No Longer Affordable JMHO

[bicker]

I would also say that people who choose to vacation at WDW are, for the most part, willing captives.

In marketing, there is no concept of "unwilling" captives. I think it is more a matter of "informed" captives versus "ignorant" captives.

 

[labfan]

I agree the pricing TS meals are expensive. But I also find them expensive while not on vacation too. Which is why we don't eat out much
When we went to Disney we spent about $100 at Crystal Palace for lunch for the 4 of us. Was the food worth it? Probably not. Was the experience worth it? Definitely. My daughter loves the Pooh characters, especially Eeyore. The interaction we had with the characters here was great. They interacted with my son and daughter alot and the experience/memories were indeed priceless.
But then I think the character meals are more about the experience than the food. And when we have this type of meal we don't eat much for the other meals that day. No need to as we ate plenty there. We would usually have breakfast in our room and then eat out for lunch or dinner. Eating out anywhere for breakfast doesn't work for us as we are not big breakfast eaters anyway.

 

[GEB@okw]

Why complain? It was your choice to go, why not hurt the overcharging, money hungry Disney and stay home?

 

[PrincessDadx2]

Just back and definitely a tipping point for me. Prices have risen far faster than any inflation the last several years from $31 strollers, to $14 parking, and $170 meals. More power to them, but they are pocketing the difference in profit, not increasing the quality/quantity.

For restaurants my family of 4 can eat at Famous Daves for ~ $60 and get more and better quality food than we got at Whispering Canyon for $130.

For seafood we could eat at McCormick and Schmicks for half of what we spent at Cape May.

I would say I consistenly spent 2x to 3x the cost for equivalent type of restaurant.

Since the input costs are essentially the same (or lower) I would say that Disney is overpriced. They make a much higher margin because of the factors mentioned earlier.

My own opinion is that while previously they used part of this margin to provide an exceptional experience to the guests that today that margin just goes in the bank. I still enjoy WDW, but they have transferred more of the value from the guests to the stockholders.

Maybe that is smarter for them in the long run, I guess time will tell. I know we have gone from 3-4 visits per year, to one visit, to now probably every other year. We also spend less time on site and less money in WDW overall. I could easily afford the extra $500 or $600, but it does not sit as well with me. We still have a great time when we do go, so maybe they are doing the right thing by squeezing every dime they can out of it. Certainly the current managment is more willing to push things as far as they can to see what the true demand for the product is.

 

[eliza61]

Why complain? It was your choice to go, why not hurt the overcharging, money hungry Disney and stay home?

LOL, because I don't think of complaints as a bad thing.

#1. I can handle the truth. I'm very leery of any place that gets constant sun shining reviews so I like reading well written reviews.

2. What some people consider as a complaint I consider as information. If a counter service serves prefilled soda, that may seem like a silly thing to complain about but to me it might be important. I hate watered-down cola so when a person made this complaint about Pecos bill, it was informative to me. when I went I made sure to ask for a freshly filled soda. Would that have ruined my trip? of course not but it does make my dining experience better and that is the objective isn't it?

3. when people post complaints many times you will get alternative views on how to get a positive outcome.

4. Absolutely it's my choice to go, just like it's my choice to go where ever I vacation. Once I'm there I want the best possible experience so I also view it as a bit of a contract. I agree to spend my hard earned dollars at an establishment and in turn the establishment agrees to give me certain things. If disney advertises "magical" resorts and outstanding dining, then yep call me a pain in the &^% but I complaining long and loud if I don't get that.

5. Coming from a family that ran a successful NYC soul food restaurant for 47 years, we much rather you complain so we can make changes than you just "not go". Our goal was to provide a fantastic dining experience and a good value. We enjoyed hearing how well we did or how we feel short.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I agree the pricing TS meals are expensive. But I also find them expensive while not on vacation too. Which is why we don't eat out much
When we went to Disney we spent about $100 at Crystal Palace for lunch for the 4 of us. Was the food worth it? Probably not. Was the experience worth it? Definitely. My daughter loves the Pooh characters, especially Eeyore. The interaction we had with the characters here was great. They interacted with my son and daughter alot and the experience/memories were indeed priceless.
But then I think the character meals are more about the experience than the food. And when we have this type of meal we don't eat much for the other meals that day. No need to as we ate plenty there. We would usually have breakfast in our room and then eat out for lunch or dinner. Eating out anywhere for breakfast doesn't work for us as we are not big breakfast eaters anyway.

