My Restaurant Rant...Please No Flames

[blestmom]

No flames here, either. I agree. We do mostly counter service, plus a run to the grocery store for breakfast and snack stuff. We went to Disney for 2 weeks last year, and really enjoyed the counter service restaurants. The flexibility was great, too. Very relaxing.

 

[tinkerbell6]

Yes, Disney is expensive (as are most theme parks), but I haven't hit the point of "no-return" yet.

We do almost all counter-service dining in the parks, and we always have a kitchen where we stay to use for snacks/breakfast, etc.

We did CRT 2 years ago, loved it, and booked it again last fall for our trip next month. The other day, we phoned to cancel it, and booked PSB instead. CRT was far too expensive, considering we'd done it before.

We are going to Le Cellier this time, and that will be our only (planned) table service meal, besides PSB.

Like many have said....it's all based on what people are willing to pay. Prices will continue to go up as long as people will pay them!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Holy Cow! When did they raise CRT prices? We were there in May 2005 and I don't remember paying that much. We will not go again. The food was terrible and the characters just barely waved hello and moved on.

 

[mitros]

A check of the old guidebooks (am I the only one that keeps them?) reveals that breakfast in the castle in 1996 cost all of $14.95. It was King Stephan's then and there were unspecified characters in attendance.

It's striking, too, how many eateries have disappeared without replacement--no wonder it's so hard to find a place to eat! My favorite place for breakfast in those days was the Tangaroa Terrace at the Polynesian. It felt sort of like a Denny's and the windows were perpetually fogged up but you could get a great breakfast buffet for under $10.

No, your are not the only one. I have every Birnbaum guide from 1981 to the present. The only one I was not able to find was 1987.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We eat two table service meals a day at WDW and it ends up being more expensive then our whole room cost for the trip. Prices are getting ridiculous but I'm one of those people that will continue to pay them...for now. My mom got an AP last year and bought the DDE card (with a complimentary card for your spouse) for $50 to get 20% off of our meals. Now the pass is $60 and $25 extra for an additional card for your spouse. It's crazy.

**Also, all of these places that go up in price (which were expensive to begin with anyways) most of the time are even more disappointing when you go to them. We've been to CRT twice and both times we had horrible food and service.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

I totally agree with you. This is why we choose to stay offsite, and eat most meals offsite. If we did'nt stay and eat mostly offsite, we would not be able to afford to go, or the price would affect other vacations/family outings for the rest of the year.

 

[erikthewise]

Last night I ran across my Birnbaum's Disney book from 2003, and I was shocked with how much all the buffets have increased in price in really 2 years since the prices in Dec 2005 were the same. Hollywood and Vine dinner was 16.99 now it is 22.99. Crystal Palace Dinner was 19.99 and is now 27.99. They have averaged a 40% increase in the last 2 years..WOW. Now I am a huge disney fan we have been 2 times in the last 5 months, but this really blew my mind. Even the passes are getting outrageous if you can only go for one day they are now 67.55 they used to be 50.00 in 2003. I know everything has to go up in price but I feel that Disney is making itself out of reach for many average families. I know lots of people who look at Disney as a once in a lifetime vacation and that is sad . Cinderella's Royal Table has really bummed me out. They want 39.99 for adults and 24.99 for children 3-9. So a average family of 5 coming to the magic kingdom for one day and making their girls dreams come true at the Castle will cost around 450.00 not including taxes or tips! Ok I got it off my chest and feel better, please no flames just making a observation.

While I am sympathetic with your basic point, your stats are suspect to say the least.

As I recall, Hollywood & Vine dinner was $19.99 for adults in Dec 2002. The increase there has been $3 in three years, or roughly 5% a year, perfectly reasonable.

One-day tickets (pretty much irrelevant except to locals) were $52 + tax in Dec 2003. They were $59.75 + tax in Dec 2005, now $63 + tax and presumably will be the same in Dec 2006. Here we're looking at roughly $4 or 8% increase a year. On the other hand a 7-day advance purchase park hopper ticket (a much more common purchase for out-of-town visitors) was $256 + tax in 2003. Today it's $236 +tax! The reason is that it now expires in 14 days, but for most people that's perfectly acceptable. (If you want nonexpiring it's about $300.)

