How will Disney handle BOG reservations after the Prix Fixe change?

[Nancyg56]

So I know the cupcake people exist. I have zero doubt they take up tables. But I really couldn't believe the stories here that a majority of people were doing it. We had our first PPO BOG breakfast in May. Arrived around 8, stayed until 8:35. We also did a dinner, stayed from about 6:15 to 7:30. I was on the lookout for cupcake people. Know how many I saw? None. Not a table eating cupcakes only. Everyone was dutifully eating their over priced breakfasts and normal dinners (although some of those may have been appetizer and drink only tables, which as a former server, I don't have a problem with). Admittedly, it was only two meals. Maybe May isn't cupcake season? But the idea that hundreds of people a day are doing this or that the restaurant isn't profitable because of the vast cupcake armies? Doesn't fit my experience. Again, I have no doubt it is going on. I just don't think it's as huge a phenomenon as it's made out to be.

Which actually gives me some hope for humanity.

LOL! Cupcake People!!!! LOL!

 

[Lisa F]

So I know the cupcake people exist. I have zero doubt they take up tables. But I really couldn't believe the stories here that a majority of people were doing it. We had our first PPO BOG breakfast in May. Arrived around 8, stayed until 8:35. We also did a dinner, stayed from about 6:15 to 7:30. I was on the lookout for cupcake people. Know how many I saw? None. Not a table eating cupcakes only. Everyone was dutifully eating their over priced breakfasts and normal dinners (although some of those may have been appetizer and drink only tables, which as a former server, I don't have a problem with). Admittedly, it was only two meals. Maybe May isn't cupcake season? But the idea that hundreds of people a day are doing this or that the restaurant isn't profitable because of the vast cupcake armies? Doesn't fit my experience. Again, I have no doubt it is going on. I just don't think it's as huge a phenomenon as it's made out to be.

Which actually gives me some hope for humanity.

when I went to BoG I ordered an app (mussels) and a glass of wine. I had gastric sleeve surgery and still left half of my food. I wasn't aware that this was a "bad thing." That's how much I can eat. Also my kid had a kid meal. We weren't a super expensive table but $40 is more than I spend on dinner for both of us at home on martha's vineyard!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

when I went to BoG I ordered an app (mussels) and a glass of wine. I had gastric sleeve surgery and still left half of my food. I wasn't aware that this was a "bad thing." That's how much I can eat. Also my kid had a kid meal. We weren't a super expensive table but $40 is more than I spend on dinner for both of us at home on martha's vineyard!

I wasn't aware of it being 'a bad thing' either until seeing people here say it was.

 

[Lisa F]

I wasn't aware of it being 'a bad thing' either until seeing people here say it was.

I'm not sure if you noticed but people here can be pretty

I order what I want on the menu. I'm not going to take up a table for a cupcake but I'm also not going to feel obligated to order more than I can eat to satisfy people on the DIS.

 

[Nancyg56]

I wasn't aware of it being 'a bad thing' either until seeing people here say it was.

It is not. What I thought was a "bad" thing was that Disney opened a fixed price breakfast in a very popular restaurant, and then reneged on that plan before they even started, went from bad to worse by then offering a cupcake as a separate offering, allowed servers to provide enough pastries to feed entire tables rather than the number of people who ordered the entrees, and then bumped up the price of the fixed cost meal, and lowered the quality of the pastry that was offered as part of the meal. That was bad.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

when I went to BoG I ordered an app (mussels) and a glass of wine. I had gastric sleeve surgery and still left half of my food. I wasn't aware that this was a "bad thing." That's how much I can eat. Also my kid had a kid meal. We weren't a super expensive table but $40 is more than I spend on dinner for both of us at home on martha's vineyard!

I don't really think you're the type of table people are complaining about. You described a situation where every person in your party ordered and ate. What we hear reports of are a table of 4 or 6 ordering waters and 2 cupcakes to share, just to meet the beast. How often that actually happens I don't know...but there is a difference between taking up a table / reservation for the sole purpose of getting inside just to meet the beast versus ordering a lesser amount of food because you have a small appetite.

