Food Coupons thru Connections

[heidihiden]

Hello everyone. I have been reading about the food coupons offered through Connections. Members seem to think they are a good thing. I am trying to figure out when they are a good value. 29.00 dollars for lunch per person is a lot of money. And counter service vouchers for 10.50 seems to be a lot. we travel down every year and I don't seem to spend that much money on lunch. We love to eat at Japan but the chicken and beef combo is only 12.95. So I need help on figuring out if these are a good deal. What they include, and what restauraunts you would save money in by using them. Help!!!:smooth:

[FoodLover]

Hi there,

I recently added a whole page on the Connections program to MouseSavers, with an evaluation of each of the meal vouchers including when and where they are a good deal:

http://www.mousesavers.com/connections.html

Hope that helps!

Mary
MouseSavers.com

[Gillian]

Mary - once again, thank you!

I have a question about using a lunch voucher for the Garden Grill in Epcot. It has one * on mousesavers. If they only have a one price lunch, ($17), that is not a good deal for the connections coupon, right? That is the only menu option I have seen. Is there any other? :confused: I've never eaten there, but we are planning on lunch this time.

:) gillian

[FoodLover]

Gillian, you're absolutely right. I goofed on that one! I'm going to fix it on the site right now.

Mary

[chris1gill]

I just wanted to say, that I am going to buy some of the vouchers.. they aren't a good deal all the time.... you have to take a look at the menu's to figure it out... But, I plan on doing a couple of sit down lunches at the last PS time of the afternoon, which is 4:30 I think.. First stop on my list, the Concourse Steakhouse!!! We could never afford it otherwise!!! There are some good deals for the counter service as well.. you just have to take a look at where you want to eat & what it will cost.. don't forget to add tax & tip as well, because that's included in the coupon...

[mnmom22]

I have a question about the Connection coupons that I hope someone can answer. Can 2 adults split a meal -- if it isn't a buffet? or even 1 adult 1 child share ? I would never eat that much food by myself but if I could share with my 20 yo dd or 6yo son we could probably make 1 coupon between us worthwhile.

[Disney*All-Stars*]

I haven't gotten my Connection package in the mail yet and are going to Disney in 6 days!! I wanted to call them to get some coupons ASAP! Anyone have a phone number?

[chris1gill]

Here ya go, good luck!!! 877-503-4052

[Disney*All-Stars*]

Chris1Gill, Thanks for the super speedy reply!!!!:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[kpatches]

We just got back from WDW. We ordered a few of the lunch coupons, the $10.50 ones and 2 of the $29.50 coupons. We used one of the $10.50 coupons at MK's Harbour House. We ordered a combo fish and chicken platter, beverage, and apple pie. All we saved was $.50. My hubby and I both agreed that we would not have had the apple pie if it wasn't for the coupon so we really did not save anything. We did use a $10.50 one at Beaches and Cream and was well worth it. We ordered the Prime Rib sandwich with french fries, a chocolate malted as our beverage and a banana split for desert. This was definitely worth the price since it would have cost us about $25.00 otherwise. Also tip and gratuity are included. We were able to share this and it was plenty. We did not use any of the $29.50 coupons. We were going to use them at the Concourse Steakhouse but you would have to use them by 2pm and we just did not feel like a big lunch.

[chris1gill]

KPatches, When you ate at Beaches & Cream, were you seated at the tables or were you standing at the counter? We were thinking about doing the Concourse Steakhouse or LeCellier... We do big lunches sometimes so could do Concourse at 2:00 one day... Otherwise LeCellier late in the day (4:00 is the last seating?) Anyways, thanks for any more info on Beaches!!!

[kpatches]

We were seated at the counter at Beaches and Cream but we also would have been able to sit at a table so we were told. They were very busy at the time and we didn't want to wait for a table. Also in order for the $29.50 coupons to work make sure to check out what the cost of the lunch items on the menu are and if it would make it worth while to use the coupon. It seems that there are more places to utilize the $29.50 coupons at Epcot and MGM. I noticed that some of the entrees would wind up costing less than what the coupon is worth. We had been to Epcot for dinner on the fourth for the Blast package and didn't want to use our hopper to go back just for a lunch.

