Connection Vouchers & AKL

[glewis1123]

I'm new to these Connection vouchers - and as yet have not seen where you can use these vouchers at any of the restaurants at AKL - Does anyone know if any of the restaurants at AKL accept these vouchers?

Thank you.

[DarleneSutton]

glewis 1123, only the Mara restaurant at AKL accepts the Lunch or Dinner voucher. Hope this helps!

[macs4us]

And if so, what did you get??? We are thinking about staying at AKL and ordering vouchers.

Thanks,
Amy

[DarleneSutton]

Macs4us, the Mara has the following: "Not the whole menu but it will give you an idea of items and prices"
Caesar Salad $5.29
Pizza "Individual" $4.59-$6.29
Chicken Sandwich $6.29
Double Bacon Cheeseburger $6.89
Shrimp Platter $8.99
Fish & Chips $8.99
Chicken Strips $5.99
Fish Sandwich $7.99

Sides
Soups $2.49
Tossed Salad $4.79

Dessert

Cheesecake $3.59
Brownie $2.59
Pies $3.59
Cookies $1.89
Cakes $3.59

[Humpbacks1962]

How can you use a Connections voucher there? What could you pick out of the menu to make it worthwhile to buy them?

Wanda

[Coggy]

Well, let's see how we can save money.

$8.99 for a shrimp platter (I assume the side dish is part of the platter)
$3.59 for a cheesecake dessert
$2.00 for a drink
$14.59 total plus tax. Using an $11.00 voucher saves $3.59 plus tax.

If you use the vouchers wisely, you can save money with the vouchers.

[Babblin'Boo]

Those meal vouchers still don't convince me.

Doesn't sound like much of a savings, especially when you are virtually forced to pick the most expensive items to save a few bucks, and I don't even eat shrimp!

[Drake]

I've always heard wonderful things about Beaches & Cream.....when I read about the Connections vouchers.....and, checked into the menu.....I realized that this was a great opportunity to visit a resort I've never seen and eat at a restaurant I've never tried before!!
The same goes for the Rainforest Cafe at AK!
We love the Brown Derby......and, now I can order things on the menu I couldn't afford before!
I guess they are not for everyone....but, since we like to experience something different each time we go to WDW (and save a little money....even if it's as little as $4)....heh, these vouchers are great!!

[WorknFires]

I belong to Connections and tried a few of the vouchers at WDW in Jan. Like you're saying you're pretty much limited to the most expensive items just to make it worth while which isn't bad if your splitting something. Beaches & Cream was the most effective use of the coupons that we found.

Cheryl :bounce:

[macs4us]

but theoretically you could order the large pizza with two toppings ($16.77), a side salad ($4.79), one of the "expensive" desserts ($3.59), and a beverage (probably $2.00) and come out ahead by $16.15 before tax. I don't know if they accept the large pizza as an entree - I know that we ordered the most expensive appetizer in Italy at the urging of our waiter when we had the $29.50 voucher, and that we ordered the kitchen sink at Beaches and Cream with our $11 voucher, so anything is possible.

[Drake]

Yes, Macs4us, I was wondering that myself.....the large pizza with 2 toppings would be a good buy with the vouchers. Has anyone used the vouchers for this? My husband alone can eat a large pizza!! :p

[glewis1123]

Well, I haven't gotten the list from Connections yet but..... I did get my park hopper plus's and breakfast feature voucers. On the back of the breakfast vouchers they list where the vouchers are good at - they list Mara and Boma for the AKL. These voucers expire May 2003 and guess what - I didn't get double billed like a lot of people have.

[cottontail]

Hi: Anyone know the price per adult for a breakfast buffet at bomas?

Deb.

[macs4us]

I think the price is around $15, not including a pot of pressed Kenyan coffee - which many people have raved about!!!!

[cottontail]

Hi:

I am trying to figure out how these vouchers work out better.

If the buffet is l5.00 at boma, and the voucher costs 17.50, how do you figure you are saving.

I know that you have to add tax and tip to the l5.00, I am not sure what the tax rate is for dining in fl.

But is that how they work out better , after you add the sales tax, and tip, the l7.50 for the voucher thru connections would be less than just spending l5.00 cash plus tip and tax. any comments?

Deb.

[Babblin'Boo]

That is the whole point, where is the saving? Everyone raves about Beaches and Cream but I honestly do not see myself buying vouchers to eat there often, especially staying at another resort. I do not want to waste vacation time commuting there to save a couple of bucks on a meal!

If you are forced to order only the largest portions or most expensive meals to save a handful of $1s elsewhere, that waste is ludicrous.

I have yet to see where are the savings some people rave about. Recently we figured out that Connections weren't selling the lowest priced passes, so right after those posts went public, they lowered their prices. I am sure that their people read and post on these boards too.

[Coggy]

To each their own. I am convinced I will save money at B&C

As far as Beaches and Creams, it may be a resort restaurant but is so close to Epcot, it might as well be in Epcot. Doesn't seem like a lot of wasted time to me.

$11 for a $20 Kitchen Sink is enough in itself. Then add the entree, drink, side, tax and tip.

As far as the Lunch and Breakfast vouchers, they are a great way to budget your money.

[Drake]

Obviously some people would not find these vouchers an opportunity like we do. I showed the Rain Forest Cafe menu to my spouse....and he agrees that these vouchers will give us the opportunity to order items from the menu that we couldn't before. (We have never.....and, I mean never.....bought desert when eating out. To some of us...that $5.00 desert was an indulgence we couldn't afford....and, chicken was more sensible than lobster or steak.) We can't wait to try out these vouchers!

[cottontail]

Hi folks:

I am trying to decide about these vouchers vrs no vouchers, so the beaches and cream are a very good value for these it sounds like. What other places would be a good value for the ll.00 vouchers? The idea is the most expensive entre is the best value at whatever restaurants honours the ll.00 vouchers.

