Eye Opening Food Prices!

[Momager]

Whenever we go to Disney, we always use the ddp. Well next month we're visiting my dad in Florida, and decided to do 1 day just at Disney Springs, and tour the hotels. Just a little "fix" till we go back in November.

We're trying to do this little side trip on the cheap, but I still want to make it a fun, memorable outing for my girls (13, 12 & 3) my DH and myself. I was hoping to do a character meal (hotel only since we're not getting park tickets), but getting one this late in the game may be impossible anyway.

So I've been looking at TS restaurants but, I honestly just can't imagine paying oop $17 for a veggie burger at Beaches and Cream! This is like a whole new experience for me now LOL! When I have the ddp I look at the prices, but I don't add it up or anything - It doesn't matter to me because its all taken care of already. Doing this now sure is an eye opener!! LOL



And before anyone comes at me for this...

1. I know Disney is expensive as all heck (and I'll still happily give them my money whenever I can because I love Disney). I'm honestly not complaining, just voicing my incredibly delayed realization. I've been going to Disney since I was 18 months old!! LOL

2. I also realize that any character meal would be way more than any regular ts meal. Even though we're doing this on the cheap, I would be okay with that since my 3 year old would totally flip her lid and love every second of it! That to me is worth the money!

3. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the history of Disney to make this revelation, or even to post about it. I just thought it might be a interesting discussion. If you don't agree, sorry you read this far!!


Have a great day everyone! I'm going back to my research

 

[msb578]

Whenever we go to Disney, we always use the ddp. Well next month we're visiting my dad in Florida, and decided to do 1 day just at Disney Springs, and tour the hotels. Just a little "fix" till we go back in November.

We're trying to do this little side trip on the cheap, but I still want to make it a fun, memorable outing for my girls (13, 12 & 3) my DH and myself. I was hoping to do a character meal (hotel only since we're not getting park tickets), but getting one this late in the game may be impossible anyway.

So I've been looking at TS restaurants but, I honestly just can't imagine paying oop $17 for a veggie burger at Beaches and Cream! This is like a whole new experience for me now LOL! When I have the ddp I look at the prices, but I don't add it up or anything - It doesn't matter to me because its all taken care of already. Doing this now sure is an eye opener!! LOL



And before anyone comes at me for this...

1. I know Disney is expensive as all heck (and I'll still happily give them my money whenever I can because I love Disney). I'm honestly not complaining, just voicing my incredibly delayed realization. I've been going to Disney since I was 18 months old!! LOL

2. I also realize that any character meal would be way more than any regular ts meal. Even though we're doing this on the cheap, I would be okay with that since my 3 year old would totally flip her lid and love every second of it! That to me is worth the money!

3. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the history of Disney to make this revelation, or even to post about it. I just thought it might be a interesting discussion. If you don't agree, sorry you read this far!!


Have a great day everyone! I'm going back to my research

We just spent $83 for dinner and dessert for 5 (including 3 kids) at a local Red Robin last night. No alcohol.

Yes, there’s an additional markup for food at WDW, but... dining out is expensive. Heck, even my groceries are super expensive these days.

 

[TeresaWen]

Want real sticker shock - eat at a restaurant in an Atlantic City Casino!

 

[Momager]

We just spent $83 for dinner and dessert for 5 (including 3 kids) at a local Red Robin last night. No alcohol.

Yes, there’s an additional markup for food at WDW, but... dining out is expensive. Heck, even my groceries are super expensive these days.

We're all different, and I mean no offence by this what so ever, but that seems like a crazy amount to spend at a fast food place! I'm in Jersey, and we have expensive restaurants here, so I'm not ignorant to expensive...


ETA - We are a family of 5 as well, and since shopping at Aldi's I get away with about $100 or less per week. Maybe I'm just cheap?? LOL

 

[Momager]

Want real sticker shock - eat at a restaurant in an Atlantic City Casino!

LOL LOL LOL

I'll be at the Tropicana next weekend!

 

[DaisyDuck001]

We're all different, and I mean no offence by this what so ever, but that seems like a crazy amount to spend at a fast food place!

Red Robin is a table service chain restaurant.

 

[KMarston]

We typically eat on the DDP. And usually it's between 3-5 people. Last year I ordered two qs lunches, if I remember it was chicken nuggets maybe and fried rice can't remember what else. It was almost $50! I wouldn't have blinked at TS even twice that for two. We were still on the plan but I sat down and told my husband, this would have cost $50! We eat out a lot at what would be considered signature restaurants by Disney standards but we don't eat fast food typically, I was blown away!

