Am I the only one?

[3PrinceMom]

That is tired of the food options at Disney? The quality has gone down and the price has gone up. I remember there was a time that I was in love with planning ADR's....I'm so over it now. We leave in 2 weeks and have one ADR at DHS prior to the Villain party. Not even positive I'll keep that one.

I won't even start with the choices for kids. Have you tried any of that stuff? Most of it is plain gross. So...on with my rant and the reason for posting on the budget board.

Planning to make good use of that fridge in the room. Used to only use it to keep drinks cool. Let's face it, nothing really stays too cold in it. Might or might not buy a cooler for use while there. So... here are my thoughts. Fresh fruit and veggies in the fridge for a few day supply, along with 1/2 gallon of milk for cereal. Kids love toast and fruit anytime of the day. Loaf of bread for the toast. Some lunchmeat and sub buns for a lunch/dinner option with the toppings they like. PB&J is always an option. Salad too. Any other ideas?

Personally, I'd rather eat this way too. I'm so disappointed in the food from our last trip, I can't see spending all of that money again. Even Sanaa was bad. (It was great in Jan.)

I guess I like the meals to be memorable. Good food, great servers, I have nothing for a 2 week stay in April. It breaks my heart! Not sure if I will renew the AP's next year. So sad.

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

Oatmeal- just use the hot water for tea at the restaurant; there's actually alot you can make with the hot water- rice, instant mashed potatoes, cup a noodles
Hard boiled eggs in the fridge if you like them, sushi

We did a very low budget trip once. It was fun to scrounge food. We ate some in the parks, of course, but we've never been big foodies.

 

[3PrinceMom]

I can eat oatmeal...but the kids won't touch it. Funny that you mention noodles. My youngest could live on anything with any form of a noodle. I'm curious on how your trip was! To scrounge food? It seems to me like so much of the food is wasted. My kids won't eat the Disney grapes or carrots or any other of that nasty stuff they give them as sides. I have to fight with the cashier every time. They won't eat it, I don't want it.

 

[mgsquared]

Honestly I am just glad we got free dining so I won't come home mad about spending too much on food so hear will be crappy.
DH and I have high standards- I do think his parents think we are extravagant. Lol.- we do not eat at expensive fancy places but we don't eat at cheap places either. I went on a kick two years ago where I started eating only organic, then I cut out ALL processed foods, then I became a vegetarian, eventually so did DH, after that so discovered I am highly gluten intolerant (after months of doctors testing me for everything because I was so sick). I then played around more with Veganism (it feels great!) but don't stick to it when out.

Veganism, organic, all of that has taken Vienna by storm! We get our groceries from a local organic farm. Lots of people here do. We like to eat fresh real food.

So you can imagine how much I am looking forward to theme park food!!

It sucks really because what Disney feeds children is atrocious (chicken nuggets? Mac & cheese with yellow #5, etc.). So much food has so many additives and it is just cheap and fake. Did you read the ingredients in the oatmeal?!

On the flipside, I don't want to drive and cook on vacation. I'm figuring one week won't kill me.

Still. Orlando has decent climate. I am sure a lot of great agriculture grows there. I really have no understanding for the lack I unprocessed and fresh food at the parks and resorts.

 

[karice2]

I do find that the food choices are somewhat limited. I used to really enjoy all the options. When I come down for my long trip now, I bring most of the food on the train in a cooler in my car. Pre made a lot of meals and cooked them in my kitchen at my resort.

 

[Granny square]

The baked foods were horrid last trip. Cold Churros, stale kringlas and pretzel in Germany. Total Ick. I enjoyed the lemon cake from starbucks more!

 

[Happyjen27]

It sucks really because what Disney feeds children is atrocious (chicken nuggets? Mac & cheese with yellow #5, etc.). So much food has so many additives and it is just cheap and fake. Did you read the ingredients in the oatmeal?!

This is why I don't do the Dining Plan! I don't want to limit my kids to this junk. They don't even like a constant stream of pizzanuggestburgers. Disney isn't feeding this to kids, the parents of the kids are.

Without the dining plan I am free to order off of the adult menu for my kids. Sometimes I will split my meals with one of them, or they each order their own and I'll share a bit from each. Sometimes we all 4 order our own meals and enjoy them. I spend so much at home on our whole, fresh, organic food, what's a few extra bucks at Disney?

