** The Official September 2012 Thread **

[ThereYouSeeHer]

So, I haven't posted in for-flipping-ever. Our trip is down to 34 days and counting. Kids are getting excited, and I'm optimizing touring plans. We are flying by the seat of our pants with no ADRs and three hour "wander around and be random" breaks built into the middle of every day. This meets our need to be spontaneous while still getting us a logical touring order every morning that will keep us from spending too much time in lines. Best of both worlds.

I still keep debating if we should try some of the Disney restaurants, but I just don't know. There are seven in our group, including 4 kids over age 10 and only one under. I just have such a hard time justifying paying $200+ for most any meal that I could cook and enjoy cooking for under $30. KWIM? DH and I will treat ourselves to a date at at a very nice seafood restaurant one night, and we can dine off-site with the kids or cook in the condo any night that we aren't staying the parks late. Any thoughts about if the park restaurants truly worth it if you are paying out of pocket with a large family?

When you say "restaurants", I assume you mean sit-down (table service)? Were you planning on trying any quick service options as well?

Since your signature says this is your first Disney vacation, I would plan on budgeting in at least one Disney meal as part of the experience (preferably sit-down). Buffets can be pricey, so you may do better ordering a la carte from a restaurant by ordering appetizers as your meal, drinking water, sharing desserts, etc. If a sit-down meal doesn't work out, I would definitely try at least one quick-service option, since some quick service combos are big enough to share. You can research menus and prices before you go and know exactly where you'll eat, what you'll order, and how much you'll spend. For us, we like to splurge on eating at Disney, even if it means eating light and having more of a sampling meal than a full-on feast. Disney dining is all part of the Disney experience!

 

[justakrazymom]

Maybe it's because I don't have kids, but cooking every day doesn't sound like a vacation to me!! I understand it's a huge expense, but DBF and I really enjoy a lot of the restaurants. I know a lot of them get really bad reviews here on the DIS, but we haven't really had a bad experience. What about one nice family dinner?.

I refuse to cook on vacation. I do it 3 times a day the other 350 days of the year.

 

[artemis4]

When you say "restaurants", I assume you mean sit-down (table service)? Were you planning on trying any quick service options as well?

Goodness, sorry for the miscommunication. Yes, I meant table service. I know that we'll lunch, at least, at quick service spots.

We enjoy excellent food. I love to cook. Eating out at very nice restaurants is not a huge treat for my family; we do it regularly and my kids all know at a young age how to behave in a white linen restaurant.

At the same time, we hate being ripped off. The prices I'm seeing for Disney table service meals combined with what I'm actually getting, makes me feel like it would be a rip off. Last time we took the family out for teppan, it was about $120 including appetizers, soup, and fun umbrella drinks. At Teppan Edo, that meal will cost over $200. Is eating teppan is Disney really worth that much more? I guess that last question is what I'm actually asking, if you sub food X for teppan, LOL.

This is our first Disney trip as a family, so I'm looking for some feedback on this. I do appreciate the responses. It sounds like many of you do feel that eating on site is worth the increased price, so I'm glad I asked.

I've kept an eye on reservations for some of the restaurants that sound interesting to me, and since we aren't traveling at a busy time of year, it looks like we could still get reservations for most any restaurant we'd choose to eat at. I'm not adverse to being in the park, deciding we want to eat on site, and using my phone to see which restaurant, if any, could accommodate our family that day.

 

[artemis4]

FIrst off I have to say it's a little odd how similar your trip is sounding to mine!!! we are a group of seven, (five kids 3 big 2 little ) the youngest is 5 and we are staying at bonnet creek starting sept 11!!!

We check in to WBC on Sept 15! Wicked similar. Curious question here, are you homeschoolers? I ask because most other people that we know who travel with older kids in early September are.

While some may not like cooking, I actually do and dropping $200 on a so-so dinner stresses me out much more than cooking a dinner.

This sums my feelings up perfectly. I'm also happy to hop in the car and dine offsite to get the food we want at a price I consider more reasonable, allowing for the fact that we're in a tourist area.

 

[ThereYouSeeHer]

Goodness, sorry for the miscommunication. Yes, I meant table service. I know that we'll lunch, at least, at quick service spots.

We enjoy excellent food. It is a joy. Eating out at very nice restaurants is not a huge treat for my family; we do it regularly and my kids all know at a young age how to behave in a white linen restaurant.

At the same time, we hate being ripped off. The prices I'm seeing for Disney table service meals combined with what I'm actually getting (90% of which I could cook myself, and I love to cook), makes me feel like it would be a rip off. Last time we took the family out for teppan, it was about $120 including appetizers, soup, and fun umbrella drinks. At Teppan Edo, that meal will cost over $200. Is eating teppan is Disney really worth that much more? I guess that last question is what I'm actually asking, if you sub food X for teppan, LOL.

This is our first Disney trip as a family, so I'm looking for some feedback on this. I do appreciate the responses. It sounds like many of you do feel that eating on site is worth the increased price, so I'm glad I asked.

I've kept an eye on reservations for some of the restaurants that sound interesting to me, and since we aren't traveling at a busy time of year, it looks like we could still get reservations for most any restaurant we'd choose to eat at. I'm not adverse to being in the park, deciding we want to eat on site, and using my phone to see which restaurant, if any, could accommodate our family that day.

Ok, that makes sense. I'm glad to hear you will be trying some quick service spots. Aside from that, I would still recommend one sit down somewhere. And, yes, Disney prices are ridiculous. We would never pay the prices they charge anywhere else. But we do it because it's Disney, and the only time we'll see a bill that large is the next time we are at Disney!

 

[JessB320]

We check in to WBC on Sept 15! Wicked similar. Curious question here, are you homeschoolers? I ask because most other people that we know who travel with older kids in early September are.

