Is this too much to spend on dinner? My friend says so.

[Marionnette]

If I felt strongly enough about what restaurant I wanted to eat at, I would have offered to pay for my friend's meal. I cannot imagine flying across the Atlantic, having something on my "to do" list and then not being able to do it because my traveling companion balked at the price. But that's just me. When I want to experience something very badly, I pay whatever it costs me to get it.

But to answer your question, I don't think that price is out of line for table service at Disney. However, dining out where I live can be pretty pricey when you're eating at a nice restaurant. So, I'm kind of accustomed to paying a couple of Benjamins when the two of us go out.

 

[DLgal]

OP, if if is really important to you, offer to pay for the whole meal.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Perhaps she can pick up a quick service or inexpensive meal elsewhere and you offer to pay for this one? If I had my heart set on something I'd regret not going but also wouldn't want to leave my traveling companion out.

 

[MikeNamez]

In a town like Las Vegas with $21 all you can eat seafood buffets.......YES $60-$90 a person IS something.

They couldn't pay me 21$ to eat in those places.

 

[tvguy]

They couldn't pay me 21$ to eat in those places.

Gambling resorts are know for great cheap food.

 

[ClapYourHands]

I think there are basically two ways to think about savings.

One is saving for the express purpose of saving. Some people just hate to spend a penny more than necessary for anything. Being thrifty is something they do in all/most areas of their lives. They want to have the security of a nice nest egg, and they're always looking for ways to keep their hard earned money in their bank accounts. If they find a good deal on airfare or hotels, they'll see that as extra money to save. So, if they originally budgeted $3000 on a trip, and they find their airfare will be $500 less than they expected, they'll be thrilled to only spend $2500.

The second is saving towards a particular goal. Some people will identify something they want, and will work to cut back in other areas to be able to afford the item or experience they want. If they can get a good deal on airfare or hotels, they'll see that as money that can be applied elsewhere. So if they originally budgeted $3000 for a trip, and they find their airfare will be $500 less than they expected, they'll be thrilled to splurge on a nice restaurant or an amazing museum or even a cab ride rather than the bus.

It sounds like maybe you friend is the first kind of saver and you are the second kind. I don't think one or the other is better, but maybe it might help if you think of the disagreement in terms of savings styles. Your question of "too much" is entirely too subjective for there to be a definitive answer.

 

[adamak]

I think that's a pretty reasonable price for a Paris dinner. Yes, some people don't view eating as part of the experience. I OTOH would save up throughout the year just so I can eat at a 5 star restaurant once. Enjoy Paris.
PS. Consider going to SE Asia. Food is fantastic and amazingly cheap.

 

[kymom99]

Gambling resorts are know for great cheap food.

No longer true. We paid around $35 each for a buffet at the mirage. It was standard food.

 

[tvguy]

No longer true. We paid around $35 each for a buffet at the mirage. It was standard food.

https://top-buffet.com/best-seafood-buffet-vegas/

It was true in December. My wife's best friend's employer takes the entire office to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo every December. They do a lot of buffets, and always one seafood since they are so reasonable. They usually do one group dinner with the owners and the Hotel/Casino usually comps that out entirely since the owners are high rollers.

 

[Moliphino]

For one meal in a trip, no I don't think it's too much. If it was every night I might have an issue.

We did DLP and Paris last May for my 30th birthday and ate at the Auberge de Cendrillon for my birthday meal. Honestly, though, the food you get in the city is 10x better than what you get at DLP and not actually that expensive. Also remember that you aren't adding tips on top of the meal costs, generally. Prices may look higher than you're used to, but they include service.

 

[mjkacmom]

If I’m going to Paris, you better believe my splurge meal isn’t going to be a theme park restaurant (and it’s going to cost more than that).

 

[usnuzuloose]

To me that is a lot for one person, but that is me. Right now I am grateful just to have my needs met. But I do try to budget for things as well.

 

[kymom99]

What if you said I really want to try this place out. How much would you be willing to pay for a table service meal? Then tell your friend you will cover the difference if she will join you.

