How Much Is Too Much For A Buffet?

[GeorgiaHoo]

The thing is, they are charging more for the access to the Princesses, and the location of that access, than they are for the eggs and pancakes. Only the buyer can determine if having a bunch of Princesses visiting you at your table in The Castle is worth the cost. For a lot of people it is.

I think it is hard to quantify how much that access "should" cost. And don't forget you get a picture package with the meal too. You get 5 pictures, and a print of the castle.

I agree that the charge is for the characters, however, the characters don't always appear, and the food clearly isn't worth the cost. We recently had the breakfast buffet at Chrystal Palace and the food was not good (think middle school breakfast quality). While the interaction with Tigger and Piglet was good, Pooh never even made to our SIDE of the restaurant, much less our table. Ended up paying about $125 for 4 after tip. Coffee wasn't bad though.

 

[eliza61]

Do you? I would think the opposite, that most people do pay cash. Now you have made me curious though. I wonder if there is a way to find that out.I know, for my family, we have only used the dining plan twice. And we do buffetts, and usually more than one, almost every trip.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find it. I was looking for that information and how many of disney's resort guest are first timers as I think that has a lot to do with it. I know they collect it.

First timers tend to spend on "sentimentality" and are definitely more inclined to do the DP. Those disney commercials can really pull at the heart strings. so when they book crt, they are envisioning their little "princess" dressed as cinderella in a disney ad.

Whereas we return visitors while still having a bit of pixie dust in our eyes, may ignore the heart strings long enough to look at the price.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

In August when we go we decided not to do the dining plan to see how much we spend since we have now done the DDP, and the DxDDP and just want to see how much we would spend if we weren't trying to "eat" our monies worth. We are going to try TIW card this time. My DH refuses to eat at any buffets except Tusker House because the food is just simply not that good, and I rarely eat more than one serving at the buffet.

 

[MelissathePooh]

I don't know that the majority of WDW guests are on the DDP as it depends on what percentage of guests is staying on property and of those - did they opt for DDP. I have to think that more people are probably NOT on the DDP. Which is what makes the price increases so extraordinary to me.

What is the percentage of guests staying on property on a given day - anyone know?

 

[smidgy]

they should at least charge less for the NON-Character buffets.

we were looking to eat at Bomas or Beirgarten. It's crazy to charge that much when you have to serve yourself.

the "all-you-can-eat" aspect isn't that appealing. we really can't eat that much in one sitting. not $30 worth, anyway!

 

[aubriee]

I think the majority of trips are MYW packages with DP and tix included. Disney makes it very easy to add a DP package, and since it's packaged up, guests don't notice the cost as much.
I really think that the majority, like 60-70% of guests, and maybe even higher, probably purchase the DP. I don't have evidence to back this up, but putting together what we read on these boards, seeing the way Free DP sells out the resorts, and having been in pretty much every restaurant on property multiple times and seeing that most of the guests were on the DP, I think it's quite high.

Tiger

I agree. I have an AP and go to WDW several times a year. Ever since the DDP has come out, I've used either the DDP or DxDDP. We have not had a single trip without the DDP in years. Some trips we've done free dining, but for the last year or so the AP discounts have been a better deal. Regardless, we get the DDP and in fact was on the DxDDP three trips last year and basic DDP once. I have the basic DDP for our upcoming trip in May, but for the first time in years am not doing any DDP for my Sept/Oct trip. I feel soooo unsure, but want to eat at restaurants that don't take the DDP, since I never get a chance to eat at them anymore. I have several friends/coworkers who have gone to Disney in the last few years and everyone of them use the DDP. For us the DDP is simply about convenience. We like having everything paid for in advance and never even look at the prices. I didn't even realize the buffet prices had gone up that much, until I read this thead.

 

[dntd]

When a kids meal is over $10 it's just crazy. Of the many places we ate,other then Cindy's meal was worth it. The best interaction was playhouse disney but it's for the 6 and under crowd who in no way eats that much to justify the price.

 

[lugnut33]

The WDW website says you save up to 20% by using the DDP, which honestly is not that much. So instead of paying $36 for that buffet you're paying $29, but then you have to add in the automatic 18% gratuity and you're back to $34. Is it really that much of a savings to use the DDP?

I think there were some really good points brought out in this thread, and the #1 point being that people on the DDP do not realize at all what they are actually paying for the food. One credit sounds so much better than $34.


And Disney can use that DDP any way they want. Let's say Disney raised the OOP price of the buffets to $50 each, but kept the internal DDP cost at say $38. Now you could advertise to people that you can save 30% by being on the DDP, and you've also gotten $4 more per person. However, that person on the DDP is going to think they are saving big money.

