More for Less: A Theme Park Planning Strategy

[Laketravis]

No matter how you get there, the process of selecting FPs for the times you want is pretty easy, and the less fussy you are about exact times, the easier it is.

Always the salesman.

 

[soniam]

Aren't you in Austin? We had one here and I was disappointed to see it close but it might have been due to the location, kind of hidden where it was. Reminds me now of the Mezzaluna era and all the really great places that were around then.

I'm in Austin. I think it closed when the parent company, which also owned Red Lobster, was restructuring and shut down some restaurants, not just Bahama Breeze, that weren't doing well. This might have been due to the bad economy after 9/11. I know it was before the the last new Star Wars. Baby A's moved in after it closed. I think it's still there, but I don't go over there that often anymore. I used to work at the Arboretum, so that stuff was really close by.

I miss Mezzaluna too. The jazz place/restaurant that opened after Mezzaluna closed was pretty good, but it was kind of a strange concept for Austin.

 

[AustinTink]

I'm in Austin. I think it closed when the parent company, which also owned Red Lobster, was restructuring and shut down some restaurants, not just Bahama Breeze, that weren't doing well. This might have been due to the bad economy after 9/11. I know it was before the the last new Star Wars. Baby A's moved in after it closed. I think it's still there, but I don't go over there that often anymore. I used to work at the Arboretum, so that stuff was really close by.

I miss Mezzaluna too. The jazz place/restaurant that opened after Mezzaluna closed was pretty good, but it was kind of a strange concept for Austin.

I have to jump in here with you and LakeTravis... OMG I haven't thought about Mezzaluna in so long! I worked downtown and went there for lunch all the time. One of my favorites, for sure.

Can't say that I ever really liked Bahama Breeze, but I love Baby A's! Been going to their various locations for 20 years! We go to the Arboretum location all the time.

 

[Laketravis]

I'm in Austin. I think it closed when the parent company, which also owned Red Lobster, was restructuring and shut down some restaurants, not just Bahama Breeze, that weren't doing well. This might have been due to the bad economy after 9/11. I know it was before the the last new Star Wars. Baby A's moved in after it closed. I think it's still there, but I don't go over there that often anymore. I used to work at the Arboretum, so that stuff was really close by.

I miss Mezzaluna too. The jazz place/restaurant that opened after Mezzaluna closed was pretty good, but it was kind of a strange concept for Austin.

I have to jump in here with you and LakeTravis... OMG I haven't thought about Mezzaluna in so long! I worked downtown and went there for lunch all the time. One of my favorites, for sure.

Can't say that I ever really liked Bahama Breeze, but I love Baby A's! Been going to their various locations for 20 years! We go to the Arboretum location all the time.

Well then for old time's sake I'm going to add Bahama Breeze as an off-site dining choice to one of our days - according to Google Maps there is one less than 5 miles and just 10 minutes from the entrance to Animal Kingdom. Heck, it takes us that long sometimes to walk around CSR to get to a bus stop.

I'm really starting to wonder about all these claims that going off-site or even park to park wastes so much time each day. I've just never felt like it took very long to get anywhere around WDW and the outside vicinity, but I'm going to be acutely cognizant of it this time around and keep notes on just how much (or little) time is spent in transit.

 

[Cormoran]

I'm really starting to wonder about all these claims that going off-site or even park to park wastes so much time each day. I've just never felt like it took very long to get anywhere around WDW and the outside vicinity, but I'm going to be acutely cognizant of it this time around and keep notes on just how much (or little) time is spent in transit.

On previous visits, I regarded leaving a park to eat somewhere else a waste of time. But with the new strategy of relaxed touring, I don't feel compelled to remain in the parks from opening to closing. So, we will probably eat all of our meals off site and maybe get a snack in the parks. Now an other fun part of planning: locating good restaurants outside of the resort!

 

[Laketravis]

On previous visits, I regarded leaving a park to eat somewhere else a waste of time. But with the new strategy of relaxed touring, I don't feel compelled to remain in the parks from opening to closing. So, we will probably eat all of our meals off site and maybe get a snack in the parks. Now an other fun part of planning: locating good restaurants outside of the resort!

I've been using Google Map earth view to check out what's available within a 15 minute drive from Animal Kingdom, Epcot, or Hollywood Studios and am literally amazed at the wealth of choices.

 

[Cormoran]

I've been using Google Map earth view to check out what's available within a 15 minute drive from Animal Kingdom, Epcot, or Hollywood Studios and am literally amazed at the wealth of choices.

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

 

[Laketravis]

I've updated DAY THREE after making FP's this morning for Hollywood Studios.


.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Well then for old time's sake I'm going to add Bahama Breeze as an off-site dining choice to one of our days - according to Google Maps there is one less than 5 miles and just 10 minutes from the entrance to Animal Kingdom. Heck, it takes us that long sometimes to walk around CSR to get to a bus stop.

I'm really starting to wonder about all these claims that going off-site or even park to park wastes so much time each day. I've just never felt like it took very long to get anywhere around WDW and the outside vicinity, but I'm going to be acutely cognizant of it this time around and keep notes on just how much (or little) time is spent in transit.

It depends. IME, if you stay on the monorail, especially CR, then onsite is a huge timesaver...for MK. For the other parks, not at all. Ditto for Epcot and the Epcot area resorts.

