Author Topic: $200 Dinner At Disney  (Read 15890 times)

Just Joe

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #50 on: March 13, 2018, 11:48:04 AM »
Definitely brilliant on Disney's part.

zolotiyeruki

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #51 on: March 13, 2018, 03:02:14 PM »
I don't really understand the appeal of Disney. I never saw many Disney movies as a child and my family didn't have a tv, so I guess I never bought into the hype. I know a couple who got engaged there, and my reaction was like.. isn't that for kids? But each to their own.
My parents took me there once when I was a kid because my dad went to a conference nearby. We roadtripped there, we were allowed to choose one souvenir, and we got autograph books to fill up. Don't remember the food, but it was definitely not 200 character meals. It was fun, but not somewhere I'd ever visit again, even when I have kids. It is pretty smart marketing on Disney's part to create this whole world based on their movies with devotees who go back year over year, I'll give them that.
Yeah, the $200 character meals are a relatively new thing.  The cynical view is that it's a lot cheaper to arrange a character meal, and a lot more profitable, than engineering and building a new ride.

farmecologist

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #52 on: March 13, 2018, 03:45:48 PM »
This Disney fascination is something I didn't recognize existed until the MMM discussions. What an education. A friend was telling me that their university has a Disney club even.

To me it was a source of movies that a person might watch a few times and then moves on as they outgrow cartoons and make-believe.

Whatever makes a person happy. A better more peaceful fascination than what we see on the evening news (geopolitics and its uglier fallout).

As an adult (who still acts as a 12yo sometimes ;) ) I still enjoy certain aspects of Disney Resorts/Theme Parks.  They really do an excellent job at immersing you into the 'magic', but just at a very steep cost and food is most of it.  I don't go anymore, as I can get more vacation elsewhere for much less (plus I can avoid screaming kids) but there are many child-less couples who go every year and enjoy the heck out of it.

Screaming kids?  How about screaming parents!  :-) We have seem more than our fair share of parents yelling at their kids for not 'keeping the schedule' and such.  I will say that the fast pass system has alleviated some of that though.   




jinga nation

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Just Joe

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #54 on: March 15, 2018, 08:16:32 AM »
"The policy change – parking has been free for resort guests – brings the company more in line with industry standards, she said."

Oh, that makes it okay to soak the customers...
« Last Edit: March 15, 2018, 08:38:47 AM by Just Joe »

zolotiyeruki

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #55 on: March 15, 2018, 08:27:12 AM »
Start paying for parking, folks! Welcome to Florida!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-bz-disney-world-hotels-parking-fee-20180314-story.html
Yeah, DW told me about that this morning.  People are hopping mad about it, too.  It's a pretty cynical move by Disney--it increases the cost to guests who want to go somewhere other than Airport<->Disney Resort <-> Disney Theme Park.  So if you want to stay on Disney property but go to Universal Studios, you need to rent a car (or drive) and pay for parking at your Disney resort.

This also comes shortly after Disney increased the price of parking at the parks to $22 (for those not staying at Disney parks).  DW also showed me how 15 years ago, admission to the parks was $40/day.  Today, it's $100 and up, depending on the season.  It's gone up 2.5x in 15 years.

Khaetra

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #56 on: March 15, 2018, 10:55:14 AM »
Start paying for parking, folks! Welcome to Florida!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-bz-disney-world-hotels-parking-fee-20180314-story.html
Yeah, DW told me about that this morning.  People are hopping mad about it, too.  It's a pretty cynical move by Disney--it increases the cost to guests who want to go somewhere other than Airport<->Disney Resort <-> Disney Theme Park.  So if you want to stay on Disney property but go to Universal Studios, you need to rent a car (or drive) and pay for parking at your Disney resort.

This also comes shortly after Disney increased the price of parking at the parks to $22 (for those not staying at Disney parks).  DW also showed me how 15 years ago, admission to the parks was $40/day.  Today, it's $100 and up, depending on the season.  It's gone up 2.5x in 15 years.

