OMG! Here are 2011 peak season character meal prices

[dehlers]

More of a reason to use the Disney dinning plan. Some character meals are just 1 sit down service :0

 

[Tiger926]

Can you expand on this - I wasn't aware we could chose how many nights we added the plan. Illuminate me please!

Are you a DVC member? As I mentioned, it's only for DVC members. We are to be able to pick and choose what nights we want the plan for, and can even do multiple plans over the course of a trip: night 1 DP, night 2 DxDP, night 3 no plan, and night 4 QSDP. We can still add 48 hours before, but new this year, is that payment in full is required, when you add the DP.

They are still working out the bugs, and there have been several DVC members on our DVC board, who have had major issues. I'm hoping by July, it's all worked out!

What about sticker shock from the cost of the DDP increasing all the time with peak surcharges?

Well, for 2011, there is only a $2.00 increase in peak season DP ($45.99 & $47.99), yet cash guests are paying a $4.00 increase on every buffet during peak season. Interesting, isn't it? Disney is basically rewarding DP guests with a smaller peak season cost. Also, us DVC members don't have to pay the peak season DP, as our DP cost all year long is $45.99.

But, based on a few years ago at $38.99, the DP has definitely increased a lot, as have character meals, and as mentioned above, with the huge cost of character meals now, if you have kids between 3-9 years old, the DP offers the best savings for families, as 1 character meal is pretty much going to cost more than the actual DP, plus you still have a CS and snacks.

Tiger

 

[MelissathePooh]

We are DVC - I had no idea. I'm not surprised that they've had issues - that seems crazy! I knew about the pre-payment, but not the variablity.

In terms of prices pre-tax I can expand on Chef Mickey's as that is the one we based our DDP purchase decision on.

Before Jan 1st - adult breakfast - $32.99, child $18.99
as of Jan 5th - adult breakfast - $28.99, child $16.99
DVC regular dining plan - $45.99 adult, $11.99 child

The break even point can be pretty fluid...especially considering we would seldom ever order desert otherwise. I like the idea of the DxDP, but can't imagine the amount of food over an entire trip - being able to break that apart opens up some new windows. Hmmm.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Tiger926]

We are DVC - I had no idea. I'm not surprised that they've had issues - that seems crazy! I knew about the pre-payment, but not the variablity.

In terms of prices pre-tax I can expand on Chef Mickey's as that is the one we based our DDP purchase decision on.

Before Jan 1st - adult breakfast - $32.99, child $18.99
as of Jan 5th - adult breakfast - $28.99, child $16.99
DVC regular dining plan - $45.99 adult, $11.99 child

The break even point can be pretty fluid...especially considering we would seldom ever order desert otherwise. I like the idea of the DxDP, but can't imagine the amount of food over an entire trip - being able to break that apart opens up some new windows. Hmmm.

Thanks for the info.

One more thing to ponder...with DxDP, you can spread it out over 2 days:

Day 1 - TS Lunch
Day 1 - Character dinner
Day 2 - either breakfast, lunch or dinner

** you can make up for the other meal on day 2, with snacks **

Play around with it, and you'd be amazed what kind of cool things you can come up with! We've done it all, in terms of food, dining plans and discount cards, so we have really gotten creative around here!

Tiger

 

[MSLRAC]

What about sticker shock from the cost of the DDP increasing all the time with peak surcharges?

We get the DxDP and even with price increases and surcharges, there is no sticker shock on our part at all. We saved well over $1000 with it last year so it will take a HUGE price increase for us to even blink an eye at the cost.

 

[Colleen27]

Wow, that is getting a little nuts... $39.99 for Chef Mickey dinner (pre-tax)? When we went in Jan '08 it was 27.99. Even after taking out the seasonal surcharge that's a 29% increase in 3 years' time!

 

[Colleen27]

Well, for 2011, there is only a $2.00 increase in peak season DP ($45.99 & $47.99), yet cash guests are paying a $4.00 increase on every buffet during peak season. Interesting, isn't it? Disney is basically rewarding DP guests with a smaller peak season cost.

I don't think it is a reward as much as an acknowledgment that most people aren't doing surcharge meals every single day.

With as slim as the savings are on the basic plan these days, setting the surcharge at $4 per night would probably put a lot of people so close to the breakeven point that the plan is no longer attractive.

