Originally Posted By vbdad55 But the food is so lousy (I actually demanded and got a refund for a burger I got at Rosie's on an EMH night 2-3 years ago at Guest Relations), I don't know why folks would be so against getting in the car (oh ... real world ... scary ... no magic ... no pixie dust ... no Al Weiss!) and drive 10 minutes to Crossroads and get either a cheap burger at McD's or a quality one at Fuddrucker's. -------------- simple- although we have a car all the time for use.. by the time you walk to get out of the park- take tram to car- drive to restaurant- that 10 minute trip just took an hour one way...it's not that it's scary..it's really inconvenient. Again for me I am not going 1200 miles to eat at McDonalds or Wendy's or anywhere else... we budget for the additional cost.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 I just don't know how people can eat that much anyway (although the morbid obesity gives a clue!) ... just like being on a cruise, there's only so much a person can eat at a time. ---------------------- <<the key is to not try and eat like the world is ending the next day... much like not trying to do every ride in one day..moderation my friend.>> Americans (and more and more others) don't know the meaning of the word. And one thing I've noticed is walking miles in a theme park won't negate eating 6,000 calories a day! The only buffet I go to regularly anymore at WDW is Boma. And that is more like a once every 2-3 trips now, not an every deal. They ruined Trail's End for me. <<I like the variety but never stuff myself ( okay one night at 'Ohana )- when you are either going to be walking around for 12 hours - or going to sleep soon... I do see people who look like a buzz saw- and have plates stacked like it's some kind of contest>> You mean it isn't? ;-)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> I've since been proven to have a faulty memory. Geez, it sucks to be getting older!!! << <<It gets worse, believe me Dan!>> >> Believe him, Dan. The guy could pass for 102 ... on a good day! << <<And that's wearing makeup.>> Is VBDAD giving you tips on that? -------------- <<it's all in my book>> Is that the one you hoped to color in with Aurora?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 BTW, just an FYI, but you can now buy gift certificates for WDW Swan/Dolphin locales, House of Blues, Andiamo in Hilton DD, and some other great locales including Portofino Bay at UNI, Rosen Shingle Creek, etc on restaurant.com at GREAT rates (try $2 for $25 worth of dining). ---------------- <<is this at restaurant.com ? ( great site btw )>> Yep ... and you can get them for Shula's and Il Mulino and Bluezoo and Kimono's etc ... just have to buy two entrees and you can only use one in one seating (no split checks or that type of deal). Incredible value. I use them down in SoFla and friends use them in LA, but I didn't realize all the great places you could use them in O-Town.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 ^^^^^^^^^^ seriously- even with price points that tempt us to do so, no one overeats at the buffets...when it's 100 degrees outside who wants to feel like a stuffed sausage ? My nieces like the characters so we do breakfast at chef Mickey's for them.. and Boma is just such a wonderful experience- but aside from a few forays into specials I stick to the soups there..some of the best I have ever had. And I am not a desert person..so that part doesn't tempt me
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<it's all in my book>> Is that the one you hoped to color in with Aurora? ---- there you go ! And you were wondering what guest wanted the coloring in line for Dumbo..the secret's out now
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <<is this at restaurant.com ? ( great site btw )>> Yep ... and you can get them for Shula's and Il Mulino and Bluezoo and Kimono's etc ... just have to buy two entrees and you can only use one in one seating (no split checks or that type of deal). Incredible value. I use them down in SoFla and friends use them in LA, but I didn't realize all the great places you could use them in O-Town. ----------- use them all the time here in Chi Town-- wait for the 80% off deals ( they are fairly regular) and buy the passes ( print on line at home) and $2 cover $25 as long as you spent $35-$50 depending on the place-- some also have $4 for $50 off if you spend $100.. I seriously am noting my EXCEL sheet for next trip to look for Blue Zoo and maybe even Shula's...that's a sweet deal.. thanks for the tip I really would never have thought they'd be on there
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Is VBDAD giving you tips on that? << Yes, but I just can't go the Tiara route!
Originally Posted By MPierce >> That in no way should overshadow the message. And I dragged it out of the 70s to illustrate that if anything people were bigger pigs back when Disney parks were near pristine daily. << I always love it when they use the American Indian for their modern-day agenda. I just can't figure out why they don't show them stampeding buffalo heards off of cliffs.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> simple- although we have a car all the time for use.. by the time you walk to get out of the park- take tram to car- drive to restaurant- that 10 minute trip just took an hour one way...it's not that it's scary..it's really inconvenient. Again for me I am not going 1200 miles to eat at McDonalds or Wendy's or anywhere else... we budget for the additional cost. << Try having to throw an ECV into the mix.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> Americans (and more and more others) don't know the meaning of the word. And one thing I've noticed is walking miles in a theme park won't negate eating 6,000 calories a day! << So you mean to tell me that's why I'm getting fat?
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey We've done the dining plan twice (doing it again in March) and we've always used all of our credits. It's also much easier now that they let you use a snack credit for breakfast (muffin, cinnamon roll, etc.). We already have all of our table service meals booked and have worked our Ghirardelli sundae-for-dinner into the mix. I think all of those leftover credits are probably due, for the most part, to lack of planning. It is a LOT of food, though. I cleaned my plate last year at just about every meal and I was miserable. That definitely won't be happening on this next trip.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>I cleaned my plate last year at just about every meal and I was miserable. That definitely won't be happening on this next trip.<< Now this is the problem I have not only at WDW but in the US in total. Unless you go to a really nice restaurant, the portions are far too big. And it means either making yourself fatter or wasting food (environmentally and economically irresponsible). We did the dining plan in 2007 and felt it was a mistake (it did keep us on property). WE did use all our credits (and we always do at least one table service a day, always have since 1974), but to use the snack credits, it was either drinks, or at the MAra at AKL, you are allowed to use them on souvenir food. We bought loads of tins of cookies and therefore used the snack vouchers for presents for friends and family. However, this was back in the day when it included appetiser, entree, desert and tip in the table service and no double credit requirements.
