Fountain and bottled drinks price increase at snack and quick service locations

Apr 19, 2016 in "Magic Kingdom"

Posted: Tuesday April 19, 2016 9:36am EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney World's quick service locations have just increased their pricing on most fountain and bottled drinks.


Here is a quick run-down of the changes.

  • Regular Fountain Drink is now $3.29, up from $2.99.
  • Large Fountain Drink is now $3.69, up from $3.29.
  • Apple Juice is now $3.29, up from $2.79.
  • Orange Juice is now $4.29, up from $3.99.
  • Chocolate milk is now $2.69, up from $1.99.
  • Low-fat milk is now $2.69, up from $1.99.
  • Dasani Bottled Water is now $3, up from $2.75.

Coffee, Hot Tea, Hot Cocoa remain unchanged.

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olie64May 01, 2016

That gives me flash backs to Econ classes in college.

disney4life2008May 01, 2016

Well after attending Beyonce concert in Tampa I am no longer complaining about disney. Beyonce was amazing and was probably the best live performance I have ever seen. However, Ray Stadium got over big time. Obviously you could not bring in outside food and drinks so they sold smart water but get this, not the whole bottle. A cup was $5 (yes a cup). A hot dog was $10 (only a hot dog). And no bathrooms - welcome to the outside port potty. Alas, it was a great night in Tampa with Beyonce but today I spent the day at animal kingdom and got my disney food :)

Rob PaigeApr 29, 2016

They are still the new face of greed in America.

CheshireCat12Apr 27, 2016

So what? Just ask for a free cup of ice water :)

ParentsOf4Apr 26, 2016

Rick Munarriz over at The Motely Fool is on a roll. Rick has been commenting a lot lately about Disney price increases. His latest comments on the beverage increase: Disney World Rolls Out Its Sneakiest Price Increase Yet The leading theme-park operator tries to milk more money out of its Disney World guests' milk money. The past few months have served up some of Disney's ([U]NYSE DIS[/U]) most dramatic price increases in the history of its flagship resort in Florida. Things started late last year, when annual pass holders were hit with a [URL='http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/10/05/did-disneyland-and-disney-world-go-too-far.aspx'][U]roughly 15% increase[/U] for comparable passes. That was followed in February by an [URL='http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/02/28/disney-world-finally-went-too-far.aspx'][U]18% spike[/U] in prices for single-day tickets. Then came a string of costly upgrades to the theme park experience. Guests could pay [URL='http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/20/disney-world-finds-a-new-way-into-your-wallet.aspx'][U]75% more[/U] for premium parking spaces. They could also spend [URL='http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/03/26/disney-world-is-so-greedy-its-brilliant.aspx'][U]$149 per person[/U] to enjoy the Magic Kingdom on select nights after it closes to the general public or [URL='http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/04/09/disney-world-gets-greedy-in-the-morning-too.aspx'][U]$69 a head[/U] for an exclusive morning experience before the park opens. All of these new offerings are optional, of course, and intended to be purchased by a sliver of its guests. However, Disney quietly increased fountain and bottled beverage prices at its theme parks -- something that will nickel and dime the pocketbooks of many if not most of its park guests. Soft drinks went from $2.99 to $3.29, a 10% uptick. Bottled water went from $2.75 to $3.00, a 9% increase. In a move that will incense parents, Disney saved most of its larger increases for kid-friendly beverages, including juices and milk. Bottled apple juice prices rose 18%, with milk prices up a whopping 35%. It's probably a good time to remind guests that water fountains are everywhere at Disney World, and restaurants do offer ice water at no cost. However, a visit just got a bit more expensive for folks counting on soda, milk, and juice to help fuel what can often be a long day at the park. Coca-Cola ([URL='http://www.fool.com/quote/nyse/coca-cola/ko'][U]NYSE:KO[/U]) has had pouring rights at Disney World since the resort's inception, and this increase does make Coca-Cola's products more expensive inside the resort. Coca-Cola doesn't just handle the namesake carbonated beverages. Coca-Cola's brands include the Dasani bottled water and Minute Maid juices served throughout the property. However, it's highly unlikely Coca-Cola will be seeing any benefit from this increase. Coca-Cola reported quarterly results last week, and North American pricing has been flat over the past year. It's Disney that will be squeezing more money out of every thirsty park guest. Patrons will pay, of course. They are captive guests. You don't see movie theaters or concert venues taking it any easier on quenching the thirsts of their customers. However, with Disney already recently raising prices to get into its parks -- and with a couple of notable regional amusement park operators, including Holiday World in Indiana and Lake Compounce in Connecticut, offering free fountain beverages -- it seems like one price increase too many at Disney World. Shareholders may benefit from the move in the near term, but there are long-term ramifications for trying to milk too much money out of its guests.

