Re-thinking Biergarten

[mmackeymouse]

Okay, so we made ADR's for Biergarten. I found the menu and prices on the DIS updated in May. It is above our typical price range, but I ran it by my parents, and while it is agreed that it was high, we decided it would be our one splurge of the trip. This was when it was $19.99. I figured that even if the price went up, it would only be a couple of bucks, $22 sounded reasonable.

Well, this morning, I find out that prices have gone up, according to a June menu, and in my opinion, it went up WAY too much. I mean, it is a 30% increase.....does this seem normal? I am wondering if there is some seasonal pricing going on with them. $26 for lunch, especially when you are missing out on the dinner items seems a bit much. I mean, that is only $3 less than the $29.99 dinner used to be which was the reason we never did the dinner.

We were looking forward to Biergarten, and I think people would be upset if we didn't do it, but I also think they would be upset if we get there, and the prices are 30% higher than we had anticipated. Nothing like people grumbling, "not worth the price" to ruin a trip, ya know? There is a big difference between planning on $60 for a meal and $80.

 

[Hootch]

has for the last couple of years had a seasonal charge for all you can eat restaurants. This year the charge was five dollars for adults. June would have most likely included that additional charge.

I have yet to see an official list of dates for the added charge. The dining plan does have certain dates at a higher fee. You can use these as a proxy to determine whether you will pay the higher amount.

2/12/10 - 4/10/10, 6/04/10 - 8/14/10, 12/17/10 - 12/31/10

The restaurants usually impacted are:

* 1900 Park Fare
* Akershus
* Biergarten
* Boma
* Cape May Cafe
* Chef Mickey's
* Cinderella's Royal Table
* Crystal Palace
* Garden Grill
* Hollywood and Vine
* Liberty Tree Tavern (dinner)
* Ohana
* Trails End
* Tusker House

 

[budbeerlady]

Hmm, it does go up a little but not 30% each year. Each time its been from $28 - 36 over the past 6 years for dinner, we enjoy it.

Could you do lunch? Its a little less and really the same food.

Lunch and Dinner Buffet
All You Can Eat

Lunch - Adult $25.99; Child 3-9 $13.99
Dinner - Adult $34.99; Child 3-9 $16.99

Beverages included

Serving Lunch from Noon to 3:10 p.m.
Serving Dinner from 4 p.m. to Park Close

 

[mmackeymouse]

Hmm, it does go up a little but not 30% each year. Each time its been from $28 - 36 over the past 6 years for dinner, we enjoy it.

Could you do lunch? Its a little less and really the same food.

Lunch and Dinner Buffet
All You Can Eat

Lunch - Adult $25.99; Child 3-9 $13.99
Dinner - Adult $34.99; Child 3-9 $16.99

Beverages included

Serving Lunch from Noon to 3:10 p.m.
Serving Dinner from 4 p.m. to Park Close

It WAS the lunch we were looking at. It went from $19.99 in May to $25.99 in June, and in my opinion, that is kind of a steep jump.

I am hoping that it is the seasonal price thing going on, as a previous poster had mentioned. I knew of seasonal pricing, but I had never seen that Biergarten was among those restaurants. I thought it was only major signature restaurants that did the seasonal pricing.

We'll see after mid-August. Maybe someone could confirm if the prices went back down.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

It WAS the lunch we were looking at. It went from $19.99 in May to $25.99 in June, and in my opinion, that is kind of a steep jump.

I am hoping that it is the seasonal price thing going on, as a previous poster had mentioned. I knew of seasonal pricing, but I had never seen that Biergarten was among those restaurants. I thought it was only major signature restaurants that did the seasonal pricing.

We'll see after mid-August. Maybe someone could confirm if the prices went back down.

the seasonal changes are complete thievery and don't get nearly enough attention...IMHO

the "holiday season" that you see the price for basically goes from the end of may - august. I don't know what you call that....the "Season of sweat?"

but hey...my textbooks told me that captialism was good and the market is self adjusting...and who am i to argue?

 

[mzozzietj]

the seasonal changes are complete thievery and don't get nearly enough attention...IMHO

the "holiday season" that you see the price for basically goes from the end of may - august. I don't know what you call that....the "Season of sweat?"

but hey...my textbooks told me that captialism was good and the market is self adjusting...and who am i to argue?

LOL no kidding, in that heat I can barely even eat much... an all you care to eat type should charge less in the heat ;-)

 

[Jubilee]

I love Biergarten, and it's not all you *can* eat, it's all you care to eat...

Price increases suck, but it won't stop me from going.

 

[DonaldTDuck]

I love Biergarten, and it's not all you *can* eat, it's all you care to eat...

Price increases suck, but it won't stop me from going.

All I care to eat is always more than all I can eat.

 

[Jubilee]

I care about eating as much as I can eat

 

[crystalcml]

There was another thread on here just this morning stating prices jumped to $50.05 per adult. I would double check with Disney Dining for the correct pricing.

Here's that thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2530237

 

[mmackeymouse]

There was another thread on here just this morning stating prices jumped to $50.05 per adult. I would double check with Disney Dining for the correct pricing.

Here's that thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2530237

YES I did see that thread, and that is actually what prompted me to look into the Biergarten prices.

I know price increases are a part of life, but such drastic increases are not all that common. Usually it is is $2 here, $3 there. But, 30% from one month to another seems a little wild to me......please let it be seasonal.

 

[chartle]

I love Biergarten, and it's not all you *can* eat, it's all you care to eat...

Price increases suck, but it won't stop me from going.

All I care to eat is always more than all I can eat.

I care about eating as much as I can eat

Its actually "All you care to Enjoy".

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

The price should be back down when you travel. Do not cancel your reservation just yet. If you get closer to your travel date and Disney has not dropped the price back, feel free to cancel and eat at Sommerfest, the counter service option.

While not an "all your elastic waist band can contain" dining option. The food is quite good and reminds me of my summer I spent in Germany.

I love the apple strudel with vanilla sauce and the bratwurst are both great.

Here is the menu from All Ears Net. Now, if the counter service would serve Spatzle I could skip eating at Biergarten.

Bratwurst - served with sauerkraut and roll $6.69

Frankfurter - served with sauerkraut and roll $6.59


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Desserts

Authentic Hand-twisted Pretzel $4.29

Black Forest Cake Roulade $3.59

Seasonal Crumble Cake - with whipped cream $3.59

Bavarian Cheesecake $3.59

Apple Strudel - with vanilla sauce $3.59


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beverages

Beck's or Spaten Oktoberfest $7.50
served in a Souvenir Mug $10.75

Schnapps and Shots $7.25
Apfelkorn or Jagermeister

Liebfraumilch Wine $6.00

Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Iced Tea, Lemonade $2.19 & $2.49

Bottled Water $2.50

Hot Tea or Hot Chocolate $2.09

Coffee $2.09

 

[The_Aviator]

Well I don't really trust any of the prices I find for Disney restaurants online. Each website claims a different price, which is odd considering they are only a few months apart, sometimes even the same month!

Luckily free dining means that we're just eating whatever and don't care about the price, but I can see why you would be upset when the price goes from $20 to $30, and possibly even $50!

Maybe it would be an idea to check with Disney Dining if that is possible, or perhaps someone travelling to EPCOT soon might be able to confirm it for you.

And just a side note: We ate at Sommerfest on our last trip to the world in '06 and absolutely hated it! Not that we don't like German food, it was just dark, boring and didn't feel like Disney at all.