Dining Prices-increases, what are you going to do

[Canwegosoon]

I have been reading Josh's reviews on some of the counter service places and noticed the price changes he has pointed out. OMGosh!!! Prices are going up. Then I was looking at some of the buffets we like to do (CMC-is at $42-that's close to $200 for 4 people:faint:), outragous.
Now add the fact that I have to go during holiday pricing- and I am getting stressed:help:

So, I ran extensive numbers and Tiw is the way to go(even though it is not valid on Easter or Thanksgiving).
I might have to choose to do a few less expensive ts-and that is ok
But I don't want to start cooking in the room outside of a few snacks and quick breakfasts.

Any other suggestions? Maybe I could consider 3-4 lunches in room
What are you doing different?

[vicki_c]

Honestly, we don't do anything intentionally different, but we aren't a family that goes to a like 4 buffets in a week or anything. But we will still do our normal, probably 1 nice TS a day and 1 CS a day and fill in the rest. But that's nothing different. We do have a TiW card right now because we have APs. I mainly try not to think about it.

[Janine]

I'm like Vicki, usually one TS and one CS per day. Nothing extravagant like a signature, but will slip in a couple character meals. Bfast is something quick while walking to the bus/car, except for one nice bfast/brunch during the week - but then that is our TS for the day.

This time we'll be staying in a timeshare, so will probably do a dinner and couple lunches in the condo. But only because our itinerary has us at the resort during those meal times. We're not going out of our way to do it.

We have TIW also. I think of the prices as more of a necessary evil when vacationing at Disney and try not to think about iteither. However, my Disney Visa points should be enough to cover meals each year (I put everything thru my CC and pay it off each month).

[George]

If you live long enough you're going to see price increases everywhere. Either you stop buying those things or you bite the bullet and pay. Hopefully your income is increasing too over time.

[DoctorK]

Hopefully your income is increasing too over time.

According to the COLA non-increase for Social Security two years in a row, there is no inflation. :D

[Canwegosoon]

I am just shocked at the price increases-I forget what we paid last Feb for the same CMC Buffet(I am going to look it up-it was 29.81 for last Easter)...but 42.59 is the current price(figure a couple dollars higher for Easter this year).

I have it all budgeted and have the money(I ran the numbers and figure our 10 day trip will cost 2K)that is a $800 increase over last year, (but there is an extra day added so call it $600). I eliminated YSH and just left CG in-we have a couple buffets, but then also places like the Plaza(which is basically sitdown CS to me-but I get a discount with Tiw). I stuck with 1ts/1cs a day and allowed for one snack(but we might not need it), and light breakfast in the room. We usually share some of the CS.

I too have been putting everything on my Disney Visa and I do have a couple hundered points, and we have 1 free air line ticket this year.

I know prices have been going up everywhere, but this just might tip the balance for Disney.

[Tam]

Phew! That's good to know. Thanks government. :RpS_thumbsup:


According to the COLA non-increase for Social Security two years in a row, there is no inflation. :D

[bnoble]

No change. But I already mix in several less expensive meals/restaurants just by the nature of how I visit. Also, I'm not sure these prices are so out of line for resort areas. For example, we recently biked the Vancouver sea wall, and stopped at the Tea House at Stanley Park for lunch. It's a nice place with great views and very good food. Four of us, quiche, burgers, etc. and soft drinks, and the total bill was nearly $100 CAD with tax and tip. Worth it, too.

[WTP]

I live in the super-price-inflated Washington DC area so Disney prices are not that different from what we would see if we had a nice dinner downtown. But, because of those prices, we tend not to go out very often! LOL. For our trip next week, we'll be on free dining, but for future trips, we will pay OOP for only a few TS and then eat QS otherwise. We are used to sharing when we eat out at places like Chick Fil A at home so it's not a burden to us to do so on vacation. We limit buying soda and dessert which saves a ton. We also bring nutrigrain bars and stuff from home to fill in between meals. If we couldn't afford to eat at that standard, we would simply wait and save more money before going again.

[josh]

I stopped buying sodas.

[andraskoj]

We set a budget for food and then the family decides as a group what restaurants we're going to visit. We check approximate prices over at AllEars and then work backwards from there. We can go to more QS or moderate TS places than we can to buffets. When our budget is gone, we'll be having sandwiches in the villa. I've found it keeps the kids interested in the planning, and they know we can't do everything and choices have to be made. It's also a good budgeting lesson for them to learn.

-john

[Husker Mouse]

Terri,
I am right with you! I have been planning this trip for a year as a gift to my Mom. I have watched the prices go up and up. I have been watching Cape May, too! I want to go to HDDR, Cape May, Biergarten, and Ohanas. I am going to let at least one of those go. I want to be able to get snacks-dole whips, caramel from Germany, French bakery, ice cream sandwiches...... too! Something needs to give in my budget. I can't justify eating $300 dollars a day! I also have lunch at Les Chefs and dinner at R&C planned. I think those are a must for our party. I also have a 4:15 at LTT planned on our MVMCP night. That one I think is going, too! I will be making some people very happy during the next few weeks when we decide what we are going to cancel.

What I really hate is that we will be there during free dining, but my DH thinks we need the condo and space since we are taking my mom with us. I guess 3 adults and one teen in a moderate may not be worth free dining.

[bnoble]

FWIW, I'm right there with your husband.

[MichaelColey]

What I really hate is that we will be there during free dining, but my DH thinks we need the condo and space since we are taking my mom with us. I guess 3 adults and one teen in a moderate may not be worth free dining.I can totally relate with your DH. We LOVE the extra space in timeshares even more than free dining.

There is a way to get "free dining" while staying off-site at a timeshare. Just book both the timeshare PLUS an on-site vacation package. It's probably cheaper to book a value and upgrade to the full DDP. You'll have to weigh things out to see how it would work for you. A value would be around $110/night including taxes (in early November, which I think is when you're going) plus $10 for the third adult plus $11/person to upgrade from QSDP to DDP, so about $165/night to get the DDP. You just have to weigh this out against paying OOP, but since you're expecting $300/day doing OOP (which I think sounds close, but perhaps a bit high), I think it's probably a good deal for you.