How four DVC members ate for less than the cost of a dining plan (with pics).

[Entropy]

There are plenty of threads that discuss the merits of the DDP. That is not the intent of this thread.

That said, you don't need a dining plan to keep things simple. We charge everything to our room so nobody has to worry about prices, they can order what they want, they can get their own snacks, etc. I've been to WDW so many times, I don't worry about prices since I know from experience about how much we are spend.

These are discussion boards. You make a statement and we discuss it, it's how it works. If you just wanted to make a statement and have nobody comment then it would be called a blog and if it's like 99.99% of blogs then it would be so boring that nobody would read it. I doubt that Pete would be pleased if this happened to his discussion boards and his business. So, if you don't like people commenting on your statements then don't post... or start a blog.

 

[kikiq]

I took the OP post as a trip report on how her family ate for less than the DDP and didn't want the thread hijacked to be a DDP debate. Gosh, we don't get much food porn on the DVC boards, and I don't go much on other areas, so I loved the details in her trip report.

 

[CdnKayDee]

Thanks for posting the pictures. I think my family will be trying out a few new locations based on this. Which is the closest Bahama Breeze to Disney?

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks to La2kw's suggestion, I ordered the Wolfgang Puck gift cards from Costco. I wondered if there might be an expiration date on them but they do NOT expire. So we can use them whenever until their value is depleted. And they are discounted at Costco plus I think that there is a DVC or AP or TIW discount at the restaurant. Sweet.

 

[Dean]

Which is the closest Bahama Breeze to Disney?

The one at 535 just east of I-4 where you turn to go to the outlets.

 

[Tiger926]

The one at 535 just east of I-4 where you turn to go to the outlets.

We went to this Bahama Breeze a few years ago (it's next to Marriott Village at Little Lake Bryan) and wasn't impressed at all. The wait was horrendous, expensive, the food was not that great, and it was so noisy. Sorry to get off topic...

Anyway, not wanting to turn this into a Bahama Breeze review, but just wanted to mention how busy and horrendously long the waits were, as people going off-site to eat here might need to factor this into their daily schedules when trying to return back to parks for parades or fireworks.

HTH, Tiger

 

[Dean]

We went to this Bahama Breeze a few years ago (it's next to Marriott Village at Little Lake Bryan) and wasn't impressed at all. The wait was horrendous, expensive, the food was not that great, and it was so noisy. Sorry to get offtopic...

Anyway, not wanting to turn this into a Bahama Breeze review, but just wanted to mention how busy and horrendously long the waits were, as people going off-site to eat here might need to factor this into their daily schedules when trying to return back to parks for parades or fireworks.

HTH, Tiger

To be honest I've never eaten at one which is surprising given that they always seems to be one near where we vacation and I have generally heard good things other than wait times. We went to an Italian place off Dr. Phillips called Cariera's and it was very good and very friendly. One of those family places you wouldn't go to unless someone said so. We tried to find a time to go back again but didn't. One can see their website at www.carieras.com if interested. We enjoyed it, YMMV.

 

[La2kw]

I took the OP post as a trip report on how her family ate for less than the DDP and didn't want the thread hijacked to be a DDP debate. Gosh, we don't get much food porn on the DVC boards, and I don't go much on other areas, so I loved the details in her trip report.

I'm a he, and thanks for getting the point of my thread. You hit the nail on the head, I don't want this thread to get hijacked and turned into another DDP debate.

 

[La2kw]

We went to this Bahama Breeze a few years ago (it's next to Marriott Village at Little Lake Bryan) and wasn't impressed at all. The wait was horrendous, expensive, the food was not that great, and it was so noisy. Sorry to get offtopic...

Anyway, not wanting to turn this into a Bahama Breeze review, but just wanted to mention how busy and horrendously long the waits were, as people going off-site to eat here might need to factor this into their daily schedules when trying to return back to parks for parades or fireworks.

HTH, Tiger

We've eaten there a few times, and yes it can get very crowded if you arrive at peak times. It's good advice to allow plenty of time. Plus, traffic in that area can be very bad at times. We went for an early dinner and had no wait.

 

[La2kw]

These are discussion boards. You make a statement and we discuss it, it's how it works. If you just wanted to make a statement and have nobody comment then it would be called a blog and if it's like 99.99% of blogs then it would be so boring that nobody would read it. I doubt that Pete would be pleased if this happened to his discussion boards and his business. So, if you don't like people commenting on your statements then don't post... or start a blog.

68 replies is not a discussion? Hmmm.
I have no qualms keeping this thread from being hijacked. If it bothers you, feel free not to read this thread.

 

[La2kw]

No worries! Thanks for the clarification - I have read every post, and have not confused any info at all. I am an English teacher, so I know how to process information, and how to make connections. In this regard, I believe your very detailed outline of how you ate, and the cost of it, as compared to Disney's various Dining Plans, is actually a debate about the value and worth of said Dining Plans. Your very detailed analysis of your dining habits, proved that none of the DPs would have been a good fit for your family; therefore, 'debate' and 'comparison' in this respect, are one and the same.

I found your post interesting to read, and full of great details. Really informative post! Glad you enjoyed your food and your trip! Tiger

Thanks for the compliment, but I disagree that debate and comparison are one and the same.

 

[nickspace]

Great Job! Thanks!

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks for the compliment, but I disagree that debate and comparison are one and the same.

So do many of my students, until we analyze their writing, and then they see it. Just as point of clarification - I didn't say all debate and comparison are the same, but in your post, I really feel they are one and the same. It's the nature of how you fashioned your post that shows this very well, IMHO.

Thanks, Tiger

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

So do many of my students, until we analyze their writing, and then they see it. Just as point of clarification - I didn't say all debate and comparison are the same, but in your post, I really feel they are one and the same. It's the nature of how you fashioned your post that shows this very well, IMHO.

Thanks, Tiger

You sound like a workaholic!! My sister is a teacher and sometimes I tell her it's a good idea to leave work at work and just enjoy the conversation!!!

 

[pickles]

This wolfgang gift card idea intrigues me
I went to costco site and saw it there..I didnt go further..must I pay and be a member?

does sam's club offer anything similar?

are there any other similar gift card savings for any other place at DTD etc(on property) .like trex?

and I forget does the DVC or TIW card also get a discount at wolfgang..so you can apply that and then pay with the gift card(saving even more)? I like the wolfgangs over by the christmas store area(always forget which that is...express? I have had some very good scrambled eggs there!!

loved the pics..that was great!!

 

[Tiger926]

You sound like a workaholic!! My sister is a teacher and sometimes I tell her it's a good idea to leave work at work and just enjoy the conversation!!!

Nope, not a workaholic at all - I definitely leave work at work as I teach at-risk students, so lots of stress each day, but when you are English teacher, you are always an English teacher. It's in our blood!

I wasn't trying to mark the OP's post at all. I just feel that his post is set up in such a way that it shows the debate/comparison very easily - from the thread title, to the great descriptions/photos and text in his response. It will be very helpful to other guests trying to make the same hard decisions between buying the DP and not buying the DP. Whether this was his intention or not, it serves this purpose wonderfully - especially now that the 2010 DP packages have come out. I just wanted to give the OP credit for what will I'm sure be a very helpful and informative post to people planning their upcoming trips!

I have been enjoying the conversation very much! Thanks, Tiger

 

[Mulan2]

Thanks for the tip about the Wolfgang Puck gift cards!!!! I had no idea they had them and we'll be at WDW in a few weeks. We LOVE that place!!