Character meals do include.."an experience". Also, CM's are paid..so you are paying for more than just food. I do have an issue with prices, being jacked up..to give the DDP more "value".

 

[bicker]

LOL, because I don't think of complaints as a bad thing.

I think that there loads of better ways of expressing disappointment. Complaints work best in cases where something promised is not delivered.

#1. I can handle the truth. I'm very leery of any place that gets constant sun shining reviews so I like reading well written reviews.

Yes, definitely: The ability to provide negative review without stooping to complaining seems be a lost art.

2. What some people consider as a complaint I consider as information.

I think people could work hard to distill information from complaints, but information presented as information is far more effective.

3. when people post complaints many times you will get alternative views on how to get a positive outcome.

That's a good point.

4. Absolutely it's my choice to go, just like it's my choice to go where ever I vacation. Once I'm there I want the best possible experience so I also view it as a bit of a contract.

A contract, perhaps, between yourself and your temperament, both parties present at the forging of the contract.

5. Coming from a family that ran a successful NYC soul food restaurant for 47 years, we much rather you complain so we can make changes than you just "not go".

Another good point, but the time to "complain" per se is at the time the grievance occurs, in time for the supplier to take steps to ensure your satisfaction, not reserved for dealing with after-the-fact.

 

[cajunprincess]

I don't necessarily think it is fair for WDW to take so much heat for expensive prices for their meals. ALL food prices have gone up over the past year, especially over the past 4 months. I'm not sure if Disney puts out one price for their food for the entire year or not, but if they do not change their meal prices for the year when they are set, maybe some of the expense is to cover the possible increases they may face?

Also, I agree with many posters that have said you are paying for the experience as well. Also, usually, in many big tourists areas, food is more expensive, so I guess I don't find the surprise in the more expensive food costs.

As for the mediocre food, there are some restaurants at WDW that I really enjoy. I don't really enjoy dinner/lunch buffets at many places, so therefore, I do not go to those at WDW.

 

[Johnny_B]

Maybe it's because I live in DC and frequently visit NYC, but I don't find Disney prices all that astronomical. More expensive than it should be? Sure, but as others have said, you are a willing captive. I find most things at WDW are overprices by about 20%. Again, you are paying for the "experience."

I went to a ok restaurant (think generic TS in WDW) outside DC (in Alexandria), and for a soda, burger, and dessert, it was like $20. Disney prob would have cost about $24.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I guess how expensive you consider the food at Disney could also depend on what you'd spend to go out, not only at a sports stadium or amusement park, but where you live.

We live in the NY Metro area and a nice buffet here, for my family of four to go out, could cost $25 pp with no characters. Where I live, we don't have Golden Corral or CiCi's or Old Country Buffet. I've been to them on other vacations such as Colonial Williamsburg or Sesame Place.

BTW, the character meals at Sesame Place have absolutely horrible food, IMO, and the price is on par with Disney. What we really didn't like about it was that you pay for a character meal there and it's timed. Meaning let's say from 4:00 until 5;15. If all the characters haven't been to your table by 5:15, too bad. It's done and they leave. That happened to us twice. I won't ever have another character meal there.

I haven't read through this whole thread yet, but I came across this post, and I am from NYC too. ITA with you! I thought the food was OK at Sesame Place's character dinner, but very few choices. And chaotic. Guests were bombarding the characters, and while they did make announcements not to do this, people of course did not listen and they didn't handle it half as well as Disney would have. And I also did not like that it was timed. It felt rushed. And yes, price was comparable to WDW.

Now, the counter service prices at Sesame Place are ridiculous. $8.99 for a kids' meal last summer! And we paid $4.99 for a kids' CS meal last summer at WDW, with better food! The adult meal at Sesame Place is only $1 more than the kids' meal...ridiculous, seeing as it is a place geared toward little ones. But, that's just it...people are stuck, so they take advantage knowing that you have no choice unless you leave the park.

