Snack price increases?

[21stamps]

So, are the churro prices going up too? I want to make sure and up the limit on my credit card enough to cover the increase.

Only 28%. Not 33.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Only 28%. Not 33.

Still a yuge value at that price.

 

[21stamps]

Still a yuge value at that price.

Bigly.

 

[Laketravis]

The point, that I was making way back then, was this (obviously it was missed) prices rose dramatically with a product. One that was out of our control, due to a government program.

The reason your point was missed could be because it's not valid. There is a large difference between prices driven up by increased costs or regulation and prices driven up purely by greed.

You seem to like to do research. Research the cost of a case of soft pretzels thru Sysco or Ben E. Keith. I'm confident you'll find the per unit cost has only increased by pennies over the last few years to about 28 cents per pretzel. Yet WDW now sells them for $6 each.

There is no macro economic lesson here. WDW is raising prices and introducing new items at additional charge simply because they are still finding people who are willing to pay them. Until that stops, they won't.

 

[21stamps]

The reason your point was missed could be because it's not valid. There is a large difference between prices driven up by increased costs or regulation and prices driven up purely by greed.

You seem to like to do research. Research the cost of a case of soft pretzels thru Sysco or Ben E. Keith. I'm confident you'll find the per unit cost has only increased by pennies over the last few years to about 28 cents per pretzel. Yet WDW now sells them for $6 each.

There is no macro economic lesson here. WDW is raising prices and introducing new items at additional charge simply because they are still finding people who are willing to pay them. Until that stops, they won't.

The market is proving that it won't stop. Because that is what a segment of the market is showing a need for.

 

[Cletus]

The reason your point was missed could be because it's not valid. There is a large difference between prices driven up by increased costs or regulation and prices driven up purely by greed.

You seem to like to do research. Research the cost of a case of soft pretzels thru Sysco or Ben E. Keith. I'm confident you'll find the per unit cost has only increased by pennies over the last few years to about 28 cents per pretzel. Yet WDW now sells them for $6 each.

There is no macro economic lesson here. WDW is raising prices and introducing new items at additional charge simply because they are still finding people who are willing to pay them. Until that stops, they won't.

Nice to see you again, Sir.

 

[Laketravis]

The market is proving that it won't stop. Because that is what a segment of the market is showing a need for.

If your point is that WDW is taking advantage of those who are willing to pay higher and higher prices simply for "the magic" or "the experience" by constantly testing the price ceiling on everything they can think of, then I would agree with you.

But there is another aspect to consider, and it's not that WDW is raising prices because demand is up and the market is showing a need. It's entirely possible they are raising prices because demand is down and they are struggling to maintain margins.

 

[flynnibus]

That's fine. I never questioned the legitimacy of traveling with a big party. As I said, I often do it myself. However, traveling with a non-traditional party delegitimizes the griping about prices.

Lets go back to what you questioned... "Why would a single person be paying for five adults?" This is not some corner case. I have three kids... guess what.. everywhere I go, I pay for 5 adult pricing. Having 3 kids is not some anomaly or special case. Traveling with family to WDW is not special case.. it's the norm. 2-4 kids in a single family... normal. Traveling with immediate family... normal. Traveling with family to WDW? The dominate profile.

Maybe it's hard for you single people to relate to... but paying for 5+ is not unusual at all.

 

[21stamps]

If your point is that WDW is taking advantage of those who are willing to pay higher and higher prices simply for "the magic" or "the experience" by constantly testing the price ceiling on everything they can think of, then I would agree with you.

But there is another aspect to consider, and it's not that WDW is raising prices because demand is up and the market is showing a need. It's entirely possible they are raising prices because demand is down and they are struggling to maintain margins.

Maybe. Or maybe they're in tune enough to realize that people will pay for convenience and extra experiences.

The creation of Fast Lane passes at amusement parks are a perfect example. The price of them is so disproportionate to the cost of admission, and yet people, many people, are paying that crazy price just so they can wait in shorter lines.

Do you think your parents would have done that? I know mine wouldn't have. They would have made us wait in the longer line.

 

[Laketravis]

Maybe. Or maybe they're in tune enough to realize that people will pay for convenience and extra experiences.

The creation of Fast Lane passes at amusement parks are a perfect example. The price of them is so disproportionate to the cost of admission, and yet people, many people, are paying that crazy price just so they can wait in shorter lines.

Do you think your parents would have done that? I know mine wouldn't have. They would have made us wait in the longer line.

Let's stay focused, shall we? Pretzels and Ice Cream.

 

[21stamps]

Let's stay focused, shall we? Pretzels and Ice Cream.

Yes, because a relevant point that displays market trends should be discounted.

I don't know why pretzel prices are up. I don't know why bottles of water cost $6 some places. I don't have those answers to that specific question. All I know is that people are paying them- which I think is the answer in itself.

Now your turn to answer my question..

 

[jwutony16]

How does "profit" work in your brain? Seriously, I want to know. Where do you think profit comes from if not from satisfied guests? How does Disney acquire United States Dollars without guests exchanging their dollars for goods and services provided by Disney?

