sleepydog25
Been here awhile
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 8,420
Our mantra would be the opposite: "We love to cook at home; why not cook on vacation?"
Okay, to be honest, we'd just as soon not cook much while on vacation, but given the state of dining at the World (growing more expensive and lacking consistency) and our enjoyment of cooking, I think we'll begin at some point down the road. I will say, that the most consistently good meal experiences we get tend to be at Disney Springs vice in the parks or at the resorts. JT makes a great point about expecting great vs. good when it comes to Signatures. When you pay high prices, you have an expectation of high service and top caliber meals. When what you get more closely resembles a chain restaurant's offerings, it's tough to continue to walk that path. Like Granny, I can't help but believe the "evil Disney Dining Plan" is at least partially responsible for this move to the mediocre. Can Disney do fine dining? Sure, if the will is there. Luv and I recently did the Osborn Dinner Party which wasn't inexpensive, either; however, for the price you got an all-you-care-to-eat buffet, all you wanted to drink bar (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), desserts, a prime viewing area, and a "shadow box" memento from the Lights themselves. The food included carved turkey & beef, black cod in an olive & caper sauce, mashed skin-on potatoes, crispy green beans w/stewed tomatoes and julienned carrots, succotash with edamame, perfectly cooked shrimp with creamy grits, mac & cheese with a bread crumb crust, currant stuffing, bacon stewed collard greens, peach cobbler with a glazed pecan crust, apple cobbler (both desserts offered ice cream freshly scooped as you waited), and bread. There was coffee, tea, water, hot apple cider, and two different kind of punches in addition to the alcoholic punches, drinks, and wine they offered. This meal was much better and much tastier than Artist Point and actually cost less, especially if you figure in the tip for AP.
As for OKW, Granny, I think it would be a good option to try for your trip in December. They do a nice job decorating around the Hospitality House area, and the property struck me as being mellow and relaxed. If it's a possibility at 7 months (I think it would be--we got three nights there only a couple of months out), I'd certainly consider it.
since I was planning on retiring in 2017, I'm going to grab it. 9 months salary and 6 months healthcare package will pretty much get me close to my projected retirement. 
