So, who's cooking more in their villas these days?

[twinklebug]

I always try to cook meals in our villa even if it's just a studio. It might be that I've wised up, or perhaps the menus changed, menus typically offer 5 entrees - all laden with stuff we're not supposed to eat. What happened to choice? Seems to have flown out the window with DDP. By eating in it's also much easier to make sure problem foods don't make their way onto the menu (No gluten, pork, shrimp, eggs etc)

I agree with the poster who said they feel less rushed by not having to stick to a TS reservation schedule. We like to go where we want when we want - having to wait around or make our way to another park for a reservation really destroys the relaxed feel of a trip.

(btw - I'm on the lookout for a decent glass-top skillet to bring with us so we can start making gf pancakes and rice/veggies.)

 

[spiceycat]

Catching a resort bus at DTD is one possibility.

walking to both SSr and OKW is probably faster and easier. you are probably talking more than one person - because they are generally gone long before security can get there.

 

[wdwcrazy]

We have done the dining plan, TIW and have probably eaten in 98% of all the ts restaurants and are now doing more meals in our villa than ever before. Not only becuase of the prices but probably more becuase of the quality of the food and the dumbing down of the menus. You used to get a great choice on the menus when you went to most Disney restuarants. Now they have taken anything that might be considered a costly meal and replaced it with a lower cost item or lesser quality cut of meat. I am saddened when I think of some of the fine meals that I have had over the years at Le Cellier, Spoodles, Contemporary Steak House, Artist Point, Narcoosee's etc. Even the buffets at Germany, Cape May or Ohana were an occasional change of pace. But the beffets are over priced for not even medicore food.

When Disney decides to go back to taking pride in their food, then we will start spending our money in their restaurants once again. Until then we will shop before we arrive and enjoy our own simple meals in our villas.

 

[d-r]

It is frustrating to us. I feel like it is the dining plan to be honest. That is just my opinion. I feel like the cut the quality to get more people in faster for less money with the dining plan. Then I feel like they've upped the prices even more to make the dining plan look like a good deal.

We ended up adding the dp for next week, even though we weren't planning to. We were in the contemporary for the member mixer and I looked at the prices of chef mickey's - 33.99 for adults for breakfast. Plus tax. Well, it is hard not to get the dining plan when a character breakfast costs that much.

We've been eating a lot more off property (going to miller's ale house tomorrow) and out of the room (easy to cook simple things, easier than going to a restaurant). Why not. A lot of the things I really looked forward to aren't that good anymore. There are a few I still look forward to (AP, 'Ohana) and so we add it.

I'm thinking of picnicing some this summer. There is no fast food really that I like in the studios at all. Really not much at other parks for that matter. Could bring better quality and more enjoyable for a lot less, and not have to deal with waiting in lines. There are so many nice places for a picnic, and we still have strollers to tuck a bag in. I'm headed that way.

 

[wdwcrazy]

Not only do picnics work but also bbq at the resorts. We often bring Matchlight charcoal and bbq everything from nice steaks to just hamburgers. The grill at the Beach club is located just to the side of the pool in an area not everyone realizes is there. Every time we bbq someone is usually yelling off their balconies that they want to buy our food.

It is easy to make a salad and start the charcoal, take a dip in the pool and then eat dinner either poolside or take it back to the villa. The last few times we bbq'd at Boardwalk people came up to us and said that they didn't even realize that there was this huge bbq right next to the pool. They also said they would be bbq'ing the next time they came. It is just too easy. You can have a great meal without the high price and stale taste of mediocre food.

 

[photobob]

We have done the dining plan, TIW and have probably eaten in 98% of all the ts restaurants and are now doing more meals in our villa than ever before. Not only becuase of the prices but probably more becuase of the quality of the food and the dumbing down of the menus. You used to get a great choice on the menus when you went to most Disney restuarants. Now they have taken anything that might be considered a costly meal and replaced it with a lower cost item or lesser quality cut of meat. I am saddened when I think of some of the fine meals that I have had over the years at Le Cellier, Spoodles, Contemporary Steak House, Artist Point, Narcoosee's etc. Even the buffets at Germany, Cape May or Ohana were an occasional change of pace. But the beffets are over priced for not even medicore food.

When Disney decides to go back to taking pride in their food, then we will start spending our money in their restaurants once again. Until then we will shop before we arrive and enjoy our own simple meals in our villas.

Very well put, I totally agree.

 

[franandaj]

We're BBQ'd twice, both times at SSR, the first was on our first DVC visit. The BBQs for the Grandstand were right outside our balcony, I had made us salads in the Villa, we made some burgers and corn on the cob on the grill. We had a nice dinner at the picnic benches.

The other time was in the THV, we had our own grill outside the Villa, we made some chicken and zucchini. Both meals were great, affordable and fun!

 

[Tiger926]

We have done the dining plan, TIW and have probably eaten in 98% of all the ts restaurants and are now doing more meals in our villa than ever before. Not only becuase of the prices but probably more becuase of the quality of the food and the dumbing down of the menus. You used to get a great choice on the menus when you went to most Disney restuarants. Now they have taken anything that might be considered a costly meal and replaced it with a lower cost item or lesser quality cut of meat. I am saddened when I think of some of the fine meals that I have had over the years at Le Cellier, Spoodles, Contemporary Steak House, Artist Point, Narcoosee's etc. Even the buffets at Germany, Cape May or Ohana were an occasional change of pace. But the beffets are over priced for not even medicore food.

When Disney decides to go back to taking pride in their food, then we will start spending our money in their restaurants once again. Until then we will shop before we arrive and enjoy our own simple meals in our villas.

This is us exactly too! Totally agree with you, Tiger

 

[d-r]

Not only do picnics work but also bbq at the resorts. We often bring Matchlight charcoal and bbq everything from nice steaks to just hamburgers. The grill at the Beach club is located just to the side of the pool in an area not everyone realizes is there. Every time we bbq someone is usually yelling off their balconies that they want to buy our food.

It is easy to make a salad and start the charcoal, take a dip in the pool and then eat dinner either poolside or take it back to the villa. The last few times we bbq'd at Boardwalk people came up to us and said that they didn't even realize that there was this huge bbq right next to the pool. They also said they would be bbq'ing the next time they came. It is just too easy. You can have a great meal without the high price and stale taste of mediocre food.

yes absolutely! We grilled out once at beach club years ago. We've grilled out twice at Kidani now, both times were kind of an "event" - once with about 25ish family, the other with old friends from various states who happened to be at wdw at the same time - we just hosted a big grill out and got a box of sams burgers and dogs and had a great afternoon. The grill area at kidani is amazing. I also want to grill out at blt sometime, because that grill is so awesome looking over the lake, but haven't yet.