The prices at TS restaurants???

[SL6827]

If we drive, we head off site for many meals. Disney is absolutely absurd with the food pricing now.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

Prices are absolutely insane but a big part of the trip for us is sitting down and experiencing all the different theming at the TS restaurants. I keep telling myself “if we cut out most of the TS meals this trip we could save a ton of money” but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I just made my ADRs this week and there was wide open availability everywhere, even at previously hard to get places, and I’m sure it’s because more and more people are balking at those prices and not booking

 

[J-Dog]

I guess I just don't see WDW being outrageous for restaurant prices. Compared to other vacation destinations, it's fairly even, and almost cheaper than some places (i.e. Vegas) anymore.

We budget where we need to and only eat TS once per day or every other day, and I budget about the same for food as most other vacations.

 

[SL6827]

I guess I just don't see WDW being outrageous for restaurant prices. Compared to other vacation destinations, it's fairly even, and almost cheaper than some places (i.e. Vegas) anymore.

We budget where we need to and only eat TS once per day or every other day, and I budget about the same for food as most other vacations.

Pretty much true.

 

[Mikey15]

With Disney & table service, I find that what you’re paying for isn’t always the food. It’s usually the “where” (BOG, CRT, etc), or the “who” (character meals) rather than the “what” (with some exceptions). Overall, I’ve always found it counterproductive to put limited theme park time across limited days into in-park TS, but I understand there’s still magic there for some people. But if there’s no little ones in your party and no magic for you in, say, Pooh and friends at CP, it’s not going to be worth it to go there.

One great thing about QS and even some of the non-AYCTE restaurants is the ability to either split adult-size entrees or order a “kids” meal if you’re an adult over 40 who doesn’t need to eat a horse at each meal, especially at a theme park. As an adult couple it’s not very expensive to fast in the morning (or eat a quick breakfast made-in-room) mobile order two QS kids meals, and get a few appealing seasonal items from either festival booths or Sleepy Hollow-type places.

 

[BeachMouse1]

We live in south Florida and I can tell you Disney prices are not that far away from restaurants down here. To be honest I’m more offended paying the prices at restaurants down here at least at Disney you have atmosphere. A basically “local” Italian restaurant here charges $35 for a basic bowl of pasta (not even with any protein and nothing fancy) so we don’t eat out much at home. We have cut down on the number of table service restaurants we eat at in Disney. We are just 2 no kids and never eat breakfast at a restaurant. We are going next week and looked at trying the Cake Bake shop for breakfast. My wife has some food preferences so she would just have eggs and we won’t pay $17 for 2 eggs BUT we were there 2 weeks ago and I had to try a piece of the $22 cake (it was awesome by the way). So we usually do a nice lunch or dinner at a TS.
We have found that eating at lounges gets nice portions and better pricing. As we have no children we don’t do character meals (except we have done Hoop de Doo and would again, and Story Book Dining again excellent). So we try to enjoy the more signature restaurants a few times per trip and since we “snack” or lounge food most meals we don’t spend as much. We used to do 2 sit downs a day but in addition to that being too much food we just don’t want to spend that much anymore. My wife some days will even as many say make a sandwich and bring it into the park.

 

[maxiesmom]

If we want to do a character meal we do a late breakfast. The cost is a little less than lunch or dinner, and by going late you can fill up and skip lunch. You also can hit a bunch of rides first thing in the morning.

I also order a kids meal at quick service places. A small chicken tenders and fries fills me up enough, and then I have room for Mickey bar later on.

 

[keishashadow]

If we drive, we head off site for many meals. Disney is absolutely absurd with the food pricing now.

Wouldn’t mind the “disney premium” pricing for food. For us, the main rub is the overall decline in actual food options & quality @ majority of their TS.

We have a few TS favorites we still patronize regularly. When family along, include HDD and at least one character meal.

Going against the herd, we use the rental car to escape the bubble and patronize many of the nearby restaurants who have the same basic pricing we experience at home.

Will say, the QS options had for the most part also become generic and limited. Nice to see different, interesting offerings being sporadically introduced.

Was shocked during F&W to see the shrimp offered at sunshine seasons mid October. Was a replacement site. for the Australian booth after the storm rolled thru. Instead of the small tasting amount, it was a full skewer of shrimp. One of the best meals of the trip lol

 

[Tonberry]

We use to do 2 TS meals every day. Breakfast and dinner with a snack mid-day.
Now, We'll only do 1 and maybe a quick service. But even quick service has gotten expensive. In October, we ate dinner at Art of Animation and it was almost $80 for a family of 4.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm kind of relieved to see some other people complaining about TS food prices. I hardly ever eat TS anymore and that's primarily the reason (as well as I'm trying to eat healthier and more vegetable focused). I don't understand when people say "It's a tourist spot-what do you expect?" Next week, we're going to be on Hilton Head Island, eating out every day (and not burgers and pizza, although I don't mind, but at HHI I love Seafood)-it's a tourist spot, yet TS dining is so much less expensive than WDW.

