Are You Cancelling Buffets?

[kimbac3]

But I did change my mind on what I was going to do. This priced us out of what DH thought were already overpriced buffets. It's a shame because the kids really wanted to do Chef Mickey, but it just seems like so much to pay to have my kids eat so little. We could better use that money elsewhere. So we will just have to find characters in the parks.
Kimba

 

[Jakesmom1]

Ok, I just called Disney dining again, and they told me it depended on the restaurant. eeggghhh

I have called 4 times in the last two days and keep getting different info. You think they would all have the same info when it comes to a big change like this.....

Anyway the three that I was concerned about were O'hana, Cape May and Biergarten, He looked up all three and told me definately the childs price was up to and including age 11...

 

[kpalmer35]

I truly believe that Disney changed the ages to MATCH the dining plan. My DD is 10 and I couldn't understand why she was considered an adult for the plan and I had to pay the adult price, yet many of the restaurant menus said children 3-11. I spoke to several CM's about this and none of them could explain. GEEZ, I hope this age change isn't MY fault for inquiring to much.

 

[cobbler]

There has been WAY too many changes this past year. Enough already.

You aren't kidding!! Between the new tickets, the changes to AP discounts, and now this???

Gosh is the new CEO trying to get a fatter paycheck? (Its a joke, but still).

 

[ashresiren]

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.

First, I don't buy that at all. Oscar's at the WORLD FAMOUS Waldorf Astoria serves a buffet with a price tag of $50 for adults, so I highly doubt that a Golden Corral-type establishment in the city commands that great a price, especially for children. Second, the cost of living in New York is higher than in other places. Hence, a garbage man in New York gets paid twice as much there as in other places, and thus, can afford a higher priced meal. It's not useful to anyone when people won't stay on topic. Finally, if prices had been this way when I visited last month, I certainly would not have visited the buffets.

 

[DISUNC]

I truly believe that Disney changed the ages to MATCH the dining plan. My DD is 10 and I couldn't understand why she was considered an adult for the plan and I had to pay the adult price, yet many of the restaurant menus said children 3-11. I spoke to several CM's about this and none of them could explain. GEEZ, I hope this age change isn't MY fault for inquiring to much.

No I had the same problem a few weeks ago....there was even a thread posted on it...(somewhere...called STRANGE CALL) The CM I talked to at first told me that YES 11 years old is considered a child for the dining plan. Then she put me on hold....when she came back (5 minutes later on a long distance call). She told me that she had 2 list's...one said the age for the Adult meal plan is 10 & up, the other list said 12 & up. So she talked to her superviser (another few minutes on hold..LONG DISTANCE) and came back with .."i am sorry but they are changing the age for child meals throughout the park up until 9 years of age"...and then hung up, rather ubruptly!

Someone else Op'd a verrrrrrrrrrrrry similar complaint. It seemed like DIS just sprung this on everyone! Including the poor CM's who have to hear us call in, and they are just as much in the dark as we are.

No matter how you slice this whole "changing the age of children menu" thing....it STINKS and it aint right!!!! Who is the new CEO anyway???? I dont like him already!

 

[sugermouse]

nooooooooooooo, are you????????????????

 

[magicmouse2]

My Dd is 9 but is very tall so I guess I will have to carry ID around
As of next year I will be eating offsite ALOT !!!. We love Disneys buffets but with 3 kids, I can not afford to pay adult prices for buffets. Ponderosa and Sizzler will be getting a lot of my business in the future.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Hence, a garbage man in New York gets paid twice as much there as in other places, and thus, can afford a higher priced meal. It's not useful to anyone when people won't stay on topic.

Ah, but you hit the nail on the head as to why it IS related to the topic at hand.

For people from NYC, or other parts of the country where prices are higher, the prices at WDW are pretty reasonable. I live in New England and the prices at my local McDonalds are actually a few cents MORE than those at the DTD McDonalds, for comparison.

If you come from some place where you can go out and feed a family of 5 for $20 in a restaurant and have enough for a tip left over, then WDW is going to feel outrageous to you. It'a all relative to your personal experience.

That said, I do feel as if making 9-year olds pay $25 for dinner (especially if they stick to the kids buffet) is pretty ridiculous. As many have suggested, a "junior" price, from say, 9-13, is much more appropriate.

N.E.D.

 

[msteddom]

Ah, but you hit the nail on the head as to why it IS related to the topic at hand.

For people from NYC, or other parts of the country where prices are higher, the prices at WDW are pretty reasonable. I live in New England and the prices at my local McDonalds are actually a few cents MORE than those at the DTD McDonalds, for comparison.

