Disney’s Latest Price Increases and What They Mean For Your Next Disney World Vacation
Lately, it seems like Walt Disney World and the phrase “price changes” are attached at the hip. From increasing ticket prices to raising the cost of Annual Passes, the Most Magical Place on Earth unveiled so many price changes last year that it’s honestly hard to keep track of them all!
Cinderella Castle
Today, let’s chat about all the most recent price changes in Disney World and how they may affect your vacation!
Refillable Mugs
If you typically stay on property in a Disney World hotel, you’ve likely spotted your fair share of super-cute Refillable Mugs. In case you aren’t super familiar with these, hotel guests have the option to purchase a mug that they may refill as many times as they wish with select non-alcoholic beverages at their hotel (or at any other Disney World hotel).
Mickey Mouse Refillable Resort Mug
While those who opt to purchase the Disney Dining Plan get a mug included in their package price, all other guests may purchase them for a separate price. In October of this month, the price to purchase a refillable mug increased from $18.99 to $19.99. Since you can only use this mug for refills while you’re in one of the hotels, the value of purchasing a mug (separately from the Disney Dining Plan) is definitely up for debate.
Resort Refillable Mug Sign
But the refillable mug news kept a-comin’ last year! In November of last year, insulted metal versions of the refillable mugs were released around the resorts. Skyliner mugs were first spotted followed by Star Wars-themed mugs!
Skyliner Refillable Mug
These mugs were a definite upgrade from the small plastic ones BUT came with an additional cost. Guests not on the Dining Plan could opt to purchase these mugs for $29.99 instead of $19.99 or Dining plan guests could pay a $10 upgrade to get the metal mugs. The metal mugs definitely have a greater chance of use beyond your trip to Disney World, but, especially if you’re purchasing multiple mugs, that cost can add up quickly!
Learn more about Refillable Mugs here!
How Could This Affect Your Trip?
If you’re on the fence about purchasing the mugs, decide if your family will get adequate use out of the mugs during your stay (or after your trip, possibly like with the metal insulated mugs!) to justify the cost. Is your room close to a refilling location or will you have to walk clear across your resort to use them? Can you keep them in your bag and fill them up on your way to and from the parks each day? Coffee, tea, and hot cocoa are available beverages — can you offset the cost of the mugs by opting to enjoy your morning beverage at your resort in lieu of that daily latte from a Starbucks in the parks?
Hot Beverage Station
The mugs not worth the cost to your family? All Disney World quick-service locations do give out complimentary cups of ice water to guests and water fountains and bottle refilling stations are positioned around the parks, so you’ll always have access to free water as needed.
Flight of Passage Bottle Filler
Don’t want to shell out for the mugs but still interested in them? Consider trying to book your trip while Disney is offering Free Dining (like…NOW!). Then you’ll get the benefit of the mugs without feeling the pinch on your wallet quite as hard.
Learn more about the 2020 Free Dining offer here!
Food Price Changes
SO MANY price changes took place on October 1 of last year. Across-the-board price changes included increases on alcoholic beverages, breakfast sandwiches, churros, Mickey Pretzels, chocolate milk, and more. (Oddly enough, white milk decreased in price ever so slightly!).
Take a look at prices before and after the price hike:
Old Mickey Pretzel Menu
New Pretzel Menu
Explore these price changes here!
How Could This Affect Your Trip?
Interestingly, if you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, these price increases mean you can actually squeeze a bit more value out of your plan! Yay! But if you aren’t, you may want to opt for bringing more snacks with you to the parks instead of purchasing them there or be more strategic in which snacks you choose to purchase.
This is another great reason to consider snatching up that Free Dining offer. Then you can enjoy most snacks as you please with no worry of the price increases! Even if you don’t catch Free Dining while it’s offered, there are numerous other discounts available right now that could help lower the overall cost of your trip, leaving a bigger budget for snackage!
Check out other recently released Disney World Discounts here!
Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties
Starting February 1, 2020, a trio of Magic Kingdom fireworks dessert parties will ALL increase in price. These parties offer special viewing areas for the Happily Ever After fireworks and an array of sweet treats.
Happily Ever After Dessert Party in Magic Kingdom
The Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace will see a price jump from $84 to $99 per adult and from $50 to $59 per child ages 3-9. The Fireworks Dessert Party with Plaza Garden Viewing will increase from $69 to $79 per adult and from $41 to $47 per child. And finally, the Magic Kingdom After Fireworks Dessert Party will increase from $69 to $79 per adult and from $41 to $47 per child.