Do you guys go look at the menu's for the restaurantes that honour these vouchers, and decide what your family will eat and see if it works out cheaper, is this how everyone is deciding if these are good value. Sorry to ask so many questions?

Deb.

[glewis1123]

In regards to the breakfast feature vouchers - I believe they are $17 for an adult. The $17 includes tax (which I think is 6% - but am not sure) and gratuity.

That would make Boma's about $18.22 - saving about $1.22.

What I do is to figure out where we are going to eat, check out the menu prices and figure the cost of an adult meal and a child's meal and then check out the vouchers to see what will work and what won't.

They are a better savings with the character breakfasts - Crystal Palace and Breakfasaurus.

[Lewisc]

You should be prepared, Disney has the right to say Kitchen Sink is not a desert intended to be served to one person and exclude it. Previous posters indicated Rain Forest has done that with some items.
These vouchers were intended for packages in which meals were included. They are also a useful way to pre-pay for some of your expenses. They are not really being marketed as a discount program (other than on these boards). It's certainly good if you want to order desert and appetizer (after all I already paid for it). I suspect that if you go to the restaurants you normally go to (don't just select the most expensive restaurants)and order the food you normally would (don't just select by price) you probably won't save any money. It does make it easier to select more expensive restaurants or order more expensive entrees.

[DisneyKidds]

I can see both sides to the "are the vouchers worth it" question. At most counter service restaurants the vouchers will save you less than $3 per person. Likewise, breakfast feature vouchers on a character breakfast will save you less than $3 per person. Not that big a savings. However, multiply that by 2 people for 2 meals a day for a week and you save $84. I could think of a few things to do with $84. This alone may not warrant paying the membership fee, but if you are going to make use of other features of the Connections services it is a nice savings.

Then consider the places where you can have a good meal (as opposed to counter service fast food) and save a lot of money. Beaches and Cream and Pepper Market being the best 2 examples. At these places you can get $50 worth of good food for 2 quick and casual vouchers ($22), no waste involved. We actually look forward to going to resorts to walk around and go to restaurants, so it isn't an inconvenience to hit these places for a meal. If you happen to be staying at CSR or you are in Epcot or MGM, these restaurants are very convenient.

It looks like Mara at AKL may be a better value than many counter service places but not as good as Beaches and Cream or Pepper Market value wise, but we always wanted to see what AKL looked like, so we will go there just to eat at Mara.

We also like prepaying for a lot of our meals and controlling our budget a little better.

[Humpbacks1962]

You'd be enslaved to eat only at places that save you $2.00 per meal with those vouchers, and forced to order the most expensive items just to save a buck or two. I know I could not eat two huge meals a day to save $84 a week! I too would find it unacceptable to order selections that I can't even finish only to save $2.00!

Regarding the tip, although they say it is included, I know for a fact that I would not have the nerve to be waited on and leave nothing on the table, regardless! So you could end up paying more than you planned.. There goes your $2.00 savings, making the hoopla around Connection's vouchers an oxymoron.


Wanda

[buzz5985]

I ordered 10 quick and casual vouchers before I left. We first ate at Beaches and Cream, we had an Illuminations Cruise planned so this was a perfect first night. 4 adults and a child ate. I didn't use a voucher for the child. Childs meal - Hot Dog, French Fries, and Soda, Small Sundae and tip = $14. 1 Adult = $11 voucher. I should have used a voucher for the child. I did not leave any additional tip to the vouchers at Beaches and Cream. We also ate at the Pepper Market. I figured our meal to have cost $54 for 2 adults and all we gave them were the $11 vouchers. I'd like to add Coronado Springs looked really nice. After dinner we walked around the whole lake, saw the pool etc. I don't think I wouldn't have ever gone to this resort if it wasn't for the vouchers. I also had Breakfast vouchers that I used at Cinderella's Castle. Saved a couple of bucks there that's it. I was talking to the CM who seemed to like the vouchers since it guarantee's them a 15% tip. Seems a lot of people don't tip well in Disney. And as for Boma's Breakfast Buffet I am looking at my receipt from 3/3 - 2 adult breakfast = $29.98, 1 Child Breakfast = $7.99 = $37.97 = tax $2.28 = $40.25 plus tip $7.75 = $50. I believe in vouchers this would have been $40.97 The money I saved using vouchers paid for my Illuminations Cruise.

[Babblin'Boo]

Sounds like you had a lot of vacation time to spend eating in different resorts.

Unless they're locals, if anyone has free time alloted for resort hopping just to save a few bucks on meals, then all the glory to them. You'd spend A LOT of time using Disney buses to go from your resort to a park to another resort for your meal, and back the same route to your resort. If renting a vehicle, it seems that the $2.00 you save on your meal is spent on gas...

If you keep yourself from opening your wallet to leave a tip, then I see how you could indeed save $2.00 on the meals. It could be a very tough one for me, especially when a lot of those CMs make us smile during our meals and are so funny with the kids. I just could not have the nerve to leave the table empty.

I have read opinions all over the boards, and I have actually sat down to do the numbers and compare rationally. I disagree that those vouchers really make a splendid difference.

[loribell]

It wouldn't be hard to NOT leave an additional tip at Pepper Market. They don't actually wait on you but a tip is added to your bill when you leave. That is not a good thing. As for tipping at other places, I will still leave something extra with my breakfast vouchers as well as at Beaches & Cream. I always tip 20% or more unless service is terrible (unless of course they automatically add it to my bill, then they get just what they asked for and no more). Can you tell I don't like to have a tip added to my bill. LOL!

Since we would have to be going somewhere for dinner anyway I don't see this as a waste of time. Beaches & Cream is one of the restuarants I have wanted to try and we really like the food at Pepper Market so we will eat there. Unless you are planning to only eat inside the parks, which by the way can get old fast, you will spend time getting to a place to eat.

Lori

[LBYC-19]

You guys all have valid arguments here and it is interesting to read the different viewpoints and opinions on these vouchers.