 

[Marionnette]

That is tired of the food options at Disney? The quality has gone down and the price has gone up. I remember there was a time that I was in love with planning ADR's....I'm so over it now. We leave in 2 weeks and have one ADR at DHS prior to the Villain party. Not even positive I'll keep that one.

I won't even start with the choices for kids. Have you tried any of that stuff? Most of it is plain gross. So...on with my rant and the reason for posting on the budget board.

Planning to make good use of that fridge in the room. Used to only use it to keep drinks cool. Let's face it, nothing really stays too cold in it. Might or might not buy a cooler for use while there. So... here are my thoughts. Fresh fruit and veggies in the fridge for a few day supply, along with 1/2 gallon of milk for cereal. Kids love toast and fruit anytime of the day. Loaf of bread for the toast. Some lunchmeat and sub buns for a lunch/dinner option with the toppings they like. PB&J is always an option. Salad too. Any other ideas?

Personally, I'd rather eat this way too. I'm so disappointed in the food from our last trip, I can't see spending all of that money again. Even Sanaa was bad. (It was great in Jan.)

I guess I like the meals to be memorable. Good food, great servers, I have nothing for a 2 week stay in April. It breaks my heart! Not sure if I will renew the AP's next year. So sad.

I might be willing to do a day or two of meals like this but there is no way that I will save all year for a vacation where I eat nothing but cold food for a week! I want a hot dinner with steamed vegetables, a well-seasoned piece of meat and a starch. If you haven't checked out The Wave at the CR yet, do yourself a favor and plan a TS meal there. The vegetables are locally grown and the feature sustainable fish on their menu. The kids' menu includes more than grilled cheese/pizza/chicken nuggets. It's a bit pricey, but the restaurant is really a hidden gem.

 

[Poohbug]

I think sit down restaurants at WDW are overrated and overpriced to say the least. I also think the quick service locations get a bad rap for what they are. I would much rather get the quick service meal plan than the regular one. Disney has really sucked the value out of the regular meal plan by taking away the app. and making you pay the tip. Besides, my trip to Disney is not all about the food.

One thing I always have loved in Disney is their fruit. It always seems to be so much better than what I can get at home. Especially pineapple, I love the Disney pineapple. On my last visit to DisneyLand I bought the regular pineapple spear and then decided to try the chocolate covered pineapple. Big mistake. Now I am dreaming about my next chocolate covered pineapple spear.

For those on the dining plans that don't want all the desserts, ask if you can substitute a piece of fruit instead. The worst they can say is no and most of the time it is no problem.

 

[MichaelaF]

Like any place with 100+ restaurants, it varies. There are many good (some amazing, even) places to eat, but you'll usually pay dearly for them - California Grill, Victoria and Alberts come to mind. And there's the usual slew of typical theme park kiosk food. In between it can be a crap shoot. I did a fair amount of research (I love that the DISers and DU Podcast do not mince words when it comes to food at Disney!), and so I felt like it worked out well due to that. The only so-so meal we had for the money was at Fulton's Crab House - which I fully expected. I agreed to it because the rest of the party wanted to seat there, but it wasn't great (and expensive). Otherwise, I felt like we ate like kings.

Trail's End breakfast buffet is seriously the best breakfast I've ever had in the parks....I think about that breakfast weekly! California Grill was not only one of the best meals I've had in the parks, but one of the best meals I've ever had, full stop, and a great view (fireworks!) and service to boot.

This time though, we aren't getting the dining plan, so we are intentionally eating cheap and taking in a lot of food. We are budgeting for a few special meals (Trails End!) and otherwise eating packed meals. I'm actually kinda looking forward to the challenge!

 

[pjlla]

We've never been big foodies and as such don't do a lot of TS meals while at Disney. That being said.... our last few "big" Disney meals were disappointments over our previous experiences at the same restaurants.

I DO save all year for my vacation, but don't mind if every meal isn't an extravaganza. I eat super healthy at home, but don't need a full meal three times a day while on vacation.

