Cutting food costs at Disney

[Marionnette]

PP never said Disney gift card, they merely said gift card, so, it's not like I would've known.

Also, of course? I don't see why mentioning the tip has anything at all to do with this. I don't stiff waiters their fair due.

You're taking offense when none was intended. Ignore my advice if you don't like it. It's your vacation and I was only trying to help. The tip comment was thrown in there because people tend to tip on what they paid with a discount and not the amount that the server should receive based on the pre-discount total. It was a general comment and not directed at you in particular.

 

[Bree]

Really? As many have said in this thread there are many places for your family to eat their picnic that don't take up a table at a counter service restaurant. Several counter service places won't even let you get a table until you get your food so they sure don't want their customers to not find a seat because of others who have brought their picnic take up a table. They don't need to put up signs for that. It's just common sense and common courtesy.

Actually the only suggestions I have seen are to use a bench (which are a rare sight since the mass removal over the last year), eat on a boat to a resort or sit on the ground in the hub. That's asking a little much for families with young children. If you are a long time frequenter of these boards you should have read the bazillion threads and comments about a complete lack of seating just to take a rest. Maybe go over to the DISabilities board and read suggestion after suggestion of people with mobility issues being told to rent wheelchairs and scooters due to the lack of places to sit and rest. The only locations that require you to have food before you sit are the INSIDE quick service locations. There are a bazillion tables on sunset avenue in HS which have zero requirement of having to have purchased food before you sit. Same thing at AK over by Harambe market. WDW has no policy on tables being reserved simply for QS paying customers. There would be signage and probably some sort of FAQ on one of their websites.

 

[sunshinemelody]

You're taking offense when none was intended. Ignore my advice if you don't like it. It's your vacation and I was only trying to help. The tip comment was thrown in there because people tend to tip on what they paid with a discount and not the amount that the server should receive based on the pre-discount total. It was a general comment and not directed at you in particular.

I was only stating that I wasn't aware that the PP was talking about the Disney gift card; I never said I was ignoring your advice. PP made it seem like a generic GC, which wouldn't make a lick of sense for me to use. However, if the Disney GC is worth more in the end, then I'll look into it.

ETA: I'm not dismissing anything you've said; I was merely irritated by the tip comment and the whole post went in another direction and I do apologize.

 

[aquabone1109]

Yup. If there was nowhere else to go I would glady sit there. We have parked ourselves there many times to eat a Mickey bar.

ETA: A mickey bar being sold at a cart right near the tables, FWIW.

You really don't get it. I purchased food at that CS restaurant and I expect to get a table to sit at. You on the other hand have no issue taking up those tables and opening up coolers so you can eat your picnic meal. There are plenty of places to eat your home made lunch. There are walls to sit on, places in the grass, plenty of benches, plenty of shades places where you can sit on the ground against a wall, to to tom sawyers island to eat or even eat on the large boat that makes loops in the lagoon near tom sawyers island. That is the price you pay when you bring in your own food. Cast members have been recognizing these guests that take up CS tables for their picnic food.

 

[sunshinemelody]

You really don't get it. I purchased food at that CS restaurant and I expect to get a table to sit at. You on the other hand have no issue taking up those tables and opening up coolers so you can eat your picnic meal. There are plenty of places to eat your home made lunch. There are walls to sit on, places in the grass, plenty of benches, plenty of shades places where you can sit on the ground against a wall, to to tom sawyers island to eat or even eat on the large boat that makes loops in the lagoon near tom sawyers island. That is the price you pay when you bring in your own food. Cast members have been recognizing these guests that take up CS tables for their picnic food.

Will CM's say anything about it, though? I see you're incredibly frustrated, however, to play devil's advocate--sorry--if the parks don't do anything about it, no one else will.

 

[aquabone1109]

Will CM's say anything about it, though? I see you're incredibly frustrated, however, to play devil's advocate--sorry--if the parks don't do anything about it, no one else will.

That is the problem. CM's usually will not ask anyone to leave a table but I did see CM's asking patrons to get table after receiving food. It's common decency to not take one of those tables at a restaurant unless you are buying food to be eaten there. Happened to us a few weeks ago at AK. We ate at the BBQ place where they have tables located behind the restaurant. It was busy and we scrambled trying to find a table. One large family was taking up a whole area of tables with their home made lunches. Went back to the counter to complain. A CM went to group to explain that these tables are meant for customers at the BBQ restaurant. They just ignored the girl. She eventually found us a table and brought us desserts for our troubles.