I just ordered them for different reasons. I was so thrilled at our savings with the hopper plus passes with Connections that I consider these as "freebies". I'm not going to scrutinize whether they are economical or not once we're there, but simply a mere pre-paid convenience. Plus, it will be easier to give them to the teens if we split up (or should I say WHEN we split up, lol) instead of cash for their lunches. They will think they have died and gone to heaven when they can order a frozen drink AND a dessert with their lunch...oh, the joys of feeding teens.
----------
Joanne

[WorknFires]

I consider resort hopping for my meals part of the adventure. Sometimes, if I'm not going to be in the area, I drive. But usually, I plan on resorts near the park I'm in. I usually do at least 2 most times 3 Epcot days. I always do San Angel and Teppanyaki's but it's nothing to take the launch (yes I know I can walk but it's so leisurely) to Boardwalk, Yacht Club or Beach Club for lunch or supper. AK... I usually catch Boma's afterwards (since it closes at 5 anyway) MK, there are so many great restaurants just a monorail or boat ride away. If you do them for dinner after the park closes, what have you lost? MGM is probably the only park that I do my resort hopping 1st for breakfast and then the park. Resort hopping for food is my luxury. I don't consider it a sacrifice of my time.

Cheryl

[Babblin'Boo]

Unless you are planning to only eat inside the parks, which by the way can get old fast, you will spend time getting to a place to eat.

Eating in the parks does not get old too fast for many of us, especially when there are so many places left over that we have not yet tried. As for spending time getting to them, let's not be fanatical. Thinking rationally tells you that a few minutes walk saves you much more time than a commute to a different resort to save $2!!

Now, the idea of prepaying a teen's decent meal expense is perhaps the most rational yet, Joanne. I can agree with you on that one. But saves the money intended to save only if you skip the tip. In that case, I'd only get it for the convenience of prepaying a meal.

And again, some of those CMs would make it so hard for me to skip a tip, adding to the the expense I originally intended to pay. To each his own, but if anyone advertises Connections meal vouchers as an awesome, best dining investment ever, don't fall for it.

[loribell]

I'm sorry if that came across wrong. I did not intend it that way and I'm not sure how it did. It just seems to me that most of the restuarants inside the parks have the same thing. Unless of course you are going to one of the nicer restuarants, which of course means you will spend quite a bit of time waiting there also. You can get on a bus from the park to go to any resort area and then back to the same park or a different one for that matter. My commutes from the MK to CS last summer took no more than 20 miutes at any time. Even with a PS at dinner time you will probably wait 15-20 minutes for your table. Many people do this, that is why there are Park Hopper tickets!

I thought by listing the 2 restuarants that I planned to use it was clear that I don't think they are a great deal myself, but they are good at the two I mentioned and they are places I planned to go anyway. I will save much more then $2 at Beaches & Cream and Pepper Market.

Using the breakfast voucher will only save me a couple of bucks, but I was going to do them too. Go figure, I'm going to do something I would have anyway and save a couple of bucks doing it! Now why would I want to do that?

The only place I do not like tipping is Pepper Market. They do not wait on you, you do it yourself, but they still add a 10% gratuity to your bill. I know this because I spent 8 days there last summer. We ate there several times. I filled our glasses and I got mine and my childrens food.

Fanatical, not me and I'm not stupid either. I don't understand why some people on these boards need to be mean. There really was no need for that. I did not say anything in the least bit rude to you.

Lori

[Coggy]

The best part about the connections vouchers is that you can either buy them and save money or you can not buy them and not save money. It's as simple as that. What a wonderful concept. What's wrong with wanting to save money? If the vouchers did not save money, then I think Connections would be out of business by now. Who would pay Connections more money to eat something worth less? Get where I'm going with this.

By the way! This is a budget board and not a time savings board. If I really wanted to save time and not money, I would go the Commando route and make everyone in my family miserable.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to trimming all the fat from my budget.

[Babblin'Boo]

If the vouchers did not save money, then I think Connections would be out of business by now.
Perhaps they'd be out of business if more people used their calculators instead of follow others' words without itemizing expenses. But I made reference only to vouchers, and I do not believe Connections survives on the sale of these alone.

What's wrong with wanting to save money?
Nothing, what is wrong with demanding proof that you actually save money? Should be obvious if the savings are real anyhow.

By the way! This is a budget board and not a time savings board. If I really wanted to save time and not money, I would go the Commando route and make everyone in my family miserable.
Be nicer yet if they added a common sense board, but...

Lori, I accept and return the apology.

Listen you all, there's no reason to go ballistic when I share the fact that if you add it all up together, Connections meal vouchers are NO impressive savings deal! I requested a break down of their value and what everyone wrote did not sound too convincing. If you tell me that park tickets are cheaper somewhere, I want the chance to convince myself, for example. When you told me that Connections vouchers were worth it, I did likewise, I wanted to check it out.

Nobody will stop anyone who wants to buy them, but those who are skeptical and want a reason to invest in them see nothing wrong with scrutinizing every claim before opening the wallet. I honestly see them as nothing over and beyond a prepaid meal. And actually, you may end up spending more than you intended to save in transportation costs and tips.

It just seems that a mere AAA, DC, Entertainment or AMEX discount may give you similar or bigger savings (5%, 10% , 20% or more) at a decent restaurant, but the hoopla around them is real.

[buzz5985]

I think everyone is missing the point that the tax and tip are included in the price of the voucher. The CM has you sign the voucher, they fill out your bill and submit it for their tip. The CM's are tipped on the actual meal cost, not the voucher's price. I asked them. They are happy to get them, since few people tip 15%, especially at preplated characher dining like Cinderella's Castle. I was just trying to help people who were trying to decide wether to buy them or not. Sorry I caused such a fuss. Oh, and I always have a car, and always drive to the different resorts and to the parks. Especially with a dog in the kennel we have to get back to her 3 or 4 times a day to walk her.

