We Didn't Give Disney All Our Food Money

[zales127]

Zales, you quoted a lot but none of it is ripping on Disney.

You said that you said no such things...and to show you...So I did. And thats that.

 

[Patience]

I get what the OP is saying. If you are paying OOP, I think the Disney buffets are not a good value at all. Before free dining came out, we were planning to do two character meal buffets but I have to admit that I had to keep reminding myself that we were paying for the experience and character interaction, not the food, because there is no way a buffet meal for the four of us (one of us being 4 years old) is worth paying $150. We are not "foodies" though. We like good food but we do not obsess about it and we are not heavy eaters (which is why the buffets are not a good value for us if we have to pay OOP). Since we have a kid going to college next year, we are on a budget this year. We set a budget BEFORE we booked out trip. For us, staying at POP with free dining and upgrading to DPP was the way to go for our upcoming vacation. If we didn't have a 4 year old who we wanted to take to character meals, it wouldn't have been.

BTW, I refuse to pay almost $60.00 for us to have refillable mugs. I personally don't think that's a good value, especially since my husband, teenager and I don't drink much soda and my 4 year old only drinks water, milk and juice and milk and juice aren't allowed with refillable mugs. I know many, many people disagree. I have even seen threads where people are excited about new mug colors and talking about their mug collections but it is not a good deal for us and I have no desire to drink out of plastic mugs at home. We are bringing a small fridge and stocking it with water, milk, juice and a few diet sodas. The rental refrigerators at POP also aren't a good deal for us, since we are driving and can bring our own minifridge (a new one at Walmart costs $57 right now, btw).

I am proud to seek out value for my money (without skimping on fun family experiences) and I think that is exactly what the OP is suggesting. Think for yourself and decide how to get the most bang for your vacation buck.

Peace!

 

[lugnut33]

What if they *have to*? To maintain their business they way they wish to maintain it, with the profit levels and income that they need for their company to thrive, what if they *have to do this*?




We ate at Sweet Tomatoes and plan to do so again. We order *exactly* what we want at the WDW restaurants, and we cooked (and plan to cook more) and bought safe-for-DS-and-DH desserts to have at the villa, and brought Mojo ans Z-bar protein bars for snacks....

But I didn't start a thread about it.

I think that's the difference. It's the in-your-face thread that makes people go wild. I saved mine for specific responses to questions, or for my trip report, to talk about my philosophies on eating at WDW. If I were to start a thread, I would absolutely expect it to blow up, because not everyone agrees with it.

I don't see where my original post was "in your face"? All I did was lay out what we did on our trip.

And for those that didn't agree I have never told them that they were wrong. So, I can only guess that this is touching on a subject where people perhaps know they are getting overcharged but don't want to admit it? They are content to just not think about it.

 

[zales127]

I don't see where my original post was "in your face"? All I did was lay out what we did on our trip.

And for those that didn't agree I have never told them that they were wrong. So, I can only guess that this is touching on a subject where people perhaps know they are getting overcharged but don't want to admit it? They are content to just not think about it.

And there you have it..that is why some people are irritated with you. I KNOW how much the dining is costing..I KNOW the value in it for my family...I dont feel that I am being over charged...that is MY belief...My vacation is My vacation...Im not telling you how blind you are..but you insist on telling everyone else how blind they are and being ripped off...A lot of us dont feel that way. Would I pay 40.00 more a day to spend more time in the parks and less time driving around? YES..does that make me blind or uninformed? NO..

 

[wezee]

(And for those that didn't agree I have never told them that they were wrong. So, I can only guess that this is touching on a subject where people perhaps know they are getting overcharged but don't want to admit it? They are content to just not think about it. )


Wow lugnut..... nothing like digging a deeper hole.

I love paying Disney...and I'll admit it......do it every year!!

 

[lugnut33]

I pay them every year also.

I never said "ripoff", so there goes Zales again putting words in my mouth.

Again, I just don't understand why people are so defensive about this subject.

 

[lugnut33]

I am proud to seek out value for my money (without skimping on fun family experiences) and I think that is exactly what the OP is suggesting. Think for yourself and decide how to get the most bang for your vacation buck.

Peace!

Yup, that's pretty much what I've been saying. I just layed out a different way that our family went about seeking value for our dollar.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

OP- I am envious of your vacation! We are going for the first time in late September and had I read Dis before booking, I would have planned differently.

