Voucher / No Vouchers

[HaleyB]

Originally posted by Lewisc
You're reading too much into my post. I am agreeing with OP. Using a voucher for meals in the restaurant I normally patronize, the way I normally order wouldn't save much money. I'll frequently skip dessert in favor of having dessert later in the evening. I understand that's a big no-no if you're using a voucher.

The word "loophole" doesn't have a bad meaning. I'm simply indicating the pro-voucher people have done a good job finding the places that seem to be allowing people to over order. Sorry, I consider being allowed to order the KS with one voucher a "loophole" that has since been closed. Children ordering off an adult menu while using an adult voucher is a "loophole". Nothing wrong with doing it since it's currently allowed. People are free to use these "loopholes" but there really isn't much recourse if and when these "loopholes" are closed.

People who don't intend to use these techniques will probably not get much benefit from the vouchers.

Sorry you don't like people giving a contrary opinion.

Ya know I didn't find the word loophole offensive, but I think you are wrong on one count... it is not that some "places that seem to be allowing people to over order"
It is some places are a better deal. Nobody claims to be able to order the 'for two' items like the larger desserts at Beaches anymore (maybe a year or more ago some people claimed they did), they combine two vouchers to do this. If you look at the menus for the places people find to be a good value you will see a number of items in the $7.99 and up range add a drink to that and you have already reached the break even point. Also you are mixing up the Lunch and the Q&C vouchers, or at least you are jumping between the two in your examples.

 

[Disney Debbie]

Originally posted by Lewisc

Sorry you don't like people giving a contrary opinion.

I could care less if someone has a contrary opinion. But there are ways of telling about your own experience with what worked or what didn't or how you think something would work for you without sounding like people who think differently are either shysters or idiots.

Your post is not the only one that has seemed that way to me so I apologize for singling you out. I also apologize if you didn't mean to come across that way - that's the way it seemed to ME. I've seen other posts by you and never thought anything wrong with them - maybe I'm just in a mood today!

The bottom line is I don't think this has to be a debate on whether vouchers are good or bad. I think it's going to be different for every family since we don't all have the same needs or habits. As I said - I think vouchers will work very well for my family's needs in SOME cases - not all.

 

[crisi]

DolphinBoy,

Thanks for your post. It sums up my own take on vouchers - they don't save money for the way we order, we are unwilling to change the way we order to save money, and we don't currently have a need to prepay, or to hand a teen a voucher to make sure they eat.

My only issue with the "voucher debate" on these boards is the posts that sound very "one sized fits all." I try very hard to use words like "we don't feel we'd save money, but others do" or "we don't find it worthwhile to go out of our way to PepperMarket or Beaches and Cream, but others do." I'm sure I haven't always been perfect in this respect, and there are others besides me - on both sides of the "debate" who give unqualified recommendations (I don't mean unqualified as in "they don't know", I mean unqualified as in "well, if you normally order dessert and get an extra side of fries, vouchers can save you a lot of money" instead of an unqualified "vouchers will save you money." Or from the other side "vouchers aren't worth it" instead of "our counter service meals are always grabbing a burger for each of us and splitting a pop, vouchers aren't worth it if that is how you eat lunch.") The truth is, some people will find vouchers save them money without even needing to make changes in how they vacation, some are willing to make a few changes (and really, is going out of your way to B&C a sacrifice?), and some will discover that vouchers didn't save them much, or enough to justify the changes they needed to make, some would care if they saved hundreds, vouchers aren't worth the "bother." And to some the savings is irrelevant in the scheme - they are using them to prepay meals or make sure their teen doesn't spend lunch money on video games.

 

[DolphinBoy]

Thanks crisi,

I think you posted a nice summary of the situation. My only point in starting this thread was to make the point that you summarized so well. Previously, I had only seen posts that vouchers are great. However, I have come to find that vouchers are great for some, but do not work out for others. Just educate yourself before purchasing them to see if they fit for you.

 

[hannahryan]

I just ordered some vouchers. I really don't plan on saving much money. I personally ordered them for 2 reasons:

1. For the challenge of trying to save a few bucks (the same reason I love shopping for discounts...I get a little thrill).

2. I know this sound silly...but I like the fact that the meals will have already been paid. I enjoy eating out more when I don't have a bill to pay after.

 

[Mel6197]

And Like some of you said, We only saved maybe 2 or 3 dollars, having some meals Pre Paid for was nice.
And at the food court, Even at the All Star Sports we had a nice chicken dinner with a nice side drink and desert that was over 20 dollars..
I guess its all up to the family that is using them..

 

[frannn]

In NY, the price of the Q&C voucher is less than what we would pay to get a full dinner at a diner. We don't go to fancy places at home, but do order full dinners at diners (not including appetizers), and spend at least 11.50. I think (please correct me of I am wrong) if you eat offsite, like at Golden Corral, Olive Garden, etc, you will spend about the same for an adult dinner. So, using these in the parks for dinner at counter service places, or at AS Food Court, may not save many $, and you may not have as much left over at the end of the meal, but it also saves time. You don't have to leave the park to save a few bucks by eating offsite, and you can get a full meal of decent food for the $. If you are spending 7. on a counter service meal, once you add a drink and tax its about 9.60. For about 2 more, (using the price of the voucher) you get desert. For me, the voucher makes sense when used for an adult dinner. If I want to eat a burger and fries, or skip desert, I'll just not use a voucher. I think its best if you know which places you wish to eat at before you go (see Deb Will's site) and then determine if using the vouchers makes any sense to you, financially, schedulewise, or otherwise. We definetly save with the breakfast ones as well, and when we share with one VKL voucher. DH and I both enjoyed the meal at RFC (2 times) when we shared with the voucher, and both had more than enough to eat. We used them on days we were going to AK anyway, so we didn't go out of our way. So, using the vouchers or not is just a planning decision, just like some people buy the tourbooks to make the most out of their time and budget.

 

[disneychick05]

We are going for a short visit in May and I bought 2 Q&C vouchers and 2 VKL vouchers. We really liked Rainforest in AK the last time we were there so DH and I are going to use 1 voucher for both of us for a 3pm meal. IMO this is really going to save us a lot of money plus it's pre-paid. I think if you know how to use the vouchers and it meshes well with you plans then they really are a great way to save money!

 

[jcanary]

I love the convience of having things pre-paid. Many years ago when we first started going to WDW with the kids, lets see that was about 1985, I would always upgrade our stay to the Golden Key plan, I think that was what it was called back then. We had three sit down meals a day, unlimited use of the recreation and everything but soveniers were paid for. THAT WAS MY TYPE OF VACATION. I did not have to ration out the money to make sure we had enough for the last day, etc. I think the vouchers are the same thing. We are now DVC members but our kids, early twenties and teens love to do things on their own. So when they leave in the morning for the parks, etc, they take a voucher in case they do not make it back for lunch. I even love it because staying at BCV we bring a voucher to the pool instead of cash and use that for our meals. We do not plan our day around them but I know I have some meals covered and I alway save a couple for the last day we are there. For me, like many others, it is for the convience and peace of mind, more than saving a bundle.