[bobcat]

buzz thanks for making that point. If you use a voucher and don't leave a physical tip after your meal you are not stiffing the wait staff. They will get their tip, probably more than most people leave anyhow, on the total amount of the bill, not the voucher price. I think some people don't realize this.

I don't believe anyone has said that this is the best money saving advice there is. All of the information is helpful and people should not feel attacked for offering their experiences. I haven't used these vouchers but have looked at them very carefully. There are a few places that they offer a good savings and I think this has been demonstrated in this post. Especially if you are feeding a large family over a week long trip, then you may really see savings from these.

Since I am staying at CS next trip I may purchase a few of these for the pepper market because after looking at the menu and knowing what my family eats I think I will save a little bit of money. Will it have a huge impact on my food budget, no but every bit counts. That's why I also use savings on other areas of my trip as well. All of it added together allows me to return to WDW more often.

Lori don't let it get to you. Your information was appreciated. I agree about the tips at Pepper Market. I feel 11% is a bit much for getting me a drink.

[hockey mom]

I think some people are also missing the fact that sharing is allowed and encouraged by the wait staff. These vouchers will save me alot of money because of all that is offered with one voucher. My 2 girls will share the side dish, entree, and dessert. I will buy one extra drink. Alone they would never be able to eat all that, but to split it up will be the perfect amount. They are past the kid menu age therefore their own meal, if they had an entree, drink and dessert, would cost me around $12 without tax or tip, and I plan on paying $10.50(the cost of my voucher), plus $2 for another drink, plus an extra tip, so total around $15. So I figure $15 is better than the $30 dollars I would have paid without the vochers. This is only one meal also. With 7 days at Disney we do require 7 lunches, and we are not going out of our way to these places that offer a better savings, because these were all the places we had picked out to try before we had heard of the vouchers.

[cottontail]

Hi Hockeymom"

Are the ll.00 vouchers l0.50, I thought they were ll.00.

Also when you have them delivered to canada, do you have to pay anything else at the border. Do they collect gst on these or any duty? Just wondering if I order these if I pay what connections charges for the voucher, and delivery, but nothing extra.

My son got a cd from someone not music, and the mailman asked me for 27.00 more to cover something at the border. So that is why I was asking. My son didn't anticipate this extra charge.

Deb.

[hockey mom]

I got my vouchers for $10.50 because that was the price before the increase. Also all of mine were bought from people off this board and were mailed to me like a letter, so no duty was paid. I wondered the same thing myself because if these vouchers work out good for me this year I would like to join and buy some for my next trip.

[DisneyKidds]

Humpbacks - you may have missed the point. If you go to run of the mill counter service places and order a run of the mill meal (not some huge, "most expensive" item that you "can't finish") you will save a couple of bucks a person with a voucher. None of the true counter service places even have such menu items. If you plan to eat at counter service places you can go anywhere (not "enslavened" to a few places) and order anything (not the most expensive item) and you will save a couple of bucks. Agreed, it is not a lot, but someone who plans to eat in counter service places can go anywhere and they will save money. My point was that, without doing anything different than they otherwise would have, over time the savings could add up.

Even at places like Beaches and Cream where you can save a lot, it does not require ordering more food than you can eat just to save money. A salad, and entree and dessert - I'll order that at any restaurant. I have always been able to finish whatever we ordered at B&C using a voucher (well, maybe not a few spoonfuls of ice cream - the sundaes are too big :) ).

To each his/her own. I'll take the $84 (and more) to the bank.

[Humpbacks1962]

Let's see...

$11 voucher seems to be worth it only if you do order the most expensive meals, at least judging by the pricing of Mara's menu as listed on Deb's website.

Forget a regular breakfast, you'd have to look into a character meal to stretch the vouchers, right? (Well, at least Mousesavers.com states that "they are only a good deal if you use them for a full-service character breakfast" - I have no reason to doubt the honesty of her advice, so I'll start there)

Breakfast voucher... $17.50 adults, $12.00 child, taxes & gratuity included
Altogether= $29.50

Without a voucher it is $15.99 adult, $8.99 child.
12% (could be 11%) tax = $2.99
15% gratuity= $3.45
Altogether = $31.42

A difference of $1.92 That is, assuming you will restrain from paying a tip over and beyond the voucher. Based on what I researched, using Connections breakfasts vouchers every day would only save me under $10 a week. And that is, riding Disney buses and keeping myself from tipping extra! We're staying at AKL this year, so take away any suggestion for us to spend vacation time hopping on to other resorts to save a buck or two.

And likewise, your dinner savings are at the most, pennies over $2.00. In order to save $84 with vouchers you need to save at least $3.00 per meal. Such estimate crosses the boundaries of reality when you figure in your numbers. The previous poster quoted saving $3 per meal, per person, twice a day, right? That is:
$3 X 4 meals per day = $12/day, $12 X 5 days = $ 60 per week! And we're not even finding that you'll save $3 per meal to begin with! So I suggest a more rational backing up of the $84 savings claim or drop it altogether.

And there's more... What I "save" using vouchers I'd spend in shipping, unless I order plenty of them to go over $100, right? You mean I'd have to spend $100 to save around $10 or $20?

Are my numbers wrong? Are the taxes any higher? In all honesty, I am not bashing anyone in a petty power struggle but genuinely looking to convince myself that Connection's claims to "buy more, save big" aren't a hype that some people promoting them have followed like little blind sheep following the leader!


Wanda

[disneyjunkie]

We all do what's best for our families. Some of us think the connections vouchers are great because they'll save us some money, even if it's a very small amount. They'll allow us a chance to try places we may not other wise try, and order in ways that we may not order without them.

Some of us see them as a great thing, some see them as pure hype. It's the same way with on site\off site, packages, no packages. I don't think any one view is "right", it's just a matter of what works for you.

[Humpbacks1962]

I accept and respect your explanation, but...

They'll allow us a chance to try places we may not other wise try, and order in ways that we may not order without them.

