Is attendance really down at WDW this or…

[TheMaxRebo]

Where do some you live that Disney food prices are comparable to home? For my family of 4 when we eat out it's usually $80 if we don't have any beers.

That's really cheap - we are like $140-150 for a normal meal out

Just checked menu of regular places near here (burgers, etc) and apps are $10-$18, burgers are $15-22, mains are $24-44

Heck, don't think we could do Panera Bread for less than $20/person here (sandwiches are like $12.50, add in a drink and tax and pretty close to $20)

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

And how was that? I've had good tasting meals there, haven't gone in the past two years though. However, the best meal I had there was a Sunday brunch, I kept trying to give the place a chance for a good dining experience for dinner, however, unless I was seated in the back room that faces Bay Lake, it's just louder than a Hotblack Desiato/Disaster Area concert and for the price, I cannot justify the poor ambiance, just for an off center wonky view of fireworks. The food quality was fine though. Value though, is subjective and though the meals did taste good, the inability to have a conversation was huge negative. A problem I never have at Jiko, but that's the opposite of monorail loop.

It was good…booked it about 2 hours in advance.

Fireworks gig…I couldn’t care less but nice

But I hate the fixed price. To me…that says “you’re part of my predetermined margin”…when a good restaurant should say “we want you to enjoy it to where you go overboard and are happy spending $600…and come back”

It’s the wrong message

I know how to find the Olive Garden

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

That's really cheap - we are like $140-150 for a normal meal out

Just checked menu of regular places near here (burgers, etc) and apps are $10-$18, burgers are $15-22, mains are $24-44

Heck, don't think we could do Panera Bread for less than $20/person here (sandwiches are like $12.50, add in a drink and tax and pretty close to $20)

Ok…where dat?

I know it’s close and I don’t disagree…but I need a point of reference. You do have 5 though

 

[JD80]

Food is not cheap really anywhere in the suburban/urban markets.

Like all the drunk horses at the well - they’ve used Covid as a shield to “cover costs” on their way to trying to capitalize on it.

The scary part is what If Disney - fool of aloof Iger clowns - decide they want to “re-establish” their 300% price over suburban places?

…luckily…the restaurants are already half empty. People ain’t playin’

Again, WDW is not 300% more expensive. Quick example is a meal at Burger King a large burger/fries/drink can range from $12-$15. Satuli's Canteen can be anywhere from $17-22 with a soft drink.

Skipper Canteen is $28-38 per plate for dinner.
Outback Steakhouse (northern MD) Steaks range from $28-38. Pastas and Chicken are $20-30.
Local Restaurant ranges from 20-25 with pasta, 20-30 with chicken and seafood.

It's really not that far out of whack.

For the character meals, you're really paying $20-$30 a person for the meet and greet stuff. It's up to you to say if that's worth it or not.

 

[Andrew25]

A bowl at the Chipotle in Celebration is $11.20... the bowl at Satu'li is $14.49

I'd easily pay the $3 premium for a higher-quality meal with nice seating and then a ride on FOP lol

 

[JD80]

I posted this before, people don't realize what inflation has done to your sense of pricing yet. It hasn't become normalized.

 

[Jrb1979]

Again, WDW is not 300% more expensive. Quick example is a meal at Burger King a large burger/fries/drink can range from $12-$15. Satuli's Canteen can be anywhere from $17-22 with a soft drink.

Skipper Canteen is $28-38 per plate for dinner.
Outback Steakhouse (northern MD) Steaks range from $28-38. Pastas and Chicken are $20-30.
Local Restaurant ranges from 20-25 with pasta, 20-30 with chicken and seafood.

It's really not that far out of whack.

For the character meals, you're really paying $20-$30 a person for the meet and greet stuff. It's up to you to say if that's worth it or not.

While Disney isn't 300% more expensive but where I live and the local restaurant has burgers for $12 and pasta for $16 it's hard to justify Disney prices.

I posted this before, people don't realize what inflation has done to your sense of pricing yet. It hasn't become normalized.

Where I am we've found grocery prices and has prices have increased a lot but restaurants really haven't increased that much at all.

 

[JusticeDisney]

So the food costs at WDW are comparable to what it costs at home? You must eat at some really overpriced mediocre restaurants.

Nah. We just don’t live in the back woods. Dining prices at WDW are relatively normal when compared to prices in most cities that people have actually heard of.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Again, WDW is not 300% more expensive. Quick example is a meal at Burger King a large burger/fries/drink can range from $12-$15. Satuli's Canteen can be anywhere from $17-22 with a soft drink.

Skipper Canteen is $28-38 per plate for dinner.
Outback Steakhouse (northern MD) Steaks range from $28-38. Pastas and Chicken are $20-30.
Local Restaurant ranges from 20-25 with pasta, 20-30 with chicken and seafood.

It's really not that far out of whack.

For the character meals, you're really paying $20-$30 a person for the meet and greet stuff. It's up to you to say if that's worth it or not.

It’s not 300% more NOW…and that’s why I said it. They have tinkered with that kinda thing in the past…especially under the little man messiah

So they would be doing it if they could. But it’s not selling…hence the fool dining plan.

And as far as the character thing goes…I literally laid it out the same way…and to repeat it isn’t a “counterpoint”

 

[wannabeBelle]

Again, WDW is not 300% more expensive. Quick example is a meal at Burger King a large burger/fries/drink can range from $12-$15. Satuli's Canteen can be anywhere from $17-22 with a soft drink.

