Did I miss this somewhere, holiday prices May 25-July5, 2008?

[rcraw45425]

Does anyone else think that they are pushing the DP down our throats one way or the other? We usually go once to twice a year and always stay onsite. I'm starting to think maybe we need to find another vacation destination.

 

[Disneylush]

We are going in Jan and here is the info I found:
Holiday Dining Surcharges that were in effect for the Thanksgiving Holiday season will also be in effect from December 16 - January 5, 2008. Prices will be higher at the following restaurants: Boma Breakfast and Dinner, Cape May Breakfast and Dinner Buffet, Chef Mickey's Breakfast and Dinner, Trails End Buffet, 1900 Park Fare Breakfast and Dinner, 'Ohana Breakfast and Dinner, Yacht Club Galley Breakfast Buffet, Tusker House, Garden Grill, Princess Storybook Dining, Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern Character Dinner, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Play 'n' Dine at Hollywood and Vine.

Hope this helps!

 

[PolyAddict]

Does anyone else think that they are pushing the DP down our throats one way or the other? We usually go once to twice a year and always stay onsite. I'm starting to think maybe we need to find another vacation destination.

Couldn't agree more after making those adr's i started to really think about all that money we spend there. I still haven't gotten over the sticker shock, yet. I did work the figures again and i am still on the fence about the dining plan. I think we could save some money going with the dp but i just can't get over the feeling of paying for all of that food that we may or may not consume, like what if we get sick or don't feel like eating all of the food, it just seems wasteful to me. I think i would drive myself crazy on vacation trying to use all of our credits, and what if we missed a sit down and couldn't schedule another?

 

[rcraw45425]

Couldn't agree more after making those adr's i started to really think about all that money we spend there. I still haven't gotten over the sticker shock, yet. I did work the figures again and i am still on the fence about the dining plan. I think we could save some money going with the dp but i just can't get over the feeling of paying for all of that food that we may or may not consume, like what if we get sick or don't feel like eating all of the food, it just seems wasteful to me. I think i would drive myself crazy on vacation trying to use all of our credits, and what if we missed a sit down and couldn't schedule another?

The ADRs that I have right now are for 'Ohana two nights (depends on arrival time as to whether or not we go arrival night or next night), Yachtsman steakhouse (yep, know it''s 2TS but I'm thinking of dropping arrival night 'Ohana for CS at DTD) and Nine Dragons. Our last visit at Nine Dragons we found that the portion sizes had shrunk (thank you DDP) while the prices had stayed the same or increased, we used to be able to share entrees with our kids (no DDP, OOP all the time), that last visit our "dinner for two" was just that, a scoop of entree and a scoop of rice, where it used to be a platter of entree (think share between two people) and a bowl of rice. We had always been able to do the dinner for two with an extra order of egg rolls and an extra entree for DH, me and our two girls (not big eaters). In May we received our appetizers for two, our egg rolls, our two bowls of soup and two plates with a scoop of sesame chicken and rice and one with a scoop of Kung Pao chicken and a scoop of rice. All of that for ~$70. DD10 took one plate of sesame chicken for herself, leaving the three of us to share a plate of sesame chicken and a plate of kung pao chicken! I think we'll be doing the DDP this trip!

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I am so upset about this - I don't know what to do. This is our first trip during the summer season (we usually travel during off-season) but with kids getting older, it's hard to miss school. We just adopted 2 teenage boys from Russia, and I was planning on doing all buffets for TS meals (boy, can they eat!) With a family of 7 now, this surcharge would add almost $50 to each meal! ($5 x 7 people, plus added tip and tax). That will really add up. I actually just started looking at August dates instead, but can't get the rates I got for June at our off-site villa. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. This really makes me mad.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I am so upset about this - I don't know what to do. This is our first trip during the summer season (we usually travel during off-season) but with kids getting older, it's hard to miss school. We just adopted 2 teenage boys from Russia, and I was planning on doing all buffets for TS meals (boy, can they eat!) With a family of 7 now, this surcharge would add almost $50 to each meal! ($5 x 7 people, plus added tip and tax). That will really add up. I actually just started looking at August dates instead, but can't get the rates I got for June at our off-site villa. Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. This really makes me mad.

