Snack price increases?

[21stamps]

My take on the experience evolving is that it is evolving so that it can stay relevant. I havent found one thing yet that I experienced as a kid that hasnt changed or gotten more expensive. Most everything is monetized now more than it was back then. Even in restaurants where a baked potato came loaded you now have to pay an upcharge to load it. You rarely find service stations (outside of a couple of states on the east coast where by law you cant pump your own gas) that has an attendant that will pump gas, check fluids, and wash your windshield. You have to pay to have thise services done when you get your oil changed.

There may come a time that I cant afford to go to Disney because the cost gets to a point where I either cant afford it or I make a value decision. Either way, I dont think I will be wasting my time on a message board complaining about the company raising the price. The company has decisions to make just like I do. Im not forced to spend my money there and I dont feel entitled to an affordable vacation there.

This is true for so much in life. Not just WDW. This is where "disposable income" comes into play. At different points in our lives we will have more DI, sometimes less. Depends on what else is going on with ourselves, or our kids if applicable.

There are things that I am not able to buy now, things that I was able to buy 7 years ago. My life has changed and my needs/wants/value perception has changed towards certain expenditures. This is normal, (I think).

People keep comparing things to 10 years ago. The fact is though..look at the last 10 years, look how much has changed. Look at how many more items we are spending money on. All of this effects our "Disposable Income". Rising prices don't help, but if people took a good hard look at their financials they may realize that this most personal budget is a big part of the equation.

Others just can't justify rising costs, that's ok too. At that point I do think other options should be explored, and there is no harm in doing so.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

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.

The person to whom I was responding said five adults, full stop. I took that to mean five grown people. If they simply meant five people who are full price in Disney's eyes, then I agree.

Note that there IS a price difference for actual adults at WDW versus those that are adults for dining and ticket purposes. The actual adults pay more for their room.

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

Where did you get that I was single? I've been married for five years and I have a two year old.

 

[21stamps]

The person to whom I was responding said five adults, full stop. I took that to mean five grown people. If they simply meant five people who are full price in Disney's eyes, then I agree.

Note that there IS a price difference for actual adults at WDW versus those that are adults for dining and ticket purposes. The actual adults pay more for their room.


Where did you get that I was single? I've been married for five years and I have a two year old.

This is something that I always wonder when I read it as well. My family unit is 2. An adult and a child. Anything we do that is priced at "double occupancy" said child is charged as an adult. I am not traveling with an adult though, he's still a kid, and essentially still costs less in the grand scheme. (Unless you don't drink alcohol, then the price doesn't change too much I guess).

A "Disney adult" meaning an older kid, is charged as an adult at almost any entertainment venue or restaurant. So if someone says "my kids are 13,14,16" it still gets the point across that you are paying "adult pricing", I think we all know that's the norm. I consider an Adult Trip as one with a party of 21 and over.

 

[King Panda 77]

This is something that I always wonder when I read it as well. My family unit is 2. An adult and a child. Anything we do that is priced at "double occupancy" said child is charged as an adult. I am not traveling with an adult though, he's still a kid, and essentially still costs less in the grand scheme. (Unless you don't drink alcohol, then the price doesn't change too much I guess).

A "Disney adult" meaning an older kid, is charged as an adult at almost any entertainment venue or restaurant. So if someone says "my kids are 13,14,16" it still gets the point across that you are paying "adult pricing", I think we all know that's the norm. I consider an Adult Trip as one with a party of 21 and over.

Thats a Huuuge party ... Most i ever travelled with was 6 . Nearly gave the servants a breakdown

Spoiler

If only they had had tents for hire back then

 

[LuvtheGoof]

True, so what is your take on what the experience is evolving into? What will it be like in 3 years? It seems we are seeing more "priority boarding", up charge event on top of up charge event, and the subject of this very thread, price hikes galore.

Im not saying the sky is falling and Disney will shut their doors. Im lucky to have visited enough that my wife and I enjoy the small things such as sitting at the top of the steps in Japan pavilion with a drink, having a turkey sandwich at Sunshine Seasons or seeking out that snack that is only offered in a certain park (I hope the carrot cookie comes back), but we also enjoy(ed) when there were EMH days at MK during a 7 day stay. Were lucky now if there is one. We enjoyed the discounts our AP's had in many locations, now its much more limited. I know things change. Maybe they will. We may have children one day. I know Disney World wont (and cant) be the same Disney i grew up with, but Id like their to be some remnants of it left by then.

I don't know when you first went to WDW, but mine was in 1978 as an adult when I lived in Orlando. MK was my playground for years, and I was at the opening of EPCOT. You talked about how the service wasn't as good as before, and, quite simply, you're wrong. We were there just last month, and the service was impeccable everywhere we went. Many CMs went out of their way to help us when needed, and not one single bad interaction during our 8 days there. And we constantly talk with and interact with CMs when we are there. It's one of our favorite things to do. Not one single restroom we went into was dirty at any park at any time. Not one single trashcan was overflowing. Clean-up CMs were all over the place and doing a wonderful job of keeping everything clean. Maintenance has certainly risen over the last 5 years. Main St. hasn't looked this good since the 90's. Refurbs are happening all over the place to fix the issues from 10-15 years ago, when I completely agree that maintenance was lacking. It isn't lacking now.

