peak season pricing

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Removing my original post and changing thread title due to misinterpreting published information on meal prices

 

[fowler619]

I checked this morning for some prices and was shocked to see how much these character meals had increased. We are not on the dining plan, so we will be paying out of pocket. Are we paying for thoses on the dining plan?

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I checked this morning for some prices and was shocked to see how much these character meals had increased. We are not on the dining plan, so we will be paying out of pocket. Are we paying for thoses on the dining plan?

If you have the quick service dining plan, you have to pay out of pocket for table service meals. Character meals are considered table service meals. If you have the DDP that includes one table service meal, one snack, and one counter service meal a day, that plan covers character meals - but it does not cover the gratuities for the table services meals. Also certain meals require the use of two table service meal credits (e.g., Cinderella's Royal Table) and certain table service meals aren't covered by the DDP at all (T Rex, Rainforest Cafe).

 

[willowsnn3]

I checked this morning for some prices and was shocked to see how much these character meals had increased. We are not on the dining plan, so we will be paying out of pocket. Are we paying for thoses on the dining plan?

I'm on the dining plan (not free) & you are certainly not paying for me...

 

[crostorfer]

Wait, are these regular prices or peak season prices?

 

[crostorfer]

If you have the quick service dining plan, you have to pay out of pocket for table service meals. Character meals are considered table service meals. If you have the DDP that includes one table service meal, one snack, and one counter service meal a day, that plan covers character meals - but it does not cover the gratuities for the table services meals. Also certain meals require the use of two table service meal credits (e.g., Cinderella's Royal Table) and certain table service meals aren't covered by the DDP at all (T Rex, Rainforest Cafe).

I'm assuming what the PP meant was, did they increase the price for those paying OOP to offset those who are using the DDP. As in, those of us not on the DDP are paying for the fact that other people are.

 

[Caitriona]

I'm hoping they are seasonal surcharges, because I'm currently debating going OOP or getting the DDP and it was a horrible shock seeing the prices go from "this" to "this"

Tusker House breakfast $24.49 (Adult) $10.99 (child)--> $28.75 (A) $15.97 (c)

Crystal Palace breakfast $22.99 (A) $12.99 (c) --> $28.75 (A) $15.97 (c)

1900 Park Fare dinner $35.99 (A) $17.99 (c) --> $42.59 (A) $21.29 (c)

Akershus breakfast (didn't note original prices)--> $39.40 (A) $23.42 (c)

Biergarten $25.99 (A) $13.99 (c) --> $27.68 (A) $14.99 (c)

 

[ElizabethG]

I'm on the dining plan (not free) & you are certainly not paying for me...

Agreed! The adult DDP costs $45.99/day. So, on a Chef Mickey day I may come out ahead, but may end up behind on another day. I don't see how anyone is paying for people on the DDP. (In regards to free dining, see one of the numerous 'free dining isn't free threads').

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I'm assuming what the PP meant was, did they increase the price for those paying OOP to offset those who are using the DDP. As in, those of us not on the DDP are paying for the fact that other people are.

Thanks, I misinterpreted the question they posted. The price is a major sticker shock if you are paying OOP. I knew it would be a better "value" to do the ddp instead of qsdp just for the cost of those character meals, but again we went back and forth about that for the longest and our gut instinct is telling us that commiting to a daily ADR won't work for our family, especially since this is our first family trip with little ones. Plus, we didn't want to give up those two snacks and two cs meals a day with how our kids' eating habits are. Next year they are changing the qsdp to eliminate one of the snacks, so I doubt we will ever do the qsdp again. However, I am not sure if doing the full ddp will work for us either. These character meal prices are definitely going to be a splurge for us on our upcoming trip. I don't think we will do these character meals again. If we do, it probably won't be more than one.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I'm assuming what the PP meant was, did they increase the price for those paying OOP to offset those who are using the DDP. As in, those of us not on the DDP are paying for the fact that other people are.

Exactly. I would imagine that if you average out the DDP over year, between people getting it for "free" and people paying for it as well as those people who now know to maximize their value, they have to offset some of that with higher prices.

They also just want everyone on the DDP as much as possible. As soon as you start investigating prices, suddenly the DDP looks like a no brainer.

