Regarding 02/09/2012 Show: Dining Prices Too high

[crazydisneyman]

We are going to Disney in Sept/Oct on a budget.

We are DVC members, and we are doing things differently this time.

We have never taken advantage of the kitchen in our villa, but we just found out that the dining plan will cost us $1156 for the week for the five of us (3A 1C 1Infant-no charge).

This time we are planning meals to eat in our room instead of eating in the restaurants in WDW. We are finding a huge discount in doing this versus eating dinner in a table service restaurant.

We are planning simple meals that are not time consuming to cook, so this may be our new method of vacationing at Disney.

What do you guys think?

 

[OKW Lover]

Chris, when we visited with our grandchild and his parents we would normally plan a couple of diners in the unit. Typically one would be a pasta dish and another would be more of a "heat-up something frozen".

We almost always do breakfast in the unit. Typically cereal, bagels type of stuff. Sometimes actual eggs and bacon too. Lunch was occasional and if we were planning on doing that it would just be sandwich stuff.

Anyway, an important thing to do is to stop at a serious grocery store on the way to WDW. We loved Publix. Before you leave home, do a menu plan so you will know what you need. Make a grocery list and remember to bring it with you into the store.

 

[PrepandLanding]

We've vacationed both ways, & actually prefer to grocery shop & eat some meals in. Not only to save $, but we find it more relaxing. The kids can play, take a bath, & go to bed on time. The next day they are ready to go for rope drop! We plan to cook every 2nd or 3rd nite, & shop for specific easy meals (tacos, salads, pasta, pizza). We also buy breakfast items so everyone is fed before we get to the park. It's really nice to have midnight snacks on hand as well. Overall we love this vacation style & find it cheaper, healthier, & alot more enjoyable -especially when travelling with little ones.
As a side note: instead of the DDP, depending on how many table service meals we are planning we opt to purchase the Tables in Wonderland discount card (which gives 20% off table service).

 

[WaltD4Me]

We almost always do breakfast in the room, usually not a big breakfast with eggs and everything, but cereal and fruit and I get those microwave breakfast sandwhiches like from Bob Evans. We have done some heat up dinners too. I don't really cook so it wasn't anything fancy, but it worked out fine. We still do a one or two TS dinners and usually a Character breakfast though and I always like to try and get over to Earl of Sandwhich for at least one lunch. It's a little more work, but way cheaper than the DP. You really have to do a menu plan though, the first time we did dinners in the room we wound up with alot of left over food, alot of it not even opened.

 

[mjtm610]

We always do meals in our villa. We usually have a group of 10-12 with 2 grandchildren in our group. (we don't all say in 1 villa, either). DH and I get the 2 bed villa which we share with one of our kids and their family. The rest of the group split up into 2 or 3 studio's. We each have snacks in our rooms, yet we eat our "meals" in our 2BR. We do cereal, toast, bacon eggs, pancakes.....that kind of stuff for breakfast. Lunch is hot dogs, cold cuts, salad, PB&J, grilled cheese.....easy stuff. We do go out for dinner 2-3 times during the week. Sometimes my kids will go out to dinner with their spouses.
It's all very easy and relaxed. I think of it like going to a cabin at the lake.
We don't stress out. We have pop and water (wine, too) in our rooms.
We wouldn't do it any other way. I remember racing around trying to find food that the kids would eat, I'd approve, and their Dad thought was in the budget. No matter how much we'd "plan" where to eat we usually found we were in the wrong park at the wrong time. Now we "park" in the morning, swim in the afternoon, and "park" in the evening.
Hope your trip goes well. (we love Publix too)

 

[jcb]

I've about convinced myself that free dining isn't worth the cost. We took advantage of free dining in December and I sort of wish we had not. I greatly enjoyed dining at the table service restaurants and meeting friends for dinner but the schedule for the meals conflicted with other events. I have enjoyed much more planning one or two table service meals and then having food available for the other meals. Some of my favorite memories of WDW involved leaving the park, going to the car, and having a "picnic" in the EPCOT parking lot. "Squirt" cheese is a lot cheaper than CS.

