Up, Up, Up with prices ...

[WDW1974]

Apparently the gouging of diners at WDW has no end so long as the evil DDP is around.

Prices at most full serve locations have just gone up. Some increase are just $1 an entree, others are as much as $7 (yes, for the same item).

And don't forget that 'holiday (i.e. screw the guest) prices' are just around the corner for summer visitors!

Magical.

 

[culturenthrills]

I have pretty much stopped going to any Table Service restaurants at WDW. It is simply not worth it. Prices have gone up a ridiculous amount and thanks to the DDP good luck getting a reservation. I would much rather hop in my car and go off property to eat. Luckily there are still a few Counter Service restaurants I like.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

As Ive said on previous threads, the narrowing menus were already driving us off site, this is another shove.

 

[Scooter]

I have issues with Character Meals going up in prices during "Peak times"
This just doesn't seem right raising already high prices higher during busy times.

It's like if grocery stores started raising milk, disposable diaper, and bread prices on Saturday because that's when most people grocery shop.:brick:

There's already more people paying to get in during these times. They sell more stuff in the gift shops because there are more people. This is just being way too greedy in my opinion.

My wife and I pretty much just do counter service now because of the high prices of sit down dining at WDW. It's becoming rediculous. It's not even about the money anymore. We can afford to eat anywhere we want on property, but we question if what we get is worth what Disney wants us to pay.

Eating off property will soon become the thing to do if this keeps up.

 

[MousDad]

Eating what equals table service off-site works great if you take an afternoon break. Load up on an early dinner offsite before heading back in to the park for the evening.

If you're an all day park commando, I'm not sure going offsite just to eat is worth the loss of time, to save a few $. In other words, I would choose to eat counter service and snack in the park rather than leave the park specifically to eat a table service meal.

 

[brich]

This is just being way too greedy in my opinion.

Not sure I agree 100% here... One may think that just because more people are coming through the gate that they are making enough money so why raise food prices. But maybe the increase is to offset a rise in staff needed to operate? Or economy of just turning over a higher number of meals. There are a lot of economic variables involved so I don't think I would say it's just greed.

It may also be a way to offset non peak service so that throughout a fiscal year they recognize their profit margin based on an average of the two seasons. Not much is made during low seasons and the difference is easily recognized in the high season by bringing up prices. As a stock holder, I can't be that disappointed. At the same time, until they hold a gun to you making you pay the prices, just don't pay them. :shrug:

 

[fosse76]

Not sure I agree 100% here... One may think that just because more people are coming through the gate that they are making enough money so why raise food prices. But maybe the increase is to offset a rise in staff needed to operate? Or economy of just turning over a higher number of meals. There are a lot of economic variables involved so I don't think I would say it's just greed.

It may also be a way to offset non peak service so that throughout a fiscal year they recognize their profit margin based on an average of the two seasons. Not much is made during low seasons and the difference is easily recognized in the high season by bringing up prices. As a stock holder, I can't be that disappointed. At the same time, until they hold a gun to you making you pay the prices, just don't pay them. :shrug:

It's greed. I shouldn't have to pay more money for a hamburger in June so that somebody in September can get it for free. Just think what prices at the multiplex would be like if movies did that (assuming the ability to predict a films profitability, of course). Could you imagine a studio forcing theaters to charge $20 or $50 for Harry Potter so that Superman can be made? All these big movie blockbuster profits fill the losses from the flop films...imagine if consumers were being charged the difference!

But as has been stated above, some people are leaving the property to eat. Disney's food quality isn't great...I've been to a few theme parks with better food...so they shouldn't offset costs seasonally. And perhaps if some places aren't doing well, they should close them down. I know Disney hated having building that weren't operational, but if they can't afford to staff them, they shouldn't pass that on to guests.

 

[fyn]

I'm curious how much gas prices and the weakness of the U.S. dollar are effecting Disney's food prices. If Disney gets any of their food from far enough away that it needs to be trucked, prices will need to go up a bit. If they buy some of their food from a place where it needs to be imported, then prices are going to skyrocket.

I personally don't know where Disney gets their food/produce, but these reasons are certainly feasible.

Fyn

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Food prices have risen dramatically world wide, theres a shortage of wheat due to bio fuels add to that the impact on oil prices.

What gets me is the usual talking heads of a lefty persuasion who spout nonsense like higher food prices are good for the farmer and the 3rd world. In Disneys case IMHO the prices are already at a premium so this to me reeks more about margin protection or indeed increase under the camouflage of oil prices.

 

[brich]

It's greed.

Disney is not a necessity, it is a luxury.... You don't have to give them your money. But you will and you do. Sorry if this comes as a shock to some but Disney is a business. They have shareholders expecting them to be profitable. To me it appears to be a simple case of demand driven pricing. So long as we still pay the price, they are recognizing a decent profit. Profit = Happy Shareholders. (Profit also = R+D for new rides). When Disney has set prices that are to high, people will stop paying them.

Maybe the price is right at peak times and they lower prices in low seasons to try and entice people to come then. You know, like how a department store has sales?

