Leaving to eat

[MichWolv]

The hassle and time it takes to leave the park, drive somewhere else and come back would stop me from leaving ONLY to eat off-property. There are plenty of times that I've done this when I was leaving to take a break for some other reason (kid's nap, parks too hot or crowded, some work-related thing). In that case, I'll usually grab a meal off-site somewhere. I also eat off-site sometimes (if not on the dining plan, of course) for breakfast before heading to the parks or a late dinner after I leave.

 

[Clark Griswold]

I've never left the property to eat while I'm at Disney...however, Giordano's on Apopka Vineland Road is excellent as well as Texas De Brazil on International Drive.

 

[KingStefan]

I have only left the parks to eat off-site if there was some other reason that I was leaving. For example, we needed to do a bit of shopping for essentials. Once we were staying off-site (Carib Royale) and we got caught in a rain storm. My shoes were uncomfy, and we just generally didn't like being wet. So we left the MK and went back to the hotel for a change and a rest, and grabbed a bite while we were there.

However, on a day when the MK has very late evening EMH, I would definitely consider leaving the parks (probably in the AM, I'd be somewhere other than MK), going out for a nice dinner early, and returning to the MK later. There are a few restaurants that I've wanted to try in Orlando (steak houses, Brazilian BBQ, and Japanese - whatchama call that style where they cook at the table - I've been told there are a few good ones that are better and cheaper than the one in Epcot).

But I haven't ever done that yet.

I have spent a week there on business with the family, where we went to the parks only on the weekends - during the week we went resort hopping and dinner at the resorts in the evening. That is exactly the reverse of what you are suggesting!:lol:

DW and the kids spent their days at the hotel pool, shopping, and visiting places like Gatorworld!

 

[JohnByers]

I would say it depends on the situation. The last trip my wife and I had our friends who live in Orlando pick us up and we went that evening to the BB Kings Blues club. The food was excellent, the music was spectacular and it felt like we got something "extra" in for the week.

 

[tirian]

My wife and I have talked about leaving the Disney property to eat at a restaurant "in town" for years, but we always convince ourselves that it is not worth the time/hassle when we are in the park. Has anyone ever left a park to drive to a location off of Disney property to eat, and then returned to the park after the meal? If so, was it worth the trouble?

I've yet to find a normal (not super-expensive), off-property restaurant that's delicious. Then again, being from the South, I'm used to great food, and Central Florida food just doesn't cut it. :lol:

I can say that you should never, ever waste money at Bahama Breeze across I-4. It's a huge tourist trap with terrible food.

 

[cloudboy]

Right around Disney, you are not likely to find much. Too many tourists to cater for. The real action is further north. Sand Lake Road, west of I-4, is restaurant row. Most of those are chains, but good chains. Seasons 52 gets good reviews, and I personally like Press 101. If you are looking for something fun (albeit a little pricy) there is a Melting Pot up there, too.

The best independent restaurants are a ways away Downtown. I would not think about just running out to get something to eat up there, it is a drive. But my favorite is Bento Sushi (which also does a lot of different noodle dishes). A less impressive (and chain) version of the same idea is Pei Wei, next to Whole Foods. But it beats Tomorrowland Noodle Station hands down.

 

[Skyway]

You figure you're spending about $80 for an admission ticket for, lets say, a 10-hour day at the parks. That works out to roughly $8 an hour you're paying to be there.

Others are right--to take a tram out to your car, leave the sprawling resort property, wait to get a table at an outside restaurant, drive back in, park, get on the tram, and wait in line at the main gate again--- you're easily looking at a 3 hour round-trip.

Is it worth blowing $24 worth of park time to visit an outside chain restaurant you'd likely find back home?

Sure, even with reservations, you're gonna lose an hour or so eating at a Disney restaurant. But in most of my experiences, Disney is motivated to get you in, stuff you with food, and shoo you out so they can turn over the table to waiting guests. You may be over-paying for that meal (compared to Denny's or Chili's). But if you're not going to be in the parks, why did you bother coming?


(Obviously, as others stated, if you are having an "off-day" from the parks, there are many off-site dining options. But it ALWAYS will take you WAY longer to travel there than you could imagine. So be ready for that one meal to take a big bite out of your relaxing day.)

 

[KingStefan]

... Then again, being from the South, I'm used to great food ...

Would you mind terribly explaining this? Is it that people from the "South", whatever you mean by that, have better taste than the rest of us, or that the food in the greater Chicago or NY metro areas stinks, or what.

I'm sure you don't mean to offend (and neither do I), but, you know, everyone from different regions of the US, heck the world, has a different opinion of what food is "great" and what that means. Having spend a lot of time in NW FL, and having visited places like Valdosta, etc., I have to say that I'm not particularly impressed by the cuisine (although I did pick up a liking for hush puppies and grits and fried fish and chicken), but I'm sure people from those areas have a different idea from me about what "great" food is.

Perhaps you could elaborate for my (our) edification?

 

[maggiegrace1]

Would you mind terribly explaining this? Is it that people from the "South", whatever you mean by that, have better taste than the rest of us, or that the food in the greater Chicago or NY metro areas stinks, or what.

