$125 for new Princess Character Breakfast

[mom2rtk]

I liked how Disney mentions in the end of the blog that there are still many other ways to meet the princesses and then lists them all out

It's almost like they expected some pushback.

 

[DizMe]

I'm glad my girls are older and got to do the princess dining at Ariel's because I just don't see any value in this price point for us. If you had one daughter, maybe that's doable, but I have 4. Do I indulge them? Yes, but I'm not seeing this as worthy of such a cost. We used to do the princess meal often, and we did get quality time with them back then. They used to teach the kids how to pose and they even had a dance with princes that the kids could try. It was a very fun family experience and it didn't bankrupt us to do it.
Here are my youngest 3 at Ariel's many moons ago. The one on the left is now almost 19 and the twins are almost 16.

 

[DizMe]

Just an occasional face character at Plaza Inn. But I can't imagine a shortage of talent is the issue on Southern California.

I can assure you it's not. My daughter is a musical theatre student and has been to princess auditions with her friends. There are hundreds of talented people at every one. The talent pool near DL is huge.

 

[Malcon10t]

I really don't care that they have or those that want it, I just also want the choice for something cheaper as well.

While I agree, and I do think this price point with the food probably won't last, I will have to wait to see if it will be worth the value. It is more of an experience than a meal. If it doesn't sell, Disney will have to do something.

I was actually thinking they should change Plaza Inn from Minnie's to Princesses, but the problem is having the same princesses advertised at 2 locations, Disney won't do that.

And the Princesses are located in the Royal hall, plus they are out and about in the afternoon. In December, they were in the entry area to the park after 3pm, and despite it being very busy, lines were quite short.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

Just an occasional face character at Plaza Inn. But I can't imagine a shortage of talent is the issue on Southern California.

Lol, I think I was more saying Disney is holding too tightly on to their purse string to pay for said talent or to bring more on the payroll.
I do believe 6-8 princesses all requiring extensive make-up/prep time plus handlers to escort them is just more costly then say offering the Fab Five.

I imagine Chef Andrew at NR and his assistant chefs, his front of house are some of the best compensated at Disney. Not to mention he probably uses better ingredients. So while this kitchen was available, it’s the most costly to Disney’s bottom line.

I am wondering if Disney really believes this is what is required to make it worth it for them.
$15 a person for the characters, handlers and scripted show. $40 for the restaurant, food, kitchen and service staff. $15 for merch. $10 for alcohol/specialty coffees. $10 for the photographer and take home prints. $10 for parking/attendants/security. $5 for IT/reservation support. $5 for set design/backdrops/center pieces. Then a decent profit on top.
I don’t know maybe they, or at least the accountants, REALLY believe this fantasy.

 

[mom2rtk]

While I agree, and I do think this price point with the food probably won't last, I will have to wait to see if it will be worth the value. It is more of an experience than a meal. If it doesn't sell, Disney will have to do something.

I was actually thinking they should change Plaza Inn from Minnie's to Princesses, but the problem is having the same princesses advertised at 2 locations, Disney won't do that.

And the Princesses are located in the Royal hall, plus they are out and about in the afternoon. In December, they were in the entry area to the park after 3pm, and despite it being very busy, lines were quite short.

Disney World has Cinderella upstairs in the castle and just around the corner in Fairytale Hall. As long as they are not visible at the same time, they don't seem to have a problem with it these days.

Minnie's had princesses up until around 2006. It was really a lovely place to meet them.

IMG_8366 by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[GatorChris]

So, let me get this straight. The nearly $200 I used to spend at Ariel's for family of 5 to eat with Princesses is not enough. (BTW, we stopped doing that years ago) Now it would cost us $600....and for a meal that's the kinda-sorta meal of the day: breakfast. I can go to WDW and eat INSIDE THE CASTLE with 5 princesses, AND have lunch/dinner (meals where people actually eat more than eggs and bacon) for a maximum of $80/adult and $65/child. And I thought THAT was high!