 

[sunshinemelody]

That is the problem. CM's usually will not ask anyone to leave a table but I did see CM's asking patrons to get table after receiving food. It's common decency to not take one of those tables at a restaurant unless you are buying food to be eaten there. Happened to us a few weeks ago at AK. We ate at the BBQ place where they have tables located behind the restaurant. It was busy and we scrambled trying to find a table. One large family was taking up a whole area of tables with their home made lunches. Went back to the counter to complain. A CM went to group to explain that these tables are meant for customers at the BBQ restaurant. They just ignored the girl. She eventually found us a table and brought us desserts for our troubles.

So, basically, the unspoken rule is that if you're not a patron of that restaurant, you really shouldn't actually be there.

I get what you're saying; I do. However, to speak on behalf of the PP, I see her point as well. It's Disney's responsibility to post up some more places for those who do come in with their homemade lunches. And it sucks! But I can't imagine going into Disney with a picnic lunch and not actually doing a picnic on a lawn (but that's just me).

 

[aquabone1109]

So, basically, the unspoken rule is that if you're not a patron of that restaurant, you really shouldn't actually be there.

I get what you're saying; I do. However, to speak on behalf of the PP, I see her point as well. It's Disney's responsibility to post up some more places for those who do come in with their homemade lunches. And it sucks! But I can't imagine going into Disney with a picnic lunch and not actually doing a picnic on a lawn (but that's just me).

Exactly. Those patrons have hot meals to eat and should not have to wander around looking for a table while their food gets cold. Cold fries are nasty. I do not think Disney ever imagined guests dragging in wheeled/large coolers full of food in order to avoid paying for park food. I have been going to MK since the 70's with my parents and now I bring my family. Never once can I recall my family dragging in a cooler full of food and I have only brought in food for my daughter since she is only 1.5 years old.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Exactly. Those patrons have hot meals to eat and should not have to wander around looking for a table while their food gets cold. Cold fries are nasty. I do not think Disney ever imagined guests dragging in wheeled/large coolers full of food in order to avoid paying for park food. I have been going to MK since the 70's with my parents and now I bring my family. Never once can I recall my family dragging in a cooler full of food and I have only brought in food for my daughter since she is only 1.5 years old.

Yeah. I can see the dilemma.

However, in light of everything you're saying, it literally points to Disney. This is Disney's doing. You allow folks to come in with coolers, set a precedent, and then don't follow it. Of course people are going to be like, "Yeah. K." about it when they get into the park. But with PP, who has a child, I can't imagine sitting on the lawn would be fun all the time (especially if said child is allergic to grass or has sensitivities), so a reprieve is nice. But again, this is Disney. Disney needs to be more vigilant about this instead of hiking up prices on everything.

 

[aquabone1109]

Yeah. I can see the dilemma.

However, in light of everything you're saying, it literally points to Disney. This is Disney's doing. You allow folks to come in with coolers, set a precedent, and then don't follow it. Of course people are going to be like, "Yeah. K." about it when they get into the park. But with PP, who has a child, I can't imagine sitting on the lawn would be fun all the time (especially if said child is allergic to grass or has sensitivities), so a reprieve is nice. But again, this is Disney. Disney needs to be more vigilant about this instead of hiking up prices on everything.

Unfortunately a lot of Disney guests do not have the common decency to not sit at those tables, especially during peak hours. Now if you are there at a time when there are very few guests dining then by all means grab a table.

 

[Bree]

You really don't get it. I purchased food at that CS restaurant and I expect to get a table to sit at. You on the other hand have no issue taking up those tables and opening up coolers so you can eat your picnic meal. There are plenty of places to eat your home made lunch. There are walls to sit on, places in the grass, plenty of benches, plenty of shades places where you can sit on the ground against a wall, to to tom sawyers island to eat or even eat on the large boat that makes loops in the lagoon near tom sawyers island. That is the price you pay when you bring in your own food. Cast members have been recognizing these guests that take up CS tables for their picnic food.

I don't pack food in. I don't bring my breakfast, lunch or dinner. I will park my butt down at a table to drink my water or eat my mickey bar or drink my starbucks. Tough if you don't like it. First come first serve. I'm just defending the need for families with small children to have a table. Sorry if I think sitting on the ground is disgusting. How many people have you seen spitting while in the parks? Or how about the shoes that step in pee and other nasties in the bathroom then track it outdoors. And please, show me pictures of the overflow of benches in the parks! I am in the parks at least every other month. There are very few benches. Last time I checked there was no Tom Sawyer's Island or a Riverboat at Hollywood studios.