I agree that character meals and buffets have increased more rapidly, and it deserves to be complained about. But in the end it depends on whether people are willing to pay those prices. I am still willing to pay for Boma, Cape May and Garden Grill at their current prices.

 

[profdsny]

I came over to the Restaurant board just to look for something on price increases. Friends of our who were there with us in early December just came back Friday and mentioned how much the prices had gone up. Looking at another site, I saw that prices had indeed gone up. Then, checking the Birnbaum book for 06, it lists the CP at $22.99 when it's now $27.99. That's a big increase. Will we pay it? Yes, this year, and thankfully we have the DDE card. But with the continued increases, it chips away at the savings. Thankfully we've used it twice this year already. However, I really don't think we are going to renew the AP or the DDE. And, I hear that price went up.
We may be sharing more meals, inclulding counter service where we will just ask for the sandwhich on one of the orders, and split the 2nd meal, getting fries and drinks with just one.
I really think that like things WDW has done before, they are going to start pricing people out of the place. This is not the year to do that.
(oh by the way, as far as groceries going up everywhere, one can always buy generic, look for sales, or use coupons. That choice, for the most part, is not availabe at WDW.)

 

[SnowWitch]

I am thankful our boys are well passed character meal age. The quality of the food in most cases just does not add up to the cost. When the guys were younger we generally did 3 character meals a week. We now have a daughter, who isn't old enough to get the whole character thing yet. Maybe in another year or so. And yes we will come up out of the pocket for Cindy's. But we will limit character meals to one per trip. I would rather go to Le Cellier and have a little quality.

 

[Nancyg56]

No flames from me either. The meals were expensive and will probably continue to rise as long as the cost of food, insurance, etc continues to rise. The restaurants are thriving, though, so I think that Disney will continue to charge what the market will bear. We chose the meal plan in order to control a major portion of the meal expense, but added some meals that we paid OOP, and I can tell you that my DH was irritated at the cost.

 

[katallo]

No flames. Meals have really gone up but I think everything has. In March, we rented a pontoon boat for 125.00 and saw Illuminations. When I called this year, I was quoted 250.00. That's a huge increase. I think the biggest increase is for CRT cgaracter breakfast. I don't know how many families will afford it.

 

[Gagebre]

I had Chef Mickey's booked for our March trip and called yesterday to cancel. I just can't justify spending that much especially since my 12 year old is an "adult" who will only eat the kid's stuff (very little of that).

 

[*Flower*]

We just enjoyed our last CRT breakfast on Jan. 28.

The food was wonderful, and we had a lovely time (DINKS) but we won't be booking it again due to the increase in price, the forced photo package and no DDE discount.

We just can't justify $75 - $80 for 2 people for breakfast when we could go to the Peabody and do a fancy brunch for the same price, or less (if we wanted to).

We don't notice the TS prices increasing because we always either split meals or do salads and appetizers for our meal. And maybe split a dessert too!

We've really saved quite a bit with the DDE membership, and even though the price is going up- it still is the same price as what a FL non passholder would pay.

Of course we're lucky that we can stay at SoG, and with APs paid for- meals are our biggest cost for our weekends at Disney.

I do have money budgeted for our trips though, and won't go over it except in emergency situations (like when DH went to Urgent Care and the Emergency Room on Christmas Eve).

 

[profdsny]

As I recall, Hollywood & Vine dinner was $19.99 for adults in Dec 2002. The increase there has been $3 in three years, or roughly 5% a year, perfectly reasonable.

I don't know if 5% a year is perfectly reasonable or not, but CP is over 8% since last fall. And that's not reasonable. Further more, I sure haven't had an 8% increase in pay, nor likely have most people. And while costs are up everywhere, including the cost of driving there, that doesn't mean that people are going to be able to pay the difference. However, maybe if they cut back on the salaries and perks of the top management, then maybe they'll be able to keep costs in line.