Add this to the 50% increase for MaxPass, standing-room-only for Fantasmic! unless you buy a dinner package, and APs going up 60% in 5 years. All while things like World of Color have been down for 10 months and PtN on long-term hiatus. Exactly why I'm taking my kids to Universal and Great Wolf Lodge this summer....and NOT DL. I'll miss Splash and all my favorites, but I can't keep paying exponentially rising prices for more crowds and less attractions.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

So, after reading the Parks Blog post, some more random thoughts:
The experience as a whole sounds fun, the time with the princesses sounds fun, I get that they're trying to make this more personal and interactive. Okay. But, again, so many things don't make sense. Like the gifts -- they had to know that plenty of adults are going to sign up to do this. What do I want with an autograph book and what must be a child's necklace? And, buffet? I know it's easier for them, especially with large groups of people. But when I pay $125 for a meal at NR -- a meal that includes short ribs, mac'n'cheese, pork belly, and sparkling wine/champagne -- at least at dinner I get table service. Very good service. And what are they going to do with the grown ups during story time? If we are there for the experience, not as parents, are we going to be encouraged to participate, too? Cynical me says that I'm not paying $125 to help clean out NR's refrigerator by eating leftovers from dinner, then be rewarded with a child's not-that-nice swag bag. If the gift and experience make it clear that this meal is for little kids, why doesn't the menu match up? I'm a big Disney fan, but this makes me feel like a bear of little brain!

 

[midnight star]

It's almost like they expected some pushback.

I'm sure they are expecting some, and are probably getting it as we speak through calls and emails.

 

[DLgal]

So, after reading the Parks Blog post, some more random thoughts:
The experience as a whole sounds fun, the time with the princesses sounds fun, I get that they're trying to make this more personal and interactive. Okay. But, again, so many things don't make sense. Like the gifts -- they had to know that plenty of adults are going to sign up to do this. What do I want with an autograph book and what must be a child's necklace? And, buffet? I know it's easier for them, especially with large groups of people. But when I pay $125 for a meal at NR -- a meal that includes short ribs, mac'n'cheese, pork belly, and sparkling wine/champagne -- at least at dinner I get table service. Very good service. And what are they going to do with the grown ups during story time? If we are there for the experience, not as parents, are we going to be encouraged to participate, too? Cynical me says that I'm not paying $125 to help clean out NR's refrigerator by eating leftovers from dinner, then be rewarded with a child's not-that-nice swag bag. If the gift and experience make it clear that this meal is for little kids, why doesn't the menu match up? I'm a big Disney fan, but this makes me feel like a bear of little brain!

It's a BUFFET?????

Surely, you are mistaken...

 

[YayforMickey]

This whole thing sounds like an April Fool's Day prank.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I called a few minutes ago to get more clarification. The CM said they were just notified today of the new princess meal so they didn’t have much details. She did say that it’s a 3 course breakfast buffet...

It's a BUFFET?????

Surely, you are mistaken...

I know! For $125, I could get the Vintner's Menu with table service -- at an appropriate time to eat that kind of fare, i.e. not first thing in the morning! This appears to be an extension of the PP-but-you-have-to-provide-your-own-camera mindset --- now we have $125 meal at NR-but-you-have-to-serve-your-own-food-yourself. LOL! I know no one's done this yet and I really do hope that it's a lot nicer than we're making it out to be, but has it really come to this? I'm paying Disney for the privilege of helping to use up their, albeit very nice, leftovers while plating and serving it myself? I think this falls under the category of "Fool me once... fool me twice..."

ETA: So far, I don't think any of the official Disney descriptions say this is a buffet, only the Dine Line.

 

[mummabear]

DCA really could use a character meal. I wish they hadn't had chucked all of Ariel's Grotto for the Lamplight Lounge.

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until it happens
Pixar Character meal at the lamplight lounge!

 

[midnight star]

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until it happens
Pixar Character meal at the lamplight lounge!

That would be great! I would go to that! I love Pixar!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until it happens
Pixar Character meal at the lamplight lounge!

The seating arrangement at LL really won't work for this. They rearranged all the seating to be more like a bar lounge. And I'm not sure the kitchen could handle it. But... if they really are looking to do "upscale" character meals, there's no reason why they couldn't try one at CCR. That kitchen could handle it. And the "Frozen" meal isn't necessary now for good viewing -- plenty of seating for that show now -- so why not try doing something nice there?

 

[Malcon10t]

$15 a person for the characters, handlers and scripted show.

