Why is CRT not more expensive?

[joannamet]

Still shaking my head over this one for so many reasons. I continue to be amazed that people pay Disney prices for the experiences and special events. For our Nov trip I checked prices for MVMCP and Hoop Dee Do and even though we can afford it, it just seems like too much money. DH and I feel the same way about non-Disney concerts and sporting events. We've eaten at CRT once on free dining and loved it but I wouldn't even consider paying for it OOP.

Raising prices just to keep more people out seems elitist and offensive. I'm sure that's not what the OP intended but I made my first trip to Disney at age 47 so I'm a little touchy about the way these boards seem to lean toward the Deluxe Resorts and signature restaurants. The ADR system is flawed but raising prices just because they can is not the answer.

 

[bashuck]

I'm truly sorry if I offended you. I'm confident that you will find an ADR at CRT If some some reason, you can't get it 180 days out, keep checking! Unfortunately, a lot of selfish people book more tables than they could ever possibly need, because they want options on which day to go. I, for one, am very against that. Once they decide (usually like a week before the trip) they release the reservations so that they don't get charged for not showing up. I wish you the best of luck, my friend! I'm rooting for you!!

I'm not offended. Barring website issues I like my odds as good as anyones as I'm proficient on the keyboard, if some can book CRT 3 times I'm sure I can get it once. If it came across as "why won't they let me private party the entire CRT dinner' that wasn't my intention. Thinking that if it cost $20 or so more that would get rid of some of the people who go all the time and open it up for others who REALLY want to go. I wouldn't go but every 3rd or 4th year (as we will likely go once a year), and probably just have my wife and daughter go. In reality it would also burden some people who can JUST BARELY afford the already high cost and that sucks.

 

[Greg K.]

I think one of the cast members summed it up best a few years back. My wife and I went to the castle for dinner. I innocently asked the young lady who led us to our table, "What do you recommend for dinner?" And she replied, "The Yachtsman Steakhouse."

You can find better values and much better meals elsewhere. But as others have said, you're paying for the experience and the memories.

 

[Nancyg56]

CRT is not as difficult to get as it was before the prices increased. I fouund dinner easier to find than breakfast, if you are using the DDP, the diner is a better use of credits, IMO due to the cost. Good Luck!

 

[Patriotic_Duck]

My wife also has MS, we live one day at a time. We have gone to wdw several times since her diagnosis and will continue to go. I don't know your friend's situation, but MS is not a death sentence. Thankfully DW is doing great, but we don't approach trips as if they were our last, rather we try to enjoy each moment while looking forward to the future.

But to give you an additional perspective of a family living with MS, I sure am glad that after all of the money we spend on medication, specialist visits, and MRIs, that we can still afford to go to CRT. We are happy that it isn't priced out of our budget.

It seems to me that you wanted to shift your image from being entitled to the meal because you have more money, to being entitled because your friend has MS. I don't buy it. Get onto MDE 180+10 like the rest of us. I had no problem booking BBB and CRT when I called at 9:30 AM on my reservation day. Keep trying and keep calling, I hope you get the reservation you want!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . all reservations 180 days in advance with prepaying customers would think their prices must be too low and raise them . . .

So, you think $75 per adult for dinner at CRT is not expensive enough ?!?!?!?!

 

[jimim]

I'm truly sorry if I offended you. I'm confident that you will find an ADR at CRT If some some reason, you can't get it 180 days out, keep checking! Unfortunately, a lot of selfish people book more tables than they could ever possibly need, because they want options on which day to go. I, for one, am very against that. Once they decide (usually like a week before the trip) they release the reservations so that they don't get charged for not showing up. I wish you the best of luck, my friend! I'm rooting for you!!

Ya this still pisses me off. I know people who do this and it does make it worse for others. I don't care what someone who does this says to defend it. It's wrong. Period.

And about prices being higher to get reservations. I think no matter what prices are people will go. What I think they should do is hold 100 per person for each ADR and if you don't cx u get slammed. That will get people to think twice and free up spots.

On a personal note we are done with character meals. They just suck. Even the character interaction is t like it used to be even just 5 years ago. It's sad cause they were fun. The castle the food used to be really good too. This was about 10 years ago though

 

[TDC Nala]

Even CRT doesn't book all available ADRS at 180 days out every single day. It does sometimes, but not all the time.

