Summer price increases?

[ms.ojo]

I recall reading WDW adds surcharges to most char meals during peak seasons (like T'giving and Xmas) and that they plan to do it for the summer of 2010 too! I'll be darned if I can find this anywhere now tht we're planning a summer trip! Can you great DISers please point me in the right direction for more info'n??? DH is already miffed at how much a char meal is w/ DS now 10. I need to know if we're going to be paying a surcharge too.

Thanks

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Yes, there was a recent thread on this - I'll see if I can find it. The surcharge is $4 per adult and $2 per child at most buffet and family style restaurants. I think the dates were June 13-August 13.

I have a DD10, so I feel your pain about the adult pricing! She is so excited to be considered an "adult" somewhere, though!

Edited to add:

The info is in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2425934

 

[ms.ojo]

Yes, there was a recent thread on this - I'll see if I can find it. The surcharge is $4 per adult and $2 per child at most buffet and family style restaurants. I think the dates were June 13-August 13.

I have a DD10, so I feel your pain about the adult pricing! She is so excited to be considered an "adult" somewhere, though!

Edited to add:

The info is in this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2425934

THANK YOU! We still have a dd7 who really wants to do at least 1 char meal....but oh my goodness, the price for 4 of us now. I'm trying to talk dh into doing one.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

THANK YOU! We still have a dd7 who really wants to do at least 1 char meal....but oh my goodness, the price for 4 of us now. I'm trying to talk dh into doing one.

What works for me (since DH is a bit thrifty and not a big Disney fan to begin with ):

They're only young once.

We can only have this experience at Disney.

We have to eat anyway, and food at Disney is not exactly inexpensive to begin with.

I remind him that we are not spending the grocery budget that week.

I sign all the restaurant bills so he doesn't get sticker shock, even though he knows it is a lot. He does ask how much the final bill is at the end of the trip, but he doesn't care to know the gory details.

I try not to overschedule them since he isn't crazy about them, more from the chaos standpoint than the money.

I pick ones with a nice environment and good food (he doesn't like Chef Mickey's at all (too loud), but he likes Crystal Palace).

I try to do breakfast since it is cheaper. DH also loves to eat breakfast out.

I also save all my change all year, which usually goes to feed us while we are there.

I have a DD7 too!

 

[Tiger926]

Just wanted to clarify that in case you missed it in the link above, that it's $4.00 + tax/adult and $2.00 + tax/child.

As I reported on the linked thread above, Disney still hasn't offically announced the dates yet, but the prices have been loaded into the computers for months. Just call and a dining CM will be able to give the upcharge/surcharge prices. It's best to call as both All Ears and wdwinfo have wrong prices for some meals.

Happy eating, Tiger

 

[TDC Nala]

Many are unaware that the Garden Grove at the Swan resort has a character dinner nightly, and a character breakfast on weekends, that is not subject to the surcharges. They generally have fewer characters present than the ones at Disney restaurants, though.

 

[ms.ojo]

What works for me (since DH is a bit thrifty and not a big Disney fan to begin with ):

They're only young once.

We can only have this experience at Disney.

We have to eat anyway, and food at Disney is not exactly inexpensive to begin with.

I remind him that we are not spending the grocery budget that week.

I sign all the restaurant bills so he doesn't get sticker shock, even though he knows it is a lot. He does ask how much the final bill is at the end of the trip, but he doesn't care to know the gory details.

I try not to overschedule them since he isn't crazy about them, more from the chaos standpoint than the money.

I pick ones with a nice environment and good food (he doesn't like Chef Mickey's at all (too loud), but he likes Crystal Palace).

I try to do breakfast since it is cheaper. DH also loves to eat breakfast out.

I also save all my change all year, which usually goes to feed us while we are there.

I have a DD7 too!