Real quick, as an employer, $15 is NOT what is costs per employee. $15 is base wage for Disney, I am sure characters get paid a little above that. BUT, what people forget to add in are the employer taxes, health benefits, and workmans comp. WITHOUT health benefits, the average employer cost is 28% of the wage. I am pretty sure Disney's is higher. So, a $15 employee is actually a cost of closer to $20.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Yep. I'm a pretty die hard Disney fan, but this just makes my stomach turn., and it's not just the thought of eating mac and cheese and short ribs for breakfast. I get it, there are people in this world that have money and a lot of it and they will continue to pay whatever Disney charges for an exclusive event. And Disney will continue to keep raising their prices more and more. It just leaves a horrible taste in my mouth.



Totally agree. I could understand $40 or $50 per person for a character meal. Even on a more limited income, it was possible to save and you could afford to splurge on a special character meal and justify the expense once in a while. But the cost to me for this is beyond ridiculous.




Are they the same bloggers who were duped into buying $600 for $20 Payless shoes? Because I have a hard time justifying why this meal should be so expensive, especially for a child who will eat 2 bites of a pastry.

I wonder if the price is specifically targeted for all the bloggers who are expected to do the new things, and then once they've exhausted that for sure audience they will lower the price...

 

[Malcon10t]

Disney World has Cinderella upstairs in the castle and just around the corner in Fairytale Hall. As long as they are not visible at the same time, they don't seem to have a problem with it these days.

Minnie's had princesses up until around 2006. It was really a lovely place to meet them.

Yep, Minnie's and Goofy's both had princesses, until Ariel's debuted. And Disneyland will have the Princess meal, and Royal Hall. The difference is they won't be advertising "Meet Cinderella, Jasmine and others at Napa Rose for $125", and "Meet Cinderella, Belle and others at Plaza Inn for $35".

So, let me get this straight. The nearly $200 I used to spend at Ariel's for family of 5 to eat with Princesses is not enough. (BTW, we stopped doing that years ago) Now it would cost us $600....and for a meal that's the kinda-sorta meal of the day: breakfast. I can go to WDW and eat INSIDE THE CASTLE with 5 princesses, AND have lunch/dinner (meals where people actually eat more than eggs and bacon) for a maximum of $80/adult and $65/child. And I thought THAT was high!

Add this to the 50% increase for MaxPass, standing-room-only for Fantasmic! unless you buy a dinner package, and APs going up 60% in 5 years. All while things like World of Color have been down for 10 months and PtN on long-term hiatus. Exactly why I'm taking my kids to Universal and Great Wolf Lodge this summer....and NOT DL. I'll miss Splash and all my favorites, but I can't keep paying exponentially rising prices for more crowds and less attractions.

Your family of 5 included kids, my family of 5 (Mom and 4 teens) was much higher. Have fun at Universal and Great Wolf. My brother and his kids enjoyed Great Wolf. But after a day he had to buy tickets to Disneyland as the kids wanted to go there. We've done Universal, for us it was a 1 and done. But that is why there are so many parks! Great Wolf is opening not to far from you in the near future!

It's a BUFFET?????

Surely, you are mistaken...

I *think* is isn't going to be so much a buffet as it will be served "family style" at the table.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yep, Minnie's and Goofy's both had princesses, until Ariel's debuted. And Disneyland will have the Princess meal, and Royal Hall. The difference is they won't be advertising "Meet Cinderella, Jasmine and others at Napa Rose for $125", and "Meet Cinderella, Belle and others at Plaza Inn for $35".

There's plenty of room in the Disneyland universe for a premium princess offering, a non premium princess offering (a traditional character meal) and a "free with park admission" princess offering. Disney World has the high end tea, a bunch of traditional princess character meals (CRT, Akershus, 1900 Park Fare and Artist Point) and countless "free with admission" options in the parks.

Honestly, I have no problem with the high end offering. What rubs people so wrong is to take away the traditional sub $100 offering for the better part of a year, then replace it with only the high end offering. People have been asking for a princess character meal ever since Ariel's Grotto closed. This is not what many of them were waiting for.

I know how money hungry Disney has been lately. But I never thought I'd see the day when I could refer to CRT as the low end offering.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

Honestly, I have no problem with the high end offering. What rubs people so wrong is to take away the traditional sub $100 offering for the better part of a year, then replace it with only the high end offering. People have been asking for a princess character meal ever since Ariel's Grotto opened. This is not what many of them were waiting for.

That sums up my thoughts too.