Every meal had a meal in Walt Disney World is over priced, and if I leave the property I will always find a better meal somewhere else for less money.
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Is there any restaurant (full service or counter) "In the Parks" that provide value ?
- Thread starter Astro_Digital
- Start date
If you are comparing them off property restaurants, then virtually none of the restaurants or food carts have remotely any value. They are all drastically overpriced compared to anything you will find off property.
The same is true for every nearly theme park, sports stadium, arena, etc. on the planet.
The same is true for every nearly theme park, sports stadium, arena, etc. on the planet.
Eat off property...
Think of the over pricing as the cost of time. It will take you an hour to hour and a half at least to go off site and eat at a different restaurant and get back, so essentially you are over paying for the convenience of eating and then being in line for a ride within 5-10 minutes of finishing your meal , rather than having to drive back on site, park, go thru security and then walk to the next ride you want to be on.
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
Excellent point! Convenience can and does have monetary value, given that one's vacation time is limited.
As for restaurants where you get the most bang for your buck (even if it's less bang than you'd get off-property), some of the better values in my opinion are the Plaza Restaurant at MK (for a la carte - entrees cost just a little bit more than counter service), Via Napoli in Epcot (if you order a pizza to share, rather than individual entrees, you can feed the whole family for less than a typical CS meal) and lunch at the Biergarten in Epcot (for a wholesome buffet with live entertainment that will keep you feeling full for hours). For CS, my biggest recommendation is still Pecos Bill. DH and I split a fajita platter ($15; add $3-$4 if you want extra tortillas) and a couple of free iced waters between the two of us, and by the time we've finished adding things from the toppings bar, there's so much food we can't finish it. Not bad for less than $10 per person.
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slappy magoo
Well-Known Member
"Better" is subjective. As is "value."
If you think Disney is expensive*, try a pizza at a Cedar Fair park...
* and it is...
Minnie Mum
Well-Known Member
You've been on these boards for 11 years and you've just noticed this? And it surprised you?
networkpro
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- Yes
Your assumption is that everyone is in your same financial circumstances. Wrong. The opportunity cost for my wife and I to purchase something to eat or drink inside the park is less than leaving the park for those same items.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
There are many ways to interpret your question. Just about every restaurant at WDW, in my opinion, is overpriced. Not just "theme park, captive audience" overpriced, but excessively overpriced, considering food quality, even taking into account the captive audience aspect.
However, last time I ate at Trattoria al Forno I thought it provided good value. Especially if you take into consideration the captive audience aspect.
The food was good, and the prices were just a bit over what I would expect to pay in the "outside world". $23 for a $20 entree for example. It's not cheap, but considering the food quality, the decor, and the service, I didn't feel like I was being mugged when the bill came.
-dave
However, last time I ate at Trattoria al Forno I thought it provided good value. Especially if you take into consideration the captive audience aspect.
The food was good, and the prices were just a bit over what I would expect to pay in the "outside world". $23 for a $20 entree for example. It's not cheap, but considering the food quality, the decor, and the service, I didn't feel like I was being mugged when the bill came.
-dave
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Tom P.
Well-Known Member
I feel like we just had this discussion in another thread.
Regardless, we have recently been at Dollywood and at a Marvel Universe Live event. And I can say with absolute certainty that Disney's prices are not out of line for food in a theme park. We came out of the Marvel show saying "we need to go back to Disney where the food is cheap."
For us, as others have said, it is not worth the cost savings on the food to waste the time it would take to leave Disney property and dine somewhere else. But if that's different for you, then nothing stops you from going off property for a meal.
Regardless, we have recently been at Dollywood and at a Marvel Universe Live event. And I can say with absolute certainty that Disney's prices are not out of line for food in a theme park. We came out of the Marvel show saying "we need to go back to Disney where the food is cheap."
