Sorry Disney, I Can't Eat On-site

[Suzanne033]

Like many posters before me, I, too, believe that part of the "Disney magic" is the dining experiences you can have. Therefore, I figure that directly into my vacation budget. Since I am an obsessive planner I know exactly where we will be eating and a very closely estimated cost for each meal. I do this months before we ever set foot on Disney property. For example, we are eating at the Liberty Tree Tavern for one of our evening meals and I already know that the cost will be roughly $100. I have done this for every single restaurant we plan to eat at. I also add maybe $100 for those impulse buys (DD LOVES Mickey Bars!!).

Between the time I started planning and our departure date I go to the nearest Disney Store and slowly purchase Disney Dollars for my meals. This week I might only have $20 but that's ok. That's $20 closer to the total needed. By the time we leave I will have Disney Dollars to cover the entire amt for my food costs.

 

[Toad_Passenger]

We're one of those families that also budgets the meals into our vacation. Not eating "on-site" would probably be disappointing to a lot of the people we travel with, because some of those restaurants have become part of our Disney experience.

I can understand that some people don't want to spend the money, but to us the food is good and the ambiance/themes of a lot of the restaurants cannot be found anywhere else. Seriously, where can you beat sitting along the railing at San Angel looking over the river?

 

[MHSweb79]

The last time I ate at Sci-Fi my meal was completely inedible. AND it was expensive! I get that you're paying for the gimmick (the movies & sitting in a car) but why can't they at least serve something passably good?

I've eaten at a lot of the Disney restaurants and generally (there are exceptions) they serve Applebee's quality food for highly inflated (3 or 4 times the cost of Applebee's) pricing. So I have to agree with the OP - it's really not worth it. Ironically, there are quite a few counter-service eateries that we find very high quality at reasonable prices, so we'll continue to eat at those.

We had the dining plan for our last trip and next time we're going without it. We'll have a rental car so we'll eat both on-site and off-site.

 

[David Brent]

If I couldn't afford the cost of dining at WDW in my budget then the trip would just have to wait until I could.

I agree! Those people try to justify it's not about the money, when in fact...it is. They would rather save money and eat at places like cici's, golden corral, etc. If I planned a WDW vacation and had to resort to eating at places like that, I've done something wrong. I think it's ironic how those people won't eat at the WDW restaurants because of the price and quality, but yet, will eat at those garbage places....I bet most of them won't even try the WDW restaurants. They just see the prices and run off to the nasty chain restaurants off site.......just to save a few bucks.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I've eaten at a lot of the Disney restaurants and generally (there are exceptions) they serve Applebee's quality food for highly inflated (3 or 4 times the cost of Applebee's) pricing.

While Disney is expensive, I don't think it's horribly so and is is certianly not 3-4 times more. Especially considering that it is a vacation destination that adds in elements of theming and ambiance that your local Applebees does not.

Applebee's- http://www.applebees.com/Menu_Burgers.aspx
Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger - Cheddar cheese and crispy Applewood smoked bacon crown our thick ‘n hearty burger on a toasted bakery bun. Served with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion. All burgers and sandwiches include fries. $8.29

Sci Fi- http://allears.net/menu/menu_sci.htm
Angus Chuck Burger - flame broiled beef patty topped with cheddar or Swiss cheese, sauteed onions, mushrooms, and crispy bacon served with a choice of vegetable black bean relish or french fries $12.99

36% more is a lot less than the 300%-400% that you impled.

 

[ccgirl]

I not only eat offsite sometimes I stay off site.

When comparing counter service meals to fast food they are pretty even. Factoring in your time and gasoline, WDW comes out ahead. I do find their table service meals to generally cost a lot more than they are worth. However, I really like California Grill. I know it's expensive but it's absolutely delicious and I love the view. I prefer the signature table service establishments over the others. We always throw in a character buffet or two for the kids. I loathe waiting in line for character autographs.

I would say Sci Fi is right on par with Applebees, price wise and quality.

If you think WDW is bad, you should see other amusement parks. My family went to Storyland in NH two years ago and their prices were even higher and the food was MUCH worse, not to mention the filthy tables.

 

[HunnyJar]

While Disney is expensive, I don't think it's horribly so and is is certianly not 3-4 times more. Especially considering that it is a vacation destination that adds in elements of theming and ambiance that your local Applebees does not.

