More Blatantly GREEDY Dining Surcharges on the way

[Tricia1972]

Disney knows it is cheaper and more convenient to eat on site. The price and the hassle of picking up and returning a rental.......and the time spent driving around looking for a place to eat.

They sure do know that!



Also to clarify, the dining surcharges did not affect our decision to rent a car. We were renting prior to any surcharges. We had a horrible time with Disney transportation in 2004 and again in October 2007 and decided the cost of car rental was worth it for putting more magic in our vacation.

Regarding the hassle of going off site, for us we just took two of those days and made them non-Disney days. The third day was a breakfast anyway, so I wouldn't be leaving property and coming back. I am eating breakfast before I go to the park.

For us too, our park days are always structured
Breakfast in Villa
Rope Drop
11-11:30 Lunch
12-12:30 Resort for Nap
5-5:30 Dinner
6-7 Park or DTD

So even if we chose to go off site for dinner on a park day, we're not leaving just to eat. We're already at our resort (Very close to I-4), we'd just grab a bite and drive back to the park vs driving to the park and then grabbing a bite.

This doesn't work for everyone, but it works for us. Being that the parking lots always have more than one or two cars in them, I am sure that others could choose to do the same thing if it works in their touring plans.

 

[beacher]

Cut back on the restaurants that have the surcharge. Book elsewhere on property.

That is our plan... one of the great things the DDP taught me was how nice some of the CS locations are. We love several CS restaurants in Epcot (Cantina in Mexico, Sunshine Seasons) and also frequent less-fancy TS like Big River Grille or ESPN.

Even on trips outside the surcharge periods our habits have changed to eat more often at CS and less expensive TS and we no longer do DDP.

 

[Boardwalk Tigger]

We always have a car at Disney because we like the freedom of having one. We also love to visit the different resorts and it is so much easier to do this with a car. I don't try to save time by dining out but there are so many restaurants in close proximity that it is no big deal to get there and several of them are a welcome change. We dont have a problem getting a parking spot back in our dvc parking lot. We love to drive to Celebration and other places in the area. There are plenty of people with cars at Disney both personal and rental. As one of them I intend to try a few dining options off property

 

[GinnyFavers]

Disney is more and more gearing its dining experiences towards its package guests.

I think this may discourage people without the Disney Dining Plan from going to eat at these places at peak times, and maybe that's exactly the point. Dining reservations need to be available at "hot" spots for people here on packages who've purchased the plan.

Just a thought...

 

[Luv2Roam]

I have also wondered if they decided to raise the prices during what must be the peak periods in order not to raise the prices for ever meal served throughout the remainder of the year.
It also may be a way to thin out the diners too -- get the people in who will pay more without much of a thought.
It bites. But not much you can do but work around it or pay it. I imagine this will change some people's eating habits/plans. However I bet those restaurants will be just as busy. There were probably a lot of people wanting in for certain times that could not get in.

 

[marivaid]

It'd be interesting to know just how many guests even KNOW the prices of the meals.

Disney doesn't publish the prices on their website.
Most of the time, when you make your ADRs, the CMs will not tell you the prices.

Considering the number of guests we saw that had paid for the DDP yet were being turned away from TS after TS because they had no reservations.... I'd say most of them don't have a clue what the costs are.

For buffets and all-you-can-eat places, you don't even get a menu with prices. They're outside on a sign, and you have to 1/know it exists and 2/know where to find it in order to learn what that meal is going to cost you.
(One exception to this is CRT, because it needs to be prepaid.)

If the price increase's sole goal was to make the DDP more attractive, you'd think Disney would ensure that their guests are aware of what the real prices are.

 

[gina2000]

It's interesting that they are charging more in the face of a recession.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disney has raised the buffet/ACYTE prices during holiday periods for a couple or three years now. They made THIS decision last summer - before the recession predictions.

 

[theparsons]

I don't see where this adds value to the DDP for us. For Corey and I, it would still be a stretch to have it make sense. When you add in Corey's mom, who eats like a bird, is pretty picky, and has diabetes, it really doesn't make sense. I was hoping to spread out the "bad stuff" but now we just won't be doing much "bad stuff" which is good in a way, but I don't go to WDW to behave.

I can see us doing Tusker House for breakfast and that's going to be it. I was hoping to work in CRT and 1900 Park Fare. Otherwise, the only TS that I see us doing will be Kona Cafe for breakfast once and either Raglan Road or Rose & Crown. Otherwise, it's a CS and GardenGrocer.com kind of trip.

I am still ticked, because Ree, my MIL, has mobility issues and the character meals are a way for us all to get some character time without it being a whole lot of work for her. I think that seeing Ree having a conversation with the Fairy Godmother would be a hoot. I would say that we would work this into future trips, but her health is not that good and honestly, this very well could be her last big trip.

