Sorry Disney, I Can't Eat On-site

[ppony]

With us it's not so much that it's expensive, it's that the food is often not very good and that Disney dining is a hassle. Sorry, I don't want to plan my ADR months ahead of time to wait at the crowded podium to eat sub-par food in a crowded restaurant. And Disney counter service has deteriorated big time with fewer places open and worse food.

Nowadays we order groceries and have most of our meals in our villa. Both the food and the ambiance are better that way.

Sums it up for us too. Didn't mind paying if we'd enjoy the food, even somewhat. We just haven't for our last 2 trips so only do our favorite places for ambiance now. 1/3 dining on site, the rest a mix of off and our villa (incl. ordering in pizza and such). The BLT room service pizza is AWESOME tho! Is that "on-site" technically? (I considered it yes)

That said, I'd love to return to mostly onsite. Quality has to turn around in our eyes first.

 

[BriarRosie]

The OP posted her opinion own judgmental opinion regarding Disney dining on a public forum. She should not be surprised when people respond with their own opinions. You did.

I've met Lugnut. He's a good guy. He is not trying to be a rabble-rouser. I think he's offering an opinion and an alternative that might suit people. We as a forum should welcome alternative options if the options suit us. If they don't suit you or your family, you do not have to agree. But we should be open to new ideas.

I also wondered about the OP...why are you saying you won't eat onsite in the Disney Restaurant forum?

I mean I understand that it relates to dining, but if you don't like it or don't think that it is a good value, then don't do it. Why not put your Hess gas station and chick-fil-a tips the budget forum or something?

I think the Hess comparisons are probably not the best. I do think the Sweet Tomatoes is a great idea. I have a Sweet Tomatoes near me in the Chicago suburbs and enjoy it. I think it's a wonderful alternative for families who don't want to pay Disney prices for food they don't enjoy.

And the funny thing is, I travel and pay for food as a solo, so I have more discretionary spending money for food than a family of 4. And I don't go offsite for meals. But it does bother me to see poor quality food served at prices that I think do not match the quality.

I ate in the Crew's Cup Lounge in Dec 2009 when they still had a choice of filet mignon or sirloin, along with other Yachtman menu items. (I noticed they scaled back the menu on my Oct 2010 and Dec 2010 trips.) Anyway, I went with the $40 filet. And let me tell you, I thought they had a lot of nerve serving me the steak they did calling it a filet at that price. When I went to Shula's in July 2010, the $40 filet was well worth the price for the quality.

And that's the difference for me. I'm willing to pay for quality. I'm upset if the quality doesn't warrant the price. So I'm completely sympathetic to travelers who are balking at paying some of the table service prices. Especially if they got food at lesser quality like I did at Crew's Cup.

Nowadays, I find myself having a lot of meals at the Swan and Dolphin, especially since they accept the Tables in Wonderland card now. The food has been consistently good there. There are Disney owned places I still go to, but I find that I tend to order appetizers and dessert as my meal. I may go traditional with an entree, but I have been enjoying doing the non-traditional thing.

I do have favorite counter service places, but there are places I just won't go. I'd rather head to Picabu at the Dolphin than any of the counter service places at the Studios park.

I went off on a tangent, didn't I? Anyway, even though I stay onsite for dining, I don't scoff at anyone who wishes to dine offsite. As for Lugnut, it's HIS vacation, and it does NOT have to revolve around maximizing time in the parks. Especially not to a DVC member who goes often enough with an annual pass. I don't begrudge anyone who wants to maximize their park time, so I think it's unfair of those to judge Lugnut for touring the way HE wants to.

 

[twooley2]

What in the world does income have to do with anything in this thread?

Are you saying that if I make 500K a year I like eating a $40 buffet made up of lukewarm food? LOL, that is just patently ridiculous.

Wow, just wow.

The lengths people will jump to hop on the high horse on the DIS never ceases to amaze me.

I must be a rare one as I have never had a lukewarm meal on a buffet at Disney actually I think the food is on par with other buffets and better than leaving and loosing precious park time. 500 K a year nope although Income may and note I say may not necessarily does.... play a part for peoples choices is all I was saying. That is my opinion and not necessarily of each and every person in the entire Disney market. It may not too. This is strange a lot of people walk around in defensive mode all day I guess it stands to reason why some would take just about anything or any opinion that is not their own as a reason to be defensive or as a chance to belittle others for theirs.If someone wants to eat gas station food so let them who cares really!!!! To each his own..If someone wants to eat at Disney and pay 300 a meal who cares again!!! Really!!! Now if offering some useful advice than that I can see. The Hess gas station may prove useful for some if someone offers that as new information. The disney prices may prove useful information too.

