Inside info on why the buffets are getting so expensive

[erinreid]

So I had dinner with a cast member last night who works behind the scenes. I asked her why in the world the buffet restaurants were getting so incredibly expensive, to the point where I would never go there for dinner. Her answer was eye-opening.

Apparently it all has to do with the Disney Dining Plan. Apparently when Disney was doing research on the DDP, the number one factor that caused DDP members to make dining reservation was Value. Quality was way down the list, Value was number one. And what made people think they were getting the best value? The cash price of the meal.

So what Disney discovered was that the more expensive they made the buffet, four very positive things happened:

1) People on the DDP were happier, because they felt like they were getting more value out of it.

2) More DDP people went to buffets than the sit-down restaurants, making it easier for non-DDP people to get reservations at the non-buffet restaurants.

3) Less non-DDP people went to buffets, making it easier for DDP people to eat at the restaurants they perceived to be the highest value.

4) Waiters at non-buffet restaurants are happier because less people on DDP generally means a better tip for them.

I just thought this was fascinating. Disney is intentionally trying to shunt DDP patrons into buffets and non-DDP people into regular restaurants. For Disney, raising the price of the buffets is a no-lose proposition.

- Erin

 

[mickeygirl14]

Very interesting - and totally makes sense to me. I will say though, we usually use DDP and we do more buffets than I'd like, but that's so DD8 can get the food she wants, rather than being stuck ordering from the kids menus. She's a pretty adventurous eater and not one to enjoy standard kids fare.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Intuitively, I have known that Disney was raising the prices on the character buffets so that they could raise the price on the dining plan overall (and still have it be perceived as being a good value). So it all makes sense to me.

Edited to add: Funny thing is that I perceive the Disney Dining Plan to be less and less of a good value, no matter how high they raise the buffet prices. And I don't think I am alone.

 

[TDC Nala]

If the food sucks enough, even DDP guests will stay away from the non-character buffets. The character ones will always have an audience.

Actually I think that while buffets on DDP are huge values for children, for adults a la carte restaurants can still be a better value than a buffet, depending on what they order.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Personally the only buffet in Walt Disney World my family and I would consider going back to is Boma during their dinner service. However since we always happen to have a car we can go offsite and eat at Sweet Tomatoes, which is less expensive then any of the buffets in WDW and we always get coupons e-mailed that make their prices even better.

 

[hildarumpole]

I suspected it had something to do with the DDP. I also believe the menu items at non-buffet TS are priced to encourage DDP guests to order certain things that may appear to be a better value, but, in reality, are more cost-effective for Disney. DDP guests feel like they're getting more than they paid for, but they aren't. Brilliant.

 

[Cafeen]

ZOMG DDP Killed my DOG!

Yup. More of the same. Nothing to do with supply and demand. Nothing to do with anything but DDP. RAR RAR RAR!

 

[eliza61]

ZOMG DDP Killed my DOG!

Yup. More of the same. Nothing to do with supply and demand. Nothing to do with anything but DDP. RAR RAR RAR!

LOL. If you think "demand" can't be manipulated then I've got a bridge to sell you cheap. I'm in the restaurant business (or rather I grew up in it) It is extremely easy to get people to "demand" exactly what you want them to. It is ridiculously easy to get the "masses" to purchase the item with the highest profit margin.

What, you think companies spend millions on marketing to burn money.
Why do you think the word "Free" and "sale" are so popular in advertising. It's called market manipulation.

Here on these very boards we see the mentality of #1 all the time.
People post constantly "where can I eat to get the most out of my ddp" or "do you order the most expensive thing on the menu"?

Now I'm not saying that's a bad thing. I'm a disney stockholder,

 

[MASKED MANIAC]

So I had dinner with a cast member last night who works behind the scenes. I asked her why in the world the buffet restaurants were getting so incredibly expensive, to the point where I would never go there for dinner. Her answer was eye-opening.

