Are You Cancelling Buffets?

[HookdonWDW]

If so, make sure that Disney knows why! I just called and cancelled all of our PSRs for buffets. When I did it, the CM was able to put in a reason for cancellation. She put that it was due to the change in children's pricing. If you cancel reservations for this reason, please be sure to make sure Disney Dining knows about it! I refuse to pay full adult prices for my ds to eat at a buffet. She stated that I was the 6th person she'd had call to cancel reservations this morning!

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[missypie]

I am so glad that our trip was a couple of weeks ago. I paid for both my DDs as children. Under the new pricing, I would have had to have paid for the older as an adult and she eats next to nothing. It's hard enough to pay $11 for her to eat 2 chicken nuggets and a cup of pudding...it would pain me to pay $27 for that!

With the dining plan and all, they really need to come up with pricing and meals for "juniors." The kids meals are pretty bad - little variety. A 9 year old and a 3 year old don't eat the same. But a 10 year old and an adult don't eat the same either. I think they need a category of meals and pricing for the 8-13 year olds (kind of like McDonalds did with Mighty Kids meals).

In one way it makes sense for a kid to be the same category (child or adult) for both park tickets and meals. It makes it easy to remember. However, almost every 10 year old child is tall enough to ride every ride; almost no 10 year olds eat as much as adults eat.

 

[missypie]

One more thing: I think people might be more honest on their kids' ages if there was a junior category. If they charged a slightly lower price for the little bitty ones (e.g. 3-6) and a slightly higher price for the older kids (e.g. 7-12), I think people would think it was fair and pay acordingly.

 

[n2mm]

I agree and do the same thing when I call. I just need to start menu shopping again. It's one thing when you do the buffets at character meals, because you can try to tell yourself that you are also paying for the character interaction. But that doesn't fly at Boma's, Cape May, and O'Hana's.

 

[lorik]

To be honest, I don't know what everyone is so upset about. We love buffets and eat at them often. Most restaurants end their children's pricing for buffets when the child reaches 10. Disney is just getting in line with the rest of the country. I'm actually happy to eat at the buffets because my kids at least will have fruit and vegetables available, something rarely seen on children's menus.

 

[jjohnson]

I don't know how close you live to me (Westchester County) but there aren't ANY buffet restaurants that charge over $15 for an Adult.

 

[dianemb]

I plan to cancel our too, especially the Hollywood and vine which is $25 a person. I know I won't eat that much and my 10 year old eats like a bird.

 

[Irelandred11]

I live approximately 1 mile from New York city. the only thing that seperates me from the city is the Hudson River. I think buffet price of $27.99 if fair. I do not know of any buffet under that price. Childrens buffets on the average are about 18.99 in my area. So Disney's prices are about the same that I pay home anyway - to me that is fair. I'm sorry I do not know about any other parts of our country.

 

[smkjt]

what are the price changes? And at what restaurants?We are going on the dining plan and had planned on paying out of pocket for the DS (5) and DS (7) at a couple restaurants.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

To be honest, I don't know what everyone is so upset about. We love buffets and eat at them often. Most restaurants end their children's pricing for buffets when the child reaches 10. Disney is just getting in line with the rest of the country. I'm actually happy to eat at the buffets because my kids at least will have fruit and vegetables available, something rarely seen on children's menus.

The buffets at Disney are extremely high priced though! They are priced at $21 a person on up for adults - That said we just returned from our trip in May with DS 11 and DD 8 - we ate at Boma, Chef Mickeys, Crystal Palace, Hoop Dee Doo and LTT - I paid childrens prices for both kids however with the change my DS would be considered an adult - I am not about to pay $50 for him to eat one rib and one piece of chicken at Hoop Dee Doo. We will definately stick to Counter service and restaurants that let you order entrees. No more buffets or all you can eats for us - the price hike just isn't worth it!!

 

[mlwear]

A lot of buffets around here do have "junior" pricing. C'mon...charging a 10 year old the same as a full grown man!
I am going to have to go over my AR's again and my dining plan and see what needs adjusted. I am nearly sure I will cancel Spirit of Aloha: can't remember the exact the price, but isn't it somewhere near $50 for "adults". I know there is a show involved, but I was on the fence about this one anyway. The price change is enough to push me to the cancel side.
You bet I will tell them why.
I don't like the policy and esp. don't like the late notice of the change or has this been planned for some time?

