Episode 641 - Worth it or not?

Authored by: rissa on Monday, November 09 2009 @ 08:30 AM CST

The tipping point for our family as regards the dining plan has always been breakfast. It's the one meal, more than lunch and dinner that I find too over-priced, especially for what my family eats. I toss a bunch of packets of instant hot cereal, granola bars and tea bags in my suitcase then buy yogurt at a local store and eat in our room. As an added bonus, with 3 teenage daughters, it allows one or two to eat while the bathroom is in use. That alone saves us a couple hundred dollars at least and takes any value away from the dining plan.

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Authored by: Bolna on Monday, November 09 2009 @ 04:52 PM CST

Loved the format - are you planning to do more shows like this?

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Authored by: richard on Monday, November 09 2009 @ 05:24 PM CST

MVMCP: Scopa says "It allows you to do/see some things you wouldn't otherwise see". Like for instance see Magic Kingdom at night. If you don't do MVMCP, your opportunities to experience MK at night during early December are slim. Every night other than Saturday, MK closes early -- at 7 on party nights (4 nights a week) and at 8 on non-party nights (2 nights a week)
DIning Plan: Of course it isn't worth it. Disney doesn't do it to lose money, and how can it be a good deal for both Disney AND guests? At first it was a good deal to get people interested, but now we're in the "milk it for all it's worth" phase.
Illuminations Cruise: It was definitely worth it before the prices doubled c. 2005. Even still it's worth it to do it once.
Grand Floridian: The larger Polynesian rooms (in three longhouses) are very close in size to the GF rooms. Nice place to visit, but wouldn't want to live there.
You didn't even mention Candlelight Processional Dinner package. Too easy I guess.

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Authored by: CuzMikDntTlkAbou on Monday, November 09 2009 @ 06:58 PM CST

One thing I would have liked to see discussed is the Desert Party. I was thinking about doing it but I'm not sure.

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Authored by: Kfischler on Tuesday, November 10 2009 @ 06:46 AM CST

Happy 234th Birthday to all Marines.

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Authored by: TiggerRay on Thursday, November 12 2009 @ 12:37 PM CST

Who was the intro supposed to be impersonating?

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Authored by: TiggerRay on Thursday, November 12 2009 @ 01:34 PM CST

I've never been to the one in WDW...we went to the one in Chicago when it was there and was totally unimpresed.

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Authored by: Cosmic Rae on Tuesday, November 17 2009 @ 02:11 PM CST

We did the Illuminations Cruise last week (11/11) and wow ... I am glad that I was able to share this special experience with my parents and other family members, but the price is so excessive that we will never do it again. In fact, the price went up between when we first inquired about and booked the cruise and the day of. And since you pay for the cruise on the day you take it instead of prepaying when you reserve, we had no recourse. The price we had been quoted was $319, and when we arrived at the dock the price was $346. That's for a pontoon boat tour from Yacht Club marina down to Studios and back to Epcot for the Illuminations show, including a can of soda and a small bag of chips/popcorn for everyone in your party. You are not allowed to bring personal food on board, but are welcome to order from private dining if you like. Even though the ten of us shared the cost, at that price it was NOT worth the money. And note the price is per boat, not per person, max of 10. So while it was a nice experience, our price surprise and a less-than-enthusiastic skipper (who dogged Disney and basically admitted he works one day a week for the Cast Member perks) made for a downer of an evening, at least for me since I held the pursestrings for the trip.

We spent a lot of time on the water on this trip. We had just as much fun watching fireworks and the Electrical Parade from the front of the free ferry boat between Ft. Wilderness and Magic Kingdom as we did seeing Illuminations from this pontoon boat.

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Authored by: jaypenguin150 on Saturday, November 28 2009 @ 05:03 PM CST

I can't believe you put the contemporary as the flagship hotel. I agree that it is not the Grand Floridian. The flagship has to be the Yacht and Beach Club. The room size, location to a park, restaurants, pool, service, and look make it stand out. My order is Yacht/Beach, Contemp or Poly, Grand Floridian.

With regards to the poly, the theme makes it stand out as a flagship frontrunner. Disney is all about the theme, poly is all about the theme, so it must be that the poly best exemplifies disney ideals and therefore is up there.

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Nothing is more wonderful than the imagination. For, in a moment, you can experience a beautiful fantasy. Or, an exciting adventure!

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Authored by: AmyC on Friday, January 08 2010 @ 03:03 PM CST

MVMCP: Not worth it anymore. You used to get all kinds of benefits that have been eliminated over the years, including family photos. That leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you go and you think of everything they used to give you, and you're paying much more for admission to the party. No thanks. I loved the Pirate & Princess Parties, I went to two of them in one week in January '07, I think it was, and I felt that it was worth the money for the entertainment and how empty the park was for experiencing attractions. Leave it to me to have a favorite hard-ticket party that got scrapped.
Dining Plan: You can save so much money by getting a room discount and paying for your food a-la-carte. I have heard more people say they ate so much more than they normally would have, had they bought their food rather that doing with the Dining Plan. This is just like the "free gift card" promotion Disney is running now. You end up paying for anything that's "free" in the end. Not worth it. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary! --Amy From Kentucky

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Authored by: AquaViola on Friday, March 19 2010 @ 07:26 AM CDT

And a happy St. Patrick Day to you, Matt, as well!

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