cheapest or weirdest thing you have ever seen in disney restaurant or food court.

[Mackey Mouse]

Just a reminder here, this is a post about the cheapest or weirdest thing that you have ever seen in WDW.. It is not about judgment and hurt feelings so please try to keep this in perspective and we can all continue to poke a little fun at each other....This is not about class distinction or judgment, this is about weird things that we have seen at WDW concerning food......

Let's keep the thread open and remember we are posting to have fun...not to slam each other.

 

[sotoalf]

Hey, who are you to say who should go and who shouldn't go? Not everyone is going to disney for just a theme park. People who are sick or needing a boost come to disney as a form of therapy. It is a place of fun and fantasy in a world where sometimes you need to get away from your reality.

If you were giving your child warm cream of mushroom out of a can because you couldn't afford to buy a meal at the park for her, I'd question who's living in a fantasy world.

I don't think Sotoalf was trying to offend anyone here and that's not why we're posting. This thread is about the "cheapest and weirdest thing we have seen or experienced".

Thank you! I'm not going to be conscripted into feeling guilty about posting on a thread asking for the cheapest and weirdest Disney dining experience. What's the point if we're not going to bust someone else's chops?

 

[ilovefh]

Some of these are too funny! I have one as well.

A few years back we were having a snack at Starring Roll's at MGM. A man was walking through the tables holding one small child, a diaper bag and a tray while following another small child trying to get her to stay with him. He had a tray full of trash from what they had just eaten. A woman walks up to him as he is walking to the trash, puts something on his try and said "Are you going to the trash? Thanks" For a second I assumed he knew this woman, until his mouth dropped open and he stopped dead in his tracks. He turned to us and asked us if we had just seen what happen. Turns out he did not know the woman, she just walked up to him and put trash on his tray Like he didn't have enough to deal with ha ha!

 

[pixdust]

I have so enjoyed reading this thread! From the older ladies cramming their bags full of condiments, to the vienna sausage and mayo. I didn't know you could drag a cooler into one of the parks! I also think from my own experience that it really wasn't worth me paying $10 for a counter service meal for my son and have him eat 1 bite of a burger and 2 fries and take 1 sip of his drink. If I wanted to eat the same boring food he did all the time we would have shared many a meal. If not only to not waste, but to keep me from eating so much! I am impressed with people who manage to get their family to WDW and budget. The best thing I ever saw was a toddler at the Flame Tree BBQ, eating a french fry then letting the duck take a bite, then sticking the rest of the fry in her mouth. Now that is what I call sharing.

 

[ro80]

I am so with you Mackey Mouse (love the name!!) I also agree with allyphoe - there are limitations to what exactly should be split down the middle or not - it was just the whole calculator thing that put the rest of us over the edge.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

When DW Lauri and I have gone to WDW, most of the time we end up splitting everything. It has nothing to do with being cheap. She has an autoimmune disease that doesn't do well with the stress of traveling and then add in all the medications she is on mixed with the heat, well, she doesn't have much of an appetite. Most of the sit down restaurants have been very considerate once we explain and have offered to give her something plain off of the kids menu like Mac and Cheese. If not, she just takes a couple of bites off of my plate or she might just snack on a dry bagel or crackers she stashed in her purse. No use in buying food that will be thrown away or worse yet, will make her sick if she forces herself to eat it.

And speaking of the gull theives, one morning Lauri was standing on the balcony of our room at The Swan eating a bagel for breakfast. As she was enjoying the sights and morning air she was dive bombed from above by a gull that swooped in and took the bagel right out of her hand as she was going to take a bite. The look on her face was priceless!

 

[ilovefh]

Ah, but you see, the cheapest thing I've ever seen is the person who orders appetizer, entree, desert and drinks then says to the person who had salad and water, "Your half is $XX."

Personally, I can do the math in my head - you just add an extra 25% (7% tax and 18% tip) and round up to the nearest dollar.

Count me in as one who would rather just split the bill 13 ways than take out a calculator to split things. I can't pinppoint exactly why, but is does make me uncomfortable. If I can't afford the restaurant the group is going to...then I just don't go. Most of the time we go out with a group our individual totals don't vary much. To be honest we've never experienced the extreme situation you illustrated. If the total is $40 and my meal cost 18 and yours $22 am I going to split hairs....no way! The other thing that should be understood here, at least for us, is that any big group we go out in it is normally not the first or last time we'll all go out together. So we just assume it will all come out equal over time.


We did this in Feb when we went with my parents. Sure, one time I had the filet and my mom had a salad, but the next time I had the salad and my mom had a sandwhich,dessert and two drinks. It all worked out in the end.

 

[mkross]

We saw the same thing happen recently on vacation in AZ. These people were not in a fancy place, by any means. They were all dressed in very expensive brand clothing (teenagers had hollister from head to toe) and very apparent they were not hurting for money. They were dining with a set of parents. When the check came, they were there for 15 minutes while Mom whipped out that calculator to determine the bill and tip. After about 7-10 minutes, Dad and Son (looking discusted) got up and left, followed by the parents....not looking at all happy. Mom and daughter finally left about 5 minutes after that. Yes, while some people cannot afford more then their share, others are just plain cheap! Even her family had to leave!!!!!

