[gcbdad]

I know that there are other threads about Meal Vouchers and I am probably being lazy by not researching them.
I hope this isn't a dumb question,but can someone exlpain to me what Meal Vouchers are and why I would want to get them?

[Dana]

I just learned what they were yesterday so relax. I joined hotwire (7.95 a month) and they have prepaid vouchers for your meals. The ones that seem to be the best deal were the breakfast ones. If you are going to CRT or the Princess breakfast at Norway it's $19.99 per adult and $9.99 for a child. You can buy the adult voucher for $17.25 so you have your prepaid card and you just saved a couple buck to boot. I couldn't use them becasue I had to put a $15 deposit down with my CC on my PS..the change left over for my breakfast after my deposit is $14.98 with me and my DD..so it didn't make any sense. The lunch vouchers, however convienant, didn't work for me. They are $11 for a counter service meal including drink. I can't eat $11 worth of fast food. It's a matter of opinion, choice and eating habits. I know if I got them for my brother or my DBF, it would be money well spent, but it wouldn't work for me and my DD. These have worked for many people on here however, so this is just my opinion. I wish I didn't have to join hotwire for the 7.95 to find out they wouldn't work though.

[iluvwdw]

Originally posted by Dana
The ones that seem to be the best deal were the breakfast ones.

Girl, you should get the VACATION KINGDOM LUNCH VOUCHERS....I think those are $30, but you can go to MANY of the most expensive places (including ALL sit downs at Epcot), get the last seating and consider it dinner....and VOILA! You have a GREAT meal, half price! It worked so well for our last trip...I need to get some of these vouchers for our next trip!

Also, the lunch vouchers are a GREAT deal at Beaches and Cream...if you plan on going there, get the vouchers! :)

[MickeyMac]

Dana, they will reimburse you for your deposit if you call Disney Dining and tell them you're paying with Vouchers.

We don't use the Vacation Kingdom Lunch Vouchers as we typically don't do an expensive lunch (maybe when the kids get older), but I have heard from several that they work out great.

We use the Quick and Casual vouchers at our home resort (Mara's) and get great value with them, lunch and dinner. I always get the salmon (about $10 itself, when showing) or some kind of fish plate (also around $10) so it really depends on what you purchase. Dana, are you still going to give it a try? A guaranteed good place to try them out at is at Beaches and Cream.

GBCDad - they work out very well for us. We have learned to maximize our options - eyeballing the menue right when we get there to figure out what the best meals to get is. I always buy a fish dish, so it's almost a no-brainer for me to use them. If there's no fish dish, I usually get a kids meal deal, and let my teenage bottomless pit max out on the dessert and stuff.

Another reason to get them is that they are a way of 'prepaying' for meals. I also like being able to give my son a voucher when he goes off for the day. Better than giving him a $20 and expecting change back... :p

[Dana]

Maybe I didn't understand it properly. I didn't realize they would give me my deposit back. Wow that is great. I can still do it then? I thought since I paid a deposit it wasn't worth it to me. I usually do counter service for lunch so the Kindom ones won't come into play, but it's something to keep in mind for my next trip. I could do the character meals for late lunch with these right? See what happens when I try to figure stuff out on my own? :laugh Sorry if I put anyone off on these. I was so dissapointed when I couldn't use them after I paid to sign up...I'll go grab the ones for the breakfasts at CRT and for the Princess Story book Breakfast. They will come in time right? I leave in less than 14 days.

[iluvwdw]

Originally posted by Dana
They will come in time right? I leave in less than 14 days.

I got mine within DAYS of ordering them...they came FEDEX at NO EXTRA CHARGE! I should join again.....:whistle: :dazed

[Dana]

Originally posted by iluvwdw
I got mine within DAYS of ordering them...they came FEDEX at NO EXTRA CHARGE! I should join again.....:whistle: :dazed

Why join again? Do they come in your name? Couldn't you just use my account?

