Connections a real deal or hype?

[TreeOfLife]

OK, so inquisitive, skeptical here wants to know where I can find the menus in order to compare prices to see if Connections' vouchers are really a deal or a hype. I want to confirm it would be in our best interest to purchase them before arriving. I am considering them but want to make sure they allow the freedom I have in mind.

Another question, can an adult eat with child vouchers? How are the deals at Mara and the parks? I would not be interested to hop between resorts to eat with the vouchers, only want to know what advantages I'd have using them at AKL and the parks.

Genuine thanks for your help and opinions (and suggestions, even!)

 

[mom2febgirls]

http://www.wdwig.com/menu/menus.htm

This site has up to date menus

http://www.mousesavers.com/connections.html

and this site tells you which restaurants accept the connections vouchers.

I did the same thing

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife
OK, so inquisitive, skeptical here wants to know where I can find the menus in order to compare prices to see if Connections' vouchers are really a deal or a hype. I want to confirm it would be in our best interest to purchase them before arriving. I am considering them but want to make sure they allow the freedom I have in mind.

Another question, can an adult eat with child vouchers? How are the deals at Mara and the parks? I would not be interested to hop between resorts to eat with the vouchers, only want to know what advantages I'd have using them at AKL and the parks.

Genuine thanks for your help and opinions (and suggestions, even!)

You can find a list of restaurants that accept the vouchers on MouseSavers. Here's a link to get you there:
Connections Info from MouseSavers

You can find restaurant menus and prices on WDWIG. Here's a link to get you there:

WDWIG's Restuarant Menus

I would not join Connections just to get the meal vouchers, and since we would not use anything else they offer, did not even consider joining. (Too many reported problems cancelling the trial offer and I am not one who likes "hassles").

That said, I have personally used the Q&C vouchers and the Vacation Kingdom lunch vouchers. (Bought extra/leftover vouchers from other DIS posters). My DH & I do not normally eat/order as much as the vouchers offer, especially the lunch vouchers. We got past that problem by "sharing" a voucher (bought one extra drink) and that seemed about right for us. We left satisfied, but not stuffed. I'm not sure we saved enough $$ to make it "worth the time and cost", but we did eat in two places we would not otherwise have tried. IMHO, the 10% discount now available with an AP (resort and selected EPCOT table service restaurants), makes the Connections lunch vouchers less attractive.

IMHO, there are only a few counter service locations that make the Q & C vouchers worthwhile. We ate at Beaches N Cream 3 times since we were staying in the area. I have to admit, I got tired of the food there, but you can "save" quite a bit using the vouchers there. I put "save" in quotes, wbecasue we would not have ordered as much as we did without the vouchers. Don't think I would make more than one special trip there to Beaches N Cream if we were not staying at one of the EPCOT resorts. We also shared vouchers at Beaches N Cream as I have to limit my carbs (diabetic). Worked out just fine. Did not use vouchers at Mara or Pepper Market. IMHO, using the vouchers at the other counter service restaurants are about "break even" plus or minus a couple of dollars.

HTH. It's all JMHO.

 

[TreeOfLife]

So mom2febgirls, mind sharing what you found through your research? Did it turn out to be a good investment for you? Where are you staying and how would you use them?

Carol, as always, thanks for your help!

 

[DMRick]

To find out if it's a good investment, you really have to look at the places you would go, and how you would order. For instance, we love the lunch vouchers. I love steak, and hubby loves seafood. We always head out to AK Rainforest a couple of times a trip and share the $29.50 (now ($30.50) voucher. We share the stuffed lobster tail and the steak (over $40 just for that if I was paying) and the appetizer and dessert. We get one drink (any non alcholic drink), and buy another. Tax and tip is included in the voucher price which alone is $10 just for the meal and drink..plus your appetizer and desser! We save big time there, and get a great meal.

We use one voucher at Beaches and cream, and without even getting the Kitchen sink (only when the grandkids are there..too messy for me!), we save quite a lot of money. Again, we share everything, including the bananna split. The wonderful sunshine drinks, when split, fill two glasses...and they are included.

We usually get one meal at Peppermarket (and buy an extra drink)...although it's trickier, since the waitresses don't always know how ot apply the vouchers...it's always a savings, even if we don't get the rib eye.

The thing is, you have to have an idea of where you are going to eat..doesn't matter if I tell you how it worked for me. Look at the menu's, and if you are going to spend about $11 anyway on a place to use the Quick and casual, the tax alone will be fee. If you are going ot spend $25 on a shared or otherwise lunch, you will do very well with the lunch vouchers, since they include tax and tip.

I seldom use th breakfast vouchers, but we did use the adult ones last Mother's Day, when the prices were increased at Chef Mickey's for the holiday, and with three adults, it was a good savings.

So you really have to do the homework for yourself. I like knowing many of my meals are paid for, but others may not want to have to eat at only certain places.

 

[mom2febgirls]

I have heard about the lobster/steak dinner and that is what we would like to have. (He likes lobster I prefer steak) It's not on the menu at wdwig though?

 

[DMRick]

The funny thing is, it's not on the menu when you get there either. It's word of mouth. Our waiter also asked if I wanted the upgrade inthe steak..I did, since I figured if it cost more, it must be better. Just ask your waiter about the dinner...they know about it.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

I'm doing like it was mentioned on this thread- going through the restaurants that mousesavers said the connections vouchers can be used at and adding up even the cheapest entree, side dish if it doesn't come with one, dessert (yeah, I might not buy dessert without the voucher but if I have the voucher- I'm going to enjoy a dessert! I'm a sweet tooth! LOL) and drink.... I'm always coming up more than the voucher PLUS then add in tax and tip (if applicable) it's even more of a savings.
Granted it might only be $3-5 savings on each meal... but if I only paid the $1 trial membership for connections (which I just did awhile ago) and cancel the membership if I see no reason to continue it- that's a few dollars every meal that I'm saving! I guess I'm just a cheapskate... even those few dollars every meal is good enough for me! Hey, that's more stuff I can buy while there! LOL
I'm just a bargain hunter by nature, I guess.

 

[mom2febgirls]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife
So mom2febgirls, mind sharing what you found through your research? Did it turn out to be a good investment for you? Where are you staying and how would you use them?

We are going to WDW for 3 full days. I bought 1 VK voucher, 2 Breakfast Feature vouchers and 3 Q&C vouchers (I am thinking about buying 3 more Q&C) I will use the BF vouchers at the SBP breakfast. The VK voucher at Rainforest Cafe and I'm using the Q&C vouchers for lunch each day. From figuring out what we'd probably eat at each of these places we'll save $3-5 for the Q&C (except for Beaches & Cream we'll save alot more ~$15) At the SBP breakfast we'll save ~$13 and RFC ~$40. So for us it is definetly worth it to save $80. It only cost $1 to join Connections and order the vouchers.

 

[patsal]

Children's vouchers are only for children and they have to order off the children's entree menu.

 

[mom2febgirls]

Originally posted by patsal
Children's vouchers are only for children and they have to order off the children's entree menu.

I don't think the children's vouchers are worth it. Especially since we are bringing our 2 yr old who will eat free and our 7 year old is a picky eater who wouldn't eat much more than chicken nuggets wherever we can find them

But for my Dh and I they are definetly worth it. I was just going to get one for each meal and share, but I think we are going to use 2 Q&C at each meal for 2 burgers/drinks/desserts and if either of my Dd's are super hungry they can have my dessert