 

[Riku’s Sanctuary]

The oddest food related thing I have seen was while waiting in the fastpass return line for Rockin’ Rollercoaster. A Father and his two teenagers were waiting in front of my Mom and I. The line was a bit backed up so I guess they thought it was an ideal time to whip out some turkey, cheese and rolls from their backpack and make some sandwiches. I think what made this odd was the fact that this was in the middle of July and it was HOT! Keeping cheese and turkey in your backpack to eat is not a good idea bacteria grows fast and nobody wants food poisoning at WDW. Also it seemed strange that they decided to make the sandwiches right there and then, couldn’t they have waited a bit? Trying to make sandwiches in a moving line and eating right before you getting on Rockin’ Roller coaster seemed odd to my Mom and I, but whatever.

*This was no intended to upset or pass judgement on anyone. If you happen to like making and eating turkey sandwiches from your backpack on hot days while waiting in line for fast whipping rollercoasters, it is fine with me and I hope you continue to do what works for you.*

 

[mickeyfan2]

We were behind a family on the fastpass line for Kali River Rapids. The family ate the entire time we were in line. We got onto the raft and they started to eat Doritos. The raft took off and they were still eating their Doritos. We were all waiting for the wave to eat their Doritos. Just before the first drop they put the bag into the center but it did not close completely. We don't know if their Doritos got wet or not.

 

[byoung]

I saw tag team diners at Boma, (ie) the couple in front of me at a table for 2 - they were seated ordered drinks and were eating. Then after a while the lady left - and a teenage girl arrived and took her place - same colour red shirt, but a younger version of the Mom (I guess)

Then after a while she left, and the Mom reappeared with more food.

Some will try to save any way they can.

 

[angiedora]

We had a similar experience at Chef Mickeys. A largs family at the table next to us put their toddler on the floor beside their chairs (in the middle of the restaurant) and proceeded to change a smelly diaper! I can't bring myself to make an ADR there this go round!

On line at the Haunted Mansion, the people in front of me laid thier large toddler right down on the concrete and changed her dirty diaper. (Gross! Go to the bathroom!)

 

[mickeymouse1017]

*This was no intended to upset or pass judgement on anyone. If you happen to like making and eating turkey sandwiches from your backpack on hot days while waiting in line for fast whipping rollercoasters, it is fine with me and I hope you continue to do what works for you.*

 

[ladylee]

"As for the issues of families sharing if it's all they can afford then I feel both sorry and proud of them, it must take a lot of sacrifices for some people to be able to afford to go to WDW. "

Thank you for posting that, I see that you and I agree on how difficult it is for some families to come to WDW.

I am sure it is a budget thing but also it may be the way they taste lots of things. A small bite here of this and another small bite there of the next things keeps everyone from eating too much, but getting to taste many things

 

[fey_spirit]

I just wanted to pause a moment to say - GO YOU!
This is really considerate and I'm sure those with allergies will truely appreicate your thoughtfullness.

We kind of get tired of eating the CS meals at the parks, so on our last trip, one day we brought along a jar of peanut butter and some bread to the MK. While waiting on line for IASW, my wife made peanut butter sandwiches for my family AND the couple behind us! I think if we had more bread, we could have made sandwiches for a few more people on the line. It was nice, becaused it saved my kids from having chicken fingers...AGAIN, and it saved us a lot of time too. We got to do more rides instead of spending an hour or so on lunch.

The only thing is that if we bring food in again, we'll have to do something besides peanut butter. Looking back, that might have not been the best idea in case anyone near us was allergic.

 

[Katiebell]

Bringing in PB sandwiches or other non-perishable snacks -- if Disney doesn't care enough to stop it, then it doesn't matter to me at all -- to paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, it neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg Kind of like people bringing candy into the movie theater -- why would I care?

Perishable items? Well...I suppose it's always possible that they have those reusable ice packs in their backpack, like the kind you put in insulated lunch bags.

Canned food? Hmmm...well, cans are sure heavy to carry around, so it seems like there would be an easier container to bring in. I could see maybe eating canned fruit (not at WDW, maybe elsewhere), but not cream of mushroom soup, ewww. Some of the things people have mentioned here -- the soup, cold Spam, canned corn -- I don't think it has anything to do with finances, it's not the cheapest stuff you could eat, it's just weird. People would think it was weird if you ate that stuff for lunch at work or school, or if they went to your house and you were eating it.

And the calculator? I wouldn't take out a calculator, but if what we ordered was considerably less than other members of the party -- unless we wanted to specially treat them (which is certainly possible), then I'd only want to pay for what I ordered, and I'd estimate, add in tax and tip, and round up. Especially if others have ordered drinks or wine, their tab might be a LOT higher than ours. I agree with allyphoe

Changing dirty diapers in public, especially in a restaurant? ICK! Virtually every restroom I saw at WDW had a nice area for changing babies -- why would you do that where people are eating??? I mean...I would certainly hope that the diaper-changer was planning to wash their hands after their task...another reason that the baby should be changed in the bathroom, near a sink!

