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

[profdsny]

I'm just really stunned at this. As I mentioned, I've never seen it before in 25 years of going to WDW, and we always do at least one buffet. And for the last 10 years or so, more really, we've been going at Easter or Christmas time.
As someone mentioned, yeah, Disney Corp is about making money, but this is beyond greedy. It can't be costing them more at these times. If anything, they are making more money than usual. I'm really going to watch our times for going from now on. And no more add-on points either.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Tinkerbelle-I absolutely think you should say something. It's not like your asking for a free meal, you are asking to pay the normal price for the same buffet you get any other time of year. Management very well may say "no" but it does not hurt to ask.

profdisny-(and evryone else, really) so what you are saying is this...that historically, the prices may have been higher on the actual holiday, but not necessarily on the days surrounding the holiday?

This is what I am trying to find out: I never go to WDW during the "FL resident seasonal pass" black out dates. In the past, have the prices only gone up on actual holidays? Is this the first year that the holiday pricing is in effect for such a long period? I know the OP was thinking about June, and I am thinking about Jan 5. I hope I worded my question correctly and so it is easily understood. I know the answer is "holiday pricing has been in effect for many years" but ...for as many days as it is this (and next) year?

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I just read every page and I can feel the passion here. *deep sigh inserted here*

I truly do not know how these young families pay the increases that Disney keeps coming up with. I know it is a business and that is what I continually remind myself but when will it stop? I can see them doing the June one as that is when families come right after the school year and why not hit them up with an extra charge to make more money to fund their other projects..... My DH always says that the parks are what make the money for Disney's other projects and in essence they will keep raising the prices and milking the parks until people step back and come there less....

I am lucky that now it is just my husband and I... sometimes the family joins us, but most times it is us and we are DVC and have a kitchen so have breakfast in the room and then leisurely hit the parks, but for those who have planned and saved for their trip, it does seem unfair..

Maybe the answer is to eat off property and if Disney sees more and more people doing just that, you will see things change, but not till they see the numbers decreasing...Or maybe people will just start vacationing elsewhere or visit Universal more instead of WDW, it could happen.. But until those restaurants are not filled as they are now and people are not clamoring for reservations for said restaurant, you will not see a change.

 

[Brian Noble]

No, I was being sarcastic. Unapologetically so, in fact.

Prices change all the time. I would not expect the price in force when a reservation is made to be honored if the restaurant changes prices in the intervening period. While Disney does work hard to keep its guests happy, this is one of those times that I'd be surprised if you got what you wanted.

It's one thing if you casually ask. But, making a scene and involving the restaurant manager won't do anything but make a scene and create heartburn for all involved.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

No, I was being sarcastic. Unapologetically so, in fact.

Prices change all the time. I would not expect the price in force when a reservation is made to be honored if the restaurant changes prices in the intervening period. While Disney does work hard to keep its guests happy, this is one of those times that I'd be surprised if you got what you wanted.

It's one thing if you casually ask. But, making a scene and involving the restaurant manager won't do anything but make a scene and create heartburn for all involved.

Hmm, never saw where anyone mentioned making a scene.

 

[jodifla]

No, I was being sarcastic. Unapologetically so, in fact.

Prices change all the time. I would not expect the price in force when a reservation is made to be honored if the restaurant changes prices in the intervening period. While Disney does work hard to keep its guests happy, this is one of those times that I'd be surprised if you got what you wanted.

It's one thing if you casually ask. But, making a scene and involving the restaurant manager won't do anything but make a scene and create heartburn for all involved.

And if ALL the patrons complain ALL the time, maybe DIsney will get the message. Or at least not want to deal with the less than magical experience trying to fend off all the WELL-WARRANTED complaining will bring.

So yeah, Disney can charge what it wants. And customers can let them know how they feel about it....It works both ways.

 

[hsmamato2]

without being sarcastic.....I agree with Brian (but in a pleasant,non confrontational kind of way) Why in the world would the guy working the seating podium care if any of us doesn't want to pay the ridiculous fee?
I hate this too.but the guy working there,even a manager ,has no power to change Disney policy and pricing,so it seems like a somewhat silly thing to do.IMHO
Probably 500 people a day go through there at least,and none of us want to pay more-so why does griping(i.e. nicely asking) change anything? emailing directly to those who created this greedy new policy might help,but bugging the cm's who work there?
It's not a mom and pop diner where they can take pity on our hardworking selves and give us a break......it's MASSIVE corporation,and obviously from their lack of response to emails,they don't care!
I won't eat anywhere on those dates,plain and simple that I have to pay more for....
If I were you,I'd call and try for the next day,save some money..

 

[WannabeBelle25]

And if ALL the patrons complain ALL the time, maybe DIsney will get the message. Or at least not want to deal with the less than magical experience trying to fend off all the WELL-WARRANTED complaining will bring.

So yeah, Disney can charge what it wants. And customers can let them know how they feel about it....It works both ways.

Exactly!!!! And if it were a reasonable pricing increase that is a permanent thing, people may not feel so put upon on with the new expanded holiday surcharge!!! Belle

 

[Brian Noble]

And if ALL the patrons complain ALL the time, maybe DIsney will get the message.

I've said this before, but if your intention is to reverse the price increase, eating there, paying the price, and complaining will not be nearly as effective as not eating there at all. If Disney can fill the restaurant, it won't matter how much some don't like the prices. If they can't fill the restaurant, then the peak pricing will go away.

If I were a betting man, I'd bet that these places will be full, and the price changes are here to stay. Folks have already come back from Thanskgiving, the first peak-pricing period, and by all accounts, the buffet restaurants are still jam-packed.

 

[Brian Noble]

On further thought, here is perhaps the most effective strategy.

Write a letter stating that you find the holiday increase nothing more than a blatant profit grab. Explain that you will not be eating in any of those restaurants, and that you'll be canceling your ADR, and you plan on eating that meal in an offsite restaurant instead.

Then, follow through and eat offsite---don't just avoid these restaurants and patronize other Disney eateries instead.

 

[hematite153]

profdisny-(and evryone else, really) so what you are saying is this...that historically, the prices may have been higher on the actual holiday, but not necessarily on the days surrounding the holiday?

Correct.

Hence, my point about them changing the seasonal definition after the bookings have been made.

 

[TDC Nala]

And if ALL the patrons complain ALL the time, maybe DIsney will get the message. Or at least not want to deal with the less than magical experience trying to fend off all the WELL-WARRANTED complaining will bring.

So yeah, Disney can charge what it wants. And customers can let them know how they feel about it....It works both ways.

No, it won't. Complaining will get you a "gosh, sorry it's inconvenient" but it won't make them lower the prices. An ADR is not a contract. It gets you seated sooner, it doesn't amount to a promise to eat at a certain restaurant based on the consideration offered by Disney when it let you know the price of the meal.

The only thing that might make them lower the prices is empty restaurants. Or the ability to make up the money someplace else. Meaning, some other price goes up.

I agree if you want to protest, the most efficient method is to take your restaurant dollars offsite. For me...I'm going to WDW. I'm going no matter what the food costs. I am not interested in spending money for a car so I can eat offsite just to make a point. If I drive and eat offsite, no wine with dinner, and I like my wine. Others might prefer the convenience offered by staying at the park to eat. So I'm staying at Disney, but I might end up at Bluezoo or Portabello Yacht Club or someplace on property that doesn't answer to Disney. Doesn't mean that these independent places won't decide to raise prices, if they're full they might be able to afford to raise prices.

And yeah, I'm skipping buffets on surcharge dates.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Correct.

Hence, my point about them changing the seasonal definition after the bookings have been made.

Thank you for answering my question!

 

[barndweller]

On further thought, here is perhaps the most effective strategy.

Write a letter stating that you find the holiday increase nothing more than a blatant profit grab. Explain that you will not be eating in any of those restaurants, and that you'll be canceling your ADR, and you plan on eating that meal in an offsite restaurant instead.

Then, follow through and eat offsite---don't just avoid these restaurants and patronize other Disney eateries instead.

You go, Brian!!!

Posters here complain about added 18% gratuity, crappy children's menus, diminished DDP value, etc, etc, etc. But do they make a stand and cancel their ADRs and DDP and go eat off site? Nooooooo way. Gotta make the kids happy and pay through the nose for ordinary food with ho hum service but the chance to get an autograph from a college kid in a Winnie the Pooh costume. You guys have only yourselves to blame. Until you take you Disney dollars offsite, it will just get worse & worse.

I'm going to Disneyland and on a Disney Cruise next year to get my fix. I will not spend one dime at WDW. I may never go there again. The magic went down a rabbit hole as far as I'm concerned and no amount of pixie dust can cover up the blatant corporate profit grabbing.

 

[angelmav]

You know, I think they are getting to the point where it is just too much too soon. I keep holding back, waiting to see if they change course on any of this, and at this point, I am ready to buy season passes to Elitches and stay home this summer.

 

[jodifla]

You go, Brian!!!

Posters here complain about added 18% gratuity, crappy children's menus, diminished DDP value, etc, etc, etc. But do they make a stand and cancel their ADRs and DDP and go eat off site? Nooooooo way. Gotta make the kids happy and pay through the nose for ordinary food with ho hum service but the chance to get an autograph from a college kid in a Winnie the Pooh costume. You guys have only yourselves to blame. Until you take you Disney dollars offsite, it will just get worse & worse.

I'm going to Disneyland and on a Disney Cruise next year to get my fix. I will not spend one dime at WDW. I may never go there again. The magic went down a rabbit hole as far as I'm concerned and no amount of pixie dust can cover up the blatant corporate profit grabbing.

We certainly eat at Disney less when we go now. We have DVC, so we just cook in our room. We pick out the restaurants that are still decent after being wrecked by the popularity of the DDP.

We tend to stay away from buffets...there's just no value there most of the time. They were overpriced to start with; now they are just obscene with the holiday add on.

Oh, and June 28 is not a "holiday" in my book.

 

[TLSnell1981]

You know, I think they are getting to the point where it is just too much too soon. I keep holding back, waiting to see if they change course on any of this, and at this point, I am ready to buy season passes to Elitches and stay home this summer.

Don't hold your breath.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

You go, Brian!!!

Posters here complain about added 18% gratuity, crappy children's menus, diminished DDP value, etc, etc, etc. But do they make a stand and cancel their ADRs and DDP and go eat off site? Nooooooo way. Gotta make the kids happy and pay through the nose for ordinary food with ho hum service but the chance to get an autograph from a college kid in a Winnie the Pooh costume. You guys have only yourselves to blame. Until you take you Disney dollars offsite, it will just get worse & worse.

I'm going to Disneyland and on a Disney Cruise next year to get my fix. I will not spend one dime at WDW. I may never go there again. The magic went down a rabbit hole as far as I'm concerned and no amount of pixie dust can cover up the blatant corporate profit grabbing.

I am surprised you even bother with a WDW message board then.

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Brian Noble- Do Not put words into my mouth! I never once said anything about causing a scene. You do not know me, or anything about me, so to presume that I would rant, rave, and cause a "scene" is completely assinine! Once again, I'm only doing what I was told to do by Disney guest relations. Please reread prior posts before stating incorrect information! Jennifer O.

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

barndweller-You have got to be kidding me. Your going on about blatant Disney profit, yet you cruise on Disney Cruise Lines.