Cash Dining 4/5-4/14 no pics

[Shelly S]

It was just my BF and I. We have had the dining plan in the past and have always felt too full. We normally like to have dessert later in the parks and the dining plan never left us room for some of our favorite snacks This trip we decided to order anything we wanted when we wanted. We purchased the DDE card and will be using it for a total of three trips. We had a light breakfast in our room everyday and water and soda in our fridge at BWV's and took a break in the afternoon every day to swim and relax. The total we spent for lunch dinner and snacks was $767.43 including tip and DDE. If we had the DDP it would have cost $759.80 plus tip

Sat 4/5

Lunch: Seasons at Epcot. I had the kids sweet and sour chicken and BF had the asian meal with beef and chicken. We split a soda. We always eat here and feel the food is always fresh and tasty. Total $17.87

Snack: France mousse and a pastry. Very good. Total $7.51

Dinner: Ohana. We love the new menu and I thought the noodles were ecspecially good. The bread was excellent. I love the salad here. The honey lime dressing is really good. I didn't have the wontons or much of the wings, but BF liked them. The turkey and beef were really good but the pork was dry. I didn't try the shrimp but BF had no complaint. The bread pudding at the end with banana fosters sauce was much better than I ever thought It would be. Total with DDE and tip $55.71.

 

[Shelly S]

Lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express. We split an order of BBQ Quesidillas, side salad and two drinks. Liked the new indoor seating. The food was very good. You order at the counter and get your own drinks here but are brought the food by servers. I did not see other people tipping but decided to leave a few dollars. Total with AP discount $13.98 plus I left $2

Snack: Ghiradelli. I love the Chocolate soda here. I don't think it is still on the menu but I always order it. BF had a choc chip waffle cone. If I had known that they were going to shut down for renovations that night I would have ordered a large chocolate soda. Total with AP discount $8.82

Dinner: Spoodles. We had originally planned to go to Chefs de France but it was raining so hard we cancelled. We were able to get a last minute reservation at Spoodles with no problem. I had a salad and Por Chop and BF had the flat bread and Shrimp and pasta. Both of us enjoyed our meal Although the pork chop was tasty, I thought it had a lot of fat on it. Total with DDE and tip $64.54

Dessert: Boardwalk Bakery. Carrot cake and brownie. Total $8.08

 

[Shelly S]

Lunch: Pinnochios in MK BF had the panini sandwich which he said was good I had the pizza meal. I really didn't like the pizza. It was fresh and hot but not my style. We split a drink. Total $18.61

Snack: Main St Ice Cream Parlor. We each had the kids size cone with the mickey ears. Total $5.52

Dinner: Mama Melrose at the Studios. I had the pepperoni flat bread which was really good and BF had the 4 cheese chicken and pasta which he said was good. We split a salad and had 2 sodas. I was dissapointed that they no longer bring out the bread to dip. There was bread to purchase but I didn't think it was worth $6 plus. Total with DDE and tip $41.13

Dessert: two dole whips in MK (one of our favorites) $6.16

Extra snack: Popcorn and a soda. We were waiting for the parade across from the popcorn cart. It smelled so good I had to have it. $4.75

 

[Shelly S]

Lunch: Columbia Harbor House in MK We each had a tuna sandwich one with fries and one with coleslaw and split a drink. Good tuna sanwiches here and really like the multigrain toasted bread. Total $18.70

Snack: Main St Bakery 2 cookies and they were as good as always. Total $3.82

Dinner: Rainforest Cafe. We did not make reservations as we have safari club. The wait was 1 and 1/2 hours but we got right in with the club. BF had Hong Kong Stir fry, his favorite. It is not on the menu back home though. I had planet earth pasta with chicken instead of sausage. Excellent every time. We each had a soda. Total with SC discount and tip $50.00

Dessert: Beaches and Cream. BF had a waffle cone I think and I decided to try and have them make a chocolate soda. Big mistake. They just cannot do it like Ghiradellis. Total $7.44

 

[schatterjee]

Thanks for your report and your totals. We won't be back until 2009 but I keep wondering about the DDP - so thanks for the info!

 

[Shelly S]

Lunch Casey's Corner in MK. We each had a hot dog and split a fry and soda. I really like the new buns. They are a soft light wheat that look almost like white buns. Total $12.97

Dinner: Concourse Steakhouse. We had to fit this in one more time before it closed. I had the new york strip which was great and a salad with good citrus dressing. It would have been better without the avacado. BF had the ribs. They were falling off the bone and he said they were good. We each had a soda. Total with DDE and tip $59.19

Dessert: Kaki Gori's in Epcot. These are must haves on every trip. Total $4.50

 

[Shelly S]

Lunch: Counter service next to Yak and Yeti. I had the kids cheeseburg which was average and BF had the Honey chicken. He said it tasted fine but didn't like the way it was stacked in the box. We split a soda. Total $17.11

Dinner: Boma. We have been there many times before and there are many things to choose from that I like and some I don't like. Quality is always good. This time everything was good but I tried the potato soup and didn't like the way it was served with no potato chunks. Total with DDE and tip $55.71

 

[Shelly S]

Lunch: Backlot Express. I had the hot dog meal which is the basic hot dog served at all the counter service. It was fine. BF had the turkey sandwich and he liked it. We split a soda. Total $16.27