See, the whole thing is that is precisely what a lot of people think. But everything figured in, you CAN afford those places after all, without Connections' help. Especially when the difference is less than $2.00! I think that a lot of people passionate about them may be misinformed.


Wanda

[Lewisc]

Humpbacks1962
If you use the vouchers in places like Concourse you can order items (appetizers and deserts) you might otherwise think isn't worth it. As long as you're ordering them you might as well also order some of the breakfast vouchers (you save a dollar or 2).
These vouchers were intented for packages where meals were included. Connections doesn't promote these vouchers on their website. The only places where people talk about discounts are on this board (Mary gives an idea as to where you might expect some savings.
I'm not sure the vouchers are worth it (in fact almost all of the savings comes from using them in Beaches and Cream and I'm not sure how long they'll allow people to "overorder") if you're main purpose is to save money.

[DisOrBust]

Not to beat a dead horse but... wouldn't the pot of pressed coffee be considered the "drink" in the breakfast voucher?

[chris1gill]

I think this post is beating lot's of things into the ground... But...

My family? We drive to the different resorts because we want to & because we're DVC'ers and we pool hop anywhere our hearts desire.... So, since CSR has an awesome pool for our kids, we pool hop there because WE WANT TO... and oh yeh, we get vouchers, so we can have a 50.00+ dinner for 22.00... We always pool hop to Stormalong Bay because again, our kids love it... While we're there we ate our way through lunch & ordered a Kitchen Sink, because it was hilarious fun... we all loved that.. and then we gave our neighboring table a kitchen sink too because they admired ours so much... I say spread some Disney magic... the CM's encouraged it, so we did it!! We spent over a hundred by the time we left B&C & we spent 2 vouchers 22.00... and we had a ton of fun in the process....

We used the sit down lunch voucher at Canada & now my husband wants to eat there every visit, we only saved 25.00 that visit... but enough to make it worth our while... Since we have kids we always get dessert... We order an appetizer because we like salads & we don't particularly care if we don't finish our food...

We don't mind resort hopping, that's more fun for our family & there are lots of families out there just like us...

We would have saved six dollars at Cindies Breakfast if I'd bought vouchers... I should have, it was on our agenda the last trip.... hindsight...

Oh, and I don't think a 15% tip is so bad... it's based on the regular bill, not the voucher bill....

So to each his own, if you just want some quick food & no cookie for dessert, this isn't the plan for you... if you like to indulge or try different places & check out all that Disney World has to offer, then go for it! Disney is a lot more than just theme parks!

[Babblin'Boo]

we get vouchers, so we can have a 50.00+ dinner for 22.00
Where? How many? Adults? Kids? Has the menu been publicized allowing anyone to confirm the savings?

Could you just itemize like Humps did? That is the whole thing! People all over these boards say how much they saved with Connections here and there, but when inquisitive guests go beyond the posts, the numbers just don't add up!

Fine if you want to prepay your meals and go resort hopping with the vouchers, but don't promote them as money saving opportunities because they are not!

[chris1gill]

Originally posted by Babblin'Boo

Where? How many? Adults? Kids? Has the menu been publicized allowing anyone to confirm the savings?

Could you just itemize like Humps did? That is the whole thing! People all over these boards say how much they saved with Connections here and there, but when inquisitive guests go beyond the posts, the numbers just don't add up!

Fine if you want to prepay your meals and go resort hopping with the vouchers, but don't promote them as money saving opportunities because they are not!


You know Babblin' Boo you come across not as inquisitive but as hostile, just an FYI....

At the Pepper Market we had two kids & two adults... I shared with our 4 year old... our 7 year old got a kids meal for 7.00 & change.... My Husband and I got prime rib once which was excellent, another time my Husband got some sort of Sampler entree... My Husband & I each got soda's & cake/ice cream for dessert... As I'm sure I said already, these are foods we would normally eat, we didn't order anything "extra"... The vouchers covered the 10% based on the entire cost of the meal, not the voucher price...

As for Beaches & Cream, we got two frozen drinks, Chili & a burger, Salad & a chicken sandwich, and then a kitchen sink for us and a kitchen sink for our neighbors... the waitress helped us select our food so that we could all share... Worked out great, the fun factor was high and so was the magic...

Neither of these places were out of our way...

In fact, if you do a search from mid-December you will find my itemized listing.... I for one will be ordering more vouchers for our BWV vacation & you'd better believe we'll hit B&C at least a couple of times!

[Drake]

can you just itemize

Rainforest Cafe -

Alaskan King Crab $29.99
Sweet and tender, steamed to perfection and served with drawn butter.

Add on an appetizer, a non-achoholic beverage, desert and tip......you don't need to itemize to see the savings of using the $29.00 lunch voucher.

We could go over other menu's....but, hey, that's been done on this thread and board already.

[LBYC-19]

quote
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I think this post is beating lots of things into the ground
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LOL, chris1gill, well said

Did I log onto the debate board by accident?

[Lewisc]

Babblin'Boo
I'm not a big connections fan, but there is no question if you go to some restaurants and order the most expensive food you'll get savings. Mary's webiste lists the restaurants.
I suspect if you order what you'd normally order the savings would be nominal.
I'm surprised Connections allows you to cancel while keeping the vouchers you purchased. I wonder if people would still the find savings worth it if they had to pay the annual fee in order to buy and use the vouchers.

[chris1gill]

Okay, last post here for "inquisitive minds"

Here are the old posts I made regarding the vouchers, one is from September, one is from December, both have "details"

Beaches & cream
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=137656

Pepper market & B&C (we didn't know to do the kitchen sink this time)
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=726230#post726230

I suspect that if you actually want to "see" a menu, you can find it at www.wdwig.com, it's all pretty much there....

Now, off to the debate board....

