5 Things to Skip at WDW

[IrishNYC]

I really have to say, regarding food, what a lot of people rave about, both here and in other forums or sites, was truly awful to us (the jalapeño cheese pretzel stands out as one of the "must have" items that none of us liked and threw away), and I think a lot of it has to do with how we're used to eating at home. We eat mostly whole foods at home, with occasional restaurant or takeout meals on crazy days, or when appropriate, like at a ballgame or vacation. I think my personal impression of the food at Disney was that so much of it was lousy because it's all processed. The best meals we ate there were the ones that were made from fresh ingredients, and not food service food.

 

[BrianL]

I never understand all the food complaints. I would say that the vast majority of what I eat at WDW is good to excellent, with only a small handful of things I didn't care for. At Table Service that ration goes up to 100% satisfied, even if some of it isn't anything "special" (but a lot of it is!). It's a tad overpriced, but not as crazy as it could be. I find the average CS meal at WDW is cheaper than something from my local movie theater. I just don't get what's so bad about it.

 

[brooke789]

Haven't read all of the responses...I'm really surprised someone writing an article on how to save at WDW would not have come across the act that water is actually free. I'd say she didn't do her homework. She made a trip a to little to no planning and didn't know basic info.

Maybe she only ate at H&V

 

[KimmiP]

#5 bothers me. Is she telling people to park at a Disney resort and then use their transportation? If so that is wrong info. I thought you could no longer park at a resort unless you were staying there or had reservations for dinner (and sometimes they check). And really, is it worth is to spend the extra 60-90 minutes it would take to do this to save $17? That's insane. I stay onsite so it isn't an issue but really....this is silly.

 

[JimmyV]

#5 bothers me. Is she telling people to park at a Disney resort and then use their transportation? If so that is wrong info.

No. She says: "Most non-Disney resorts offer free shuttle to and from the park and all Disney resorts offer free transportation for guests as well." So she is suggesting that if you are off site, you take your own resort's transportation. Problem is, her initial premise is simply wrong. Also, many off site shuttles will only get you as far at the TTC. At the end of a long day at DHS when your kids are ready to go home, you'd gladly trade $17 for the ability to get into your own car and drive back to your hotel as opposed to the task of getting to the TTC and then waiting for your resorts' bus.

 

[sharadoc]

I think she may have ended up hitting the places which had the shortest lines and as such, the worse food. There is BAD food to be found at Disney, without a doubt (Electric Umbrella, I'm looking at you). But it's fewer and further between than the good food is. She'd had to have tried hard to find all bad foods

I could probably put together the list that she ate at to call it cafeteria food.

Definitely Electric Umbrella, China CS, Pizza Planet, Tony's Town Square, Hollywood & Vine

I also think the ponchos are SO much better than Dollar Store. Those are like cleaning bags, so thin and only come down to your butt. Doesn't work for us.

More than anything, I hate it when a "journalist" who doesn't do any research writes an article about WDW with authority. Any of us could have done a great list of 10 things you can do to save money. Because we research, plan and compare experience until we come to a definitive conclusion.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

1. Skip the food. Strongly disagree - I can't eat gluten and Disney World is one of the few vacation destinations I can go to and eat something besides a salad without fear of cross-contamination.

2. Limit your Disney memorabilia. I rarely buy souvenirs anymore at WDW. You can get most items cheaper elsewhere. Hot Topic has Disney brand Tshirts way cheaper. We have a Disney outlet near us. The prices in park and at Disney Springs have gotten really ridiculous in the last few years. I saw a throw on my last trip for $75. I paid maybe $25 for a throw just a few years ago. They were calling it a tapestry but it was the same size and material as the one I already had. Change the name and increase price 300%!

3. Take disposable ponchos with you. Good tip - or take non-disposable ones - even better for you and the environment. I still have the first poncho I ever bought at Disney and take it with me each trip. Husband is very tall so he has a reusable one specifically for tall people so he has better coverage.

4. Will you really use the park hopper option? Guessing this article was oriented towards first time guests I agree most people can skip park hopping. There is SO much to see, even in HS and AK if you've never been. You can easily fill a day. When we take family who have never been we always drop park-hopping.

