WDW to Raise All Buffet Prices By Almost 50%?

[Lizcollins98]

As someone from the UK I actually find the free dining plan offer to be a really good deal. We normally stay in POR and it works out at a reasonable price for us and is significantly cheaper than buying QS meals for 3 weeks. With the flights from the UK most Disney prices remain constant throughout the year at a travel agents so nothing is lost. For our 2017 trip in September we have upgraded our dining plan so looking forward to trying some different things We also tend to find we have more fun as we would never spend $90 on Caramel chocolates and trying different foods during F&W but the free dining allows us to do that!

 

[EpcoTim]

I'd like to point out that I pay $100 for waffles at the traveling carnival that sets up shop in our local grocery store parking lot.

Those aren't waffles.

 

[wogwog]

For what it's worth, I just spent a week carrying in sandwiches, carrots, chips, water, apples, etc in a backpack for lunch. Savings - 80 bajillion.

I like the Bajillion bill. Nice portrait of Iger on it.

 

[xdan0920]

I'd also like to point out....

I know a few of these complainers (@George @Tiggerish) personally. And I can say with 100% conviction that it's not a matter of "can we afford it" it's an issue of...Do these prices make us feel like morons for paying them. And as we have stated, that's where we are at.

 

[cindy_k]

I stood in front of the Garden Grill the other night and looked at the menu for the first time in about a year or more.
Its now $45 a person with no more Fried Catfish. Too much money with the best food item gone. We went downstairs and spent $35 for two meals at the food court.
I understand people expect to pay more for dining at Disney and it does have characters, but those prices are just crazy.

 

[JWG]

I stood in front of the Garden Grill the other night and looked at the menu for the first time in about a year or more.
Its now $45 a person with no more Fried Catfish. Too much money with the best food item gone. We went downstairs and spent $35 for two meals at the food court.
I understand people expect to pay more for dining at Disney and it does have characters, but those prices are just crazy.

Which means over the peak holidays it's probably $55-$60 per person for the opportunity to see Mickey in a straw hat. We did breakfast here in January and loved it - they had biscuits and gravy which was a nice touch. Went back in April for breakfast and the biscuits and gravy were gone. It was back to standard breakfast fare: fruite, eggs, bacon, sausage, Mickey Waffles, and a cinnamon role. The "big deal" were the tator tots (sorry, potato barrels).

 

[asianway]

I stood in front of the Garden Grill the other night and looked at the menu for the first time in about a year or more.
Its now $45 a person with no more Fried Catfish. Too much money with the best food item gone. We went downstairs and spent $35 for two meals at the food court.
I understand people expect to pay more for dining at Disney and it does have characters, but those prices are just crazy.

The catfish has been gone a couple years - a shame

 

[Journey_On]

Which means over the peak holidays it's probably $55-$60 per person for the opportunity to see Mickey in a straw hat.

Even worse/better, he doesn't even wear a straw hat anymore....

 

[KikoKea]

Sad to say, but we've pretty much stopped going TS when we visit because we found that the food quality was not worth the money. Too many times we finished an expensive meal and agreed that we could make it better or as good at home, or that the food was OK but nothing special. So, for us, it has come down to themeing. On our next trip, we have a ressie at San Angel Inn because we love the theme and ambiance, even if the food quality is not outstanding. We do enjoy the food at Akershus, so go there occasionally, despite the character M&G, etc. We like the themeing in the German Oktoberfest, but disliked the food on both occasions we've eaten there. So, it is QS for us and we've been pleased, for the most part. Admittedly, we are not foodies, but we have traveled broadly and are familiar with many international cuisines.

 

[SeanWM48]

listen i love Trail's End as much as anyone but lol @ paying something like $60 for fried chicken and frozen pizza

 

[Rutt]

Could you do what we do? We have an envelope, look for where we want to eat, with approximate prices, and put money in the envelope, to budget and not pay more than you should. We did that for breakfast and snacks, one for lunch, we shared an evening meal, hubby and I. Now, we have retired full time, we have a smaller envelope!

That is a great idea as well. For me personally it doesn't work but that's because I'm insane and I would worry that the money would get lost or stolen or we'd need it for something else or any other number of reasons. If I prepay for everything (DDP, hotel, park tickets all before we even leave) then literally I don't have to worry about ANY of that. Its done, its paid, no matter what happens between now and then, THAT is something I don't have to be concerned with.
We are a sad breed, but alas, its how Disney gets us.