Six Flags is even worse! The food is disgusting and way over-priced.

There are indeed ways to eat (even at TS) at WDW for less money than going to character meals. I have a feeling that my boys will not even be interested in character meals so much once they are of the age to be charged the adult price. So we will be going to more a la carte restaurants, and Biergarten for a buffet.

WDW prices are definitely comparable to NYC prices, but people from other areas of the country where the prices are not comparable, would have a harder time justifying the cost of food. To me, it is comparable to home so I don't see it as an issue.

 

[chabs]

Just back and definitely a tipping point for me. Prices have risen far faster than any inflation the last several years from $31 strollers, to $14 parking, and $170 meals. More power to them, but they are pocketing the difference in profit, not increasing the quality/quantity.

For restaurants my family of 4 can eat at Famous Daves for ~ $60 and get more and better quality food than we got at Whispering Canyon for $130.

For seafood we could eat at McCormick and Schmicks for half of what we spent at Cape May.

I would say I consistenly spent 2x to 3x the cost for equivalent type of restaurant.

Since the input costs are essentially the same (or lower) I would say that Disney is overpriced. They make a much higher margin because of the factors mentioned earlier.

My own opinion is that while previously they used part of this margin to provide an exceptional experience to the guests that today that margin just goes in the bank. I still enjoy WDW, but they have transferred more of the value from the guests to the stockholders.

Maybe that is smarter for them in the long run, I guess time will tell. I know we have gone from 3-4 visits per year, to one visit, to now probably every other year. We also spend less time on site and less money in WDW overall. I could easily afford the extra $500 or $600, but it does not sit as well with me. We still have a great time when we do go, so maybe they are doing the right thing by squeezing every dime they can out of it. Certainly the current managment is more willing to push things as far as they can to see what the true demand for the product is.

I totally agree with you. I think they are losing the customers who can afford to pay for high quality and don't mind doing so. We already decided that we are going to skip a year and not go next summer. We are down from several restaurants that we used to love to picking the least disgusting and average tasting meal. There are only a couple of meals that we actually look forward to anymore. Can't pay me enough to eat at a buffet and I really don't care for the character meals either. We used to love the restaurants at Disney back in the 90's when they actually served tasty food and never minded paying what they asked for the meal, even though it was expensive back then. Now, I have to think twice when I get the bill and say we paid $160 for that?

 

[kaytieeldr]

I don't care if it's Disney, Universal, Sea World, I don't care what city, what country it is, it's utterly ridiculous to consider a child of 10 an adult both for meal and or ticket purposes! Disney set the bar and everyone followed suit!

You know Disney used to consider 11 the cut-off age for menu and dining purposes, right, while the park ticket break was nine? Guests complained about the discrepancy. Disney responded...just not in the direction the complainers hoped. Instead, they (entirely reasonably) made a change that would benefit the stockholders.

 

[kaytieeldr]

This^^

Not only do I usually get breakfast included at Hotels in these cities (heck you can even get breakfast included at Paris Disney),

Yes - that's known as European Plan in the hospitality industry. Most hotel reservations in the U.S. are booked under the American Plan, aka no meals included.

Yes, I'm sure.

Yes, really.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Way back when - read as 94-00 - they weren't necessary. We'd just walk up to the restaurant, look at the menu, and if it looked appealing go in and eat. No priority seating, no ADRs, nothing.

I miss the 90s.

You must not remember Table-Gate

 

[cymbaldiva]

You must not remember Table-Gate

Actually I remember it well - since I wasn't interested in breakfast at the Castle it didn't affect me.

 

[dandave]

I don't think it's a fair comparison to look at the prices of Disney's character meals against real world, non-character restaurants. You're paying for the character experience, not the food. You can certainly eat for far less money at Disney. Breakfast at Kona, The Wave, Olivia's, etc. is half the price of the character breakfasts. No one is forced to pay those high prices just to feed their families. It's a choice.

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you, Dandave, yes IT'S A CHOICE

We all choose how we want to experience Disney and what is affordable/good value for us. It's okay if the OP thinks the buffets are over priced. It's okay that some see them comparable to other places.

