New brochure Character Meal prices

[kizzabel]

Hi all. Ive just gotten the new winter brochure 2011 in the door.
The prices have gone up for character meals.
Breakfast with characters is €15 when staying onsite and €21 when offsite.
Cafe Mickey is now €34 for an adult and €18 for a child

Cowboy Cookout lunch with charactors is €26 per adult and €13 per child.

Auberge is now €62 per adult and €27 per child.

Tea with charactors in Cowboy cookout is €19 per person.

Birthday cake is still €25.

Recession anyone?! I know its only a couple of euros here and there but is it justified? Im not so sure..

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Karen was saying on another thread that she'd paid 18€ for a childs meal at Café Mickey the other day and I was like as it had already gone up to 16€ start of June and normally increases are not until November

If they are putting prices up a couple of €s every 2-3 months it's ooo.

I think the food is dear as it is for the quality=price ratio

What period (start to finish) does that brochure cover ?

 

[tinkertaylor05]

I'm waiting impatiently for my brochure to come

It does seem the prices are climbing quite fast, we've already decided we won't be doing Auberge next time, luckily for us we've done it twice.

We are thinking about something at the Cowboy Cookout this time around though so that's useful info to know.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Cowboy Cookout (lunch) hasn't gone up since May looking at the menu pics I took

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1262194&page=3

Wether the meal/experience is worth it I don't know as OH refuses to go and try it and I'm not going on my own

 

[tinkertaylor05]

Thanks Carrie Cat, what a meanie not going with you

 

[wmoon]

Cowboy cookout was nice, we went in May. I enjoyed the food, you did get an awful lot. Like most things in Disney maybe not worth what you are paying but nice settings and good to meet the characters with tasty food.

 

[kizzabel]

8th nov to 28th march.
I read karens post and said id put up the new prices. You would imagine it would only take affect from Nov but im sure Disney didnt want to miss peak season. I have a Cafe Mickey menu from May 2010 which i'll try to dig out.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Dining is expensive, and it's a shame some prices are going up.

I think you have to balance the price, against quality and value for money.

You could argue for example that going to say Rainforest Cafe was worth paying more because of the theming, that said on their menu for around 23 euros they do Fish n Chips.
We found the Toad Hall restuarant within the park much better value doing double fish n chips for less than 14 euros and including a drink and dessert.

We as first time visitors recently though did generally think prices were high compared with prices in Orlando, whether that's a fair comparison I am not sure.

 

[megarasweet]

I was set on doing Auberge when we go, but with the rising prices and seemingly falling reviews I'm now considering doing Walts instead. It's a real shame as it's always looked so lovely, but for €62 per adult (now without wine, if I'm correct?) I just don't know if we can justify it.

 

[Ware Bears]

Yikes, €18 for a child's meal especially if choosing the Mickey shaped pizza - that's an awful lot of euros for the service and the character interaction!

We as first time visitors recently though did generally think prices were high compared with prices in Orlando, whether that's a fair comparison I am not sure.

Unfortunately prices never compare favourably with Orlando although IMO they aren't out of line for capital cities in Europe ie London, Paris, Rome. We found we were paying around €30 - €35 a head for a 3 course meal with a drink in Rome last week, this was eating in non-touristy restaurants where the locals eat - if we had eaten in the tourist traps we could easily have paid €50+ a head but still wouldn't have had the fancy crockery or theming ... or characters.

I even saw bottles of water/coke on sale at carts outside tourist attractions for almost €5 - DLP seemed cheap in comparison!

megarasweet - I've not been to Auberge since they started the Princess meals but Adam (rottie155) has been several times this year and loves it there. IMO you won't go wrong with Walt's though - it's my very favourite DLP restaurant and we've all always enjoyed it there.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Yikes, €18 for a child's meal especially if choosing the Mickey shaped pizza - that's an awful lot of euros for the service and the character interaction!



Unfortunately prices never compare favourably with Orlando although IMO they aren't out of line for capital cities in Europe ie London, Paris, Rome. We found we were paying around €30 - €35 a head for a 3 course meal with a drink in Rome last week, this was eating in non-touristy restaurants where the locals eat - if we had eaten in the tourist traps we could easily have paid €50+ a head but still wouldn't have had the fancy crockery or theming ... or characters.

I even saw bottles of water/coke on sale at carts outside tourist attractions for almost €5 - DLP seemed cheap in comparison!

True - I have to admit to some slight surprise when I went to the ESSO Petrol Station near the Sante Fe (whilst it was a great tip, recommended by you I think ), I looked at some of the prices for sweets, chocolate etc and didn't expect them to be so expensive.

I think my first bill there came to over 40 euros and I only went for some bottled water, crisps and bread.

You also generally have to get the balance right, must admit when I went for an evening drink at the Hotel New York bar I paid 6.90 a pint, I knew it was expensive but I was on holiday and really enjoyed the atmosphere and quality of service in there.
I suppose it's knowing what you will pay for anything and what is just too much.

 

[kizzabel]

What it says in the brochure re Auberge is:
Enjoy a royal meal and meet with Disney Princes and Princesses.
A unique menu including 1 cocktail, 1 starter, 1 choice of main course, 1 dessert wuth mineral water and coffee.
For children a nutritionally balanced menu. 1 starter, 1 choice of main course, 1 dessert and 1 soft drink.

I agree also re theming. We could eat in RFC but Toad Hall was nicer food wise and so much cheaper. Its down to your POV on value for money and I know as regards character interaction many people see CM as an easier way to have some interaction with characters without scrums and ques while having dinner or lunch too.

IMO CM is still ok price wise. We've found the food good when we visited. I dont know if we would stretch to Inventions because I dont think I can justify the price.

We had decided to do Auberge for DDs birthday in November but I'll be keeping an eye on reviews before we go as theres been so many people not happy with a recently more lacklustre experience and less extras included. I think she may be just as happy with the Cowboy Cookout but I'll take time to come to a decision as we never did Auberge and maybe its the best time before shes gone past the princess stage.

Our next trip will be a buffet heavy trip as DS is under 3 and id hate to think we missed a trick

 

[wmoon]

It is so true about it being your own pov regarding value for money.

Inventions is my favourite, yes still not really worth it but we all like the food there, DS loves fish so I find it good value for what he eats compared to the cost.

I also like Rainforrest cafe for theming and I like cafe mickey, although 18 euros for a kids meal, ie plain pizza and a bowl of smarties is a bit of a rip off but we go to cafe mickey for the atmosphere and characters not the food, although it's always been ok.

DS hates the character scrums and I find the character meals and RC are great for keeping him happy while we grown ups enjoy our food.

I am thankful not to have a princess fan as well so we can at least keep clear of auberge.

We are thinking of going back to Disney next year with a friend and her DS and it would be more important to budget better so counter service more, sit down meals less and maybe still a trip to cafe mickey for a pizza to share