We BOUGHT the DP! Trip was bought and paid for back in January. I hate that we are paying for something that is so often included for free. Even if free is not entirely "free".

When we go again I will plan more in line with you (unless I totally love everything and believe it was a good value??). My husband and I are trying to not have high expectations for ourselves in terms of dining. The only thing we want from this vacation is an awesome family experience. If the food is good, that would be a bonus.

And it bothers me that I am thinking like that. But this vacation it is all about the kids. Usually a vacation includes consideration for all of us, and dining is a big focus. At home we do not go to chain resturaunts at all. We HAVE the money, but CHOOSE not to spend it at a place we are not happy with. Just like I would not go to the mall and buy an outfit that did not fit or buy a car that I did not like. I have the money to make either purchase, but I choose to only spend on a purchase that makes sense.

As this is all about the kids, we will be dining at the following places, Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, Princess Dinner at Norway and Ohana. From reading these boards I know to repsect the experience of it all as it is all about the experience and not the food. My expectations are low. Maybe that will help. I will be excited to do a dining report!

I know a vacation is differennt for each person. Dining is different for each person. Value vs. cost is different for each person. I am just saying I agree with you.

 

[SteelerCountry]

Cooking, driving, sleeping in the car? This is vacation?

 

[lugnut33]

Cooking, driving, sleeping in the car? This is vacation?

No, actually we snuck onto a Greyhound bus to Orlando, jumped the fence into the MK, slept in the Carrousel of Progress, and ate table scraps. I think that's how everyone should vacation to save as much money as possible.

 

[lugnut33]

OP- I am envious of your vacation! We are going for the first time in late September and had I read Dis before booking, I would have planned differently.

We BOUGHT the DP! Trip was bought and paid for back in January. I hate that we are paying for something that is so often included for free. Even if free is not entirely "free".

When we go again I will plan more in line with you (unless I totally love everything and believe it was a good value??). My husband and I are trying to not have high expectations for ourselves in terms of dining. The only thing we want from this vacation is an awesome family experience. If the food is good, that would be a bonus.

And it bothers me that I am thinking like that. But this vacation it is all about the kids. Usually a vacation includes consideration for all of us, and dining is a big focus. At home we do not go to chain resturaunts at all. We HAVE the money, but CHOOSE not to spend it at a place we are not happy with. Just like I would not go to the mall and buy an outfit that did not fit or buy a car that I did not like. I have the money to make either purchase, but I choose to only spend on a purchase that makes sense.

As this is all about the kids, we will be dining at the following places, Chef Mickey's, Cinderella's Royal Table, Princess Dinner at Norway and Ohana. From reading these boards I know to repsect the experience of it all as it is all about the experience and not the food. My expectations are low. Maybe that will help. I will be excited to do a dining report!

I know a vacation is differennt for each person. Dining is different for each person. Value vs. cost is different for each person. I am just saying I agree with you.

Thanks.

You will have a good time. You will also have some really good meals and the character dining experiences with your young ones will be precious. Enjoy that.

If you go year after year to WDW, your travelling habits will change as the kids get older. The first few years you'll do commando type touring, then usually it'll slow down as you look to enjoy not just the parks but all the Disney experiences (resorts, water parks, mini-putt, downtown Disney, La Noube, Yehaa Bob, etc).

I know some people here will totally disagree, but if your kids like to swim make sure to take time during the day to let them do that. For our kids swimming is a huge deal, even now that they are teenagers. The pools at WDW are awesome.

Don't be afraid to go offsite either. If you like shopping there are some great outlet malls nearby, and one of them even has a Disney outlet store.

 

[GeorgeG]

I see a lot of this thread being what works and doesn't work for each person/family, so I'll tell you what works for me...

I live about an hour away, so going off-site can be as easy as just going home where we have plenty of good restaurants besides out own kitchen. Of course, once we're home is doesn't make a lot of sense to go back to Disney. It's easy enough for us to have breakfast at home or on our way, but if we're staying over (we actually do from time to time) we have found a good selection of restaurants for breakfast in the resorts as well as a few in the MK. Cost isn't so much of an issue for us, but getting a decent meal for our money is. The dining in the parks has really gone downhill in recent years, but there are still enough restaurants or counter service to get by with (keeping in mind after 25 years we are more intersted in getting something to eat than any special experience). Do we miss the dining of days gone by? Absolutely! But, it is what it is and we still enjoy Disney. We have found that the better restaurants are in the resorts now and there are some even better at Downtown Disney.

