There’s no denying that a trip to Walt Disney World is expensive. We shared a post about why that’s so (and ways you can make it cheaper), if you’re interested in learning more about that subject.
While Disney keeps raising its prices, the surrounding properties increase their rates to keep in step with the leader. This is most evident with the non-Disney run hotels on property, like the Swan and Dolphin.
The sister hotels are both in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. Prices to stay at the hotels, either by paying cash or using Bonvoy points, have gone continuously up over the years. Hotel fees, mandatory parking fees and expensive on-site food options are part of the “Swalphin” (our word. We made it up 25+ years ago) experience.
No one is finding out this more than the Major League Soccer players who are being housed at the hotels as part of their “bubble” during the “MLS is Back” tournament taking place at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex for the next month.
As you can imagine, the players aren’t able to go out to eat wherever they want. The hotels are catering meals that are delivered to the player’s rooms.
MLS player Omar Gonzalez from the Toronto Football Club shared the room service menu that players get to choose from while in their “bubble” on his Twitter account.
Check out those prices. $45 for breakfast, $65 for lunch and $75 for dinner. In case you’re wondering, that’s $185 a day for food for professional athletes who have no other options.
And if you’re wondering what $65 will get you, here’s a picture of Omar’s lunch.
Teammate Eriq Lavaleta replied with a photo of his lunch.
Things aren’t all bad. The $75 dinner was better than lunch. That is if you’re prepared and bring your own hotplate, frying pan and spices to give some flavor to your meal.
The squeaky wheel gets the oil! Now that I’m actually here in #thebubble, I can vouch for the food. Looks good to me! (But I still came prepared.)
Maybe the food is the least of the worries of the players staying at the Swan and Dolphin hotels. Here’s a video (supposedly) by a player looking to take a shower.
LATEST FROM THE BUBBLE. #MLSisback @TotalSoccerShow @jonahfreedman pic.twitter.com/EKK5jMBGA7
— MLS is Back insider (@MLSCovidCup) July 1, 2020
What sort of compensation should they ask for? I’d say a day of free meals would be sufficient for your bathtub faucet turning into a projectile.
The NBA players are starting to arrive at their Disney provided accommodations. We can only hope their stays will be better than what the soccer players have experienced so far at the Swan and Dolphin.
#stayhealthy #staysafe #washyourhands #wearamask
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
3 comments
As to the NBA. They get a meal per diem of $133 and a minimum starting salary for first year players of $898K. Sorry – there are definitely people I am currently more concerned for.
A sad and apt example of the value proposition you get in a lot of cases at Disney these days. I wonder if they can real food delivered.
beyond the high prices, and the poor appearance of the food – these are for pro athletes afterall – looks at the crappy, unhealthy offerings? sodas (not even club offered), dairy milk (where’s the oat?), GF, paleo, lotsa processed flour; very lame overpriced room service for captice athletes.