5. Save yourself the $17 in Disney parking Doesn't apply to me, never stay off-site.

 

[bbjunkie]

I really have to say, regarding food, what a lot of people rave about, both here and in other forums or sites, was truly awful to us (the jalapeño cheese pretzel stands out as one of the "must have" items that none of us liked and threw away), and I think a lot of it has to do with how we're used to eating at home. We eat mostly whole foods at home, with occasional restaurant or takeout meals on crazy days, or when appropriate, like at a ballgame or vacation. I think my personal impression of the food at Disney was that so much of it was lousy because it's all processed. The best meals we ate there were the ones that were made from fresh ingredients, and not food service food.

See, when I am talking about food, I am talking about meals, not junk food stands. We had lunch at the Coral Reef recently. My husband had the NY Strip which was perfectly cooked, roasted baby potatoes and carrots, I had the braised pork belly which was rich and delicious, and my daughter had the Mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and green beans. She also had a souvenir drink and our total bill with 20% tip was $73. A little expensive? Maybe. But the sea turtles and sharks and rays swimming by were worth the cost. And it was WAY BETTER than any hospital cafeteria food. It was all fresh, not frozen.

 

[danny1649]

Hi Disers I want to thank you all for having good polite replies on this thread.Some i agree with others not but I'm still pleased everyone is doing it with no personal attacks. Thanks again Danny

 

[AngiTN]

See, when I am talking about food, I am talking about meals, not junk food stands. We had lunch at the Coral Reef recently. My husband had the NY Strip which was perfectly cooked, roasted baby potatoes and carrots, I had the braised pork belly which was rich and delicious, and my daughter had the Mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and green beans. She also had a souvenir drink and our total bill with 20% tip was $73. A little expensive? Maybe. But the sea turtles and sharks and rays swimming by were worth the cost. And it was WAY BETTER than any hospital cafeteria food. It was all fresh, not frozen.

Heck, if you compare Coral Reef to Aquarium Cafe, a part of the Landry chain, it isn't even high priced. You'd be hard pressed to get out of there for less than $70 after tip, if all ate a meal and no sharing. And that's without Theme Park pricing.

Like you, we tend to gloss over the QS or snacks at Disney and eat real meals. It does cost more but we've found that we can get by with just 1 large meal a day when at Disney. Maybe share some of the better snack or QS options for the others. Ends up costs us less and we eat better.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I also like Universal food. especially on City Walk.

Even in the parks the food is quite decent. For QS, Springfield is good, Thunder Falls Terrace over in IoA. For TS, Mythos, Finnegans. We found the food at the hotel to be quite good too. Definitely on par with WDW if not better. And City Walk definitely!

ETA: And of course the Harry Potter restaurants and snacks, forgot those.

 

[IrishNYC]

See, when I am talking about food, I am talking about meals, not junk food stands. We had lunch at the Coral Reef recently. My husband had the NY Strip which was perfectly cooked, roasted baby potatoes and carrots, I had the braised pork belly which was rich and delicious, and my daughter had the Mahi-mahi with jasmine rice and green beans. She also had a souvenir drink and our total bill with 20% tip was $73. A little expensive? Maybe. But the sea turtles and sharks and rays swimming by were worth the cost. And it was WAY BETTER than any hospital cafeteria food. It was all fresh, not frozen.

TS was definitely better than the QS food. DH and I did notice that the veggies were usually good, even at QS, but it's easy to get decent quality quick-frozen veggies these days. I think Coral Reef in particular could have a much better menu for being in Florida - where's the grouper, hogfish, more snapper? The lobster is Maine lobster, why not use Caribbean lobster? Is the mahi local or is it flown in frozen? They could really showcase keeping it local, and do it very easily. I don't have a problem with the prices, though, there or at any other Disney restaurant.

 

[CTDisneyfan816]

Even in the parks the food is quite decent. For QS, Springfield is good, Thunder Falls Terrace over in IoA. For TS, Mythos, Finnegans. We found the food at the hotel to be quite good too. Definitely on par with WDW if not better. And City Walk definitely!

ETA: And of course the Harry Potter restaurants and snacks, forgot those.

