CoasterBuzz Podcast #133 posted

^Wow, that is impressive.

On my visit my bags were not delivered to my room as advertised. We spent the afternoon at the resort and at a park and when we were returned they weren't there. We had to call and have them delivered.

Bummer. I'm two for two on that.

I haven't done the math so I don't know if there'd have been a price advantage.

We've never spent more on food out of pocket, eating what and where we want, than the equivalent dining plan would have cost us. Partly that's because we don't quite eat one full-service meal per day, and on trips when we do more of them, we tend to sprinkle in a fair number of the less expensive ones. Even when we go over one meal per day, we still come out better paying for it out of pocket, because the plan would have had us paying for one of those anyway.

For example, on a recent four-night trip without the kids, Maureen and I had: dinner at Chefs de France (big time meal, three courses, spendy but very good), Raglan Road (good but anticipointing), and the Plaza (cheap---grilled sandwiches). We had lunch at San Angel Inn (meh, but lunch is cheap) and Hollywood Brown Derby (really good, pricey). Add that up, and it cost us six table service credits (Brown Derby is a Signature restaurant, and counts double).

The total for these plus the other food/snacks we ate were a bit more than the dining plan would have cost, but we would have had to skip one or two of those table service meals to "make it fit" and we would have also had to pay cash for the appetizers we had at Chefs and Raglan, putting us back in the red. We spent a lot less than the Deluxe plan would have cost (which would have covered everything).

However, as Jeff points out, you can really make this work for you if you're willing to make the restaurants a priority. A lot of people also get it for the reason Walt mentions---pre-paying means no "should I really spend the money on the seared tuna, or should I settle for the chicken?" I'm like Gonch when I'm on vacation; I order what I want, because I know I've got the cash to cover the bill. But, a lot of people like not having to even think about menu prices---and at Disney, those prices are generally not small.

As an aside, I'm also a big believer in staying in a place where you've got a real kitchen if you are there for more than a couple of nights. It's really nice to be able to have a full breakfast, with much better coffee than that Nescafe swill, without having to change out of your jammies. We've done it both onsite and off, and wouldn't visit Disney any other way. Having a washer/dryer in the unit is pretty convenient too---you can pack light, and just toss stuff in the washer on your way out in the mornign without having to worry about picking it up before someone piles it on top of a dryer somewhere.

Jeff said:
I still can't believe the guy got a walk-in at Le Cellier.

Not a walk-in, per se. But a "do you have any openinings?" reservation for the same evening.

The only other places we were able to do that were Boma for the same evening (last opening, probably a cancellation and lucky timing) and the 50's Prime Time Cafe (next day, lunch).

Other than that we were shut out of everywhere else.

Brian Noble said:
We've never spent more on food out of pocket, eating what and where we want, than the equivalent dining plan would have cost us. Partly that's because we don't quite eat one full-service meal per day, and on trips when we do more of them, we tend to sprinkle in a fair number of the less expensive ones. Even when we go over one meal per day, we still come out better paying for it out of pocket, because the plan would have had us paying for one of those anyway.

I suspect I fall right in that category as well.

Like I said, you should've had dinner at Marrakesh. That place rocks and it's rarely booked solid most of the year.

I'm marrying a foodie, so you better believe we're gonna eat at good restaurants every night. There's no way we would've spent less paying as we go. Aside from Le Cellier, which as I mentioned in the podcast I suspect is popular because it's "American" food, the only real advanced reservation we made was for the Japanese restaurant (the "real" one in the front, not the hibachi place), and that was one day in advance. I like to play things by ear as well, and I think for the most part we did that.

you should've had dinner at Marrakesh

I second that. It's easily the most under-rated place in Epcot. Avoid the chicken (it can be dry), but the lamb is great, and the setting and entertainment are spectacular.

I'm marrying a foodie, so you better believe we're gonna eat at good restaurants every night.

You'd probably be best served by the Deluxe plan. It gives you three "credits" per day. All counter locations and most table service locations are one credit. The best table service locations are two credits. Unlike the regular plan, this covers all three courses if you want 'em (the regular plan doesn't cover appetizers.)

Folks who are serious about their food do well by getting this plan. Grab a pastry and coffee on the way to a park at opening, and have an early full-service lunch in the park as a break. Hang out until mid-afternoon, then head back, freshen up, and head to one of the better restaurants. Most (but not all) of these cost 2 credits, and are places where three courses for two will set you back $100-$150, before tip and without ordering wine. Then, saunter into whatever park is nearby to walk off dinner and watch the fireworks.

It's pretty good living. I couldn't do it every day, for a variety of reasons (two of which are my kids). But, if that's what floats your boat, then that's the way to sail.

We didn't do deluxe... that seemed like too much food, actually. I mean one table service meal is a lot of food, even at restaurants that give you "normal" portions. By the time you have dessert, holy crap, you need to do a few laps around the showcase before you feel normal again.

And my chicken was so moist and yummy at Marrakesh I had it twice. It was awesome.

Its possible to be a walk-in for Le Cellier. To do it you have to be willing to east right when it opens for lunch. They will take in a few walk-ins at that time.. After that bets are off.

Dinner is much more difficult, but have managed to slip in that during the lunch/dinner transition.

BTW.. Hollywood Studios was crazy yesterday for American Idol as I expected it would be. Didnt help that they had the last 7 American Idols there for a press event.

What I find interesting is AI is a FOX product.. Yet Disney/ABC is touting it.. Im sure theres some big checks being passed back and fourth on this one.

Lord Gonchar said:
Yeah, but the more I thought about it, we only did three sit-down meals the entire trip. We did mostly snacks and counter service. (and room service twice)

Could've went with the new Quick Service Dining Plan. You get two counter service credits and two snacks per day and one resort refillable mug. It is $29.99 per night for adult, $8.99 for kids. I know a lot of people been going with that plan then just paying out of pocket for the few sit-down meals they had.

Didn't know about that. That could've possibly paid off...maybe.

Disney considers kids as 9 and under so we have 3 adults and 1 child.

$99 a day. Seemed like most of our counter service meals were in the high 30's. $38, $40 - in that range. Then on days that we did do sit-down, we would have been ignoring a plan meal and 'losing' that.

It'd have been close. Close enough that I'm not kicking myself for missing it.