No Longer Affordable JMHO

[ElizabethB]

IMO, Disney set 10 as the age for an adult because most parents will try to fudge a kid's age by 1-2 years.

So, if you set 10 as the age for an adult, by the time a kid is 12, the parent is admitting he's an adult because 2 years is about the maximum most people will try to fudge.

If you set 12 as the age for an adult, the kid has to reach 14 before the parent will finally admit he's an adult!

So, set 10 as the age cut-off, you're catching 12 and over, which is the intent.

Of course, you're also catching the people who don't fudge about a kid's age, but . . . . there are so few of those!

And, for those scrupulous few, my advice is start fudging because the system is gamed as though you are already doing so.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

From a strictly business point of view, the fact that there are people complaining that they can't get reservations at a restaurant 180 days away means that they aren't charging enough at some restaurants. Disney, like any company, charges whatever the market will bear, and would not be doing their shareholders' justice by charging any less.

As for the 10 year old limit with the meal plan, I'd say it depends on the child. I first took my three kids when my son was nine, and he ended up eating half of my food after his little portions were done. My twins are now almost 8, and for one I can see her eating adult portions, whereas the other could stay with child servings.

I'm not naive enough to think that parent's don't lie about ages, but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable doing so.

 

[smiths02]

IMO, Disney set 10 as the age for an adult because most parents will try to fudge a kid's age by 1-2 years.

So, if you set 10 as the age for an adult, by the time a kid is 12, the parent is admitting he's an adult because 2 years is about the maximum most people will try to fudge.

If you set 12 as the age for an adult, the kid has to reach 14 before the parent will finally admit he's an adult!

So, set 10 as the age cut-off, you're catching 12 and over, which is the intent.

Of course, you're also catching the people who don't fudge about a kid's age, but . . . . there are so few of those!

And, for those scrupulous few, my advice is start fudging because the system is gamed as though you are already doing so.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

IMO, Disney set 10 as the age for an adult because most parents will try to fudge a kid's age by 1-2 years.


And, for those scrupulous few, my advice is start fudging because the system is gamed as though you are already doing so.

Yikes!

I'm not naive enough to think that parent's don't lie about ages, but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable doing so.

I'm with you here!

I did have the reverse situation once at Boma! My son has always been unususally tall for his age, not a big eater, just tall. We sat down, ordered drinks, when the waitress came back she gave my son a full size drink, but no one thought anything of it. When the bill came, she had charged him the price of an adult buffet. I asked her to correct it and she told me that children 10 and over are considered adults, I informed her that he was 8, she went to get the manager, and I in the interim pulled out his birth certificate which I carried for just such a situation. They both apologized and corrected the bill. That same year when we bought tickets I was prepared to show his birth certificate but they didn't ask even thoughthe was standing next to me. I doubt Disney would really challenge anyone so people probably do cheat.

I may question the rules but I still follow them, and when he reached 10 since Boma is the only buffet we really enjoy, we paid the adult price for him.

 

[bumbershoot]

Most 11 year olds are not eating the same, or same amount of food as most adults.

My strong and skinny 7 year old eats as much as we do most days. And at 10 or 11 I was eating like an adult; adult foods, adult portions. I know there are picky, small-stomached kids out there, but I'm not sure they are the majority. Even my picky brothers ate a lot of food...just not certain types of food, LOL.

This is a point I had not realized. I do not rent a car at WDW. I have rented a car in Fl before. It cost about $100 for a week. So that is $100 I would have to take out of my food budget if I rented a car for the purpose of eating cheaper offsite. Plus the gas used. At least a tank-I would resn a small car so 12 gallon tank x $3.50 a gallon=$147.
So I would have to subtract $250 from my food budget. Now for guest who drive, normally rent or are staying off property it does not add up the same.

The gas for a rental car should come out of your home gas budget, since you won't be using gas at home while you're at WDW. That's if you have a gas budget.

We seem to take nice long trips out there (first trip 17 days, upcoming second trip 13 days) so we use that percentage of home food budget, percentage of gas budget, etc...

 

[JimmyV]

Of course, you're also catching the people who don't fudge about a kid's age, but . . . . there are so few of those!

You're kidding, right? Please say you're kidding.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

I did have the reverse situation once at Boma! My son has always been unususally tall for his age, not a big eater, just tall.

Just went to a 12th birthday party last weekend for my friend's son. He's 6'2", and probably 225 pounds. I think he could put away an adult portion or three by age 10.

 

[lisaisanurse]

if the cost is too high, eat somewhere else........these are choices available to you.

if airfare is too high, drive...no one is making you fly

If an Escalade is out of your price range, head over the the Taurus section, i't simple, do what you want!!

your always welcome to check out menus/prices before booking, so you were warned and you still went..

We do the DXDP, so it's TS every meal, that doesn't mean we eat steak, potatoes cheesecake and crabcakes for appe for every single meal! The appetizers we usually choose are small, sometimes, 4 pieces of shrimp, small soup..small salad...............................no one says if your at a buffet you have to be rolled out at the end, use your common sense and eat normally!!

I think the OP was just complaining, but it's info that avail prior to going.............

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Just went to a 12th birthday party last weekend for my friend's son. He's 6'2", and probably 225 pounds. I think he could put away an adult portion or three by age 10.

Mine is 14 now, 6'4", size 13 1/2 feet, weighs 145lbs soaking wet w/ his boats for shoes!

