The Paying OOP Where to Eat Dinner in Epcot Blues

[erinch]

Here's the scenario:
We'll be staying at the Vistana for 2 weeks, and getting 10 day hoppers for WDW. Been to the world lots of times, including times on food plan, so this OOP bit is really hurting. In particular because our 21yr old DS is unexpectedly joining us, and budgets are now out of whack.

I've been looking at the menu prices -- ouch! huge markup from even 2 years ago. In Epcot the family likes everything but Biergarten. We'll be in Epcot 2 days. I told the gang that we'd do Coral Reef for lunch one of those days (the tank not the food is the draw) and San Angel for lunch the other (another must do for the atmosphere not the food!). Generally we do Teppan Edo (under its former name) for dinner. But their prices have gone up, and they've cut the soup, salad, fried rice and dessert. So I told the gang one evening we'll go to Benihana or Kobe, and it will be fairly equivalent.

If we decide we want to do one TS in Epcot for dinner, what would you advocate as having even a reasonable OOP value for dinner? I'm perfectly fine with taking an evening and DH and I go to Bistro for all the ambience.

I'm not seeing anything that looks worth the price tag for dinner at a TS for the whole gang.

Wanna make a pitch for your favorite for dollar value?

[jenjersnap]

Originally Posted by erinch

Wanna make a pitch for your favorite for dollar value?

I guess not because, to us, Biergarten at lunch is the best TS value in Epcot.

Seriously, you are right, they've raised the prices so much. I think Chefs de France is a decent value. It seems like the lunch and dinner menus are similar except that they do offer a fixed price menu at lunch only.

How about talking a 5 minute walk to Beaches & Cream at the BC?

[ElizabethB]

Yep, the whole strategy seems to be designed to discourage paying out of pocket and force everyone into the DDP.

Additionally, we think most of the World Showcase restaurants have declined in quality to the point where paying OOP isn't worth it.

We've given up on Coral Reef despite the fabulous tank because the food is so poor and overpriced. The last straw was paying out of pocket for a "Surf and Turf" appetizer. It cost $11-12 at lunch and consisted of exactly two shrimp and two one-inch squares of meat. Say what?

We had lunch recently at Rose and Crown Pub and it was tasty, so that may be a possibility for dinner.

Tutto Italia strikes me as seriously overpriced for pasta if you're paying OOP. We haven't been to Marrakesh in years and are thinking of trying it again. We've been disappointed with Chefs de France lately.

We've never been able to get ourselves to try Biergarten -- something about a buffet of German foods consumed at a group table does not appeal to us. I agree that Teppan Edo can be done cheaper at Benihana -- and, frankly, I hate everything sliced and diced and dumped into a dish so I don't get the appeal.

I would never pay OOP at Le Cellier. For the same price, you can eat at Yachtsman and get a much better meal. We haven't ever tried the Chinese restaurant since Chinese takeout is cheap and fast where we live.

We haven't tried Bistro de Paris, but probably will on our upcoming trip -- but it's pricey.

I guess I'd leave Epcot and eat at one of the nearby resorts. We like Shula's.

[Metsoskil]

Have you priced out what it would cost if one person in your party got an AP and the TIW card? You may find that you save much more than the cost of upgrading one ticket to an AP and paying the money for the card.

You would save 20% on every TS meal, including drinks, plus free parking at the parks w/ the AP.

I agree that I'd never eat at Le Cellier w/o being on the dining plan. Way overpriced. I also agree that the same goes for almost all the TS places in the parks.

The only in-park places we are paying for on this trip are Yak and Yeti for dinner and Tusker House for lunch in the AK and Crystal Palace for breakfast in the MK.

Last time on the DDP we ate in the parks a whole bunch more, but it's tough to justify when you are paying OOP.

We do have ADRs at several resort TS places: Sanaa, Boma, WCC, CM, 'Ohana.

[bouldertcr]

I'd say chefs de france. They have a great prefixed chefs menu for lunch or dinner that includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert. At lunch, the cost is $20 per person which is not bad at all in disney. You can check the menu over at all ears. Just a thought. The dinner prefixed cost is $38 per person.

Good luck in your decision.

[DonaldTDuck]

Cape May is just a short walk from the International Gateway. I love Rose & Crown and it is more reasonable priced than others at Epcot.

[erinch]

Having looked at all the menus, etc again (DS is allergic to milk, and chefs de france is one of the few places at Disney that routinely have screwed up his orders) I'm thinking that we'll either do Rose & Crown, or switch to the strategy of CS for dinner. We enjoy Marrakesh, but the idea of $47 pp or whatever it currently is for the "Feast" is way over the top, I think.

I'm thinkin', Yakitori or Tangerine getst the business this time.

[catne]

Are Counter Service restaurants totally out of the equation...because there's some delicious options that way...and no reservations needed, little waiting. They're busy & noisy, but so are most of the table service restaurants. so why not do the counter service meal at Tangierine Cafe in Morocco...the shwarma platter is outstanding, and that with a drink will run you under $20 a person.

Or Sunshine Seasons - so many choices. We recently had all of the choices at the Asian station, as well as trying the grilled pork chop & grilled salmon. Loved the food (and fabulous dessert choices, too.)

The Fish & chips from the outside window in Great Britain is very good, and reasonably priced (well reasonable for Disney)

Just a thought.

[bette05]

Tangierine Cafe is outstanding! We were very impressed with the food here. The mint tea and desserts are wonderful too!

[MinnieGirl33]

I'd walk over to ESPN.

[palavra]

We plan on snacking around the world while at Epcot.

[Cheshire Figment]

I agree with one of the prior posters. Get one person to upgrade their ticket to an AP and then spend the $75 for the Tables In Wonderland card. It will give you a 20% discount on food and beverages (including alcoholic) at just about every tables service location and lounge in WDW as well as some quick service locations.