GREAT TIPS! Thank you!!!!!!! What are some of your favorite char meals?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Hmm. In the past the "holiday" upcharge has gone into effect on Memorial Day and gone though July 4th. Interesting. I will have to remember to look at our receipts after our June trip. I know we are only doing a couple of meals where the extra charge would apply.

 

[Tiger926]

Hmm. In the past the "holiday" upcharge has gone into effect on Memorial Day and gone though July 4th. Interesting. I will have to remember to look at our receipts after our June trip. I know we are only doing a couple of meals where the extra charge would apply.

CMs told me June 4/14 - Aug 14? I am not sure of June, as I had 2 different CMs tell both of those dates. At any rate, the dates are different than past years, and seem to end right when Free Dining is usually offered.

HTH, Tiger

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

GREAT TIPS! Thank you!!!!!!! What are some of your favorite char meals?

Crystal Palace is a family favorite, for any meal, but especially for breakfast before MK opens. The food is good, the atmosphere is relaxing, and we can usually be done for rope drop. We have had good experiences here at each meal, and we go every trip as long as CP is not being refurbed.

Akershus is great for breakfast - DD7 is all about the princesses still, and the potato casserole is YUM! We have been twice, and the character interaction was very good (better the first time than the second, but still good the second time - just a bit more rehearsed).

We have not done Tusker House, but it gets great reviews. We love Boma and the food is similar. It would be nice to see Donald and Daisy - we don't see them much. It just hasn't worked into our plans since they began offering it.

We are doing O'Hana this trip for breakfast - DD10 loves Stitch and I love Pluto. We had it booked one other time but canceled when DD got sick.

We have done Garden Grill, but not for a few years. The character interaction when we did it was wonderful, and the food is brought to you instead of going to get it and worrying about missing a character. It is only at dinner now and is expensive - I think we went for lunch way back when, but I might be remembering wrong.

CRT was OK - too expensive and the princesses were rushed. The castle was pretty cool, though. We can see Cinderella at Park Fare and the other princesses at Akershus. We actually saw Cinderella at Akershus in January - she was great! My kids were arguing over who got to give her the autograph book , and she told them not to fight like her stepsisters.

Chef Mickey's is total chaos - didn't bother me since I am usually with the kids at home , but DH will never willingly go back. Food was just OK except for the parmesan mashed potatoes and the sundae bar.

1900 Park Fare was OK - we went when it was Cinderella, Prince Charming and the mice. I think it would be great fun to see the stepsisters and Lady Tremaine. We didn't think the food was all that, though.

We did Cape May a few years ago - the interaction with Goofy was awesome. It is a bit out of the way unless you are staying at an Epcot resort.

Have not done Hollywood and Vine - the kids are a little old for those characters.

As always, your mileage may vary!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Hmm. In the past the "holiday" upcharge has gone into effect on Memorial Day and gone though July 4th. Interesting. I will have to remember to look at our receipts after our June trip. I know we are only doing a couple of meals where the extra charge would apply.

I know. Usually the surcharge ends by the time value season starts for the Deluxe resorts (mid-July). We are going the end of July and will pay the surcharge if they have it then.

 

[Tiger926]

I know. Usually the surcharge ends by the time value season starts for the Deluxe resorts (mid-July). We are going the end of July and will pay the surcharge if they have it then.

You will absolutely pay the surcharge for end of July, as I made some ADRs (since cancelled since we are going at begining of July) and the prices had the upcharge/surcharge already applied to it.

Tiger

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

You will absolutely pay the surcharge for end of July, as I made some ADRs (since cancelled since we are going at begining of July) and the prices had the upcharge/surcharge already applied to it.

Tiger

Not a big deal in the big scheme of things. What's another $14 plus tax for my family compared to the dining cost overall? I had just noticed the dates this year didn't correspond to the seasons like they seemed to last year. It's when we can go, and we only have two meals affected.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I think it will only hit us for breakfast at Crystal Palace and breakfast at Boma. But going in June while our APs are still valid really offsets the dining surcharge!