There’s a LOT to eat in Disney World, but could a change in dining habits alter what the future of food looks like in the parks?

We’ve seen all kinds of new things hit the parks lately — from new snacks to entirely new restaurants. And we’ve taken a look at whether some trends from Gen Z could decimate Disney profits or otherwise change dining at the Most Magical Place on Earth. But now we’re taking a look at another interesting way dining in Disney could be DIFFERENT in the future.

What’s Happening?

Provoke Insights, a Brand Consultancy and Market Research Firm, has released a report regarding consumer trends in restaurants. This data comes from surveys that were conducted among 1,500 Americans between the ages of 21 and 65 (the study was done in April of 2023).

Provoke Insights notes that in the summer 2023 wave, “economic uncertainty looms” so “American consumers are changing their buying habits.”

So just what is changing? For starters “inflation is taking a toll on the restaurant industry.” According to Provoke Insights, about 80% of Americans have noticed price increases when it comes to restaurants and they’re dining out less as a result.

But just where they’re still choosing to dine out is important. According to the data from Provoke Insights, full-service restaurants are seeing the biggest decline. Overall, it looks like about 55% of respondents said they’re eating out LESS at full service restaurants than they did 6 months ago. There has been a pretty significant drop at fast casual restaurants too, with 50% saying they’re eating out less there.

But what about fast food chains? Well, those are still seeing a drop, but they’re faring a bit better. About 45% said they’re eating out less at fast food chains compared to 6 months ago.

If you look at where people said they were eating out at MORE compared to 6 months ago, full service restaurants were only at 13% and fast casual restaurants were at 14%. Fast food chains, however, had the largest number at 17%.

Compared to the fall of 2022, you can see how things are changing. They asked whether folks were eating out the same or more often at restaurants compared to 6 months ago, and there’s been a DECLINE in all 3 restaurant types.

Americans aren’t just eating out less when they go out though, they’re also CHANGING the way they eat when they do go out. For example, the most popular way to cut costs when eating out is by picking cheaper items on the menu to buy.

It seems that cutting out alcohol and drinks is a trend that’s increasing now too. Other things some are doing are cutting out desserts or cutting out appetizers. All of that could help the restaurant bill be that much lower.

So how do restaurants encourage folks to come back and spend money? Provoke Insights notes that promotional deals and loyalty programs/points are the main ways.

In terms of overall optimism, consumers are more optimistic about the future right now than they were in the spring or fall of 2022, but less than they were in fall of 2021. Some of the top concerns they’re facing include inflation, the economy, and the government.

And Provoke Insights has found that consumers are “still in saving mode.” That’s leading some to shop at discount stores more often and use coupons more often too.

What Does It Mean?

So, what might this all mean for Disney World? Well, it’s not something Disney has revealed any updates about but if Disney takes considerations like these into account it could alter some of the ways in which they approach future dining spots in the parks and resorts.

For example, since full service and fast casual restaurants have seen the largest declines, compared to fast food chains, Disney may opt to focus a bit more on its equivalent to fast food — Quick or Counter Service restaurants and/or food kiosks/stands — rather than new Table Service restaurants. That could mean that more new food items or experiences are made available in the fast food space versus table service space.

In a way, we have seen Disney breathing new life into some of its Quick Service restaurants with menu updates at places like Contempo Cafe in Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Artist’s Palette at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort.

Disney has also put heavy emphasis on limited-time eats available only for certain celebrations, many of which may only be available at Quick Service spots, or festivals (like the Food & Wine Festival).

On the other hand, however, it seems this trend hasn’t stopped Disney from opening new Table Service restaurants. For example, Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya has opened in Disney’s Japan Pavilion. And several NEW Table Service restaurants are on their way including EET by Maneet Chauhan and Summer House on the Lake in Disney Springs.

But perhaps Disney could work on a compromise that features Table Service AND Quick Service options — sort of how The Cake Bake Shop (coming to Disney’s BoardWalk in 2023) will have both a Table Service side and a to-go section. That could strike a balance between consumer trends and Disney’s desire to have Table Service restaurants that can cost more per meal.

In the earnings report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2023, Disney did reveal that there were some decreases at Disney World that led to lower operating income at its domestic parks and resorts. That decrease in Disney World was due to higher costs (partially due to inflation) and lower volumes (decreases in occupied room nights and attendance).

That might be putting some pressure on Disney to see just how to make the most of every dollar spent in Disney World — including on food.

Provoke Insights pointed out that promotional deals and loyalty programs are 2 of the things that have prompted Americans to dine out more frequently. We’ve seen loyalty programs implemented by some non-Disney-owned restaurants in places like Disney Springs, but perhaps Disney could look to offering its own promotional deals in the form of increased discounts for certain groups (like how it sometimes increases food discounts for Annual Passholders) or even offer things like Free Dining (when the Disney Dining Plan returns).

Disney may also look at spending/saving trends — like how consumers are spending less on drinks/alcohol and have an increased interest in cheaper menu items — to determine certain menu changes. Perhaps that’ll mean the introduction of more cheap menu items versus more alcoholic drinks.

It’s important to note, however, that while the Provoke Insights survey provides some interesting insight into the dining world, Disney is sort of a whole different beast. That’s primarily because guests who are visiting the parks are (in a way) “trapped” in the resort and can’t always easily opt to eat anywhere else.

You can bring your own meals, snacks, etc. into the parks, have things delivered, or opt to eat off-property, but it might be challenging to do that for every single meal. In other words, Disney has a captive audience. That can change the game in terms of how they approach dining and consumer trends surrounding restaurants.

But, still, changing consumer habits as a whole might be enough to motivate Disney to look closely at food spending in its parks and make changes if they note any specific impacts. And Disney could also be impacted by how locals change their spending habits when it comes to food in the parks and places like Disney Springs or the hotels.

We’ll continue to keep an eye out for interesting trends and how they might change things in the future. Stay tuned for more news.

Click here for a definitive ranking of every fast food restaurant in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Have you changed how much you spend on your dining in Disney World? Tell us in the comments.

The post Could Dining at Disney World CHANGE Because of This New Trend? first appeared on the disney food blog.