 

[msb578]

We're all different, and I mean no offence by this what so ever, but that seems like a crazy amount to spend at a fast food place! I'm in Jersey, and we have expensive restaurants here, so I'm not ignorant to expensive...


ETA - We are a family of 5 as well, and since shopping at Aldi's I get away with about $100 or less per week. Maybe I'm just cheap?? LOL

$100? I think I may need to break my Wegmans addiction! We do have an Aldi close by.

 

[Momager]

$100? I think I may need to break my Wegmans addiction! We do have an Aldi close by.

Seriously! I used to shop at Wegmans every week, and every week it got more and more expensive! My MIL always shopped at Aldi but I always kinda stuck my nose up to it.... I finally gave in, and though I still have to go to Wegmans for some items, Aldi is awesome! Def give it a try! Just remember a quarter for your cart and bring your own bags lol

 

[DisneyMommy77]

We took my dad on his first trip to WDW recently and he is still talking about the $283 breakfast bill at Crystal Palace! (That was even with our AP discount)

He just could not believe the price for breakfast!

I have gotten used to these prices, but I will say each time we come home I always feel like we again spent way too much money on food. Drives me nuts!

 

[TwoMisfits]

We just spent $83 for dinner and dessert for 5 (including 3 kids) at a local Red Robin last night. No alcohol.

Yes, there’s an additional markup for food at WDW, but... dining out is expensive. Heck, even my groceries are super expensive these days.

Damn, I'd struggle to get that high there...Most expensive entree/burger item at my local Red Robin is $14.99 (Prime Rib Dip) and most expensive dessert (which is a shareable) is $7.49 for the Mountain Mud Pie...and Kids Meals (11 and under) are $6 (at their highest price) and include drink...and Kids most expensive dessert is $3 (sundae)...so $30 for 2 adult entrees, $18 for 3 kid meals, and $16.49 for desserts (1 shareable adult and 3 kid sundaes) is $64.49 before tax/tip. I guess a soda or two for the adults + tax/tip gets it to $83, but that's about as high as it can possibly go. I know my family of six can eat there for under $50 (or $55 with a dessert) with tax/tip (4 adults, 2 kids) using a coupon (which we always bring)...my "adult kids" are happy with the $6.99 tavern double meals...so I'm at $26 covering all my kids...and then I normally either have an adult entree free or a 15-20% coupon...so my spouse and I order what we like...and normally we get a single table dessert to share...

 

[msb578]

Damn, I'd struggle to get that high there...Most expensive entree/burger item at my local Red Robin is $14.99 (Prime Rib Dip) and most expensive dessert (which is a shareable) is $7.49 for the Mountain Mud Pie...and Kids Meals (11 and under) are $6 (at their highest price) and include drink...and Kids most expensive dessert is $3 (sundae)...so $30 for 2 adult entrees, $18 for 3 kid meals, and $16.49 for desserts (1 shareable adult and 3 kid sundaes) is $64.49 before tax/tip. I guess a soda or two for the adults + tax/tip gets it to $83, but that's about as high as it can possibly go. I know my family of six can eat there for under $50 (or $55 with a dessert) with tax/tip (4 adults, 2 kids) using a coupon (which we always bring)...my "adult kids" are happy with the $6.99 tavern double meals...so I'm at $26 covering all my kids...and then I normally either have an adult entree free or a 15-20% coupon...so my spouse and I order what we like...and normally we get a single table dessert to share...

That is actually really excellent analysis! Yes, it was the two adult sodas that got us there.

We just signed up for their rewards program. And I’ll look for coupons next time. We actually don’t go there very often, but we do enjoy it.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

As an alternative at Beaches & Cream, you could order 5 free ice waters and the Kitchen Sink. If it’s your first time there, it’s sure to be a memorable experience. Rather than 5 burgers x $17, you could do this and the bill would be $34. (+tax/tip)

And I’ll agree with others about Aldi. There are some good finds there! We recently tried the tika and korma sauces sold there and they were surprisingly good!

 

[TwoMisfits]

That is actually really excellent analysis! Yes, it was the two adult sodas that got us there.

We just signed up for their rewards program. And I’ll look for coupons next time. We actually don’t go there very often, but we do enjoy it.

At least twice a month, you'll get a decent discount coupon or free entree coupon...

And a year ago, we did their gift card deal on Black Friday 2017, so we actually eat for even lower "truly out of pocket" b/c the gift card deal (which were non-expiring gift cards) gave an equivalent 45% off (it was $180 in gift cards for $99, and I got the gift for my spouse and I...but they didn't repeat the deal in 2018, so I couldn't stock up again)...we go about every 2-3 months...and I still have about 5 $15 gift cards from the last deal left to use...and the best part was the gift cards were and are usable with coupons...