Breakfast is ALWAYS in the room unless we are doing a character meal (done more for the characters than the meal). An electric kettle and instant oatmeal, instant grits, instant cream of wheat....homemade healthy muffins that are frozen and brought along in checked luggage, instant coffee/tea/cocoa (yes, I can live with instant coffee for a few days), individual fruit cups.... it's enough to get me by for a few days, at least. We don't bring it, but bagels and peanut butter are also shelf stable and easy to pack, as are juice boxes and granola bars.

Lunch is virtually always a QS for us.... sometimes shared.... and there are some healthier fun decent fresh options still out there.... it isn't all burgers and fries. Fresh fruit is becoming much more available all around Disney. Look around and maybe do some research before you leave.

Dinner.... again, we aren't big foodies and used to do perhaps just one or two big TS dinners during a full week vacation. And the few TS I've done recently just were a disappointment.... so again, we stick with either eating off property (if we have a rental car and are leaving anyhow), or seeking out the best options for the park we are in (rather than just heading to the nearest QS location when our bellies growl). There is great ethnic foods in both Epcot and AK (although AK closes so early that I don't think we have ever had dinner there). Try buying small portions/appetizers and sharing them. If you like it you can always buy more!

If you choose to eat from your room/cooler on your vacation, that is TOTALLY your option.... and no one has a right to tell you that it will spoil your vacation! We did it PLENTY of times, especially when the kids were younger and pickier! We work HARD for our money and if it meant eating bagels with peanut butter and jelly for dinner in the (off-site) hotel room in order to go to Disney, so be it! I can assure you my kids remember meeting the characters and riding the rides and couldn't care less that we ate 2 meals a day NOT in the parks!

Enjoy your visit and do what works best for you family and budget............P

 

[sheetz]

Assuming you're flying, if you pack some prepared foods in a cooler for your checked baggage I imagine you could eat quite well for several days, even if it is largely cold food.

 

[Marionnette]

If you choose to eat from your room/cooler on your vacation, that is TOTALLY your option.... and no one has a right to tell you that it will spoil your vacation! We did it PLENTY of times, especially when the kids were younger and pickier! We work HARD for our money and if it meant eating bagels with peanut butter and jelly for dinner in the (off-site) hotel room in order to go to Disney, so be it! I can assure you my kids remember meeting the characters and riding the rides and couldn't care less that we ate 2 meals a day NOT in the parks!

Enjoy your visit and do what works best for you family and budget............P

I don't think that anyone here has said that it would spoil her vacation. Just like you, others are entitled to express their opinions. I'm of the mindset that if you are accustomed to TS meals during a vacation, substituting PB&J sandwiches and toast with jelly for the atrocious food in the restaurants is not an improvement on your dining experience. It's more hassle for an equal outcome. The only thing that you've accomplished is that you have not spent as much money for mediocre food as you would have if you had eaten at some of the TS locations.

 

[eliza61]

So I've gotten flamed way more than I care to say because I've been a big critic of Disney restaurants for about 3 years now. I'm usually told one of three things.

1) vacations are what you make them.
2) you don't go to Disney for the food.
3) it's better than great adventures.

LOL,

anyhoo, in general I think wdw are very mediocre and definitely not worth the money they charge for them.

We always have a car so most of our dinners are off site.
I don't consider ourselves foodies but sorry, I hate being hungry, going to a restaurant and getting so-so food.

Now I do think that some of the problem is that I read glowing reviews and probably get my expectations up. That happened to me with Le Cellier. After reading review after review about it being uber wonderful, I was sooo disappointed. I had my lips ready for a great steak and it was Friday's quality at best. Same thing with BOG, after hearing so much that it was the best place people had every eaten at, my lunch was just ok.

I do find the resort restaurants are much better than the ones in the park. I absolutely refuse to eat any thing other than a burger in Magic Kingdom.

 

[pigletto]

This was one (of several) factors in our decision to stay offsite this time for the first time. I was planning ADR's as we always do and couldn't muster up any excitement for ANY of them. I just didn't care. Had I been able to eat mostly at the 2 credit places (we LOVE Jiko) then maybe it would have been different. There have been several times when eating at Disney that I thought "Well I'm glad this was free dining because had I paid this much for this service/food at home I'd be really unhappy". So how great of a discount is it really when the most I can muster up to say about the majority of our meals was "meh"?

