Odd Question

[lovedcookie]

Not sure if this is the right place to post. . .
DFi suggested we eat our TS meals at restaurants offsite to save money (and he doesn't like the idea of having to plan exactly when we eat with an ADR) but the only problem with this is we're too young to rent a car. Would we really be saving any money eating offsite because we would also have to pay for a taxi? We will be staying at POP for 7 nights in August 2008
Thanks!
Erica

 

[Zippiteeee]

It probably won't "save" you money. Cabs to area restaurants can cost $10-$20 plus dollars one way. So add that on to the bill, then the price of food will be about the same as a WDW meal.
You will be going in August though, so if you want to eat at any of the popular WDW restaurants ADRs are vital.

 

[Jrabbit910]

The first thing I noticed was your signature and it said this was going to be your first time in Disney world... My suggestion is to enjoy it and stay onsite and eat... If your planning on going during August you could run into many crowds and leaving to eat is not going to be very time friendly. Try and stay and eat ts meals at the resturants on property. There are many ways to cut back and being on the boards will help you plenty in planning...
I hope you have a great time and before u know it your trip will be here so plan, post and save for a wonderful trip! IMO: I think you will have a much better time by staying on the "grounds".
Instead of wasting money on cabs put it towards nice things to bring home!

 

[disneyfan2]

i agree, the Taxi rates are quite high, and the waits for getting a taxi then probably waiting for a table would waste alot of time. The driving around by Taxi will take a big chunk out of your day and you really won't be saving any great deal of money,. You should check out the menus on allears.net (have to double check the site ) but it will give you prices of different restaurants and you can ususally find a few places at each park. At Epcot, you can choose to pass TS and do all counter service meals because there are so many choices in WS. You can check with guest services at each park and they can let you know what restaurants are available that evening, if you don't want to plan ahead. But i think you will find going by Taxi to different off sites will get very long and tiresome after a few days, But JMHO. Good luck

 

[Eddie]

I think the food is actually one of the best parts of Disney. Do breakfasts early at POP. Do quick lunchs at parks grab a Turkey leg or dog from a vendor.

Try to do a few of the TS restaurants. Can reccomend Crystal Palace and just about any in Epcot. Food is IMHO very well prepared and once you consider both time and cost of cab Parks or Hotel are better options. If you can swing it over to AKL try Boma, excellent Buffet!!!

Much better then park dinning in other theme parks.

Just my $ .02 although it will cost a bit more

 

[azgal81]

No you wouldn't save any money! It's easier to eat onsite then to taxi back and forth every night. Disney food is not that expensive you can find cheaper options you don't need to go to the more expensive restaurants.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

I think the food is actually one of the best parts of Disney.

Me too! I'd stay on site and enjoy some of the unique Disney restaurants, especially since it's your first trip! Worth the $, imho.

 

[Creekermom]

I would eat a late breakfast kinda like a brunch and then grab a CS meal if you want to save on some $$ rather than a TS meal. Unless of course you want to splurge and have a romantic dinner somewhere special and then you can chose somewhere where there is a buffet.

You also could bring your own cooler or swap a frig and bring things for your breakfast and eat out only 2x that day, if you plan it right there is so much food you could get away with a breakfast, make your lunch late in the afternoon, like an early dinner & get a snack or a something light later on.

just an idea.

 

[smidgy]

if you include the price of a taxi (plus tip) you will def. save $ by eating onsite. although pop has no TS rest., prime time or sci fi at mgm are not that pricey. or germany at epcot. when we went to disney at your age, we planned on only ONE "fancy dinner" and ate counter service the other times. pop has a great food court.
may I suggest ressies at Bomas at animal kingdom lodge one night? AK park closes earlier than the other parks. you can catch a bus from that park to the lodge, it's not ultra expensive (buffet, but different) enjoy the animals at the savannah. then (since your young, catch a bus to downtown disney, enjoy the adventurer's club (great improv) than catch a bus back to pop.
have fun and boy!! do I wish I was you guys, going back in time and enjoying this all for the first time. RELISH this trip!!!!!!!! REALLY!!!

 

[smidgy]

since I assume you are flying, def. buy the refillable mugs, and (if you enjoy cocktails) bring along a bottle or 2 of vodka or rum in your checkd baggage. you can get sodas for "mixing" at the food court. pop has frozen cola and frozen blue raspberry (mixes great with rum, for a "fancy drink").
and with the mugs, you get free coffee or tea in the am!
we love pop ! if the hippy dippy pool gets too noisy, we loved the bowling pin pool. and enjoy the walkway along the lake... read all the sign about the important dates in history. there is a DSA by the 50's bldg. that a lot of duck hang out at. we had a lot of fun feeding them our old bread.

oh boy! have tons of fun! ( ps consider a segway tour around world showcase... you need ressies)

 

[lovedcookie]

Thanks to everyone for posting.
So, after talking w/ DFi, our decision is pretty clear. . . taking a taxi wouldn't be worth it at all! When I posted this, I can't believe I didn't take into account all the time we would be spending somewhere other than WDW. Anyway, thanks for the replies. We are in the process of planning dining now .. . . we're sooo excited to go to WDW so be looking for us in August with lots of LGMHs.

 

[hthrbells]

Stay onsite, its all part of the WDW experiance. Plan just a couple of TS, the CS is pretty good, not all hot dogs and hamburgers

 

[Disney Crazy Debbie]

I noticed that you are going in August, any chance it might be during the free dining plan. In mid-August or late August through September WDW offers a free dining option. That could save you a bundle!

 

[ZoZo]

I agree with the others, by the time you pay for your taxi rides back and forth (and lose all the time it will take you to go to an off-site restaurant), any "savings" will be wiped out.

Lots of ways to save money on food!

Eat breakfast in your room (if you have a fridge, get a box of cereal and milk).

Split meals.

Order an appetizer or soup or salad (or some combination of these) at a TS restaurant (we did this at Kona, I got the seafood chowder and sticky wings for about $12).

Eat at TS restaurants for lunch instead of dinner. (Wanted to go to Le Cellier, my favorite TS restaurant, a couple of weeks ago. Did a late lunch there, got their amazing prime rib sandwich, and only spent around $11. Had a quick snack in the evening - got to go to my favorite restaurant, but didn't spend an arm and a leg!).

Take advantage of the great CS restaurants - they're not all burgers and hot dogs! Some of my favorites: Sunshine Seasons (great chicken caesar salad, and also great rotisserie chicken); Earl of Sandwich (try the tomato soup!); Wolfgang Puck Express (chicken quesadilla - yummm); Yorkshire County Fish and Chips; Casey's (mini corn dogs); Columbia Harbor House (good sandwiches and chowder). All are CS restaurants and inexpensive.

Plan your meals at odd times. We did one of the latest seatings at Crystal Palace for breakfast (10:30) and treated it as "brunch." It's a buffet, all you can eat, and all we needed later in the day was a CS dinner.

Tons of ways to save money on meals!

[PS - your fiance says he doesn't want to make ADRs for TS meals. Unfortunately, they're a "necessary evil" if you want to get into the more desirable restaurants. Go ahead and make some ADRs well ahead of your trip - remember, if you change your mind, you can always cancel your ADR. But so few restaurants take walk-ups, it would really be disappointing for you not to have any ADRs scheduled ahead of time. People really end up shooting themselves in the foot, so to speak, but refusing to make ADRs ("because we shouldn't have to plan that far ahead."). But then you probably won't end up with restaurants you like.]