sxeensweetApr 20, 2016

HaHa! I wouldn't say all that (I get the sarcasm though) .. I often do buy bottled at WDW but will ask for free ice water as well. What I don't get is people as acting like you HAVE to buy it and you don't. So don't understand the backlash about it. We bring some of our own in, when I finish that bottle I buy more or ask for the free ice water. So the slight price jump on drinks (that does go up here and there like milk does at my local grocery store lol) is not going to break me at WDW. If I can afford to go to WDW and am blessed to go, as many cant, I will pay the slight rise in prices if I have to have that bottled beverage. Lol :rolleyes:

xdan0920Apr 20, 2016

You poor people crack me up. Who begs for free water? If you can't afford bottled water packed with electrolytes(it's what plants crave!) then just don't go to WDW.

note2001Apr 20, 2016

I don't know why it is, but AK cast members seem to have the biggest problem with the simplest concept. Pour a cup of water and hand it to a person. No charge, just be thankful they didn't pass out at your booth. Maybe it has to do with the way the AK food service CMs are trained (no straws, no balloons, no free water? LOL)

slappy magooApr 20, 2016

Technically people are complaining because they DON'T want their water to have a taste. Especially if the taste is bad.

BoarderPhreakApr 19, 2016

Disney... Where life-sustaining drinks cost more than a gallon of gas. :p

DisneyGigiApr 19, 2016

Not justifying price hike, but be glad, that you can purchase a bottled drink at WDW. At Dollywood, fountain drinks only, and you cannot, thirsting to death, purchase a drink and stash it in a bag if you get in line before you ride. All bags have to be left and of course fountain drinks left before getting on the rides. No way, I am leaving a fountain drink in a cup, sitting, so you have to toss it. At least if I pay 3 + bucks at Disney World I can cap it and throw it in my bag and ride a ride. Will it get hot? Ya.. but at least I don't have to throw it away. Their policy stinks!

sxeensweetApr 19, 2016

All ice water is supposed to be free and I have never paid for it across WDW on any trip. And fountain drinks are all the same price so that's what they probably accidentally charged you that they shouldn't have. ($2.99 was the old price) I always try to check my receipts to notice any discrepancies right away. :)

worldfanaticApr 19, 2016

Tap water & beer for me. Sure the water doesn't taste great at WDW. But it's perfectly healthy & free. If you're drinking water for "taste", you've got issues. If you need endless amounts of sugar water like Coke, 7-up and other sodas, you've got deeper issues. I wish Disney would charge $100 a piece for bottled water & sodas. That would eliminate most of the paranoid wimps that drink bottled water, as well as the obese set that can't go a day without 5 gallons of Coke or Dr.Pepper. It'd be a much better "World".

cjlyonApr 19, 2016

I was charged the price of bottled water when I got 2 ice waters at a kiosk in the animal Kingdom and I watched them pour it from the soft drink taps. I didn't notice they charged me until I got home and looked at quick service receipts. I guess that's what I get for letting my husband take the receipt. But I also shouldn't have been charged bottle water prices for ice water on tap.