 

[TastefullyChris]

I agree prices are shocking...but I think they always have been. DH and I went 15 yrs. ago on our honeymoon and one of my most vivid memories was paying $11 for 2 hot dogs and 2 cokes at MGM. I thought that was OUTRAGEOUS!!! (Now it doesn't seem like such a bad deal...ha, ha!)

We are going in April and have budgeted $150 per day for meals for our family of four. We are planning at least one TS per day, eating a light breakfast in our room and would probably have done the Dining Plan except we did not book a package (part of our trip is a work incentive that I earned).

Bottom line is...ANYWHERE you go that is an "entertainment" type venue, the food is ridiculously expensive! Movie popcorn and candy, hotdogs and beer at the ball game, cotton candy at the circus, and all food at amusement parks. We went to Six Flags a couple of years ago and the food was almost inedible and exhorbitantly priced. Even at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry this year, my 11 yr. old son remarked on the "rip-off" prices for lunch.

So...I guess I view it as part of the cost of doing something special with my family. Sometimes we skirt around the issue a little for things we do more frequently (bringing our own candy to the movies or packing sandwiches to eat at the zoo) and in the case of WDW, we just suck it up and pay $$$$$$. We don't go on vacation that often (what am I saying...almost NEVER!), so I would sooner sacrifice at home and not have to pinch pennies while we are there. My life is too full of CS meals (fast food!) at home...I want to sit down an enjoy a more relaxing dining experience on vacation! However, if we were in a position to make it a yearly trip, we would definitely be doing the condo/cooking thing, or looking at other ways to economize.

And I don't think ANYONE should go in debt for a vacation!

 

[Deedlbugg]

I'm confused! (Though not that unusual really lol)! Why do you need to buy an extra DDE card for your spouse if they are good for up to six guests? Does EACH person need a DDE card to get the discount?

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I'm confused! (Though not that unusual really lol)! Why do you need to buy an extra DDE card for your spouse if they are good for up to six guests? Does EACH person need a DDE card to get the discount?

The only thing I can think of is if you split up and your spouse maybe takes some of your party with him/her and still is able to get a discount as well as you still being able to get a discount wherever you go to eat. And no, as long as that one person has the DDE card that's all you need, not everyone needs their own card.

 

[kaytieeldr]

All this price increase talk got me curious, so...
The average rate of inflation in 2005 was 3.39%, and in 2004 it was 2.68%
Yes, Disney is a business, and their primary goal is to earn money. But come on - a 40% increase in some meal prices in two years?
I know somebody pointed out that a five day MYW hopper costs less than a five day PHP did three or so years ago. But the PHP included water parks and/or Pleasure Island, and never expired. A base hopper has neither of those features.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Deedlbugg:
I agree w/ Neverland--You really don't need to buy that extra card unless perhaps the spouse will be going to places seperately.

 

[barrysprot36]

We just enjoyed our last CRT breakfast on Jan. 28.

The food was wonderful, and we had a lovely time (DINKS) but we won't be booking it again due to the increase in price, the forced photo package and no DDE discount.

We just can't justify $75 - $80 for 2 people for breakfast when we could go to the Peabody and do a fancy brunch for the same price, or less (if we wanted to).

We don't notice the TS prices increasing because we always either split meals or do salads and appetizers for our meal. And maybe split a dessert too!

We've really saved quite a bit with the DDE membership, and even though the price is going up- it still is the same price as what a FL non passholder would pay.

Of course we're lucky that we can stay at SoG, and with APs paid for- meals are our biggest cost for our weekends at Disney.

I do have money budgeted for our trips though, and won't go over it except in emergency situations (like when DH went to Urgent Care and the Emergency Room on Christmas Eve).

Disney Dining have just confirmed to me that we will be entitled to 20% discount with the DDE at CRT. It also states this on the info on Disney's site.

Caron