The timing just stinks. The surcharges stink. I am not amused.

Having experienced the sadness of "last big trip"....may I suggest that you find a way to make CRT and 1900 Park Fare fit into your budget (perhaps go for a day less, or stay at a less expensive room, or sell some clutter to earn the extra). If it is indeed her last trip, think of the wonderful memories you will be making....as the commercial says = priceless. Don't put off what you can do today....because you don't know if you have a tomorrow.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

So from reading these posts i am gauging there is a $8.00 increase for an adult for dinner there when we r at WDW Mar. 26th? We have the DDE card also...That settles it no other sit downs..we will eat in the villa or use the van for off site eating.......i cant believe i just said that...........

 

[rgf207]

So from reading these posts i am gauging there is a $8.00 increase for an adult for dinner there when we r at WDW Mar. 26th? We have the DDE card also...That settles it no other sit downs..we will eat in the villa or use the van for off site eating.......i cant believe i just said that...........

I would say the best thing to do would be to email guest relations. Perhaps if they get a ton of emails and calls, they may rethink this. But if noone voices their concerns and people continue to pay the prices, than they won't change anything. Heck they may even increase the prices year round

 

[TLSnell1981]

We can fuss and complain all we want. It will relieve a little stress, but that's about it. The restaurants will still be packed and the DDP more popular than ever.

 

[Luv2Roam]

My guess for every party who says they will no longer dine there, there are 2 -3 other groups more than happy to fill in.
I agree with the consensus. Even with DDE, that's too high for me. I rather spend $ at a really good restaurant before plunking down the $ at a character meal.
But if I had kids in tow, I would be probabaly singing a different tune.
We have read on the Dis that Tutto might as well place a sign out front welcomong DDP guests. The same goes for many of the high season character buffets now too.
On the other hand many just figure they are on vacation and pay it out no questions asked.
All the princesses coming from BBB prove that!

 

[gina2000]

Disney has raised the buffet/ACYTE prices during holiday periods for a couple or three years now. They made THIS decision last summer - before the recession predictions.

The subprime mortgage disaster reared its ugly head in March, 2007. Most gurus were predicting major problems for the economy by summer. It just took a few extra months for the consumer to figure it out.

 

[manning]

We are DVC members and just got back from 29 days.

We ate on property four times and did the combination of cooking in and MDDE!

 

[lazydoxy66]

allearsnet.com has a list of menus and prices for most of the eating facilities @ DW. I've found it to be very helpful for my planning.

 

[Lovin' Lorne]

So you can provide more staff? Hopefully extra surcharges will translate into more CMs on staff during these times. I'm going to remain optimistic and choose to believe that charging guests more money will translate into providing more staff to service said guests.

That'll be the day!

As some one who worked in retail for 23 years, I can guarantee you that the extra $$$ will NOT be spent on additional help. The extra $$$ will be going to the shareholders in Disney to show more profits. That is why there is never enough help any where any more. When I first started working, we always had a minimum of 4 to 5 people working in each department at any given time of the day. When I left, we were lucky to have 4 to 5 people in the buliding at any given time of day. Gotta keep those profits rolling in, no matter what or who you have to cut back on, or how much you have to raise $$$ to do it.

 

[crisi]

The extra $$$ will be going to the shareholders in Disney to show more profits.

Well, if so, it would be about time. I've owned Disney stock for twenty years, and I own it for sentimental reasons, not because it performs (though it did great in the early 1990s). Its been pretty much a stinker for me for years - though since Eisner left things have been looking up.

In addition to a supply demand curve, Disney also has profit targets. If they are expecting a recession, and expecting the restaurants not to operate at capacity during low season (which they pretty much have been for years), then charge more during high season when they will operate at capacity even with higher prices lets them hit their profit targets.

 

[Tricia1972]

Well, if so, it would be about time. I've owned Disney stock for twenty years, and I own it for sentimental reasons, not because it performs (though it did great in the early 1990s). Its been pretty much a stinker for me for years - though since Eisner left things have been looking up.

This shocks me because I thought that surely of the over $10 Billion in profits that Disney is making some would be going to the shareholders.

That you aren't getting any of that REALLY sucks! Where are the profits going?

 

[madalex]

This shocks me because I thought that surely of the over $10 Billion in profits that Disney is making some would be going to the shareholders.

That you aren't getting any of that REALLY sucks! Where are the profits going?

Actually, Disney's net income (total revenues minus total expenses) in the last fiscal year was $4.25 billion (this works out to $2.07/share). Still a lot of money, but not $10 billion.

Disney does pay a $0.35/share annual dividend, so that is some money back to the shareholders. That being said, the stock price has been pretty flat for the last year or so, notwithstanding some pretty good corporate performance.