We cannot ignore that no one can do magic and memories like The Walt Disney World Company, and watching your kid seeing Minnie Mouse for the first time makes you totally ignore the fact that you just paid $6 for a bottle of Dasani water.
Prices at Disney are higher than that in the “real world,” because it is a world of its own and hey- Pixie Dust isn’t free! That being said some Disney goers are getting their Tiger tails tangled at the news that Disney has just increased their park food and beverage prices.
This should come as no shock to anyone, the last two years have been a struggle for all companies, Disney was no exception. The food industry took a big hit, that made its numbers in revenue fall further than The Tower of Terror. ( And for everyone in the hospitality industry, it was even scarier than our favorite Hollywood Studios ride.) Disney isn’t doing this because they can. Like every other company, they kind of HAVE to. There has been such a low supply of food and staffing, naturally creating a high demand for it. This isn’t new news to anyone.
During the last fourth-quarter earnings call the question of increasing food and beverage prices was brought up. Walt Disney Company CFO, Christine McCarthy stated, that Disney has no plans to outright raise prices, but she did suggest that they (Disney) are looking for creative ways to cut food costs which could include reducing portion sizes. This did not go over well, as people love their Disney food and do not want to pay more for less of it.
Disney park hopping is more of a workout than CrossFit, and online it’s been clear that guests do not want smaller portions. Calories don’t exist on a Disney Vacation.
There’s been price increases around the park from as little as 25 cents to a few dollars. Although prices are rising, if you don’t go to the park everyday, you might not even notice the small price inflation. Experts suggest that it will add an extra 10 to 20 dollars a day for families, which does add up over the course of your Disney vacation.
The price escalations we have seen so far have been spotted like Hidden Mickeys, a few of the most notable ones are below.
Mickey Bars: from $5.69 to $5.99
Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches: from $5.69 to $5.99
*At some standalone snack stands, these two famous bars have been seen for $6.25.
Mickey Pretzel served with cheese sauce: from $6.79 to $7.19
There’s been many other food and beverage price changes throughout all Disney parks, all falling within that range. Money has been a topic at Disney for everyone, including Walt himself.
“I’d say it’s been my biggest problem all my life…It’s money. It takes a lot of money to make these dreams come true.”
– Walt Disney
