Exactly! So just 1 character breakfast alone is the aprox cost of the basic dining plan per day...with the dining plan you are also getting a CS meal and a snack...of course it's worth it.
And what about the people that would want breakfast AND dinner? Say Crystal Palace breakfast and dinner at Tutto Italia...why would those people not get the deluxe dining? For the aprox cost of breakfast and dinner per person those people will get 3 meals a day, plus 2 snacks, plus refillable mugs.
It's the cost of food at WDW that makes the dining plans a good deal for many families. Sure, lots of families do it for the easy all-inclusive, pre-paid thing. Others however, may look at the cost of just one character breakfast and decide it's completely worth it.
Because when you add $80.00/adult/day, plus kids, that adds up to a huge amount of money spent on food. We have done it all - Deluxe, Regular, Signatures, special events, DDE/TIW, and so since we go for 2 weeks each summer, that is thousands upon thousands of dollars on food. Food that has seriously gone downhill over the last few years. So, the Deluxe plan is a good savings for guests, but when you add it up, it makes for a lot of money spent on food for one vacation.
I believe this poster was discussing breakfast at Rainforest Cafe in the AK.
Thanks - yes I was.
What's going on is that this is Disney's business plan. Ridiculously overpriced food, mediocre value.
I haven't taken the time to figure out or look at the CPI for the last few years, but I would highly doubt it's up over 65% which the price of Boma's has gone up. I would call it price gouging and corporate greed before I would call it inflation and rising cost's of food. Not saying food is not going up, but I haven't seen my grocery bill go up 65% in two years. Unlike you, I don't expect to see it this high in WDW.
I agree, however I'd call it ridiculously overpriced food, mediocre quality.
ITA!
I come from a restaurant family, and they can't really raise prices that much, and it's homemade Italian food, which is very costly. Exceptional cheese, homemade sauce, meats, etc. Disney does it because they can, but in the real world of mom and pop places, they can't really do it, despite rising inflation.
It's basic pricing strategy. Raise the price until you encounter resistance, then back off. If people continue to eat at $25, raise it to $30. If they continue to eat, raise it to $35. And so on until traffic begins to decrease.
As long as people are willing to pay those ridiculous prices, those prices will be ridiculous.
You got it - we are not doing it any longer either.
Just an FYI, the dining plan in 2011 is $44.99/day for adults now, so the DDP prices are increasing just as much. 3 years ago I think that it was $35.99/day.
The only reason that we still get the DDP is that my DD (4 years old) only costs $11.99/day which makes up for the overpricing on the adult package. There is no way that we will get the DDP when my DD hits age 10.
This is true, and when it was $35.99/day it also included tips! I firmly believe Disney did this to hook people in, and it worked. Now, they are using food as a marketing ploy, and that's working too. They are in charge of the cycle - raise menu prices to overinflate the DP, which will encouarge guests to purchase the DP as it looks like a great deal. The fact that 10 year olds pay the same price is also problematic. Toss in the buffet surcharge, and the it's gotten to a point of ridiculousness.
We will miss some of our favourite restaurants, but since we've done it all, we won't miss them that much. Every few trips, we'll go to a TS, whereas before we were eating at 2-3 TS meals per day. No more!
Tiger
I had to make sure I heard correct and repeated my question! Even asked if this was without the holiday surcharge and she said YES! Was considering 1900PF as well, but it was only a couple bucks cheaper. As much as I'd love to try some of these I cant justify spending $80+ on breakfast alone.
At least when I buy food at WDW, I know I am going to like it and be happy that I'm there.
