Buffets overpriced due to dining plan?

[Amp479]

I feel that the buffets are overpriced when not using a dining plan credit. Seems to me that Disney keeps increasing buffet prices to make them seem like a good use of a dining credit. Has this been discussed before? Even the non-character buffets have increased a lot over the last 2 years.

 

[mom2rtk]

Eh, it's a "chicken or the egg" question. One could just as easily ask if the dining plan is so expensive because the buffets are so high. They raise them both quite regularly, as much as they feel they can get away with.

 

[Hopefully]

Yes. I think it has been discussed

 

[kastoney]

Prices have increased across the board, regardless of its a buffet or not. I do think the buffets with characters are overpriced, dining plan or not, but I go to restaurants for the food not the "experience" which is clearly what they are up charging for. That said I find the non-character buffets to still be pretty reasonable for what you get. We'll generally only do a breakfast buffet, but I think Boma, The Wave, and Trails End are all fairly priced for the quality and quantity of what you get.

 

[TheSouthernBelle]

Pretty sure this is a regular discussion item and can be debated all day long.

They are expensive especially when you're paying for a Disney adult buffet meal for a 12 year old that eats less food than a 2 year old At any rate, the dining plan for us has never really made sense since we just don't eat enough food or really care for some of the restaurants where the dining plan gets you more bang for your buck. Overall, all the food prices have increased at WDW. I don't know the current rate for some buffets, but we did Crystal Palace on our last November visit and it was well over $240 for 4, I think $59pp + gratuity. That meal is in no way worth $240 even with the characters and incredible location.

We like Boma and Ohana for breakfast, still a little pricey but much more reasonable for what you get and overall quality. 1900 Park Fare is IMO a little better in terms of food variety than Crystal Palace and the characters are much more enjoyable but still not sure it's worth the $$$. Bottom line, Disney raises its prices and I still very gladly hand them our money LOL!!

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I don't think this is just a dining plan thing. We stayed at the Dolphin on our last trip and went to Fresh for breakfast. We are three "adults" (DS is 11) and I was shocked that is was almost $30 per person for breakfast. We could have ordered a la carte from their menu, but it's one of those scenarios where, once you order everything you want a la carte - entree, a drink, maybe a side of fruit - it's just as much as ordering the buffet (think they did that on purpose, LOL!). We are just going to forego buffets from now on. We don't eat enough to make it worth the cost.

 

[Pumbaa_]

The popularity of the plan was starting to decline. The value was tapering off, and people were tired of it for many reasons

A few things changed and the dining plan popularity is once again surging

Last October prices went up almost 20% in some venues. Alcohol was added. Very popular. 2019 saw a zero increase in plan prices.

If you run the numbers and plan on character meals it is once again a ‘value’.

Realistically, the food is overpriced and mediocre. But w dme you have a captive audience.

 

[Amp479]

Pretty sure this is a regular discussion item and can be debated all day long.

They are expensive especially when you're paying for a Disney adult buffet meal for a 12 year old that eats less food than a 2 year old At any rate, the dining plan for us has never really made sense since we just don't eat enough food or really care for some of the restaurants where the dining plan gets you more bang for your buck. Overall, all the food prices have increased at WDW. I don't know the current rate for some buffets, but we did Crystal Palace on our last November visit and it was well over $240 for 4, I think $59pp + gratuity. That meal is in no way worth $240 even with the characters and incredible location.

We like Boma and Ohana for breakfast, still a little pricey but much more reasonable for what you get and overall quality. 1900 Park Fare is IMO a little better in terms of food variety than Crystal Palace and the characters are much more enjoyable but still not sure it's worth the $$$. Bottom line, Disney raises its prices and I still very gladly hand them our money LOL!!

The kid pricing is definitely an issue for me. Last October I paid $50+ at Ohana for my 12 year old nephew to eat some nuggets and fries since he wouldn’t eat anything else.

 

[Have3Kids&aHusband]

The "Disney Adult" starting at age 10 for tickets & food is a pet peeve of mind. My daughter wanted to do BOG next year. We didn't go last year and on here I learned the dinner became fixed price. We looked over the menu and she even agreed that we shouldn't go because, even though I would ask for an adult portion of the items on the kids menu for her brother & sister, $60 x2 for mac & cheese was not worth the experience. We stopped doing the dining plan once 2 kids became "Disney Adults". Stopped wanting to pay extra money for kids who would end up ordering food off the kids menu and they don't like the specialty drinks (the alternate for those not even old enough to enjoy the benefit of alcohol included.)

 

[sethschroeder]

One could just as easily ask if the dining plan is so expensive because the buffets are so high.

Nope because they could make it a 2 credit meal. I view it as the easiest area to hide higher prices to make it seem like the DDP is worth it.

 

[DISNEY1975]

We don't eat enough to make it worth the cost.

My husband and I have this debate all the time! He wants to sit their until he has eaten the value of what the meal costs....in his opinion! I just eat as normal and think if it as the cost of the meal, whether its expensive or cheap. Funny thing is I dont see him eating less when its a cheap buffet!

I think Disney is a bit pricey, but their portions are huge and can easily get you through 2 meals with just one. Im sure tons would be happier with smaller portions and smaller prices. Not sure why its never been a consideration. I cant imagine they would lose money, as now people are eating breakfast and skipping lunch, or eating a late lunch and skipping dinner. Smaller portions would have people eating B, L and D...but maybe their restaurants cant handle that capacity

All in all, I have priced many many vacations for my family and the overall value of a Disney trip is pretty good considering your hotel, meals and all entertainment is included in the package price. And airfare to Orlando is pretty cheap too.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

My husband wanted us to schedule our next trip based on when we can still get away with 9 y/o pricing!

 

[jbehr12]

Nope because they could make it a 2 credit meal. I view it as the easiest area to hide higher prices to make it seem like the DDP is worth it.

I agree with this

 

[Sadeesmom]

My husband wanted us to schedule our next trip based on when we can still get away with 9 y/o pricing!

I am taking my nephew next year specifically in June so we can go before HIS birthday! It’s a significant price difference when it’s just the two of us.

 

[epcotobsessed]

Yes, I think that's exactly the reason. A friend of mine just got back from her first trip to Disney and said they couldn't believe how much the bill for Akershus was. I felt bad because I recommended this restaurant to her and while their kids did love the princess interaction, she was 100% right that it's absolutely ridiculous to charge a family of four $200 for some bacon and eggs (and yes, I know there's a buffet that comes with it, but it's not a huge value add to most people). I realized that we had never eaten there, or any buffet, without having been on the dining plan. The buffet prices are definitely set so high to a) make as much money as possible from non-dining plan folks and b) to make people on the dining plan think they're getting a great value.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The "Disney Adult" starting at age 10 for tickets & food is a pet peeve of mind.

just fyi, it's done this way because by ten, most kids are tall enough to ride and appreciate all the attractions, and having two separate age cut-offs caused too many complaints of too much confusion.

 

[Have3Kids&aHusband]

Just wondering how long ago was it that Disney offered another age bracket for the Disney dining plan? I have only seen Disney child til age 9 and Disney adult in 10 years of planning with kids.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I don’t recall ever seeing a 3 tier age pricing

 

[Hopefully]

I don’t recall ever seeing a 3 tier age pricing

There was Junior pricing years ago. I don’t remember when it changed, but we have been going to WDW since the mid 80’s.

 

[cwis]

Seems to be like the buffet are overpriced because most of them include characters.

We live near Disneyland Paris and this is quite the opposite here: most buffets are without (there is only one with characters) and they are cheaper than regular TS.

To be honest, we find the pricing quite frustrating when we go to WDW (or even DLR).