Portion Size Reductions have begun

[ClownLoach]

The Cucina Cucamonga at DCA has begun the process of reducing portion sizes as was discussed as a cost cutting initiative at Chapek's last earnings call. I forgot to post this earlier but I noticed the changes have begun over the last few weeks.

The Achiote seasoned half chicken is now just two little chicken tacos. The Quesabirria is cut to just two tacos from three. The entree dishes no longer include rice and beans, they're all a side dish for extra cost. And even if you order the entree and sides you still pay more for less food overall.

The Corn Dog Castle is 100% precooking in large batches now and serving mobile orders out of a steam table tray. The only way to get cooked to order food is to wait in line which is ridiculous. The mobile order food is soggy and stale tasting, especially the fried cheese stick as the melted cheese has resolidified into a chewy, greasy and unpalatable mess.

Rancho Del Zocalo has taken the plate with Carne Asada and 3 enchiladas - and turned it into just 3 enchiladas, no other protein!

Also a favorite shortcut at Plaza Inn has been eliminated. You can't order an extra piece of chicken separately anymore. And the pieces are smaller now. If you want more chicken you need to order an entire extra entree. I used to order the chicken dinner with an extra piece on the side (was $5.99 most recently for the extra) and then split everything with my wife as this was more than enough food for two.

What else has been cut down?

Chapekland, USA - where growling empty tummies mask the "ca-ching!" of growing profits...

[Disneyland 1951]

Smaller Medium Drink:

[Mr Wiggins]

...Chapekland, USA - where growling empty tummies mask the "ca-ching!" of growing profits...

And where the "ca-ching" is being replaced by the "beep" of smartphones, as Cheapekland closes more registers and forces customers to use do-it-yourself ordering apps.

[kastfan]

The burritos at Rancho Del Zocalo seem to be about 60% of the size they used to be. Carthay Circle isn't serving complimentary bread. The Monte Cristo looks smaller.

[Jaygatzby]

I’d say these shady, declining-by-degrees portion reductions, without a resulting price reduction, was a bad look for the company, but to Disney’s credit, they were very unfiltered and open they would go this route.

I don’t think it is unreasonable to forget that Disney’s current CFO, Christine McCarthy, stated during the recent Q. 4 investor call that:

“We can cut portion size, which is probably good for some people’s waistlines.”

Just another day example and evidence of how Disney operates lately and thinks so little of the guest experience.

[TFN5459]

I got the Chicken Tenders over at Golden Horseshoe a few weeks ago and they were a far cry from the Chicken Breast Nuggets they replaced (and were a dollar cheaper). I'm not sure when the change was implemented but I got really skinny overcooked fries and three sad looking tenders that looked like they had come from the frozen aisle at the supermarket. Definitely was disappointed since I really enjoyed the previous nuggets (which were basically solid meat tenders contrary to their name) and the older, solid Disney counter service fries.

[Eagleman]

AMAZING -But not surprising-
This company of "GREED"..........guest experience?
That why my Wallet is close to Di$ney Company !

IMO

[WaltDisney'sAlec]

They can really only reduce portion sizes so much before they just start charging people to breathe air.

[Eagleman]

I don’t think it is unreasonable to forget that Disney’s current CFO, Christine McCarthy, stated during the recent Q. 4 investor call that:

“We can cut portion size, which is probably good for some people’s waistlines.”

Just another day example and evidence of how Disney operates lately and thinks so little of the guest experience.

IMO- It time for the "Consumer" to tell "DI$NEY" waistlines has gotten to big.........
and let this company know........were the true money coming from !

[Captain Andy]

I got the Chicken Tenders over at Golden Horseshoe a few weeks ago and they were a far cry from the Chicken Breast Nuggets they replaced (and were a dollar cheaper). I'm not sure when the change was implemented but I got really skinny overcooked fries and three sad looking tenders that looked like they had come from the frozen aisle at the supermarket. Definitely was disappointed since I really enjoyed the previous nuggets (which were basically solid meat tenders contrary to their name) and the older, solid Disney counter service fries.