The carrot cookie has always been available. Just had one last trip. There are now in Sweet Spells across from the Rolls-Royce. They are awesome. They never went away, just changed locations.

The AP discounts this year are better than they ever have been. Even giving 20% at every Disney restaurant. Maybe you haven't been there lately?

The vast majority of the upcharge events affect you not at all. They are simply an option for people willing to pay. Just because YOU don't think it's worth the price, doesn't mean many people disagree. There are a few, such as Tiana's Riverboat Party that I completely agree should never have happened. See, I'm not all pixie dust. I don't agree with everything they do. Just a dose of reality.

 

[21stamps]

Thats a Huuuge party ... Most i ever travelled with was 6 . Nearly gave the servants a breakdown

Spoiler

If only they had had tents for hire back then

Ha ha. Your servants need assistants. Tell the butler to place an advert

 

[flynnibus]

We raise prices 15% and increase your discount 5% and you think it's a great deal... there is one born every minute...

 

[King Panda 77]

We raise prices 15% and increase your discount 5% and you think it's a great deal... there is one born every minute...

I believe you would be more accurate to say 250 (approx) born every minute .

 

[21stamps]

I believe you would be more accurate to say 250 (approx) born every minute .

Correct me if I'm wrong, but to keep with accuracy.. weren't the discounts 10% off before? Also, how much of a percentage has merchandise and all food gone up? I didn't really notice a difference from last year, I can't say I was looking for it though... but using ornaments as an example- I don't remember thinking that the price has skyrocketed.

 

[Cletus]

I believe you would be more accurate to say 250 (approx) born every minute .

Actually...

The candy rope is then sent to the forming machine, which presses the heads into a spherical shape and inserts a paper stick (we won't say where) at the same time. The Disney machine is capable of forming 1,000 suckers per minute.

 

[The Mom]

There's been quite enough arguing, rudeness, tossing out insults, etc going on in this thread. It stops right now!

 

[raven]

I can understand price hikes, to a point, but they really need to look at the supply & demand side as well instead of just tossing it aside. A handful of jellybeans at a location where I work is now $8! Yes, some sucker will buy them for that price but the merchandise will not move the way it used to and candy/food items will have to be thrown out because they will expire. That same handful of jellybeans was once $3 and were flying off the shelves. They need to find a breaking point but I think Disney has gone far beyond that with certain things.

 

[King Panda 77]

I can understand price hikes, to a point, but they really need to look at the supply & demand side as well instead of just tossing it aside. A handful of jellybeans at a location where I work is now $8! Yes, some sucker will buy them for that price but the merchandise will not move the way it used to and candy/food items will have to be thrown out because they will expire. That same handful of jellybeans was once $3 and were flying off the shelves. They need to find a breaking point but I think Disney has gone far beyond that with certain things.

Only time will tell if they have reached that point. I guess it depends on the relevant snack prices for comparable places. Are Disney way more expensive than Uni in this respect ?

 

[21stamps]

I wish I had taken a photo of the Mickey Bars at Roaring Fork. Once we got the last one. Another time they had luckily just restocked. We did have one at Animal Kingdom and waited in line for about 10 minutes. So I don't know for sure if people either don't care about the price, or if eventually they will.

 

[raven]

Only time will tell if they have reached that point. I guess it depends on the relevant snack prices for comparable places. Are Disney way more expensive than Uni in this respect ?

Not sure. But it's gonna be difficult to find when that cost point comes due to DDP users who utilize those for their snack credits as well. But the # of guests paying for a snack out of pocket will start to drop off I'm sure.

 

[King Panda 77]

Not sure. But it's gonna be difficult to find when that cost point comes due to DDP users who utilize those for their snack credits as well. But the # of guests paying for a snack out of pocket will start to drop off I'm sure.

But will that reflect on the bottom line as i would think the DDP blurs that somewhat.

 

[raven]

A simple tip to getting a snack at a kiosk in the parks: Pay with your credit card. The system fails quite often and they will just give you the product without question (nor ask for another form of payment). This has happened to me several times. Even at the Epcot NYE celebration a few years ago at a temporary kiosk, the 3 beers I ordered were free for this reason as well.

 

[Bandini]

A simple tip to getting a snack at a kiosk in the parks: Pay with your credit card. The system fails quite often and they will just give you the product without question (nor ask for another form of payment). This has happened to me several times. Even at the Epcot NYE celebration a few years ago at a temporary kiosk, the 3 beers I ordered were free for this reason as well.

Wow, thanks for the handy dandy cost saving tip! This is great.

 

[flynnibus]

I'm waiting for the next consequence of these changes...

When people start expecting huge amounts of guest recovery or tail kissing because "when I'm spending $100 for a QSR meal I better be satisified!"

The higher you push prices... the more tension and expectations you create.

 

[Laketravis]

Not sure. But it's gonna be difficult to find when that cost point comes due to DDP users who utilize those for their snack credits as well. But the # of guests paying for a snack out of pocket will start to drop off I'm sure.

And therein may lie the true logic behind the substantial price increases - how many more guests will purchase the DDP because it's now "a better deal" ??