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It seems every other news story right now is price increases. While it isn’t exactly surprising g that prices increased when they did, it is a new fiscal year after, it is frustrating. Our Disney dollars don’t stretch quite as far as they used to and now they’re going to stretch even less.
Recently Disneyland tickets went up. Next it was Genie+ at both Disney World and Disneyland. Then drink prices. Disney’s most popular souvenirs, Droid and lightsabers were next. Now it’s character dining.
Crystal Palace
Credit: Disney
Crystal Palace is actually an increase that makes sense, something g you don’t hear me say often. During COVID, the price here was actually reduced because of limited offerings and no characters. Characters returned this month and so it makes sense that the price increased with it. The price jumped from the no-character prices of $39 per adult and $23 per child to $59 per adult and $38 per child. This seems exorbitant but the comparison here isn’t a fair one because the experience wasn’t at all similar. It makes much more sense to compare the increase to pre-COVID pricing based on similar offerings. This means the price has increased from 2019’s $55 per adult and $36 per. That’s a $4 increase for adults and just $1 for kids. That’s not so bad.
Storybook Dining
Credit: Disney
Our favorite character meal will now cost $5 more per adult. This Wilderness Lodge meal is one of the hardest to get reservations in all of Walt Disney World for good reason, the experience is unique and the food is incredible! That also makes it one of the most expensive character meals at Walt Disney World. Previously costing $60 per adult and $39. Now it is $65 per adult, though the child’s price hasn’t increased.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Credit: Disney
This highly sought after restaurant has had something of an identity crisis post-Covid. Is it a character meal? Is it dinner and a show? Is it simply a meal where a couple of characters pop in and wave? All of the above? The experience used to include princesses roaming from table to table. Then during covid, Cinderella waved from a distance. Now Cinderella meets downstairs but there are no princesses in the main dining room. Nevertheless, everyone wants to eat inside the castle, making it a hot commodity. The price is still under its pre-covid price, at $67 per adult and $39 per child, up from the reopening price of $62 per adult and $37 per child. Still, that’s much easier to swallow than its pre-covid pricing of $75 per adult and $45 per child. Just don’t expect the full experience when you go, because it hasn’t returned quite yet.
Chef Mickey’s
Credit: Disney
This is a character meal we have a love/hate relationship with. The location is fantastic, the characters are iconic but the food is…disappointing. It’s definitely something we will book occasionally, especially when the little ones are with us, but not a “must-do” by any means. The price increase here makes it even less of a must-do. To dine here for breakfast and lunch it us now $45 per adult and $29 per child (a $3 per adult and $2 dollar per child increase. At dinner it will cost you $60 per adult and $38 per child, an increase of $5 per adult and $2 per child).
Tusker House
Credit: Disney
With the return of the buffet soon, prices at this Animal Kingdom restaurant have increased. This restaurant features classic characters on safari and a buffet featuring dishes inspired by Africa (though you’ll find familiar comfort foods too for those in your group who are less adventurous). The price increase here is on par with the rest of the increases thus far. $59 per adult and $38 per child, up from $55 per adult and $36 per child.
Other character dining restaurants saw small increases but nothing significant. If you’re planning a return trip to Walt Disney World though, it is safe to assume that every meal will cost you about $5 more per person that it previously did. Stay tuned right here as we keep you up to date on all things Disney!
