Are You Cancelling Buffets?

[MKCP5]

JJohnson, I soooooooo hope that you are right, but I fear that you are not. I called this AM too and was told, sorry, they will just not honor it. I asked them, well what if I hadn't known? What if I just showed up, ready to eat dinner--you're going to stick me with another $25. on the bill without my consent? She said yes. We cannot be responsible for changes in corporate policy on a day by day basis. The Cm's should have told you that things were changing when you made the PS. I was transferred to a supervisor and I said, well, can they tell when I made my PS? She said no, there is no way for the restaurant to tell in the system when you made your reservation. I sure don't know what to think now!! Do you know any more about what this statement made on the 17th says? I'm not cancelling anything yet. I am very very interested to see what people say who come back after 7/1

 

[Laurajean1014]

We are not cancelling our ressies for our CM's and buffets. We maybe the only one's in the place, but that's ok.

 

[C.Ann]

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....?

-----------------

Maybe because the adults enjoy the buffets?

 

[skiwee1]

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....?

We go because we as the adults like them. We don't do it for the kid! I have no problems with charging 10 and up as adults. I do have a picky eater but go with the notion that I know that child isn't going to eat much of anything but will still have a good time while the adults get to eat what they want.

 

[tinkerbell60]

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....?

Because picky eaters like to see characters too!! We do one character buffet per trip - I am not a big eater either, but we just deal with the cost for the atmosphere. This just makes it a little tougher on the pocketbook. I do feel bad for families with more than one child in that range of 10-12ish. We will soon be at the point where both kids are charged as adults, maybe they will have had their fill of character meals by then.

 

[Tiger926]

It seems that most of you who you are upset have picky eaters who eat next to nothing, so I can see how paying full price is a problem for you, but here's a scenario:

My DD2 eats more than me sometimes! I have lots of allergies/sensitivities, so I don't eat much, but she sure does, and guess what? She's free at buffets! So, one day when I have to pay full price, I can't really complain because she's a good eater. As well, all of our 9 & 10 year old cousins eat more than most adults I know, so perhaps all of your children are the exception, but I've been to Disney many times, and I see this as the rule and not the exception.

Another thing that I'm sure has played into this decision, is the fact that we always see parents allow their children to load up their plates when most of this stuff goes in the garbage. As a parent and teacher who greatly believes in setting limits, I see tons of food go to waste as children are allowed to take whatever types of food items they want off of the buffets. I would hope that this wouldn't pertain to any of you who are complaining about the new pricing structure, because of it does, that is very hypocritical of you, IMHO.

Lastly, what about us adults who have to pay full price for buffets, but we don't eat much either? Perhaps a junior price would be applicable here as well, and how in the world would Disney monitor this? Like I said, I see most kids at Disney buffets eat way more than me, and they pay half of what I pay or free (like my DD)!

Just some things to think about, Tiger

 

[lillygator]

Because picky eaters like to see characters too!! We do one character buffet per trip - I am not a big eater either, but we just deal with the cost for the atmosphere. This just makes it a little tougher on the pocketbook. I do feel bad for families with more than one child in that range of 10-12ish. We will soon be at the point where both kids are charged as adults, maybe they will have had their fill of character meals by then.

then wouldn't you agree the $$ is worth it to see the characters regardless if the eat their full money's worth or not? For us it is...I would rather pay $$ than stand in line outside.....

I knowI personally don't eat my money's worth barely eating one plate but I am sure there are tons of people who make up for it.......

 

[lillygator]

and I still think eating habits are created just as most habits are....my 2 1/2 year old has eaten whatever we have as soon as she was able and she eats everything in sight (while managing to stay skinny lucky thing) - I think we helped this by what food choices she was given in the beginning...if we had only offered her fries and nuggets then sure that is all she would have a taste for. Children will not starve - they will eat when they get hungry......

so the buffet prices are not a big deal to me....if you feel it is a big deal to you, don't go to buffets, eat elsewhere and que up for the characters...

 

[Tiger926]

Something else that I thought of after I posted - this same rationale can be applied towards theme park tickets as well. I have motion sickness, so I don't go on any rides, but I still have to pay full price for my ticket! If we use the buffet analogies, then I should get a reduced ticket price as well since I don't use the rides - which is the same as not eating enough to justify prices at the buffets.

Since Disney changed their child buffet it had to be 1) Because kids that age do eat a lot and 2) They were losing money due to wastage in that age group. Either way, since Disney is a corporation, they need to make profits, plain and simple.

Tiger

 

[HookdonWDW]

I think the bottom line here is cost-benefit. We go to WDW several times a year, every year. We don't eat a lot of counter service, but we do eat 1-2 sit down meals onsite every day of our stay. We eat at both buffet and traditional restaurants. We are annual passholders and DVC members (although we don't always stay DVC).

