Why so many prix fixe menus and who eats lunch at 10:30?

[SwirlyGirly]

I haven't been since before covid, and I am trying to cobble together a last minute trip. I am not happy with a lot of the changes to Disney dining. Why so many prix fixe menus with no option to order a la carte? I personally, like to have 2-3 sit down meals a day. I don't eat QS at Disney because IRL I don't eat fast food or fast casual. But I don't need an app, main, and dessert at 11:00 am on a Tuesday, either. I usally just get a main and a drink at lunch. Even at dinner, I wouldn't get a dessert, normally. I used to love going into Liberty

And now I find it's getting really hard to eat breakfasts in parks. I used to enjoy breakfast at BOG, for example. I booked BOG for 10:30, and am now really bummed to see it's a prix fixe lunch. I don't think I'm going to want a filet at 10:30 am. I did the same with Sci-Fi in DHS, and was suprised to find out my 10:30 there was now lunch, too. They used to do a nice breakfast with a bowl of pastries that my kids loved.

 

[leiaorgana]

Prix Fixe menus are so prevalent now because too many people were just ordering a cupcake or bendy straw instead of a full meal at BOG to look inside and at the signatures with fireworks views too many people were only ordering an app or dessert so that they could hog a window table for hours on end. Disney made those changes because of those people and to make sure they were getting a decent spend per head at those restaurants.

 

[mom2rtk]

Why so many prix fixe meals?

Because they can.

 

[Alexander]

It makes financial sense for Disney to do Prix Fixe. They tried them out and people booked them, so they aren't going to go back.

 

[nw6675]

I haven't been since before covid, and I am trying to cobble together a last minute trip. I am not happy with a lot of the changes to Disney dining. Why so many prix fixe menus with no option to order a la carte? I personally, like to have 2-3 sit down meals a day. I don't eat QS at Disney because IRL I don't eat fast food or fast casual. But I don't need an app, main, and dessert at 11:00 am on a Tuesday, either. I usally just get a main and a drink at lunch. Even at dinner, I wouldn't get a dessert, normally. I used to love going into Liberty

And now I find it's getting really hard to eat breakfasts in parks. I used to enjoy breakfast at BOG, for example. I booked BOG for 10:30, and am now really bummed to see it's a prix fixe lunch. I don't think I'm going to want a filet at 10:30 am. I did the same with Sci-Fi in DHS, and was suprised to find out my 10:30 there was now lunch, too. They used to do a nice breakfast with a bowl of pastries that my kids loved.

I agree with you. It's why in all these years never got the dining plan. Either too much food or too much QS.

We've had to revise our dining decisions because of the prix fixe just not having the choices we are looking for.

Personally I don't think it's mainly based on people not ordering. I think it's a way to increase the price, serve less quality/priced food, and turn tables quickly. I think that's why the dining plan of old won't come back. Disney is in control.

 

[jo-jo]

We used to go to BOG about 2 -3 pm. Past lunch/before dinner, and get coffee and 3 desserts for the 2 of us and take a break. Miss that too.

 

[CrystalClear82]

While it's a pain and some dont view it as a vacation, we have started ordering some groceries in.
My DH and I aren't fast food eaters and the pre-fixed options are just too much.
(to admit the amount of times we have taken leftovers back and then thrown them out on departure is shameful.)

 

[Sparkly]

Yet again, people being cheap caused this.

 

[SteveH]

Welcome to the new Disney! It's now like it or leave it, unlike the old Burger King Motto its now, "Have it our way or don't. We don't care." Many of us have left Disney vacations, maybe one day when they return to providing great service and value, not the new Disney Motto, "It's all about the Money... Now give us all of yours." Wishing the best of luck navigating the new Disney.

 

[lowlight]

Yet again, people being cheap caused this.

Were a small percentage of people ordering a side and tying up a table? Sure, but I don’t believe cheap people are the boogeymen. It’s just greed.

If Disney had good food at good prices, they wouldn’t have many people ordering a side at dinner just to see the Beast. Instead, you pay out the rear for food I wouldn’t eat even if it was from a local restaurant and are graced by Beast doing a 5 second walk through.

 

[Disneylover99]

Yes, prix fixe menus are being implemented more and more by Disney for many reasons. Main reason…….people are booking up those ADR’s and Disney is raking in the dough.

We love to eat lunch at 10:30am and we love counter service, so we’re not really affected. But if you only do TS and don’t like buffets or fixed menus, you really just need to check out the restaurant menus ahead of time. There are still some good a la carte choices out there In each park. Or maybe give counter service a try?

An a la carte TS breakfast in the parks has always been a challenge IMO. If you really want breakfast and you’re heading to the MK, I’d book a TS restaurant somewhere on the monorail loop, then head over. Steakhouse 71, Kona Cafe, or Grand Floridian Cafe are all good choices for breakfast.

 

[mom2rtk]

Were a small percentage of people ordering a side and tying up a table? Sure, but I don’t believe cheap people are the boogeymen. It’s just greed.

If Disney had good food at good prices, they wouldn’t have many people ordering a side at dinner just to see the Beast. Instead, you pay out the rear for food I wouldn’t eat even if it was from a local restaurant and are graced by Beast doing a 5 second walk through.

And I will add, there is zero reason why the Beast is only doing walk throughs at this point and no longer available for a quick photo after these very expensive dinners. That is also pure greed.

