Most visitors of Walt Disney World in recent years can agree that the cost of just about anything has risen dramatically. Park tickets, room rates, merchandise, and food have steadily seen price increases. In some cases, there has even been a dip in quality.
Among the most hefty expenses on a trip to the parks is a table-service meal. There are dozens of them across the parks and resorts, and they naturally see price increases from time to time. But the ones that are getting particularly out of hand are the increased rates for ‘All You Care to Enjoy’ restaurants that serve food either buffet or family style.
Some of these restaurants are staples of a Disney World trip for families. For many years, the price of these restaurants was in the already-expensive $50-$55 per person range. They are now beginning to exceed $60 per person. According to the My Disney Experience app, ‘Ohana at the Polynesian Village Resort is now listed as “over $60 per adult” for dinner and “$35 to $59.99 per adult” for breakfast. The same is true for The Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom and Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary. The newly-reopened 1900 Park Fare is listed as $54 per adult for breakfast and $66 for dinner.
In some cases, the prices are this high when there are characters involved. Many are willing to pay extra to have personalized interactions with their favorite Disney characters while they are eating a meal rather than waiting in a long line. While that certainly adds value to the experience, the price increases are still getting harder to justify.
There are some more budget-friendly ‘All-You-Care-to-Enjoy’ restaurants on property. (Although none of which include characters) Whispering Canyon Cafe’s signature skillets are $26 for breakfast and $40 for dinner. Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Hollywood Studios is listed as $45 per adult. While these are less expensive than most other buffet or family-style dining experiences, they still come with a hefty price tag.
With that said, paying as much as sixty-five dollars per adult for dinner adds to the many decisions that go into a modern Disney vacation. It’s an unfortunate reality when it comes to how expensive a trip has become. Seeing classic (or even original) Disney World restaurants become more unaffordable for many while not delivering a higher-quality product is something that should be addressed. For full menus of these restaurants and all others across property, you can visit our menu database.
I am a lifelong Disney fan and have visited the parks my entire life. I was lucky enough to have been a Cast Member as well, spending over two years in Tomorrowland merchandise. I'm excited to share my passion and thoughts on Walt Disney World.
