Buffet Prices INCREASED AGAIN!!

[ScubaCat]

Hi All!

Okay I just made some ADR's for Ohana on December 30th. The price for a buffet including tax is $37.27!! Just last year in 2008 the price was $26.99 plus tax. Neither price includes gratuity.

It's a $4.00 price increase, and then it's holiday pricing. That's actually the same price as the Crystal Palace the last time I was there.

$26.99 + $4 increase = $30.99 + tax = $33.00
$26.99 + $4 increase + $4 holiday surcharge = $34.99 + tax = $37.27

 

[ScubaCat]

As for 'Ohana ... we won't go to any buffets until my DD is older. At the age of 10 she is a "Disney Adult" and there is no way she would eat $38 worth at any buffet. My DH is bummed that we're not going to Boma, but I'm also not willing to pay $39 per day for her on the DDP either.

Disney made that change in the late '80s -- they changed "child" from 3-11 to 3-9. Some meals (hoop-dee-doo, I remember for sure) used to have child, junior, and adult pricing. Those days are long gone though!

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

An average dinner at Red Lobster totals $40-$45. It's called inflation and it's everywhere.

My dinner last week at Red Lobster was 16 bucks. But that was just my dinner, one entree, coke, no app. or dessert. Do you mean 40 bucks for two people or so?

 

[JennSaint]

Does it really matter? Disney gouging Guests during the holidays is also a rip off.

Actually it does matter. I didn't want others to think the regular price is $37 per person. I just wanted to clarify that her price was during Christmas season.

However I do agree that the prices are getting outrageous!

 

[NonScents]

Why are some people surprised/indignant when Disney raises prices?

Like most people, I am making cutbacks and sacrifices in all my spending, so I expect to do so on vacation, too.

Everything in the world (real world, not Disney World ) is getting more expensive/smaller/less quality.

I think I still get good value for my money at WDW & that is why I go.
For those who disagree, yes, there is Universal.

 

[BayouMickey]

My dinner last week at Red Lobster was 16 bucks. But that was just my dinner, one entree, coke, no app. or dessert. Do you mean 40 bucks for two people or so?

With the dining plan you get an app, entree, dessert and drink. So I tallied up all 3.
Here's a lowdown of 3 of their lower end prices:

Lobster, Artichoke and Seafood Dip - 8.75

Seaside Shrimp Trio - 17.50

Chocolate Wave - 5.99

Drink - 2.00 rounded? (no prices)
------------------------------------------
Total w/o tax - 34.24

Even at this price 3 times a day is $103.00. So it still is at a value. And that's not including the 2 snack credits.

 

[princessmom29]

They wouldn't be able to charge $150 if it weren't for the Dining Plan.

I think that they would. They have a captive audience and as long as people will pay it they will charge it. It is highly inconvinent to go outside the parks to eat, and there are only so many burgers and fries one can eat!!

 

[Kay1]

I think that they would. They have a captive audience and as long as people will pay it they will charge it. It is highly inconvinent to go outside the parks to eat, and there are only so many burgers and fries one can eat!!

I don't agree but a moderator (Jody) just asked that we not debate that here, so let's let it go.

 

[ScubaCat]

I don't agree but a moderator (Jody) just asked that we not debate that here, so let's let it go.

Yeah, I'm unsubscribing this thread. The price is what it is, and our opinions won't really change that. As long as Ohana continues to be extremely popular, I doubt the price point will be an issue.

I posted what I thought were the prices above and what the increase and holiday surcharge was. Beyond that, I'm not sure what else to contribute. We're just venting at this point.

Toodle-loo (to this thread)!

 

[lugnut33]

With the dining plan you get an app, entree, dessert and drink. So I tallied up all 3.
Here's a lowdown of 3 of their lower end prices:

Lobster, Artichoke and Seafood Dip - 8.75

Seaside Shrimp Trio - 17.50

Chocolate Wave - 5.99

Drink - 2.00 rounded? (no prices)
------------------------------------------
Total w/o tax - 34.24

Even at this price 3 times a day is $103.00. So it still is at a value. And that's not including the 2 snack credits.

That's great you consider it a "bargain", but for our family I feel better with this:

Super-delicious buffet at Sweet Tomatoes (2 minutes from DTD) for 4 which includes giant humongous fresh all you can eat salad bar, soup bar (5 different soups to choose from), potato fixings bar, focaccia station, desert bar, and drink station.