 

[ak517]

Maybe not the best solution, but I recommend looking into lounges, like Nomad Lounge in DAK, as an alternative to a lunch reservation. As a solo traveler I haven’t had an issue grabbing a seat at the bar but with a family or group you would want to at least put your name down at 11 when they open. The Hollywood brown derby lounge is similar, but outdoors only, so I only do that dependent on weather.

Breakfasts are super hard. I generally don’t eat breakfast but when I travel with my husband he gets so cranky! I’m hopeful more savory breakfasts will return. An option in DHS is ronto roasters for a breakfast wrap.

 

[nyy]

I agree that the increase in prix-fix meals are frustrating! Liberty Tree used to be our favorite sit down lunch in MK - great location, great food, theming, etc. No one in my family wants to sit down to a Thanksgiving feast at noon in August!
In addition to the reasons previously stated by others, I would add that maybe it also helps with staffing. If the restaurant only ever serves one type of meal, (or very few selections) - easy to train employees, easy to get food prepped ahead of time, and servers can turn-over tables more quickly.
It's sad because Disney has some very uniquely-themed restaurants that we have always enjoyed.

 

[SwirlyGirly]

Yes, prix fixe menus are being implemented more and more by Disney for many reasons. Main reason…….people are booking up those ADR’s and Disney is raking in the dough.

We love to eat lunch at 10:30am and we love counter service, so we’re not really affected. But if you only do TS and don’t like buffets or fixed menus, you really just need to check out the restaurant menus ahead of time. There are still some good a la carte choices out there In each park. Or maybe give counter service a try?

An a la carte TS breakfast in the parks has always been a challenge IMO. If you really want breakfast and you’re heading to the MK, I’d book a TS restaurant somewhere on the monorail loop, then head over. Steakhouse 71, Kona Cafe, or Grand Floridian Cafe are all good choices for breakfast.

Normally I would plan ahead of time, but this is an unplanned, last minute trip, which has always been challenging, but now that I'm out of practice and out of the loop, even more so!

 

[SwirlyGirly]

While it's a pain and some dont view it as a vacation, we have started ordering some groceries in.
My DH and I aren't fast food eaters and the pre-fixed options are just too much.
(to admit the amount of times we have taken leftovers back and then thrown them out on departure is shameful.)

We bring some water and granola bars, but we don't go back to the room enough to bring more than that.

 

[SwirlyGirly]

I agree that the increase in prix-fix meals are frustrating! Liberty Tree used to be our favorite sit down lunch in MK - great location, great food, theming, etc. No one in my family wants to sit down to a Thanksgiving feast at noon in August!
In addition to the reasons previously stated by others, I would add that maybe it also helps with staffing. If the restaurant only ever serves one type of meal, (or very few selections) - easy to train employees, easy to get food prepped ahead of time, and servers can turn-over tables more quickly.
It's sad because Disney has some very uniquely-themed restaurants that we have always enjoyed.

I used to love LTT, too! I used to love having their salad for lunch, and sneaking some of the kids' mac & cheese!

 

[SwirlyGirly]

Maybe not the best solution, but I recommend looking into lounges, like Nomad Lounge in DAK, as an alternative to a lunch reservation. As a solo traveler I haven’t had an issue grabbing a seat at the bar but with a family or group you would want to at least put your name down at 11 when they open. The Hollywood brown derby lounge is similar, but outdoors only, so I only do that dependent on weather.

Breakfasts are super hard. I generally don’t eat breakfast but when I travel with my husband he gets so cranky! I’m hopeful more savory breakfasts will return. An option in DHS is ronto roasters for a breakfast wrap.

I love lounges, and I'm quite the barfly myself. However, since this is a last minute trip during spring break, I'm too afraid to go w/o ADRs. (my daughter is in a senior in HS and was supposed to go ahead of her school trip to meet a few days, but the friend bailed, and now I'm going instead.)

 

[HopperFan]

Others have explained why ~ other Disney guests ruined it for you. Disney will likely be adding more in the future for a variety of reasons because it is the best business move for them. Prix Fixe means less staffing, less inventory, less kitchen staff, faster preparation & serving so tables turn faster and guaranteed income from everyone sitting.

I think there is still plenty of places to eat how you want to eat, you'll just not be able to do it at some of your favorites. There are still some restaurants not open or at full operation so you will find guests filling the other locations. Seems like breakfast is the area they are still lacking, even at quick service (so we eat before we arrive) and we might never see it return to BOG. Sci Fi didn't offer breakfast as a standard, they only had a special offering a few times. It will likely be the most challenging meal.

Might need to look at hotel options for dining. Other than AK there are close by hotel restaurants to the parks. At AK we eat breakfast at the Rainforest Cafe, and it offers all meal options there even though I think it is often forgotten since so well hidden.

 

[Lunchbox66]

Yet again, people being cheap caused this.

I agree. The same reason you can no longer get add-ons at Topolino's breakfast, people abusing the system. But, I understand it.

I agree the prefix menu is more cost efficient for Disney and if people are still booking reservations they are going to keep going with it.

We enjoy a late morning or brunch at Disney, but we usually choose the deluxe resort areas, which I would recommend, such as Topolino's, Ale and Compass, Ohana's, Steakhouse 71, etc... We've also been able to join the walk-up list for these with good luck and short wait times. The only issue now is we've been told they are really cracking down on parking if you do not have a dining reservation, again, because of people abusing the system.