The prices at TS restaurants???

[NYCgrrl]

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.

Thank you for your faves! I’ve eaten at all of them at one time or another excepting Il Mulino; eaten at the one in NYC.

Rented DVC this trip so using the kitchen to its full potential. Was talking w/ DGD yesterday and she decided fried chicken dinner over beef Wellington for Christmas Day. Kids are weird, lol.

 

[Moliphino]

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.

I was just in Italy for two weeks and same. You can consistently get a nice bottle of wine for €20 at restaurants (one place we got a liter of sparkling wine for €10, that was fantastic). Spritzes are around €4-7 where in Disney you pay $16+.

 

[BeachMouse1]

Thank you for your faves! I’ve eaten at all of them at one time or another excepting Il Mulino; eaten at the one in NYC.

Rented DVC this trip so using the kitchen to its full potential. Was talking w/ DGD yesterday and she decided fried chicken dinner over beef Wellington for Christmas Day. Kids are weird, lol.

Il Mulino in downtown NY was all time favorite restaurant ever when I lived in NY. The Il Mulino in Disney does not compare to it. It’s billed as a “trattoria” version. It’s still probably one of the better Italian restaurants in Disney though. Oh my mouth is watering thinking about the NY one! Just a heads up in case you want to go there and are expecting the same

 

[kylenne]

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.

As APs we're not generally worried about squeezing in every last ride we can and TS provide a much needed breather with A/C. Sometimes we just need it before our midday breaks.

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.

Respectfully I would legitimately rather stay home than vacation like this, as two DINKs over 40. If kids meals actually had quality and variety then sure, but kids meals outside of the rare outliers like Satu'li are hot garbage catering to the set who only feed their kids nuggies and tendies and mac and cheese. If that's the way you normally eat then cool but not us, lol. The only time we ever do the kids meal thing is for breakfast on non rope drop mornings, because I'm just not that hungry that early and the regular bounty platters are way too much food, or the single cheeseburger pod at Satu'li as a snack.

tbqh we just bump our food budget up. Like many, many others have said WDW food prices are no more outrageous than restaurant pricing where we live (NYC and Toronto) and in many cases for comparable quality. Satu'li bowls are a bargain compared to the ubiquitous bowl joints around my job in a very popular tourist area of Manhattan and frankly better quality. And I won't tell you how much I paid for a beer and some very basic sausage and peppers last time I was up at Yankee Stadium to catch Manchester City play a friendly this summer. I just don't find Disney all that outrageously priced. Everywhere has cut back and gone up.

 

[Lesverts]

Disney prices are inconsistent. Some things and some places are inline with other city centers and tourist areas. Other things not so much. It is all cheaper than Canada's Wonderland where a six inch Subway sub is 20 dollars (Canadian)

 

[Minnie1222]

Let them eat cake.

Except there are no starving peasants or out-of-touch royals in this scenario, only amusement park visitors complaining about the cost of niche dining (much like the person calling Premier Passes a robbery, but planned to buy them for multiple days anyway).

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

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.

I agree. I think much of the mindset comes from what you do regularly. I have always been someone who eats out. I also attend outdoor concerts/ fairs/ sporting events/ museums and theaters. Somewhere in those days I will spend $ on food or drink. Nowadays I'm probably at an eatery or coffeeshop 4 to 5 times a month. I notice the prices are high everywhere. I enjoy the experience so I continue to spend money doing so. Therefore, when I was at WDW just 2 weeks ago, I saw the high prices and wasn't surprised in the least. I did however cut back on ADR and did ONE for a 4 night stay. But I cut back on ADRs long ago!

I have a friend who I never ask to meet for coffee or go to lunch because her mindset is always a cost comparison. She will say" I could make this sandwich at home for $3" or" a cup of coffee at home would be 35cents if I make it myself". Since she finds no joy in the experience I never ask anymore.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I don’t mind paying higher prices for good quality food (in the Philadelphia area so we have access to good food) but Disney TS prices don’t always match in quality. We know character meals will always lack for the cost. I don’t mind paying for most signature dining since the food is usually matched in quality. But places like LTT, SAI, etc aren’t worth it for me.

We cut down on TS and have found some great QS options over the years. QS prices I find pretty much in line with the “real world” and the quality is usually better. We’ve really enjoyed doing the parks without so many ADRs too.

 

[Mazz519]

We stopped doing Character meals and Buffets, Prices have really gone way up all around.. It seems that Disney doesnt care and will continue to raise prices all over

 

[Sheryl2059]

I see a lot about TS here in the parks, resorts and off property. Both in price and quality. How to they compare to similar dining at Disney Springs? Of course they dont have the characters or theming. But I have never gone to one there.

 

[B-Ride]

The best plan is to combine an 7 day trip with a 7 day crash diet. Save on cost and lose weight.

 

[JennyDrake]

We are going in January. Thankfully I booked a value resort because the prices for food has gone up dramatically. Liberty Tree Tavern used to be in the $30 range. I just looked and it's $44/pp. With tax and tip it will be well over $50/pp. Now I am not surprised why there was no problem getting reservations at any time we wanted. How are people eating at disney these days? Even the CS meals are expensive and I always thought they were fairly priced.

I am just back, having been away for 4 years. Prior to that, I've been multiple times a year for 20 years.

As a general rule, TS (not signature) wo alcohol will be at least $50/person before it is said and done.
Signature will be $100/person.
I was astounded at the jump in CS and bottled soft drinks! CS meals ran $15-20 for us WITHOUT beverage, soft drinks are $5/each minimum. (FWIW we don't eat burgers, fries, chicken tenders, etc.)