 

[Tiger926]

I don't think it is a reward as much as an acknowledgment that most people aren't doing surcharge meals every single day.

With as slim as the savings are on the basic plan these days, setting the surcharge at $4 per night would probably put a lot of people so close to the breakeven point that the plan is no longer attractive.

I guess that's one way to look at it, but I am looking at the actual peak season cost, and so it should be the same, either $4.00 or $2.00, but not two different prices, IMHO.

Incidentally, I just did a cost comparison for 6 TS meals for July for 2 adults and 2 kids (Chef Mickey dinner, Crystal Palace dinner, 1900 PF breakfast & dinner, Kona & Marrakesh):

DxDP $500.00 (mugs, appetizers & extra snacks)
TIW $ 658.84 (6TS meals only & incl. cost of card)
Reg DP $ 761.16 (this includes 6 CS meals)
Cash $695.76 (6 TS meals only)

** tip included **

So, based on these numbers, the biggest savings is DxDP, and the least is cash, as surcharges are all included in there. DxDP would have to be utilized for 2 nights, which means 3 TS meals spread out over 2 days x 2, and with TIW, Reg DP or cash, these meals could be spread out over 6 days.

The Reg DP would actually be higher than the cash price, as us DVC members don't pay peak-season price, but it also includes 6 CS meals and snacks, whereas cash is just 6TS meals.

So, based on the new cash prices of buffets during surcharge time, it is cheapest to do the DxDP for 2 nights for us - we can do this as DVC members. TIW and cash are the highest costs, as they don't include snacks, CS meals or mugs, like the Reg and DxDP do (depending upon the plan). Plus, the DxDP includes appetizers at the TS restaurants too.

This was an interesting exercise, and due to crazy buffet prices during peak season, TIW is just not worth it any longer for us, as it's just straight food, and we would still need to purchase snacks. But, over the past few years, it was worth it, as we go for 2 weeks straight in July, so with DxDP, that is way too much food, and with Reg DP, we still had to supplement, as not enough food, or buy extra as kids' meals are not good, so TIW was better as kids could get adult meals.

Hope this helps someone else, Tiger

 

[AUdisfan]

Yep and WAR EAGLE!!

WAR EAGLE!!!!!!!

 

[thej]

Ouch.... this reminds me why we try to do our Character meals at breakfast or lunch. Fortunately there's only a couple on the next trip since DS isn't that excited about them, but the Garden Grill (dinner only) is a must since Chip & Dale are his favorites.

 

[dis-happy]

Biergarten is a huge bargain by comparison...

We ate there last week for lunch, using TIW.
Adult: 21.99 and Child 10.99.
Good food, good entertainment, and EXCELLENT service!


ETA: those were the prices that rang up with our TIW card. Allears lists the regular price as $25.99 and 13.99. Still a relative bargain!

 

[EEyorelover22]

I guess I am glad I am skipping WDW For 2011 and going to DL for less days. When we return in 2012, we will go off site for dinner. The real world is very close to AKV. I have allergies and found very little to eat this last summer...for these prices...NO WAY! Or, we will not do the buffets. There is no way I eat that much food in a sitting.

 

[dis-happy]

I guess I am glad I am skipping WDW For 2011 and going to DL for less days. When we return in 2012, we will go off site for dinner. The real world is very close to AKV. I have allergies and found very little to eat this last summer...for these prices...NO WAY! Or, we will not do the buffets. There is no way I eat that much food in a sitting.

We ate at the character buffett breakfast at GCH a year ago and thought the price was quite a bit more reasonable than the WDW pricing. Also, the food was better.

 

[larryz]

I promise I don't mean to sound like a negative nancy...

It's OK -- I took it more as a Morose Melissa...

I agree with other posters, tho': it seems that Marketing has decided that in order to make "free" dining more appealing to the rack rate payers, they've had to increase the apparent cost of the meals.

Free meals fills resorts, that's for sure. And now we wait for the huge boost in rack rates to go along with the huge boost in meal prices...

 

[EEyorelover22]

We ate at the character buffett breakfast at GCH a year ago and thought the price was quite a bit more reasonable than the WDW pricing. Also, the food was better.

That is good news. Thank you for the info! We are planning on eating there too.

I am really depressed about these increases in prices. We cannot afford them (or won't I guess). We are a family of 4 adults now, but I guess we'll have to get over it for 2012. Not paying that for food.