List all the places you plan on dining at....price it out and add a couple of dollars, per person, per day for snacks. The DDP may work out for you guys. I understand that it will still be the same rate. Good luck!

 

[rcraw45425]

List all the places you plan on dining at....price it out and add a couple of dollars, per person, per day for snacks. The DDP may work out for you guys. I understand that it will still be the same rate. Good luck!

They're staying offsite. With seven I can see why too, onsite accomodations are pretty limited for large families unless they did two rooms and waited for free dining (if it's offered)

 

[Lucky'sMom]

I was planning to stay on-site as we have in the past, but our only affordable options are: 2 value rooms (which limits the square footage with 7 people and we want a washer/dryer) or renting DVC points for a 2 bedroom, which still puts us at $350-400 a night (ouch!). I made a reservation at Bonnet Creek for around $225/night. I'm still really upset about this, I can't get the Bonnet Creek reservation for any later weeks in the summer. I have been to WDW about 20 times, taken my 9 and 11 year-olds 5 or 6 times, and my 6-year old has been there 4 or 5 times. I have never felt this "angry" about anything else all these years (even when my resort pool was in rehab last year!). I really feel "nickeled and dimed" with this surcharge, although as I said, in our case it is $50 dollared!

 

[JennyDrake]

For those of you who missed this information, don't feel bad! I visit WDW 3x/year (business takes me to Orlando) and I had never noticed this. I have a trip coming up December 12-16. A girlfriend, Jeanette is going with me.

I have an AP and I use the DDE card. I don't use the dining plan as I can't then get the AP discount for the resort rooms.

The surcharge is $4-5 per person! So now in addition to paying an 18% automatic gratuity (like it or not) there is this! Looks like Jeanette and I won't be checking out Yak and Yeti or Tusker house this trip as I had hoped.

(Still ranting) so for a family of 4, it would cost $20 more for a buffet meal! That is absurd!

Hope Jeanette likes counter service. We have ADRs for Boma, Jiko and Italy (CP dinner package). Looks like we'll stick with those!

Back to the gratuity, I am not a cheap tipper by any means, but I have a real hard time tipping the same for a buffet where the server only clears your dirty plates and refills drinks and a full service meal. At Disney I tend to tip 15% for buffet, but 20% for full service. Next thing you know, we'll be required to tip at counter service!

Jenny

 

[Brian Noble]

Lucky'sMom: one of the advantages of being in a condo is that you've got a full kitchen at your disposal. At the very least, that makes breakfasts significantly less expensive. Add one or two nights of takeout if you aren't in the parks late, and that frees up quite a bit of money for other things.

 

[chobie]

Yes, it was a shock to us when an exrtra $5 per person was added to our bill at Boma the night after Thanksgiving. I certianily will not be eating at any buffets while the add that charge. I think it is ridiculous.

 

[PolyAddict]

Yes, it was a shock to us when an exrtra $5 per person was added to our bill at Boma the night after Thanksgiving. I certianily will not be eating at any buffets while the add that charge. I think it is ridiculous.

This is true, I mean I can see the actual holidays, but all of June. I have had an Ap and DDE in the past, so does that mean when the DDE says excludes holidays that it will be all of June? It is just not looking good for all of those big families anymore. This trip there is just 3 of us, but normally there are 5 and after a few buffets that $25 adds up.

 

[CheshireVal]

We were there last week (20th-25th) and had no idea we were going to be slapped with those surcharges until we got the bill. And by that time, it was too late to cancel our plans and make new ADRs.

 

[TDC Nala]

For those of you who missed this information, don't feel bad! I visit WDW 3x/year (business takes me to Orlando) and I had never noticed this. I have a trip coming up December 12-16. A girlfriend, Jeanette is going with me.

I have an AP and I use the DDE card. I don't use the dining plan as I can't then get the AP discount for the resort rooms.

The surcharge is $4-5 per person! So now in addition to paying an 18% automatic gratuity (like it or not) there is this! Looks like Jeanette and I won't be checking out Yak and Yeti or Tusker house this trip as I had hoped.

(Still ranting) so for a family of 4, it would cost $20 more for a buffet meal! That is absurd!

