We Didn't Give Disney All Our Food Money

[mommyrosa2]

We must be raising foodies!

When we tell the kids we are going to Disney World, (5 children) the first thing they do is yell... "I want to eat at Cali Grill. I want to eat at Teppan Edo. I want to go to the restaurant in the Poly but not the other one in the Poly," (he means Kona and not Ohana) etc. Of course, then they go on to argue which resort they want to stay at.

We couldn't wait for the youngest two to turn 10 so they could be on the adult plan. We even considered purchasing the adult tickets so they could have the adult meal plan and order whatever they wanted. We didn't because we either paid OOP for what they wanted, or many times someone wasn't that hungry and offered to switch their adult meal with their child meal.

For our family, the dining is an important part of the vacation experience, more for the shared intimate family interaction than for the food or atmosphere, but we do like good food and service.

That's our family as well and what I was trying to get at. My kids have been raised eating all kinds of foods since they were little - not just chix nuggets, pizza etc. They love a good steak, my youngest is a huge seafood lover and even with the craziness of their schedules, we still eat together at the table at dinnertime. When we plan a Disney vacation, we all have our favorite restaurants but we always try something new and they enjoy looking up menus just as much as we do. When they were younger, they hated ordering from the kids menu (anywhere, not just in Disney) & often we'd end up splitting our meals with them. I know there a lot of folks who don't like the DP & that's fine but to say there's no flexibility with the DP is not 100% true. Even though we plan our TS meals (usually dinners) ahead of time, we have had times that we've changed our plans during our vacation, switch things around & go with the flow.

 

[lugnut33]

We still ate together, just sometimes it was in the villa or at a non-Disney restaurant. For us it's not a big deal to leave the parks, since we always take an afternoon break. Sometimes we grab lunch at a quick service place, other times we eat back at the room.

We have done the dining plan before, several years ago. And yeah, if the plan was more reasonably priced we'd be on it. I just don't find the plan worth it right now. I refuse to overpay for mediocre food. So yes, in one sense it is about the money. I guess we prefer to spend our money on other experiences rather than food.

I also loved only making two ADR's for the whole time we were there because the six month window insanity is ridiculous. I don't like being tied to a schedule and like the vacation to have some sponteneity to it.

 

[christinou]

I completely agree with you OP, we just came back from 2 weeks in July without the dining plan, I do think that the dining plan had a negative impact on disney restaurant.

 

[Rylee]

It was so much fun picking the restaurants and then letting the kids order what they wanted.

But, now that I have had the experience of being fully immersed in it, I am not sure I will go back to the other way. It works for us (at least for now).

Our children can quote and recite the Disney menus. Think we've been too many times?

Nah... there's no such thing as too many Disney vacations.

 

[TobiasFunke]

I feel the same way about the parks and resorts, we usually drive down to Orlando and sleep in the car so Disney gets none of our money. We don't even get gas at the gas stations on grounds.

 

[Rylee]

That's our family as well and what I was trying to get at. My kids have been raised eating all kinds of foods since they were little - not just chix nuggets, pizza etc. They love a good steak, my youngest is a huge seafood lover and even with the craziness of their schedules, we still eat together at the table at dinnertime. When we plan a Disney vacation, we all have our favorite restaurants but we always try something new and they enjoy looking up menus just as much as we do. When they were younger, they hated ordering from the kids menu (anywhere, not just in Disney) & often we'd end up splitting our meals with them. I know there a lot of folks who don't like the DP & that's fine but to say there's no flexibility with the DP is not 100% true. Even though we plan our TS meals (usually dinners) ahead of time, we have had times that we've changed our plans during our vacation, switch things around & go with the flow.

I've always thought our children had more of an adult palate. Sometimes I spend half my meal time cracking their crab legs!

This reminds me...

We usually let each of the kids choose a TS restaurant. One time as we were heading into the Si-Fi Dine In at DHS, our youngest was upset about it and said, "I don't want to eat here." I said, "Honey, you picked this restaurant, the only reason I booked it was because you said you wanted to sit in the cars." He said, "I do want to sit in the cars and watch the movies, but I don't want to eat here... I don't even like their food!." He was 5.

 

[lugnut33]

I feel the same way about the parks and resorts, we usually drive down to Orlando and sleep in the car so Disney gets none of our money. We don't even get gas at the gas stations on grounds.

Why not use the gas stations? They don't rip you off on the cost per gallon and it's a cheap place to get drinks and snacks.

I know you're being sarcastic and taking it to the extreme, but food prices at WDW are very high, especially for table service meals. At some point the cost for the food and service you are getting is too high, and we've reached that point. I don't want to overpay for food when there are other things I can spend my money on that are a bigger bang for the buck. Example, La Noube.

 

[lugnut33]

I've always thought our children had more of an adult palate. Sometimes I spend half my meal time cracking their crab legs!

This reminds me...

We usually let each of the kids choose a TS restaurant. One time as we were heading into the Si-Fi Dine In at DHS, our youngest was upset about it and said, "I don't want to eat here." I said, "Honey, you picked this restaurant, the only reason I booked it was because you said you wanted to sit in the cars." He said, "I do want to sit in the cars and watch the movies, but I don't want to eat here... I don't even like their food!." He was 5.

My kids chose Sweet Tomatoes, House of Blues, and were all for eating at Bistro de Paris. Later in the week they wanted to go back to Tortuga Tavern in the MK for the taco salad. One does not neceissarily have to choose a WDW restaurant for it to be special.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Yes, I was just teasing. When we went last year we stayed at a rental house and did the same thing, it was great. This year my wife wanted to stay on grounds and we happened to get free dining. We have 2 small girls who love CM so we are going to do a few. I wouldn't have paid for it though unless it was free.

