[Greg Marling]

Are there others who have noticed this too, or am I the only one? I spent 8 days recently at the Beach Club and found the breakfast arrangements to be atrocious. If you want to eat a decent-sized breakfast (not just a bun and some juice), you are practically forced to part with your life savings if you want anything substantial to eat.
We had the choice of: 1) a breakfast buffet with "Goofy" and "Chip 'n' Dale" for 16 BUCKS a pop. 2) A short walk over to the Yacht Club to order off the menu for about 12 bucks a head (a plate of french toast was $9.00. 3) A longer walk over to Spoodles for breakfast for about the same price.
From what I saw, they could let you into the parks for free, and still make enough profit off the waffles and bacon to run the whole operation! They've pretty much got you by the hair if you don't have a car to go somewhere else - but almost $40.00 for two people to eat a couple of eggs and watch some guy (or girl) prance around in a Goofy suit is a little rediculous!
Why can't these hotels have some sort of Coffee Shop that serves affordable meals in the morning? Would that be an undue hardship, Mr. Eisner, or would you be forced to give up your 200-foot yacht with the solid gold commodes?

[joseph3947]

Good one Greg!! At 9 million a year bonus that's probably his back-up yacht! Joe

[preidel24]

Greg we stayed at the BC for 8 day in November. We had a similair concern that one of the reasons we booked concierge. But we happen upon Tubbi's Buffeteria in the Dolphin and they had good food for reasonable prices see attached menu

Breakfast
Served 6:00am to 11:30 am
Tubbi's Breakfast - scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, home fries and toast $6.50
French Toast - $5.25; with bacon or sausage $6.25
Ham, Egg, Cheese Breakfast Sandwich (on English muffin) - $5.25
Omelet - $7.50
Bacon or Sausage - $2.25
Hot Oatmeal or Grits - $1.95
Cereal with milk - $2.36
Bagel - $2.25
Muffin or Pastry - $1.75
Toast - $1.25
Home Fries - $1.95


Tubbi's Fruit Plate $4.95
Citrus Fruit Cup $2.70
Whole Fruit $1.10

Chicken Fried Chicken with Sausage Gravy and Hashbrowns $7.25
Southern Bacon Biscuit with Sausage Gravy and Hashbrowns $5.95

I agree they do need a Capt Cook's like eatery over in that location for those (especially bigger family) who don't want to mortage the house to have breakfast.

Thanks for you humorous insight in to this problem.

Paula

[wdwspider]

Well, the $16 Character Meal is worth the money provided that you either have kids or really want exclusive time with the characters of that breakfast. Most Breakfast buffets outside of Disney are around $8 - $10.

On the flip side, I agree with the standard breakfast being a bit high. You can split Fruit Cups and things like that, but to get a real standard Breakfast it does cost you. But I feel that the hotel, surroundings, and cast members help offset that cost. In essence the money is paying Disney to be better than your typical hotel and theme park.

[MickeyRon]

I understand your concern... but that's Disney!

That's why we stayed off site this past visit... I really want to stay on site, but don't know that I can justify the cost...

Maybe we can become the CEO of Disney one day and be able to afford that!!:nooo: :laugh :laugh

[tinkerbell]

I personally have no complaint about the cost and DH is in the background after I read this thread to him saying that he felt he got his money worth ..of course we love those charactors ..what do you mean

watch some guy (or girl) prance around in a Goofy suit

that is Goofy!!! I know it is .. I have seen him many many times.
lol boy this has DH on a rant because even with out the girls we would have to have charactor meals :)
and once again WDWspider said it best

But I feel that the hotel, surroundings, and cast members help offset that cost. In essence the money is paying Disney to be better than your typical hotel and theme park

[DisneyTeacher]

I understand what you are saying about the cost, I had never really thought about it before. When we go to WDW we expect to pay out a lot of money so I really don't think about it.

We love the character meals and I feel they are well worth the money. The food is usually good and the characters are fun. We usually do one character meal per trip, the rest of the time we either grab a bite to eat in our room or hit the food court, mostly to save time rather than money.

[mickaholic4077]

The solution to the expensive breakfast meal is to make a PS for the last sitting,about 11 in the morning depending on the restaurant,and making it a breakfast/lunch thing.

[geeman]

I know what you mean about feeling rooked. But here's a tip that will only really help you if you're light breakfat eaters:
Last May I stayed at one of the All Stars with my elderly dad. We weren't park going, just spending the week there.
Well, neither her nor I are hearty eaters, and he's a bit picky. So each morning I'd head on over to the All Star Cafe and stand in line where they served the breakfast stuff and simply ordered a "Side" of eggs. The side came served in a fairly fluffy portion. Next, I bought 4 pieces of toast, or a roll and 2 cofees. I can't remember the price, but I know that all of this cost me around 5-7 dollars total. for the two of us. Disney doesn't officially offer "sides", but if you ask nicely, they'll do it for you.
There was enough in the portion for us each to make a quick sandwich of our own without spending a fortune, as we did the one day we ended up having breakfast in Epcot. That alone cost me nearly 20 dollars, and all it was was 2 egg sandwiches and a coffee!!!

Thanks for the tips, Priedel! I will definately be checking out Tubbis the day we go to Epcot.

[LRTJS]

This is one reason we would always rather have our car, even if we stay on site. The McDonald's about two miles on down from CSR serves a cheap breakfast. Also, I would eat a brunch/lunch in the park before I would pay 16 a day for breakfast. You can't do a character breakfast every day. As someone who has always had to pinch Disney pennies I understand your frustration.

[JM0318]

I agree with the prices of Breakfast and some of the other meals as well. We have found several places out side Disney for Meals, But if the only options is on property try the one's mentioned above.

[Dana]

I pay to go to the character breakfasts for several reasons, but the most important one to me are:

1) The look on my DD's face when she gets the attention from the characters (priceless)

2) Saves me from having to stand in the lines to see them at the parks (worth my $$$)

3) Good meal, relaxed times and hey you have to eat anyway. I save for a long time and expect to pay for the attention and excellent cutomer service.


Let's face it all we go for the magic . The magic can't be there without all of the wonderful CM's doing "their thing" and taking excellent care of us. They don't work for free. I'll gladly pay out the nose for the memories and special place in my heart where Disney lives all year long...even when I am not there and have no trip planned. Worth every cent I spend. If it were cheap, there wouldn't be all this "extra" and then your magic would fade. Can you imagine how little magic there would be with angry overworked CM's who hate their job...?? The attractions are visually magic and the spirit of Disney is magic, but imagine going to a counter service to grab a burger and close your eyes and think of the dirtiest, slowest place you have ever ate in...no magic there. I'll gladly pay for all the extra CM's to keep the park clean and perfect and the extra staff that allows everything to be "just so". $20 for eggs??...ok sure no problem.

[GrumpyDad]

I guess this is one of the advantages of not being big breakfast people. We always pick up a couple of those cereal packages, you know the ones with the assorted little boxes of cereal. Then I will go out in the morning and pick up milk, a bowl of fruit, and a muffin or bagel along with my morning coffee. We eat and then head out.

I will say that the breakfast buffet at Spoodles was wonderful the last time we ate there.

-harry

[BuzzLightyear]

Ditto

This is why we'll do maybe 2 breakfasts on a 7 night trip. The rest of the days we have cereal, cereal bars that we brought wih us.

Ths Disney dining expierence can be worth the money if compared to other places of the same calibur anywhere else in the US. Guess you just have to plan for it.