One of the PPs said they were staying at the POLY but couldn't afford to eat at Ohana. My first thought was, "well, maybe if you weren't staying at one of the most expensive deluxe resorts, then you could afford Ohana." BUT that is their CHOICE.

We CHOOSE to stay at a moderate, but we would never pay the per night rate we do at Disney anywhere else because it would seem too expensive. We CHOOSE to not do the DDP because it doesn't fit the way we eat and we can eat more TS and CS meals than it allows.

It's a good thing to discuss it all back and forth and get others' opinions, but in the end you need to do what is right for YOUR family.

 

[eliza61]

I don't think it's a fair comparison to look at the prices of Disney's character meals against real world, non-character restaurants. You're paying for the character experience, not the food. You can certainly eat for far less money at Disney. Breakfast at Kona, The Wave, Olivia's, etc. is half the price of the character breakfasts. No one is forced to pay those high prices just to feed their families. It's a choice.

LOL. Can I ask a question Dave, I always here the reply "you're paying for the eperience" . Isn't it a restaurant? Characters or no. Isn't the object to get decent food?

I don't mind hte prices, I expect high prices but characters or not I still epect the food to be halfway decent. Why does having people dressed up in a costume mean you can't make decent eggs? Are the characters also doing the cooking?

So basically you're saying since there is a women dressed up as Cinderalla you can count on your food being lousy?

 

[eliza61]

Thank you, Dandave, yes IT'S A CHOICE

We all choose how we want to experience Disney and what is affordable/good value for us. It's okay if the OP thinks the buffets are over priced. It's okay that some see them comparable to other places.

One of the PPs said they were staying at the POLY but couldn't afford to eat at Ohana. My first thought was, "well, maybe if you weren't staying at one of the most expensive deluxe resorts, then you could afford Ohana." BUT that is their CHOICE.

We CHOOSE to stay at a moderate, but we would never pay the per night rate we do at Disney anywhere else because it would seem too expensive. We CHOOSE to not do the DDP because it doesn't fit the way we eat and we can eat more TS and CS meals than it allows.

It's a good thing to discuss it all back and forth and get others' opinions, but in the end you need to do what is right for YOUR family.

Yes, but even with your choice, you have certain EXPECTATIONS. So you stay at a moderate. don't you expect a clean room? workable bathroom? or do you say, well since I didnt pay alot of money, I have to accept any thing they give me?

Why is that a problem with restaurants? If I go to mcdonalds, I expect the food to be a certain quality, from what you're saying since I made the choice to go to Mcdonalds I should accept cold fries?

Yes, I make the choice when I pick any restaurant but I want a certain standard. A standard I should point out the disney raves about. So yeah, if you tell me I'm staying at the Grand Floridian and you use words like flagship, luxury and deluxe certain expectations pop up.

If I'm a newbie and I read a description of Tonys and they use words like "authentic italian food", I expect a bit better than Ragu of a jar. So I was a bit peeved about the quality of the food and sorry but while the "experience" may have been lovely, it was downgraded by burnt chicken parmigna. Now yes I did voice a complaint and disney was wonderful in rectifying it but if some ask for a review why should I say it was great?

Why do we feel this obsession to always say everything at disney is "perfect"

 

[maxiesmom]

LOL. Can I ask a question Dave, I always here the reply "you're paying for the eperience" . Isn't it a restaurant? Characters or no. Isn't the object to get decent food?

I don't mind hte prices, I expect high prices but characters or not I still epect the food to be halfway decent. Why does having people dressed up in a costume mean you can't make decent eggs? Are the characters also doing the cooking?

So basically you're saying since there is a women dressed up as Cinderalla you can count on your food being lousy?

I'm not Dave, but I wanted to chime in.

First off, when I go to a character breakfast the main reason I am going is the characters, and not the food. There is even one memorable time where there were 8 of us having breakfast at the Castle, and I had maybe one bite of eggs to eat before I was nominated the camera person, and spent the time videoing the kids and not eating. I think the main point of the character breakfasts are the characters.

Luckily I have also found the breakfast food at the character meals to be pretty good. I love the food at Akershush. The potatoes are sooo good! And the character interaction is fabulous too! And breakfast at the Tusker House is very tastey too. So for me, the character meals are still a great deal. Good food and great character time.