Just as they offered Magical Express to keep people from renting cars and going to ther venues, now they make the DDP almost impossible to pass up if you are doing full serve meals to again, keep you right where they want you: onsite spending money at their parks, resorts and restaurants.

I posted on another thread earlier that we are now done with buffets at WDW unless we are on free dining (I refuse to pay over $200 a day just for the DDP with my family of four adults during holiday periods so I won't ever pay for it again) we will not do ANY buffets. We did Crystal Palace in June and with the tip it was a hair over $200. I did it since we were with family and my nieces are younger so it seemed in order to do at least one character meal but I won't be doing that again.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Agreed! The adult DDP costs $45.99/day. So, on a Chef Mickey day I may come out ahead, but may end up behind on another day. I don't see how anyone is paying for people on the DDP. (In regards to free dining, see one of the numerous 'free dining isn't free threads').

I agree with this as well. I certainly didn't start this thread to create dissent against the DDP, I was just trying to say that for my family, paying OOP for the character meals with these price increases is a big sticker shock for us because we chose to do the qsdp over the ddp. Even with the ddp, you still have to pay for gratuities which would also be higher since the meal prices are higher. IMHO, it's pricey for everyone across the board. Even if you are getting free dining, you still have to pay the gratuities for the meals and rack rates for the resort hotel rooms which are also going up. Since this is our first family trip this is going to be a splurge for us so that our kids can have the chance to do these character meals. But these price increases in general are making me rethink how we may do future WDW trips if we choose to go back in the near future.

 

[Amy&Dan]

For sure some days on the DDP you come out way more ahead than others. I always enjoy those days!

My point is that now that Free Dining is a discount that is offered way more times throughout the year than when it was first started, coupled with the fact they want people to pay for their dining plans as part of their package, the OOP prices have increased.

I don't happen to think the DDP ruined a thing, I think it just changed the way Disney "does" their dining and prices.

Gradually over about the past five years, its just amazing how prices have increased on the menus and for the plans themselves. Its too bad, I really enjoy full serve meals at WDW but just can't justify them unless I get "free" dining which even with paying rack rate is our best discount given we are four adults.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Exactly. I would imagine that if you average out the DDP over year, between people getting it for "free" and people paying for it as well as those people who now know to maximize their value, they have to offset some of that with higher prices.

They also just want everyone on the DDP as much as possible. As soon as you start investigating prices, suddenly the DDP looks like a no brainer.

Just as they offered Magical Express to keep people from renting cars and going to ther venues, now they make the DDP almost impossible to pass up if you are doing full serve meals to again, keep you right where they want you: onsite spending money at their parks, resorts and restaurants.I posted on another thread earlier that we are now done with buffets at WDW unless we are on free dining (I refuse to pay over $200 a day just for the DDP with my family of four adults during holiday periods so I won't ever pay for it again) we will not do ANY buffets. We did Crystal Palace in June and with the tip it was a hair over $200. I did it since we were with family and my nieces are younger so it seemed in order to do at least one character meal but I won't be doing that again.

I agree, especially for families on their first trip or those who want to do a lot of character meals. Since they are taking one snack away from the qsdp, I don't think many people will consider that plan a good value unless they are getting it with the free dining promo; and with the increase in these character meal prices, I agree that many people will see the ddp as a no brainer and will be more inclined to purchase that plan or upgrade to that plan if they are getting the qsdp as part of the free dining promo.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Wait, are these regular prices or peak season prices?

These are regular prices

 

[Amy&Dan]

I agree, especially for families on their first trip or those who want to do a lot of character meals. Since they are taking one snack away from the qsdp, I don't think many people will consider that plan a good value unless they are getting it with the free dining promo; and with the increase in these character meal prices, I agree that many people will see the ddp as a no brainer and will be more inclined to purchase that plan or upgrade to that plan if they are getting the qsdp as part of the free dining promo.

Agree back at ya!

We no longer "pay" for the DDP given its price and the fact it now gets the holiday surcharge. But we were still willing to pay for the QSDP. But the second snack was a biggie for us, I have a teenage son and he in particular needed his two snacks! So now my rule for the QSDP is the same as the DDP. Its either "free" or we pay OOP. Which is a shame because I LOVE being on a plan since I can prepay and send my kids off on their own with no worries about sending them with money or having charging privilidges on their room keys.

