Crowd Outlook

[ChipnDale79]

I would say for most
1. Vacation that accommodates the entire family
2. Immersive parks and rides
3. Resorts and amenities.
4. Park extras ie parades, fireworks, shows, ect
5. Escapism

I think you can add a lot of others, (nostalgia, right of passage for American kids, water parks, a chance to create memories, ect) and different strokes for different folks. I just don’t think you see food at any theme park, not just Disney as being a top reason to go. Shelling out $7k+ for a week at Disney for the food seems a bit much. It can be a nice adder, but not the reason you’re going IMO

food counts as part of the escapism. we dont eat out much, but we do on vacation, its part of it to us.

Food is one thing that over time has declined at disney. smaller portions, more expensive, less quality.

the last few trips we've been, instead of 7 or 8 ADRs, we get 3-4, and do quick service for the rest of them.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Or Disney could go back to having longer hours from 8am-2am. That would help a lot with crowding issues without requiring them to build more attractions. Sadly, they’re too cheap to do it

parks close way too early, to spend the amount of money that we do to get in them, they should be open longer. longer hours means people will spread their days out.

 

[Moliphino]

nothing like walking around that lagoon with the breeze coming off of it, with a fully belly, drink in hand, and listening to the background music from each country while waiting for illuminations to begin.

I miss that so much. Might put this on later and cry.

 

[BrianL]

nothing like walking around that lagoon with the breeze coming off of it, with a fully belly, drink in hand, and listening to the background music from each country while waiting for illuminations to begin.

I always really loved the time from when they would light the torches and start to play the pre-Illuminations music. It just felt like something exciting was going to happen.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

food counts as part of the escapism. we dont eat out much, but we do on vacation, its part of it to us.

Food is one thing that over time has declined at disney. smaller portions, more expensive, less quality.

the last few trips we've been, instead of 7 or 8 ADRs, we get 3-4, and do quick service for the rest of them.

i suppose that's part of the equation, I just don't think anyone ever planned a trip to Disney with food being the primary driver. Again, locals aside

 

[ChipnDale79]

i suppose that's part of the equation, I just don't think anyone ever planned a trip to Disney with food being the primary driver. Again, locals aside

people plan their trips for different reasons. The food and atmosphere is a major driver for some people.

There's not many places that you can go and eat dinner in an "outdoor Mexican village next to a pyramid", or a german dining hall. Hell, there arent many places you can go and eat with a character either.

for that family that's planning a vacation, there may be one person in that group that is looking forward to the food more than anything else. Not everyone loves rides.

how many "i'm here for the snacks" shirts have you seen people wear?

i swear, my youngest son, those snacks might be the primary driver for him.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

people plan their trips for different reasons. The food and atmosphere is a major driver for some people.

There's not many places that you can go and eat dinner in an "outdoor Mexican village next to a pyramid", or a german dining hall. Hell, there arent many places you can go and eat with a character either.

for that family that's planning a vacation, there may be one person in that group that is looking forward to the food more than anything else. Not everyone loves rides.

how many "i'm here for the snacks" shirts have you seen people wear?

i swear, my youngest son, those snacks might be the primary driver for him.

i would say your example points more to theming then actual food, and that I'm fully onboard with, that Pyramid isn't exactly known for pumping out gourmet Mexican food, and most of the character meals are lack luster at best.

Snacking is definitely a thing, but again i highly doubt when planning a vacation to any theme park the snacks are a top priority for justifying the trip. Countless websites go on about why you should head to Disney, and i have yet to find one that calls out the food as being a reason.

Back in the late 90's/ early 2000's Disney pumped up how much EPCOT could offer in terms of authentic food, that campaign has almost completely gone away. It could be that they have enough word of mouth that they no longer need to advertise it, or it could be that the marketing plan didn't have enough of an effect on driving tourism.

 

[BrianL]

i suppose that's part of the equation, I just don't think anyone ever planned a trip to Disney with food being the primary driver. Again, locals aside

I don't know that I've ever planned just for the food, but there have been trips where it was a major factor, like when BOG first opened, etc. I have also used it as a carrot to get some more food-centric friends of mine to go. I came back raving about Biergarten and Tusker House and got them to really see that aspect of it.

 

[ChipnDale79]

i would say your example points more to theming then actual food, and that I'm fully onboard with, that Pyramid isn't exactly known for pumping out gourmet Mexican food, and most of the character meals are lack luster at best.