Now, being retired, I do have to pay some attention to costs, but there are times I would rather pay more for a really good meal. It's not like when we used to have three great meals a day, but sometimes we simply want a special meal. Sometimes I really want a decent hot dog, but Disney just doesn't get that, or they don't care (I believe it to be the latter).

So, until (if ever) the folks at Disney see the error of their ways, we will still buy our annual passes and still go to Disney as often as we can. We have become flexible enough to adapt and find something worth eating. I just wish they would offer some decent hot dogs!

 

[Tricia1972]

Just a heads up that if we can get back to sharing what works for our family and away from the bickering the this thread will remain open. There are good points for those plannig a trip to consider on both sides of the issue and an open discussion as to what works for individuals is helpful to the boards.

Discussion on how to parenting styles - not so helpful when planning a Disney vacation

Also, quite a few posts here are bordering on personal attacks. Please keep it nice.

Thanks!

 

[lugnut33]

I see a lot of this thread being what works and doesn't work for each person/family, so I'll tell you what works for me...

I live about an hour away, so going off-site can be as easy as just going home where we have plenty of good restaurants besides out own kitchen. Of course, once we're home is doesn't make a lot of sense to go back to Disney. It's easy enough for us to have breakfast at home or on our way, but if we're staying over (we actually do from time to time) we have found a good selection of restaurants for breakfast in the resorts as well as a few in the MK. Cost isn't so much of an issue for us, but getting a decent meal for our money is. The dining in the parks has really gone downhill in recent years, but there are still enough restaurants or counter service to get by with (keeping in mind after 25 years we are more intersted in getting something to eat than any special experience). Do we miss the dining of days gone by? Absolutely! But, it is what it is and we still enjoy Disney. We have found that the better restaurants are in the resorts now and there are some even better at Downtown Disney.

Now, being retired, I do have to pay some attention to costs, but there are times I would rather pay more for a really good meal. It's not like when we used to have three great meals a day, but sometimes we simply want a special meal. Sometimes I really want a decent hot dog, but Disney just doesn't get that, or they don't care (I believe it to be the latter).

So, until (if ever) the folks at Disney see the error of their ways, we will still buy our annual passes and still go to Disney as often as we can. We have become flexible enough to adapt and find something worth eating. I just wish they would offer some decent hot dogs!

I had my first Hotdog at Casey's Corner and it was underwhelming. The bun is just way too huge and untasty for the hotdog. The best thing is the hot cheese dispenser. The pretzel dog at Wetzels Pretzels was pretty good.

 

[GeorgeG]

I had my first Hotdog at Casey's Corner and it was underwhelming. The bun is just way too huge and untasty for the hotdog. The best thing is the hot cheese dispenser. The pretzel dog at Wetzels Pretzels was pretty good.

Disney has been serving hot dogs with a chicken (60%) and beef (40%) blend for some time now and I haven't come across anyone who likes them. They were using wheat buns that most people called "crumble buns" because they fell apart in your hand. They rely on all sorts of toppings to disguise the taste.

I've been on a crusade to find all-beef hot dogs at Disney and the Wetzel Dog and one other non-Disney restaurant at DTD are the only places. One comes in a pretzel wrap and the other in some sort of multi-grain bun. You'd think as big as Disney World is there would be some more choices, but there's not. I eat my hot dogs plain so there are no toppings to hide the cheap hot dogs Disney serves (and charges like they were premium). I just don't eat hot dogs at Disney anymore unless it's at Wetzel's Pretzels.

 

[lugnut33]

Disney has been serving hot dogs with a chicken (60%) and beef (40%) blend for some time now and I haven't come across anyone who likes them. They were using wheat buns that most people called "crumble buns" because they fell apart in your hand. They rely on all sorts of toppings to disguise the taste.

I've been on a crusade to find all-beef hot dogs at Disney and the Wetzel Dog and one other non-Disney restaurant at DTD are the only places. One comes in a pretzel wrap and the other in some sort of multi-grain bun. You'd think as big as Disney World is there would be some more choices, but there's not. I eat my hot dogs plain so there are no toppings to hide the cheap hot dogs Disney serves (and charges like they were premium). I just don't eat hot dogs at Disney anymore unless it's at Wetzel's Pretzels.