 

[theparsons]

I am so with you Mackey Mouse (love the name!!) I also agree with allyphoe - there are limitations to what exactly should be split down the middle or not - it was just the whole calculator thing that put the rest of us over the edge.

Although I've never pulled a calculator out, I can sympathize with them....and maybe you're actually not seeing it from their point of view. Perhaps this young couple were on a very tight budget....they were at WDW because that's where the extended family was going on vacation and they didn't want to be left out, so they scrimped and saved to be able to join in....and then the "family" wants to go to an expensive meal.....and rather than put a damper on the "family", this young couple decides "we'll find a way to do it". Ok.....now granted I would have been a bit more discreet with the calculator....like keeping it in my lap (heck, actually I'd have counted on my fingers instead of calculator, but that's my math).

I think the really tacky one that I have seen so often I no longer agree to a group check with certain friends and co-workers......they order the most expensive meal, usually involving lobster, lol....and/or the big fancy drinks (40 oz margarita anyone, lol)....and then when the bill comes they lay down the total divided by the number of people. No extra for their more expensive food/drink...and no tip. I've learned to suggest separate checks at the time we order, though some restuarant's won't do that anymore, so in that case I ask the waitress to give ME the bill....I plop my portion for my food, and tip on my food (both amounts rounded up) and then pass it around. Some other poor slob is gonna have to ante up the difference for the cheapskates (and I have one co-worker that we always stick with this job as he's got the balls to tell people "hey...you had lobster, fork over some more money").

Anyway...back to the young couple who maybe broke the budget so as to not disappoint the family by saying they couldn't attend an expensive meal.....a little more subtlity would be nice, but let's give them some credit for being willing to think of other's happiness before their budget. And let's hope that with age will come discretion, lol.

 

[theparsons]

The oddest food related thing I have seen was while waiting in the fastpass return line for Rockin’ Rollercoaster. A Father and his two teenagers were waiting in front of my Mom and I. The line was a bit backed up so I guess they thought it was an ideal time to whip out some turkey, cheese and rolls from their backpack and make some sandwiches. I think what made this odd was the fact that this was in the middle of July and it was HOT! Keeping cheese and turkey in your backpack to eat is not a good idea bacteria grows fast and nobody wants food poisoning at WDW. Also it seemed strange that they decided to make the sandwiches right there and then, couldn’t they have waited a bit? Trying to make sandwiches in a moving line and eating right before you getting on Rockin’ Roller coaster seemed odd to my Mom and I, but whatever.

*This was no intended to upset or pass judgement on anyone. If you happen to like making and eating turkey sandwiches from your backpack on hot days while waiting in line for fast whipping rollercoasters, it is fine with me and I hope you continue to do what works for you.*

I'd probably make sure that I wasn't seated in front of them on the ride though. Just in case they decided to spew! Ewwww to the food poisioning. Even an ice pack in the backpack wouldn't be enough cold.

 

[chrismb22]

As for the person who ordered the salad and water ... was it the BIG SALAD?? (Sorry had to insert a Seinfeld reference there LOL)

Ok, here's where what me and my best friend did one year and I know it was wrong but you know what, I would do it again cause it made an elderly lady very happy. My best friend and I were on our up-teenth Disney trip and we were still at that stage where we bought gifts for everyone. Well, her grandmother -- God rest her soul -- was 80-something at the time and really didn't need another Mickey potholder or mug or whatever. Anyway, the woman was diabetic and only liked Equal, which for some reason was very hard to get in little packets in our neighborhood. We saw the parks had it so we took one of the disney bags we got from one of our purchases and every day, we added packets to that bag. At the end of the trip, we tied it up with a ribbon and gave it to her. She was so happy -- you would have thought we gave her gold. She laughed and talked about that for years -- and used every single one of those packets.

 

[aksunshine]

Hey,

Last year durning free dining, I split a Dole whip float with my DD who was 7 at the time. She's really tiny, was sure she'd hate the Dole whip and stuffed from just having a Mickey head ice cream but wanted to give it a try anyway...boy I hope people that saw us didn't think I was being cheap and forcing my kid to share a float!

Ya know, I'm right there with ya! When I read that post about the family of 4, my first thought was maybe they like to try many things and get several snacks throughout their day to share. But probably not the case for them, but thats what we do sometimes, just so we can try more or new things. Goodness knows that I could very well want a Dole Whip Float, a funnel cake, and Ice Cream Sandwich from MS Bakery in the same day, but there is NO way I could eat all of that, especially if you add on Dinner at Crystal Palace. Next logical decision? Make my DH and kids share them with me!

Boy, I sure hope no one comes back saying something about that cheapo family in WDW in September talking about us!