Snacking is definitely a thing, but again i highly doubt when planning a vacation to any theme park the snacks are a top priority for justifying the trip. Countless websites go on about why you should head to Disney, and i have yet to find one that calls out the food as being a reason.

Back in the late 90's/ early 2000's Disney pumped up how much EPCOT could offer in terms of authentic food, that campaign has almost completely gone away. It could be that they have enough word of mouth that they no longer need to advertise it, or it could be that the marketing plan didn't have enough of an effect on driving tourism.

sigh ok.

you have your opinion thats fine.

 

[Aluminum Falcon]

I don't know that I've ever planned just for the food, but there have been trips where it was a major factor, like when BOG first opened, etc. I have also used it as a carrot to get some more food-centric friends of mine to go. I came back raving about Biergarten and Tusker House and got them to really see that aspect of it.

When BOG opened were you more interested in the food offered or the theming. We were in the same boat, but i remember having conversations about how the food would be fine, but we wanted to see the restaurant primarily.

there are also plenty of restaurants i love in the park, and they are great additions when planning a trip, but if i wasn't able to get a reservation it wouldn't cause me to reconsider the trip. I really don't think the concept is outlandish, all I'm attempting to say is that Disney food is not booking vacations

 

[BrianL]

When BOG opened were you more interested in the food offered or the theming. We were in the same boat, but i remember having conversations about how the food would be fine, but we wanted to see the restaurant primarily.

Well, both really. There has definitely been some special food offerings for like Halloween or Christmas though that pushed me over the top to book. Again, not the primary driver, but absolutely a major factor.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Or Disney could go back to having longer hours from 8am-2am. That would help a lot with crowding issues without requiring them to build more attractions. Sadly, they’re too cheap to do it

And if they did make park hours longer, they'd make it paid after hours or for deluxe guests only.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

I miss that so much. Might put this on later and cry.

This is one of the best posts in the history of DIS Boards. Testify!

 

[RivShore]

but if i wasn't able to get a reservation it wouldn't cause me to reconsider the trip

I think that is the bottom line for most of us who think the food is a big part of the attraction for us. It's a "nice to have" but would not change the trip for us. In that case I guess it's in the top 5 for most of us but not the top.

 

[BrianL]

I think that is the bottom line for most of us who think the food is a big part of the attraction for us. It's a "nice to have" but would not change the trip for us. In that case I guess it's in the top 5 for most of us but not the top.

The food might not really change my decision to go, but not getting a certain reservation may very well change my itinerary and where I spend more time. Like if I wanted Tusker House and couldn't get it, I might very well skip AK altogether and concentrate on the other parks. It depends.

 

[Brian Noble]

I will say that, for me, the homogenization of WDW menus (Oh look! It's beef short rib! Again!) is one of the reasons I have not been itching to go back real soon.

 

[bryaalre]

I don't particularly go on any vacation for the food but I do have to eat and so it is an important part of why I choose to go somewhere.

I would rate food probably in my top 3 of why I go somewhere.

 

[NickC]

In regards to food: We've been to a few all inclusive resorts. In some areas, leaving the resort was difficult, so we couldn't leave for meals. There was one place that we loved, and it felt like home, but we won't go back because the food was so bad. We find the food at WDW ranges from decent to pretty good, so we are not going specifically for the food, but bad food would be a non-starter for us.

 

[BrianL]

In regards to food: We've been to a few all inclusive resorts. In some areas, leaving the resort was difficult, so we couldn't leave for meals. There was one place that we loved, and it felt like home, but we won't go back because the food was so bad. We find the food at WDW ranges from decent to pretty good, so we are not going specifically for the food, but bad food would be a non-starter for us.

Yeah, and like anywhere, Disney food can be hit and miss. Generally though I am pretty satisfied with what I get, even if it's not special. There have been a few major misses, but oh well. I mean, I know to stay away from those little round pizzas! Usually though I like the food, and in many cases I love it - standouts like cheeseburger pods from Satu'li or the steak with chimichuri at Garden Grill always have me coming back, not to mention all the sweets! Yeah, it's overpriced, but, you know, that's just the nature of the beast.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I will say that, for me, the homogenization of WDW menus (Oh look! It's beef short rib! Again!) is one of the reasons I have not been itching to go back real soon.

Add the prix fixe stuff in too. I can't eat that much food for the price so certain restaurants are automatic skips for me.