[D'AngelosdoDisney]

Kpatches, did you have any problems using the coupons? Do all the CMs know about the connections program and do they encourage you to order the most expensive meals? TIA

[kpatches]

We only used the coupons twice. Once at Harbour House in MK and the other at Beaches and Cream. The CM's seemed to know just what the coupons were. The CM at Beaches and Cream was the one who told us that for a beverage we were able to order a shake or malt plus any dessert that we wanted.

[dzneprincess]

about these........I got upset with connections because mine have not gotten here in time and I am leaving on Friday. Well the rep told me that I could get them elsewhere, and send them the receipt for the difference. I questioned where else I could buy them, she apologized and said I couldn't buy them, that they only came with packages. So I have a feeling that these are what come with the packages that include breakfasts.

[chris1gill]

Thanks KPatches!! Looks like I'll be getting a good number of light lunch coupons for Beaches & the Pepper Market at CSR where we are staying in September!!! What I've done, is to go over to www.wdwig.com to look at all the menu's... I've picked out where we would like to eat & then decided if it's worth it... the 29.50 lunch isn't worth it in a lot of cases, but in some cases, it's a steal!!!

Glad you had a good time & had no problem!!!

[Disney*All-Stars*]

We are going to be in Disney on Sunday and just got part of my order from Connections (child breakfast coupons) that I placed 2 days ago. I am assuming the rest of my coupons are on there way!! I like all the information about Beaches and Cream as far as the lunch coupons go and the great value you can get for only $10.50 (regarding kpatches comments). I did,however, do some of my own figuring and discovered that the Character Breakfasts (usually $16.95 for adult, $8.95 for child) with tax and tip would save us a mear $4.00-based on our tip of 15%. Does anyone tip in addition to these coupons (with tips already included)? That would really give us NO savings. I would love to hear about other great places to save big.

[chris1gill]

Disney*All-Stars* We are definitely not tipping in addition to the coupon... Thats one reason why we are getting these coupons!! Otherwise you are right, breakfasts are not a good deal!!! One thing of interest, I called connections & they are all out of the Light Lunch 10.50 coupons!!! I'm bummed because I was going to order 10 of them... I hope they get them back in stock soon!!!

[frost5000]

It really depends on how much tip is added. In my rest. we add tip of 15% on larger parties. We are in an area (Philly) that normally tips 18%-20% , so a lot of people add $$ to the table making it better for us, and it's much appreciated. I've noticed that when we travel in the south, people tend to tip less, so it may not be as needed. If you are using a cert. for some people but not all, you should tip on your part of the bill. I'm planning on sharing a meal with my DS with a lunch cert. so I'll leave extra on the table since the check should of been for 2. Hope this helps.

[frost5000]

Disney All Stars adds a standard grat. to everything - I don't think you need to/ or would be expected to tip anything more there - I was speaking more of a full service rest. - If the breakfast is buffet - I don't think you should have to tip more. I've never done the character breakfast and just realized it was a buffet. I would only consider tipping more at a full service establishment.

[Disney*All-Stars*]

THANKS FOR THE EXTRA IMPUT. HOW DOES CONNECTIONS RUN OUT OF THESE CERTIFICATES?!!! :confused:

[cascadecupcake]

They are currently also out of the Adult Character Breakfast coupons. Waah! I really wanted to get this stuff ordered and taken care of. I know it's not that much of a savings, but our character breakfast is on our last morning there and it would be nice to have that prepaid so we don't have to budget for it. (a character meal is a real splurge for our budget! ;) )

[chris1gill]

Just wanted to give an update, Connections has the $10.50 certificates back in stock, just ordered 14 of them!!!