 

[kristenrice]

I'm actually excited about the new dinner offering and I can't wait to see the menu. If the TIW discount is applicable, it drops the price down to $44/person. That's a deal for a 3-course meal with beverage at a "signature" restaurant! I have a dinner ADR for myself and my daughters at 6pm before we go to MNSSHP. We may rethink our plans if they can't apply the discount or if the final menu is not to our liking. If that's the case, we will revert to our original plan of a late lunch at Sanaa before we head out for the evening.

 

[Lisa F]

I don't really think you're the type of table people are complaining about. You described a situation where every person in your party ordered and ate. What we hear reports of are a table of 4 or 6 ordering waters and 2 cupcakes to share, just to meet the beast. How often that actually happens I don't know...but there is a difference between taking up a table / reservation for the sole purpose of getting inside just to meet the beast versus ordering a lesser amount of food because you have a small appetite.

That's what I'd think! But it was mentioned along with the "cupcake people". I always tip on an average entree price when I order just an app so the server isn't impacted (for example if apps are $10 and entrees are $20 I add another $2 to my 20% tip). Lots of people have small appetites for various reasons and I don't think it makes you a bad patron.

 

[MIAMouseketeer]

I'm not sure if you noticed but people here can be pretty

I order what I want on the menu. I'm not going to take up a table for a cupcake but I'm also not going to feel obligated to order more than I can eat to satisfy people on the DIS.

I think the issue are those people who make a reservation not to necessarily eat, but to meet the Beast.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Regardless of speculation, there is a reason Disney made this change. And we can be 100% assured it WAS NOT because the restaurant wasn't popular or had trouble filling tables at breakfast/lunch/dinner. So, you look beyond the obvious reasons, and make your assumptions from there. I worked through college in restaurants, the last couple of years in management, and dollars/diner was a big deal then, and I'm guessing things haven't changed. If I had to guess, I would imagine that one simple stat played some part in this decision.

 

[Nancyg56]

Regardless of speculation, there is a reason Disney made this change. And we can be 100% assured it WAS NOT because the restaurant wasn't popular or had trouble filling tables at breakfast/lunch/dinner. So, you look beyond the obvious reasons, and make your assumptions from there. I worked through college in restaurants, the last couple of years in management, and dollars/diner was a big deal then, and I'm guessing things haven't changed. If I had to guess, I would imagine that one simple stat played some part in this decision.

Oh yes! This restaurant had so much potential but was not provided an identity. Maybe disney has found its sweet sot wih dinner

 

[Lisa F]

Regardless of speculation, there is a reason Disney made this change. And we can be 100% assured it WAS NOT because the restaurant wasn't popular or had trouble filling tables at breakfast/lunch/dinner. So, you look beyond the obvious reasons, and make your assumptions from there. I worked through college in restaurants, the last couple of years in management, and dollars/diner was a big deal then, and I'm guessing things haven't changed. If I had to guess, I would imagine that one simple stat played some part in this decision.

it's simple supply and demand. When demand outstrips supply then you raise prices until they are equalized. See what happened with Le Cellier? It's still mostly booked up but you can find the occasional off hours table at the last minute... it's not like the place is empty but it's no longer impossible to get. I think they would take 95% full at 200% of the profit over 100% full at 100% of the profit. People argue about whether it is a signature or not and whether the food is worth the price but it's still mostly full most of the time even at higher prices.

Raising the price takes care of supply and demand... making it prix fixe assures they get a minimum for every seat. I probably won't do it just because I can't eat a 3 course meal and my son just turned 10 and I have a hard time justifying $140 for a meal for the two of us when I can get 3-4 TS out of that money and not waste all that food.. heck our dinner at CA Grill with two adult entrees (but no apps or dessert) cost less than that and the food was AMAZING. But I can definitely see why they did it.