Applebee's- http://www.applebees.com/Menu_Burgers.aspx
Bacon Cheddar Cheeseburger - Cheddar cheese and crispy Applewood smoked bacon crown our thick ‘n hearty burger on a toasted bakery bun. Served with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion. All burgers and sandwiches include fries. $8.29

Sci Fi- http://allears.net/menu/menu_sci.htm
Angus Chuck Burger - flame broiled beef patty topped with cheddar or Swiss cheese, sauteed onions, mushrooms, and crispy bacon served with a choice of vegetable black bean relish or french fries $12.99

Thanks for posting that! It's pretty clear that the price difference isn't THAT bad for most of the TS in WDW compared to the restaurants in the "real" world. And honestly, I don't mind paying those extra dollars for the theming and the experience.

 

[aidtrismommy]

There are lots of ways to save money while eating in the world that just take a bit of creativity without resorting to fast food meals for the entire trip. There are lots of counter service options that don't include burgers and fries, some of the portions are large enough to share, be realistic about the amount of food you need to eat, try new places for variety, don't always order a "meal" order a la carte to save money, etc. There are some $$ table service places, avoid the $$$ table service restaurants. My advice is to get creative and be realistic about portions. Not every person needs to order a "meal", we don't need all those fries (I'm talking about my family). If you feel better leaving Disney to eat, by all means do that, this is just another option in addition to other people's ideas. Enjoy your trip!

 

[princess aleya]

I know everyone's budget is diffferent. Me personally, I budget the dinning plan as apart of our trip. To take time out of our day, travel back to the DVC and then make something to eat to turn around and head back out is just too much wasted time for us. Are you in a studio? They only have a small fridge, no stove, just a microwave. If you leave property to go eat out in town, I bet you'd spend the same amount as a CS in the parks.I'd really think about it, even the cheapest DDP is just $20 a day, and you'll get 2 CS's WELL worth the money. Just a thought

Well said , I can't agree with you more about the dining plan. We too budget for it when planning our trips. I also have to agree, for me vacation is a time you relax and enjoy, not worry about cooking etc. I do enough of that when I'm at home.

 

[cluvsdisney]

The last time I ate at Sci-Fi my meal was completely inedible. AND it was expensive! I get that you're paying for the gimmick (the movies & sitting in a car) but why can't they at least serve something passably good?

I've eaten at a lot of the Disney restaurants and generally (there are exceptions) they serve Applebee's quality food for highly inflated (3 or 4 times the cost of Applebee's) pricing. So I have to agree with the OP - it's really not worth it. Ironically, there are quite a few counter-service eateries that we find very high quality at reasonable prices, so we'll continue to eat at those.

We had the dining plan for our last trip and next time we're going without it. We'll have a rental car so we'll eat both on-site and off-site.

This is exactly how I feel about dining on property. I wouldn't mind paying the premium price if the food was half way decent but we rarely really enjoy our meals. As each trip passes, we get more and more meals off site.

 

[MSLRAC]

Thanks for posting that! It's pretty clear that the price difference isn't THAT bad for most of the TS in WDW compared to the restaurants in the "real" world. And honestly, I don't mind paying those extra dollars for the theming and the experience.

Exactly, plus Disney is very much in line with other theme parks, sporting events, concerts, etc when it comes to their food pricing and for the most part they offer better food. For us, when we go somewhere, we know the food is going to cost more and we plan accordingly but going outside for food or bringing food in just would not work for us because the food is part of the experience.

But you have to do what works for you and it sounds like eating off site or back at the room would work for the OP.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

Other than character meals, I honestly don't think dining on property is priced that high. It is a theme park...and theme parks ALL have expensive food. I actually am impressed with the variety that WDW provides in comparison to most places. Any tourist destination is going to have inflated prices (WDW dinners are cheap in comparision to the options we had in Maui!) And as long as people pay it, they will keep nudging prices up.

I don't think the food is spectacular. But, I think the theming is definitely better than you find off site at most places...and to me, that's part of what you pay for at WDW.

 

[Pink Mouse Ears]

Oops...duplicate post

 

[shalom]

we just couldn't justify the price considering we can buzz off property (while heading back to the room for our afternoon break)

That's how I feel. I plan on-site meals if we're going to be there a while, but if we're leaving anyhow we go offsite for our food.

