We Didn't Give Disney All Our Food Money

[lugnut33]

Several months ago I made a post about how I wouldn't eat on-site because I thought the cost for the table service restaurants and the dining plans was too costly. I just didn't see the value in the cost. I took a lot of heat for those comments, but am glad to say we didn't eat any table service meals during our 10 day trip to WDW. We are 4 "adults" (two kids, but Disney considers them adults)

For breakfast we basically at cereal or cereal bars in the villa, along with juice. We are not big breakfast eaters. I can't imagine our breakfast cost more than a total of $10 per day.

For lunch we had a combination of quick service meals and food back in our villa. We ate at places like Sunshine Seasons, Tortuga Tavern (twice because we felt it's a good deal), and Cosmic Rays. We never spent over $50 for our meals at the quick service locations. Our lunches in the villas consisted of sandwiches, chips, and lots of fresh fruit. Those meals were not over $15 total.

For dinner we basically ate offsite or back in the villa. Our offsite locations were Sweet Tomatoes, Giordano's Pizza, Wetzels Pretzels, and House of Blues. We used a combination of dining.com gift certificates, DVC discounts, and restaurant coupons to keep each meal below $40 total. When we ate dinner in the villa it was easy stuff like pasta, sandwiches, fresh fruit, chicken which wouldn't cost more than $15 total to make.

We did eat two meals at signature restaurants, Jiko ($140 for a mom and dad dinner with a bottle of wine) and Bistro de Paris ($238 all 4 of us). They were really good, and actually not that much more than a dinner character buffet.

We always rent a vehicle no matter what, but if you want to include that cost it was $250 for the 10 days.

Add that all up, throw in some extra costs for snacks in the park, and I'm pretty sure we are right around the $100 per day average. Considering a quick service plan would have cost us $140 per day and the basic plan would have cost $184, I think we saved ourselves a lot of money. Plus it's my little way of protesting the degradation of dining at WDW due to the dining plan.

 

[MikeOhio]

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

 

[bcrook]

We will be there for two weeks next June, we will use this same strategy. Thanks for the post and helpful hints. For two weeks I would normally budget about $2500.00 for food. But next June I fully intend to only spend half that much onsite. I will be staying at Kidani and Beach Club in 2 bedroom Villas and plan on stocking up at the grocery store. I am even going to make my own Grey Goose Slushies!

 

[lugnut33]

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

It had nothing to do with money. It has to do with me not accepting the prices that Disney is charging for the meal you get. I'm upset that the dining plan is ruining dining at WDW.

It's quite easy to get offsite. From Animal Kingdom lodge it's just a couple of minutes to the Irlo Bronson Hwy. Not that big a deal. Oh, and one day we went and spent the day at New Smyrna Beach, which was a lot of fun. The kids loved it. We found a fresh fish store/restaurant and had an incredible meal, for around $50 total.

 

[plutolovr]

I took a lot of heat for those comments, but am glad to say we didn't eat any table service meals during our 10 day trip to WDW. We are 4 "adults" (two kids, but Disney considers them adults)

Above you say you didn't eat at table service restaurants then you say...

We did eat two meals at signature restaurants, Jiko ($140 for a mom and dad dinner with a bottle of wine) and Bistro de Paris ($238 all 4 of us). They were really good, and actually not that much more than a dinner character buffet.

So which is it???

 

[dvcHammer]

Plus it's my little way of protesting the degradation of dining at WDW due to the dining plan.

Can't agree more. Dining at Disney used to be very good and occasionally excellent. With few exceptions most places now are overcrowded and underwhelming. Menus are just variations on the same entrees over and over. Mass produced and bought in bulk.

Disney Dining Plan has destroyed the Disney dining experience.

 

[lugnut33]

We will be there for two weeks next June, we will use this same strategy. Thanks for the post and helpful hints. For two weeks I would normally budget about $2500.00 for food. But next June I fully intend to only spend half that much onsite. I will be staying at Kidani and Beach Club in 2 bedroom Villas and plan on stocking up at the grocery store. I am even going to make my own Grey Goose Slushies!

Yup, you'll save a lot by eating in your villa or offsite.

Totally recommend Sweet Tomatoes. Sign up on their website and use the coupons, as we were able to eat there for under the cost of one Disney buffet. They just opened a new store on the Irlo Bronson Hwy, right near the Super Target.

 

[lugnut33]

Above you say you didn't eat at table service restaurants then you say...



So which is it???

As I understand it Disney distinguishes between table service and signature dining. That's why I said that. Bistro de Paris doesn't accept the Dining Plan and Jiko is a two credit location.

 

[mickeysbestfriend]

to save on the food budget.

We bring all our snacks and breakfast items and check a suitcase to transport booze, mixers, oragne juice bacon, sausage and the like and eat in the villa every morning.

The difference is we eat our big meal at lunchtime where you can save big bucks for the same food they serve at dinner. We also buy the Tables in Wonderland card to save 20% on the meals.

At dinner we do a 'light bite' like a turkey leg, ice cream or citrus swirl. If we are hungry when we finish up at the parks we have snacks in the room or go to DTD and grab something.

We plan on using wegoshop next trip to save the luggage fees for the bag...we will come out ahead!

 

[MedicGoofy]

I get eating in your villa.....the next trip I plan will be for my whole family including a sister who has too many food allergies for her to even begin wanting to eat at restaurants. Which means we will get a villa and eat there for it to be safer for her.

But I kind of laugh at what you guys have done. You won't eat at Disney because of the dining plan ruining the level of food served at Disney....BUT when you look at the amount you have spent on car plus those 2 meals, you could have eaten within Disney and enjoyed it.