 

[Swan4Me]

Nowadays, I find myself having a lot of meals at the Swan and Dolphin, especially since they accept the Tables in Wonderland card now. The food has been consistently good there.

I'd rather head to Picabu at the Dolphin than any of the counter service places at the Studios park.
.

We were immensly pleased with picabu-and all the attendents there were VERY friendly-a wonderful place compared to the mass hysteria we found at Roaring Forks at WL.

 

[lugnut33]

You're making me blush Briar Rosie!!

And as I've indicated many times, I don't mind people having a dissenting opinion. The conversation has been fun so far and I think many many ideas have been flushed out for people to look at and decide which way they are going to go. That's what this forum is supposed to do.

 

[Cherinva]

After reading this entire thread, I'll put in my 2 cents worth. First, I see both sides of this discussion....and I don't see anything wrong on either side...I think it's a matter of personal choice. We've done the DDP with TS credits and we enjoyed it...keep in mind that we fly in, and do not rent a car...so yes, we are locked into WDW. I have found though, that the quality and sometimes the service is not what it used to be...My first time to Liberty Tree Tavern was awesome. The next year, it was terrible...and turned out to be our worst meal...so much so, that I won't go back for a long time.

So, last year (I went 3 times) 2 of my visits, I got the QSDP. Both of the trips were short ones, but I found that the QS worked great for us...now, before any says anything...I used a dining plan calculator that I found somewhere...I looked at each place that I wanted to eat at, and did the calculations....it did work out, that the QSDP was a savings over paying out of pocket....I ate where I wanted to, and had good meals.

My next trip, I will be staying off site (NOT my choice) and renting a car (again, NOT my choice) so this time, I will be eating off site some of the time...I'm actually looking forward to see what's there...I want to eat at places that I don't have around here.

My feeling, to each there own...a vacation is a personal thing, and you should do what feels right for you....after all, it's you that's paying for it..no one else.

 

[TDC Nala]

There's no requirement that you like Disney Dining to discuss it on the Restaurant Board. You're welcome to state you don't like some or all of it. I don't like the buffets anymore. They used to be good. I used to love some of them. But Disney dining isn't bad enough to get me to rent a car so I can eat offsite (yet). I just avoid the places I have been disappointed in (I'm really not happy that list now includes ALL the buffets). If you have a car, all kinds of options open up to you, but it's not like Disneyland. You can't get off property without transportation.

You're also welcome to discuss that you think dining onsite is too expensive. If Lugnut doesn't want to pay for Le Cellier and would rather go to the Hess station instead, I think that's legitimate in discussing the state of Disney dining.

But namecalling, argumentativeness and that sort of thing will violate the DIS guidelines and get the thread closed. There's been some of that already, please watch what you are posting.

 

[Planogirl]

What is wrong with people wanting to save money? We have taken budget trips and while we do make a few ADR's and often eat onsite at counterservice places we see nothing wrong with going offsite. The Orlando area is blessed with some great restaurants and I'm not talking about Cici's and the like. Even though DS loves Chik-fil-a and would eat there every day if I allowed it.

There are some BAD restaurants at WDW and some are overrated IMO. That's just the way it is in my eyes and certainly deserves discussion.

 

[MarieA]

I wonder where a lot of people live that Disney prices are a LOT higher than your local restaurants? The prices are sometimes higher, but not by much, than our restaurants. The quality of food is about the same. We went to dinner the other night at a nice restaurant (nothing hugely fancy) and the specials were $56 each and the filet was $44. It was a good steak - not fantastic or out of this world. I would have much rather been at Le Cellier for the ambience, servers, and the ability to walk outside the restaurant and see the waterfall! Even when we go to Montana for branding or shipping, the local restaurants up there have prices equal to what I find in our 'big' city. And don't get me started on prices at ballgames or such! Outrageous prices (more than Disney) and not as good as Disney counter service.

And sure - you can always get gas station pizza, mcd's, or a loaf of bread and peanut butter at the store for less. But you are offsite, have to drive, and still have to compromise some of what you choose for a cheaper meal (either you cook it or you are going to buy cheap food).