 

[sjs314]

I have to agree with those who said by raiseing the prices, Disney is making the DP more attractive .....I went thru menues of places DH and I wanted to eat at on our next trip, we do enjoy TS meals as a big part of our vacations.
That being said much to our surprise we estimated our daily cost of 2 and sometimes 3 TS meals to come in around $200 a day, so for the first time ever we are trying the DxDP, @78.99 a day x 2pp, plus tax for the plan (aprox $178) we should come out a few dollars ahead or at least break even.

I think it will be less painful only haveing to pay a tip each time we sit down to eat.
Disney is slowly priceing the average family out of being able to expierence the Charactor Buffets, the cost for children who eat next to nothing is crazy IMHO

Adding a surcharge during peak times is not guest friendly when they are already chargeing peak rates for resort rooms.

 

[Tiger926]

I have to agree with those who said by raiseing the prices, Disney is making the DP more attractive .....I went thru menues of places DH and I wanted to eat at on our next trip, we do enjoy TS meals as a big part of our vacations.
That being said much to our surprise we estimated our daily cost of 2 and sometimes 3 TS meals to come in around $200 a day, so for the first time ever we are trying the DxDP, @78.99 a day x 2pp, plus tax for the plan (aprox $178) we should come out a few dollars ahead or at least break even.I think it will be less painful only haveing to pay a tip each time we sit down to eat.
Disney is slowly priceing the average family out of being able to expierence the Charactor Buffets, the cost for children who eat next to nothing is crazy IMHO

Adding a surcharge during peak times is not guest friendly when they are already chargeing peak rates for resort rooms.

Just as clarification - there is no tax when purchasing the DP. You will pay $78.99/adult.

Also remember, that you get refillable mugs and 2 snacks/adult on the DxDP. If you eat 2-3 TS meals, the DxDP offers the biggest savings. You will actually save more, as your figures above are incorrect.

Hope this helps, Tiger

 

[MelissathePooh]

We ate at the character buffett breakfast at GCH a year ago and thought the price was quite a bit more reasonable than the WDW pricing. Also, the food was better.

We were in DLR this past November. The character buffets blew WDW out of the water. Character interaction was outstanding and the food was exponentially better!!! The actually had real bacon

We thought the cs options and quality were better as well. It seemed pricier at the time, but WDW has upped theirs to match.

Wish we were closer to CA! We'll definitely be back once CarsLand is open

 

[jandm]

I just called Disney to inquire about character meal prices for 2011 peak seasons:

February 17-26, 2011
March 11 - April 30, 2011
June 3 - August 13, 2011
December 21-31, 2011

I apologize for not getting all of them, as my toddler was climbing up the counter - LOL!

These prices include tax, but do not include tip, so you do the math! Here they are:

Breakfast

1900 Park Fare A - $26.62 C - $14.90

Cape May Cafe, Tusker House & Crystal Palace A - $28.75 C - $15.97

Chef Mickey's A - $35.14 C - 19.16

Akershus A - $39.40 C - $23.42

Lunch

Tusker House A - $27.68 C - $14.90 (lunch is less cuz no characters)

Crystal Palace A - $30.98 C - $17.03

Akershus A - $41.53 C - $24.49

Dinner

Crystal Palace A - $41.53 C - $20.23

Chef Mickeys & 1900 PF A - $ 42.59 C - $21.29

Akershus A - $46.85 C - $25.55

These prices are staggering, since once you add tip, some of them will be close to or actually over $50.00! Disney's way of encouraging purchase of the Dining Plan, IMHO.

I hope these prices help some of you who are plannning trips. We will be eating most of our meals in our villa, but wanted to add a few character meals for the kids.

Tiger

Do you know what the off-peak prices are? Most curious about the Park Fare dinner. We are going the first of May and are not on the dining plan - staying at a timeshare resort.

 

[Tiger926]

Do you know what the off-peak prices are? Most curious about the Park Fare dinner. We are going the first of May and are not on the dining plan - staying at a timeshare resort.

Nope, as I only go during peak season, but you can figure it out.

You just take the tax out of the listed prices I provided (6.5%), and then minus $4.00/adult and $2.00/child, and it should give you an approximate price.

eg. Chef Mickey's
Peak $39.99
Non $35.99
(plus tax for both - I included them in list)

Hope this helps, Tiger