Hope Jeanette likes counter service. We have ADRs for Boma, Jiko and Italy (CP dinner package). Looks like we'll stick with those!

Back to the gratuity, I am not a cheap tipper by any means, but I have a real hard time tipping the same for a buffet where the server only clears your dirty plates and refills drinks and a full service meal. At Disney I tend to tip 15% for buffet, but 20% for full service. Next thing you know, we'll be required to tip at counter service!

Jenny

On a December 12-16 trip, you won't get the surcharges. They start on December 16. You could just avoid eating at a buffet on the 16th.

And you will not be assessed an automatic gratuity for DDE, either. That begins on January 1.

I have had an Ap and DDE in the past, so does that mean when the DDE says excludes holidays that it will be all of June?

DDE is very specific about their blackout dates. None of those dates are in June.

 

[poptoone]

This is the reason why I rent a car and hit Apopka-Vineland Road or 192 to eat instead of in the parks!

With the exception of the character meals of course!!

 

[usetheforceluke]

We've been averaging five short/long trips a year for the past three years, and because it's just the two of us, we've been eating our way through the restaurant list. Other than a handful, we've pretty well eaten at every TS restaurant, and at every CS offering.

While we've had an interesting time, most of the buffets are not worth an additional $10 surcharge for both of us, and the additional 18% service surcharge pretty well rules out us eating at any buffet. It simply isn't worth it to eat that type of food for what they're charging.

As a very subjective statement, while I don't generally mind paying for a nice meal (even with a forced service surcharge) I've been getting the feeling that the meal quality has slid somewhat while the meal cost has/is going to skyrocket.

We're going to delay any trips in 2008 to see how all this is going to turn out. I don't think that it's a value vacation any more.

Jim.

 

[JennyDrake]

On a December 12-16 trip, you won't get the surcharges. They start on December 16. You could just avoid eating at a buffet on the 16th.

And you will not be assessed an automatic gratuity for DDE, either. That begins on January 1.



DDE is very specific about their blackout dates. None of those dates are in June.

THANK YOU for pointing that out, again I had missed it! Too much information for my feeble, Disney brain!

 

[jodifla]

I can't believe people put up with this atrocious behavior from Disney. Their ears would be bleeding from all the screaming if I got a "service charge" tacked onto my bill after the fact.

I encourage EVERY ONE OF YOU to complain when they try to pull this sort of crap. Because only lots of loud and long complaining will work.

It's one thing to charge more for some sort of special Christmas Day buffet. And quite another for them to expect us to swallow that the entire month of June is a holiday.

 

[CanadianGuy]

The prices increase by 4$ for those 10 and above.. 2$ for those 9 and under. So for a family of four with two children under 9 the total increase is 12$. For a family of four all over age of 10 the price increase is 16$.

Those using the Disney Dining Plan are NOT affected by this change.

Remember, the 18% auto-gratuity only applies to Disney DINING EXPERIENCE (not DDP) guests and any party of six or more.

The following fixed price locations are affected by this price increase. ONLY These locations are affected by this announcement.

# 1900 Park Fare
# Akershus
# Biergarten
# Boma
# Cape May Café
# Chef Mickey’s
# Cinderella’s Royal Table
# Crystal Palace
# Garden Grill
# Hollywood and Vine
# Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner only)
# ‘Ohana
# Trails End
# Tusker House

 

[PolyAddict]

The prices increase by 4$ for those 10 and above.. 2$ for those 9 and under. So for a family of four with two children under 9 the total increase is 12$. For a family of four all over age of 10 the price increase is 16$.

Those using the Disney Dining Plan are NOT affected by this change.

Remember, the 18% auto-gratuity only applies to Disney DINING EXPERIENCE (not DDP) guests and any party of six or more.

The following fixed price locations are affected by this price increase. ONLY These locations are affected by this announcement.

# 1900 Park Fare
# Akershus
# Biergarten
# Boma
# Cape May Café
# Chef Mickey’s
# Cinderella’s Royal Table
# Crystal Palace
# Garden Grill
# Hollywood and Vine
# Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner only)
# ‘Ohana
# Trails End
# Tusker House

Actually I was quoted an extra $5 for both adults and children for our May trip.