Of course, to each their own and if driving offsite and eating is what you like - great! On my vacations, I don't want to drive. We do budget (bring a lot of our own breakfast foods and snacks in a suitecase) and split meals if needed. But I don't want to drive or cook

I agree with you 100%. We live in NYC and the price of a TS meal at WDW is comparable to what we pay at home so I don't find it to be expensive. If my DH and I go to a local chain restaurant like Applebees and we order 2 alcoholic drinks, an appetizer and 2 entrees it usually will cost us about $70 including the tip. If we do that same meal in the Applebees in Manhattan the cost is about $85 - 90. We usually spend between $70 and 90 for a TS meal and that's at our local pizzeria/restaurant (nothing fancy).

We enjoy the whole Disney experience and that includes dining onsite. I never cook on vacation. I work full time and when I am on vacation I don't want to cook, wash dishes or do anything else that has to do with cleaning.

As for OP - you have to do what you can afford and spend what you feel comfortable spending on meals. To be honest - if things were tight money wise, my DH and I would probably consider dining off site. This would allow us to still have some TS meals (I'm not a fan of fast food or QS meals) and save quite a bit of money.

 

[River Country]

The thing is there is no need to be snarky. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and just because their opinion differs from your own does not give you the right be snarky.

I get the passion for Disney and all things Disney but sometimes, some Disers take that passion a bit too far and they start being Disney know-it-alls or bullies.

Snarky?
It all boils down to this. it is your vacation. you do what you want and I do what I want. as far as what and where to eat there is no problem with people expressing an opinon. I just don't use the word Snarky in New Jersey.

Peace/Love/Disney

 

[BriarRosie]

We were immensly pleased with picabu-and all the attendents there were VERY friendly-a wonderful place compared to the mass hysteria we found at Roaring Forks at WL.

I was impressed with the chicken pot pie I ordered, but it's been a few years since I tried Picabu. I'm willing to go back there again.

You're making me blush Briar Rosie!!

And as I've indicated many times, I don't mind people having a dissenting opinion. The conversation has been fun so far and I think many many ideas have been flushed out for people to look at and decide which way they are going to go. That's what this forum is supposed to do.

Watch it, bub. If I find myself disagreeing with you, you would definitely hear about it!

There's no requirement that you like Disney Dining to discuss it on the Restaurant Board. You're welcome to state you don't like some or all of it. I don't like the buffets anymore. They used to be good. I used to love some of them. But Disney dining isn't bad enough to get me to rent a car so I can eat offsite (yet). I just avoid the places I have been disappointed in (I'm really not happy that list now includes ALL the buffets). If you have a car, all kinds of options open up to you, but it's not like Disneyland. You can't get off property without transportation.

You're also welcome to discuss that you think dining onsite is too expensive. If Lugnut doesn't want to pay for Le Cellier and would rather go to the Hess station instead, I think that's legitimate in discussing the state of Disney dining.

But namecalling, argumentativeness and that sort of thing will violate the DIS guidelines and get the thread closed. There's been some of that already, please watch what you are posting.

While I don't eat at buffets much anymore, I was pleasantly surprised by Tusker House lunch in December. I would go back there, unless the highway robbery holiday surcharge pricing was in effect.

 

[cseca]

Two things I have to do every day at home is cook and drive. Two things I will not do on vac. is cook or drive. If that means I have to pay a little more for food I'm ok with that...

ITA

I am amazed at all the parents who wouldn't mind cooking in their villas most of their trips. Kudos to you all!
Seriously DH knows that when we're on vacation he can bet that if he wants to eat we better go out or he can go get it himself...

I do those things almost 50 weeks out of a year, I think I deserve a vacation from them too.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since my family and I always have a car while at WDW because we drive down from Toronto and the fact we never purchase the Disney Dining Plan so we are not forced to make ADR's, there are a few offsite locations we like to eat at which is the Bonefish Grill, Cheesecake Factory, Sweet Tomatoes and Olive Garden.

Now we still eat onsite at Earl of Sandwich, Contempo Cafe, Gasparilla's Grill & Games, ESPN Club and Beaches & Cream. However those are counter service locations which we don't need ADR's for and the two table service restaurants I mentioned don't accept ADR's.

