Dole Whips. Corn dog nuggets. Cheeseburger pods. Mickey pretzels. Mickey ice cream. Disney World foods just hit different.
One of the best parts about Disney World is the FOOD!
But, they certainly don’t come cheap — and if you’re anything like us, you like to EAT. That means lots of snacks, meals, drinks, and of course, desserts. The costs can add up quickly, but it’s designed that way for a reason — which is why Disney World food just can’t be cheap.
Listen, we love Disney World food — it’s kind of our whole thing here. But we’re not going to lie, it ain’t cheap. Here’s why.
Licensing and Distribution
Disney World does produce and make a lot of its food on-site, but a majority of the ingredients, snacks, and pre-packaged goods you’ll find in the parks and hotels don’t actually come from Disney. Instead, they’re sourced from outside companies.
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe Spread
Remember that delicious Dole Whip you had on your last trip? Well, despite being synonymous with the Disney name, it’s actually not a Disney product at all. It’s made by the Dole company (shocking, we know) which means you can find it in plenty of places outside the parks — maybe even at a grocery store near you!
Pineapple Dole Whip
Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars are another example. This iconic park treat is a must-get for lots of Disney-goers, and we certainly don’t blame them. Nothing beats eating a Mickey-shaped ice cream while you’re sitting on the hub grass looking at the castle. But, they’re actually made by Nestle!
Nothing like a good ‘ol Mickey Premium Bar!
These third-party companies are paid by Disney to make and distribute snacks like these and more, which means Disney hikes the price in order to turn a profit. If Disney pays Dole $1 to make each Dole Whip, they’re going to increase their price by at least that much so that they still make money.
Inflation and Supply Issues
Inflation has continued to impact goods and services across the United States and the food and beverage industry is no exception. Hundreds of price increases hit the parks year after year, and part of that is due to inflation. Prices went up on everything from water bottles and soda to prix fixe meals, and to combat these costs, Disney raises the prices you pay.
Yak and Yeti
This goes hand in hand with supply issues as lower supply means higher costs to obtain a specific ingredient or food item. We saw overwhelming supply issues caused by the global pandemic impact Disney World upon the parks and hotels reopening. Multiple restaurants were forced to adjust their menus because the products needed were ultimately unavailable.
Increased Operating Costs
You’ll also find yourself paying more for food and drinks in Disney World than you would at your local Chili’s simply because of increased operating costs. Disney has high standards, and those need to be met in all areas of park operations — from maintenance to staffing and more. This, combined with immersive theming and a commitment to quality, adds up to more overhead than your typical restaurant.
Full spread
Ultimately, though, that’s exactly why so many people keep coming back to Disney World in spite of high — and ever-increasing — prices. Folks are often willing to fork up a little more dough if it means they’re getting wined and dined. You’ll find Disney World hotels full for the same reason. They might cost more, but the experience and convenience are often worth it.
Captive Audience
One of the biggest reasons why Disney charges you more for food, however, is simply because they can. You’ve been walking around a theme park in the heat for hours and are absolutely starving with your children following suit, what are you going to do? Schlep everyone all the way out of the park and to McDonald’s? Probably not.
Full Spread
Disney knows they’ve got you in their mousetrap and because of that they can raise their prices frequently — and people will still pay. In fact, it’s one of their main goals to make sure you stay on property, or in the “Disney Bubble” as we often call it. If you never leave the bubble, you never get the chance to spend money anywhere other than Disney World.
So, the next time you’re pulling out your wallet to pay for food in Disney World, keep these things in mind. And, don’t forget to stay tuned to DFB for the latest Disney World news and more!
Does Food REALLY Cost More in Disney World?
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We usually do only about three table service in our 9 night, 10 day trip. We use other hotel food courts and the lesser costly, think Backlot Express, for the rest to keep costs down and usually pretty good food. Helps to have a chicken and fries teenager.
Every trip I look forward to a Disney Hamburger in any flavor. There is just nothing like them, even at the change sit down restaurants. The little bit more in price is over shadowed by the quality of the meat and what ever seasoning they use. Yummmmmm
The article says the price of food is high because of rising food, operating and that Disney sources it externally. Those same factors will exist in or outside of Disney which still has an exceptional high markup. No alcohol, seafood buffet for example runs a family of six between $300-350. Similar meal is 150 less at an equivalent outside facility. Perhaps there are other reasons the author hasn’t come across yet.