Why Does Disney Charge a "HOLIDAY" fee....

[brunette8706]

for all or most of their buffets? I went to BOMA the beginning of June and instead of charging me $26.99 they charged me $31.99 per person. It was NOT a holiday and I was perturbed that they can do such a thing. I can see them a charge an extra fee if the menu was different or they added a few more items or EVEN if it was a HOLIDAY, but it wasn't!

What do you all think of this?

Thanks!
brunette

 

[TDC Nala]

June is a peak travel time, and they are apparently working according to supply and demand. Demand for buffets is higher at peak times and the supply of food they need to provide must also be higher.

And many people paid it - I have not heard that the buffets were less busy in June than they usually are. Of course a lot of those present were probably on the dining plan.

 

[Lynne M]

It's not at all unusual in the travel industry to charge more during peak seasons. Disney has always had higher resort rates in peak seasons, now they're extending that strategy to food pricing. As the PP said, it's supply and demand. There's high demand for Disney restaurants in June, and people are apparently willing to pay more to dine there during busy times. As long as the restaurants are full, the surcharges will stay.

 

[brunette8706]

Thanks for your response TDC Nala. Based on your thread above I believe if that was the case then all the food at Disney would incurr this so called Holiday Fee, but it is just the buffets. Also, I could see if it was Memorial Day Week but it wasn't, it was June 9th. This date is also before kids are out of school. They have never done this before in the years that I have been going to Disney and I still think it is a Bad Business Practice, to do this, unless of course it was a Holiday or they ADDED other food to the buffet, in my humble opinion.

brunette

 

[angelmav]

Because they can.


Seriously, demand is up and they know folks will pay it meaning a better bottom line. The difference between Disney and typical resort/vacation places is that these other places rely on the high seasons to survive, Disney doesnt necessarily, what time of year is 'not' busy anymore? But thats the route they took and can point to any number of other businesses to make their case.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Because they can.

1) Yep.
2) As long as you pay it, don't expect it to go down or away.
3) If you don't like getting ripped, just boycot those eateries.
4) That is what we recommend to others.

 

[brunette8706]

3) If you don't like getting ripped, just boycot those eateries.


*
That's exactly what I think it is. I guess I won't eat there when the eh hem "holiday" fee applies! I would think when you make ADR's you have to ask if the "Holiday" fee is in effect during that period.

Thanks !

Brunette

 

[hoosiergirl7]

I agree with you. I don't think it's right but if people will pay then they will charge. This is one of the biggest reasons I avoid Disney at peak times. That and the crowds. Yes I'm aware that it's fairly busy there year round but jam-packed it not my idea of fun. If that means pulling kids out of school, so be it.

But I agree with other posters that have said that during peak times places will charge more because they know people will pay it.

 

[disnut8]

I think the "holiday" designation is extremely misleading and Disney screwed up with that label. It should be "seasonal" pricing. Just like Disney resorts have different "seasons", the dining options will also have those designations.

As far as having a surcharge on anything but a buffet, you really can't do that. It's not a flat rate price.

Many, many, many tourist areas charge different prices for their seasons. There's a great seafood buffet in Ocean City, Maryland that has one price for Memorial Day - Labor Day, then a very reduced price for the rest of the year, then increases for Christmas time and New Years, then lowers it again until Memorial Day rolls around.

Same principle with why the same meal at dinner is going to cost you $4 more than lunch. More people eat dinner out.

I'm actually surprised it took Disney this long to follow along with the other tourist areas.

 

[brunette8706]

I too agree that it is misleading. I think I have an issue with the phrase "Because They Can". Well, it doesn't make it right, does it? An extra $5.00 per person per day can really add up, especially people with families. I agree and I too think it is a "RIP OFF". I just will not eat there during those times. The same thing is going on for the "CARRIAGE RIDES"! It was $35.00 just last year, this year it's a whopping $60.00! It just sounds like WDW is nickle and diming it's customers!

BTW- I'm an Ocean City fan, and I can relate!

Brunette

 

[GazerBeam]

Thanks for your response TDC Nala. Based on your thread above I believe if that was the case then all the food at Disney would incurr this so called Holiday Fee, but it is just the buffets.

Do we know that they don't raise the prices at non-buffet TS and CS? Those prices aren't as advertised as the buffets, and it would be easy enough for them to print new menus (or change the electronic signs at CS) to raise the prices a dollar here and there. I wouldn't put it past them.

GB

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We may be going again in June 2009 and I'm considering not doing any buffets then because of the "holiday rate" charging.

I think it's terrible that Disney is charging higher rates for some buffets even if it's not a true holiday.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

It's a way for Disney to make money, and it works. This could also be a way to get more people to use the DDP during that time, since that costs the same, but has a better "value" then.

I forgot about the holiday pricing, and was trying to decide if I wanted to go at the begining or end of May next year, guess I'll go a the begining.

 

[ntsammy5]

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[Tricia1972]

They did it last March when we went too. We'd already reserved Tusker House Lunch, Boma Dinner, Chef Mickey Breakfast, Ohana Dinner, and Crystal Palace for Lunch.

Solely based on the increase, we canceled all except our Crystal Palace for lunch.

Disney does it because they can. I for one choose not to pay it and hopefully they make less money because of it. If Disney loses money doing this, then they'll stop. So long as they make money, they'll keep on doing it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Thanks for your response TDC Nala. Based on your thread above I believe if that was the case then all the food at Disney would incurr this so called Holiday Fee, but it is just the buffets.

Nothing to be confused about. Other restaurants can play with the size of portions, the ingredients they use, and the items they offer. Buffets can't. A ready supply of all items a buffet offers must be constantly prepared.

June 9 is close to Memorial Day. Many schools are out then.

 

[brunette8706]

Well no, not exactly. Memorial Day was May 26th. Now if I went to the buffet that day or a day after okay, that should be holiday pricing. Even the weekend of Memorial Day, but it was 2 weeks later. So, no it should not be considered Holiday pricing. Most Maryland schools start summer vacations the 3rd week in June I believe.

Brunette

 

[pearlieq]

Because they can.

And yes, I have a reasonable understanding of economics. I still think it's obnoxious and petty.

 

[brunette8706]

I agree with you that it is obnoxious. It's a real shame that they would indeed charge this extra price.

Brunette

 

[Stitchfans]

That was my biggest grip for our trip this past March. We spent a small fortune because of the surcharges. But I felt since it was so crowded if we wanted to see any characters I guess it was the price we had to pay.