I helped friends plan their very first ever trip to WDW in October and really had them look with me at menu prices to show them that given the amount of character meals they wanted to do, the DDP was a must for them. She was all for it, he was a bit upset at the cost. Then I called them last week to tell them their dates were now during free dining and suddenly they are saving around $1200 and loving me! I hope I get Free Dining too for our next trip, being on the QSDP the last three trips has spoiled us.

 

[Colleen27]

Allears can be tough to interpret with regards to pricing because if a menu is updated in July it will usually (but not always) reflect the seasonal increase. In addition their prices for the buffets and fixed-price meals usually (but not always) include sales tax.

So looking at that Crystal Palace, 22.99 (pretax) becomes 28.75 (post tax) with the peak season surcharge. Tusker House goes from 24.49 (post tax) to 28.75 (post tax). I didn't check each set but the three I did all reflect exactly the peak season surcharge without any additional/unexpected price increase.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

Allears can be tough to interpret with regards to pricing because if a menu is updated in July it will usually (but not always) reflect the seasonal increase. In addition their prices for the buffets and fixed-price meals usually (but not always) include sales tax.

So looking at that Crystal Palace, 22.99 (pretax) becomes 28.75 (post tax) with the peak season surcharge. Tusker House goes from 24.49 (post tax) to 28.75 (post tax). I didn't check each set but the three I did all reflect exactly the peak season surcharge without any additional/unexpected price increase.

So those prices on the All Ears website are the summer/peak season prices? Can I anticipate that the actual prices of these meals will be lower for our upcoming trip at the end of August/value season? If so then the menus on the All Ears website are very misleading because right below the prices is a disclaimer that "seasonal pricing may apply during the year" but it doesn't specify that the price they are showing is indeed the "seasonal pricing".

 

[everythingALICE]

So those prices on the All Ears website are the summer/peak season prices? Can I anticipate that the actual prices of these meals will be lower for our upcoming trip at the end of August/value season? If so then the menus on the All Ears website are very misleading because right below the prices is a disclaimer that "seasonal pricing may apply during the year" but it doesn't specify that the price they are showing is indeed the "seasonal pricing".

I would like to know this also, as I am going at the end of August. I have both Tusker House (breakfast) and Crystal Palace booked, and would be paying OOP. At about $29 for breakfast and $31 for lunch (before gratuity), that's pretty pricey...especially considering I'm vegetarian so I wouldn't be eating the items generally thought to get "the most bang for your buck."

I understand it's Disney and that the price includes the entertainment factor and the perk of having characters, which might save us time waiting to meet characters in the parks, but...I'm not confident it's worth it.

 

[sharonabe]

I think allearsnet is pretty clear that these are the new prices.

Donald's Safari Breakfast
at Tusker House
Animal Kingdom
Buffet

Menu Date: August 2011


8:00am - 10:30am

COST: $28.75 (10+) and $15.97 (3-9) includes tax NOT gratuity

Seasonal (including Holiday) Pricing May Apply During the Year.

The above disclaimer is on ALL their character buffet menus.

 

[crostorfer]

Allears can be tough to interpret with regards to pricing because if a menu is updated in July it will usually (but not always) reflect the seasonal increase. In addition their prices for the buffets and fixed-price meals usually (but not always) include sales tax.

So looking at that Crystal Palace, 22.99 (pretax) becomes 28.75 (post tax) with the peak season surcharge. Tusker House goes from 24.49 (post tax) to 28.75 (post tax). I didn't check each set but the three I did all reflect exactly the peak season surcharge without any additional/unexpected price increase.

I agree with Colleen. All Ears had the wrong prices listed when we went in May as well, the price was listed on the website a few dollars higher than what the non-peak pricing actually was. Tusker House was like $21.99 for an adult before tax, it was listed at $24.99 or something like that.

I just pulled this quote from a different thread:

"Please call Disney and ask about prices instead of relying on allears (or even me). The prices quoted at the start of this thread are incorrect. You may be going during a non-peak season. In that case, the breakfasts will be about $22.99 pluls tax per adult and $12.99 plus tax for children. Your husband may be less incensed about that"

Call the Disney Dining Line and ask if you are unsure. I bet it's $22.99 off peak.