[loribell]

Personally I couldn't get the membership just to drop it after ordering my vouchers. I have had my membership since last October. I also use it for Toys R Us, Outback, and movie tickets.
The main savings for me is because there are 10 of us going on this trip. If I can order them I would be able to use 16 breakfast vouchers (for Character Breakfast's) and 15 or 20 quick and casual vouchers (Beaches & Cream 2 times) and Pepper Market 1 or 2 times. Now if they will only let me order 10 per membership then I won't have a problem with getting a second one and then canceling it. I feel as though my first membership should allow it. I don't blame them for putting a limit on it since so many people are joiningand then canceling.


Lori

[DisneyKidds]

Humpbacks - sorry if I offended you in relaying the savings WE realize and trying to make others understand what value you can get from the vouchers.

If you insist on more detail, here goes.

Lets assume Pinocchio Village Haus represents a typical counter service restaurant in the parks at WDW. If we went there we would order (prices from current menu):

Double burger 6.50
Chicken Garden Salad 6.50
2 large drinks 4.60
Side of fries 1.80
Side of fruit 3.00
Brownie 1.80
Ice Cream 3.00

Total 27.20
With Tax 30.20
Less 2 vouchers 22.00
Savings 8.20 for 2 people, or 4.10 per person

Lets assume Roaring Forks is typical of a counter service place at a resort. If we went there......

Philly Steak 5.90
Chicken Sandwich 6.30
Drinks 4.60
Soup 2.80
Chili 2.80
2 Magic Cookie Bars 4.60 (These are great :) )

Total 26.80
With Tax 29.75
Savings 7.75, or 3.88 per person

As you can see, the average savings would be about 4.00 per person for dinner. In a week, 7 dinners x 2 people x 4.00 = 56.00.

Now for breakfast. You are right, the vouchers only seem to make sense on Character meals. However, we only do 2 meals a day and we like to enjoy a big breakfast and only do character breakfasts.

In a week we'd do Park Fare 3 times.

Meal 16.95
Tax 1.02
Tip 2.54

Total 20.51
Savings with voucher 3.01 per adult

The other 4 days we'd do other Character breakfasts.

Meal 15.99
Tax .96
Tip 2.40

Total 19.35
Savings with voucher 1.85

Total Savings for the week

3.01 x 2 x 3 = 18.06
1.85 x 2 x 4 = 14.80

We don't use vouchers for kids meals because the savings aren't there.

Total Breakfast Savings 32.86
Total Dinner Savings 56.00

Total Savings 88.86

Could you order cheaper food and save less, maybe. Would you want to? Why? Even if you did, you could still save $80 plus dollars in a week depending on where you want to eat. You can save a whole lot more if you go to places like Beaches and Cream, where you can get double burgers for 2, a couple of salads, a couple of drinks, a couple of sundaes, be served like a human being, eat a substantial meal that actually tastes good, finish all your food, and save $25 on the meal (and we would eat there even if the vouchers didn't exist).

Without indulging you can save money. Is $80 in a week worth it, or $45 on a 4 day trip? I think so, especially since we'd only use vouchers for places we would have eaten at anyway. As chris1gill so eloquently points out, if you enjoy yourself and have some fun, you can save a whole lot more. By the way, let this serve as independent confirmation of her claim to savings at B&C. We ate there several time last trip and the bill was about $50 each time. Go to WDWIG and itemize for yourself.

FYI -

We always rent a car and like to resort hop - so travel time is not an issue.

Last time I checked, a week was 7 days and not 5.

Shipping is always free.

That is our reality and rationale - and I will drop it all together.

Once again, to each his/her own. They work for us. Aparently they wouldn't work for others. That is why people suggest understanding how the vouchers work and where they can use them before buying.

Hopefully this info can be helpful to someone. Please excuse me while I call someone to take this dead horse to the glue factory :).

[Babblin'Boo]

chris1gill, my post was not hostile at all, but your sarcasm responding to an inquiry certainly is.

Drake, your $29.99 meal with the lunch voucher saved you...$0.49 WOW! Hope you left no tips too.

DisneyKidds, your average quoting only two meals implies that each person siphons in hefty lunches *and* dinners, in order to save over $2.00. Some of us aren't mobile vacuums, perhaps a breakfast and a late dinner is quite enough, so your "$4.00" average per meal is still not convincing, recalling that the best breakfast option does not even save you a full $2.00.

Oh yea, your week may still be at 7 days but it only means that a person spending fewer may not reap your supposed benefits unless he spends, on top of everything, at least 7 days! Makes your case weaker yet.

Some just have to back off and think rationally about what they're claiming, pride aside. I think some people are really just stretching it, to make it fit. The best thing to do is, again, before anyone jumps out to get a Connections membership just for the vouchers, evaluate how realistic your savings will be. Take the cost of each voucher and download the menus of the restaurants you're interested in. Get proof of your savings beforehand.

We aren't overeaters who would consume huge meals with all the works twice a day for at least a week, so my opinion remains unchanged and my invitation to everyone is to pull out your calculators before you pull out your wallets on this one.

[momm2four]

Okay, I'm pretty new to the board, but Boo, how is Drake only saving .49 when the main dish alone is 29.99. Drake didn't even add the price for the side, drink or dessert, which I'm sure would have come to at least $10. So the lobster meal w/all the extras would have been over $40 plus tax and tip which would have made the $29 voucher worth more than .49

[cottontail]

Hi:

Thanks for taking the time to break it down and explaining it. It makes more sense now, seeing the dollars and cents. I guess each family has to decide if it will work for them, depending on where they eat.

Deb.

[DisneyKidds]

Boo - I don't get your point :(. Who is a "mobile vacuum"? If I need to break it down further, and I don't know how much simpler I can make it.....

If I am the only person eating...