I agree, though for a step above I like a few City Walk places. In the parks I find myself looking for something quicker to eat as opposed to taking a longer break for a sit down.

 

[Hootch]

City Walk has gotten a lot better recently and I prefer the food offerings there over Downtown Disney Springs. It in the parks that I find problematic. The Leaky Cauldron was good but in comparison, I liked the the fish and chips at UK better though both are above average for both parks And I am specifically talking about my experiences in the parks at CS locations to date. The taco truck near the Simpsons looked good but I did not have a chance to eat there.

 

[Glittercat]

The park ones? about $6-$8 (I forget now the exact cost).
They also replace them for free, for life, if they tear.

good tip

I think she may have ended up hitting the places which had the shortest lines and as such, the worse food. There is BAD food to be found at Disney, without a doubt (Electric Umbrella, I'm looking at you). But it's fewer and further between than the good food is. She'd had to have tried hard to find all bad foods

I would agree with this assessment, also she mentions being at only one park. If she had been at EPCOT the dining experience-even QS- would be vastly different.

1. Skip the food.~ Our family of 4 find many of the dining experiences memorable Sanaa and Teppan Edo spring to mind! Even our then five year old LOVED both of those restaurants! We do about two meals a day (lunch & late dinner) with a snack and I disagree about her comparison to cafeteria food for many QS options.

2. Limit your Disney memorabilia. ~ Yes, but this is common sense. People usually only spend money on the things that they need or that will remind them of a particular moment/place/or event.

3. Take disposable ponchos with you. ~ This one is fine, but you've all about convinced me to buy the Disney ponchos instead.

4. Will you really use the park hopper option? ~ We are hoppy types and often like to dine in EPCOT after spending the day elsewhere so hoppers are handy.

5. Save yourself the $17 in Disney parking. ~ We fly in from the West Coast so never have a car.

Honestly she just seemed very disgruntled about her recent trip, and like she was blowing off steam.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If/when I want to save money, I stay off-site. Cuts the cost of a WDW vacation nearly in half.

 

[lustergirl]

Got to say I disagree with the article for the most part

Food: I loved the places that I last dined at in April. I thought the prices were somewhat reasonable.
Disney Memorabilia: I never buy a lot so this isn't a factor
Disposable Ponchos: I was caught in the downpour at AK on the Tuesday morning I was there. I paid $9.00 for a poncho and it lasted along time. I still have it for next trip.
Park Hopper: a must because my family likes to take mid day breaks and go back to whatever park to see the fireworks at night.
Money for Disney Parking: we fly and have no rental to use.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I agree this is not a fan and they are not addressing fans.

1) skip the food - Where should I get food then? Bring it with me? Get a car and drive somewhere being sure to get out of the major tourist areas? What fun is that. and they have free water, all you have to do is ask for some.
2) limit Disney memorabilia - I don't buy much, but I buy what I like.
3) take disposable ponchos - I take an umbrella. I hate ponchos.
4) will you really use park hopper - I have an annual, but the article is not addressing those who would buy an annual - it is for the one and done trip visitors.
5) saving on parking - the AP does that, so does staying onsite. and how can you save on the parking when you are staying offsite besides braving the mess that is DTD currently and riding buses all over the place.

 

[Figmentmommy]

The park ones? about $6-$8 (I forget now the exact cost).
They also replace them for free, for life, if they tear.

Funny-I was under the replacement for life impression too - but on a previous trip we did have one tear at the neck. I asked about getting it replaced where they were selling ponchos and was told that it's replaced only if I knew the exact location it was purchased at and had the receipt- from 6 years prior!? I chalked it up to a misinformed CM and didn't worry about it because it was just an extra one we had. I figured I had gotten my money's worth many times over!

 

[WillAustin]

Funny-I was under the replacement for life impression too - but on a previous trip we did have one tear at the neck. I asked about getting it replaced where they were selling ponchos and was told that it's replaced only if I knew the exact location it was purchased at and had the receipt- from 6 years prior!? I chalked it up to a misinformed CM and didn't worry about it because it was just an extra one we had. I figured I had gotten my money's worth many times over!

We've had 2 replaced without having a receipt.