$39.99 for Boma, Ohana and Cape May??

[Theta]

Just got back from Disney and was shocked this was the price for these restaurants. I remember $26.99 or so the last time I was there. My kids just turned 11 and 13 so they now pay adult prices. So $39.99 x 4 + tip = $$$, why are these restaurants always so full? Are most people during free dining?

I booked a room with a pin code so didn't use free dining this time because I like my appetizers and don't usually have desserts. I do enjoy Boma or Ohana once per trip, but couldn't believe the price.

 

[Tiger926]

Just got back from Disney and was shocked this was the price for these restaurants. I remember $26.99 or so the last time I was there. My kids just turned 11 and 13 so they now pay adult prices. So $39.99 x 4 + tip = $$$, why are these restaurants always so full? Are most people during free dining?

I booked a room with a pin code so didn't use free dining this time because I like my appetizers and don't usually have desserts. I do enjoy Boma or Ohana once per trip, but couldn't believe the price.

This price is the holiday surcharge, so you should have still had to pay tax on top of that, correct? Crazy ridiculous!!!

Most buffets have risen drastically - a few short years ago, we paid like $26.99 for dinner at Chef Mickey's, and now during peak season (I'm a teacher), it is around $40.00 without tax and tip. Crazy, ridiculous prices, and I'm convinced that Disney is doing this in order to force everyone to purchase the DP.

We are lucky in that we are DVC members, so we have dropped all TS meals for our 2 upcoming trips in 2011. This is huge for us, as we are used to eating 2-3 TS meals per day. We will be cooking pretty much most meals in our villa, with a few CS meals sprinkled throughout, and dinner at Kona Cafe and T-Rex.

We go for 2 weeks at a time in July, so this will save us a couple of thousand dollars! For our March trip, we will be eating every meal in our villa, except for 1st night arrival dinner. Looking forward to cooking our own food, and not being at the mercy of ADRs, crowded restaurants and disappointing food.

We have eaten pretty much everywhere, so we don't anticipate it being a big deal, although I have 2 Disney babes who are used to eating at every character meal, and even Signature restaurants. It will take some getting used to, but we aren't playing Disney's game of supbar food and service any longer.

This is the way of Disney dining it seems, Tiger

 

[TDC Nala]

If you prefer buffets/fixed price restaurants like the ones you listed, the appetizer/dessert thing on the dining plan isn't relevant, because you get the entire menu and pay the same price at these restaurants. If you choose a lot of these types of restaurants you may want to look into the dining plan again. This time of year, the price reflects the holiday surcharge (about $4 per adult and $2 per child at fixed price restaurants), like Tiger referred to.

 

[maminnie]

Tiger926:

I know how you feel. We use to eat most meals out too but with the increased costs, reduced quality and service, and a DVC kitchen available plus take-out options, we too will be eating far more meals in our villa. We also will eat off-site on our arrival and departure day. We have two children (teens) as well who are use to eating out at Disney. During our trip last year, we ate far less TS meals out and we still had a great time. It actually was a bit more relaxed then rushing everyday to get to a dinner reservation on time.

We realize that vacations are expensive, but to pay $39.00 plus tip per person for a buffet, $44.00 for a filet, $25 for lasagna, $22.00 for spaghetti and meatballs, etc., is a bit much at this point in my very humble opinion.

 

[catne]

yeah, if you're liking buffets, I would say to check the prices before you go next time & do the math based on what you'd really have to pay at the restaurants. You may find you could use the dining plan instead...chances are you would still save some $$ even if you paid cash OOP for the occasional added appetizer at non-buffet restaurants. One dinner buffet a day during the "surcharge" time would almost pay for the regular dining plan per person...and you'd still have a counter service meal included in the plan.


Disney considers anyone age 10 and over as "adults" for restaurants & dining plan so you're going to pay adult prices at all those buffets even if your kids don't eat much.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

It's a case of supply and demand. As long as the dining rooms are full, they aren't charging enough (from a business point of view). You can "I remember when" until your face turns blue, but that's life.

Pricing shouldn't be a shock if you research. There's enough information online to budget and plan accordingly.

 

[Theta]

yeah, if you're liking buffets, I would say to check the prices before you go next time & do the math based on what you'd really have to pay at the restaurants.

Oh, I did check the prices before we went and decided NOT to eat at those buffets. I had ADRs and everything (yes, I cancelled them). I only wanted to do one buffet, either Boma or Ohana that is why we didn't get the dining plan. I do feel bad for those who are not Disney-savvy and not on the dining plan and get a bill over $200 for a family of 4 (with tax and tip).

Anyway, supply and demand is correct. The restaurants were full over Christmas and MK closed to capacity on Christmas Day again this year...so people are spending.

 

[princess aleya]

It's a case of supply and demand. As long as the dining rooms are full, they aren't charging enough (from a business point of view). You can "I remember when" until your face turns blue, but that's life.