 

[Aunt Bee]

We never get the dining plan because it doesn't suit our needs; for us it's not a bargain.

To me, though, the food at Disney is a LOT better than it used to be. It's still expensive, but the quality and choices have definitely improved in the last few years, especially at the CS restaurants.

We used to avoid the food in the parks like the plague. Now we can at least find fresher and better tasting foods instead of the limp fires and warn out burgers they used to serve everywhere.

We don't eat three meals there, that's for sure. But the ones we do eat we enjoy.

Aunt Bee

 

[DVCconvert]

Hi Aunt Bee!

Say "HEY!" to Goober for me!




(Love your screen name! )

 

[MickeyNicki]

If dining that way made you happy than that is great! I agree, the better value is to eat offsite and we used to to that for many years but now its all about staying onsite and enjoying all the dining that WDW has to offer....that is the reason we go after all, the heck with the pesky parks LOL!

 

[LlamaMamaof2]

Free dining changed our vacation plans this year. We found great air fare and waited for the deals to come out. We have enough points to stay at a local Marriott for free for 7 nights and have a kitchen, which we booked.

But, along comes free dining! For 2 adults and 2 kids, cost over $90 a day. POP cost $95 and $115 while there. We moved!

My reason for spelling this out, it is cheaper for us to stay with free Dining rather than stay off sight, rent a car for 7 days and still buy food. With this plan, I don't care how much I save or how much the meals cost, we wouldn't have been able to eat very well for $100 bucks a day in the free world. PS- I didn't plan on cooking at all during this vacation

The value to me is having it all taken care of up front. This is trip number ten and we have been on dining and not in the past. Looking forward to quick services as no ADR's needed. We also plan to go to T Rex and Rainforest cafe too.

 

[Rylee]

One does not neceissarily have to choose a WDW restaurant for it to be special.

Why so defensive? I never said it had to be a Disney restaurant. In fact, I agree with you about that. We do go out to dinner quite often, not just when at Disney, or on vacation. And meals at home can be just as special.

You stated what works for you and yours, I was just sharing what we enjoy and why.

Vacation should be all about enjoyment. I'm not here to tell anyone how to vacation, and no one can tell us how to vacation... unless they are paying our way. We are 7 "Disney Adults" and = big $$$! Anyone wanna treat my family?

 

[JJSWDW]

Hi,
While DP has accelerated the decline in unique dining at the standard table service restaurants, it started back in the mid 90s when Disney decided the cut back on the number of items offered on every menu. When you only have 6 entrees on a menu, you need to ensure they are all selling. So you end up with what Seth Godin calls "average food for average people". Everything is for the masses. While a few places have unique offerings many do not. How many places can you eat prime rib at?

That being said, even though the dishes are average, the ingredients and prep are above your local chain offerings. As someone with an allergy to corn, I get symptoms when food has a lot of preservatives or other ingredients to extend shelf life. Most of the chain restaurants make me react. However at WDW the reactions are minor compared to the chains, even the counter serve locations. So you do get something for the extra money.

I am a fan of eating onsite but definitely agree that the mouse is outpacing most other places in terms of price increases, but this shouldn't be news to anyone.

Have fun. Do what suits you best for your vacation preferences.

 

[dmank]

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.

I totally feel the same way. We used to always get the dining plan and I used to always recommend it to friends. Now I have a hard time recommending it at all. We do eat a few times on site - Epcot mostly.

 

[zales127]

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.

 

[lugnut33]

Free dining changed our vacation plans this year. We found great air fare and waited for the deals to come out. We have enough points to stay at a local Marriott for free for 7 nights and have a kitchen, which we booked.

But, along comes free dining! For 2 adults and 2 kids, cost over $90 a day. POP cost $95 and $115 while there. We moved!

My reason for spelling this out, it is cheaper for us to stay with free Dining rather than stay off sight, rent a car for 7 days and still buy food. With this plan, I don't care how much I save or how much the meals cost, we wouldn't have been able to eat very well for $100 bucks a day in the free world. PS- I didn't plan on cooking at all during this vacation

The value to me is having it all taken care of up front. This is trip number ten and we have been on dining and not in the past. Looking forward to quick services as no ADR's needed. We also plan to go to T Rex and Rainforest cafe too.

Free dining is not part of this discussion because it's not relevant. If you were there during the summer you don't get free dining. Free dining can be a great option for people, especially if staying at a value resort.

 

[lugnut33]

Why so defensive? I never said it had to be a Disney restaurant. In fact, I agree with you about that. We do go out to dinner quite often, not just when at Disney, or on vacation. And meals at home can be just as special.

You stated what works for you and yours, I was just sharing what we enjoy and why.

Vacation should be all about enjoyment. I'm not here to tell anyone how to vacation, and no one can tell us how to vacation... unless they are paying our way. We are 7 "Disney Adults" and = big $$$! Anyone wanna treat my family?

Just trying to put my reasoning on why we do what we do.

And yes, I felt lighter in the pockets after reading your post. 7 adults would spend the entire national budget of Zimbabwe on food I think.

 

[lin7]

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

Our family loves Boma. We stayed at AKL for 10 days on our last trip and never ate at Boma because the price has increased so much. Even the kids thought the price was too high to eat there. When I tell them it's going to be $200 for the 4 of us they are OK with not eating. It's not that we can't afford it, we just don't feel the experience is worth that much.

However, we were fine with our $238 bill at Bistro de Paris as the experience and food were exceptional. Way better than the food they serve downstairs at Chefs de France.

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.