Back from DLP last week. The good the bad and the food.

[JohnnySharp2]

After being used to offsite villa accomodation in Florida it was a big change for us this August on our first DLRP trip staying at the Hotel New York.

I agree the prices are excessive, though to be honest it's getting the balance right on what you are prepared to pay.
It cost me 6.90 euro's a pint in the HNY bar but because I was able to just walk down and have a drink without the worry of having to drive anywhere I was happy to pay it.
Partly due to the fact the bar was brilliant, the service was fantastic and partly due to the convenience of it.
Sure it was expensive but I was on holiday after all.

I didn't like the Village at all, so the only food we bought was hot dog & fries for our son a couple of times, plus a couple of visits to the fab Earl Of Sandwich.

You can get good, or at least better value for money though, we found the Toad Hall Restaurant at the Disneyland Park excellent for our needs, especially as our son liked it there.
I had double fish n chips, Joshua had single fish n chips, Julie had chicken burger and chips, including drinks & dessert and it was around 40 euro's, I am not saying that's really cheap but it was better value than the Rainforest Cafe (fish n chips = 21 euro's each), and the food was nice too.

Bottled drinks, crisps etc are crazy prices though, even if you walk to the Petrol station at the Sante Fe they are not that cheap either.
Best bet is stock up from Auchan supermarket at Val d'Europe, you can get provisions for sandwiches, drinks and snacks there.

It's vital especially visiting for the first time that newcomers do their research on which restaurants to eat at and where the value for money is, our planning has to incorporate that anyway as Joshua is autistic - so we have to plan every little detail, whereas in Florida having been so many times we are familiar with everything.

 

[adr2.8i]

prior to our visit last year, i read upteen reviews and trip reports on this board and most people commented about how expensive food and drink is in dlrp. i prepared myself before we arrived.....i said "andrew,you KNOW its expensive but your on holiday so theres no point moaning".......well i tried not too moan but it doesnt matter how much you prepare yourself for the worst, theres no greater feeling than having your bill at the end of your meal and feeling ripped off. i felt annettes was expensive for just burger and chips (even though the burger was nice and the milkshakes were divine!) ..and the rainforest cafe was a £80 bill for 2 steak and chips, a childs fish and a choc desert each. but saying that it was our best dining experience of the week, my son loved it in there.

my food tips would be, eat as much as you can at breakfast, smuggle food out from breakfast to snack on during the day in the parks, buy water and snacks from shop in train station or petrol station by the santa fe, and one tip i stole from a memeber on here, is to share a pizza at cafe mickey because they must be at least 14 inch in size and 2 adults can easily share it coz its huge!

i think you can easily spend more on buying food there than what it costs to get to dlrp?!?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I agree about the comments regarding the breakfast, if you can make the most of that it's a good start.
The only thing we "smuggled" was a couple of small pots of jam.

I think there is a balance to be struck, as I said earlier, to being on holiday and not wanting to feel restricted (if that's the right word) on prices you are prepared to pay.

I know I paid crazy prices for my evening drinks, but I was happy to pay it because the locations I drank at were fab, the service was excellent and it was just a pleasure to be able to stroll from my hotel room which was something I haven't been able to do for a long time on holiday.

I don't think I would go on holiday if I placed many restrictions on what cost everything is.
That said, some of the restaurant prices are ridiculous, as are snacks, drinks - depending on where you buy them.

If you can get to the Auchan supermarket, it's well worth it and some counter service dining do offer better value for money.

 

[Florida2012]

Yes, some prices are very high within DLRP however, wherever people go there is always sky high prices!

We was in a service station the other day where they were doing BK meals for over a tenner!!! Now people must be willing to pay these prices otherwise they wouldn't be open!!

Also the £3.49 cups of Latte, £1.79 bottle of water, etc

It is the same position in touristy places over here (Lego Land springs to mind!)

As for the quality of the food, the only time we ate at the Chuck Wagon (albeit nearly 3 years ago) we thought it was great! (and not bad value for money) However, when we went to La Grange, we thought it was terrible! (and felt cheated by the price)

I've always said, though, that if the food is nice you don't mind paying that little bit extra!