You're on vacation. Why are you cooking in your room?

[WDWLODGE]

I'm new to DVC and buying a contract that is currently in ROFR. I was reading about owner lockers and so many people seem to be using them for things like rice cookers, crock pots, mixers, spices, etc. Honest question. Why? You're on vacation, why are you making meals in your room?

To each their own, but I am like you. I refuse to cook while at WDW. That is the one place where I am able to completely unplug.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

If I have a unit with a full kitchen, I love to make quick stuff like eggs, toast and bacon in the morning. Most times we're in a studio but for Christmas we have family coming for dinner in the 1 BR at Kidani and I'm making a FULL spread for Christmas Eve and then waking up on Christmas morning and throwing my overnight french toast in the oven before we unwrap presents. It's going to be glorious!

 

[Mouseforward]

I use the oven for 2 things , reheating flippers pizza and I bring a frozen batch of cookie dough ( usually chocolate chocolate chip) and cook a few a day

I see so many parents begging their child to eat their $40 breakfast at restaurants, seems obvious to my why they cook

 

[TinkAgainU]

We're with the fix breakfast "most" mornings for speed - going out to breakfast is only worth the money for us if there's time to relax. P&J sandwiches for a quick save, definitely something to have with a glass of wine on the balcony (usually fruit, cheese, crackers) in case too tired to head out for dinner. Microwave is appreciated for a couple quick meals - same theory - if too tired to head back out It also depends on the resort (some have better options than others) and park plans.

 

[TinkAgainU]

If I have a unit with a full kitchen, I love to make quick stuff like eggs, toast and bacon in the morning. Most times we're in a studio but for Christmas we have family coming for dinner in the 1 BR at Kidani and I'm making a FULL spread for Christmas Eve and then waking up on Christmas morning and throwing my overnight french toast in the oven before we unwrap presents. It's going to be glorious!

This sounds sooooo amazing. I'm legitimately jealous.

 

[Brian Noble]

Honest question. Why? You're on vacation, why are you making meals in your room?

Because sometimes that's what I want.

That sounds flip, but it isn't. The point of vacation is not to adhere to someone else's idea of what I should be doing while I am on it. The point of vacation is that it allows me to do exactly as I please with the time and money I am spending while I am on vacation. When it comes to food, sometimes that means going out to a very nice multi-course meal that an army of talented people worked hard to provide for me. Sometimes it means finding the hole-in-the-wall/street-corner vendor who has perfected making one thing across several generations, and makes a FANTASTIC version of that one thing.

(Ask me about the jianbing vendor that I sampled on a food tour in Shanghai. Glorious!)

And sometimes it means hanging out in my condo-with-a-mostly-adequate-kitchen and throwing something together because I want to take it easy and not have to go anywhere right that second.

I will confess that I have a 10" non-stick skillet in my OL. I have it because more often than not, the skillet in any timeshare condo (DVC or otherwise) is scratched to h-e-double-toothpicks, and I often don't figure that out until I want to make eggs in the morning while I am standing in my PJs, so waiting for housekeeping to bring a replacement "right away" (read: in a few hours) is not on the menu, so to speak.

 

[petrola]

I'm with you OP. I'm not on vacation to cook. I do enough of it at home. Sometimes when we are at Vero, kids will go downstairs to the QS to get a muffin to bring back to room for breakfast- but that's about it.

Usually we do a combined club level / dvc stay - meaning we will stay club level for a few days then use points for the next few days. This way we don't have to have dining reservations every day of our stay. Kids can come and go to the lounge as they want so don't have to worry about breakfast, snacks, drinks etc. for a few days.

 

[TinkB278]

We eat very healthy at home and start feeling sick if we eat Disney food 2-3x per day for a week..

 

[jo-jo]

Because sometimes that's what I want.

That sounds flip, but it isn't. The point of vacation is not to adhere to someone else's idea of what I should be doing while I am on it. The point of vacation is that it allows me to do exactly as I please with the time and money I am spending while I am on vacation. When it comes to food, sometimes that means going out to a very nice multi-course meal that an army of talented people worked hard to provide for me. Sometimes it means finding the hole-in-the-wall/street-corner vendor who has perfected making one thing across several generations, and makes a FANTASTIC version of that one thing.

(Ask me about the jianbing vendor that I sampled on a food tour in Shanghai. Glorious!)

And sometimes it means hanging out in my condo-with-a-mostly-adequate-kitchen and throwing something together because I want to take it easy and not have to go anywhere right that second.

I will confess that I have a 10" non-stick skillet in my OL. I have it because more often than not, the skillet in any timeshare condo (DVC or otherwise) is scratched to h-e-double-toothpicks, and I often don't figure that out until I want to make eggs in the morning while I am standing in my PJs, so waiting for housekeeping to bring a replacement "right away" (read: in a few hours) is not on the menu, so to speak.

Last trip I packed a 7 inch pan in my suitcase. Nothing like making 6 eggs to make sure you get 4 out of the pan.