That's when we're eating for fuel. If we were going to the California Grill or someplace where I'm wanting the ambiance or view and excellent food, I wouldn't be scheduling it on a park day anyhow, because they're two different experiences for me that don't mix well. Why pay for that ambiance when all we're going to do with it is excitedly discuss our day at the parks while we're either starving and just want calories, NOW!, or so tired and hot we're not hungry?

You got to do what works for you.

Exactly. For some people, eating at Disney enhances the whole Disney experience; for others, it doesn't. If it doesn't enhance the experience, and you're going off site anyhow, then the only real difference is the price, and if Disney's more expensive you might as well eat elsewhere.

 

[disnut8]

And that's why we (two of us) do a lunch on a trip for a sit down meal. It's also why I spend a lot of time looking at counter service menus and trying out so many new and different things there. At Epcot, we will do Lotus Blossom, Fish and Chips, or the empanadas at the Refreshment Port. We're still looking to do the shrimp and fries there too. Animal Kingdom is Flame Tree BBQ and I'm looking at Yak and Yeti quick service next time. Cosmic Rays at Magic Kingdom. And even The Studios is getting better with counter service.

So maybe one sit down lunch but the rest is all counter service. I love Disney but I don't go there for the food. It CAN be part of it but it's not the entire trip for us.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

uh,I live like 2 hours away in Jax we eat out here and in WD a lot,the food is certainly not much more expensive at the signature level nor much more expensive at the lower priced end either item for item.Dinner theatre's are about the only comparison to Disney's character meals and they run about the same or more.

We have had this discussion a few times with members of the party we planned to go with and I would challenge the person(normally family)to find the same item offsite significantly cheaper in a similar setting.
Comparing fast food to a themed restaurant meal is the normal answer I would get.We travel alone a lot now

There's a bargain section on Dis that can help folks who want to eat Disfood find ways to do it.We bring in water and snacks and often cook bkfast or get cinnabon/dunkindonuts on the ride down or if staying offsite,more convenience than savings tho

.I'd rather stay offsite,save those $$$ and eat onsite never leaving the "magic"til nite nite time.

 

[jemmouse]

I have to say I am torn. We budget in meal prices so I don't ever worry about where I can or can't eat. BUT I also do like to sometimes go and eat off site. Every time we hit the Subway, and definately Olive Garden, my DS10 gets such a kick eating there, it's funny. We have even hit up McDonalds. But when at Disney we have our must have hits, Ohanas, Liberty Tree Tavern(love a Thanksgiving type meal in between all the burgers) also fish and chips in Epcot, my DH gets his Brat in Germany, and my DS gets his hot dog in USA at Epcot, so adventurous he is. Plus I really like TRex in downtown Disney. But I honestly have to say don't think I personally would want to leave the park to go and eat then come back but that is just me. And I agree with a PP there is something just so unique about sitting in the Magic Kingdom and eating a meal, AWESOME....or strolling down Main Street eating an ice cream cone.

But with all that said the OP must do what fits there budget, and if it is ok with them then there are many options. If I had to chooses between meals and a souvenir I would go cheaper with meals. Just me. There are so many options out there. But do know your prices, because the offside restaurants when including the use of gas could equal the same amount of money as in the parks. Good luck and just do some research and heck you are going to Disney, WOOHOO

 

[OandA]

You're going to either be starving or wasting a lot of time traveling back and forth from your resort to the parks.

I wouldn't get the dining plan but I would seriously consider eating at the parks in some manner, even counter service. Is it worth wasting 2 hours traveling back and forth to your hotel to eat a meal and save $10? I mean Counter Service meals are only like $8 per person.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

We are just the two of us. And yes, I was wrong on the price too. We took our 2 daughters 15 & 21 last Oct and paid for the 4 of us on the deluxe, which was just 1 CS, 1TS and 2snacks. For us, it was a good fit. I budget the DDP in, because I view vacations as a NO work week for us but I DO get where your coming from. In the end, you'll be in DW and that IS the best part!!

Deluxe was NEVER "just 1CS, 1TS and 2 snacks."
Quick Service was NEVER $20. Wishi it was.
Apparently you don't remember your trips that well. LOL!

 

[NOLA_Tink]

I'm not judging you in any way, but reading your post made me very thankful that I wasn't made aware of WDW's food prices and/or my mom's vacation budget when I was 13. It may have made me feel bad about actually wanting to eat in even the most frugal of restaurants. My mom usually just had a plan & we stuck to it. I can't imagine a child having to worry about a parent's very limited food budget on vacation. It might not phase some kids, but it could really stress & worry others.