 

[MikeNamez]

What if you said I really want to try this place out. How much would you be willing to pay for a table service meal? Then tell your friend you will cover the difference if she will join you.

This is exactly what I would do. In the grand scheme of things it will be worth it for you and maybe you will convince her going forward to splurge once and while when appropriate.

 

[adamak]

In that case I'd rather just go by myself.

 

[slpeters]

First let me say Paris is amazing. I just know you will have a truly magical time there.

On to the question at hand. I know everybody views money and what's wasteful differently but the fact of the matter is that this isn't a flighty thing. It's not like you wandered past a restaurant and said let's eat here and then discovered it was $80 a plate. Frankly I don't necessarily have a problem with that but I understand people who do. But that's not what happened here--you sat down before your big trip and decided what kind of things were important to you to experience in Paris--and this made the list, you wanted to do this thing once. With that it in mind it seems to me that what would be truly wasteful would be to spend 2 or 3 thousand dollars and 2 weeks vacation (which is frankly worth more to me than the money) to go all the way to Paris and then not do the things you dreamed about doing there.

 

[Artygal90]

I guess I'm posting to vent/ask for opinions. Is that a crazy amount to spend on dinner?

No, it's not ridiculous or crazy. Yes, I think it is objectively a lot of money to spend on one meal. However, it's not unusually expensive for a table-service restaurant in a tourist destination, and you get to decide what to spend your money on. But clearly your friend doesn't think that amount of money is worth it, which is fair! Clearly you have made a lot of intentional financial choices in some areas of your life so you can afford travel splurges like this, but you don't mention if she is also budget-minded in the same way. She might be feeling stressed about the cost and it's coming out in this particular dinner decision (and really, you're talking about a $30-$60 difference in cost, which is probably going to end up being a very small fraction of your overall travel budget).

Personally, I would talk to her and offer to pick up most or all of the tab, since this is one of your must-dos while you are in Paris. Or, plan for it to be a solo dinner and you can have a little break from each other - something I learned is very important when traveling with friends who have different lifestyles/travel goals/finances from each other!

 

[MomToOne]

OK - I'm going to be somewhat of a devils advocate here. I've been in travel groups where one or two people decided they wanted to eat something more pricey than the rest of us wanted. And I can tell you they resented those of us who didn't want to do what they wanted to do, and we resented them for trying to rule the roost and pressure us into something we didn't want to spend money on. It led to tension all around. But that's the nature of the beast.

But honestly, looking back, NEITHER side was right or wrong - our priorities were just different. And at different times we've ended up with different outcomes. Sometimes those of us not wanting to eat the expensive meal gave in and went there after all, to keep peace, because we wanted to keep the group together for some reason that was more important to us than the money. Sometimes the ones wanting the expensive meal gave it up, for the same reasons. And yet other times we decided to split up.

No situation - and no trip - will ever be 100% "perfect". People travelling together are not going to agree on what to do every step of the way. You just have to decide what is MOST important to you - dining with your friend, or having the meal you really want - and then go with that and let everything else go. Hard as it is, you have to try to not stew on it.

 

[a742246]

One meal, fine. Most meals, that is nuts.

But full disclosure. Some of my under 30 co-workers have been overjoyed that one of the bars is offering $150 A NIGHT....PER PERSON..... all you can drink deals....$200 a night for "premium spirits"
40 years ago when I was there age, we went to the place that had the 99 cent cocktail of the month....and unlimited free popcorn. So not everyone shares by perspective.

Oh yes, and the beers were 25 cents each and if your buy 4 the 5th was free! I remember (or do I) those days!

 

[QueenIsabella]

Well, I wouldn't pay that, but everyone's vacation splurges are different. If it's that important to you, OP, offer to pay for your friend, or go alone. Maybe you can work out a "splurge swap", where you pay for this meal, and your friend treats you to a meal at the top of the Eiffel Tower (which might be her idea of a vacation splurge).

P.S. Do not miss the twinkling Eiffel Tower at 11pm! This was a highlight for my kids when we were in Paris.