And about prices being higher to get reservations. I think no matter what prices are people will go. What I think they should do is hold 100 per person for each ADR and if you don't cx u get slammed. That will get people to think twice and free up spots.

Because CRT is prepaid, if you don't cancel within the designated time or you just don't show up you will be charged the full cost of the meal. For a family that's usually quite a lot, although nowhere near $100 per person. So I think they've covered that one.

Anyway this restaurant is quite small, very unique (there is nowhere else in the world to get exactly the same experience) and extremely in demand. Even if they charged $200 per meal they'd probably get takers.

And just to get it out there, I don't think some guests "deserve" to go to CRT more than others (don't really care how many times they've been), nor do I agree that raising the prices will have the effect of opening the door to the more "deserving" guests.

 

[msb578]

So, you think $75 per adult for dinner at CRT is not expensive enough ?!?!?!?!

I actually think it's a valid business question (yes I may be the only one)

How much could they charge and still pack the place? Surely more than the current price. My point earlier was that Disney's relationship with its customers is an emotional/personal one. People get personally offended when Disney pushes them (by getting every last dollar they can). This is not quite so true for all companies.

Disney is afraid of backlash. And they are right to be.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Even CRT doesn't book all available ADRS at 180 days out every single day. It does sometimes, but not all the time.

This is so very true. In fact, I watched CRT ADRs just sit there for several weeks after my 180 when planning my end of June trip. Even coveted pre RD ADRs were still available. Because of this I think Disney has this priced right about where it should be, and because it's pre-pay, it keeps hoarding to a minimum. The only reason it is so difficult to book right now is because of free dining.

@Patriotic_Duck I thought the same thing when the OP shifted to their friend having MS. You are so right that it's not a death sentence. A positive attitude, and a stubborn refusal not to be defeated can go a long way with this disease.

 

[Saimaeve]

I think the people booking it probably really want to go as well. I've been lucky to get reservations each time, one was planned 60 days out, one was 120 and one was 180. I don't think raising the prices would do anything.

Although based on this thread, I'm surprised we've not seen people suggest tiering ADRs based on where you stay and personal issues. "Staying at a Deluxe? You can book 200 days out! A Moderate? 180! A Value? 100! Off site? 60 you terrible terrible scum." this is a not a serious proposal. Please do not take it as such.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

In the real world, they would raise the price. However, the dining plan complicates the scenario. If a large percentage of their patrons are using the dining plan, raising prices would not actually raise profits significantly or impact ADR rates. It is a piece of the equation we just don't have enough insight into.

I would also be curious about their cancellation rates - after my experiences getting ADRs at various times before my trip last week, I believe that many people are still booking multiple ADRs then cancelling when they decide which to use. I can't imagine it is as high with pre-pay, but I just don't know.

 

[jmg378s]

Exactly. I'm a huge fan of an NBA team and I never get their 'premiere reservation' - courtside seats as they cost over a grand a game. But I do have my mediocre season tickets and am happy with the arrangement as they are $60 a game. If I'm spending thousands on this trip shouldn't I have some option to 'buy' the reservation to help ensure a 'perfect' vacation? I can go to stub hub for the court side seat if I really wanted it.

I'm not sure the $20 extra you quote for "buying" an ADR will curtail the demand at CRT so that you can plan the perfect vacation. If you're willing to spend extra money why not just book a 10 day stay? You'll have no problems getting the time you want on day 10 since you'll probably be booking before, as you say, all the other people that go all the time and don't REALLY want to go...

 

[Ceryssa]

The thing about Disney is that people will usually just pay it and shrug and say "It's Disney". Like you, they want that "perfect" trip for their princesses (or little boys, although there isn't really a comparable insanely priced character meal that caters to boys) and are willing to pay whatever Disney asks to get it. So I'm not sure raising the price would actually help with availability--tickets, hotels and restaurants all go up every year and still people pour through the gates. We went last year for our first trip; I booked it for the experience, paid for it without complaining, and was glad we did--but in my estimation, "just okay food" is a generous description and now that we've done it, I feel no need to ever do it again. As others have said, book at 180 days in advance right at 6 am if possible (assuming you aren't already past that). If you can't get exactly what you want right away, keep checking--I had to look for a while last year, but I was able to get everything I wanted eventually. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[djc9699]

We did this once, thought it would be magical for my daughter. It wasn't. It was an extremely overpriced low quality meal (breakfast). It wasn't even fun for my daughter. She was so disappointed in the experience. We all enjoyed Akershus better - food and character wise. I had to buy my kids something else to eat within an hour of eating at CRT. Of course, it may have just been an off day, but we enjoyed so many other, less expensive places better.

