Eating MREs in the park... FREE &GOOD!

[Chilehead]

Disney owns all the restaurants according to the person I talked to who was a cast member. When you consider that you can buy not one, but 4 2-liter bottles (2 gallons?) of Cola at Walmart for the same price of one cup of soda that is further watered down with ice, who is robbing who? With their inflated food prices, I can sleep at night knowing I took some plastic utensils that were free for the taking. I asked one of the restaurant vendors for some "free plates" she handed them to me and smiled & said thanks. When she did that she was acknowledging that the plates were in fact "free". I didnt make a purchase there and she knew it. She was watching us eat our meals at the time. The fact is, Disney wants you there, and they dont mind if you take a few free utinsils. Since I'm constantly having to defend myself here, I can see that this was a waste of time. I wont post again. I have Ebay items to list, and more important things to do than argue. Besides, since I joined this dis board I have quarantined 6 viruses via email. I havent got one in the past 3 months. Coincedence maybe, but I'm outta here.

 

[BethR]

Come on you guys! There is NO WAY that I am going to let this thread deteriorate into a thread over the morality of using plastic utensils from a WDW restuarant when you did not buy from there. That is RIDICULOUS!

I am sorry that you are feeling beat up Chilehead. But I am pretty sure that you cannot blame the viruses on the DIS. Bad timing I would suggest. There have been some pretty nasty bugs out there in recent weeks. Just ask Bill Gates who has put a bounty out for the arrest of the one responsible for the one a week or so ago. I have had Norton stop plenty coming into my in-box as well.

Sometimes we just need a DIS vacation. Take it from someone who has taken plenty.

Hope to see you back.

 

[Chilehead]

Well I must admit, Beth, you must have patience. I admire that. I wish I had more patience! have a High functioning Autistic child with Asburgers Syndrome. Mine is definately gone!!!!

 

[Lewisc]

I think it's a stretch going after someone taking a single utensil or napkin BUT think of a person who takes a table for their "picnic". Using napkins, utensil and even going up to the counter for ice water. How about the complimentary condiment salad buffet found in some places? THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WHAT OP IS DOING but we've all seen people like that.

The tables and accessories are really for the customers of that restuarant. Gail is right, what you spend elswhere is not relevant. The price Disney charges for soda is also not relevent. I don't think Disney's prices are much different than food or drink prices in other places. Think of a movie theater, the circus, a ball game and so on. A movie theater by me had a sign, no outside food and actually called the police if you ate food you brought in.

I think it's a good idea, but it sounds like you'll only save money if you can buy them at less than normal retail.

I remember reading that one of the reasons Disney set up MK (car--tram--monorail--MK) was to discourage people going back to their car to eat. MK is in the N edge of the property and the original gate is S. Further discouraging people from leaving the park to go to an offsite restaurant to eat.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Debate aside, I just wanted to say that if anyone does buy MRE (for Disney or otherwise--don't think I'd take them to Disney but I do have some on hand in our home emergency kit), you'll want to check the expiration dates. Sometimes the dates are hard to read but in my experience they are on there somewhere. Recently we saw some MRE at a military surplus store with expiration dates more than 3 years prior!

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by Chilehead
Well I must admit, Beth, you must have patience.

Sometimes yes, many times no. But somehow I muddle through. Oftentimes here it IS by stepping away from the site for a while.

I wish I had more patience! have a High functioning Autistic child with Asburgers Syndrome. Mine is definately gone!!!!

I don't believe for a second that you don't have patience! I am sure that you have tons more than you give yourself credit for. God Bless you and ALL of the parents of special needs children!!! You all deserve WDW vacations more than most. And I am sure that you appreciate them more than many of us can ever understand.

Hang in there!

 

[Emme]

Chilehead, I am sorry you feel attacked...

There is a lot of good here on the Dis and as with everything else in the world, you take the good with the not so good. Stick around, we are really an OK bunch and I personally thank you for posting. This world is full of many different people and opinions and I'm sorry you had to defend your post, everything here on Budget turns into a debate lately, don't let it effect you personally. As far as plastic silverwear goes...c'mon people really?????

Emmy

 

[LauraR]

Chilehead---
I second Emme, don't let the holier than thou crowd drive you away. It would be nice if people would stick to the subject of the thread, in your case eating MRE's in the parks, but it seems there are those who look for any opportunity to deliver a lecture. Anyway, I applaud your creativity in using MRE's to save money on your WDW trip. Isn't it fun finding good deals at yardsales? I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for MRE's when the yardsale season starts back up around here! Thanks for the idea!

 

[AirForceRocks]

You might also want to keep in mind that it is illegal to resell government property, which real MREs are until they are consumed by the person to whom they are issued.

 

[CheapMom]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
You might also want to keep in mind that it is illegal to resell government property, which real MREs are until they are consumed by the person to whom they are issued.

Anyone who is in the position to be issued MRE's by our government should be able to what they like with the leftovers. They are heros!