I never thought I would like a chicago style hotdog, but the more stuff that gets piled on it the better now. Though occasionally I'll still eat one plain. I love putting giardineira sauce on my dogs. One of my favorite dogs are the Klements hotdogs they serve at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Soo good.

That is strange that WDW wouldn't have better hotdogs. Maybe they need to hire your as a consultant?

 

[amberdburke]

Well, I am proud to say that $ is an issue for our vacation.

I would love to stay onsite, use buses, get free dining, etc., but in our case, it was much better to stay offsite.

My grandma gave us a condo exchange, which cost us $180 for the week. We will be eating 2 meals a day at our condo (varies between breakfast and lunch). However, the money we will be spending to eat at Disney, we are planning character meals that DD will enjoy. We are spending $184 on meals (plus $56 in tips), and we have budgeted another $100 for random snacks/drinks.

We are eating at: Crystal Palace, Akerhus, Hollywood and Vine, and Rainforest Cafe. I am very excited about our choices (more for the experience than the food), and I feel like we're getting a great deal.

I'm not worried about time leaving property - we are driving to Disney, so car is not an issue. For the days we are going to DHS and AK, we will be eating a late lunch and just eat dinner whenever we leave the parks. For MK and EPCOT, we are eating breakfast, we will leave sometime in the afternoon for DD to have a nap/rest time and to eat dinner. We will be back in the parks no later than 7 for fireworks.

 

[cluvsdisney]

DH & I have a similar vacation style as the OP. We are DVC and rent a car so we do the grocery stop for snacks, drinks, english muffins for a quick & easy breakfast. Oh and beer

We'll have a couple of meals on site but lately they have been disappointing so we head off sight more often. We wouldn't mind Disney prices if we were enjoying the food, but we rarely leave a restaurant thinking "hey great meal" any more. While we do save by eating off sight, that is not the goal. It's about value - if we don't enjoy the food we're being served it wouldn't matter if it cost $5 or $50.

We do make a point of going to Earl of Sandwich and LTT for lunch - we have never been disappointed by either place. I can't bring myself to eat a Casey Hot Dog now. We used to go to the MK just to get one for lunch or dinner or something if we were staying at the WL but I'd rather keep my fond memories of the yummy all beef hot dog on the doughy over sized but not break apart buns.

 

[DonnaDuck333]

I never thought I would like a chicago style hotdog, but the more stuff that gets piled on it the better now. Though occasionally I'll still eat one plain. I love putting giardineira sauce on my dogs. One of my favorite dogs are the Klements hotdogs they serve at Miller Park in Milwaukee. Soo good.

That is strange that WDW wouldn't have better hotdogs. Maybe they need to hire your as a consultant?

Nothing like a good hotdog: one with a good snap would be lovely... BtW,thankyou for posting your "OPINION", I do the dining plan myself because I just do it for convenience, That being said I can "APPRECIATE" your take on off site dining, you made some valid points. So glad we are all mature enough to hear your "OPINION" since well, we share these about one thing or another, I take no OFFENSE to your post, that would be silly...Kinda like trying to convince someone who finds Disney coffee just fine that it really horrible and how dare you not share my take on this...WHO CARES!!! It's called a simply harmless opinion... OP its all good, sounds like you found the right formula thats works for YOUR family... I myself am happy for you.... On a finally not everyone needs to relax and eat some fruit or something geesh, all this over someone having an OPINION on something...

 

[lugnut33]

Nothing like a good hotdog: one with a good snap would be lovely... BtW,thankyou for posting your "OPINION", I do the dining plan myself because I just do it for convenience, That being said I can "APPRECIATE" your take on off site dining, you made some valid points. So glad we are all mature enough to hear your "OPINION" since well, we share these about one thing or another, I take no OFFENSE to your post, that would be silly...Kinda like trying to convince someone who finds Disney coffee just fine that it really horrible and how dare you not share my take on this...WHO CARES!!! It's called a simply harmless opinion... OP its all good, sounds like you found the right formula thats works for YOUR family... I myself am happy for you.... On a finally not everyone needs to relax and eat some fruit or something geesh, all this over someone having an OPINION on something...

Thank you.

If I could do free dining I probably would, but we have to travel in August before my wife heads back to teaching. We actually did free dining for two years because it started on Aug. 15, but now they have pushed that back.

And if anyone uses my opinion and experience to make a Disney vacation more affordable for their family, then that is great.