On a counter service dinner at Pinocchio Village Haus after I get my burger w/ carrots, fries, soda and dessert for a total of 13.60 plus tax, or a grand total of $15.10, I have saved 4.10. Combine that with the minimum of 1.85 (by the way - the best breakfast option saves 3.00) I saved on my nice breakfast and my daily savings is 5.95. That constitutes a nice breakfast and a late dinner, no vacuum bags required :). If you can be sustained on less food than that per day, more power to you. I, for one, can eat more - that is why the vouchers work so well for B&C (where we primarily use the vouchers), where you can get a real dinner (and at least 10.00 savings per person) and not the counter service fare that leaves me unsatisfied.

I don't care if I go for 1 day or 100, I'll take 5.95 (at least) in my pocket. Look at it another way, if I saved 5.95 on meals that would otherwise have cost 34.45, I have saved 17% (or more) on my meal cost - and all I had to do was order a couple of vouchers. And before you say it, I don't have to factor in the annual membership because I recouped that on the passes, vouchers from our last trip, the 20% savings at ToyRUs, Outback, etc., etc. I don't know many people that think that a sale of 17% off is better than no sale at all.

You do seem to be missing the points. On Drake's meal the entree was 29.99. You seem to forget that he also got an appetizer, drink and dessert, all including tax and tip. I bet his bill for lunch would have been better than 50.00.

Talk about backing off. It seems there are some people who have used the vouchers, have saved money, and can respond to questions based on experience, and others who seem to have a problem with the vouchers and either can't, or don't want, to see certain things.

I'll say it again, the vouchers may not work for everyone, but the savings are real for many of us. Perhaps you can provide a real life example of a counter service meal or character breakfast you had that you wouldn't have saved money on with a voucher? Your best advice is that people should do the research before they buy. They should also do it before they comment.

Hope no one's feelings are getting hurt :). I bet we will soon be on the debate board. See you there.

[chris1gill]

Originally posted by DisneyKidds
Hope no one's feelings are getting hurt :). I bet we will soon be on the debate board. See you there.

DisneyKidds, now how could feelings be hurt? Apparently nobody here is hostile :D

We could always start another thread & discuss ways to spend that 3 or 4 dollars saved, that might make for entertaining conversation....

[macs4us]

Since people are requesting real samples, I will try to show what a sample of what we saved on recent trips:
$29.50 Vouchers...
Contemporary Hotel's Concourse Steakhouse (lunch break from MK via monorail):
Chilled Shrimp - jicama slaw and mango sweet pepper dip $6.99
20 oz. Porterhouse Steak - steak cut french fries and red wine butter $23.99
Dessert $5.99
Beverage $2.00
SAVINGS: $9.47 + Tax & Tip
We also ordered one other drink, a side salad, and soup for an additional $12.00 including tax & tip. This fed 3 adults, avg. cost $13.83/person.

Epcot's L'Originale Alfredo of Rome (lunch at EPCOT):
Stuzzicarolo - assortment of imported Italian meats & gourmet cheeses including prosciutto, bresaolo, mortadella & soppressata (serves 2 - 4) $23.95
Three Pasta $19.00
Dessert $7.95
Lrg bottle of S.Pellegrino $5.15
SAVINGS: $26.55 + Tax & Tip. This fed 3 adults, avg. cost $9.83/person.

$11.00 Vouchers
Beach Club's BEACHES AND CREAM (dinner after Epcot):
Grilled Prime Rib Sub $10.95
Onion Rings $3.95
Cherry coke $2.20
Kitchen Sink $21.95
SAVINGS: $28.05 + Tax & Tip
We also ordered one other drink and soup for an additional $7.00 including tax & tip. This fed 3 adults, avg. cost $6.00/person.

Beach Club's BEACHES AND CREAM (dinner after MGM - 2 vouchers):
Double Cheeseburger $8.95
Soup $3.95
Cherry coke $2.20
Custom sundae $10.80
SAVINGS: $14.90 + Tax & Tip

Hot Dog w/everything $8.80
Onion Rings $3.95
Cherry coke $2.20
Custom dessert $4.90
SAVINGS: $8.85 + Tax & Tip
We also ordered a cup of hot tea at no charge. This fed 3 adults, avg. cost $7.33/person.

We saved money, and tried new places without going out of our way. This is just our experience, and everyone is different. We also ordered a park hopper for my mom, and cancelled during the trial period.

[chris1gill]

Macs4us, Thanks for your menu's! At Alfredo's, did they let you order the Stuzzicarolo as your appetizer? If so, that sounds awesome... I might have to add Alfredo's to our list for Novembers trip... LeCellier is a must do from now on, I spoiled DH using vouchers there the last time!

[Kacey]

OK I have to jump in here--

chris1gill, I didn't detect any sarcasm at all, in fact, your earlier posts combined with Mousesavers info & WDWig menu prices helped me decide to join Connections.

Drake, Thanks for the Rainforest info--it is on our list to visit later this week.:)

loribell, I have ordered 10 Q&C vouchers in 2 different orders for a total of 20. I would think you could order the other vouchers this way as well.

Babblin Boo,
I'm not quite sure why you continue to get so excited about this--everyone is just sharing personal experiences to help others who may be trying to decide about Connections. In fact, I first heard about Connections on this forum.

Now just the facts:

Bought 2 7day PHP passes for $292.70 ea. Total: $586 w/free overnight UPS shipping
Lowest price I found was Disney Club price for $308.49 ea. Total: $617.
I saved $31.

At B&C we ate: At LeCellier we ate:
Burger w/fruit 6.95 Spring Rolls 9.99
Onion Rings 3.95 NY Strip Steak 17.99
Vanilla Coke 2.20 Creme Brulee 4.99
Sundae 5.95 Iced tea 1.99
Total 19.05 Subtotal 34.96
tax 5% .96 tax 5% 1.75
tip 15% 2.86 tip 15% 6.00
Total 22.87 Total 42.71
Voucher cost -11.00 less voucher -29.50
Savings 11.87 Savings 13.21

Hot Dog/kraut 6.90 At San Angel Inn we ate:
Chili 5.95 Queso Fundido 9.25
Van Coke 2.20 Plato Nacional 15.75
Banana Split 7.95 Iced tea 1.95
Total 23.00 dessert 5.95
tax 5% 1.15 subtotal 32.90
tip 15% 3.45 tax 5% 1.65
Total 27.60 tip 15% 4.94
less Voucher -11.00 Total 39.49
Savings 16.60 less voucher -29.50
Savings 9.99

***I know I have the tax percentage too low but I did not want to inflate the numbers.***

At the risk of boring everyone with more details, we saved $15.34 and $6.18 on two adult meals at the Pepper Market.
We also bought Breakfast vouchers and used them at Cape May where we saved $3.15 per person times 6 people.