Originally Posted By danyoung The thing that worked out great for me the one time I did the DDP was that it was during the Food & Wine Festival, and snack credits were good for some selections at the food booths. So I saved up all my snack credits and used them all for one meal around the World Showcase. Combine that with the fact that I did signature restaurants and used 2 credits for one meal and it was a pretty good usage of credits. Overall though it still was more of a hassle than it was worth.
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey It works great for our family because we all pay separately for our meals. My sister and I used to have to get my mom settled at a table, get her money and then have to worry about sorting out change and everything else. It's just so much simpler for us with the dining plan. We would only do a few table service restaurants per visit and the dining plan has changed that. I do look forward to the table service meals because it's just a nice, relaxing break. You don't feel as if you're rushing around all the time. We also spread ours out so we eat at different meal times each day. I believe we have four dinners, three lunches, and a breakfast scheduled for March.
Originally Posted By danyoung >We would only do a few table service restaurants per visit and the dining plan has changed that.< And Nikki, that's one of the "problems" of the DDP - the fact that the world of fine dining is now open to the masses, instead of us few elitists who always wanted more than a burger & fries. It's not really your fault or the fault of the plan - it's just a fact of the situation that there are now many more fine diners than there were before. But there are three ways I can see where the DDP has become a bad thing. First is occupancy, the fact that they just don't have the supply to meet the demand. I'm all for Disney opening new restaurants like Via Napoli and the new offerings in Epcot's Mexico to try to meet that demand. Second is menu selection. Menus have been cheapened and shortened as more folks, folks who aren't used to fine dining, demand simpler fare. And it's easier for Disney to serve 7 simpler items in a restaurant than the previous 22 more exotic items. Third is price. With the dining plan being offered either for free or at a fixed price, it increases the perceived value of a meal if the prices on the menu are raised. I mean, if you could order a $15 steak or a $30 steak for the same low price, wouldn't you opt for the $30 one, even if it was EXACTLY the same as the $15 steak? And for those of us who don't use the DDP, we now have to pay $30 for a $15 steak, all to make the value of the DDP look better.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Were you at Whispering Canyon Cafe, and wearing your Uni fanboy T-shirt?<<< Nope! Heh. Was actually in Pecos Bills, and talking to the manager who noticed my LP button. We were having a nice talk about Disney History, the CP, and then....D23. That's when it stopped being so nice. LOL.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I don't know whether to say to myself, "That's why I rent a car. There are tons of great options OFF property." Or just go straight to, "I'm going to Disneyland (California)!" There are so many things making me mad at the WDW mouse, and the DDP situation just seems to get worse and worse! Argghhh!<<< Yep. Thank goodness for Enterprise, and Olive Gardens/Cracker Barrels/Denny's/Chili's on I-Drive. LOL.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> And Nikki, that's one of the "problems" of the DDP - the fact that the world of fine dining is now open to the masses, instead of us few elitists who always wanted more than a burger & fries. It's not really your fault or the fault of the plan - it's just a fact of the situation that there are now many more fine diners than there were before. But there are three ways I can see where the DDP has become a bad thing. First is occupancy, the fact that they just don't have the supply to meet the demand. I'm all for Disney opening new restaurants like Via Napoli and the new offerings in Epcot's Mexico to try to meet that demand. Second is menu selection. Menus have been cheapened and shortened as more folks, folks who aren't used to fine dining, demand simpler fare. And it's easier for Disney to serve 7 simpler items in a restaurant than the previous 22 more exotic items. Third is price. With the dining plan being offered either for free or at a fixed price, it increases the perceived value of a meal if the prices on the menu are raised. I mean, if you could order a $15 steak or a $30 steak for the same low price, wouldn't you opt for the $30 one, even if it was EXACTLY the same as the $15 steak? And for those of us who don't use the DDP, we now have to pay $30 for a $15 steak, all to make the value of the DDP look better. << I think you pretty much summed it up Dan. This is definitely a sore point with a lot of Disney fans. It seems pretty evident with the number of post about expectations of dining at WDW in this thread that Em started.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I think it was Spirit who asked why are more people not eating off property. The reasons are easy. Let's face it Disney has some pretty kewl, well themed restaurants. Definately NOT the typical "chain" anywhere USA restaurants found outside. Now obviously outside WDW the restaurants are going to have more options and better tasting food since they have to compete with each other for customers. Disney doesn't have that problem, when on property your a captured audience. They know they got you so they have higher prices, etc. As far as DDP is concerned, I think it was dramatically changed the dining experience on property. Everyone seems to be focusing on the times when DDP is offered "free". I never visit WDW during the hurricane season. Typically I visit WDW in October... and I still can not walk into any sitdown restaurant in the Magic Kingdom or DHS. EPCOT is a different story.... you can always find a table somewhere in the WS, it might be China or Morocco but you can find a table. I use to eat at least one sitdown meal a day while vacationing at WDW. Now, I might eat 1 or 2 sitdown meals on property and I'm talking on property. So, Disney is definately loosing money with me.... well they make it up with the frozen margaritta and Grand Marnier slushies.... It use to be that one of the great experiences of a Disney vacation was some of the onsite restaurants. I think for more and more people this is becoming improbable now. Disney simply has no intention of providing reasonable sit down table service.