Snack: 2 Mickey ice cream bars from a cart, another must have. Total $5.00

Dinner: We did not have a reservation this evening but we really wanted to go back to Ohana's again. A really nice cast member at guest services in the Studios actually called "somewhere" to get us in when no avaiability came up in the computer. We were very grateful and the dinner was just as good as the first night. Total with DDE and tip $55.71

 

[Shelly S]

Breakfast: Tusker House in AK. This was the only breakfast we reserved. It was really good. Lots of choices on the buffet. The juice is excellent here. Also the way it was set up it was uncrowded around the food and no lines. The characters all came around and posed for pictures. It was nice to see Daisy Duck. We did not purchase the picture package they take before you go in to the restaurant. Total with DDE and tip $40.00

Snack: 2 Sodas at Typhoon Lagoon $5.00

Dinner: Kona Cafe. BF had two appetizers Pot stickers and Stickey Wings. He really goes crazy over the wings here. I ordered the salad and the coconut chicken. It was really good but I didn't realize it was served with such a big salad on the plate with the chicken. So really I ended up having two salads. We each had a soda. Total with DDE and tip $47.60

Dessert. Main St Ice Cream Parlor. We each had a waffle sundae. These were very good but I found them hard to eat. Total $8.93

one soda later in evening. $2.55

 

[Shelly S]

Lunch: Earl of Sandwich at DTD. I had the original roast beef and BF had the turkey. We split a soda. We have been there before and like the sandwiches. Most times when we walk by the line is really long but was not bad that day so we jumped in. Total $15.45

Dinner. Liberty Tree in MK. We do this dinner nearly every trip. We love all the food here and even had seconds on some items. I love the way the characters are dressed and we decided to get our pics together with each character. The servers were happy to take our pics. Total with DDE and tip $59.84

 

[Shelly S]

Lunch: Plaza in MK. This is our last meal before we had to catch our flight home. We have been doing this lunch on our last day every trip. It's tradition. I always get the Cheesesteak with no mushrooms and fries and BF always gets the club sandwich with broccoli slaw. We had a soda and shake. It is a great place for lunch but there are not too many tables so you need a reservation. Total with DDE and tip $28.96

 

[Shelly S]

Thanks for your report and your totals. We won't be back until 2009 but I keep wondering about the DDP - so thanks for the info!

As I said we did the dining plan before and are going back again in July. After this trip we decided not to do the DDP in July. We really liked just ordering whenever we wanted something. We normally don't order dessert with dinner at home and prefer to have it later. The dining plan almost forced us to stuff it in. Also if I know I'm having a big dinner sometimes i just want a smaller lunch so I get a kids meal (I know they are supposed to be for kids but they are the right size and no one has ever told me I couldn't order one).

 

[Shelly S]

Just one more thing about tips. They take off 20% discount and add in 18% tip to the DDE. I feel like it's worth it as I would tip probably more anyways. At most places I just left the 18% that was added in but if the service was really good we added a little extra. I look at the DDE as getting the tip for free. At Boma, the waitress could not understand why I would want the DDE instead of the DDP. Other than that every restaurant just took the card, no questions asked.

I didn't keep track of all my available discounts too well so I don't know if I missed any. We have AP, DVC, AAA, Disney Visa (can't remember if there are restaurant discounts), and DDE. Maybe I can keep better track of them next trip.

 

[sherry]

I really enjoyed your reviews. Thanks for sharing.

 

[suzimar57]

enjoyed your reviews - very easy to read!

 

[emmabemmainc]

As I said we did the dining plan before and are going back again in July. After this trip we decided not to do the DDP in July. We really liked just ordering whenever we wanted something. We normally don't order dessert with dinner at home and prefer to have it later. The dining plan almost forced us to stuff it in. Also if I know I'm having a big dinner sometimes i just want a smaller lunch so I get a kids meal (I know they are supposed to be for kids but they are the right size and no one has ever told me I couldn't order one).

Thanks for you reviews!

I have heard, though--that many places will let you take dessert with you, when you go---so for some, that would be an option. Although, that might be hard to do w/ anything cold!

I appreciate the time it took you to do this! Thanks again!

 

[kristenz]

FYI - Allearsnet.com has a summary of the discounts out there - for table service, DEE is generally the best.

http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/disc_dining.pdf

This helped me put it in perspective. This is from 2007 and I haven't seen/found one for 2008 but am guessing its the same or similar.

Hope this helps!

 

[milmore104]

Great reviews Thanks!

Just my tip for having to order desserts when on the DDP. Order it to go. Then you will have it for later in the evening. They will usually have a plastic fork to give you as well. We tend to take ours w/ us as we watch parades and fireworks. Of course I am also lactose intalerant so I order cake mostly.

 

[ChristaDeVil]

Dinner: Ohana. We love the new menu and I thought the noodles were ecspecially good. The bread was excellent. I love the salad here. The honey lime dressing is really good. I didn't have the wontons or much of the wings, but BF liked them. The turkey and beef were really good but the pork was dry. I didn't try the shrimp but BF had no complaint. The bread pudding at the end with banana fosters sauce was much better than I ever thought It would be. Total with DDE and tip $55.71.

Thanks for your reviews. We loved this meal, too. I could have made a meal off of the noodles and salad alone!

 

[John's Mom]

Thanks for sharing your reviews!