[disney4us2002]

post here what the expiration dates are??? I would be soooo grateful! Thanks,

Carla:earsgirl:

[princess angel]

just stumbled across this thread.
I would be interested in the 10.50 coupons, what a great deal at Beaches n'cream!!! you can use them there for dinner also?
Is there a certain number of vouchers you have to buy, or a minimum??

that seems to be the only real bargain, unless you plan on huge lunches.

thanks!

Laura :)

[lmmmdtmlem]

There have been a lot of unfavorable posts about the lunch vouchers on the thread "Connections Stock" A lot of people, myself included, have ordered lunch vouchers and not received them and are getting a big runaround from the Connections customer service reps. Just thought you might be interested.

[realpatt]

We received our 10.50 vouchers the morning that we left. So far we have used then at Beaches and Cream, where we used 2 and the waiter asked if we were splitting the milk shakes and meals (2 adults/2 children) and I told him yes, and so he had everything split for us. There was more food than we could all comfortably eat, and although we had planned on getting one of the big desserts (banana split etc.) we were just to full so settled on smaller desserts and still had trouble finishing those (the kids were more interested in getting back to the pool than gorging themselves. In total, our bill would have been close to $50.00 with tax and tip, so we saved a lot using only 2 vouchers (21.00). When the meal was complete, the waiter said your finsish, you don't have to do anything. There was no check etc. Please note tip is included on the 10.50 vouchers as well! We used one Voucher at Wilderness Lodge and I think I saved 2.50 not really worth the hassel, and we had to get the ice cream dessert at the time we got the rest of the meal, which forced us to have dessert first as it would melt. We will try CSR tomorrow. We split meals at the Brown Derby and LeCeller and didn't have a problem. I ordered a bowl of the cheddar soup at LeCeller in addition and the Cobb Salad at Brown Derby because they had both gotten great reviews. Remind your spouse that tip is included!!! My husband tipped at LeCeller. I stayed around long enough to make sure the bill was right and then took the kids out and as we reviewed our savings, discovered he had tipped extra. We have found we are choosing the most expensive items on the menu (you have to like steak) and are probably eating more than we normally would. It is fun getting to pick the most expensive rather than least expensive, but I'm not sure we need to eat all that much.

[chris1gill]

Thanks for the info Realpatt... How did you go about splitting meals at the sit down restaurants? Was that between an adult/child... we are 2 adults, 2 children... My children barely eat, so splitting a meal might be an option.... Let me know how the Pepper Market goes, we're staying at CSR over labor day weekend!! We'll be eating there a LOT!!!

[realpatt]

At the Brown Derby and LeCellars, we just passed the plate, didn't actually get separate /split plates. We shared the appetizer, and at each I had ordered something (soup at Le Cellar, Cobb Salad at Derby), so once my husband finished his half, he just passed over the plate. There is no way we could both eat an appetizer, entree and dessert. Not to mention the great bread at Brown Derby. I also forgot to mention that at Brown Derby we ordered the steak and the waitress asked if we'd like 4 grilled shrimp with that, and I said sure! It was all included with our voucher. We ordered the kids meals off the kids menu which was actually a pretty good deal at both places because it included drink and was about $5.00 a piece, which is what it costs us anywhere with a drink. Kids desserts were the same price as an ice cream from a vender, but they chose to wait for the ice cream bar rather than order in the restaurant. Pepper Street Market was pretty good, nice array of choices. I also checked out the snack bar at the pool, and you could get some savings there as well, but not as big. You can definitely save some money. We also tried the food court at CBC, saved about 5.00 a meal (got beef ribs), but wouldn't go back there again (too loud, noisy, hectic) I don't now if the vouchers would work for a full size pizza there (which would feed more than one person (price starting at 16.00) but if it does that would be a good deal. We had planned on returning to Beaches and Cream but there was a thunderstorm tonight and we thought they might be crowded and since we couldn't swim too we decided to skip it and try CBC. Hope this is helpful.

[chris1gill]

Thanks Realpatt, love reading your report. Can't wait til we are there!!:D