 

[lustergirl]

I save money before hand and put it on a disney gift card. Not skimping on anything.

 

[Rafikifan]

And since many think seating is only for paying customers, last time I checked I had to pay for a bottled water, mickey bar, popcorn, starbucks, ice cream cone, etc. Can't have it both ways guys.

You started the conversation by replying to people bringing a picnic lunch in and sit at a c.s. table. This is your quote:
↑

"Sorry, but I view the outdoor tables as something for everyone to use no matter where your food comes from. You have no idea if those tables would have even been available if that family didn't use them. They could have easily been taken by other people that got their QS meal before you did."

So you're saying something different now, thus the confusion. That's ok since now you realize that if you purchase something from that restaurant you are entitled to a table. I"m sure there are times of the day, times of the year, that it wouldn't be a big deal at all but folks shouldn't expect to occupy a table if others who just bought a meal needed it.

 

[JJZMgailey]

There's really no reason to get so ugly with each other, folks.

Guests bring food into the Theme Parks all the time and I'm quite certain that they'll continue to until Disney puts a stop to it.

In fact, here's an article we put up the other day titled Picnic Spots in the Disney Parks - it's a thing. http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/picnic-spots-in-the-disney-parks/

 

[Bree]

You started the conversation by replying to people bringing a picnic lunch in and sit at a c.s. table. This is your quote:
↑

"Sorry, but I view the outdoor tables as something for everyone to use no matter where your food comes from. You have no idea if those tables would have even been available if that family didn't use them. They could have easily been taken by other people that got their QS meal before you did."

So you're saying something different now, thus the confusion. That's ok since now you realize that if you purchase something from that restaurant you are entitled to a table. I"m sure there are times of the day, times of the year, that it wouldn't be a big deal at all but folks shouldn't expect to occupy a table if others who just bought a meal needed it.

I was responding to the person who said I had no right to sit at a table to drink my park bought snack or drink. I still stand behind my opinion that if the tables located outdoors in any park without any walls, ropes or fencing are free game.

 

[aquabone1109]

There's really no reason to get so ugly with each other, folks.

Guests bring food into the Theme Parks all the time and I'm quite certain that they'll continue to until Disney puts a stop to it.

In fact, here's an article we put up the other day titled Picnic Spots in the Disney Parks - it's a thing. http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/picnic-spots-in-the-disney-parks/

Perfect. Like I said there are plenty of nice spots in MK where you can have your picnic. I would welcome a change to disney's policy on bringing in food where you cannot bring in coolers of a certain size or occupy seating areas during certain times.

 

[aquabone1109]

I was responding to the person who said I had no right to sit at a table to drink my park bought snack or drink. I still stand behind my opinion that if the tables located outdoors in any park without any walls, ropes or fencing are free game.

That is fine as long as those tables are not outside a dining establishment where guests sit and eat their CS meals.

 

[sunshinemelody]

I was responding to the person who said I had no right to sit at a table to drink my park bought snack or drink. I still stand behind my opinion that if the tables located outdoors in any park without any walls, ropes or fencing are free game.

I was totally under the assumption that you had brought in picnic lunches. ;_; That changes things.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Last time I checked there was no Tom Sawyer's Island or a Riverboat at Hollywood studios.

Wait, but there is a Tom Sawyer's Island.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/fro-sawyer.htm

 

[Anal Annie]

I only read the first couple of pages so am probably repeating things but we always eat breakfasts in our DVC studio - nothing fancy or big (none of us are huge breakfast eaters) but enough to save having to buy breakfast out. I personally think the Disney breakfasts are ALL overpriced and one of the worst values you can buy. We don't bring packed lunches but we do bring the Brita filtered water bottles (I fill them & freeze them the night before). You can use them to keep your cooler food cold and they'll thaw enough for you to have drinks for lunch. If you want something flavored you can bring those little individual flavored drink pouches to use in them. Using the Brita water bottles keeps you from having to buy bottled water - AND you can get cold cups of water from any CS restaurant. Also freeze grapes - that will keep your lunch cold and thaw by lunchtime. They will be a refreshing "side" for lunch then. I always hit Costco before we go & stock up on packs of cheese crackers, granola bars and trail mix to bring in for snacks. One TS meal that's a good deal is the pizzas at Via Napoli in Epcot....the larges are HUGE.