BOG-lunch-OMG!!!!

[Nancyg56]

Back when we were regular onsite guests and took advantage of the DDP (usually "free") I didn't really bat an eye at the prices because the DDP covered it. I do remember saying often on these boards "Well it wasn't bad, but I wouldn't want to pay out of pocket for it". Chef Mickeys comes to mind specifically. Now that we don't use the DDP there is pretty much ZERO chance that I will pay the inflated prices at many if not most Disney restaurants.

But what if you wanted to go to some of these restaurants? My family does and I know it. I also sometimes bring kids, and they want Akershus breakfast, CM, and TH. They want BOG breakfast, and we eat breakfast so we have to factor those costs into the budget.

I never tell people that their choices are wrong or are not valid. What I try to remind folks of is that every family has their own dynamic, and so there is no hard and fast rule about the DDP value. The only way to determine what is reasonable fo reach family is to do the math, and to decide which experiences are worth adding into the food budget. I was beyond grateful the trip I had just about every character meal booked. I honestly figured that about 1/2 way ithough the girls would be sick of them and I would just cancel the rest, but wanted to know they were in place JIC. Holy Heatwave, Humidity, and thunderstorms! My girls melted, and had we not had those meals in place, they would have missed a lot of the characters they were lookign forward to meeting. I was glad I did not pay OOP, and for us, that combination of DxDDP and DDP paid off.

 

[happymommy]

I had lunch there twice, both times on the free QSDP, so it was worth it then! Next trip, I had lunch reserved, but changed it to the Skipper Canteen. At least we will get waited on, and I can enjoy some wine there at lunch!

 

[pigletto]

But what if you wanted to go to some of these restaurants? My family does and I know it. I also sometimes bring kids, and they want Akershus breakfast, CM, and TH. They want BOG breakfast, and we eat breakfast so we have to factor those costs into the budget.

I never tell people that their choices are wrong or are not valid. What I try to remind folks of is that every family has their own dynamic, and so there is no hard and fast rule about the DDP value. The only way to determine what is reasonable fo reach family is to do the math, and to decide which experiences are worth adding into the food budget. I was beyond grateful the trip I had just about every character meal booked. I honestly figured that about 1/2 way ithough the girls would be sick of them and I would just cancel the rest, but wanted to know they were in place JIC. Holy Heatwave, Humidity, and thunderstorms! My girls melted, and had we not had those meals in place, they would have missed a lot of the characters they were lookign forward to meeting. I was glad I did not pay OOP, and for us, that combination of DxDDP and DDP paid off.

I certainly hope you didn't see my post as invalidating someone elses choices. It's the opposite really. I only meant to represent my own feelings and what has changed for my family .
I think I've had it both ways. When we started going it was the heyday of Free Dining, we were going yearly if not more, and my kids were young. We wanted to hit every buffet and special meal and did, over and over. The value was most certainly there, and as you said it got us out of the heat and a chance to meet all the characters
10 years and more than 10 trips later I have a 20 year old and a 13 year old, nobody wants the character meals anymore, we don't fit well into one room, and we've seen a steady decline in food quality and steady increase in prices. So for us, we enjoy snacking or the ocassional meal, mid day breaks and offsite meals. There's certainly no right or wrong answer for everyone. But I will maintain a $17 cold sandwich just isn't something we are willing to pay for.

 

[Nancyg56]

I certainly hope you didn't see my post as invalidating someone elses choices. It's the opposite really. I only meant to represent my own feelings and what has changed for my family .
I think I've had it both ways. When we started going it was the heyday of Free Dining, we were going yearly if not more, and my kids were young. We wanted to hit every buffet and special meal and did, over and over. The value was most certainly there, and as you said it got us out of the heat and a chance to meet all the characters
10 years and more than 10 trips later I have a 20 year old and a 13 year old, nobody wants the character meals anymore, we don't fit well into one room, and we've seen a steady decline in food quality and steady increase in prices. So for us, we enjoy snacking or the ocassional meal, mid day breaks and offsite meals. There's certainly no right or wrong answer for everyone. But I will maintain a $17 cold sandwich just isn't something we are willing to pay for.

Oh my gosh! No I sure did not. I am sorry that my post made it seem that way. I was just discussing what if?

 

[pigletto]

Oh my gosh! No I sure did not. I am sorry that my post made it seem that way. I was just discussing what if?

Good. I was worried I had offended. I can totally see both sides on this one.