Normally I do not just repeat news that is available elsewhere. There are many blogs, YouTubes and other sites that do a great job covering Disney news in excruciating detail. However there are some notable news items that I come across that impact those of us on a fixed income. This week has been just such an occasion.

Everyone knows that a Disney vacation can be expensive. Very expensive. Transportation, lodging, admission and food can set you back. For most of us, it is not something that you do on a whim. Instead you save, cutback, sacrifice, and budget so you can afford to experience the Disney Magic. You visit countless web sites to get a handle on the expense. Just so you can be sure that this Disney trip won’t land you in the poor house.

If you are on a fixed income like we are, there are no picking up extra shifts to make up for the expense. You have to budget, cutting back where necessary just to make it work. Just when you think you have it all figured out, something changes. This time it is price hikes on food at the Disneyland Resort.

Food Price Increases

Disney typically raises prices a couple of times a year. The largest increases usually show up in October, after the start of the Disney fiscal year. These increases may be to offset slow ticket sales, or discounts on rooms, etc. hard to tell. However, it is hardly surprising that Disney is raising prices Menu Items. Food prices in general have gone up. In some cases, like beef, way up! The scope of the price hike is what got my attention. It seems like ALL food items will cost you more. This price increase affects counter and table service restaurants, snack stands, and bars. It includes everything from entrees to desserts, snacks, bottled beverages, alcohol, and more. 

As reported in the Disney Tourist Blog here is a sample of the increases:

• Popcorn (various locations) – Increased from $6 from $6.50
• Chicken Tenders (various locations) – Increased from $11.99 to $13.49
• Dole Whip (various locations & flavors) – Increased from $6.49 to $7.29
• Dole Whip Float (various locations & flavors) – Increased from $7.49 to $7.99
• Fountain Drinks (various locations) – Increased from $5.29 to $5.69
• Freshly Brewed Joffrey’s Coffee (various locations) – Increased from $4.29 to $4.79
• Turkey Leg (various locations) – Increased from $12.99 to $14.49
• DASANI Bottled Water – Increased from $4.39 to $4.79
• Pickles – Increased from $4.49 to $4.79
• Plaza Inn Fried Chicken – Increased from $19.99 to $21.99
• Fantasyland Garlic Cheesy Brat (Edelweiss Snacks) Increased from $12.99 to $13.79

Notice that some increases are modest, while others not so much. Dole Whip for instance is up 80 cents, and the fried chicken is up 3 dollars!

Disney also increased the prices of Character Dining as well as the meal packages. For many families, these are must do experiences. You can limit your exposure to the price increases on other items. However, you cannot replace Character Dining with a PBJ that you brought with you. Increases on these items are just unavoidable for some people.

What to do about it

The easy answer is simple; don’t buy food in the park. For instance Grandma and I don’t care if bottled water costs $10. We bring our own water bottles. Many people don’t like the taste of local water. For those folks you can buy a case of water for around $5 at Walmart. Just pop these into the fridge and take a few with you. Being DVC members, we typically eat in the room as the we have a full kitchen or kitchenette. For those of you staying off property, eat on the way to the parks. There are a lot of really excellent choices close to Disneyland resorts. Take advantage and sample some more local cuisine. For instance where Grandma and I live we do not have an In-N-Out Burger or a Shakey’s Pizza Parlor. So we seek these out for either a late lunch or early supper.

I know that some dining options cannot be avoided. Grandma needs her DOLE Whip! You cannot replace breakfast with Goofy with an Egg McMuffin. These are just going to cost you more. In some cases, much more. We usually take the Grandkids to only 1 Character Dining experience. We make a list and let them choose. This next trip, we may forgo character dining completely. We will substitute with something else such as a trip to play Miniature Golf. There is no lack of things to do and missing Character Dining does not have to be a show stopper.

Wrapping Up

Fore Warned is Fore Armed as they say. While it may seem that many of these price increases are fairly minor, it all adds up. For those of us on a tight budget, even a slight increase can drastically change our plans. Questions come up like “Do I cut back eating in the Park?” to “Do I really need to do Character Dining?”. It all comes down to “Can I Afford it?”. No matter what your answer, be prepared to expand your food budget. Look at making alternative dining plans to stay within budget. Price increases at Disney are unfortunately a part of park planning these days. Plan accordingly and your Disney vacation can still be very Magical!

What Do You Think? Is Disney pricing you out of the market? What are your money saving tips. I really want to know!

Until Next Time: