Disney considers reducing portion sizes to cut costs.

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Our last trip was in 2019 and I thought the portions at QS meals were perfect, and we were two petite women and 2 young kids. I ordered QS adult meals for my then 8-year old and he cleaned his plate. Where the food waste hurt my heart was the AYCTE meals and buffets, especially places like Liberty Tree, Whispering Canyon and Ohana. But I don’t see WDW changing the business model there because in a restaurant kitchen, those meals are incredibly cost-effective because the menus are limited and the timing of putting out platters is consistent. You don’t need the same caliber of experienced kitchen staff that you need in a Michelin starred restaurant. Time and again they complained about cast member wages. They want the cheapest possible workers, to sub in cheap ingredients wherever they can, and to condescend to their guests while all the time pretending that the product they are charging outrageous prices for is a luxury product and not a watered down shell of what it once was. What a joke. Maybe they should start with executive salaries if they’re looking for someone to tighten their belts.

 

[Bearval]

I don't agree with how they are messaging it, but I'm fine with the change. You see people all over ordering from the kids menus because of the crazy portion sizes. Cuts have to come from somewhere and this one makes sense.

The portions in were huge and I seen alot of food being thrown out . The problem is this year they will decrease portion sizes next year they will raise prices above the inflation rate.

 

[lukemorenus]

I resemble that remark

...but in all seriousness - I do enjoy the "Wine & Dine" portion sizes and the ability to sample multiple items... I'd appreciate more opportunities like that

 

[mom2rtk]

...but in all seriousness - I do enjoy the "Wine & Dine" portion sizes and the ability to sample multiple items... I'd appreciate more opportunities like that

I only enjoy smaller serving sizes when they come with a smaller price tag. Nobody is ever requiring that you eat all of what they serve you. You can have those smaller serving sizes already at high prices by sharing or throwing half away.

 

[lukemorenus]

I only enjoy smaller serving sizes when they come with a smaller price tag. Nobody is ever requiring that you eat all of what they serve you. You can have those smaller serving sizes already at high prices by sharing or throwing half away.

So.... I don't enjoy what I enjoy?

 

[Marthasor]

Not sure if I agree with this. We went to dinner there 2 weeks ago. They served us the seafood boil and refilled it 3 times with everything we wanted. We also got a whole bowl of clams. They refilled our meat and chicken platter twice and even brought us some extra desserts of the ones we really liked. Soft drink and coffee or tea were also included. While we really miss the buffet, we felt we received a lot of very good food.

We went in mid-June and that was not our experience at all. Sounds like the service is very inconsistent. I still will not go back.

 

[Marthasor]

Our last trip was in 2019 and I thought the portions at QS meals were perfect, and we were two petite women and 2 young kids. I ordered QS adult meals for my then 8-year old and he cleaned his plate. Where the food waste hurt my heart was the AYCTE meals and buffets, especially places like Liberty Tree, Whispering Canyon and Ohana. But I don’t see WDW changing the business model there because in a restaurant kitchen, those meals are incredibly cost-effective because the menus are limited and the timing of putting out platters is consistent. You don’t need the same caliber of experienced kitchen staff that you need in a Michelin starred restaurant. Time and again they complained about cast member wages. They want the cheapest possible workers, to sub in cheap ingredients wherever they can, and to condescend to their guests while all the time pretending that the product they are charging outrageous prices for is a luxury product and not a watered down shell of what it once was. What a joke. Maybe they should start with executive salaries if they’re looking for someone to tighten their belts.

Yes, this is where we find the most value as well, but I am finding the "healthy" options at QS (and TS, for that matter) to be disappearing - perhaps I'm looking in the wrong places, but I'm not seeing a lot of salads or vegetables anymore. One of our best meals in mid-June was the family meal at P&J's takeout - cost effective and delicious.

 

[mom2rtk]

So.... I don't enjoy what I enjoy?

Nope. Just saying you can enjoy it already any time you want.

 

[gatour]

Over the years portion sizes in restaurants in general have increased (not just Disney). Used to be that I can complete a plate of food but several years ago it had gotten to a point where I can only eat half of the food on the plate. So reducing portion sizes is not a big deal.

In regards to reducing portion sizes without reducing prices. This is very common in the grocery industry. If you look at an older recipe sometimes in the ingredient list there is a "one can of blah-blah (16 oz)" Now there is no such thing as a 16 ozcan of blah-blah. First it went to 15 oz can and now it is a 14.5 oz can. Did the food manufacturer reduce the price, no.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Yes, this is where we find the most value as well, but I am finding the "healthy" options at QS (and TS, for that matter) to be disappearing - perhaps I'm looking in the wrong places, but I'm not seeing a lot of salads or vegetables anymore. One of our best meals in mid-June was the family meal at P&J's takeout - cost effective and delicious.

We had an easier time finding healthy options for my vegetarian kid at QS than I expected. Satuli Canteen at AK, Docking Bay 7 at HS, Be Our Guest breakfast at MK, Geyser Point at Wilderness Lodge. The only big fail was La Cantina de San Angel at Epcot, which we found bland. But like I said, I haven't been in 2 years, so a lot of those menus may have changed for the worse since then. BoG went from QS to Signature for lunch, which is sad, it was a good deal especially if you had Free Dining. Contempo Cafe used to have some healthy choices and still might have one or two but their menu looks like it's been reduced a fair bit.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Disney food prices are so high now that people count on being able to share meals in order to make prices reasonable. All I see is that what will happen is that, instead of buying one meal and sharing it between 2 people, guests will have to each buy a meal. My prediction is that most people won't be eating less food, but they will be paying a lot more.

 

[disneydreamer781]

I dare anyone to Google that insensitive woman and tell me she doesn't look like a Disney villain.

Well, if she wasn't before, after that comment, she certainly is now!

 

[sarah4770]

I did not find the portion sizes too big when I went this past September. Disney portions used to be a lot larger. And someone mentioned the lack of vegetables, and I Agree. It was hard to find vegetables. A lot of fried food and pasta.

 

[matt and beth]

Heck without magical express you will likely have other transportation coming or going. Don’t really need their dining do you? They locked us down before. They gave us freedom now

 

[tano]

Think about it - in the current environment where labor and supply costs are known to be rising and the park capacity is reduced from historical levels Disney and other companies have to do what they can to remain profitable.

They're hugely profitable. The issue is the ever increasing profit targets... clearly the only real goal is pleasing shareholders.

 

[Planogirl]

Menus and food portions shrinking while prices skyrocket. We have seen this trend for a long time but it has definitely gotten out of hand.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

So reduced portions but not price, yep sounds right. I am on vacation, I don't care about my waistline, what a ridiculous and out of touch comment. Eventually this will come back to bite them, you can only nickel and dime so long.

Agree. When I'm on vacation, food is one of the things I look most forward to and if I'm paying Disney/theme park prices, I want a big meal.

Also, a lot of families share these meals. So that they can still enjoy some yummy food, even if each of them aren't having a full meal. If they are reducing portions and continuing to increase costs (we know they will...), they are just continuing to price more people out.

I thought her comment was extremely rude and insulting. Who is she to dictate my portion size?

 

[fabfemmeboy]

It's an issue that's been making its way to restaurants across the country - in particular since last year. It's called "shrinkflation" - the prices of the goods consumers buy don't go up, but the amount you get is smaller so it's a higher price per size. Given how large portion sizes have gotten since the 90s, I can appreciate why we could afford to shrink the portions a bit...but that doesn't mean it doesn't feel stingy when the food is already so expensive at Disney and they've been so cash-grabby lately about everything else.

 

[loves to dive]

First, she said it was something they would consider not that they were going to do it. I think all the bloggers and news agencies chose that one part of her statement to latch onto and ran with it. She also mentioned looking into different vendors and other cost cutting measures. It's not a new thing and something most businesses that are profit driven are doing.

Second, I've always thought the portion sizes were too large to start with so I tend order appetizers instead since I leave half of what I get on my plate if I order an entre, which is a huge waste. I don't get leftovers because I don't usually use a park bag and don't usually go right back to my room after I eat so it's hard to carry left overs around. Unless you are staying in a DVC room, you have to go down to the food court to heat them up, and I'll admit if I'm going down to the food court anyway, I'd just as soon eat something fresh as eat left overs.

 

[disneyseniors]

I always eat kids meals or share meals while at Disney, My Choice. My appetite has changed as I get older, and post covid huge weight loss helped. Kids meals are a great alternative,but a "lite" menu would be welcome too, With lower prices! LOL, right.
When we are on vacation, we eat what we want. That's part of vacation; something different. I always have ice cream every day because I don't eat it during the rest of the year. I always look forward to this. It's a choice! and I don't feel it needs "regulated" by anyone for whatever reason, and I think it is ridiculous to even try ( while keeping prices high and spouting "health" reasons)