Part of that is that we've done most of them several times. But a larger part is that the quality doesn't match up to what is being charged most of the time. It is sad.
We've switched to offsite for this trip and will be eating mostly offsite (no TS booked at all). We'll have a full kitchen for breakfast and quick things.
OP, I realize this isn't an option for you, but I agree, even sandwiches would make me happier than paying the $120 for Via Napoli on our last trip. I wasn't expecting much.. and it was pretty awful.
It's not to say all of the restaurants are bad.. but it certainly isn't what it once was to us.

 

[AnAmericanInDisney]

I can eat oatmeal...but the kids won't touch it. Funny that you mention noodles. My youngest could live on anything with any form of a noodle. I'm curious on how your trip was! To scrounge food? It seems to me like so much of the food is wasted. My kids won't eat the Disney grapes or carrots or any other of that nasty stuff they give them as sides. I have to fight with the cashier every time. They won't eat it, I don't want it.

It was fun. I don't think the kids missed the food as long as they got a mickey ear ice cream bar a couple of days. It was years ago, and I couldn't do it now that the kids are older and basically eat any food that doesn't outrun them. My kids would (and will) eat a side as long as it was french fries, lol.

 

[pjlla]

I don't think that anyone here has said that it would spoil her vacation. Just like you, others are entitled to express their opinions. I'm of the mindset that if you are accustomed to TS meals during a vacation, substituting PB&J sandwiches and toast with jelly for the atrocious food in the restaurants is not an improvement on your dining experience. It's more hassle for an equal outcome. The only thing that you've accomplished is that you have not spent as much money for mediocre food as you would have if you had eaten at some of the TS locations.

I wasn't implying that anyone here was suggesting that her vacation would be spoiled.... just suggesting that that a Disney vacation can still be wonderful even if you have to eat pb&j. I've been around the DIS long enough to know how these things can flame up into full on debates about how it isn't a vacation if you don't "XXXXX", when truly, as long as you aren't breaking rules or laws, it is your own business how you choose to spend your vacation money, right???? I just wanted the OP to know that her choice to feed her family from the cooler was OKAY...................P

 

[Figment_Fan]

Yes, some of the table service restaurants are not worth the cost. But, I have fun with counter service and snacks. I try never to eat the same thing twice (with the exception of the Dole Whips). There are great values and good food to be found. Love the waffles at Sleepy Hollow. Turkey leg and spicy sauce at Flame Tree Barbeque. The new Bistro at Brown Derby. (Martini flight for $11.25). I've never gone wrong at Mexico or the fish and chips across the water. And, really love the shwarma at Tangerine Café. Many of the counter service meals can be shared by 2.

Maybe if we start flocking to the counter service, they may adjust the table service prices. Yeah, right, they will probably just raise the counter service prices. Or cut the portions in half.

 

[crisi]

We eat signature because its the only way we get one decent meal every day - and even then it isn't really good considering the price (not even California Grill - or Jiko). Its a big reason we spend less and less time at WDW and more and more time at other vacation destinations.

I'd consider renting points for a one bedroom unit at OKW if I wanted to do my meals "en suite" - I think you'd cover the cost difference in having a full kitchen. If you drive, crockpot meals become really easy with a kitchen, as does a first day grocery run. We've done that at HHI and it worked really well.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I don't think it just all disney that has bad food, other parks can be the same way. Some times on a vacation I get tired of eating out and just want home cooked food. It is almost like I want to pay to use someone's kitchen to make a meal….

It is to bad that Disney can't think about what kind of dishes they make for kids and how yucky it can be and not very healthy for them. I don't think people would mind paying a few dollars more if they would make the food from fresh food. They could make chicken tenders from fresh chicken and coat them with things that kids still like. Make Mac and cheese that is fresh and use better cheese. And make the portions just enough for them. And make the veggies, and this includes the ones for adults, make them more appealing than they do. Some of them come out looking like they were over cooked.

There really is no right or wrong on how people choose to eat on vacation. Not every family is the same. I think sometimes I would rather eat a sandwich and a few chips than eat a burger or something like that.

It sad to see a corporation who won't furnish a little better quality of food for people. It would be interesting to see other people's opinions on the food quality. The boards here are just a handful of people to hear about the food.