We Didn't Give Disney All Our Food Money

[lugnut33]

Just a thought...


If you dont like the Disney ding experience...dont do it...if you dont like the dining plan....dont use it....if you dont like the cost...dont pay it...If you think the transportation stinks...dont use it..

Why people feel the need to justify their vacation choices is beyond me. Especially if its just a "rub your nose in it" kind of justification.

Like others have said here...my time is my money. Would it save me a couple hundred dollars to eat off property in the long run...absolutely...but...for the hours Im spending off site, driving, looking for reservations..sitting in lobbys waiting to get our table...nope not worth it to me. BUT if it is worth it to you..GREAT..do it...but dont snoot at the people who do and enjoy it.

Edited to add...I seen you listed one of your dinners as Wetzels Pretzels...lol.

Wetzel Dogs are yummy. It was a quick meal after seeing La Noube, plus we got a 20% DVC discount at Wetzels Pretzels and saw La Noube for 50% off (am I cheap or thrifty?).

I don't think I've criticized anybody for how they want to vacation, matter of fact I've indicated that the DDP is sometimes a good deal, especially if you stay at a value and get free dining. Now, what that DDP has done to dining could be a seperate topic. I just think a lot of people are stuck staying on property because they don't realize how easy it is to get off-site or save money on food.

And trust me, I can get to a restaurant faster off-site than you can get anywhere at WDW using Disney transportation (some monorail places excluded). Plus, we always take an afternoon break from the parks so we can enjoy the DVC resort we are at.

 

[twooley2]

I would agree partly but wonder what time you lost or how you managed on parade and fireworks each night. Are there things you missed by having to leave Disney World, most likely before the parks closed. I guess I am thinking of the opportunity cost that was lost.

 

[lugnut33]

As I was looking for the comment about Wetzel Pretzels I came across this comment


So now I can definitely say money is an issue for you, cause clearly your family loves Boma but refuse to eat there cause of the cost.

If it's like you say that money isnt an issue, then why dont you eat there? you claim you dont eat on site cause the poor quality of food, yet your above comment contradicts what you've been defending yourself against lol

I think you're just trying to justify what you're doing by claiming the quality of food is what's detouring you from eating on site, when the main reason is just the cost alone.

I have from the onset of this thread indicated that I do not believe the price is justified by the experience and quality of the food. When I say money is not an issue, I'm refering to being able to afford it. Like I said, I could do the DDP Deluxe, but choose not to because I would feel I'm not getting enough value for my money. Does that help clarify it?

 

[princessSunshine]

I so agree with handinpocket and umaangel00

 

[lugnut33]

I would agree partly but wonder what time you lost or how you managed on parade and fireworks each night. Are there things you missed by having to leave Disney World, most likely before the parks closed. I guess I am thinking of the opportunity cost that was lost.

Our park days consisted of:

Being there at rope drop and we would stay until around 1 or 2. Sometimes we would grab a counter service lunch before leaving to head back to the resort. Other times we ate at the resort in our room. Back at the resort we would go swimming or participate in the planned activities.

We would stay at the resort until around 5 or 6, eating dinner before we left or grabbing a bite to eat at a restaurant. We were always back in the parks before 7:30 and would stay until we were tired or they closed.

Saw all the shows and parades we wanted to.

 

[lin7]

No not really. Your explanation makes no sense. If we "love" something and we can afford it then we go for it, unless of course we cant afford it or we're cheap

You clearly said you love Boma, but refuse to eat there. So your comments just keeps contradicting itself.

If you're really after the experience, why are you eating pretzel dogs? That's suppose to be a good experience? Eating pretzel dogs is a better experience and better food than say California Grill? Really? Or is just the cost that's justifying it?

 

[twooley2]

Our park days consisted of:

Being there at rope drop and we would stay until around 1 or 2. Sometimes we would grab a counter service lunch before leaving to head back to the resort. Other times we ate at the resort in our room. Back at the resort we would go swimming or participate in the planned activities.

We would stay at the resort until around 5 or 6, eating dinner before we left or grabbing a bite to eat at a restaurant. We were always back in the parks before 7:30 and would stay until we were tired or they closed.

Saw all the shows and parades we wanted to.

Trying to understand how this could work So if I ate a CS before I left the park than why leave the park to eat again. We would not be hungry until 5 or 6 when its time to go back to the park. We would never make it back and eat too by 7 P.M. WE have been to Disney many times and never seem to have enough time to leave offsite and come back and we have stayed offsite once before too. So we know how to get around with our car but it seemed like such a hassle and a time crunch unless we were to choose to miss something and during peak times we would worry if they had to close the park for capacity and we would not be allowed back in.