It's insane and I don't blame people for being upset, especially if they already have a trip planned.  You can always speak with your wallet and not visit, but seeing how full the parks are daily I think most of them will suck it up and pay.

farmecologist

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #57 on: March 15, 2018, 11:06:04 AM »
Start paying for parking, folks! Welcome to Florida!

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-blog/os-bz-disney-world-hotels-parking-fee-20180314-story.html
Yeah, DW told me about that this morning.  People are hopping mad about it, too.  It's a pretty cynical move by Disney--it increases the cost to guests who want to go somewhere other than Airport<->Disney Resort <-> Disney Theme Park.  So if you want to stay on Disney property but go to Universal Studios, you need to rent a car (or drive) and pay for parking at your Disney resort.

This also comes shortly after Disney increased the price of parking at the parks to $22 (for those not staying at Disney parks).  DW also showed me how 15 years ago, admission to the parks was $40/day.  Today, it's $100 and up, depending on the season.  It's gone up 2.5x in 15 years.

It's insane and I don't blame people for being upset, especially if they already have a trip planned.  You can always speak with your wallet and not visit, but seeing how full the parks are daily I think most of them will suck it up and pay.

Wow that is pretty disappointing and is a total cash grab....and screws over those who take a road trip to visit the parks.

About the only 'hack' left is using their 'magical express' transportation for those that fly. However, as has been discussed, that obviously further limits you to stay on WDW property, etc... Also, I wouldn't put it past them to start charging for the 'magical express' soon now too. 

 


« Last Edit: March 15, 2018, 11:09:23 AM by farmecologist »

charis

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #58 on: March 15, 2018, 12:17:31 PM »
About the only 'hack' left is using their 'magical express' transportation for those that fly. However, as has been discussed, that obviously further limits you to stay on WDW property, etc... Also, I wouldn't put it past them to start charging for the 'magical express' soon now too. 

From your quotes I think you agree that this is definitely not a hack.  The more you confine yourself to Disney property to receive these "benefits," the more money they rake in.  It's part of Disney's very clever and concentrated effort to keep people completely absorbed in Disney (along with all the other on-property perks and multi-day ticket discounts), which means staying in Disney hotels, eating only Disney food, and buying Disney merchandise and services.  And they can keep raising ticket prices every year by pointing to the multi-day tickets and saying, look, what a great "discount," you're a sucker if only go for one or two days.   It's truly brilliant. 

I've enjoyed myself there, only because I used cc bonus points to pay, but never stayed on site.

WhiteTrashCash

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #59 on: March 18, 2018, 09:57:55 AM »
I don't understand the conversation everyone is having about car rentals and parking fees. There's this thing called Uber (or Lyft) that's kind of like a taxi only much, much cheaper. It's really simple to go wherever you want to go in Orlando for a very low price without a car rental or parking fees.

jinga nation

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #60 on: March 19, 2018, 08:09:36 AM »
I don't understand the conversation everyone is having about car rentals and parking fees. There's this thing called Uber (or Lyft) that's kind of like a taxi only much, much cheaper. It's really simple to go wherever you want to go in Orlando for a very low price without a car rental or parking fees.
Pretty much any ride from Orlando to DisneyWorld with Uber has surge-pricing, per my anecdotal data points and internet stranger comments on some non-Disney Orlando Theme park forums. Not sure about Lyft.

Unsure about Disney but many event locations don't allow Uber/Lyft to pick up passengers from pick-up lots, those are for licensed taxis and hotel buses.

But I prefer to use Lyft/Uber for local travel, especially when hanging out with friends and drinking.

