Interesting observation on the prices of the character buffets for this year

[SLJ6974]

Interesting observation. Went to AllEars to look at some recent pricing for the character breakfast buffets. They had Ohanas priced at 20.99 for 1/11. I kinda figured that was low and has'nt been updated. I was correct. I went and looked at Crystal Palace and the Cape May character breakfast prices for 8/11 and both were 28.75 per adult. So I am assuming pretty much that the Ohanas character breakfast is indeed inline with those at 28.75. So at the first of the year these character breakfast were at 20.99 per adult and now the last day of the year they are at 28.75. Unreal price hike. I bet at the end of 2012 they will be almost $40 per adult for breakfast. But I do suppose it does help pay for Free Dining, which I do like.

 

[rentayenta]

Interesting observation. Went to AllEars to look at some recent pricing for the character breakfast buffets. They had Ohanas priced at 20.99 for 1/11. I kinda figured that was low and has'nt been updated. I was correct. I went and looked at Crystal Palace and the Cape May character breakfast prices for 8/11 and both were 28.75 per adult. So I am assuming pretty much that the Ohanas character breakfast is indeed inline with those at 28.75. So at the first of the year these character breakfast were at 20.99 per adult and now the last day of the year they are at 28.75. Unreal price hike. I bet at the end of 2012 they will be almost $40 per adult for breakfast. But I do suppose it does help pay for Free Dining, which I do like.

I read a few months ago that Disney hikes the prices for buffets in an attempt to gently guide *free* diners into choosing buffets. Free dining isn't really free. It's a shame because in 2007 it really was a great deal. It's declined dramatically in value since then.

 

[catne]

Just wondering...is part of that big price difference the "holiday surcharge?" The beginning of the year is not in the higher prices, but of course Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years is.

We visit WDW during slow time (Jan-May-Sept-Oct/Nov) and the buffets seem to be cheaper during those times.

 

[SLJ6974]

Just wondering...is part of that big price difference the "holiday surcharge?" The beginning of the year is not in the higher prices, but of course Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years is.

We visit WDW during slow time (Jan-May-Sept-Oct/Nov) and the buffets seem to be cheaper during those times.

Good point. The higher prices were dated as 8/11 though. Dont know if there is a surcharge then or if that was the actual price. I have a feeling it may have been the actual price. But I could be wrong. Maybe someone else who knows for sure can chime in.

 

[LilyWDW]

The other things is that these are unofficial. It's possible that they were sent an upgraded menu, but no upgraded pricing. It's possible they were sent pricing, but it might be incorrect. Honestly, the prices on allears should be used to get a very general idea... but one should always remember that it might be incorrect.

 

[MoonFaerie]

I read a few months ago that Disney hikes the prices for buffets in an attempt to gently guide *free* diners into choosing buffets. Free dining isn't really free. It's a shame because in 2007 it really was a great deal. It's declined dramatically in value since then.

Works for me. As a non- dining plan user, non buffet/character meal eater, I'm ok with Disney enticing the masses to those restaurants, freeing the other ones up for me to get ADRs on shorter notice.

 

[rentayenta]

Works for me. As a non- dining plan user, non buffet/character meal eater, I'm ok with Disney enticing the masses to those restaurants, freeing the other ones up for me to get ADRs on shorter notice.

 

[sharonabe]

Good point. The higher prices were dated as 8/11 though. Dont know if there is a surcharge then or if that was the actual price. I have a feeling it may have been the actual price. But I could be wrong. Maybe someone else who knows for sure can chime in.

Peak pricing is also in effect during summer months, so the prices for 8/11 would be $4 higher than off-peak times.

There was a thread recently asking about the Ohana breakfast buffet and someone who had eaten there recently said it was still at $20.99 per adult.

 

[SLJ6974]

Peak pricing is also in effect during summer months, so the prices for 8/11 would be $4 higher than off-peak times.

There was a thread recently asking about the Ohana breakfast buffet and someone who had eaten there recently said it was still at $20.99 per adult.

Well if it is still 20.99, that would have made it 24.99 if it was peak pricing. It was not, it was 28.75. I will try to investigate more though. I'm on the case.

 

[cigar95]

Well if it is still 20.99, that would have made it 24.99 if it was peak pricing. It was not, it was 28.75. I will try to investigate more though. I'm on the case.

For one thing, the 28.75 is a tax-included price - back out the tax and it becomes 26.99. (That still wouldn't explain where *that* price comes from, though.)

Any time someone quotes a WDW fixed-price meal that doesn't end in .99, you can bet it's a tax-included price.

 

[sharonabe]

Well if it is still 20.99, that would have made it 24.99 if it was peak pricing. It was not, it was 28.75. I will try to investigate more though. I'm on the case.

$28.75 was the price quoted for CP and Cape May and those are peak pricing WITH tax included.

$20.99 is the non-peak price for Ohana (without tax) which is a character meal, but it is not your traditional buffet. Your more limited in your choices at Ohana than CP or Cape May.

 

[Colleen27]

Well if it is still 20.99, that would have made it 24.99 if it was peak pricing. It was not, it was 28.75. I will try to investigate more though. I'm on the case.

Allears sometimes includes tax and sometimes doesn't, and sometimes includes peak season upcharges and sometimes doesn't, both of which can make prices tough to decipher.

28.75 = 26.99 + tax

26.99 - $4 peak season upcharge = 22.99

So Ohana has likely gone up $2, or ~10%, for 2011... many of the staples I buy at the grocery every week have gone up by a higher margin.

 

[tinacaplan]

Interesting observation. Went to AllEars to look at some recent pricing for the character breakfast buffets. They had Ohanas priced at 20.99 for 1/11. I kinda figured that was low and has'nt been updated. I was correct. I went and looked at Crystal Palace and the Cape May character breakfast prices for 8/11 and both were 28.75 per adult. So I am assuming pretty much that the Ohanas character breakfast is indeed inline with those at 28.75. So at the first of the year these character breakfast were at 20.99 per adult and now the last day of the year they are at 28.75. Unreal price hike. I bet at the end of 2012 they will be almost $40 per adult for breakfast. But I do suppose it does help pay for Free Dining, which I do like.

Making the buffets cost so much also makes people who purchase the free dining plan feel they are getting more value for their dollar and, therefore, more likely to purchase the dining plan. The truth is, any sort of buffet/family style restaurant at Disney is absurdly priced when purchased OOP.

Works for me. As a non- dining plan user, non buffet/character meal eater, I'm ok with Disney enticing the masses to those restaurants, freeing the other ones up for me to get ADRs on shorter notice.