 

[lugnut33]

No not really. Your explanation makes no sense. If we "love" something and we can afford it then we go for it, unless of course we cant afford it or we're cheap

You clearly said you love Boma, but refuse to eat there. So your comments just keeps contradicting itself.

If you're really after the experience, why are you eating pretzel dogs? That's suppose to be a good experience? Eating pretzel dogs is a better experience and better food than say California Grill? Really? Or is just the cost that's justifying it?

We came walking out of La Noube at 8 pm and wanted to get something to eat, the kids wanted a Wetzel Dog, what was I supposed to say?

As for Boma, I guess we don't love it enough since we replaced that experience with going to Bistro de Paris due to the cost. Yeah, we spent a bit more at Bistro than we would have at Boma, but we felt we got better food and better service making it more worth the money. We would return there again in the future. I'd also return to Jiko. Those signature places are not that much more than the buffet costs anymore.

 

[lugnut33]

Trying to understand how this could work So if I ate a CS before I left the park than why leave the park to eat again. We would not be hungry until 5 or 6 when its time to go back to the park. We would never make it back and eat too by 7 P.M. WE have been to Disney many times and never seem to have enough time to leave offsite and come back and we have stayed offsite once before too. So we know how to get around with our car but it seemed like such a hassle and a time crunch unless we were to choose to miss something and during peak times we would worry if they had to close the park for capacity and we would not be allowed back in.

Wake up and eat breakfast before heading to rope drop.

Grab a CS meal at around noon. Mess around some more in the park and head out.

Back at resort, have fun.

Leave resort at around 5-6 (the places we ate off-site took us abour 5 minutes to get to. there are tons and tons of restaurants on the Irlo Bronson hwy. which is right next to Animal Kingdom Lodge). An hour for dinner then back to a park. We could get from the restaurant we ate at to a park in less than a half hour, 15 minutes if it's Hollywood Studios.

 

[rentayenta]

OP, you did great! I think the DDP is the biggest rip-off out there. Having a kitchen in the DVC villas is a great perk.

 

[debbs0723]

Just a thought...


If you dont like the Disney ding experience...dont do it...if you dont like the dining plan....dont use it....if you dont like the cost...dont pay it...If you think the transportation stinks...dont use it..

Why people feel the need to justify their vacation choices is beyond me. Especially if its just a "rub your nose in it" kind of justification.

Like others have said here...my time is my money. Would it save me a couple hundred dollars to eat off property in the long run...absolutely...but...for the hours Im spending off site, driving, looking for reservations..sitting in lobbys waiting to get our table...nope not worth it to me. BUT if it is worth it to you..GREAT..do it...but dont snoot at the people who do and enjoy it.

Edited to add...I seen you listed one of your dinners as Wetzels Pretzels...lol.

To the OP, I do not feel like you were justifying your vacation. I've been to Disney twice and both times on the dining plan. This year my husband absolutely insist on staying offsite and even though I have found the bus service to be just fine we got a rental car for the second trip and he will never go back to not having one. That is just now part of our budget whether we stay onsite or off. I do not see posts like this as a justification but more as information to those of us considering doing it a different way. We are going during free dining this year and that still could not change my husbands mind, although I go back and forth on the issue. I enjoy reading posts like this. It is just another point of view and I do appreciate it so instead of being catty, I will say THANK YOU for sharing.


To each his own, I agree. What I do not understand is why everyone on these boards gets so defensive when one person shares an opinion. Do you all own stock in Disney or something? Jeez......

Debbie

 

[debbs0723]

I have from the onset of this thread indicated that I do not believe the price is justified by the experience and quality of the food. When I say money is not an issue, I'm refering to being able to afford it. Like I said, I could do the DDP Deluxe, but choose not to because I would feel I'm not getting enough value for my money. Does that help clarify it?

Some people will never understand this way of thinking. And..... this is why our economy is in the state it is in.

Debbie

 

[DisneyFive]

To the OP, great job. Do what works for you!

One thing that gets me every time is the difference in cost for a typical table service meal versus a quick service meal. If I was paying out of pocket, it would be hard to spend the coin on a table service for a family of five versus what we can get for the cost of quick service. In addition, my kids actually like the choices for quick service food more than the table service, which is almost always the same thing... sandwich, pasta, fish or chicken nuggets...

Having said that, I am happy to take advantage of the free dining plan this month and paying to upgrade from QS to DDP.

Dan

 

[Minnesota!]