People are upset that the prices are increasing, yet they are still paying. Just because we have a couple hundred or thousand upset forum members, I do not think that really speaks for the majority of people who visit the park. There have been plenty of times I have been to WDW and I was upset at the price of something and still made the purchase.

 

[flynnibus]

If "most people" make choices to overeat and overspend at WDW, I'd say that's the fault of "most people" and not "The Walt Disney Company." That's really what this all boils down to... self control. People act like they MUST HAVE all of these things so when the price increases come, they have no way to cope other than spend more money and complain about it, as if they're obligated to do so.

Will you listen to yourself? You just said ordering per person is overating and overspending... because people are NOT sharing single plate meals? And flat out chastising people for ordering off a menu as presented. Seriously.. read that outloud to yourself and listen.

 

[flynnibus]

Which Marriott has free-roaming giraffes outside the window? Which Marriott has a pool that looks like this?

Which Marriott has a lobby that looks like this?

Which Marriott has a sky-train that takes you directly to the Magic Kingdom?

Would "none" be an accurate answer?

Which Marriotts in Orlando are asking $400-$600+ a night like the beach club? None that's the answer. But you can get rooms that are 2.5x the size of that beachclub room for less than the beachclub's lowest rate... and they look like this

You can compare amenities and features all you want.. but line by line Disney is going to lose in most cases. People are paying for the Disney brand and location.. not because the room is worth a $500+/night hotel.

 

[Laketravis]

Yes, because a relevant point that displays market trends should be discounted...

WDW raising the price of a pretzel is hardly indicative of a market trend.

The fact is whenever someone takes issue with price increases at WDW, there are several predictable responses:

1. "You don't have to buy it" - Of course they don't. But that's not the point and is often perceived as condescending.

2. "Everything costs more" - Not true. There are many things that cost less these days.

3. "People are willing to pay" - Are they? Do we have proof of how many? Or are the complaints evidence that a growing number are not, that demand has lessened, and what we are seeing is an effort to recoup lost margin?

4. "Disney is a business and it's their decision to make" - Now we are actually close to having a discussion but this response is usually made as more of a closing argument.

Personally, when someone complains to me about the price of something we both share a mutual affinity for my goal is not to minimize their concern.

 

[flynnibus]

How does "profit" work in your brain? Seriously, I want to know. Where do you think profit comes from if not from satisfied guests?

Do you think every Comcast customer is a satisfied customer? Or might there be millions of people that begrudgingly pay prices because they feel trapped to do so? In what universe do you live in where every transaction can be avoided if you are not satisified?

Millions don't like the price of a beer at a football game.. but they pay to a large part because they like football MORE than giving it up to avoid paying for overpriced beer.

 

[Hakunamatata]

The reason your point was missed could be because it's not valid. There is a large difference between prices driven up by increased costs or regulation and prices driven up purely by greed.

You seem to like to do research. Research the cost of a case of soft pretzels thru Sysco or Ben E. Keith. I'm confident you'll find the per unit cost has only increased by pennies over the last few years to about 28 cents per pretzel. Yet WDW now sells them for $6 each.

There is no macro economic lesson here. WDW is raising prices and introducing new items at additional charge simply because they are still finding people who are willing to pay them. Until that stops, they won't.

Actually research the cost of buying a pretzel at a Disney park because that is your only apples to apples comparison. What is someone who is in a Disney park willing to pay for a pretzel. The cost of said pretzel to the entity turning around and selling it is of no real validity to how much the demand value is.

 

[Goofyernmost]

LOL, make assumptions much? I'm not missing the point at all. I'm not interested in packing a lunch, drinking tap water or sharing meals on vacation.

We already stay at a value resort, don't rent a car, don't take expensive tours, have cut the length of our trips in half, etc. We have already cut the items we are willing to cut. Our next move will be to stop going. That's a big step, but we are considering it. I keep watch here to keep my finger on the pulse of what's going on in the parks, so we can make an informed decision on our next step.

I'm about to just mark this thread as "read" because you folks just keep saying the same thing over and over. So keeping with that trend... If you did rent a car you could pay for that car, for what you have saved in resort costs and meals, easily and have some left over no matter how many Mickey Bars you buy!
Everything we spend and everything we want (our choices) affects how much it costs us and how much a sequestered audience is required to pay for sustenance. Doesn't have to be that way. I have enjoyed WDW on 44 different occasions and have only stayed onsite once. Even then I had a vehicle so I could go offsite and get a good meal for way, way less. So, my point is, anyone that puts themselves in the position of desperation really shouldn't complain about how much it costs.

 

[flynnibus]

Yeah man... everyone knows that parental decision-making and financial prioritization is only for the 1%. #OccupyEpcot

If you think the comment was about her 1 meal comment... you really need to read more.

You might try terms like... newest, biggest iphone every year.. because.. along with insurance.. because.. or big diamonds.. or paying $200+ for a poolside tent.. or 8 days at Disney's most expensive resort.. or many other spending choices and the justifications behind them. Or you can think it stemmed from one post.. your choice.

 

[flynnibus]

You're kidding me, right?

Not as much as WDW charging you $20 for something and having the audacity to serve it on a paper plate and plastic utincils... or having a fine french dining location charging $25-$36/entree and not even having tablecloths.. but paper freaking placemats!

Who is kidding who?