How Much Have WDW Snack Prices Increased in 10 Years?
I recently re-discovered a stash of photos I took in the Walt Disney World parks during the summer of 2009 – exactly ten years ago. Among the buried treasure was this image of ice cream snack cart prices.
Ten years ago, a Mickey Premium Bar, a Mickey Ice Cream sandwich, and a Frozen Banana were all priced at $2.75.
Today, those same items are all priced at $5.75. That’s more than double the 2009 price, a 109% increase.
Here’s the 2009 Funnel Cake price – $4.29 for sugar or cinnamon, $5.29 for strawberry and whipped cream topped.
Ten years later, Funnel Cake with powdered sugar is $6.99 and topped with strawberries is $7.99.
The sugar price is 63% more and the strawberry price is 51% more.
How do those price jumps compare with the 10-year change in park admission ticket prices? The August 2009 adult one-park ticket price was $75. At the time, all dates were priced the same. Today, one-day park admission rates vary. For visits in August 2019, the rates are $109, $117, or $125 depending on your exact entry date. At $109, you’re looking at a price hike of 45% over 2009, at $117 that’s 56% more than 2009, and at $125 that’s 67% more.
Ticket prices have gone up, but you’re not imagining it if you think other prices are taking a big hit on your wallet as well. And yes, Disney World snack prices and ticket prices are both going up at a rate higher than inflation. According to the CPI inflation calculator, if Disney were tracking with national inflation rates, that 2009 $4.29 funnel cake should be $5.12 today, not $6.99. And the $2.75 Mickey bar should be $3.28 today, not $5.75.
If you’re reading this website, chances are that none of this will stop you from getting your Disney snack fix, but forewarned is forearmed.
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I don’t go to Disney for the food (except the churros at Disneyland).
I would love to see that comparison made with the prices on sit down restaurants.
Inflation for the last 10 years is 19.4%. The ice cream bars would cost $3.28 based on inflation alone.
That’s a 110.5% increase, or almost 570% higher than the rate of inflation.
The mistake with layering those major price jumps (especially over the past 5yrs) is the reaction from returning guests who WDW heavily relies on to keep afloat, and scaring away potential new customers. They improved the food and expanded experiences but does that compensate 50+% increases?
People will spend more effort reigning in expenses, question every expense and cut back as defense. They will look for alternatives to get the same value for less. WDW has a back-up from the price hikes, they built room to dole out great deals if needed. But the damage is done with lost trust and ‘good will’ for years to come. Guests feel forced to be actively on alert to protect from price gouging. Tightening wallets becomes first priority over imagining the perfect trip. That is not the feeling of being at the happiest place on Earth.
I disagree, and so does Disney. Disney announced that attendance in their parks was down in the last quarter as compared to the same quarter in 2018, but profits were up. The reason: increased in-park spending and higher ticket prices. Disney’s target audience (upper middle class and higher) have yet to show concern with the higher prices as evidenced by the latest report. This means that prices will continue to increase until profits peak out.
I can buy a 6 pack of the fruit bars at my grocery store for $3.48 and a box of 12 ice cream sandwiches for $3. And a box of 10 frozen waffles waffles cost $2. Yes I know the waffles mentioned aren’t frozen, but sheesh.
It amazes me how much money people are willing to spend on food at Disney World.