 

[crazydisneyman]

We were planning to have dinner in the villa at least 3 nights (salmon filets with rice and veggie, spagetti and meatballs, and taco salad). A couple of Character Breakfasts and breakfast in the villa other mornings.

I agree on touring schedule. Morning Park, Lunch at the Villa with rest and swimming, and Park at night.

We have young ones (4 and 2) and it is hard to find something the kids will like that is good for them to eat. We tried one meal in the villa last time at OKW and it was the best part of our trip. Very relaxing and like being on vacation (which we were) .

Any other ideas?

How do you go to Publix from the airport? Which one?

 

[jcb]

This link shows the Publix in Orlando. I would make suggestions about where to go but given that I'm not a local that would be pretty presumptuous.

I've only been to the Publix at Dr. Phillips and that was because there was a Tijuana Flats next to it and we were going to Universal for PotterPalooza.

 

[OKW Lover]

The Publix we stop at is near the Premier Factory Outlet stores. We take the south exit from the airport and get off at exit 6. From there take a right at your first set of lights (International Drive) and follow for about 1.5 miles - maybe further. The address is 8145 Vineland Avenue, Orlando.

PS: the also have a good selection of wine.

 

[crazydisneyman]

PS: the also have a good selection of wine.

I want to travel with you guys!

 

[doconeill]

We've been to the relatively new Publix off 192 near Orange Lake, and last time we went to the one on Vineland Ave. of 535. I definitely preferred the one on 192. The Vineland Rd. one just didn't feel like it was kept up as well, although it was dark when we went and it just felt a bit creepy.

 

[limace]

That's how we did it last time, and I loved it. No car, so had groceries delivered from wegoshop. My family loves to cook, so that's not a problem, plus really, my definition of hell is eating three meals a day out with small children.

 

[Justin Jett]

I've about convinced myself that free dining isn't worth the cost. We took advantage of free dining in December and I sort of wish we had not. I greatly enjoyed dining at the table service restaurants and meeting friends for dinner but the schedule for the meals conflicted with other events. I have enjoyed much more planning one or two table service meals and then having food available for the other meals. Some of my favorite memories of WDW involved leaving the park, going to the car, and having a "picnic" in the EPCOT parking lot. "Squirt" cheese is a lot cheaper than CS.

Jack my man!

Forgive me, but inquiring minds want to know. Did you have an ADR for the cheese whiz?

Where did that fit on the color-coded spreadsheet?

 

[jcb]

Jack my man!

Forgive me, but inquiring minds want to know. Did you have an ADR for the cheese whiz?

Where did that fit on the color-coded spreadsheet?

We fit it in before the 3 o'clock parade.

 

[Justin Jett]

We fit it in before the 3 o'clock parade.

You the Man!!!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

We fit it in before the 3 o'clock parade.

What time is that?

 

[crazydisneyman]

That's how we did it last time, and I loved it. No car, so had groceries delivered from wegoshop. My family loves to cook, so that's not a problem, plus really, my definition of hell is eating three meals a day out with small children.

We usually don't get a car because with two kids its hard to travel as you have to have car seats for them.

Can you tell me more about your experience with Wegoshop?

I looked into it and I wanted to know about the selection available and the delivery cost.

But I really just want to know if they are a good delivery company.

 

[MODisFan]

Can you tell me more about your experience with Wegoshop?

But I really just want to know if they are a good delivery company.

Hi crazydisneyman. I have used WeGoShop that last two times we have been to WDW (Sept '11 and Jan '12). They are very easy to work with and I had a good experience both times. They will go to whatever grocery store you would like. The first time we used Publix and the second time we used Wal-mart.

Just remember, there is a delivery fee and if they your groceries with bell services, there is another fee plus the tip you give bell services for bringing it to your room. After it's all said and done, I still found it to be a good deal for the cold items (milk, yogurt, fresh fruit) that would cost an arm and a leg on property. We'll use them again in May but this time I am either going to pack or ship a box with some of the dry goods we'll eat.

Hope that help!
~Elizabeth