How Much Is Too Much For A Buffet?

[lugnut33]

I just can't believe how expensive buffets are at WDW nowadays. For two adults at Beirgarten our bill came out to $90, and that was with using a 20% discount card. Heck, Crytal Palace is $37 per adult and $18 for a child(or even more if you go during select times). I guess it's not that much more expensive than a dinner in New York City, but it seems very pricey to me, and I'm a big eater.

So, at what price point does a person say, "That's too much, I'm not eating there"?

 

[bamajenn]

I have to agree... the prices for buffets are crazy. If you have the DP it's totally worth it but if you're doing your meals out of pocket, it's nuts. Honestly, I think the prices have something to do with that. The DP has become pretty darn popular and maybe they want to try to offset the eventual savings from that. I guess the "limit" all depends on what I'm getting as far as food choice and atmosphere. Still, to me, I'd say once you're at $30 or more per person, it's too much.

 

[3pletprincesses]

that the price we pay for having endless amount of food LOL

 

[MelissathePooh]

Ay....that is the magic question! We actually did 2 picnic meals at WDW when we were there just after Christmas.

With the decline in quality and increase in price - its just depressing. Disney has basically priced things to try and force you into the dining plan if you are staying on property. Pay for 1 table service or buffet and you've basically paid for a day on the plan - or at least perceived it and then throw in the "free" or discounted counter service as it would seem, and you can't get around it.

Factor in people who get "free dining" and the masses will LOVE the damn thing. I hate it - the DDP and I hate what its done to dining at Disney. I don't begrudge people that benefit from it, but would sooo much rather Disney go back to reasonable prices and get rid of the plan. Let the restaurants control what they want to do.

DVC has started letting you purchase the plan for only the nights you want it - that may bring us back to some restaurants, but we've reached the point where we're not paying it - or at least as often as we used to.

Will that be the mass response - absolutely not. The majority of people love that dang thing.

 

[Nadjalu]

To be honest when you are going to a Disney buffet, especially if it is a character buffet, you are not just paying for the food. You are paying for the experience of having the characters come TO YOU. Not you going to them.

That is where the expense of the meal comes in. Most people don't realize this and that sure doesn't make you happy when you think they are charging that much for the food.
But for the convienence of the characters to come to your table and interact with your kids....that is where they can increase that price.

Not saying it isn't insane because I think it is. But it does make it a bit better to know that if I am paying that high price there is a bit more I get for my money.

 

[MelissathePooh]

To be honest when you are going to a Disney buffet, especially if it is a character buffet, you are not just paying for the food. You are paying for the experience of having the characters come TO YOU. Not you going to them.

That is where the expense of the meal comes in. Most people don't realize this and that sure doesn't make you happy when you think they are charging that much for the food.
But for the convienence of the characters to come to your table and interact with your kids....that is where they can increase that price.

Not saying it isn't insane because I think it is. But it does make it a bit better to know that if I am paying that high price there is a bit more I get for my money.

That too would be easier to stomach if our last 3 character buffets hadn't been drive-by interaction. CP - the characters literally leaned in behind my child's seat, waved and walked off. CM was a little bit better, but not what I would call "character interaction".

The price increases aren't just at the character buffets though - OP mentioned Biergarten (which does have entertainment - though short sets). What about 'Ohana - roughly over $10 per person increase in last 5 years. Cape May Clam Bake, Boma - there are many non-character all you can eats that are outrageously priced. Heck counter service meals are typically $2 more per entree than a couple of years ago.

Now one could say that that the cost of EVERYTHING has gone up and Disney is simply reflecting that or one could simply blame the DDP as I choose to do Seriously though - Disney's increases have surpassed that of the general economy which indicates that they indeed are trying to push it to the limit of when people will stop coming.

I can't help but look back to what dining was 20-30 years ago before, or at the start of the big push to a "inclusive resort experience" - how horrible the theme park food was and then as it became more resort centered - how wonderful the dining became. Dining was a huge part of the experience. You can't count on that now. Obviously there are still some wonderful places and great experiences to be had, but with having to book so far out and the lack of consistency, its a let down. The old grey mare ain't what she used to be!

 

[lugnut33]

Yeah, I understand the whole character meal thing, but even that is getting out of control price-wise.

What's weird, and hopefully I don't give them any ideas, is how the price of drinks hasn't changed that much. Really 2.49 for a large drink isn't that bad, especially considering at the Daytona 500 this past weekend the track was charging $4 for a 20 ounce soda.

And yeah the DDP definitely does have an effect on the perception of prices. Clearly when you pay with credits it doesn't seem like money (like playing with chips at a casino). Even if everyone is using the dining plan the buffets are making a killing because that one credit is still costing around $31 (since the DDP costs $46 per day per adult, subtract $3 for a snack credit and around $12 for a table service meal) from Disney. Of course Disney's cost for the buffet has to be really low.

 

[Crystal824]

I agree that Disney dining prices (Disney prices in general) have gotten out of control. Ticket and room prices aren't too bad, but dining and merchendise prices are crazy. I understand it is going to be more than local shopping or dining but it seems the price increases are way over the normal economic increase. Yet, I still go every year. At least for now. At some point, we will reach the level of too much is too much.

We normally get the dining plan, but last year we paid OOP. We spent a fortune on dining. We split dessert when we got it and often split counter-service meals. It was still quite expensive.

 

[iluveeyore]

This is exactly why we bought DVC 10 years ago - when we stay as a family, we get a villa, buy groceries and enjoy waiting on ourselves whenever we're hungry and eating food we know we'll like - no tips, no bad service, and we can lounge on our deck or in our living room while we eat dessert - love it!