 

[Tikitoi]

I don't do buffets with my DD13 because even for $18 she does not eat enough to justify paying that amount of money. We certainly do TS restaurants, and I never do the DP when it is me and her. And she usually orders off the kids menu.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

The WDW website says you save up to 20% by using the DDP, which honestly is not that much. So instead of paying $36 for that buffet you're paying $29, but then you have to add in the automatic 18% gratuity and you're back to $34. Is it really that much of a savings to use the DDP?

I think there were some really good points brought out in this thread, and the #1 point being that people on the DDP do not realize at all what they are actually paying for the food. One credit sounds so much better than $34.


And Disney can use that DDP any way they want. Let's say Disney raised the OOP price of the buffets to $50 each, but kept the internal DDP cost at say $38. Now you could advertise to people that you can save 30% by being on the DDP, and you've also gotten $4 more per person. However, that person on the DDP is going to think they are saving big money.

The dining plan doesn't give you 20% off the bill, what disney says is that on your dining, using the dining plan, you could save up to 20% (or whatever figure) versus paying cash. That number is an average of what they consider their guests will save. Depending on where and what you eat you may save much more or much less.

Someone who uses all of their table service credits at Le Cellier for the mushroom filet and the chocolate whiskey cake and a smoothie for their drink; uses all of their counter service credits at Wolfgang pucks and uses their snacks for the maximum value of about $4 would find themselves "saving" much more than 20%.

Most people have a balance of more and less expensive meals.

Buffets at $30 - $35 would be viewed as a good value because if you are paying $46 for the dining plan per night after dining at a buffet valued at $35 + tax = $39 and change. You only need to "spend" $7 on your counter service meal and snack in order to "break even" on the cost of the plan. With the average burger combo being $8 and change, drinks around $2 something, desserts averaging $4 and snacks averaging $3 you're basically at Disney's "saving 20%" on your dining.

And there is no "automatic 18% gratuity" for those on the dining plan. The same rules apply when on the DDP as when paying cash - parties of 6 or more are subject to the auto gratuity.

 

[Vijoge]

We just returned a couple of weeks ago. We didn't get the dining plan for a couple of reasons.
1. The DP no longer includes tip-it did the last time we used it.
2. The DP includes dessert, but not an appetizer-I have diabetes and don't eat dessert but I can't swap the dessert for an appetizer, which I might be able to eat.
3. We were travelling with our 3 y/o granddaughter and knew we would be doing a lot of character buffets. The DP saves us more $$ when ordering from a menu.

I added up our receipts when we got home and found we would have saved only $20 by purchasing the DP. Not much of a savings compared to previous years.

 

[SnowWitch]

We will be on the Deluxe plan for our upcoming May trip, our Fall trip we are skipping the dining plans all together and our Dec trip we will probably do the reg plan. That being said if the price increases for the plans continue, we will skip the plans and scale back on dining, for our family the $ is at the point if it continues we will be cooking in our villa and having maybe 2 meals out per trip. If we find the quality of food to be what many have reported on these boards recently we will avoid the dining plans for the rest of the year.

 

[lugnut33]

The dining plan doesn't give you 20% off the bill, what disney says is that on your dining, using the dining plan, you could save up to 20% (or whatever figure) versus paying cash. That number is an average of what they consider their guests will save. Depending on where and what you eat you may save much more or much less.

Someone who uses all of their table service credits at Le Cellier for the mushroom filet and the chocolate whiskey cake and a smoothie for their drink; uses all of their counter service credits at Wolfgang pucks and uses their snacks for the maximum value of about $4 would find themselves "saving" much more than 20%.

Most people have a balance of more and less expensive meals.

Buffets at $30 - $35 would be viewed as a good value because if you are paying $46 for the dining plan per night after dining at a buffet valued at $35 + tax = $39 and change. You only need to "spend" $7 on your counter service meal and snack in order to "break even" on the cost of the plan. With the average burger combo being $8 and change, drinks around $2 something, desserts averaging $4 and snacks averaging $3 you're basically at Disney's "saving 20%" on your dining.

And there is no "automatic 18% gratuity" for those on the dining plan. The same rules apply when on the DDP as when paying cash - parties of 6 or more are subject to the auto gratuity.

I never said it gives you 20% off, I said their website says you could save up to 20% if you use the DDP. If the plan saved you more money don't you think Disney would be advertising that? As I indicated in a previous post, at a buffet you are really only saving around $2 per person, which is less than 10%.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I never said it gives you 20% off, I said their website says you could save up to 20% if you use the DDP. If the plan saved you more money don't you think Disney would be advertising that? As I indicated in a previous post, at a buffet you are really only saving around $2 per person, which is less than 10%.

