With peak pricing, are these buffets worth it?

[NaLisa]

My apologies for the long post. It just kept growing and growing and growing...

A month or so ago, I looked up menus and prices on one website and figured out our approx. cost for the four TS lunches we have planned. Then last night I saw a post about peak time pricing and other price increases, plus another site shows higher regular prices than the first one I used. So the cost is significantly higher than what I originally thought, and now I'm re-examing those meals trying to decide if they're worth it.

Cast includes me (44), DH (43), DD7 and DD6, staying offsite in a condo where we'll have breakfast every day and some dinners. DH and I like sharing (to sample more items) and will eat pretty much anything. DDs are less adventurous but not overly picky; both eat lightly at meals but like to eat more frequently, so they'll likely snack whether we have a huge buffet or a lighter lunch.

I've been looing around at CS menus today to guesstimate how much we would spend on counter service and snacks each day if we went that route instead.

Here's what we have planned and the approx. cost, including taxes and 20 percent tip, and how much a counter service lunch would cost in place of the TS meal:

Saturday, 4/2--Crystal Palace--11:50 a.m.--$115 (CS $40)
Monday, 4/4--Biergarten--1:05--$118 (CS $43)
Tuesday, 4/5--Tusker House--11:30--$100 (CS $38)
Thursday, 4-7--Akershus--1:50--$157 (probably keeping this one, so no comparison made)

I picked Akershus months ago, as DDs will go to BBB in DTD that morning and then have princess lunch afterward. It's our meal splurge on this trip and we really want to keep this one.

Crystal Palace I added only about a month ago, once we saw 8 a.m. opening and keeping in mind that we can't check into condo until 3 or 4 that afternoon. Thought CP would be a nice midday break in the midst of a long and probably crowded day in the park. DDs aren't big Pooh fans and wouldn't be crushed if we missed this one, but I've found myself looking forward to it since it's our first day at WDW.

Biergarten was DH's lone TS request, but he's not too attached to it and is more interested in the entertainment than the food.

Tusker House was recently added on the recommendation of a friend, who said it wouldn't cost much more than the lunch we had planned at Flame Tree. We may keep this one until the morning of to see what we feel more like doing (would def. cancel ahead of ADR, though). This one's likely the first one we'll scrap.

Running total: 4 TS meals $490; 1 TS & 3 CS meals $278.

So my questions are:

1. Do these prices look about right (don't want anyone to research it; just a general "that seems high" or "don't forget to include ___ cost," etc.)?

2. Any of these jump out as just not being worth it?

3. What would you do if you were me?

 

[Darcy03231]

If you kids are Pooh fans, I would cancel the CP and just do a CS meal. I think any fixed price or buffet meal for kids that don't eat much is really a waste (I never had that issue as my kids are eaters - DS alone is more than worth the cost for a buffet).

 

[ms.ojo]

Here's what we have planned and the approx. cost, including taxes and 20 percent tip, and how much a counter service lunch would cost in place of the TS meal:

Saturday, 4/2--Crystal Palace--11:50 a.m.--$115 (CS $40)
Monday, 4/4--Biergarten--1:05--$118 (CS $43)
Tuesday, 4/5--Tusker House--11:30--$100 (CS $38)
Thursday, 4-7--Akershus--1:50--$157 (probably keeping this one, so no comparison made)

Running total: 4 TS meals $490; 1 TS & 3 CS meals $278.

So my questions are:

1. Do these prices look about right (don't want anyone to research it; just a general "that seems high" or "don't forget to include ___ cost," etc.)?

2. Any of these jump out as just not being worth it?

3. What would you do if you were me?

Prices seem about right. We are also in our 40's and our children are just slightly older than yours. Here's my insight:

Sitdown meal in the middle of a hot day at MK is a must do for us! It TOTALLY refreshes us. Unltd drinks, cool ac, fun chars...and some of the best salmon you'll ever (ever) have!!! Did I mention the unltd drinks and ac?? It truly is a wonderful midday refresher at CPal.

In general, for our clan, we like to have a bigger meal at lunch. We eat a lite bfast in our room and always make rope drop. Then by lunch we are hungry and enjoy getting out of the heat and resting. Many days we ret'n for a midday break before going back in the evening to use our Fast passes and enjoy the evening entertainment. But by doing our TS at lunch, we don't have to rush the break to be back at a certain time for dinner.

Having said that, one of our fav. char meals is the Garden Grille in Epcot. The food is a cut above and the char interaction is MUCH more personal and quiet. The chars really have a chance to interact w/ you. So much fun. BUT, being dinner, for 2 adults (actually 3 as son is 11) and a child, it's about $160. So I totally understand when you talk about the price/value or how you might be just as happy w/ a $40 counter svc meal. It's more than the food, it's the environment and fun factor. It's Disney, it's your vaca'n, and you can shape it any way you want.

So build in the meals that have meaning to you (akershus) or might give you a really helpful respit (CPal) and enjoy!