 

[PoohsHunnyBee]

I doubt you will have any trouble booking this, but since I didn't notice it mentioned...Rather than paying $20 extra a head which is not a real option, you can pay about $8 for one of the services like DisneyDiningBuddy that notifies you when your desired reservation becomes available.

 

[TDC Nala]

Apparently those services can't be discussed here - looks like the webmasters have filtered them out.

 

[bashuck]

My wife also has MS, we live one day at a time. We have gone to wdw several times since her diagnosis and will continue to go. I don't know your friend's situation, but MS is not a death sentence. Thankfully DW is doing great, but we don't approach trips as if they were our last, rather we try to enjoy each moment while looking forward to the future.

But to give you an additional perspective of a family living with MS, I sure am glad that after all of the money we spend on medication, specialist visits, and MRIs, that we can still afford to go to CRT. We are happy that it isn't priced out of our budget.

It seems to me that you wanted to shift your image from being entitled to the meal because you have more money, to being entitled because your friend has MS. I don't buy it. Get onto MDE 180+10 like the rest of us. I had no problem booking BBB and CRT when I called at 9:30 AM on my reservation day. Keep trying and keep calling, I hope you get the reservation you want!

I am glad to hear things are going well enough for your wife in dealing with it. I'm not saying it would be the last trip she'd physically be able to take, but they live down the street and the cost has kept them from being there so far and I'm sure this diagnosis isn't going to help their financial situation going forward. I'm not ENTITLED to the meal any more than anyone else. She is also not 'entitled' but I'm hoping she gets to go and I can't think of anything else I could plan a year in advance and have the money for (dinner) and still maybe miss out on. The reason we could miss it is because it isn't priced in a typical supply/demand manner. I will do what I need to do the morning the ADR is available. Someone suggested I could just take a longer vacation to use the whole +10......can't afford to despite my 'image'. I'm not mad at anyone but I think some conclusions were reached that are incorrect. $20 is enough to sway me from eating a dinner, maybe I'm naive to think that would effect others also. If it wasn't for this other couple and their daughters I wouldn't likely even be trying for this reservation because I'm fine with my daughter missing it for the next few years because of the price.

 

[NicoleLarson]

I found the headline slightly comical myself when I know from my prior visit how the meal was mediocre. But I didn't know it was equivalent to a politician giving a speech at the Villages suggesting social security benefits be reduced. I can name all of the things that I wish cost less if everyone will forgive me

This is too funny! I live in The Villages, so I can only imagine what that scene would look like!!! However, I too thought this was some kind of joke when I started reading....then thought, oh wow; the OP is really serious!

So my advice to the OP, as I understand it, you haven't actually tried to get CRT yet? Don't sweat it, if your booking window comes open and you don't get it just keep checking, I'm 99% sure you'll get it.

 

[gdrj]

I'm truly sorry if I offended you. I'm confident that you will find an ADR at CRT If some some reason, you can't get it 180 days out, keep checking! Unfortunately, a lot of selfish people book more tables than they could ever possibly need, because they want options on which day to go. I, for one, am very against that. Once they decide (usually like a week before the trip) they release the reservations so that they don't get charged for not showing up. I wish you the best of luck, my friend! I'm rooting for you!!

Selfish...hmmm, full of compliments today Could there be other reasons? Could they be booking multiples waiting to see what FP+ will be available so they can decide what park to visit (Disney World created this mess)? Could they just be canceling because they have changed their mind? I have a trip coming up in July. We are going for 11 days. I can pretty much gtd that I will be changing or cancelling a number of the dining reservations as we get closer. I have one dining reservation a night, I have at least 3 nights with no dining plans. Reasons we change or cancel vary but can include, going to a different park than we planned 4, 5, or 6 months ahead. Weather- if it is going to be an extremely hot day may not want a type of food. FP for Rock n Roll or Tower of terror is right after dinner plans at Mama Melrose, definitely want to cancel. Or just don't feel like going to a sit down day after day. There are lots of reasons for changes. Not every guest is strict to a schedule and once that schedule is made NO substitutions (for you "Last Holiday" movie fans).