 

[CarolynFH]

Last trip I packed a 7 inch pan in my suitcase. Nothing like making 6 eggs to make sure you get 4 out of the pan.

Yes, we don’t have any electric appliances in our Owners Locker, but we have a good frying pan and sharp knives! Timeshare kitchens in general don’t have the best equipment, and DVC is no exception.

 

[MartyParty]

I'm new to DVC and buying a contract that is currently in ROFR. I was reading about owner lockers and so many people seem to be using them for things like rice cookers, crock pots, mixers, spices, etc. Honest question. Why? You're on vacation, why are you making meals in your room?

Breakfast. My DW hates to get up, get ready, and go fight for a place for breakfast. We will do eggs, or cereal, or pastries, etc. Plus, gives us another 30 minutes of sleep each day vs rushing to get ready and go out the door. Of course you could grab something in the parks for breakfast, but for for 5-7 days that adds up…a lot $…for four people.

 

[MartyParty]

Because sometimes that's what I want.

I will confess that I have a 10" non-stick skillet in my OL. I have it because more often than not, the skillet in any timeshare condo (DVC or otherwise) is scratched to h-e-double-toothpicks, and I often don't figure that out until I want to make eggs in the morning while I am standing in my PJs, so waiting for housekeeping to bring a replacement "right away" (read: in a few hours) is not on the menu, so to speak.

You rock Brian!

So spot on about the skillet. We don’t have a locker but my DW brings one in her checked bag. Scrabbled eggs with cheddar cheese is her morning go to. Add some bacon to it. Makes for a nice sandwich and if in a hurray you can head out the door with it.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Heck, we don’t even cook when we’re not on vacation.

 

[Unclelude]

PSA:

How to make perfect coffee cup microwave eggs:

1) A little water in cup
2) Crack 2 eggs, break yolks with plastic knife, stir.
3) Cover with wet paper towel.
4) Microwave for 50 seconds on 50% power, stir - repeat for a total of 3 times.

Careful! They will be HOT! Cut in half and serve with cheese and ham on a toasted English muffin - better than McDonalds!!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We've been DVC Members for 20+ years. In the beginning (we would fly into MCO and have rental car), we would stop for groceries. Stores always crowded, especially Walmart. It took so much time. We can drive now but we stopped getting groceries for years now. The shopping for food, going back to the room to prepare a meal, etc....too much work, especially for me because I did all the cooking. Felt like I was at home, doing the same thing I did everyda, not a vacation.

 

[pineapplepalms]

Eating out for every meal doesn’t feel or taste as good to us if we’re doing it for 1-2 weeks at a time. My kids are little and not really into salads yet, and don’t really love baby carrots at every meal as their veggie option. We’ll do steamed veggies in the room since it’s a quick and easy way to eat more vegetables on vacation. We always do a grocery stop or delivery order to stock up. Lots of fruit, along with vegetables, some easy meal options, and breakfast type foods. I like to bring my blender and smoothie ingredients. We don’t generally do major cooking while we’re there, but we’ll do something simple like eggs or noodles.

It also takes us forever to get ourselves and the kids ready in the morning, and it’s a lot more efficient (and he’s a lot happier) if our oldest can have breakfast while he’s waiting on us to finish getting the 2 younger ones ready. Occasionally we’ll do a character breakfast or other breakfast we want to try, but usually breakfast is in the room.

We are not a rope drop family and prefer to stay out later instead (especially with the 3 hour time difference with the east coast) so we take it easy, have breakfast, then head out to the parks later on. Parks close earlier at WDW than at DLR, so when we’re at WDW, sometimes after we get back to the room the kids are hungry and there isn’t much open for food anymore, so it’s nice to have food options in the room. Those are the moments when we miss how DL is often open until midnight. Love enjoying some late night Bengal BBQ and Dole Whip at Tropical Hideaway before heading back to the room.

 

[DVCjj]

Not a darn thing.

 

[Brian Noble]

Stores always crowded [...] It took so much time.

I usually have snacks, decent coffee, etc. delivered. My credit card comps Walmart+, so I used them last time. It went smoothly.

 

[Genie+]

Part of being on vacation for us is eating out of the room. It’s more convenient, reserves our time and stamina so we get the most out of our trips, and we really enjoy trying new things. I think every trip we discover some dishes to try duplicating at home. At home we prepare most meals. Overall this works for us. Splurge on food budget during all vacations and pull back much tighter at home.

That’s where we’re at now. I do see the value where 1 and 2BRs are concerned. We could shift gears either as grandkids come or we’re getting older and doing WDW differently. But for now the kitchen and stocking food would end up wasting more than saving. For now we’ll just make do with some basics to cover in-room hunger.

 

[byurick]

We eat very healthy at home and start feeling sick if we eat Disney food 2-3x per day for a week..

Although we aren't the healthiest eaters at home too much Disney food makes me feel gross after enough days in a row. Gotta mix it up with some home cooked meals once in a while.