I'm sure you don't mean to offend (and neither do I), but, you know, everyone from different regions of the US, heck the world, has a different opinion of what food is "great" and what that means. Having spend a lot of time in NW FL, and having visited places like Valdosta, etc., I have to say that I'm not particularly impressed by the cuisine (although I did pick up a liking for hush puppies and grits and fried fish and chicken), but I'm sure people from those areas have a different idea from me about what "great" food is.

Perhaps you could elaborate for my (our) edification?

No, I think we have better food though..:shrug:

Where I am from..New Orleans..we have some of the best food and many people from all over the country do come here just for the food..

I am sure that if I went to Chciago or New York I would find certain foods that are better then some things we have here..Pizza as an example..but the south specifically..New Orleans is known for their great food..

 

[KingStefan]

No, I think we have better food though..:shrug:

Where I am from..New Orleans..we have some of the best food and many people from all over the country do come here just for the food..

I am sure that if I went to Chciago or New York I would find certain foods that are better then some things we have here..Pizza as an example..but the south specifically..New Orleans is known for their great food..

Well, OK, that's very different. New Orleans is quite different cuisine-wise that say, for example, Niceville, FL. I don't want to pick a fight, but I would hesitate to say that because New Orleans food is fabulous that all people from the "South" are used to great food.

 

[maggiegrace1]

Well, OK, that's very different. New Orleans is quite different cuisine-wise that say, for example, Niceville, FL. I don't want to pick a fight, but I would hesitate to say that because New Orleans food is fabulous that all people from the "South" are used to great food.

That is true...:lol: although I am sure Niceville has some good food...

and no..not everyone down south is used to great food..only us Nawlins folks..

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Neither of you have taste, I mean you dont deep fry your pies, pizzas or Mars Bars or cook oatmeal and offal in a sheeps stomach. :lookaroun

 

[datw@epcot]

Cheap but good (so I hear): The Ale House on WInter Garden Vineland. It is just outside of property. Just hang a left as you exit from Hotel Plaza blvd.

Very good but a bit pricey: Texas de Brazil Churrascaria on I-Drive across from the Festival Bay Mall.

Yeah I can vouch for the Ale House, especially if you're in to beer.

 

[maggiegrace1]

Neither of you have taste, I mean you dont deep fry your pies, pizzas or Mars Bars or cook oatmeal and offal in a sheeps stomach. :lookaroun

We fry everything...as for the sheeps stomach..BLEH!

 

[DougK]

The money we save by eating offsite more than pays for the rental car, we do it all the time. Now I must say we don't just do it to save money, in fact up until a few years ago my wife and I loved eating at Walt Disney World. But now most of the restaurants seem to have very similar menus, the prices are high (that part I expect) and the quality of the food has gone way down (that is the part I did not expect, and it did not used to be this way). So why give them even more of our money? We eat at a few of our Disney favorites each trip but besides that we eat offsite.

If you regularly visit WDW or if your trip is long enough so you don't feel you have to use every minute at the parks, eating offsite is wonderful. If time is of the essence it probably makes sense to put up with the crappy (there, I said it!) Disney dining choices.

Like I said the point isn't to save money, it is to refuse to support the restaurants they way they are now run. I know it won't make a difference to them unless we all did it, but it makes me feel better for not encouraging Disney to continue their poor restaurant managment.

 

[juscet]

I find that traffic is pretty heavy into and out of the parks so we try to avoid leaving, but with the cost of food in WDW it may be worth the minor inconvenience.

 

[yankspy]

No, I think we have better food though..:shrug:

Where I am from..New Orleans..we have some of the best food and many people from all over the country do come here just for the food..

I am sure that if I went to Chciago or New York I would find certain foods that are better then some things we have here..Pizza as an example..but the south specifically..New Orleans is known for their great food..

Pizza, Bagels, any sort of other bread, American Italian food, Hot Dogs, Deli food, etc.

 

[maggiegrace1]

Pizza, Bagels, any sort of other bread, American Italian food, Hot Dogs, Deli food, etc.

Well...Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, File Gumbo..:lookaroun

Crawfish,Boiled seafood and fried seafood.. King Cakes, Etouffe, Muffalettas..Much better then your deli food.., Po-Boys, Barqs Root Beer, Beigneits, Cafe Au Lait, Hurricanes, Zapps Poatato chips,Pralines.. I could go on and on and on....

 

[yankspy]

Well...Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, File Gumbo..:lookaroun

Crawfish,Boiled seafood and fried seafood.. King Cakes, Etouffe, Muffalettas..Much better then your deli food.., Po-Boys, Barqs Root Beer, Beigneits, Cafe Au Lait, Hurricanes, Zapps Poatato chips,Pralines.. I could go on and on and on....

:animwink: I guess I have to be nice to you since I will probably be bothering you with baby questions soon.

 

[WTBAD]

We left the property a couple of times. If you take Buena Vista Dr east past DTD & turn on Hotel Plaza, you get tro S. Apopka Vineland RD. There are several good places both to the left ( Joe's Crab Shack, Chili's, & more) or to the right (Olivce Garden, TGIF & several fast food places). There's a Medieval Times that's pretty good. If you really want to go, look on Google Earth & find some restraurants close by.