My Experience With Meal Vouchers

[Kevenswife2]

I'm just back from Disney and wanted to tell you my experience with their meal vouchers.

I found the Quick & Casual vouchers to be great! Always saved some money...and got my dessert! Cast members were very helpful when I was ordering, telling me if I could order another side or whatever. I could order large sized drinks and 'extras' like cherries for ontop of my cheesecake. I will use these vouchers again on future trips.

I decided to use my VKL vouchers at Cinderella's Royal Table on my birthday. I had only planned on using one adult and one child for the three of us (DH, ME, DD5) as there would be more than enough food for us. I was also trying to have a nice meal but still save money. Before we ordered I handed my vouchers to our server and he stated that I needed 3 of them. I told him DH and I were splitting a meal (now's when he got nasty). He asked, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN SPLIT A MEAL!? So I explained the whole concept to him. (I later thought that he might be used to working the Princess Breakfast where we all would have needed vouchers) Time comes to place our order. I started to order an appetizer for DD5. Was told I can't do that as there are no appetizers (or dessert for that matter) on the kid's menu. I pointed out to him that the child's voucher says one appetizer (and what a waste of money the vouchers are if such can't be ordered. Why does Disney put it on there if you can't order it? They're printed up by Disney aren't they?) We bantered back and forth and finally he went and asked his manager...NO APPETIZER'S for the child. By now I was totally discouraged with the VKL vouchers. I had paid $12.75 for a child's voucher and was only going to be able to buy a meal worth $4.99?! We eventually decided to forgo dessert and pay out of our pocket. It had been my birthday meal so the waiter came over with a cupcake and threw (hard) a handful of confetti at me ( I think he was taking out his aggressions on me) with most of it hitting me in the face and landing in my mouth. I decided I would never buy the VKL vouchers again!

Well, I still had those vouchers left and wanted to use them so I tried at the Restaurant Marrakesh in Epcot. Not a single problem! I ordered an appetizer and dessert from the adult menu for DD5. Same at Liberty Tree Tavern...no problems...other than we got too full!

Hope this helps some of you decide whether th try the vouchers or not. Any questions, just ask.

 

[Muffy]

That was dreadful to be treated that way on your birthday at CRT. It sounds like you made the best of it. We have several VKL vouchers to use on our next visit. Have used them before with great sucess but will make a note to stay away from CRT with them!

 

[Took]

Kevinswife2, what a SAD way to treat a birthday customer at CRT! As you found other places, using one adult VKL and splitting the meal is perfectly acceptable and, even, money-saving. The waiter at CRT was completely out of line.

If I were you, I would send a letter detailing events as you have here to the management of CRT. I'm sure they wouldn't want customers to be treated as you were. Perhaps, "Grumpy" needs to find a new line of work!

Took

 

[Kevenswife2]

Funny you mentioned Grumpy...that's what DH had on his shirt at the time. I tell him I bought it because it was on sale, but actually....if the shoe fits....(ha ha)

 

[webprinter]

Where, other than Beaches and Cream and the Pepper Market did you find they gave you good deals on your Q&C vouchers. We are planning to use mostly Q&C vouchers when we go in Jan. Which places seemed to upgrade your drink sizes or order an additional side? Thanks. Debby

 

[jann1033]

i'm with took on that, report that guy for sure. and I hope you did not leave a tip. what business was it of his how much you planned to eat?

 

[Kevenswife2]

Webprinter, I found that ALL the places we ate at would let order a large sized soda. I don't know if I got any 'extra' sides, but cast members made sure to tell me if I had an additional choice to make. I was surprised when I was ordering at Cantina de San Angel in Epcot. I had ordered the combo (which was quite a bit of food) and was told I could also order a side. I always wound up saving at least a little money.

I really enjoyed the meal deal which Animal Kingdom offers. It was nice to have a coupon to purchase a drink and ice cream later in the day.

I will never use the VKL vouchers after what I experienced at CRT. Also, I didn't like being limited to 'lunch' time. And even though I ended up having a good experience at LTT and Marrakesh, I think the VKL vouchers are costly and 'forced' me to buy [ and eat ;-) ] more food than I normally would have. If it wasn't for all the walking I did, I probably would have weighed a ton when I returned home!

Someone on here had said their DH didn't want to use vouchers because it was like foodstamps (something like that). Well, I actually had a male cast member say, "Oh, you're paying in foodstamps!" To which I replied, "No, I PAID money for these." He was only teasing me though as he was laughing as he said it. And I didn't take offence to it.

As for Mr. Grumpy (no, not my DH), from the things I've read about how Disney handles 'the bad', I'm better off saving my breath. He didn't ruin my day. I was at Disney...and it was a great 40th birthday!!

 

[lat]

I certainly hope the CRT one is an exception. We have used VKL vouchers at various places and I love them more than the Q&C vouchers.

The Q&C vouchers can be not so great deals at places depending on what you order. However, the VKL vouchers saved us lots of $$. We used them at Le Cellier, RFC at AK, Chef de France, and Brown Derby. They were all GREAT deals!!!!! The last time we ate at Brown Derby, the waiter was so nice trying to get us the most out of our voucher. I think we got over $70 worth of food for one adult voucher (I ordered other stuff too, but the voucher portion covered most of the food).

 

[pampam]

Where did you get your Q&C and VKL vouchers? How much? Did you have to buy them ahead of time?

 

[Kevenswife2]

I got mine through the Hotwire Savings Club. Signed up over the internet and placed my order at the same time. First order only took 3 days, and the second took 5 to receive.

Quick & Casual were $11.25. VKL were $30.?? for an adult and $12.50 for a child. Hotwire did not add on any tax or shipping charges.

I'm sure you've seen the long thread at the beginning of the "Budget Board". That's where I got my info.

 

[dcfromva]

Kevenswife2,
My DH is also one who grumbles about the vouchers in general and in particular he hates the VKL vouchers. I think it was one of our first experiences using them at Concourse Steakhouse that really set the stage. (And he doesn't like a BIG lunch and on and on...)
Even though we have had good experiences overall--and some places really good experiences, he still doesn't like them. I think there is a learning curve with the staff using the vouchers (and there is a learning curve for the people using the vouchers, too ) One time we were really successful using the vouchers when we told the server we had the vouchers and we were trying to maximize the value.
Oddly enough, since we had a sour experience at the Concourse Steakhouse for a lunch one time, we have gone back there for quite a few breakfasts using the vouchers. Every single time, we have always been very pleased with the service, et'c. (In addition to the 15% tip included in the voucher, we have always left an extra cash tip at the table because we were treated so well). Overall, the servers really seem to like the vouchers, but unfortunately, a bad experience can really be a turn off to using the vouchers.
-DC