Disney raises food costs; churros still woefully underpriced

“How can you put a price on perfection?”

WALT DISNEY WORLD, FL — As several reliable theme park news sites are reporting, Disney Parks and Resorts and Spas have raised prices on food items. (Uncle Walt’s Insider is, of course, the only super-reliable theme park news site, but occasionally the others will stumble onto something.) 

Price increases reported so far include:

• Regular fountain drinks up $0.70 to $3.99
• Large fountain drinks up $0.80 to $4.49
• Dasani bottled water up $0.50 to  $3.50
• Bottled soda up $0.50 to $4.50
• Bottled orange juice up $0.70 to $4.99
• Popcorn up $0.75 to $5.00
• Mickey Bars and Mickey Ice Cream Sandwich up $0.75 to $5.75
• Mickey pretzels up $1.00 to $7.00
• Disney Company share of stock up $5.05 to $114.92 (since 9/5)

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With the news comes the usual general outrage about prices being too high already, this is ridiculous, etc. But these criticisms miss the truly troubling aspect of the news.

Churros remain underpriced

Churros, those delectable, heavenly cinnamon bits of perfection invented by Walt Disney in 1956, have been priced at the ridiculously low cost of $4.50. Now they are going up to $6.25.

While certainly an improvement, this price still falls short. Sure, once you add up the cost of the ingredients, equipment, cast member pay, and other overhead, they only cost about a quarter each to make. But that’s besides the point. Churros are perfection, and as we read somewhere (maybe at the top of this article), “How can you put a price on perfection?”

YES: Mickey-shaped waffle churros. Photo by X.

UPDATE

One of our fearless reporters, at great expensive to himself, was able to smuggle out this photograph taken aboard a Disney cruise ship. What’s it of? Mickey-shaped churro waffles.

Just let that sink in: Mickey-shaped churro waffles. MICKEY. SHAPED. CHURRO. WAFFLES.

We figured these must be one of those exclusive dishes found only in the added-cost restaurants of Disney Cruise Line, like the Chocolate Soufflé at Palo or the Rat Tartare at Remy, but no. THESE ARE ON THE BUFFET. You know, the all-you-can-eat buffet, that’s included in your cruise fare? And you can eat as many as you want!!!

Folks, there is no better reason than this to sign up for Uncle Walt’s Inaugural Cruise aboard the Disney Magic!

Seriously, unlimited Mickey-shaped churro waffles? No wonder Disney Cruise Line can charge more.

Is there any price to high for churros? Let us know in the comments below!

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Cover photo of churros… mmm… churros…. um, by Mark Mitchell [CC BY 2.0] via Flickr. Churros. Mmmmm…..