 

[Bostonjetset]

We live in south Florida and I can tell you Disney prices are not that far away from restaurants down here. To be honest I’m more offended paying the prices at restaurants down here at least at Disney you have atmosphere. A basically “local” Italian restaurant here charges $35 for a basic bowl of pasta (not even with any protein and nothing fancy) so we don’t eat out much at home. We have cut down on the number of table service restaurants we eat at in Disney. We are just 2 no kids and never eat breakfast at a restaurant. We are going next week and looked at trying the Cake Bake shop for breakfast. My wife has some food preferences so she would just have eggs and we won’t pay $17 for 2 eggs BUT we were there 2 weeks ago and I had to try a piece of the $22 cake (it was awesome by the way). So we usually do a nice lunch or dinner at a TS.
We have found that eating at lounges gets nice portions and better pricing. As we have no children we don’t do character meals (except we have done Hoop de Doo and would again, and Story Book Dining again excellent). So we try to enjoy the more signature restaurants a few times per trip and since we “snack” or lounge food most meals we don’t spend as much. We used to do 2 sit downs a day but in addition to that being too much food we just don’t want to spend that much anymore. My wife some days will even as many say make a sandwich and bring it into the park.

Yea it definitely depends on where one comes from. I’m from the Boston area which is one of the most expensive parts of the country so Disney TS prices aren’t really more than I’d pay here even for sub par dining experiences. I guess for someone from Nebraska or Kansas, Disney TS costs would appear outrageous. From the coasts? Not so much.

 

[J-Dog]

I'm kind of relieved to see some other people complaining about TS food prices. I hardly ever eat TS anymore and that's primarily the reason (as well as I'm trying to eat healthier and more vegetable focused). I don't understand when people say "It's a tourist spot-what do you expect?" Next week, we're going to be on Hilton Head Island, eating out every day (and not burgers and pizza, although I don't mind, but at HHI I love Seafood)-it's a tourist spot, yet TS dining is so much less expensive than WDW.

I would not really put Hilton Head in the same "class" of vacation compared to WDW. Hilton Head is more of a regional vacation destination; people aren't heading there from all over the world.

If you compare WDW to Vegas, Oahu, New York, Miami, etc, which are comparable, IMO, then restaurant prices are either similar or even cheaper at WDW.

Food quality may be a different story - but that is too subjective to realistically compare to anywhere else.

 

[Mikey15]

I don't understand when people say "It's a tourist spot-what do you expect?"

I think everyone’s been burned by “tourist trap” pricing at one time or another, which is where that concept isn’t new or surprising to them. We went for dessert at “The Yard” in Panama City Beach, and even though it was off-season they were still charging $12-$15 for sundaes and milkshakes. Makes Disney look like a bargain, but ~that’s~ what’s in people’s heads when you bring up overpriced tourism-related food.

If people have no firsthand Disney experience, they probably think it’s like that or a major concert/sporting venue. You’re definitely right that thankfully Disney food gouging isn’t quite that level. Even the Starbucks in each park is basically normal pricing? Free ice water everywhere as alternative to the $4 pops? They could at least do far worse.

Now that $15 sandwich and fries is actually at the low end of even national chain sitdown restaurants, Disney’s kept surprisingly tame.

 

[meremac]

Food prices in general have gone WAY up. Groceries are more expensive, fast food is more expensive, our local sit-down restaurants are more expensive. When the cost of food goes up, the cost of eating out does too, including at theme park restaurants (which have always been priced at a premium).

 

[Minnie1222]

Yea it definitely depends on where one comes from. I’m from the Boston area which is one of the most expensive parts of the country so Disney TS prices aren’t really more than I’d pay here even for sub par dining experiences. I guess for someone from Nebraska or Kansas, Disney TS costs would appear outrageous. From the coasts? Not so much.

We were in Boston this past weekend. Our "mall food" bill would have been more than Space 220/BOG if we had the 3-course meal. People can complain as much as they want. I'd pick Space 220 & BOG any day.

 

[lowlight]

We were in Boston this past weekend. Our "mall food" bill would have been more than Space 220/BOG if we had the 3-course meal. People can complain as much as they want. I'd pick Space 220 & BOG any day.

Let them eat cake.

 

[Bostonjetset]

We were in Boston this past weekend. Our "mall food" bill would have been more than Space 220/BOG if we had the 3-course meal. People can complain as much as they want. I'd pick Space 220 & BOG any day.

Isn’t it crazy? Disney is almost a bargain compared to eating out here in Massachusetts haha.

I just got back from a trip to Prague and it was cheaper to drink beer with every meal than it is to drink Coca Cola here in Massachusetts. Multi-course meals at nicer restaurants cost us about the same as we’d pay at medicorce chains here.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Yea it definitely depends on where one comes from. I’m from the Boston area which is one of the most expensive parts of the country so Disney TS prices aren’t really more than I’d pay here even for sub par dining experiences. I guess for someone from Nebraska or Kansas, Disney TS costs would appear outrageous. From the coasts? Not so much.

My problem isn’t so much price as quality. I just can’t eat mass produced food stuff anymore even at home. Upcoming trip will be 14 days and only 2 restaurant meals.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Isn’t it crazy? Disney is almost a bargain compared to eating out here in Massachusetts haha.

I just got back from a trip to Prague and it was cheaper to drink beer with every meal than it is to drink Coca Cola here in Massachusetts. Multi-course meals at nicer restaurants cost us about the same as we’d pay at medicorce chains here.

Wow! We moved here in South Texas from Massachusetts and I've missed Massachusetts terribly, to the point where DH probably wishes I'd shut up about it-especially as Christmas approaches and I can't get my Hood's Eggnog! But hearing about food prices up there has gone a long way to make me feel better about the move. Thanks!

 

[maxiesmom]

My problem isn’t so much price as quality. I just can’t eat mass produced food stuff anymore even at home. Upcoming trip will be 14 days and only 2 restaurant meals.

You can find good meals if you know where to look and are willing to spend more. Blue Zoo has become a favorite of mine. Ale and Compass at the Yacht Club too. As well as Il Mulino at the Swan.