Happily Ever After
That’s a pretty substantial increase for many of the already rather pricey parties!
Find out which dessert party is right for you here!
How Could This Affect Your Trip?
If you were already on the fence about attending a dessert party, this may make your choice a bit easier! 
But if you want those special views and fun treats, it may still be worth paying a bit extra.
Happily Ever After AFTER Dessert Party Spread
This will really come down to your family’s preference. If you want those near-perfect views of the fireworks and all the tasty goodies that come with it, see if there’s somewhere else in your trip budget you can save. Can you opt for quick service instead of one table service meal? Maybe bring quick breakfast options with you to keep in your room instead of paying for breakfast. Little cost-saving measures can really add up, leaving you with more money for fun splurges like a dessert party!
Learn more about the Magic Kingdom fireworks dessert parties here!
Minnie Mouse Ears
Another price increase we were bummed about? The price hike on standard Minnie Ears from $27.99 to $29.99.
Arendelle Aqua Minnie Ears
While the price of the standard ears is still NOTHING compared to crazy-expensive Heidi Klum or Coach designer ears, it’s still something to consider.
Minnie Ears
Got multiple family members looking to stock up on some new ears? The money can add up quick!
Learn more about the $$$ hike on Minnie Ears!
How Could This Affect Your Trip?
Maybe you don’t buy a new pair of ears EVERY trip but enjoy the ones you’ve had for a while instead? They are fashion accessories that NEVER go out of style, in our opinion! Or, if you want to stretch your creativity a bit, you can try your hand at making your own or you can order some from Etsy!
We do want to mention that the designer ears, such as the Loungefly ears, have NOT increased in price. This change has only seemed to affect the standard ears, like the brand-new Belle of the Ball ears.
Belle of the Ball Minnie Ears
Explore the NEW Belle of the Ball Bronze color trend collection here!
Disney Dining Plan
The cost to purchase the Disney Dining Plan has seen its own increase from 2019 to 2020.
Disney Dining Plan Shirt
The nightly cost on the Quick Service Dining Plan will increase from $52.50 to $55 per adult and from $23.78 to $26 per child ages 3-9. The Standard Dining Plan will increase from $75.49 to $78.01 per adult and from $27.98 to $30.51 per child. And, the Deluxe Dining Plan will see a price jump from $116.25 to $119 per adult and from $43.49 to $47.50 per child.
Mickey Waffle with Strawberry Toppings
That’s roughly up $3 a day per person and, if you tightly budgeted your trip, this could potentially throw you into the red.
Learn all about the Disney Dining Plan here!
How Could This Affect Your Trip?
If you choose to purchase the Disney Dining Plan, be sure to maximize your plan by ordering higher-priced snacks and meals.
Epic Eats Funnel Cake
A $3.50 bottle of water will set you back the same one same snack credit as an $8.49 loaded cookies and cream funnel cake, so use those credits wisely to maximize value!
Want to get the biggest bang for your buck on the Dining Plan? Check out THESE snacks!
Annual Pass and Ticket Prices
Note that a ticket price hike hasn’t happened just yet for 2020, but historically in the new year, we see ticket and Annual Pass prices go up.
Ticket Pricing Hollywood Studios March 2019
Last year, tickets saw an increase in price in March. How much the price went up varied wildly depending on the number of days a ticket was purchased for as well as the time of year. But the major price hike we saw last year was in June for Annual Passes. Most standard passes increased by about $200 dollars, and many Florida Resident Passes increased as well! This was a MASSIVE hike compared to past years, so fingers crossed we don’t see the same this year!
Learn more about last year’s Annual Pass price hike here!
How Could This Affect Your Trip?
Keep in mind that price increases could happen at any time, so if a trip to Disney world is in your future, the early bird gets the less expensive worm, if you catch our drift. Book earlier and you’ll catch ticket prices where they are currently, leaving you to not worry if a price increase happens down the road (for this trip, at least!)
While most of the price changes we shared are small, they do add up over the course of a vacation. Thankfully, we have plenty of resources to help you with your planning, like our DFB video on The BEST Disney World Budget Breakfasts. Be sure to check it out below!
What’s the most worth-it thing you’ve experienced during your Disney World vacation? Let us know in the comments below!
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