On the other hand, with DD and me leaving in 6 short sleeps , we are not staying at DVC, so we have to deal with eating out. She is a teenager, but doesn't eat much, and the cost of a buffet is just not justified. We just plan on having counter service wherever we happen to be when we're hungry, and I have budgeted $40 a day for food, which we probably won't use each day. We have breakfast items in our room and use a refillable mug for tea and coffee. I did book a tea at the GF for an afternoon as a treat, but that is as expensive or affordable as you choose to make it. I also plan to use our AP discounts or DVC discounts wherever we eat. I can't even justify the DDP for the two of us, as neither one of us eats enough to spend that much a day on food.

 

[mjp12831]

WDW buffets are a bit pricey. I wouldn't eat at them oop.

Non buffet restaurants (cs and ts) though seem to be quite reasonable and comparable to what you pay anywhere when you go out to eat.

 

[David Brent]

Non buffet restaurants (cs and ts) though seem to be quite reasonable and comparable to what you pay anywhere when you go out to eat.

i agree, especially around lake buena vista/downtown disney area..

 

[patsal]

Well, for us when it went to $35 per person and the food was meh at best that was the proverbial straw. We stopped eating at buffets and family style a few years ago and have not looked back. Sorry Disney, but if you need to artificially inflate the price to make the dining plans look like a deal I don't need to bother going!

 

[disneylvrnMS]

DVC has started letting you purchase the plan for only the nights you want it - that may bring us back to some restaurants, but we've reached the point where we're not paying it - or at least as often as we used to.

When did DVC start allowing this? I am a DVC member and I have never heard of this. I have always been told that I had to buy the plan for the number of nights I was staying. I have never been allowed to only purchase for specific days.

 

[bamajenn]

So, at what price point does a person say, "That's too much, I'm not eating there"?

You chose a topic that people are passionate about can you tell? You will never get that simple of an answer! LOL!!

 

[MelissathePooh]

When did DVC start allowing this? I am a DVC member and I have never heard of this. I have always been told that I had to buy the plan for the number of nights I was staying. I have never been allowed to only purchase for specific days.

Yep - its new this year. I read there was some working out the bugs of the system initially, but seems to be working well now.

Yeah - I was pretty shocked when I found out, but its true. We planning on testing it this summer. I still HATE the DDP, but this makes it a bit easier to stomach.

As to non-buffet Disney restaurants costing comparable prices to other Orlando places - I just don't agree. We stay with my mother in Clermont quite often we we aren't on DVC points and there are thousands of places with better food and waaay better prices than Disney. The new Miller's Ale House by AK is just an example, but the list is LONG. Granted they're off property, but save a handful of really upscale places around - the majority of off property restaurants have far less expensive and better fare than most of Disney anymore.

 

[gorkt]

I agree, the meal plan is having an adverse effect on the food quality and the prices at WDW. I went on a trip in 2006 and was pleasantly surprised. The prices seemed a bit high beck then but there was decent quality for your money. 2009 seemed to be a different story, super high prices and the food quality was much worse, especially at counter service. The buffet meals were good, but not a good value for your money. The meal plan is not a good choice for how our family eats, too restrictive, so I feel like us non meal plan people are getting the shaft.

 

[Jon G]

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[Tiger926]

After having done all buffets many, many times, we are no longer. We are used to eating 2-3 TS meals per day, but no longer. We go during peak times, as I`m a teacher, and some dinner buffets with tax/tip are now close to $50.00/adult!

I started a thread in January with new buffet prices, and it seems most went up by approx. $2.00-$3.00/person, so when you add peak surcharge, and tax and tip, it's just plain ridiculous.

Food is not that good, service is very spotty, characters are rushed, and restaurants are just too busy and chaotic. We are now going to be eating most of our meals in our DVC villa, except for an occasional favourite restaurant like Kona Cafe or T-Rex. We are also willing to eat at some CS meals as well.

For us, the prices are at that point, but we pay cash, and so for those who have the dining plan, it won't even faze them. It's Disney's way of creating a higher value in the dining plan. It's a vicious cycle that they are in charge of - raise menu prices, which will have guests feeling like they have no choice but to purchase the DP, and they will then think they are getting a great deal based on inflated prices.

As I've pointed out many times, Disney values the DP guest more (they make more profit from them), as the peak season DP price is only $2.00 mpre per person, whereas the cash peak season prices is $4.00/adult per meal.

Tiger

 

[lugnut33]

The dining plan is a great way for Disney to generate money whenever they want. If they keep raising the cost of the buffets (or sit down meals in general) then they can also raise the cost of the dining plan. However, if they raise the OOP costs by $4, but "only" raise the DDP by $2 (then they can also claim how good of a savings the DDP is) they are still raising the cost and generating more revenue. Top that off by offering cheaper food choices and Disney generates double the money.

 

[eliza61]

I just can't believe how expensive buffets are at WDW nowadays. For two adults at Beirgarten our bill came out to $90, and that was with using a 20% discount card. Heck, Crytal Palace is $37 per adult and $18 for a child(or even more if you go during select times). I guess it's not that much more expensive than a dinner in New York City, but it seems very pricey to me, and I'm a big eater.

So, at what price point does a person say, "That's too much, I'm not eating there"?

LOL Cinderellas Royal table is the one that really lets me know how disney feels about their guest.

Really dude, $46 bucks for a breakfast buffet? and sorry, there is not many "experiences" that make 200 bucks for a family of 4 worthwhile for PANCAKES.

For that kind of money, Let me tell you, Prince Charming would have to do some thing to me that would dang near be illegal in some Southern states "