I guess if money is a huge factor that is the smart thing to do. For many including myself the dining experiences at disney are one of the biggest reasons we go to disney in the first place. I also pretty much despise leaving disney property for any reason during my vacation. The rest of orlando is just so tacky/touristy. Def smart to avoid the character meals though bc they are by far the worst value on property unless you have little kids

I agree. the last thing I want to see when on a WDW vacation is offsite, tacky, touristy places. It's bad enough I have to see them on my last day on the way back to MCO, but to have to intersperse it in my vacation. No way, Jose..

I guess we all have our priorities. We stay at Pop Century because all we do in our room is sleep and shower and we spend our money in the parks and on the dining plan. We max out our credits and had lovely meals in great restaurants. We've never had bad service and don't worry about the prices at all because it's already been covered.

Yep, we stay at Pop because all we need is a bed and a shower. Spending any more on lodging is just a waste...to us. So we enjoy being able to eat all meals on property. While I agree the food quality has gone down...it's not bad food. Just worse than it was before DDP. And until I think it's BAD...I will continue to eat there.

 

[mousegear]

Absolutely, to each his own!!! OP you did great with food and villa. It's nice to hear that you had wonderful time without DDP just as ones who elect to have DDP.

In our case, we usually buy DDP and even upgraded DS 8 to adult DDP since he does not eat kiddie food. He's just used to eating port belly, sushi, filet, shrimps, etc and would not be happy with chicken nuggets, fast food type tacos, hamburgers, etc. For portions wise, he eats enought that we could not share but cannot finish an adult portion (same as me). But we still need to order two entrees and we don't normally do desserts every meal but we justify it (we are on vacation). We could do maybe a fastfood type food lunch but we like something better for dinner. Also, I refuse to cook and clean during my vacation. However, simple it might be, it's not how I like to spend my vacation. We could never eat that much food on DxDP so we get regular DDP and use TiW. We also rent a car since we don't like to take bus (except MK) but we hardly drive off the property b/c we are content with what WDW offers.

 

[Sunny37]

Some people will never understand this way of thinking. And..... this is why our economy is in the state it is in.

Debbie

 

[lugnut33]

I agree. the last thing I want to see when on a WDW vacation is offsite, tacky, touristy places. It's bad enough I have to see them on my last day on the way back to MCO, but to have to intersperse it in my vacation. No way, Jose..





Yep, we stay at Pop because all we need is a bed and a shower. Spending any more on lodging is just a waste...to us. So we enjoy being able to eat all meals on property. While I agree the food quality has gone down...it's not bad food. Just worse than it was before DDP. And until I think it's BAD...I will continue to eat there.

You don't like tacky but stay at Pop Century? (I think Pop Century is cute)

Anyways, the area surrounding WDW isn't really that tacky. It's just filled with restaurants that don't charge a lot of money. Honestly, once you've been off-site it's not a big deal to do it. There are a lot of really good restaurants close by.

 

[zales127]

To the OP, I do not feel like you were justifying your vacation. I've been to Disney twice and both times on the dining plan. This year my husband absolutely insist on staying offsite and even though I have found the bus service to be just fine we got a rental car for the second trip and he will never go back to not having one. That is just now part of our budget whether we stay onsite or off. I do not see posts like this as a justification but more as information to those of us considering doing it a different way. We are going during free dining this year and that still could not change my husbands mind, although I go back and forth on the issue. I enjoy reading posts like this. It is just another point of view and I do appreciate it so instead of being catty, I will say THANK YOU for sharing.


To each his own, I agree. What I do not understand is why everyone on these boards gets so defensive when one person shares an opinion. Do you all own stock in Disney or something? Jeez......
Debbie

I dont own stock in Disney..however...its annoying to listen to someone justify their reasoning..Just be truthful....money was a factor..we found it cheaper to do it this way..that is ok..that is AWESOME!!! That works. However, when you start with...the quality of food is terrible..then you talk about eating dinner at Wetzels Pretzels...umm..then quality of food isnt your issue..cost is...when you start bashing the transportation system because it cant get you to your meals quick enough...thats not true. Just tell the truth..cost is the factor and thats that. Which is TOTALLY FINE!!! Dont make excuses and justify it..its silly.

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

See, we LOVE the food at Disney so it is worth the money to us...and like some others, we love not having to rent a car while at Disney. We just stay in a value room to offset the cost of food. I say to each their own!

 

[zales127]

You don't like tacky but stay at Pop Century? (I think Pop Century is cute)Anyways, the area surrounding WDW isn't really that tacky. It's just filled with restaurants that don't charge a lot of money. Honestly, once you've been off-site it's not a big deal to do it. There are a lot of really good restaurants close by.

I think this is where people are getting confused. Your posts are full of contradictions...