But I guess some just think Disney wants to line their pockets. The solution is really simple. Don't eat in Disney or give them your money.... :shrug:

 

[reptar77]

Disney is not a necessity, it is a luxury.... You don't have to give them your money. But you will and you do. Sorry if this comes as a shock to some but Disney is a business. They have shareholders expecting them to be profitable. To me it appears to be a simple case of demand driven pricing. So long as we still pay the price, they are recognizing a decent profit. Profit = Happy Shareholders. (Profit also = R+D for new rides). When Disney has set prices that are to high, people will stop paying them.

Maybe the price is right at peak times and they lower prices in low seasons to try and entice people to come then. You know, like how a department store has sales?

But I guess some just think Disney wants to line their pockets. The solution is really simple. Don't eat in Disney or give them your money.... :shrug:

Very well put. I agree with you 100%

 

[catne]

or give them your money & buy Disney stock...:drevil:

then you'll be paying yourself. Or complaining to yourself about the high prices...:ROFLOL:

 

[wannab@dis]

Disney is not a necessity, it is a luxury.... You don't have to give them your money. But you will and you do. Sorry if this comes as a shock to some but Disney is a business. They have shareholders expecting them to be profitable. To me it appears to be a simple case of demand driven pricing. So long as we still pay the price, they are recognizing a decent profit. Profit = Happy Shareholders. (Profit also = R+D for new rides). When Disney has set prices that are to high, people will stop paying them.

Maybe the price is right at peak times and they lower prices in low seasons to try and entice people to come then. You know, like how a department store has sales?

But I guess some just think Disney wants to line their pockets. The solution is really simple. Don't eat in Disney or give them your money.... :shrug:

A voice of reason!

Two fold issue: Supply & Demand / Pipeline costs.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

A voice of reason!

Two fold issue: Supply & Demand / Pipeline costs.

Dont agree, these price hikes coincide with shrinking menus and declining quality of both service and content.

Ive made my decision to reduce my Disney dinning, but thats only achievable cause I have a car, Disney know it has quite a captive audience and is exploiting that.

 

[DougK]

I expect to pay premium prices for almost everything at Disney.

However while those prices keep rising the food quality and menu selections have been shrinking. Add to that I have to decide months in advance where I want to eat on a given night and it all adds up to a much worse experience than just a few years ago.

I used to love eating at WDW, now it is hardly worth it anymore, except for an occasional treat like Victoria and Albert's which we will be doing for the first time this July 25 for our anniversary.

I totally agree that Disney is a business and they can do what they want. if their prices are so high then why do we have trouble getting in to most table service restaurants? Yes I know, it's the DDP, but the point is if it wasn't perceived as a good thing by the masses and therefore making Disney money the DDP would not exist.

Nobody makes you eat at Walt Disney World, or even makes you go there in the first place. We have simply started renting a car when there, it more than pays for itself with the money we save on food, and we have alot more flexibilty while there. Since we are annual passholders parking fees are not an issue.

Now I realize this is not for everyone because you lose time in the parks if you leave for dinner, but since we are able to go several times a year this is not as big of an issue for us as it is for a family who only makes an occasional trip there, or maybe even one trip in a lifetime. Disney counts on that by the way, and that is fine with me. I have simply chosen another way to deal with it, and leaving Disney property for a couple hours a day doesn't bother me at all. I just wish I didn't have to.

And I miss Alfredo's Fettucine Alfredo! One more bad thing related to food at Disney.

 

[LeeSeeBabe]

I'm not giving my opinion but:

Yes there are many that disagree with the price increases, but there are still plenty of people that are willing to pay!

 

[tomm4004]

I haven't tracked prices at WDW restaurants, but I've noticed that prices in grocery stores have skyrocketed in the past year or so.

Oddly, food is cheap right now at WDW for Canadians since our dollar is at par. Just a couple years ago a $30 entree would be $45-50 Canadian, but now it's $30. So, for us, food is cheap relative to past years.

There are ways to save money on food. At TS, share or skip appetizer/dessert. Skip soft drinks and drink water (soft drinks are bad for you anyway). Also, split meals at CS. We always do at say Flame Tree, Pecos or Wolfgang because the portions are so large. At Ghirardelli's we will split a sundae while everyone is having one each. I don't know how people can eat that much ice-cream. Your body needs probably only half the food you actually eat. So just cut back and you can save the drive off property.

 

[WDW1974]

Dont agree, these price hikes coincide with shrinking menus and declining quality of both service and content.

Ive made my decision to reduce my Disney dinning, but thats only achievable cause I have a car, Disney know it has quite a captive audience and is exploiting that.

Exactly.

It never ceases to amaze me how many 'fans' will make excuses for Disney management ... i believe Al Lutz coined the term 'Defenders of Mediocrity' ... I agree. It's what enables Disney to turn around and stick it to the guest even more.

When say a lunch steak at the Concourse Steakhouse goes from $19.99 (already a HEFTY premium from real world) to $24.99 overnight, there's no real world explanation except greed and the desire to improve margins.

I think a lot of people in this country have spent the past eight years trying to excuse the inexcusable, so it shouldn't surprise me that so many want to 'defend the man' when it comes to dumbing down Disney dining.
:fork:

 

[tigsmom]

Prices have gone up across the board...food, utilities, etc.

Disney has the luxury to raise prices to offset their expenses where the general public does not. Can't blame them as it is a business not a charity and the bottom line is what counts. :shrug:

Have to say that I'm also not a fan of the shrinking menus, but I think thats they are a victim of their own popularity.
They set up a program that was easily taken advantage of and now they have to deal with it.