Do you need to get the dining plan? No. I don't like it. I kind of think its a waste. For me. The regular dining plan you have to get dessert. I think desserts are a waste. Don't enjoy them. Nor does my mom every night. Also don't want apps at each meal. And the Deluxe is just far too much food. To me, budget what you want to spend, put it on a gift card, and spend from there.

You have spent, between the car (which I never understand), and the two table service meals, enough for the four of you to basically eat. Since your not breakfast people.

Are you telling me that in ALL of Disney that there aren't restaurants that you can read reviews of and find to eat at? There are GREAT places to eat? Some places have bad nights/bad services. Happens to all restaurants.

And in complaining about the prices of the meals, I don't quite get that. I know where I come from, most of the prices of the meals at Disney are cheaper than what i pay for here. I always find it funny when i pull up a restaurant then try to pull up a price list. You find the provinces, then 'Niagara Falls'. We have our own special price list. Costs more to eat in a tourist area, with a tourist tax. At least Disney isn't doing that. Id much rather pay to Disney and pay Disney price than Niagara Falls. Albiet nice restaurants, but Disney is pretty much on par with that.

 

[nkereina]

If you're on a tight budget, what you did is for sure a great way to save money. I don't know how families of 4 and bigger even afford Disney to begin with. It's definitely one of the more expensive vacations I've taken, and it's just my boyfriend and I. Since it's just my boyfriend and I, the food and restaurants are a large part of our trip. I personally would not be ok with eating cereal for breakfast on my vacation. Since food is a large part of my, and a lot of other people's trips, this is not a great option for a lot of people. I'd rather spent the money you saved to have some nice meals. BUT, like I said, if you're on a tight budget and this is all you can do, then it's certainly better than not going at all!

 

[nkereina]

As I understand it Disney distinguishes between table service and signature dining. That's why I said that. Bistro de Paris doesn't accept the Dining Plan and Jiko is a two credit location.

Signatures are still TS. TS is just the style in which they serve - buffet, quick service, table service, etc. Signatures happen to take 2 TS credits on the dining plan. Bistro does not accept the dining plan, but they are still a TS restaurant.

 

[RFrank9504]

thats awesome, but my time is money. In all the travel time to leave, drive, gas, come back, park take a tram to a monorail, wheres the savings? I'm sure you spend more in gas and travel time.
I think its awesome for you, but I'd pass.

 

[GeorgeG]

I really can't argue with your decision to go off-site. I do wish that wasn't necessary at all, but Disney doesn't seem to care anymore.

 

[cymbaldiva]

Can't agree more. Dining at Disney used to be very good and occasionally excellent. With few exceptions most places now are overcrowded and underwhelming. Menus are just variations on the same entrees over and over. Mass produced and bought in bulk.

Disney Dining Plan has destroyed the Disney dining experience.

Agreed.

OP, I'm glad you found a solution that works for you. I too am not a fan of wasting time and money (not to mention calories!) on underwhelming food. Glad that you had a good trip

 

[ses1230]

thats awesome, but my time is money. In all the travel time to leave, drive, gas, come back, park take a tram to a monorail, wheres the savings? I'm sure you spend more in gas and travel time.
I think its awesome for you, but I'd pass.

I totally agree.

OP, I'm glad that worked for you.

Maybe when my kids are older we will try that but for right now I can't beat the convenience of eating on site (which is exactly what Disney wants, I know, but so be it).

 

[lugnut33]

We came out way ahead financially if you compare it to the dining plan, nobody here can argue that. I will rent a vehicle every time we go to are because it's so much easier than Disney transportation. we will take a bus though to the magic kingdom.

We stayed in a one bedroom villa at animal kingdom and it took us less than 10 minutes to get to sweet tomatoes and giordanos. That is faster than getting to just about any are restaurant using Disney transportation. The other off site places were at downtown Disney.

Lastly. I make plenty of money that we could pay for the deluxe dining plan, we just choose to use our money on different experiences, like la noube.

 

[lugnut33]

I totally agree.

OP, I'm glad that worked for you.

Maybe when my kids are older we will try that but for right now I can't beat the convenience of eating on site (which is exactly what Disney wants, I know, but so be it).

Yup, when your kids hit Disney adult age your thinking will change.

Another thing to keep in mind, we had a fantastic time. One of our best trips ever.

 

[dvcHammer]

I think I should clarify...

There are still some good places at the resorts, and a few in the parks are decent, but after going to Disney for so many years it's sad to see places that were once great become just good and not worth the effort. Disney also has some exceptional dining experiences that are truly worth the cost (V&A's for example)

I see time at the resort, especially in a DVC Villa, as time equal to time in the park. We're there to relax and recharge. Our park commando days are over. Being a pretty fair amateur chef, I actually enjoy cooking while on vacation so it is not a chore at all.

It has nothing to do with saving money. Our needs are just different. When we go down with friends that have never been to Disney, we do revert to our old ways and become park hounds again.

I also understand why Disney has made changes in it's menu and don't blame them for it. More money is made with 95% full tables and good food that 60% full tables and great food. The prices are not unreasonable, just for me no longer worth it when I can cook the same or better at the villa and I am just as happy there as I am in one of the parks.

Our DVC villa is our vacation home not just a hotel room, so it's just a change in attitude and priorities.

 

[pad406]

For us it's the whole Disney experience. We've chosen to go less often but spend as much time as possible on site. Therefore stay on site, eat on site. We're not going for the food. By the same logic you shouldn't stay on site either but then you'd be on holiday in Orlando visiting theme parks, albeit Disney, each day, rather than being on holiday in Disney. For us the cost and sacrifice in quality is easily offset by saving my very valuable 'holiday hours'. We've only been once so can't make any comment on the decline but it was way better quality than we get at home! Only quibble is having to decide 6 months out where we are eating on a specific day