienced a better deal than many other similar venues.

 

[Seanual757]

Prices are actually on par with other parks and even some fast food places. $10 for a burger and fries it's average. We normally grab a pizza for lunch at the hotel and split that it's $17.50 for 4 of us not bad.

 

[CP_alum08]

I think WDW food prices for "low end" items like burgers, chicken nuggets, etc. are perfectly fine, it's their priceier options that I think are too high. There are plenty of great options at WDW but very few I would consider fine dining yet many locations have what I would consider fine dining prices.

 

[POLY LOVER]

the Eagles have just raised thier parking prices to $30.00 for a 2 hour event. A premium beer is now $17.00

WDW is fair in my opinion for their counter service items and the quality is good.

 

[jayinthe813]

I think the prices are very fair - just as reasonable as Universal (maybe more reasonable even)

I don't balk at prices because they are far less than say an outing to the movies,baseball game, concert, etc.

 

[LAM378]

I think the prices are reasonable. I go to county fairs and NJ boardwalks and Great Adventure and Sesame Place every summer. The food isn't less expensive at those places, and it's usually not as good as WDW. Also, WDW portions are far larger than the norm, IMO, and CMs keep everything organized, check your order in front of you, help you find a table, and generally provide a more pleasant experience.

I was at Sesame Place for 2 days this week. We had one lunch at a CS there. The food was actually disgusting and the service was terrible--slow, order all messed up, surly employees. The bill was $90 for 5 adult meals and 3 kids meals. Our same group went to WDW in May and I don't think our CS bills were ever more than $80. The various snacks you could get around Sesame were expensive and just not good--burnt coffee, stale popcorn, subpar chocolate chip cookie, etc. At WDW you can get a thousand different snacks for the same $5, and most of them are delicious.

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

I think the prices are reasonable. I go to county fairs and NJ boardwalks and Great Adventure and Sesame Place every summer. The food isn't less expensive at those places, and it's usually not as good as WDW. Also, WDW portions are far larger than the norm, IMO, and CMs keep everything organized, check your order in front of you, help you find a table, and generally provide a more pleasant experience.

I was at Sesame Place for 2 days this week. We had one lunch at a CS there. The food was actually disgusting and the service was terrible--slow, order all messed up, surly employees. The bill was $90 for 5 adult meals and 3 kids meals. Our same group went to WDW in May and I don't think our CS bills were ever more than $80. The various snacks you could get around Sesame were expensive and just not good--burnt coffee, stale popcorn, subpar chocolate chip cookie, etc. At WDW you can get a thousand different snacks for the same $5, and most of them are delicious.

Oof, that brought be back. Haven't been to Sesame in years, but I drive by it all the time! A bunch of my friends from school worked there, and they basically say the same thing about the food. I think part of the difference is at places like Sesame and Great Adventure is 1. the staff is largely high school students who don't actually care about what they're doing, and 2. the guests are much worse and have much lower expectations.

 

[Punky]

I think the prices are reasonable. I go to county fairs and NJ boardwalks and Great Adventure and Sesame Place every summer. The food isn't less expensive at those places, and it's usually not as good as WDW. Also, WDW portions are far larger than the norm, IMO, and CMs keep everything organized, check your order in front of you, help you find a table, and generally provide a more pleasant experience.

I was at Sesame Place for 2 days this week. We had one lunch at a CS there. The food was actually disgusting and the service was terrible--slow, order all messed up, surly employees. The bill was $90 for 5 adult meals and 3 kids meals. Our same group went to WDW in May and I don't think our CS bills were ever more than $80. The various snacks you could get around Sesame were expensive and just not good--burnt coffee, stale popcorn, subpar chocolate chip cookie, etc. At WDW you can get a thousand different snacks for the same $5, and most of them are delicious.

Sesame Place is expensive in general and doesn't offer much IMO. I always go to Uno's on the corner or across to the mall to eat.

 

[Chef Mickey]

People who think WDW is the only place with "high" prices on convenience snack items and food are delusional.

I actually think the prices at WDW are pretty reasonable.

I constantly see crazier prices at movies, sporting events, and even at the local malls.