Aug 5, 2026
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Add us on GoogleThe next time you stop into the Lamplight Lounge at Disneyland’s California Adventure, you might want to brace yourself. The cost of a Paradise Falls, Seize Your Budget or the appropriately-named Over Budget cocktail has jumped to $20. Find Your Spark, the priciest cocktail on the menu with a mix of vodka, raspberry rum, lemon juice, watermelon syrup and sparkling wine, is $22.
In fact, the price of dozens of adult beverages at the park, which is often dubbed “The Happiest Place on Earth,” have gone up, with the median bar drink price climbing to $21, according to MickeyVisit. A study by the Disney (NYSE:DIS) news site found the number of drinks priced at $20 or higher increased 53% in the most recent menu update at the park, climbing from 77 to 118.
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Some drinks, of course, cost even more. The Carthay Circle cocktail, for instance, now runs $24, and at the Broken Spell Lounge at the Disneyland Hotel, you can expect to pay $25 for a Raven’s Wing or Inca Orchid cocktail.
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To put that in perspective, The Wall Street Journal*,* earlier this year, reported that the average price for a cocktail in the U.S. now stands at $13.61. That figure, of course, is much higher in some cities, such as Las Vegas or New York.
All of this comes at a time when the percentage of Americans who drink alcohol has hit a record low of 54%, per research from Circana.
Not just booze
Adult beverages weren’t the only thing to see price increases. Coffee, tea and hot cocoa prices at several dining establishments at the park, including Blue Bayou, Café Orleans, River Belle Terrace and Carthay Circle, jumped from $4.75 to $5.50. And 73 menu items at park restaurants increased by a median of $2.
The River Belle Terrace restaurant saw the biggest average increase at Disneyland park, with an average 9.5% jump. Other notable price increases were found at Café Orleans (9.2%), Blue Bayou Restaurant (9%) and Oga’s Cantina (4.1%).
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No slowdown in demand
The price increase on drinks comes as people continue to flock to Disney parks, despite a less-than-stable economy.
Disney, on Wednesday, released its third-quarter earnings, blowing past analyst expectations. The company reported earnings per share of $2.06, versus an expected $1.86. A big part of the reason for that beat was theme park attendance.
Revenue for Disney’s experiences division, which includes theme parks and cruises, was up 10% year over year to $9.97 billion. Attendance at domestic parks grew 3%, and per-capita spending was up 4% in the quarter. Some so-called Disney adults have even reported they are going into debt to get their fix of the theme parks.
International attendance was down, but domestic guests have more than filled that gap, the company said. Disney ran a promotion this summer called Cool Kids Summer, which was designed to boost family visits, with children gaining admission to the Orlando or Anaheim park for just $50.
Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, who succeeded Bob Iger earlier this year, previously ran Disney’s parks and resorts operations and put an emphasis on new experiences, as well as new cruise ships. The company is in the midst of a $60 billion investment into its parks over the next decade, opening new lands, creating new rides and updating classic attractions to keep them relevant for parkgoers.
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Chris Morris is a veteran journalist with more than 35 years of experience at many of the internet's biggest news outlets. In addition to his activities as a writer, reporter and editor, Chris is also a frequent panel moderator and speaker at major conferences, including CES and South by Southwest.
