New here and a ?

[PoohBearLovinMama]

Hello! Well to start off, I'm finally getting to go to WDW! I've never been to any Disney parks, resorts, cruises, whatever and I am sooo excited! My FIL and MIL are taking myself, Dh, Dd18mos and my 2 BIL's the beginning of Dec. Woohoo! (I'm REALLY excited, LOL!) Free trip to WDW and built in babysitters.

Anyway, so in the midst of planning I keep hearing about meal vouchers. I guess I get the basic concept of them; you buy the vouchers and then change them in for food at the park. What I don't understand is why these are beneficial? Are they cheaper, more convenient, something I'm not thinking of? Also, if they are must haves, where do I get them?

I really think I'm putting more planning into this than I did my own wedding. LOL!

Thanks for all your help!

 

[mad4themouse]

Hi PoohBearLovinMama, and welcome to the DISboards!

The vouchers are a frequently discussed topic on the Budget Board. There's an entire thread suck to the top of the board on this subject alone. If you have A LOT of time, you may want to check it out. It's now 44 pages long!
Everything You Wanted to Know About Connections Meal Vouchers

The vouchers cover your meal, the tax and any gratuity that might be involved. They are valid at specific restaurants (listed on the reverse side of the voucher). You can order anything off the menu at those restaurants that the voucher covers.

There are 3 types of vouchers.

• Vacation Kingdom Lunch Vouchers (referred to as VKLs) are good at the specified restaurants during their lunch hours. They cost about $31 per adult and $12.75 per child if you purchase them from a buying club like Hotwire Savings Club . Lunches include a non-alcoholic beverage, appetizer, entrée, sidedish and dessert.
• Breakfast Vouchers are good for breakfast at specific locations, including the Princess Breakfast in Norway, CRT, Chef Mickey's, Cape May Café and Crystal Palace. They cost $18.25 per adult and $11.00 per child. Breakfast includes the buffet and beverage or one single serving non-alcoholic beverage, one main breakfast entree and one bakery item.
• Quick & Casual Voucher (referred to as Q&Cs) are $11.50 regardless of who uses them. They are good at select counterservice locations - plus a couple of sitdown restaurants like Beaches & Cream - during lunch & dinner hours. Included in the voucher are: one combo meal (entree, side dish and non-alcoholic beverage) and one dessert, OR one entree, one side dish (if not included in the entree), one dessert and one single serving non-alcoholic beverage.

Using them, you can come out a few cents to a few dollars ahead of what you would have spent if you had paid cash for them meal. The best way to determine if they are a good value for you would be to check the menus out at
AllEarsNet.com - Menus from Around the World
Pick a participating restaurant, check their menu items and prices. Add it all up and add tax (6.5%) plus a gratuity (15%) for sitdown restaurants. If your total exceeds the cost of the voucher, then it would be a good value for you.

 

[PoohBearLovinMama]

Thanks! I can't believe I missed that thread over there. I'll check it out.

 

[Belle041281]

Another great site to check out is www.mousesavers.com. She has great advice on meal vouchers and everything else Disney. Have a great trip. I'll be down there too.