As for your other 2 choices, We did a late bfast at Tusker House and the food was good (not great) but we were very rushed by our waitress. It was a hurried experience, not great char interaction and a hefty bill. We all enjoy Flametree MUCH more.

Biergarten is great! Fun entertainment....my children just don't eat/like much of the food so that makes it harder to justify. If your family will enjoy the food...you'll have a great time there.

Edited to add: Other non buffet choices you might enjoy: Park Plaza Restaurant (MK), Kona Cafe BUT, now that we have a "child" who counts as an "adult" at the restaurants.....I'm glad we did as many buffets as we did when we had 2 children! It's a totally diff't ballgame when you have to start paying $35 or more for them vs. $12-$15!!!! Do the buffets now while they're young!!

 

[JennyDrake]

If you kids are Pooh fans, I would cancel the CP and just do a CS meal. I think any fixed price or buffet meal for kids that don't eat much is really a waste

I totally agree!

At those prices and the ages/appetities of your kids, I would keep Norway and abandon the others.

I am a Hard Core Foodie and _I_ abandon the buffets with seasonal rates.

 

[maggiew]

Saturday, 4/2--Crystal Palace--11:50 a.m.--$115 (CS $40)
Monday, 4/4--Biergarten--1:05--$118 (CS $43)
Tuesday, 4/5--Tusker House--11:30--$100 (CS $38)
Thursday, 4-7--Akershus--1:50--$157 (probably keeping this one, so no comparison made)

Personally I would keep Akershus and Crystal Palace. That is a nice range of characters. Crystal Palace is our favorite breakfast (food quality has been the best in our experience). But I have never been at lunch, which I assume the 11:50 time slot is? I wasn't impressed with the food at Akershus, but its the princesses, so what can you do??

I'd give up Biergarten. But then, that food doesn't appeal to me. If DH is only lukewarm about it, probably not worth it.

I'd also give up Tusker House. There aren't any characters at 11:30, are there? And the food is not really to my liking.

Maggie

 

[TDC Nala]

Are you going for the food, or for the character experience? Obviously Biergarten and Tusker House lunch have no characters. But back when I went to buffets, they had better food. I don't know how the food is now.

 

[NaLisa]

Thanks all for your input. Very helpful! I'm leaning towards keeping Crystal Palace and Akershus and scrapping Biergarten and Tusker House.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

Thanks all for your input. Very helpful! I'm leaning towards keeping Crystal Palace and Akershus and scrapping Biergarten and Tusker House.

I think you have made a wise decision!

If you really needed to save money, you could have a nice break on your first day at the MK by going to the Plaza for a sit down meal. But since it is your first day, I think you will find that the buffet at Crystal Palace is a really special treat and will set the tone for your vacation. I would keep it unless money was tight.

Akershus is also special, and you will treasure the photograph that comes with the meal.

I love the Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House, but I was not impressed with lunch there. The food was fine, but the atmosphere (without the characters) was sorely lacking at lunch. Scrapping lunch at Tusker House is a good call, and AK has some great counter service options.

Finally, I have never tried Biergarten, but Epcot has such wonderful counter service possibilities that I would give it up in a heartbeat. It is so much fun to get snacks along the way, as you tour World Showcase. Also, there is entertainment outdoors, as you make your way around the lake. I do not think you will miss Biergarten.

 

[BriarRosie]

Are you going for the food, or for the character experience? Obviously Biergarten and Tusker House lunch have no characters. But back when I went to buffets, they had better food. I don't know how the food is now.

I tried the Tusker House lunch buffet in December, my first visit there since they changed to buffet a couple years ago. I really enjoyed it and would go back.

 

[JLS]

Prices seem about right (i.e. outrageous). I find that with the increased prices on buffets (seasonal pricing) and we go to a lot of buffets, the DDP seems like a better deal. At least mentally for me I would rather pay a flat amount up front before our vacation and not worry about being stuck with a $115-$150 bill for every meal.

What is more difficult to answer is whether these meals are worth it to you. The main factors are how tight money is in your family and how much you really enjoy the experience of meals. Part of the Disney experience for us is the sit-down meals at the fun places (characters or places with good ambience). During the summer it is also essential, IMO, to be able to get in out of the heat and TS is more relaxing. But if you will be skimping in other areas just to pay for these meals, it may not be worth it. I agree with the idea of doing 2 of the meals. Maybe the 2 character meals. Tusker House is OK for lunch but not that great. Crystal Palace is really special, and if your girls are into the Princesses you should keep Askershus because they will really love it. Biergarten may be worth keeping if you are into that kind of food and entertainment. Also if you don't mind sharing a table. We enjoyed it but probably won't make a point to return.

 

[NaLisa]

Your replies have been truly helpful. We're staying offsite, so no dining plan. We can afford four TS meals, but I can't help but wonder if that money isn't better spent elsewhere. I don't want us to feel disappointed after spending that much money on a meal.

We're going to keep all four ADRs for now, then make decisions on what we feel like doing when the time comes. If we find the midday restaurant break a wonderful respite for our family (and we'll know better after our first one at Crystal Palace), we may do all four.

Many thanks.