But if you're going to pay $200/pp for a Disney dinner, you sure can pay $24 for the privilege to park your fine ride yourself on Disney property. #Freedom #Murica #DIY #TakingTheMickey

I'm a red panda

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #61 on: March 19, 2018, 08:23:50 AM »

But if you're going to pay $200/pp for a Disney dinner, you sure can pay $24 for the privilege to park your fine ride yourself on Disney property. #Freedom #Murica #DIY #TakingTheMickey
Interestingly, it looks like they aren't charging people using the resorts for restaurants; just people staying there.

sparkytheop

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #62 on: March 19, 2018, 05:01:18 PM »

But if you're going to pay $200/pp for a Disney dinner, you sure can pay $24 for the privilege to park your fine ride yourself on Disney property. #Freedom #Murica #DIY #TakingTheMickey

It's not $200 per person though, it's the rounded cost for a family with two adults and two kids--  "...the three-course dinner will now replace a la carte menu options and cost $55 for adults (ages 10 and up) and $35 for children."  The next $20 is for tax and tips. 

Still not cheap, but not as outrageous as the title makes it seem.

talltexan

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #63 on: March 27, 2018, 02:29:45 PM »
I think I read in there that having my June trip already booked means I won't pay the parking fee this time.

But there are going to be future trips. Adding seven or eight nights of that $24 charge is small compared to the other costs, but, gosh.

partgypsy

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #64 on: March 28, 2018, 12:08:20 PM »
I wonder if that restaurant theme meal is part of the meal plan? Both times we went, we did a meal plan, one that was a full meal plan, and 2nd time a limited plan. still, I was able to schedule it so at each park we stayed at for the day, we had a sit down meal, oftentimes a theme meal to boot.  Between the two visits, had breakfast at crystal palace (Winnie the pooh), princess lunch at French Epcot (2 times), Octoberfest beergarden with live music,  Tusker house restaurant (Mickey and Minnie mouse, goofy), the Brown Derby, Ohana, and Yak and Yeti. Honestly they were such long days and as some of the kids were younger, it was really nice having a break at some point during the day to sit down and relax.
If it wasn't paid for with the meal plan, I don't think I would pay a premium for the more expensive restaurants. I enjoy the theming and not having to brown bag it/leave the park to eat, I never had bad food, but all the food in the park is inflated for the price. I don't think it would be a good value to pay even more outside the plan.

talltexan

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #65 on: March 29, 2018, 07:58:09 AM »
The disney meal plan seemed like a good deal when everyone in the family was college-age or older.

But now that we have children, I often under-order my own meal so that I can, ahem, sea-gull the food my children don't eat.

I'm a red panda

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #66 on: March 29, 2018, 08:14:44 AM »
The disney meal plan seemed like a good deal when everyone in the family was college-age or older.

But now that we have children, I often under-order my own meal so that I can, ahem, sea-gull the food my children don't eat.

I think it is a good deal too when the children are still "children" too Disney (not "Disney-adult") and you do a lot of character meals.  Those meals really add up.

But if you are a family that drinks water and doesn't order dessert, it isn't as good of a deal. (I like that they got rid of their dessert now in favor of another snack credit.)

talltexan

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #67 on: April 02, 2018, 11:40:17 AM »
I believe every person who is on a reservation has to be on the meal plan.

I'm a red panda

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #68 on: April 02, 2018, 12:22:13 PM »
I believe every person who is on a reservation has to be on the meal plan.

Last time we went this wasn't true. You could pay cash for some people and meal plan for others. Even for people with a meal plan you could decide to pay cash for them.

At a buffet, anyone who is on a reservation has to pay (except kids under 2?) regardless of intent to eat. I've seen people complain about special needs kids with feeding tubes charged at buffets. But Disney considers the buffets to be "entertainment" due to characters, so price is the same regardless of food consumed.

crispy

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Re: $200 Dinner At Disney
« Reply #69 on: April 02, 2018, 04:46:01 PM »
I believe every person who is on a reservation has to be on the meal plan.

Everyone who shares a hotel room has to be on the dining plan, but not everyone on a dining reservation.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!