If you have a car, other than those two areas, we don't find that anything is significantly closer from the somewhat-surrounding onsite versus offsite.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I've updated DAY THREE after making FP's this morning for Hollywood Studios.

Your plan looks really good so far, you guys have a ton of stuff planned. And you are going to save so much money eating offsite!

 

[Laketravis]

If you have a car, other than those two areas, we don't find that anything is significantly closer from the somewhat-surrounding onsite versus offsite.

What a testament to the effectiveness of Disney's "cocoon" strategy. For years now we've always landed at MCO, taken the ME bus (usually at night when it's dark!) to WDW and returned to MCO the same way. We never had an opportunity to see just how much has been developed right outside the WDW property line.

Your plan looks really good so far, you guys have a ton of stuff planned. And you are going to save so much money eating offsite!

Eating offsite, staying offsite, backpacking snacks and drinks to minimize in-park spending....it's all good

 

[dayvewc]

What a testament to the effectiveness of Disney's "cocoon" strategy. For years now we've always landed at MCO, taken the ME bus (usually at night when it's dark!) to WDW and returned to MCO the same way. We never had an opportunity to see just how much has been developed right outside the WDW property line.



Eating offsite, staying offsite, backpacking snacks and drinks to minimize in-park spending....it's all good

Most of my stays have been off-site. In my experience, MK is the only park that truly is a time-sink for leaving to eat somewhere else. AK is the easiest to get away from and back, especially if you use the back entrance near AKL.

Given the price difference for casual fast-food vs. table service and then the relative times involved in each, and especially if you are planning to hop to a different park it has always made sense to me to eat off-property (excepting MK).

For some reason, the delays in taking the monorail or ferry, then having to go through the TTC, and then having to find your car just seems to add much more time than leaving the other parks straight to the parking lots.

 

[erc]

What a testament to the effectiveness of Disney's "cocoon" strategy. For years now we've always landed at MCO, taken the ME bus (usually at night when it's dark!) to WDW and returned to MCO the same way. We never had an opportunity to see just how much has been developed right outside the WDW property line.

DME only began 10 years ago. Even then and before DME we had stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Resort not far from one entrance to the "World". It was a fantastic resort back then. I haven't been back for seven years, so I'm sure there are even more resorts now, but there were plenty of places to stay and eat outside of WDW. I actually like driving around down there playing the "what is the cheesiest tourist trap we can find" game. We used to do the all you can eat breakfast buffets for $2.99 per person. Can't get that inside WDW.

 

[dawgsgirl]

I gave up on Disney dining quite a few years back. I think you will be surprised at how many really good restaurants are so close to Disney. And they are MUCH cheaper. I am really enjoying your new strategy!!

 

[Candleshoe]

On previous visits, I regarded leaving a park to eat somewhere else a waste of time. But with the new strategy of relaxed touring, I don't feel compelled to remain in the parks from opening to closing. So, we will probably eat all of our meals off site and maybe get a snack in the parks. Now an other fun part of planning: locating good restaurants outside of the resort!

The ORLANDO forum has recurring threads for the best places to eat. I might head to the crossroads area from MK and the 192/sherbeth road area from AK.

There's a Sweet Tomatoes both directions , and if you sign up on their website you get coupons making a great deal even greater.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

LT has piqued my interest. Are there any great local offsite places to eat? We don't typically eat at national chains at home, and so they really hold no appeal for me on vacation, either.

 

[TDSAXX]

Note: This trip involves airfare for 3 ($756), a week's rental car ($86.24), and corporate hotel reservations at a premium hotel, three items that significantly inflate the cost. Consider it a test run for the real "More for Less" trip in June that will involve driving to Orlando and a week's stay at a 3-Star condo for $242.
.

LT, I'm planning a trip for roughly the same dates and was wondering where you got such a good deal on a rental car?

 

[Candleshoe]

LT has piqued my interest. Are there any great local offsite places to eat? We don't typically eat at national chains at home, and so they really hold no appeal for me on vacation, either.

Buffet thread
Sushi
Crossroads
DTD
Eating for Cheap
website: http://www.opentable.com/orlando-restaurants
A "Restaurants" Search

 

[Laketravis]

LT, I'm planning a trip for roughly the same dates and was wondering where you got such a good deal on a rental car?

Hotwire - I posted a copy of two reservations I made earlier on in this thread. It's sort of like an FP+ for 7DMT - you have to continually check for short-lived deals and focus on the blind offers but do some research so you know what you are probably going to get, much like figuring out what a PriceLine hotel is going to be before you bid. Don't go by the email blasts they send you as those are just teasers. There are some good tips in the Transportation board.

Future trips we are looking at driving because the cost of airfare is so large a factor in my "Disney on a Dollar" strategy unless we can start finding some deals on budget airlines out of ABIA. Hard to beat the numbers when driving though, in our case it's $250 in fuel round trip plus my time. And I'm a big fan of road trips so leaving Austin at 9pm and getting to Orlando at noon the next day is a form of entertainment for me

 

[Candleshoe]

And I'm a big fan of road trips so leaving Austin at 9pm and getting to Orlando at noon the next day is a form of entertainment for me

I like to leave before 5 or after 7. Until they fix the traffic up to Manor or even Elgin not much sense getting caught in the traffic jam.

We like to go somewhere between Slidell and Mobile the first night. Grab a Waffle House breakfast and continue on. I don't get that kind of gas mileage so it's more like $250 one way for us.

We mostly fly these days though.