We took our daughters and their husbands with us and it gave us a chance to treat them to some nice meals.
And, chris1gill, you are right about the magic at Beaches and Cream! We had a ball!!

We have received $120 in rebates from gift cards as well as the free $25 gift card for joining. It has been well worth the 79.95 fee to join. And I did get out my calculator and checked ticket and menu prices before I signed up.

I would never suggest anyone sign up if they didn't want to, but I'm willing to share information to help others make an educated decision.

I have recieved so much help from people on these boards--and I don't take ALL the advice--only that which works for me.

Thanks to all the contributors!:) :) ;)

[Kacey]

I'm sorry that posting about the menu items looks so garbled--there were spaces between the restaurant lists.

I'm not as proficient on the computer as I wish could be. Hope you get the idea.:rolleyes:

[macs4us]

Originally posted by chris1gill
Macs4us, Thanks for your menu's! At Alfredo's, did they let you order the Stuzzicarolo as your appetizer? If so, that sounds awesome... I might have to add Alfredo's to our list for Novembers trip...

Yes - in fact our waiter suggested it, as he saw that we only wanted to use one voucher, and he said that the Stuzzicarolo would feed all of us. I think the wait staff wants you to order big $$$ items since their tip goes up!! :p

Oh, and if you want a more intimate (aka quieter) dining experience at Alfredo, be sure to ask to be seated in the little "porch" area between the main room and the patio. We would definitely do this voucher experience again.

[chris1gill]

Macs4Us, thanks so much for the info!! This sounds great, we're going to try it in November!

[patsal]

Keep in mind that drinks are not always included with the character breakfast. So add another $2-$7 per person to that savings.

[DisneyKidds]

Perhaps if you want some kind of specialty drink (like that fancy strawberry thing at GF - yummy :)) or an alcoholic beverage (mimosa or bloody mary) they are not included, and probably wouldn't be covered by the vouchers either. However, juices, coffee, tea, soda, etc. have been included at every character breakfast we have ever been to, whether or not we used vouchers.

[patsal]

Alcohol is never included on the vouchers, but several of the buffets do not include the beverage with the buffet price. If you never encountered this than you either ate at places that included the drink, or you had a very nice CM.

[Humpbacks1962]

OK, as one of the original skeptics demanding more proof, let me have a closing word on this one: Take time to get those menus ahead of time and plan where you'll use the vouchers, because the savings can be hard to find!

Price everything out and hold the wallet at tipping time or you will easily end up spending more than you intended. Make sure you are indeed willing and available to hop on to other resorts to save what you will. I still have a tough time seeing how Connections' couple of bucks savings beat AAA, AP, DC or AMEX's (5% - 20% in different cases) discounts at many of the restaurants that some people rave about...

But anyway, all things considered, the vouchers don' serve our family's needs during our next vacation...


Wanda

[Lewisc]

Humpbacks1962

I doubt if I'll ever use Connections vouchers but your post is not accurate Most of the restaurants people are using Connections vouchers for (Beaches and Cream, Concourse, Le Cellier,other EPCOT restuarants) don't offer any other forms of discounts.
You really don't have to examine menus, Mary (www.mousesavers.com) has already done the work for you. One * means you're coming out ahead ** means you'll only come out ahead if you order the more expensive items on the menu.

People don't have to agree with you and some people have overstated their value. The fact is if you pick when and where to use your vouchers you'll save a reasonable amout of money. If you use them for all of your breakfast and lunches your savings will probably be less

[threeboysmom]

I've thought long and hard about getting a few of these vouchers (I think I've read just about every post on Connections), but my one big complaint about them is that it seems that people are "buying" more food and "buying" more expensive items that what they would NORMALLY order without the voucher. For instance, at the MK, if I were to eat at Pecos Bill, I would NORMALLY get a burger with fries for $5.49, plus a drink for $1.99 (sometimes I may even just drink the free ice water). Total is $7.48, plus tax of course. Now, if I had a Connections Voucher with me, I need to AT LEAST break even, so I would order a bigger burger for $6.49 and what the heck, add the bacon in too for .79. Get carrots with it, just so I can order a side of chili fries (because it's the most expensive!!). Definately have to get a drink now (make it an extra-large too while we're at it) and a dessert (even though I'd rather have a dessert fom Main St. Bakery :) ). So NOW I've saved $3-4 dollars, but at what cost to me? I've ordered more food than what I would normally order. What if I'm not that hungry (and in the heat most people's appetites decrease). Is that food being wasted? I think that many people who use these vouchers are indeed saving a few $$, but are going home at the end of their vacation more than a few pounds heavier!! :) LOL! On the other hand, I DO believe that the savings is incredible when used at Beaches & Cream, even when eating in moderation. However, I can't justify joining Connections for $80 just to save money at this particular restaurant. And I really don't want to eat there more than 1-2 during my vacation anyways.

As far as the park hopper tickets, you can get the same prices at Ticketmania. And it doesn't cost anything to join :)

The "pre-pay" reasoning is good, but again, the vouchers in my hand would make me order more food and order more expensively than normal - maybe that's just me and other people don't have that temptation..... :)

[Lewisc]

threeboysmom
I agree with what you've posted. Some people may be able to either share a meal or just buy an extra burger and share the combined meal. I'm not comfortable joining Connections knowing I plan to cancel and there's no way I'd save enough to justify the annual fee.