[MickeyMac]

>>I didn't realize they would give me my deposit back. ...I can still do it then?

You can, but order the vouchers right away. If you order online, they typically ship in 48 hours, and send it fedex or ups two day air, but ONLY if you order more than $50. That is the Connections123 plan - you would have to check the fine print for your particular service.

Once you get the vouchers, call WDW-DINE, tell them you are using meal vouchers and need the deposit credited back before you leave. they will transfer you over to a different Dining line, and you will have to tell them you want a credit.I always have them verify I still have a confirmation number after, but they're very competent.

>> I could do the character meals for late lunch with these right?

I'm not sure you can use them for Character meals at lunch- will have to look at the restaurant list and see if there are any character meals listed (I can only think of character breakfasts and dinners)

>>I'll go grab the ones for the breakfasts at CRT and for the Princess Story book Breakfast. They will come in time right? I leave in less than 14 days.

With both of those, for the adult ticket, you will save appx $7/$8 per person per meal. I don't buy them for the kids - it doesn't work out in your favor. If you order this weekend, it should come by the end of this week, beginning of the next.

You signed up through Hotwire, right?

Are you going to any resorts during mealtimes? The Quick and Casuals are good at the counter service restaurants and are a very good deal at some of the resorts. Going to Beaches and Cream? Good there, too.

Don't be so hard on yourself over these. My first trip, I was so uncomfortable using them, I barely broke even. Second trip, much more comfortable, saved a bit. Third trip, saved a *ton.*

[Dana]

I am doing breakfast at Boma, and will probally end up having lunch at AKL at least once. We ended up nixing Breakfastsaurus to go to Epcot another day or Disney Quest.

thanks for your help. I'm going to give these breakfast ones a shot this trip, and then plan to go at it full-force next time around. The kids meals didn't seem to pay off, you're right. I didn't even bother with them.

[MickeyMac]

I think you save a little at Boma's, and we saved quite a bit at Mara's. They serve Zebra Domes and the chocolate mouse cups for desert at Maras most of the time - that goes about $4. The African stew is $9 something. The lamb meal with couscous is also about 9 or ten dollars. Very nice.

Went off on the food, but wanted to say Mara is a good place for the Quick and Casuals.

[gcbdad]

Is there a special menu for these vouchers or is it the same menu at a discounted rate?

[MickeyMac]

It's neither - you just pick out the menu items and they price adjust things at the register. You choose either

One side dish (ex: salad)
One entree (ex: hamburger)
One beverage (ex: milk)
One dessert (ex: chocolate cake)

or

One complete meal (ex: hamburger with fries)
One beverage (ex: soda)
One dessert (ex: frozen lemonade)

I'm just using menu items as an example.

I've found that you can also order menu items without the sides (like: hamburger, no fries) but the kichen will still ship out the sides (easier to automate) so we almost always try to split off the sides. FF seems to be the side of choice anyways, and by Day 3, we are usualy plenty sick of them. :p

[disneyguy]

WOW!!!!! i am sooooo confused..... my first question is where do i get the meal vouchers???? I do not really want to spend da money on Hotwire, unless it is truly worth it for my 7-8 meals (that is just lunches and dinners). Also what is this about calling WDW-DINE and telling them to give ya ur deposit back??? im soooooo confused but i know someone should be able to gimme step by step instructions on how to do it and if it is worth it for my short stay. Just booked some PS so does anyone have any idea wat i should do????

[disneyguy]

any one out there???

[Dana]

The only way I know how to do it is to go through hotwire. If you plan on eating at the sit-down places for lunch, it's definately worth the money or if you are doing any of the princess breakfasts. Other than that, it's just not for me. I just learned about this and am still a little confised myself. MickeyMac or iluvwdw know WAY more about it than me and have a very good understanding of the whole process. Sorry. I won't be of much help here. I just didn't want you to think no one was replying.