Popcorn Machines

[Master Yoda]

I would like to find out some accurate info on those glorious popcorn machines. Over the years I have heard some rather outlandish rumors on all those popcorn carts scattered around WDW. These rumors range from each popcorn cart costing $125,000, each cart has fans that direct the smell of the popcorn towards the approaching walkways, and that the gross about $750,000 per day. Now I always take what I here at the parks with a grain of salt, in most cases a whole shaker of salt, but they have peaked my curiosity. So if anyone in the “know” can reveal some accurate info on this I would really appreciate it.

 

[EpcoTim]

750,000 in popcorn is a sickening amount. But, considering a bigger movie theater will do 25,000 on a good night, think how many people pass through it and how many pass through a Disney stand in a night.

 

[AKQJ10]

Well, one thing I can tell you is that although other smells are actually piped onto Main Street (e.g. the smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies), the popcorn carts do not use the "Smellitizer" technology at all. As for actual cost of the carts, I would have to say well below the six-figure numbers you are estimating. (In fact, I've even seen older, used ones on eBay)

Oh, yeah... if those carts sell 3/4 of a million dollars worth of popcorn a day, then I'm clearly not the only one addicted to it!!

 

[Woody13]

You can purchase a popcorn machine with cart for about $700.00.

http://www.popcornmachinesdirect.com/popcorn-machines.html

As for the $750,000 figure, use your common sense. At $10.00 per sale the vendor would have to sell 75,000 boxes of popcorn. Do you think you could do that in a day?

 

[Lauriebar]

I do know that WDW sell approx. 265,000 pounds of popcorn a year. Crazy!!

 

[Woody13]

I do know that WDW sell approx. 265,000 pounds of popcorn a year. Crazy!!

According to the Walt Disney World Media Relations Web site: "322,000 pounds of popcorn are popped every year at Walt Disney World Resort—that's 5 million bags of buttery kernels."

 

[s25843]

According to the Walt Disney World Media Relations Web site: "322,000 pounds of popcorn are popped every year at Walt Disney World Resort—that's 5 million bags of buttery kernels."

5 million bags/365 days=~13,700 bags a day... at $2.50 a bag thats on avergae $35,000 a day in popcorn

 

[Woody13]

5 million bags/365 days=~13,700 bags a day... at $2.50 a bag thats on avergae $35,000 a day in popcorn

Yep, that's a good estimate for all of WDW! :wave: We could break it down even more by park and number of popcorn vendors per park.

 

[Master Yoda]

Thanks for the info. The story I heard on the price of the carts goes like this. Disney purchased a bunch of standard popcorn carts. Shortly after putting them in to service they began to break down. Disney contacted the manufacturer about designing a popcorn machine that would take the punishment of running 365 days a year. The manufacturer responded with the price tag of 125 grand. The story was just believable enough to make me wonder if it was actually true.
As far as the $750,000 a day income that came from a friend of a former cast member. A source that in my opinion was as reliable as a $2 watch. I ran the numbers on that and it broke down to about 215,000 bags of popcorn per day (@ $3.50/bag) which seemed to be rather high even for WDW.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Thanks for the info. The story I heard on the price of the carts goes like this. Disney purchased a bunch of standard popcorn carts. Shortly after putting them in to service they began to break down. Disney contacted the manufacturer about designing a popcorn machine that would take the punishment of running 365 days a year. The manufacturer responded with the price tag of 125 grand. The story was just believable enough to make me wonder if it was actually true.
As far as the $750,000 a day income that came from a friend of a former cast member. A source that in my opinion was as reliable as a $2 watch. I ran the numbers on that and it broke down to about 215,000 bags of popcorn per day (@ $3.50/bag) which seemed to be rather high even for WDW.

Hey there Master Yoda!!! Id suggest you drop by the MK and go see ISTCrew20 ( Patrick) over by Liberty Square. He is working there at the popcorn carts and is a lovely young man as well as a member of these here boards!!! Belle

 

[bucklmd]

I noticed on my last visit that they weren't popping or selling popcorn at park opening time. I was there last January and having done the "Keys to the Kingdom Tour" previously, they had told us that since the park experience was much like the movies, that's why they always had the popcorn there first thing in the morning or all day. Anyone know why they weren't?

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

When my sister couldn't come with me on my last trip to WDW, when I was leaving the park, I bought a bucket of popcorn when I left MK and brought it home with me for my sister to enjoy. And the best part was, it didn't get stale! That popcorn is the best I've ever tasted! I can see how they can sell so much especially seeing the lines before the parades! Wish I had some now!

Thanks for the interesting facts!

TheDisneyGirl02