For us, as others have said, it is not worth the cost savings on the food to waste the time it would take to leave Disney property and dine somewhere else. But if that's different for you, then nothing stops you from going off property for a meal.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Well you ARE in Disney and part of the value is in the atmosphere and experience. Value at a WDW restaurant TS or CS to me isnt solely in the amount of food served. And I'd argue that there are many menu items I'd say are quality items that are unique and better than what I'd receive in outside the park restaurants. Not all TS or QS places are equal in value or quality and value but some are worth the price.
If you are looking to eat on the cheap then dont bother dining at WDW.
If you are looking to eat on the cheap then dont bother dining at WDW.
Club Cooloholic
Well-Known Member
Where did he make that assumption? If your a millionaire or a pauper value is still value and how much money in your pocket has nothing to do with your ability to enjoy or perceive "value". That said I think what he is really asking is if there are any "values" on par with what you find outside the parks. For instance, Jiko is for sure not cheap, but finding a comparable place in Orlando is a challenge and the food is on par with a high end restaurant anywhere...thus value?
joejccva71
Well-Known Member
There are a few restaurants at Disney that are very much worth the price.
- Ohana
- California Grill
- Via Napoli
- Narcoosee's
- Flying Fish
Just to name a few...the quality of food and service are extremely good.
- Ohana
- California Grill
- Via Napoli
- Narcoosee's
- Flying Fish
Just to name a few...the quality of food and service are extremely good.
righttrack
Well-Known Member
Two elements at play here - cost and value. It may cost less to eat elsewhere but as others have already stated so eloquently, it may not produce value. Value is lost when one loses up to 2 hours of vacation time leaving property. Value is lost when the theming/experience goes away too. Value goes up when you are eating at a place where there is a cohesive experience that was imagineered and created to maximize your enjoyment. It really depends on the situation and on what your mood is I guess.
I think the best value in the parks is just eating quick service items as I feel like it from World Showcase. Not whole meals but appetizers, deserts, snack items and beer. That's me. Were I to have a free day, completely on my own, I'd graze my way through World Showcase just like that. I'm a husband and dad so I don't really get to choose sadly.
I think the best value in the parks is just eating quick service items as I feel like it from World Showcase. Not whole meals but appetizers, deserts, snack items and beer. That's me. Were I to have a free day, completely on my own, I'd graze my way through World Showcase just like that. I'm a husband and dad so I don't really get to choose sadly.
TheGuyThatMakesSwords
Well-Known Member
Can't comment, as I have no idea what VALUE means to you? "Bang for Buck"? "Quality"? "Speed of Service"? "Accepts DDP"?
What would help.... what sort of place would fit YOUR Families needs and desires? This can be VERY different for an older retired couple with no little ones (us), and a family with very hungry children.
I generally advise folks to get OUT of the parks, for food - the quality is FAR lower than the surrounding Hotels. But you might have a dear daughter dead set on a Princess Dinner - and "Value" just changed.
What would help.... what sort of place would fit YOUR Families needs and desires? This can be VERY different for an older retired couple with no little ones (us), and a family with very hungry children
.I generally advise folks to get OUT of the parks, for food - the quality is FAR lower than the surrounding Hotels. But you might have a dear daughter dead set on a Princess Dinner - and "Value" just changed
.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
The price at WDW may not be out of line, but the quality of the food has become downright garbage. If WDW still had food like it did 8 to 10 years ago, then OK, I can accept the theme park prices. But prices have continued to go up, and quality has really really slid. Some places just don't even try anymore.
Ponderer
Well-Known Member
I haven't been back since 1997 (finally going back in three weeks), but I keep hearing that Satu'li Canteen is first rate. Maybe a touch more expensive than, say, a burrito at Chipotle's, but just fantastic, fresh quality based on almost everything people have shared with me. I have a couple friends who would rather eat there than most any table-service option in the parks.
Tom P.
Well-Known Member
I hear this complaint all the time, but I just don't agree. Granted, it has been a year since I was there last, but when we were there we had no complaints about the food quality at all. I am not going to say that every restaurant across property is excellent or that there aren't some ones that have poor quality, but I certainly did not find that to be the case on a large scale. Downright garbage? Not by a long shot.