No Longer Affordable JMHO

[maxiesmom]

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.

Exactly!

I know if Disney releases any kind of room only or free dining discounts for my next trip I am already trying to decide which choice I will make. Paid for food, or maybe upgrading to a nicer resort. It is a descion I will make.

 

[Ramsfan28]

It is simple econonmics - Disney charges what they want for a character meal, park ticket, hotel rooms, etc since we let them.

People continue to pack the parks and show up at their restaraunts, obviously Disney is pricing things correctly. If the pricing was out of wack, people would stop going.

 

[sharonabe]

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"

I'm sorry, but neither the OP's post or mine said anything about expectations or quality. We are only talking about the cost/affordability of said meals or experiences.

 

[bicker]

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?

Not Dave, but the answer is, "It's both!"

Figure that a certain amount of the cost of every character meal is strictly for the experience. (It used to be clear that that amount was $5, but that's not so clear anymore - it's probably more - let's say $7.) So when doing your analysis and evaluation, start by comparing the food you're getting to the price minus $7, and so you're comparing the food there to other none-character meal restaurants at WDW that are similarly located (because location is a separate incremental from characters) and priced $7 less than the character meal.

Yes, but even with your choice, you have certain EXPECTATIONS.

The issue is whether those expectations are founded (i.e., based on an explicit promise) or unfounded (something you decided you wanted to get even though it wasn't promised.

So you stay at a moderate. don't you expect a clean room? workable bathroom?

Yes, but I don't expect the towels to be as large, as soft, or as new, on average, as compared to a deluxe resort.

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

I agree completely, but there is a difference between things being of lower grade and things being of lower quality. Something can be "perfectly" moderate in grade, i.e., precisely what is reasonable to expect, given the promises.

 

[sharonabe]

And since we are comparing apples to oranges.....the last time I was in Myrtle Beach (2009), we wanted to do one of the big seafood buffets. We had done them in the past; usually during the early bird special, but not always. When we called for pricing at a few of them, the cost was around $30/pp. That was a bit out of our price range for that trip, so we didn't go. So Disney is not the only place that can and does charge a premium for buffets.

 

[NorweJenNY]

Disney has lots of dining experiences available to a variety of budgets. Same in real life outside of Disney - it's too expensive for some people to eat at Outback or Olive Garden every night, so others go to Wendy's or stay home and make hot dogs that they bought on sale with coupons. You do what your budget allows. In Disney, maybe some of the character dining experiences are too expensive for some people, but you still have options... sometimes you just need to do some research and think outside the box.

First of all, breakfast is commonly the least expensive meal, so if a character dining experience is important, pick a breakfast dining experience.

Garden Grove at the Swan offers a character breakfast buffet meal on the weekends for around $20/adult, $13/child. It's not in a park, but you can walk to Epcot or DHS from there (or take a boat). And the resort itself is often overlooked, but something to experience in itself. And it's a little cheaper than other character breakfasts or buffet experiences.

If you don't care about characters but simply want a buffet meal on property, Trail's End at Ft. Wilderness is just a simple boat ride from MK, and it offers a breakfast buffet that's about $16/adult, $10/child.

If you just want good food and don't care about buffets or characters, there are countless TS restaurants throughout Disney in resorts and in parks. You can share meals with others in your party to cut your expenses in half (and help maintain your waistline), or as you move on to lunch and dinner time, consider ordering cheaper appetizers as your meal, or share appetizers and desserts.

If you go frequently or for long periods of time, a TiW card can also benefit you, saving 20% off each meal.

If you really don't think TS meals are in your budget, you can go to CS... you can cut those costs down too. Share a double cheeseburger and only eat half the bun each, split the fries, drink water, skip dessert, etc. Get a bigger CS meal like the chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans at Cosmic Rays - lots of food - easily two complete meals outta that. Will it cost more than McDonald's? Yes, it might a little bit. But when you're in Disney, time is money too...

And who says you must have eggs and pancakes for breakfast, a burger for lunch, and steak for dinner? There's other comfort food out there... Have a warm cinnamon roll for $3.50. A carrot cake cookie for $3 is massive and could satisfy two individuals' appetites for a meal - a mere $1.50 each! Enjoy an ice cream for $3-4 and call it lunch! It is vacation after all!

 

[dandave]

Eliza, this thread started out being about affordability at WDW. Character meals at $30 and $40 a pop are, IMHO, expensive - especially if someone is determined to experience those character meals multiple times, sometimes daily.
My point is that experiencing a character meal really has nothing to do with the affordability of a Disney vacation. A family can eat for far less money at other TS restaurants, thus bringing back the affordabilty of a WDW vacation.
My DH and sons hate character meals. Even though I really enjoy the Garden Grill, it's not easy to talk them into visiting. When we do, we simply make it clear that we're not interested in the characters, even though we have paid extra to dine in their presence. They wave at us, we wave at them, and we eat. A large chunk of the tab goes to the characters, but I know that I had a choice to eat elsewhere for less.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I don't think you can really compare WDW food quality and price to places like a sport stadium or Sesame Place or Six Flags. Those are places where you might go to for a few hours or, at most, usually a day. WDW encourages families to spend an entire week there, and do a lot to encourage you to never leave property, so the really must do better than those other places.