With the cost of buffets going up, the average person can easily save 20% off their dining (Disney's figures) if they purchased the same food cash.

table service credit:
Biergarten buffet dinner - $34.99 + 6.5% tax = $37.27

Counter service credit (Sunshine Seasons)
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Turkey and Monterey Jack Cheese on Foccacia $8.59[/FONT]
Strawberry Shortcake $3.99
Fanta $2.39
= 14.97 + 6.5% tax = $15.94

Snack credit (from cart somewhere in the park):
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mickey's Premium Ice Cream Bar $3.50[/FONT]

Total - 37.27 + 15.94 + 3.50 = 56.71
cost of the dining plan $45 (non peak).
You are saving 20%.

I did not choose the most expensive of anything for that day either.

Previously on the dining plan, buffets were not always a good value. With the current pricing structure though, buffets on the dining plan can be just as good OR BETTER of a value than eating at a sit down, menu restaurant.

Paying cash, you need to determine that based on your eating habits, age factors, touring plans, etc.

Personally, if paying cash I don't think I'd choose to pay $35 for the Biergarten. On the dining plan though, a meal credit is a meal credit. It doesn't matter if one meal "costs" me $28 or $35 or $42. It's one meal credit.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Previously on the dining plan, buffets were not always a good value. With the current pricing structure though, buffets on the dining plan can be just as good OR BETTER of a value than eating at a sit down, menu restaurant.

For a while now, I have been wondering if that is the reason buffet prices went up. I used to purchase the dining plan and pay out of pocket for buffets.

Typically, I would pay OOP for a character breakfast, use the CS for my lunch, and the TS for my dinner. Most of the time, it was cheaper to do it that way than to purchase the deluxe dining plan--especially since I did not go to a character breakfast every day.

Now that the prices of the buffets have gone up, I no longer pay OOP for them. I use my dining plan credit for either a late-morning character breakfast OR an early-evening TS dinner. If I use it to eat breakfast, then I use my CS for an early dinner. If I use it to eat dinner, then I use my CS for more of a brunch.

People who use the dining plan are definitely paying more money for less food. It used to be a good value to eat on Disney property. It seems as though its losing its value, whether you are on a dining plan or not.

This year, I am interested in the Tables in Wonderland card. Of course, I would need to purchase an annual pass. And since I travel with a small party, it is not nearly as good of a value as if I travelled with a party of 10. It seems it has the potential to be a better value than the dining plan, though. It is getting more difficult to find a good value when dining at Disney.

I could accept the higher prices if the food quality stayed high, but if the food quality is not there and Disney is still charging astronomical prices, then something has got to give.

 

[Becky2005]

Frankly, now is when I would say it especially with my kids being "Disney" adults...my 11 year old would not eat enough to make it worthwhile cost.

We fully intended to NOT eat the buffets except one since we have a big group and that is our first day being all together.

I did get free dining and that changed because we do like buffets because then everyone can get something they like even if it doesn't fall into adlut or child tastes. I just wasn't willing to pay $200+ for our family for several meals throughout the week.

 

[DCbride]

We loved buffets when DD was under 3 since she could eat mac n cheese and some fruit and be happy. But now that she is over 3 it costs $18 for her to eat the same plate of mac n cheese and some fruit. It's just hard to justify it now. So for a few years we will skip buffets if we are paying and wait until she is older and enjoys a wider range of food...but of course by then she will be paying adult prices

 

[diamondpixienc]

To DCBride that would be my suggestion too. Our kids never eat enough to justify the buffet prices either so after this FD trip we will certainly only do all non buffets. I mean if it were not for the Characters at CM & CP we'd probably skip them but hey you can get a FP to see the fab five now so that just sealed our deal.

 

[nebo]

buffets used to be a good value. once the DDP existed, the buffets were not a good value.

when they did away with the tip and appetizer, suddenly the buffets were, once again , a good value. IF you were on the DDP.

suddenly, you have people willing to pay $35 for a buffet, . oh.. but they aren't!!! they have the DDP! look how much they saved!!!

even though they did away with the Prime Rib, and most people end up eating $12.00 worth of food (who can eat $35 worth of beef shanks, falafels, and zebre domes?)

 

[Tiger926]

I never said it gives you 20% off, I said their website says you could save up to 20% if you use the DDP. If the plan saved you more money don't you think Disney would be advertising that? As I indicated in a previous post, at a buffet you are really only saving around $2 per person, which is less than 10%.

I'm not sure why you are saying you would only save $2.00/pp on a buffet? I started a thread in January about 2011 buffet prices. If you go during peak season, most character dinner meals are well over between $40 - $45.00/pp (tax included). So, if you eat at Chef Mickey's for dinner in July, you have already spent close to the cost of your DP, plus you still have a CS credit plus a snack credit.

Buffet prices have soared, so you actually save more money if you eat at dinner buffets, and if you eat during peak season, you save even more.

Now, if you eat a character breakfast or even lunch, then you won't save as much, but as I said, buffet prices are very high now, so if you are on the DP you'll still save money.

Tiger