I'd pay for the place without a deal...but I absolutely love it with a coupon (and love it even more with the gift card deal I had)...

 

[Disneylover99]

Whenever we go to Disney, we always use the ddp. Well next month we're visiting my dad in Florida, and decided to do 1 day just at Disney Springs, and tour the hotels. Just a little "fix" till we go back in November.

We're trying to do this little side trip on the cheap, but I still want to make it a fun, memorable outing for my girls (13, 12 & 3) my DH and myself. I was hoping to do a character meal (hotel only since we're not getting park tickets), but getting one this late in the game may be impossible anyway.

So I've been looking at TS restaurants but, I honestly just can't imagine paying oop $17 for a veggie burger at Beaches and Cream! This is like a whole new experience for me now LOL! When I have the ddp I look at the prices, but I don't add it up or anything - It doesn't matter to me because its all taken care of already. Doing this now sure is an eye opener!! LOL



And before anyone comes at me for this...

1. I know Disney is expensive as all heck (and I'll still happily give them my money whenever I can because I love Disney). I'm honestly not complaining, just voicing my incredibly delayed realization. I've been going to Disney since I was 18 months old!! LOL

2. I also realize that any character meal would be way more than any regular ts meal. Even though we're doing this on the cheap, I would be okay with that since my 3 year old would totally flip her lid and love every second of it! That to me is worth the money!

3. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the history of Disney to make this revelation, or even to post about it. I just thought it might be a interesting discussion. If you don't agree, sorry you read this far!!


Have a great day everyone! I'm going back to my research

I’d skip the character meal and graze my way around Disney Springs and/or the resorts. Try ordering the kids meals at counter service locations to save a few bucks. As an example, a burger at De-Luxe burger costs about $14 and that doesn’t include fries or a drink. The kids burger or grilled chicken breast were delicious! They included fries and a drink and they were only $7.99.

Or I would go to some fun TS meals where you can order and share a few appetizers and desserts like Raglan Road or TRex.

 

[mamamelody2]

Yep, Disney food prices are very high.

Not any higher than other tourist attractions. For instance the food at Cedar Point is super expensive and there's hardly any variety at all.
We went to Chicago last year and the museum food court prices were ridiculous and the food was definitely way below Disney quality.

 

[Hettie]

I agree that Disney food prices have gotten ridiculously high lately, particularly the snacks and quick service menus. I find the "moderate" table service menus, meaning the non-character or the "1 credit" meals to be on par with restaurants in my area. I can stomach the signature prices if I have an excellent meal and experience. Restaurants have gotten outrageously expensive in general lately. It's difficult for my husband, 3 year old and myself to walk out of a restaurant with less than a $75 bill at dinner at a "casual" establishment.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I'm with you. WDW food prices, particularly at character meals, are very high.

If you really want a character meal and you will be there on a Saturday or Sunday, consider going to the Garden Grove character breakfast buffet at the Swan. It's significantly cheaper than the WDW resort character meals ($25.99 for 10 and up and $16.99 for 3 - 9 year olds). Plus, if you have a AAA card, you will get 20% off.

For a little more, O'hana and Trattoria al Forno breakfasts are the least expensive of the WDW resort character meals. They will be slightly more than Garden Grove, but may have more of the WDW appeal than the Swan.

If the character meal is too much, perhaps consider some alternatives that are equally as fun. There are some really good QS in Disney Springs and Ghiradelli is awesome for ice cream (as is the Fountain at the Dolphin or doing a walk-up at Ample Hills). You could rent a surrey bike on the Boardwalk and hit up mini-golf at Fantasia or WinterSummerland at BB. You could also do a monorail tour. My DS11 LOVES Trader Sam's at Poly. If you go around 3:30/3:45 pm you will most likely get in right at opening at 4 pm. We order "mocktails", which are $4.99 and then watch the effects and antics as others order the specialty drinks. You could then ride the monorail and even disembark at CR and take the boat to Ft. W to visit the stables. There you could take a wagon ride and your 3-year old could also ride a pony. You could even do the Chip and Dale sing-a-long at Ft. W which includes a visit by Chip and Dale and it doesn't cost anything unless you want to buy a smores kit which is far less than a character meal.

 

[B-Ride]

Expensive yes but there are still some "reasonable" places. We avoid buffets which have definitely gone through the roof. Also breakfast and lunch used to a good way to have a TS meal that wasn't too expensive but that is less true than it used to be.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Every meal we had topped 250. For the 3 of us, Our last trip. Seems to be what it is in many places now a days. I’ve been warned about Hawaii n Aruba trip lol