Apparently it all has to do with the Disney Dining Plan. Apparently when Disney was doing research on the DDP, the number one factor that caused DDP members to make dining reservation was Value. Quality was way down the list, Value was number one. And what made people think they were getting the best value? The cash price of the meal.

So what Disney discovered was that the more expensive they made the buffet, four very positive things happened:

1) People on the DDP were happier, because they felt like they were getting more value out of it.

2) More DDP people went to buffets than the sit-down restaurants, making it easier for non-DDP people to get reservations at the non-buffet restaurants.

3) Less non-DDP people went to buffets, making it easier for DDP people to eat at the restaurants they perceived to be the highest value.

4) Waiters at non-buffet restaurants are happier because less people on DDP generally means a better tip for them.

I just thought this was fascinating. Disney is intentionally trying to shunt DDP patrons into buffets and non-DDP people into regular restaurants. For Disney, raising the price of the buffets is a no-lose proposition.

- Erin

Erin what you say makes sense...a good friend of ours in the manager of the Crystal Palace and she says it rough for them to get locals in when the prices are so high...so we just wait for her call when the prices either drop or when we stay on property and get the plan....

 

[erinreid]

LOL. If you think "demand" can't be manipulated then I've got a bridge to sell you cheap. I'm in the restaurant business (or rather I grew up in it) It is extremely easy to get people to "demand" exactly what you want them to. It is ridiculously easy to get the "masses" to purchase the item with the highest profit margin.

Agreed. Supply and demand only works when you have a level playing field. When you don't (like health care) supply and demand don't work. When you have some people paying a fixed price (DDP) and other people paying list price (menu), the normal rules don't fully apply.

- Erin

 

[ilovepete]

I guess they got me! Last time we went, I really wanted to eat at the Crystal Palace breakfast. I hadn't planned to do the DDP but after considering how much just that breakfast would be, the DDP made more sense!

This time, we are trying Tables in Wonderland to see how that goes. We should be able to get a few uses out of it so I'm hoping in the end it will be a better value.

 

[erinreid]

I guess they got me! Last time we went, I really wanted to eat at the Crystal Palace breakfast. I hadn't planned to do the DDP but after considering how much just that breakfast would be, the DDP made more sense!

This time, we are trying Tables in Wonderland to see how that goes. We should be able to get a few uses out of it so I'm hoping in the end it will be a better value.

You know, I didn't think of that. But it's a great fifth point. The more expensive the buffets are, the more likely people are to sign up for the DDP, thinking it's a good value. Nice thought!

My wife and I use Tables in Wonderland exclusively. Gives us great flexibility in how we eat and saves us much more money than the DDP. And no buffets.

- Erin

 

[Johnny_B]

Most (*MOST*) buffet's at WDW are actually pretty good. In fact, I would say most TS places are below average, whereas buffets are above average (compared to other, non-WDW buffets). I don't mind paying the price for them (esp with my TiW discount) because I eat a LOT. So I def get my money's worth!

I was at Biergarten last trip and the people at my table barely ate anything. Had maybe 2-3 very small plates (1 plate with a few apps and salad, 1 plate with some meats, and 1 plate with like 2-3 mini desserts). How on earth could they justify the cost???

I won't say how many plates I had, but I did get some weird looks. At least I got my money's worth! Right?

 

[rentayenta]

OP! This only solidifies why I think the DDP is a total rip off. Raise the price by almost $10 in 5 years (for adults) yet serve the same crappy buffet food. Brilliant. Magical.

 

[Tiggr924]

So I had dinner with a cast member last night who works behind the scenes. I asked her why in the world the buffet restaurants were getting so incredibly expensive, to the point where I would never go there for dinner. Her answer was eye-opening.

Apparently it all has to do with the Disney Dining Plan. Apparently when Disney was doing research on the DDP, the number one factor that caused DDP members to make dining reservation was Value. Quality was way down the list, Value was number one. And what made people think they were getting the best value? The cash price of the meal.

So what Disney discovered was that the more expensive they made the buffet, four very positive things happened:

1) People on the DDP were happier, because they felt like they were getting more value out of it.