This sums my feelings up perfectly. I'm also happy to hop in the car and dine offsite to get the food we want at a price I consider more reasonable, allowing for the fact that we're in a tourist area.

We use to be which made travel easier!! Now the oldest two have graduated HS and the third oldest is in a program where she goes to college and gets HS credit at the same time, I'm back in college myself and we get back the day before her and I have to start classes maybe a long day that first day back, or at least a sleep deprived one !! The youngest two will be in 1st grade and kindergarden, they have been tutored all summer so we are pulling them out and bringing school stuff with

 

[Laurali]

I can't believe we are under a month away now! We check into CBR on September 9! Woohoo!

 

[Katmat75]

Maybe it's because I don't have kids, but cooking every day doesn't sound like a vacation to me!! I understand it's a huge expense, but DBF and I really enjoy a lot of the restaurants. I know a lot of them get really bad reviews here on the DIS, but we haven't really had a bad experience. What about one nice family dinner?.

I am with you on that!! I cook all the time so while I am on vacation, I am ON VACATION!!! NO COOKING!!! And it's DISNEY!!

38 more days!!!

 

[tiki23]

45 days to go!!

So excited - I really need a vacation and a DISNEY vacation is the BEST!

 

[Funfire240]

We're at the 45 day mark today too
Made our final payment yesterday - told DD we can "officially go to Disney now". (Even though she's 4 and doesn't understand truely how it had to be paid for she was jumping up and down asking when we can start packing!)
I laughed and told her not yet, that now I needed to work in order to make money for all the extras....

 

[tiki23]

We're at the 45 day mark today too
Made our final payment yesterday - told DD we can "officially go to Disney now". (Even though she's 4 and doesn't understand truely how it had to be paid for she was jumping up and down asking when we can start packing!)
I laughed and told her not yet, that now I needed to work in order to make money for all the extras....

I want to start packing too; and I hear you about the spending money!

 

[TinkerbellsMom0923]

Goodness, sorry for the miscommunication. Yes, I meant table service. I know that we'll lunch, at least, at quick service spots.

We enjoy excellent food. I love to cook. Eating out at very nice restaurants is not a huge treat for my family; we do it regularly and my kids all know at a young age how to behave in a white linen restaurant.

At the same time, we hate being ripped off. The prices I'm seeing for Disney table service meals combined with what I'm actually getting, makes me feel like it would be a rip off. Last time we took the family out for teppan, it was about $120 including appetizers, soup, and fun umbrella drinks. At Teppan Edo, that meal will cost over $200. Is eating teppan is Disney really worth that much more? I guess that last question is what I'm actually asking, if you sub food X for teppan, LOL.

This is our first Disney trip as a family, so I'm looking for some feedback on this. I do appreciate the responses. It sounds like many of you do feel that eating on site is worth the increased price, so I'm glad I asked.

I've kept an eye on reservations for some of the restaurants that sound interesting to me, and since we aren't traveling at a busy time of year, it looks like we could still get reservations for most any restaurant we'd choose to eat at. I'm not adverse to being in the park, deciding we want to eat on site, and using my phone to see which restaurant, if any, could accommodate our family that day.

If you have a car, there are a zillion nice chain resturants within a 15 minute drive, I'd go outside for a good meal.

 

[doitforlove]

I've passed the one month mark!!! I'm extremely busy finishing up with my term at school and a bunch of projects at work so I'm hoping this month flies by!! Cannot wait to experience Disney with DBf

 

[PoohsFan1]

Maybe it's because I don't have kids, but cooking every day doesn't sound like a vacation to me!! I understand it's a huge expense, but DBF and I really enjoy a lot of the restaurants. I know a lot of them get really bad reviews here on the DIS, but we haven't really had a bad experience. What about one nice family dinner?.

I have to agree with you here....I would go crazy if I knew I had to cook while on vacation, and I have 2 kids . When it gets to a couple days before our trip, I countdown how many more dinners I have to plan and prepare before we leave because I know I will be eating at restaurants for more then a week (I don't cook the night before we leave, instead it is usually pizza). We too really enjoy Disney restaurants and haven't had a really bad experience with any of them....well maybe one but that was it .

 

[justakrazymom]

I have to agree with you here....I would go crazy if I knew I had to cook while on vacation, and I have 2 kids . When it gets to a couple days before our trip, I countdown how many more dinners I have to plan and prepare before we leave because I know I will be eating at restaurants for more then a week (I don't cook the night before we leave, instead it is usually pizza). We too really enjoy Disney restaurants and haven't had a really bad experience with any of them....well maybe one but that was it .

Ha ha..me too. Between not having to cook, no toilets to clean and no vacuuming to do..well those alone are enough to make my vacation..add in Disney and I'm in mommy heaven!

 

[doitforlove]

DBf and I added three more days to our trip so our new dates are September 7-17! Ahhh cannot come any sooner!

 

[Katmat75]

DBf and I added three more days to our trip so our new dates are September 7-17! Ahhh cannot come any sooner!

Congrats on the extra days!!! I would give anything to add more days!!!

 

[laura_<3]

We leave in 39 days. I really to need to get our plans finalised and organise what I'm taking with me!! So excited for our first MNSSHP

 

[tinkerbella16]

42 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am very excited and since I haven't been there for 4 years, I brought up my suitcase and started to put things inside like new clothes I bought and other little things.. and my WDW souvenier bag!! Woohoooooo!!!!!!!!!

 

[popcenturylover]

42 days to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am very excited and since I haven't been there for 4 years, I brought up my suitcase and started to put things inside like new clothes I bought and other little things.. and my WDW souvenier bag!! Woohoooooo!!!!!!!!!

42 days for us too!!! We added 2 more days to the end of our trip!!! 23-28/AOA 28-30/POP Yay!!!