4 x approx. $13 = $52
Ohh, I had a buy one get one free coupon so we actually spent $39 for a better meal than Le Cellier (my opinion).

And I saved $88 over the cost of your meal!! I can now stay an extra night at WDW.

That being said, if you like the convenience of pre-purchasing you food with the DDP, then go ahead and do it. It's a free country.

 

[BayouMickey]

That's great you consider it a "bargain", but for our family I feel better with this:

Super-delicious buffet at Sweet Tomatoes (2 minutes from DTD) for 4 which includes giant humongous fresh all you can eat salad bar, soup bar (5 different soups to choose from), potato fixings bar, focaccia station, desert bar, and drink station.

4 x approx. $13 = $52
Ohh, I had a buy one get one free coupon so we actually spent $39 for a better meal than Le Cellier (my opinion).

And I saved $88 over the cost of your meal!! I can now stay an extra night at WDW.

That being said, if you like the convenience of pre-purchasing you food with the DDP, then go ahead and do it. It's a free country.

That's nice! But you won't get that at WDW.. Not everyone has the luxury of off site transportation. When in WDW, you need to go with what is available. Would I love a GOOD 13 dollar meal? Of course! But it's not offered there. So you go through the pro's and cons and you look for the best value for yourself. To me, The Deluxe Dining plan is a value. I can eat three 3 or 4 course meals for around 70 dollars a day. Compared to simular places it's a bargain.

 

[lugnut33]

That's nice! But you won't get that at WDW.. Not everyone has the luxury of off site transportation. When in WDW, you need to go with what is available. Would I love a GOOD 13 dollar meal? Of course! But it's not offered there. So you go through the pro's and cons and you look for the best value for yourself. To me, The Deluxe Dining plan is a value. I can eat three 3 or 4 course meals for around 70 dollars a day. Compared to simular places it's a bargain.

I certainly don't begrudge you for buying it if you like it!! Enjoy!

 

[PolyAddict]

Hi All!

Okay I just made some ADR's for Ohana on December 30th. The price for a buffet including tax is $37.27!! Just last year in 2008 the price was $26.99 plus tax. Neither price includes gratuity.

With that said has Disney lost it's magic or what? I can get a fine steak at Ruth Chris for this price. It's really getting ridiculous and we won't be doing the buffets any longer. This is approximately a 36 percent INCREASE!! Inflation should be about 2 percent a year. I know for a fact they are not losing money. I believe they profitted 2.8 BILLION last year. Now, don't get me wrong I LOVE Walt Disney World, but things like this just rub me the wrong way.

Further, you have Universal down the street which charges $99.00 for a week for their park, plus you have Sea World and Wet and Wild. You also have the brand new Waldorf Astoria and Hilton near EPCOT and DTD. Heck, you can get a gorgeous room at the Hilton for $99.00 a night, and the Waldorf has a special now where you can get a SUITE for $189.00 a night with offers such as buy 3 nights get one FREE! PLUS they have DISNEY VIEWS!!

They have also increased double strollers from $18.00 to approximately $32.00 within a year. They have increased parking from $8.00 in 2004 to now $14.00 this year. Tickets have gone from $65.00 in 2006 to approximately $80.00 for this year.

I understand it is a business. But they should understand how a business should be run. Sooner or later they will run into a brick wall. They will price themselves out of profitability.

Thanks for letting me vent, but this is how I see it.

Thanks all!

Brunette

Our price at Ohana in June 2009 was $32.99 plus tax or $35.13 with tax and this was during "holiday" pricing. I will say i am seriously considering skipping Ohana this year as it was not up to par this last trip.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

Disney definitely hasn't lost its magic for us. I don't mind paying a little extra for a great meal.

 

[minnie_michelle]

Disney has lost it's magic for us. The day (it appears to be today) a medicore buffet costs more than the best steak in Atlanta (we love flemings) then I'm done. That is a joke. And how can they raise a price 4.00 in one year?? It should be 50 cents to a $1 per year. The orginal poster is right . . .inflation is 2%, which comes out to roughly $.50 for a $26.99 buffet. So where did $37 come from? And what is this "seasonal surcharge"?? I can just see any normal restaurant increasing their prices "around" the holidays. I can see maybe on Christmas Day or New Years Day, but not "around" the two holidays.

At this rate though, are people really going to pay $100 pp for a buffet 10-15 years from now??