2) More DDP people went to buffets than the sit-down restaurants, making it easier for non-DDP people to get reservations at the non-buffet restaurants.

3) Less non-DDP people went to buffets, making it easier for DDP people to eat at the restaurants they perceived to be the highest value.

4) Waiters at non-buffet restaurants are happier because less people on DDP generally means a better tip for them.

I just thought this was fascinating. Disney is intentionally trying to shunt DDP patrons into buffets and non-DDP people into regular restaurants. For Disney, raising the price of the buffets is a no-lose proposition.

- Erin

While in general this makes perfect sense, I would say my family definitely defies this completely. We usually do the DDP when we go, we rarely go to buffets and tend to tip pretty well.

POOHsie-- I also remember when tip and appetizers were included. I miss those days!

 

[wezee]

While we have never paid for the DDP we have had free DDP and paid to upgrade to DXDP a few times. We also never went to a buffet. I think the value in the DDP is trying different restaurants especially the signatures. Not in seeing how much you can eat at one sitting. By the way we always tip well.

 

[aubriee]

This time, we are trying Tables in Wonderland to see how that goes. We should be able to get a few uses out of it so I'm hoping in the end it will be a better value.

I go to WDW several times a year and have used either the DDP or DxDDP every single trip since they were first introduced. Before that I used the old Disney Dining Experience card. For the first time in years, I am not using any DDP for either my Sept or my Nov/Dec trip. I am getting the Tables in Wonderland card instead. I prefer the Signature restaurants and most of the time would really have an appetizer, instead of a dessert anyway. I figured where and what I really wanted to eat and found that even for a solo diner the TiW card made more sense than the DDPs. For my Sept trip, I'll be spending just a tad more than if I was on basic DDP, but a whole lot less than I would, if I was on the DxDDP and I'll be eating exactly what I want. For my Nov/Dec trip I'll be spending less than either the basic DDP or DxDDP. I refuse to skimp on vacation, so did not look at the prices before figuring what I'd eat. Some meals I'll be eating all three courses, some meals appetizer and entree, some meals entree and dessert, and some meals may just be two appetizers and a dessert. It just depends on what I'll be in the mood for at that restaurant. There is also the fact that the TiW card is accepted at quite a few restaurants that don't even accept the DDPs. Anyway with the current prices of the DDPs, with tips no longer being included, and with them forcing you to either pay OOP or get the DxDDP in order to get appetizers, the DDPs are just not as good a deal as they used to be. I used to like them for the convenience of having everything prepaid, but now I can do the same thing using the TiW card and just paying with Disney gift cards.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm removing posts that are specifially about tipping - please no discussion of tipping on the main restaurant board. For the Restaurant Board's tipping discussion policy please see the first post of the Tipping Information sticky thread. I'm leaving in the "I tip well" but any discussion of exact tipping amounts or habits will be deleted.

If you have questions about tipping please post them on the Tipping Information sticky thread.

 

[RMulieri]

While in general this makes perfect sense, I would say my family definitely defies this completely. We usually do the DDP when we go, we rarely go to buffets and tend to tip pretty well.

POOHsie-- I also remember when tip and appetizers were included. I miss those days!

This is us as well..We try to avoid the buffets most of the time( Cape May is the exception) and tend to do sitdown meals.Most of the buffets are not worth the cost dining plan or not.We also tip very well as if we weren't on the dining plan at all

 

[ars0525]

I was at Biergarten last trip and the people at my table barely ate anything. Had maybe 2-3 very small plates (1 plate with a few apps and salad, 1 plate with some meats, and 1 plate with like 2-3 mini desserts). How on earth could they justify the cost???

I won't say how many plates I had, but I did get some weird looks. At least I got my money's worth! Right?

You sat with the same people I did! 2 plates was all the others at our table had too. Granted I did plan to eat big that meal so I ate an early lunch & I made many trips back to try new things or re-fill.

But I agree--a buffet meal for only a plate or 2--I couldn't justify the cost.