Skipper Canteen is $28-38 per plate for dinner.
Outback Steakhouse (northern MD) Steaks range from $28-38. Pastas and Chicken are $20-30.
Local Restaurant ranges from 20-25 with pasta, 20-30 with chicken and seafood.

It's really not that far out of whack.

For the character meals, you're really paying $20-$30 a person for the meet and greet stuff. It's up to you to say if that's worth it or not.

Outback Steakhouse in Staten Island, NY is slightly less on the steaks, I cant get the image to populate correctly but here is the link: https://outbackmenus.com/230726/OPT3_19_0723-W3_T3_L4_LOB5_ALGN_SDM_0723/#pf4 Marie

 

[Drdcm]

Where do some you live that Disney food prices are comparable to home? For my family of 4 when we eat out it's usually $80 if we don't have any beers.

Washington DC. I used to live in Chicago and before that NYC. So very high COL areas. I’m also just generalizing. Of course there are super expensive places at WDW.

I’m not criticizing people for finding the food expensive. It is for them. I was just commenting that it depends on where you live how marked up everything is.

 

[Drdcm]

While Disney isn't 300% more expensive but where I live and the local restaurant has burgers for $12 and pasta for $16 it's hard to justify Disney prices.


Where I am we've found grocery prices and has prices have increased a lot but restaurants really haven't increased that much at all.

Just to highlight my situation, I went to a mediocre local Italian restaurant on Friday. The bolognese I got was 37$.

 

[JD80]

While Disney isn't 300% more expensive but where I live and the local restaurant has burgers for $12 and pasta for $16 it's hard to justify Disney prices.


Where I am we've found grocery prices and has prices have increased a lot but restaurants really haven't increased that much at all.

I mean I can find local restaurants that are cheaper too. There is a good local Greek place where you can get a Lamb Gyro for $12.

My point is only context. WDW prices are higher for sure, but you would expect them to be higher as the largest tourist destination, but they are not that much higher.

 

[JD80]

It’s not 300% more NOW…and that’s why I said it. They have tinkered with that kinda thing in the past…especially under the little man messiah

So they would be doing it if they could. But it’s not selling…hence the fool dining plan.

And as far as the character thing goes…I literally laid it out the same way…and to repeat it isn’t a “counterpoint”

When was it 300%?

 

[JD80]

Outback Steakhouse in Staten Island, NY is slightly less on the steaks, I cant get the image to populate correctly but here is the link: https://outbackmenus.com/230726/OPT3_19_0723-W3_T3_L4_LOB5_ALGN_SDM_0723/#pf4 Marie

I picked a few random zipcodes and their prices are pretty consistent throughout the country. Few bucks here and there difference.

 

[Lilofan]

A bowl at the Chipotle in Celebration is $11.20... the bowl at Satu'li is $14.49

I'd easily pay the $3 premium for a higher-quality meal with nice seating and then a ride on FOP lol

Love the bowls at a Chipotle. I get double of everything and the bowl is so full it can be an extra meal when I doggy bag the leftovers.

 

[Lilofan]

Again, WDW is not 300% more expensive. Quick example is a meal at Burger King a large burger/fries/drink can range from $12-$15. Satuli's Canteen can be anywhere from $17-22 with a soft drink.

Skipper Canteen is $28-38 per plate for dinner.
Outback Steakhouse (northern MD) Steaks range from $28-38. Pastas and Chicken are $20-30.
Local Restaurant ranges from 20-25 with pasta, 20-30 with chicken and seafood.

It's really not that far out of whack.

For the character meals, you're really paying $20-$30 a person for the meet and greet stuff. It's up to you to say if that's worth it or not.

Nothing beats all u can eat at Golden Corral in terms of pricing. $15 pre pay and ask the server for coffee at the end of the meal

 

[JD80]

Nothing beats all u can eat at Golden Corral in terms of pricing. $15 pre pay and ask the server for coffee at the end of the meal

Yeah but are you adding the cost of the Pepto you need after eating there.

 

[Jrb1979]

I mean I can find local restaurants that are cheaper too. There is a good local Greek place where you can get a Lamb Gyro for $12.

My point is only context. WDW prices are higher for sure, but you would expect them to be higher as the largest tourist destination, but they are not that much higher.

That's not just one local place. That's the average price for many places where I live. While I expect it to cost more at Disney, it's hard for me to justify when you compare it to what I usually pay for eating out.

The one I don't get is character meals. Why pay $60 for lousy buffet food to see characters I can see for free with a park ticket

 

[Chi84]

That's not just one local place. That's the average price for many places where I live. While I expect it to cost more at Disney, it's hard for me to justify when you compare it to what I usually pay for eating out.

The one I don't get is character meals. Why pay $60 for lousy buffet food to see characters I can see for free with a park ticket

I thought the same thing until our last two trips with the grandkids. We went to Storybook Dining dinner and Topolino’s breakfast and I would easily pay the difference for the character interaction we got there.

We have hilarious videos of my granddaughter trying to give her small Minnie doll to Minnie and her Mickey toy to Mickey. When she didn’t have a toy for Donald she gave him her fork. His reaction was priceless!

Also, we had excellent food and service in both places. The salmon dish at Storybook was one of the best meals I’ve had on property.

Whether that has enough value to you to make it worth the extra cost depends on the individual.