I think not. Disney will hit a brick wall or they will have to provide the best, highest quality buffet available on the planet.

 

[robinb]

That's nice! But you won't get that at WDW.. Not everyone has the luxury of off site transportation. When in WDW, you need to go with what is available. Would I love a GOOD 13 dollar meal? Of course! But it's not offered there. So you go through the pro's and cons and you look for the best value for yourself. To me, The Deluxe Dining plan is a value. I can eat three 3 or 4 course meals for around 70 dollars a day. Compared to simular places it's a bargain.

Not to be picky, but I think that more people would consider buying the DxDDP more of a "luxury" than having a rental car. For instance, I have a reservation for a Mid-Size car for a week in December and it is costing me $179 with taxes. That's about $25 per day. The DDP would be $120 per day for our family and the DxDDP would be $216 per day .

BayouMickey, I'm glad that your family finds value in the DxDDP. "Value" can be such a slippery word because it can men so many things to so many people. Personally, I can't find the any value in any of the DDPs if I have to pay for them now that my DD is 10 a "Disney Adult". She's a vegetarian who eats like a bird and does not yet have an adult palate so dumbing down meat dishes like steak and chicken won't work for her and neither does fancy adult vegetarian dishes. We're still in the middle of our "Mac n Cheese" years and there is not way I'm paying $40 per day for that!

 

[BayouMickey]

Not to be picky, but I think that more people would consider buying the DxDDP more of a "luxury" than having a rental car. For instance, I have a reservation for a Mid-Size car for a week in December and it is costing me $179 with taxes. That's about $25 per day. The DDP would be $120 per day for our family and the DxDDP would be $216 per day .

BayouMickey, I'm glad that your family finds value in the DxDDP. "Value" can be such a slippery word because it can men so many things to so many people. Personally, I can't find the any value in any of the DDPs if I have to pay for them now that my DD is 10 a "Disney Adult". She's a vegetarian who eats like a bird and does not yet have an adult palate so dumbing down meat dishes like steak and chicken won't work for her and neither does fancy adult vegetarian dishes. We're still in the middle of our "Mac n Cheese" years and there is not way I'm paying $40 per day for that!

I wasn't saying it's good for everyone, i just said i'm glad I use it. For my situation it fits. In my family I couldn't rent a car. My wife uses a scooter and would need a vehicle for special needs. So we use Disney transportation. So yeah in my situation, offsite transportation is a luxury.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Not to be picky, but I think that more people would consider buying the DxDDP more of a "luxury" than having a rental car. For instance, I have a reservation for a Mid-Size car for a week in December and it is costing me $179 with taxes. That's about $25 per day. The DDP would be $120 per day for our family and the DxDDP would be $216 per day .

BayouMickey, I'm glad that your family finds value in the DxDDP. "Value" can be such a slippery word because it can men so many things to so many people. Personally, I can't find the any value in any of the DDPs if I have to pay for them now that my DD is 10 a "Disney Adult". She's a vegetarian who eats like a bird and does not yet have an adult palate so dumbing down meat dishes like steak and chicken won't work for her and neither does fancy adult vegetarian dishes. We're still in the middle of our "Mac n Cheese" years and there is not way I'm paying $40 per day for that!

Ditto! We have a car rented for a week beginning on Tuesday of next week and it's costing me $130 with taxes. We have one meal planned on site and will be leaving the property for all other meals. It's bad enough that they've dumbed the menus down as much as they have, but to raise prices at the same time? I don't think so!

 

[robinb]

I wasn't saying it's good for everyone, i just said i'm glad I use it. For my situation it fits. In my family I couldn't rent a car. My wife uses a scooter and would need a vehicle for special needs. So we use Disney transportation. So yeah in my situation, offsite transportation is a luxury.

I hear ya. My mom rented a scooter for her last few WDW trips and she insisted on renting a minivan so she could drive to the parks. This was years ago before DME and I think that only a few buses could hold ECVs and wheelchairs. What a PITB! We had to take apart the ECV and put it together multiple times a day and even the parts were heavy! We stayed at POP with her two years ago and it was so much easier just rolling on and off the buses.

 

[DeeCee735]

I didn't read every response to this post, so i may have missed it, but which DP includes the appetizer and the dessert ? I know it used to be that way, but we used the dining plan 2 years ago and they had changed it to include only dessert, no appetizer, which is why we stopped buying it. We don't always want dessert, we would eat the appetizer more than the dessert.....