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I live approximately 1 mile from New York city. the only thing that seperates me from the city is the Hudson River. I think buffet price of $27.99 if fair. I do not know of any buffet under that price. Childrens buffets on the average are about 18.99 in my area. So Disney's prices are about the same that I pay home anyway - to me that is fair. I'm sorry I do not know about any other parts of our country.

Sorry that is definately HIGH compared to where we are - we can go to all you can eat seafood buffets for $12 - $15 a person here. We live right outside of New Orleans - I will pay for a good meal in NO at a nice restaurant but not for a buffet which are very plentiful down here in the south.

 

[java]

To be honest, I don't know what everyone is so upset about. We love buffets and eat at them often. Most restaurants end their children's pricing for buffets when the child reaches 10. Disney is just getting in line with the rest of the country. I'm actually happy to eat at the buffets because my kids at least will have fruit and vegetables available, something rarely seen on children's menus.

So you wouldn't have a problem paying $27 for fruit? It is the amount I will have to pay for my son to eat at 1900 Park Fare.
I just canceled our crystal palace breakfast. I will keep some of my others.

 

[jjohnson]

A lot of buffets around here do have "junior" pricing. C'mon...charging a 10 year old the same as a full grown man!
I am going to have to go over my AR's again and my dining plan and see what needs adjusted. I am nearly sure I will cancel Spirit of Aloha: can't remember the exact the price, but isn't it somewhere near $50 for "adults". I know there is a show involved, but I was on the fence about this one anyway. The price change is enough to push me to the cancel side.
You bet I will tell them why.
I don't like the policy and esp. don't like the late notice of the change or has this been planned for some time?

Yes its around $50. I can understand for someone over 21 because of the wine & beer but for a 11 year old! Come on. They really need to go back to a junior price.

I calling now to cancel Biergarten, Crystal Palace, Mamma Melrose FDP, CMC breakfast & Dinner. At least YC galley has a regular menu in addition to the buffet.

Oops...and Chef Mickey's too!

 

[NCombs]

Well, I guess this is one thing that makes me glad I'm not going until June, 2006. Maybe they will have a more reasonable plan in place by then.

I feel for you guys that already made reservations based on information that is now outdated.

I have a feeling they are going to be able to see a drop in the AR's made for buffet restaurants, in the short term at least, and lots of cancellatiions.

 

[maxaroni]

It doesn't affect us since ds is 12. We are going during the free dining promo so, again, not affected. However, before the free dining or if we hadn't gotten the meal plan, we would not have chosen to eat at the buffets or all you can eat because there is no way it would be beneficial to us. I can see why everyone is upset...you take the time to make the PS's/ADR's and now have to start over. We even pass on buffets around home, for the most part as I don't eat enough for the cost.

I am just hoping that there isn't a problem with ordering the kids menu and paying a kid price. My ds will eat a kid meals and due to the meal plan, have a dessert and appetizer...that will be more than enough. We will pay out of pocket for him to maximize the credit.

 

[happygirl]

that is CRAZY charging kids the same prices as adults

 

[tracy51]

Honestly, I'm not sure if I'm going to be cancelling any yet. All of the buffets we have scheduled are "character buffets" or the Fantasmic DP. So, I know we are paying for more than just the food. Still, my DD is 11 and most of the time she doesn't eat a lot. I knew paying $11-$12 for a plate of macaroni & cheese and a desert while seeing Mickey wouldn't bother me. Now... I'm not sure if paying $26 for that plate of macaroni & cheese and a desert while seeing Mickey will bother me enough to cancel Chef Mickey's on our first night. Or our Crystal Palace visit that's on the same day as our Liberty Tree Tavern visit. (Already been rethinking that one as it almost seems like too much food and characters for one day).

I'm not happy about the changes and think there should be a "junior" category, but I thought that before. I did email Disney and let them know that I wasn't happy about the changes or the amount of notice given. But I'm not sure I'm cancelling anything just yet.

 

[kkana]

confused here -- what is the new pricing plan - what ages does it involve. My DGD turns 8 one week before we go and I have PS at Princess Story Book Breakfast Norway and Ohana for July 4 dinner -- are these affected?

Also if we don't cancel our PS for Ohana on July 4 will be charged anyway? Want to keep our options open for that night.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

One more thing: I think people might be more honest on their kids' ages if there was a junior category. If they charged a slightly lower price for the little bitty ones (e.g. 3-6) and a slightly higher price for the older kids (e.g. 7-12), I think people would think it was fair and pay acordingly.

Good suggestion! My little ones eat next to nothing at these buffets. It's so frustrating to have to pay so much for the little bit they eat.