 

[betty rose]

Sad to say, but we've pretty much stopped going TS when we visit because we found that the food quality was not worth the money. Too many times we finished an expensive meal and agreed that we could make it better or as good at home, or that the food was OK but nothing special. So, for us, it has come down to themeing. On our next trip, we have a ressie at San Angel Inn because we love the theme and ambiance, even if the food quality is not outstanding. We do enjoy the food at Akershus, so go there occasionally, despite the character M&G, etc. We like the themeing in the German Oktoberfest, but disliked the food on both occasions we've eaten there. So, it is QS for us and we've been pleased, for the most part. Admittedly, we are not foodies, but we have traveled broadly and are familiar with many international cuisines.

I agree about doing QS, if you are disappointed, you haven't spent for an arm and a leg.

 

[betty rose]

That is a great idea as well. For me personally it doesn't work but that's because I'm insane and I would worry that the money would get lost or stolen or we'd need it for something else or any other number of reasons. If I prepay for everything (DDP, hotel, park tickets all before we even leave) then literally I don't have to worry about ANY of that. Its done, its paid, no matter what happens between now and then, THAT is something I don't have to be concerned with.
We are a sad breed, but alas, its how Disney gets us.

I understand, we are changing back to setting aside money in the bank. Get gift cards and use those.

 

[seabreezept813]

I stood in front of the Garden Grill the other night and looked at the menu for the first time in about a year or more.
Its now $45 a person with no more Fried Catfish. Too much money with the best food item gone. We went downstairs and spent $35 for two meals at the food court.
I understand people expect to pay more for dining at Disney and it does have characters, but those prices are just crazy.

Sad..that catfish was so good.. I had the world's best Sangria there though

 

[RSoxNo1]

I haven't seen anything definitive in this thread indicating a significant price increase. Did I miss anything? If not, can we close it as it's misleading.

 

[ford91exploder]

I haven't seen anything definitive in this thread indicating a significant price increase. Did I miss anything? If not, can we close it as it's misleading.

No it's not @WDW1974 noted that there is a price increase scheduled for october and MULTIPLE members saw both 2 credits for buffets and pricing at $59.95 for a short time on the WDW dining website which means the changes were loaded in the content management system but pushed to production by accident. So just because it has not happened YET does not mean that it's NOT going to happen.

 

[RSoxNo1]

No it's not @WDW1974 noted that there is a price increase scheduled for october and MULTIPLE members saw both 2 credits for buffets and pricing at $59.95 for a short time on the WDW dining website which means the changes were loaded in the content management system but pushed to production by accident. So just because it has not happened YET does not mean that it's NOT going to happen.

Not buying it until it happens.

 

[Rutt]

Right now I am looking at ressies at MK for 9/26/16 at Crystal Palace and it says $$ (15 to 34.99 per adult)-$$$ (35 to 59.99 per adult). Is that second pricing at high time?

I think it depends on the meal. Breakfast would be $$, while lunch and dinner are in the $$$ range.

 

[lebeau]

I just did a quick look. In some cases the snack prices at PKI are 10-20% more, but not all. Also, if you're just buying snacks for one day the financial outlay is essentially irrelevant since people are buying incredibly over priced food at WDW for days or weeks at a time.

I thought I would weigh in on this as my family and I have been season pass holders at King Island since 2005 and I have been going since I was a kid in the mid seventies. Ah, Hanna-Barbera-land, how I miss you! Anyway, I have a couple of things to point out.

1. KI dropped the P after Cedar Fair bought them in 2006. It's just KI now.
2. Prices are comparable to Disney. Sometimes even a little higher.
3. As was pointed out elsewhere, the park added a very affordable dining plan last year
4. They did this because most locals don't eat in the park all that often. As a regional park, passholders comprise a large part of KI's customer base. We come and go as we please rarely spending an entire day at the park. You spent a few hours there hitting your favorite rides and then grab something to eat at one of the many establishments located nearby.
5. Unlike Disney World which is isolated, Kings Island is surrounded by affordable dining options. You're not trapped at all. Even if you plan to return to the park after you eat, it's a relatively simple matter to go somewhere else.
6. Kings Island also has a large picnic area which was recently updated for this season. Today I think these are used primarily for corproate events, but as a kid I know we used to have picnic lunches there all the time. These days, it's quite common to see people eating lunch out of their trunk in the parking lot.

 

[Thumper 32]

Even worse/better, he doesn't even wear a straw hat anymore....

Mickey having some sort of hat (not always straw) has been hit or miss for a long while. The bigger loss is that Chip and Dale no longer wear their unique costumes for the location. Their overalls went away quite a few years back. Heaven forbid people get something unique for the crazy prices they're charging.