Is the food more expensive than what I could pay somewhere else? No, I could find more expensive food elsewhere if I tried.

 

[bicker]

... so the really must do better than those other places.

Yes and no. They do indeed need to acknowledge that the longer duration of visits to WDW likely fosters a market for better offerings. And surely they should reasonably expect to charge more-for-better. However, they also need to acknowledge that many families, given the choice between blah-for-less and more-for-better will choose blah-for-less, and Disney shouldn't refuse to placate that demand. Given that Disney offers a wide range of options, from low-end to high-end, at commensurate price-points, what do you see missing from their approach?

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Yes and no. They do indeed need to acknowledge that the longer duration of visits to WDW likely fosters a market for better offerings. And surely they should reasonably expect to charge more-for-better. However, they also need to acknowledge that many families, given the choice between blah-for-less and more-for-better will choose blah-for-less, and Disney shouldn't refuse to placate that demand. Given that Disney offers a wide range of options, from low-end to high-end, at commensurate price-points, what do you see missing from their approach?

There's the big question. Personally, I think that Disney covers pretty much all the bases when it comes to dining price points. You can buy everything from a pickle on a stick to Victoria and Alberts, and as long as there are enough people willing to pay the prices that Disney is charging, then the food is not priced too high.

You can argue all you want about the quality per dollar being higher or lower, but that's for another discussion. When it comes to affordability, there are many, many price points that you can fill your family with at Disney.

 

[TLSnell1981]

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.

I beg to differ, Disney does deserve the bad rap. IMO I blame, "free dining", for a large part of the decline in quality and increase in prices. They can and do raise prices, at whim..also invoke " holiday" surcharges. Much has to do with the new regime. I never thought, I would miss Eisner, but....I do.

 

[bicker]

It's funny because I think I remember saying, "You'll be sorry when Eisner's gone," because he was such a good leader for Disney.

Regardless, Disney isn't to "blame" for free dining or any perceived decline in quality and increase in prices: Disney's guests deserve full credit and responsibility for rewarding Disney for doing what it is doing.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

I beg to differ, Disney does deserve the bad rap. IMO I blame, "free dining", for a large part of the decline in quality and increase in prices. They can and do raise prices, at whim..also invoke " holiday" surcharges. Much has to do with the new regime. I never thought, I would miss Eisner, but....I do.

It's not Disney's fault for raising prices, it's the visitors' fault for paying it.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It's not Disney's fault for raising prices, it's the visitors' fault for paying it.

I disagree, it is Disney's fault. There was a time, when we had three squares a day, but we no longer enjoy their dining. We book one ADR, per day, convenience only.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

I disagree, it is Disney's fault. There was a time, when we had three squares a day, but we no longer enjoy their dining. We book one ADR, per day, convenience only.

For you, maybe, but they've replaced you with someone that WILL pay, and to Disney, that's all that really matters. That's not Disney's fault at all, they are trying to make money, and if enough people pay the prices, then that's what they charge.

 

[cajunprincess]

It's funny because I think I remember saying, "You'll be sorry when Eisner's gone," because he was such a good leader for Disney.

Regardless, Disney isn't to "blame" for free dining or any perceived decline in quality and increase in prices: Disney's guests deserve full credit and responsibility for rewarding Disney for doing what it is doing.

Agreed. If we didn't pay it, then maybe it would change. But the fact is that many people do pay it and are happy about it. My parents, for example, love the DDP. They love paying for it before they go and actually only have one restaurant they won't go back to. Many people don't mind paying the prices. Maybe because it's Disney and you expect it? I don't know, but we pay it anyways.

 

[TLSnell1981]

For you, maybe, but they've replaced you with someone that WILL pay, and to Disney, that's all that really matters. That's not Disney's fault at all, they are trying to make money, and if enough people pay the prices, then that's what they charge.

Yes, via "free dining". I wonder, what will be the next gimmick?

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Yes, via "free dining". I wonder, what will be the next gimmick?

I think the days of people getting "free" dining depends on how well the economy picks up. Then it will take a while for those who feel that they are entitled to "free" dining to realize that it's not coming back, and by then the next marketing plan will be in effect.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I think the days of people getting "free" dining depends on how well the economy picks up. Then it will take a while for those who feel that they are entitled to "free" dining to realize that it's not coming back, and by then the next marketing plan will be in effect.

Disney is losing long term, stable, and loyal customers for...what reason? Seems, it would be wiser to build on that foundation, not weaken it.

We still visit, but spend a lot less on dining and merchandise. This money is still spent...just not at Disney.

 

[bicker]

For you, maybe, but they've replaced you with someone that WILL pay

And beyond that, for most people, their own situations have changed. Prior to 1988, I was never in a position to be able to afford any visit to WDW, much less one that included sit-down meals.

Disney will always have to choose between some customers and others, because some of us have diametrically-opposing preferences to each other. Disney's aim should never be to satisfy everyone, but rather to satisfy the right group of people that serves Disney's owners best. No one of us is important in this calculus. We're only important as part of a more significant set of guests than the set that would prefer the opposing approach.