Golden Horseshoe and Stage Door Cafe have seen the worst dips in quality since reopening.

[tarheelalum]

The only way to combat this is to stop eating at the parks or at least greatly reduce the amount of food you purchase. Do the in park surveys and express your dissatisfaction.

Or continue overpaying for a poor product and expect much more of the same.

[PirateLover]

My favorite meal was always at Rancho Del Zocalo. The half roasted chicken with rice, beans, guacamole, salsa & tortillas. I had it almost every trip, but now it's gone from the menu. So sad.

[zugzug15]

I am all for reduced portion sizes... but not at an INCREASED cost. Small portions are why I LOVE the food festivals in DCA so much. Quality over quantity... Disney really needs to step up the quality game to justify this though.

[BigThunda]

I bet their next move is to reduce the size of the plates or baskets to make the food portions look bigger.

[linkeq2001]

Shrinkflation at its best. I wonder how long until they start outsourcing all of their baked goods at places like Jolly Holiday

[mickdaddy]

Shrinkflation at its best. I wonder how long until they start outsourcing all of their baked goods at places like Jolly Holiday

I hope never, having their own bakery is what makes their stuff so good.

[Dtimeisnow]

This is unfortunately when Disney can easily be beat by Knott’s Berry Farm. The fried chicken and boysenberry pie were already great, but when they were allowed to stay open during the early pandemic stages, they were able to fully show off how creative and tasty the food can be. You don’t need to be a multibillion company to have better food because no money can create good food; passion is what does that.

In an economic depression, while I can understand raising food prices to meet inflation costs, shrinkflating food makes little sense, especially if their still charging the same. The only way I can see that justified in anyway is that quality would need to be so excellent, that shrinking it would be on a supply and demand principle. That’s been done in a lot of restaurants when certain dishes have been popular and that’s even in cases when they didn’t have the supplies to meet the full demand. Disney shouldn’t have any problem to do that.

I’m probably within an unpopular minority when I’d say that Disney food was alright at best. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of things I absolutely love, from the themed churros to monte cristo sandwich and even a quick chimichanga on Main Street, but as a whole, it’s been more about quantity to feed the masses that come in. It’s hard to maintain a high standard with that many people…but it can be done with the right priorities in place. Knott’s has that…Disney, especially with its current management cannot.

If anything, this will disencourage me to dine in the parks that often, except for the snack foods that probably won’t be affected. You best strategy is to vote with your wallets and not make those purchases to show your not willing to buy the same thing for a smaller size.

[Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah]

And where the "ca-ching" is being replaced by the "beep" of smartphones, as Cheapekland closes more registers and forces customers to use do-it-yourself ordering apps.

Who knows, soon we may have to cook our own food too! Disney will spin it as an "Immersive Culinary Experience".

[Jaygatzby]

I bet their next move is to reduce the size of the plates or baskets to make the food portions look bigger.

No doubt in my mind today’s Disney would consider this. The company line would be it is a win-win solution: reducing plates and basket sizes could potentially reduce the cost/expense Disney pays for those, while giving the guest (I mean, sadly, the consumer/data point) the ‘feeling’ they are getting a large portion size.

The irony is the evolution of this.

When once upon a time WED Imagineers used forced perspective to create a magical illusion buildings and mountains were larger in scale than their actual height, today’s Disney Accountneers wouldn’t likely think twice of using forced perspective to fool the guest/consumer/data point into thinking they were getting the same portions as before when actually they were really reduced portions.

Almost on that same note, I’d expect an Accountneer to propose ‘if we’d just reduce disposable utensil sizes by 40%, consumers/data points would have to take twice as many bites, feeling they eating more food when actually it is less and cut our Parks & Resorts disposable utensils expense costs by at least 25% annually.

[Druggas]

Chapek and co. should be forced to eat only at the parks, and have to pay full price.