This change in pricing has tipped the cost-benefit scale for our family. Our kids have seen the characters enough that although they like the meals, they can live without them. There is no longer enough "perceived value" in buffet dining for us anymore. Instead, we will go to sit down restaurants, everyone will order what they want from the menu, we will get our DDE credit, and we will still spend less than we would have at the buffet meal we would have eaten.

One of the big differences for WDW will probably be breakfast. When we stay at BCV, we usually go to the Cape May Cafe for their buffet breakfast at least twice. The cost for our family was $63.96 + tax for breakfast. The new cost will be $71.96 + tax. Instead, we will now eat at the Yacht Club Galley and order off the menu. The new cost of breakfast will be about $39.86 + tax. So for an increase in price of $8 (price increase of ds's meal), Disney will be gaining a net loss of $24.10 on one meal.

I'm sure others will eat the buffet instead of us, but as I said, we are regulars, and this is just one meal. Add it up over the course of all the meals we eat on property, throw in a trip to Olive Garden instead of an onsite or two, and it becomes a significant amount of money... hey, maybe even enough to cover APs at Universal...

 

[skiwee1]

and I still think eating habits are created just as most habits are....my 2 1/2 year old has eaten whatever we have as soon as she was able and she eats everything in sight (while managing to stay skinny lucky thing) - I think we helped this by what food choices she was given in the beginning...if we had only offered her fries and nuggets then sure that is all she would have a taste for. Children will not starve - they will eat when they get hungry......

so the buffet prices are not a big deal to me....if you feel it is a big deal to you, don't go to buffets, eat elsewhere and que up for the characters...

\
Whatever. No one asked for your parenting advice. After raising 3 kids who were all picky eaters and have gotten to eat just about anything as they aged I think I'll stick to my own experiences which are numerous. Just a thought but all of my 2 1/2 and 3 y/os at the time ate anything in sight. Once they hit 4 y/o they all decided to get picky. Just wondering if you have other kids with which to base your experiences on?

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

and I still think eating habits are created just as most habits are....my 2 1/2 year old has eaten whatever we have as soon as she was able and she eats everything in sight (while managing to stay skinny lucky thing) - I think we helped this by what food choices she was given in the beginning...if we had only offered her fries and nuggets then sure that is all she would have a taste for. Children will not starve - they will eat when they get hungry......

so the buffet prices are not a big deal to me....if you feel it is a big deal to you, don't go to buffets, eat elsewhere and que up for the characters...

I have to comment on this also. Yes, you can help with WHAT your child will eat through helping their eating habits from birth on... but that doesn't have a thing to do with HOW MUCH your child will eat- which is what this thread is about really, especially when it concerns buffets. It doesn't make a difference if it's one chicken finger or a couple of bites of fruits or veggies. You can expand your child's range of foods they WILL eat but you can't change HOW MUCH they eat. This thread isn't about what they have a taste for- it isn't about will they eat veggies and fruit or just junk food. It's about HOW MUCH they will eat.

My children will eat good food and prefer it the majority of the time over the "offerings" at the children's buffets (which btw is always junk food- pizza, chicken strips, mac and cheese) but they still won't eat MUCH even though they want to eat fruit or veggies instead.

Yes, you can expand their palate by what you have offered them throughout their childhood but you can't change how MUCH they ate. What you did doesn't have a thing to do with how much your child will eat now. I hope you realize you did nothing to help her to "eat more" than other children. Some children eat more, the majority at young ages aren't big eaters at one meal- they are usually "grazers". Eating everything in sight is not something YOU helped her do- that's just how she is. I have 3 kids.... I know you cannot force a child to eat "everything in sight" if they don't want to or don't have that appetite on their own.


Oh and btw, to answer the OP's question if I haven't already- we don't have buffets planned now TO cancel- but depending on when we go next (we have a cruise planned but haven't decided if we'll extend it to a WDW stay or not... yet) we probably won't do buffets as often, or not at all. I say depending on when we go next because if we don't extend the cruise to a WDW stay next year- then we'll probably be going to WDW again in 2007 and by that time not ONLY will my now almost 8yr old ALSO be our 2nd child to pay as an adult if we eat there, but also our youngest (now 5) will be older and we mostly did the character buffets for her anyway. So depending on when we go next- if it's 2007 we'll probably skip the buffets. We'd have 2 children to pay for as adults, plus an overpriced (IMO) child -all 3 hardly eating much at all because they are not picky eaters but are SMALL eaters. we all prefer to eat more often smaller meals than one or two huge meals per day. I already winced a little (but only a tiny bit) at the prices for the kids as it is- but to pay adult price for 2 of them when I don't expect they'll change a lot and eat huge meals by then... that's too much. We'll pass on that.