 

[AirForceRocks]

Originally posted by CheapMom
Anyone who is in the position to be issued MRE's by our government should be able to what they like with the leftovers. They are heros!

I don't make the rules lady, I'm just telling you what they are.

 

[frannn]

It's wonderful that you came forward and contributed an idea to us Disney-obsessive bargain hunters. I would love to hear more of your ideas! Don't take anything said here personally- there are also a lot of wonderful, helpful people on this board. All you are doing is putting your ideas and experiences out there. What people choose to do with the info is up to them.

 

[BethR]

Come ON People!

This is my third and last warning. This thread will be locked if it everyone does not stay away from the negativity.

 

[mudnuri]

Beth- I'm going to try to say this upbeat...with no negativity..so here goes...

This is the way I see it, the OP made a post on the board regarding a budget saving tip...to which I would not have replied until I saw the attacks..I have found this more and more lately....

I'm not sure exactly what the moderators can do on the dis except start locking threads, which is too bad, because I'm sure there are a LOT of people with family members coming home soon, who might just have MRE's...wether or not they take them to WDW is up to them, but to know that it was convienient for this family is a good thing to know.

Now- the silverware and tables...here's my take on it. If in fact Disney did NOT want people to use silverware, tables, napkins etc... what they would do is NOT allow ANY food to be taken into the parks..NOTHING ZIP ZILCH NADDA...until this happens, I believe that DISNEY you know- the CM's the staff etc... really dont care if you take a fork or sit at "their customers table" if this was the case things would be different!!!!...

Anyway- Beth I hope I didnt add to the negativity, but I too like you have found this to become all to often occurance on these boards lately, and I guess like you, I've read more than I care to of the bickering.

to the OP- keep posting here, keep your idea's coming, and ask questions of us etc... this is the REASON we have this board..to help one another

Brandy

 

[ginna74]

you can LEGALLY buy MRE's all over the place. When hubby was in the Guard he was given tons and we ate them and gave them away. There will DEF be no one after you for buying them lol.. that is too funny actually.. I have seen them at resale places as well.... now some one who wants to start a fight might say well that is the rules lol...well.. that was thrown in for FIGHT and SHOCK value lol.. as I said you won't get in trouble and there will be no utensil police after you as well..so just give that a good laugh..... That was a great idea and if he was still in .. well wait a minute we know some people that could get in to the exchanges and get some... hmmm great idea!

 

[LauraR]

Yeah, I think the government might be a little too busy going after terrorists to prosecute soldiers selling MRE's at yardsales. But if I hear of any big MRE busts in my area, I'll let everyone know!

 

[phorsenuf]

Originally posted by Emme
Stick around, we are really an OK bunch

We are?????? oh yeah....we are!!

My .02 worth. If Disney cared if you used their plastic silverware and napkins, they wouldn't put them out for everyone in the pretty little baskets. They'd be on your tray with your food.

c'mon.....if you really want to take issue with something how about the shorter park hours that just came out for February during "peak" season. We're paying an arm and leg to be there during that time, yet giving us less time to enjoy stealing plastic utensils! Now that's NOT right!!!

 

[KathyTX]

I think this is a very creative idea!

MREs are, indeed, available through a variety of legitimate sources. A quick web search will give you an idea... and anyone who has access to a PX (and whatever the military stores are called by the other services- I always forget ) can probably stock up on them.

They have come a LONG way in terms of flavor and presentation over the past 10 or 15 years. They are designed to provide enough nutrition to sustain a fighting man in the field, contain about 2000 calories each, and have a shelf life of 5 to 7 years. My DH likes them.

Many survivalist minded folks like to have a supply of them on hand, just in case.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Chilehead
Disney owns all the restaurants according to the person I talked to who was a cast member. When you consider that you can buy not one, but 4 2-liter bottles (2 gallons?) of Cola at Walmart for the same price of one cup of soda that is further watered down with ice, who is robbing who? With their inflated food prices, I can sleep at night knowing I took some plastic utensils that were free for the taking. I asked one of the restaurant vendors for some "free plates" she handed them to me and smiled & said thanks. When she did that she was acknowledging that the plates were in fact "free". I didnt make a purchase there and she knew it. She was watching us eat our meals at the time. The fact is, Disney wants you there, and they dont mind if you take a few free utinsils. Since I'm constantly having to defend myself here, I can see that this was a waste of time. I wont post again. I have Ebay items to list, and more important things to do than argue. Besides, since I joined this dis board I have quarantined 6 viruses via email. I havent got one in the past 3 months. Coincedence maybe, but I'm outta here.

Unless you have put your email there out publically, I doubt you got the viruses from here.
I have been here for a very long time and I have yet to get anything that vaguely resembled a virus.

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by AirForceRocks
You might also want to keep in mind that it is illegal to resell government property, which real MREs are until they are consumed by the person to whom they are issued.

I know that I would never buy an MRE AFTER being consumed by the person to whom it was issued. Even if it WAS legal then!!!