Pricing shouldn't be a shock if you research. There's enough information online to budget and plan accordingly.

Well said.

 

[Theta]

Pricing shouldn't be a shock if you research. There's enough information online to budget and plan accordingly.

Yes, I did research and yes, I can still be shocked.

 

[Tara922c]

Cape May and Crystal Palace were both around 35 bucks a person when we went last May. I was glad to have the dining plan because I did not think Crystal Palace was worth 75 bucks for two adults, and one 2 year old. The food tasted like bad wedding food, the service was HORRIBLE, and we had to wait over an hour past our ADR. We also rarely go out to eat as a family, and when we do, it is to Chili's. (DH does not like going out to eat). I would never eat at those places if it wasn't for the dining plan, because dh would flip his lid paying that much for one meal, lol!

 

[TDC Nala]

I just don't do the buffets anymore. At all. They're not good enough to command those prices. Although in February I'm going down with some friends and they might want to do Biergarten. It used to be a favorite of mine. As long as they still serve schooners of beer I'll go back there.

 

[DisneyWisher]

I remember one thread where someone said with the amount of people Disney feeds it's expected that the quality might not be great. All I can think of is what about places like Vegas or a cruise ship. Never been to Vegas myself but my parents always raved about the food everywhere there. From places that cater to locals (cheaper prices but still great food to the hotel restaurants on the strip). Disney is serving low quality food because people are buying it. Plain and simple. On our last trip I thought about eating at Ohana but at $35 for Beef, wings and the salad? Just wasn't worth it to me. Instead we went to Logans got the 3 course meal for 2 for $20. Had wings as appy, each got steak, potato and salad and a mini dessert each. I got 2 margaritas 2 for 1. Spent less than $30. Plus we enjoyed it. Love The hotels and theme parks but Disney is getting less of my money for dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

The "eat offsite" idea works wonderfully - if you have a means of getting offsite. You'd need to rent a car (if you didn't drive to WDW in the first place) or take a cab. Those who take advantage of Disney's Magical Express airport transportation service are a captive audience unless they want to spring for a cab. They'd need to be judicious about the restaurants they choose and what they want to spend, and do their research like the OP did. She made a decision that she didn't want the dining plan and wasn't going to book those buffets at those prices.

I'm also kind of scratching my head at the posts that say one shouldn't expect good food, it's just a theme park after all. Well, there are alternatives - rent a car, get the dining plan (it might save you a little money, or at least give the psychological benefit of prepaying in that you don't have to open your wallet and look at the bill while you are at the restaurant), just don't do buffets. Or just suck it up and pay for it. As long as the restaurants are full, it's going to be the status quo.

It's kind of crazy how buffet/fixed price prices have risen in the past couple of years, especially when you add the holiday surcharges. And they still fill the restaurants.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

The "eat offsite" idea works wonderfully - if you have a means of getting offsite. You'd need to rent a car (if you didn't drive to WDW in the first place) or take a cab.

1) For $40 for a buffet, a cab or rental car can be justified.
2) For the price of one person, everyone can eat cheaper.

 

[skater]

It's a case of supply and demand. As long as the dining rooms are full, they aren't charging enough (from a business point of view). You can "I remember when" until your face turns blue, but that's life.

Pricing shouldn't be a shock if you research. There's enough information online to budget and plan accordingly.

But its still intersting to talk about it .

 

[skater]

1) For $40 for a buffet, a cab or rental car can be justified.
2) For the price of one person, everyone can eat cheaper.

Good points. Boma is my favorite restaurant in the world, (and not just WDW), but I would never take my family of 5 there and pay that kind of money. We only go because we're usually there for free dining. I will go with my DD in Feb. - only because I love it so much - but my budget will take quite a hit. I wonder if those kind of prices are what enables Disney to convince many people to buy the dining plan?

 

[TDC Nala]

Well, you can only get the dining plan if you stay onsite. Not everyone stays onsite. If you're not staying onsite I would bet that you're not eating onsite at this point.

 

[SnowWitch]

We will be doing the deluxe plan for 7 nights on our upcoming summer trip. Then OOP the following week, at places we tend to share appetizers and entrees at. If the food has declined in quality the way many have written about on the boards we will write off the dining plan from here on out. We have three other trips planneed in the 7 months following the summer trip and will be staying in a villa at the BWVs. We maybe joining the mindset of dining in our villa if all these reports are true. With the recent increase in the dining plan cost and the ose of the tax and tip several years ago we may have to say bye bye to Disney dining.

 

[TDC Nala]

Tax is still included in the price of the dining plan.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

1) For $40 for a buffet, a cab or rental car can be justified.

It depends on your situation. We are a family of 6 with 2 car seats staying for 2 weeks. A car rental that would fit us all would've put us way out of budget. Plus the logistics and time traveling off site with 4 kids just to eat? We found the DDP to be a HUGE $$ saver for us since the kids are all under 10.