 

[jjohnson]

JJohnson, I soooooooo hope that you are right, but I fear that you are not. I called this AM too and was told, sorry, they will just not honor it. I asked them, well what if I hadn't known? What if I just showed up, ready to eat dinner--you're going to stick me with another $25. on the bill without my consent? She said yes. We cannot be responsible for changes in corporate policy on a day by day basis. The Cm's should have told you that things were changing when you made the PS. I was transferred to a supervisor and I said, well, can they tell when I made my PS? She said no, there is no way for the restaurant to tell in the system when you made your reservation. I sure don't know what to think now!! Do you know any more about what this statement made on the 17th says? I'm not cancelling anything yet. I am very very interested to see what people say who come back after 7/1

I hope so too but alot of us are being told the same as you. I did change a few buffets to TS & my FDP at MM to H&V but I haven't done too much. I too am waiting for feedback after 7/1

 

[Avalanche]

All resort areas charge high prices for food, not just Disney.

We recently spent the weekend in Ocean City MD and paid $22 a person for a spagetti dinner. (salad and bread included)

When I spend $3000 on a trip to Disney I'm not going to worry about another $10 that they're going to charge my son.

 

[babybunrab]

It seems that most of you who you are upset have picky eaters who eat next to nothing, so I can see how paying full price is a problem for you,

DS10 eats what we put in front of him at home--Thai food, Mexican, Sushi, you name it, he eats it. I won't make a different meal for my child, as I want him to eat lots of different foods. So, I would not say he is picky. Were the adult menu really the only option for him, he'd find something he liked.

HOWEVER, he's on vacation and loves chicken fingers which he never gets at home. Is it fair to decide that as an 'adult' my 10 year old must pay extra for his chicken fingers (as these are rarely on the 'adult' menu). He doesn't 'load up his plate and waste food' either. So, to say that those of us upset about are children being declared adults because they are picky is painting all of us with a bit of a broad brush, IMO.

That said, I will not cancel my two buffets because I can't miss BOMA and DS saw Chef Mickey's on the food channel last weekend. There will just need to be a little 'belt tightening' here at home for the next few weeks!

 

[delilah]

My son must be the exception rather than the rule. We went to Boma and also Crystal Palace. He ate food items that were on the adult buffet, and he ate so much that I think he ate more than I did, and I didn't feel cheated in the least. He is 7 and weighs 52 pounds. He liked things like the roast beef and grilled salmon that were on the buffets, and he definitely outdid me on those. Even though I may not always be the biggest eater, I really like trying out different things, and, I like to encourage my son to do the same.

On the other hand, he doesn't particularly care for the items that are usually on the kids menu. He tends to pick at those.

 

[Tiger926]

delilah - My thoughts exactly! I'm confused as to why so many of your children only eat what's on the children's buffets, which in my humble opinion are the worst foods to eat - the soggy macaroni & cheese & greasy chicken fingers come to mind. My DD2 (who was 21 months on our last trip) ate off of the adult menu most of the time - rice, pasta, chicken for instance. So, basically if your kids are only eating macaroni & cheese and a few chicken fingers, I'd say that would definitely be a waste of money for you in regards to the price increase!

Tiger

 

[Lorelai]

My two sons always opt for the "kid's food" while my daughter opts for a few bites off of the more "adult" side of buffets. I'm impressed by the seven year old that enjoys salmon - very mature taste buds!! I've found that there is usually fruit on the kids buffets along with the mac-n-cheese, chicken & pb&j. When we were at the Crystal Palace in April we were remarking that there were an awful lot of adults eating the chicken fingers & kids pasta. We made many a quiet notation of the adults lovin' the greasy kid stuff. To each his own!

 

[GrumpyBa*D]

i'm figuiring on splitting some of the adult meals on the meal plan between myself, mother and niece who eats like a bird most of the time or allowing her to order off the children's menu. i'm sure there will be more than enough food from the 2 adult meals for the bird to pick, especially with an appetizer and dessert. I know the feeling paying 27 bucks for the bird to pick on the buffet stinks but we are going to because it's disney, not just a buffet.

 

[lovethattink]

We bought into the Disney Dining Experience this year for the 1st time. We bought into this to save money while dining at Disney. Well, starting July 1, we won't be saving money, since DS(11)'s price doubled. Guess DH and I will have to sneak out for lunch while ds is at school. At least our todler is still free 'til age 3. He's 14 months. I know we only had a few more months before ds turns 12. But we had planned to eat at Boma's and Ohana's over labor day weekend. Guess we'll just go to Golden Coral and Cici's.