 

[sissy_ib]

The gas for a rental car should come out of your home gas budget, since you won't be using gas at home while you're at WDW. That's if you have a gas budget.

We seem to take nice long trips out there (first trip 17 days, upcoming second trip 13 days) so we use that percentage of home food budget, percentage of gas budget, etc...

Yes, but if I don't rent a car my home budget can go towards my vacation budget.

 

[Planogirl]

Why does it bother some people so much if some posters find some of the restaurants not worth the price? I personally like the Crystal Palace for breakfast but it's not worth the cost to me. I don't care what a stadium or theater or whatever charges, the CP is not worth the breakfast price to me.

I wouldn't go offsite to eat at McD's (even though it would make DS happy) but we do often eat dinner offsite. It's no big deal to drive to Kissimmee or International Drive if we just avoid rush hour and go on some familiar back roads.

 

[LeahA]

We will be there at peak so it will be $28.99 for all of us. I have no little ones any longer, my youngest is 10 so we are all the adult price.

I so do not need the Pooh Characters I just like a sit down once a day with AC to regroup and then head back into the park.

There are many near by restaurants that we can try.

I love the LTT, we always have a good lunch there. I'm not willing to pay for charachter buffet's anymore.

 

[gm]

We ate at several buffets from June 7 to 21. Our favorite hands down was Garden Grill at $38.99 pp. It cost an arm and a leg for 4 of us but the service and food was excellent.

We also ate at Chef Mickeys which was a total waste of money for the 4 of us because the food was awful.

1900 park fare was $40+ pp and the characters were great and food was good too.

Ohana's was our 2nd favorite buffet there.

Each meal cost $170 inlcuding tax and with tip about $200. But I figured since this trip came after several years it will be a great experience. If I went every year than there is no way I would pay these prices.

 

[Buckimion]

Sure my kid's 10...wanna see her driver's license?

 

[maxiesmom]

Sure my kid's 10...wanna see her driver's license?

Their park ticket would suffice actually. If there is any question about your child's age.

 

[dzorn]

We enjoy LTT for lunch. It's about what we would be spending to go to Applebee's at home.

Denise in MI

 

[gina2000]

If you go away on a week-long vacation and do not cook any of your own meals, you are going to spend money. Period. Don't want to compare Disney to places that you only visit for an hour or a day? Fine. Let's compare it to places that people go for week-long vacations where "off site" transportation, (read as, getting out of the city), is cumbersome. Go to Paris, Rome, Tokyo, San Francisco, New York, Aspen, Vail, London or Madrid for a week and eat out for every one of your meals. Then you will start to see just how affordable WDW dining is. Most people who do this do not eat counter service meals at walk-ups three times a day. But nowhere besides Disney that I can think of is this a truly viable option. So someone who wants to really save money and limits themselves to QS dining will probably save money compared to the cost of other week-long vacations. And don't kid yourself into thinking that Disney is not equating a week-long stay there to a vacation at one of these other destinations. That is exactly what it is. It is no longer a quick two-day trip to an amusement park. It is a week-long immersion, 24/7 just like a vacation to Paris, New York, Boston or London would be.

The point that you are making is that Disney doesn't really have a valid comparable when it comes to vacation dollars. I say it does. Ski resorts and vacation destinations as described above. When looked at in those terms, WDW compares very well.

I've really got to disagree with you on this one. I've vacationed in every city you've mentioned and can eat fabulous food at the same price or cheaper than WDW sit down restaurants. AND the food is consistantly higher quality and better prepared. Most large cities have large immigrant populations - and ethnic restaurants provide inexpensive, delicious food that isn't dumbed down to suit unadventurous palates. Top steak houses and gourmet restaurants can be more expensive in most large cities as compared to WDW - however the quality of the food and the service is superior in metropolitan cities.

I don't mind picking up the tab if the food is imaginative and well prepared. Unfortunately, WDW restaurants are producing inconsistant results at top prices. Very few restaurants in the real world would survive if they were as inconsistant as WDW restaurants are.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

I don't mind picking up the tab if the food is imaginative and well prepared. Unfortunately, WDW restaurants are producing inconsistant results at top prices. Very few restaurants in the real world would survive if they were as inconsistant as WDW restaurants are.

Then don't go. It's easy to complain on a bulletin board, but if you still pay for the meals in the end, nothing will change.

 

[gina2000]

Then don't go. It's easy to complain on a bulletin board, but if you still pay for the meals in the end, nothing will change.

LOL, thanks for the free advice. We haven't been in 3 years and the last time we were there we walked out of Chefs and ate offsite the rest of the trip. We vacation elsewhere these days. So I think I'm ahead of the curve as far as your suggestion is concerned.

 

[Joshua_me]

I always like to remind people of "The Fountain", located in The Dolphin hotel....

If you're touring Epcot or DHS, it's a quick walk or "friendship" ride away from the parks.

They serve the *best* burgers on the property, (huge and delicious) along with "Fladen" (flat bread) sandwiches - The Cuban one is "to die for", (one almost feeds two) all at fairly reasonable prices.

Also, the chicken soup and hot dogs are at least twice as good as you might expect them to be....(delicious salads as well..)

Add in hand-dipped ice cream sundae's and cones and some of the friendliest service around and you have an affordable lunch/dinner without having to leave the property.

Plus you can of course grab a bus from the MK over to The Dolphin without much trouble at all.

Highly recommended.