 

[kirstenb1]

I'm not judging you in any way, but reading your post made me very thankful that I wasn't made aware of WDW's food prices and/or my mom's vacation budget when I was 13. It may have made me feel bad about actually wanting to eat in even the most frugal of restaurants. My mom usually just had a plan & we stuck to it. I can't imagine a child having to worry about a parent's very limited food budget on vacation. It might not phase some kids, but it could really stress & worry others.

We're DVC'rs too. We do breakfast in the villa, counter service for lunch, and dinner off-site. I have never really discussed it with our kids. I hate spending money on food, because, it's literally a "consumable". It wouldn't break our budget to dine out TS for every meal. But somewhere down the line, we'd have to tighten our belts in another spending area, later in the year. Maybe one less Christmas or birthday present. Or one less beach trip, etc. I'm not a foodie, and neither is DH or the kids.

No one would ever accuse me of being frugal, yet with food I really am.

 

[brunette8706]

Obviously everything lugnut is posting IS your concern. Geez, give it a rest....

*
Totally Agree! She seems so judgemental. Personally, I thought the Hess Station, subs, sandwiches and pizza was a great tip where people can save a few bucks. SHEESH!

 

[ppony]

I am amazed at all the parents who wouldn't mind cooking in their villas most of their trips.

Oh don't get me wrong, though we eat in our villa for a few meals, it never involves anything you need to have spices for nor dirty pans with either. Heating in microwave and cold breakfast w/ some toast suffices quite nicely. I'm not cooking either though we do eat most breakfasts and a few dinners in our villa. Some enjoy cooking and that's totally cool, we don't but see the tremendous value in not having to get up to race somewhere in the AM for an ADR. We used to be commando, now as DVCers that go every other year, we're not and it's SO relaxing! DH said the last trip we took was his most favorite of all.

 

[cseca]

Oh don't get me wrong, though we eat in our villa for a few meals, it never involves anything you need to have spices for nor dirty pans with either. Heating in microwave and cold breakfast w/ some toast suffices quite nicely. I'm not cooking either though we do eat most breakfasts and a few dinners in our villa. Some enjoy cooking and that's totally cool, we don't but see the tremendous value in not having to get up to race somewhere in the AM for an ADR. We used to be commando, now as DVCers that go every other year, we're not and it's SO relaxing! DH said the last trip we took was his most favorite of all.

Oh, I'm with you there.
I do deli meats sandwiches for DH or microwaved mac&cheese or lasangna. That's as far as I would "cook". Bfast is cereal and milk or pop tarts. I can handle that...
I would venture out to PB&J but DD still doesn't eat peanuts so we can do that yet.

But anything with pots, pans and cleaning them? No way... I do that everyday already.

DH is welcome to do some cooking and cleaning to save $... but he would rather walk somewhere to get counterservice food rather than cook either.

 

[angelbrd]

Wow i must have the most unsophisticated palatte ever!! I just love eating at Disney. I can actually sit an enjoy (a somewhat tasty) meal because my kids are starving from walking and riding all day, it gives me and my hubby a moment of peace to enjoy a glas of wine while they devour thier Mac n Chees followed by ice cream.
Besides that, Sweet Tomatoes doesnt come with a view of the fireworks while hearing Hawiian music in Ohanas or have a Romanian waiter there on a student Visa to teach you how to say "hello" in his language. Those are the little things we like and are the intanigble things you are being "over priced" for. if it came down to just the food i would have to agree, but to me im paying and getting so much more than that.
.....now if we can only get WiFi in the resorts id be a happy gal!!...

 

[ppony]

Oh, I'm with you there.
I do deli meats sandwiches for DH or microwaved mac&cheese or lasangna. That's as far as I would "cook". Bfast is cereal and milk or pop tarts. I can handle that...
I would venture out to PB&J but DD still doesn't eat peanuts so we can do that yet.

But anything with pots, pans and cleaning them? No way... I do that everyday already.

DH is welcome to do some cooking and cleaning to save $... but he would rather walk somewhere to get counterservice food rather than cook either.

Show of solidarity! I was even called an "animal" on this board once because we went and got paper plates and bowls to use so we didn't have to wash dishes. If wanting less hassle means I'm an animal?... I'm fine w/ that. We like floating like a rice krispie in the milk more and more as time goes on, it's stress free. Just as long as that milk is in a paper bowl so it can be tossed.

 

[Planogirl]

My cooking while on vacation is only as complicated as throwing a frozen pizza in the oven and that would only be for a late night snack or on a day of just being too tired. I won't actually cook either but I do love having a real kitchen.