If you come from some place where you can go out and feed a family of 5 for $20 in a restaurant and have enough for a tip left over, then WDW is going to feel outrageous to you. It'a all relative to your personal experience.

That said, I do feel as if making 9-year olds pay $25 for dinner (especially if they stick to the kids buffet) is pretty ridiculous. As many have suggested, a "junior" price, from say, 9-13, is much more appropriate.

N.E.D.

I have to agree with the above poster. Meal costs at WDW are pretty i line with what we pay in So. Cal. So food costs at the parks just never seem that shocking to me. I do understand why all you parents are upset though,
Disney sprung this change on you at the last minute and you can't get a straight answer from anyone. I do think Disney has the right to charge whatever they feel they can get people to pay, but that doesn't mean we have to be happy about it.


Melissa

 

[newholidayx2]

I finally resigned myself to the fact that DS is a teenager!

 

[Lizzybee]

Here is the logic I don't understand with this policy...
First of all let me say I would NEVER have my child lie about his age
He looks like a 8 yr old and he EATS like an 8 yr old (on a good day...lots of time his 7 yr old sister eats way more than he does) why is it dishonest for me to PAY for him like an 8 yr old. I assure you Disney wouldn't be losing out one bit. That being said, my son just turned 11 and he looks at the child's menu which he is ALWAYS given at every restuarant (to me that implies a consent to order off that menu when they hand you one but I'm sure there are those who would disagree). If he is "too old" to order off of the kids menu, he tries to find an appetizer he likes- if they have shrimp he's happy. If there are no appetizers for him, he may order fries and share some food with the adults. Otherwise we have also asked "is it ok for him to order off of the kids menu" and we haven't been refused.
Anyway my point is...if it looks like a duck and it eats like a duck then you should charge it the fee you would charge a duck not an ostrich!

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

How about trying a breakfast buffet instead of dinner. You get to sit down and have the characters come to you and it isn't as big of a hit to your wallet as dinner.

If you think the buffet prices are bad think about the candlelight dinner packages. I will have to pay for DS this year to the tune of around $44.00....YIKES. I probably will do it, only because I enjoy it so much, but I don't like the thought of wasting the money because he doesn't like the adult meals yet.....Oh well

 

[skiwee1]

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.

I already pay $15 for my 6 y/o DD to eat one slice of rainbow bread with peanut butter and jelly on it! She never eats anything at the buffets but the rest of us enjoy them. We pay for the atmosphere.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

I wouldn't cancel Boma's .....I just love it too much..... and I have to go to Cape May too....but at least they now eat good size portions. It would have killed me to pay those prices when they were younger and and have them eat almost nothing

 

[Lizzybee]

....(Imagines self at buffet meal paying $25+ for my very small 11 yr old to eat a child's size portion)...."Excuse me waitress, I can I get a to go box for this extra food...I'd like to take it home and try to cryogenically freeze it so he can eat it when he actually IS the adult I paid for to eat here?"

 

[TDC Nala]

Hey, everyone who was looking for an adult dining experience at WDW...one word...buffets.

 

[tinkerbell60]

....(Imagines self at buffet meal paying $25+ for my very small 11 yr old to eat a child's size portion)...."Excuse me waitress, I can I get a to go box for this extra food...I'd like to take it home and try to cryogenically freeze it so he can eat it when he actually IS the adult I paid for to eat here?"

That is so me!!! DD11 is very very petite and eats little to nothing -

 

[ashresiren]

Ah, but you hit the nail on the head as to why it IS related to the topic at hand.

For people from NYC, or other parts of the country where prices are higher, the prices at WDW are pretty reasonable. I live in New England and the prices at my local McDonalds are actually a few cents MORE than those at the DTD McDonalds, for comparison.

If you come from some place where you can go out and feed a family of 5 for $20 in a restaurant and have enough for a tip left over, then WDW is going to feel outrageous to you. It'a all relative to your personal experience.

That said, I do feel as if making 9-year olds pay $25 for dinner (especially if they stick to the kids buffet) is pretty ridiculous. As many have suggested, a "junior" price, from say, 9-13, is much more appropriate.

N.E.D.

So, please, draw me a straight line. How exactly is that related again? The thread isn't about buffet prices in general. If this doesn't apply to you, then why respond? Moreover, I would love to know where you can feed a family of 5 for $20 at a sit-down restaurant (or for that matter, at a fast food restaurant). I live in West Virginia, and I certainly couldn't accomplish that at a Taco Bell.

 

[lillygator]

we will not cancel buffets...I am hoping this will clear out the congestion in those particular restaurants.

and as far as people who have picky eaters...or ones who eat little to nothing...why would you go to the buffets in the first place....?