FOOD PRICES: Disney vs Olive garden

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Well, here's my issue with this. If I told the average person, "You can eat a meal in WDW for less than you spend at Olive Garden," I would think that the figure they might have in their mind for Olive Garden is definitely above $18 for a family of four. My husband and I are hard pressed to spend below $30 at the Olive Garden, for just the two of us. I don't think we've ever done it, in fact.

So this may not convey the impression you're intending - they probably have a much higher figure in their heads when you say "Olive Garden." I also don't see the average person doing the whole extra buns and only water to drink thing. I think that most people, when on vacation, want to sample a variety of foods.

I also don't see how one could pay $18.51 at the Olive Garden for 4 soups without stiffing the waiter. Cheers!
Heather W

Great post.


I guess the OPs user name says it all

 

[iloveboardwalk]

The day I would waste time and napkins splitting double cheese burgers to save $15 bucks is the day I realize I don't have enough money to vacation. We take a lot of vacations, many short, local weekend trips or 4 dayish road trips, etc.. The fact is, it's fairly expensive to vacation, pretty much anywhere. In my experience, Disney food is not more expensive than any comparable restaurant food in the area of hotels, resorts or amusement parks.

This is a board dedicated to people who love to vacation at Disney. If splitting burgers is the only way you can do it, then by all means, you should if you want to, I'm certainly not going to give you any looks, I have better things to do on my Disney vacation. But it's disingenuous to say it's the "correct" way to order. Disney food, like all resort food, is more expensive than your local restaurants, that's the way it is.

On a side note, I just found out that I will be taking a trip to DW in October for business, and we're staying at the Grand Floridian. Can you believe it?? A FREE 3 nights at the GF...with my amazingly fun group of colleagues. I cannot wait.

 

[Poohbear123]

We have a LOT of places we eat at, and the prices are a LOT less than Disney. I never order Steak or Seafood at Disney as I know I can get it here cheaper, and a Better tasting Meal. Italian food is OUT too, as my local eatery has Chicken Parmagiana for about 8.00 and it COMES WITH salad and Garlic rolls. I do like Olive Garden but we go there once in awhile, as that is busy any day of the week, here. Portions are BIG and I have enough left over for lunch the next day, at Disney...NOT!

 

[Soubrette]

When I was in college, I scrimpted my way through 3 days at the beach with a friend. We filled up on condiments (peanut butter, jelly, butter, etc.), cereal boxes, bread, and fruit from our university cafeteria (didn't feel guilty at all since students get gouged on prices all the time), and then splurged one night on a seafood buffet. With the cheap hotel room and gas, I think we maybe paid $75 each for the trip.

But then I grew up

I can't imaging paying WDW park admission prices, and then saving $2 by spliting a double cheese burger and ordering an extra bun.

But, to each his own.

 

[isyne4u]

so it would just be the soup and water for $21.96(sounds more like a prison meal than dinner out )

I thought I was the only one that thought that!!

 

[LeftCoaster]

Technically you're not doing anything wrong, but Olive Garden won't be able to stay in business if their average customer orders the same way you do.

What about Soup Plantation?..... Oh wait a second. not a good example.

As someone else said, whenI am there, I am on vacation. I am not going to spend my time mixing up meals, carrying around drink packets, and spending a lot of energy and effort to save a buck. My enjoyment of my vacation time is much more valuable.