Connections Anyone??

[Owl]

Don't know if htis topic has been posted in a while...
we're going on a "spur of the moment" trip to Orlando.. and now it's getting a little longer in length. Leaving on late flight on 2/19 and getting back on a early evening flight on 2/25 so our poptions of dining are ever changing. We need to try to do this trip on a budget... will do one dinner at OHana. The kids like the characters but I'd like to get a better value for dinner esp. since they don't eat all that much and I try to stay low carb.. (very sensitive to carbs and sauces thow off my chemistry). I've seen on another site mention of Connection coupons to use for lunch and dinner at counter service and Beaches and Cream. Right now wee're staying at CBR but are trying to get CSR (which would be great if we got the connections coupons since the pepper mark is included). Any experience w/getting and using these coupons? Any problems with them? Any problems with charges appearing on your bill? How long did it take to get the coupons?
Any and ALL feedback is greatly appreciated. Also any "budget" suggestions on how to stretch our $$ on this trip will be greatly appreciated. We haven't bee to WDW in 4 years now and I feel I've no longer got the system "down pat" like I used to.
TIA
Carolyn

[Connears]

There are three types of vouchers:

Breakfast: good for any sitdown breakfast including the character meals(not Swan/Dolphin) and these are 17.75

quick&casual: these are good for almost all the counter service restaurants at the parks(except some carts) and many of the food courts in resorts. Good for one entree, side, drink, dessert for 11.50

Kingdom luncheon: good for sit-down restaurants in parks/resorts but only for lunch. They are 27.75 (higher now I think).

We have used the breakfast and q&c and love them. Nice to have some meals pre-paid. CM know about them and you don't have any problems using them. They also include tax and gratuity so they are good deal in that respect. B&C is a great use of the coupon and you get well worth the 11.25 (we have used them 2 times there) and I did hear that Pepper Market is also well worth it. We have used them at Pecos Bill in MK, Tangierine Cafe in Morroco, Fodd and Fun in Contemporary; Cosmic Rays in MK, Electric Umbrella in FW(Epcot);ABC Commissary in MGM.

We were connections members (yearly membership was $79.00)and always had great service from them; although others have had issues. If you join for a trial $1/one month, make sure you cancel on time or they will charge you for the year. You can buy up to 40 of each kind of voucher per year. they increased the yearly fee significantly($139/yr) so I did not rejoin. They also had great discounts on park passes at IOA, US and WDW along with Blockbuster, TOYRUS and other restaurants so we have gotten our $79! Hope this helps. We have seen people selling these vouchers for WAY over value at e-bay..I don't recommend that. Floridaorlandotickets.com now sells these at a higher price than connections but they are the same vouchers. There is no fee with Floridaornadotickets.com and Hotwiresavingsclub.com has a $1 trial monthly membership ( and same price as connections). WE DO LOVE HAVING THESE AND used 6 BREAKFAST AND 12 Q& C TO USE FOR OUR 12/28-1/02/04 TRIP.

Connears

[Owl]

A few unanswered questions... I was trying to see on the website how you order the vouchers... Looking for the $11.50 ones since we're not doing any character (or big) breakfasts this trip. Are you only able to order on-line or can you call it in? How long does it take when you place an order till it's sent/received? We're leaving in 18 days so I don't know if I've got enough time to enroll and then place the order.
TIA
Carolyn

[pixi]

and does anyone know what the current expiration date on the vouchers is?

[Tagrel]

Mousesavers.com has a great writeup on meal vouchers. They are available from other sources besides Connections, but I think they are a bit higher in cost. The entire connections company has seen many problems, and while some people have used Connections with no trouble, not everyone is that lucky.

I'd read this page for a great explaination: WDW Meal Vouchers (http://www.mousesavers.com/mealvouchers.html)

[NavyDotz]

i got my vouchers thru Hotwire.com - they have a new savings club you can join for a monthly fee & can cancel @ any time, i think the 1st month is free also
I cant remember how quickly i got them back - i know that's a big concern since your trip is so close

they are great - we used a lot of the Q&C @ ASMo for either lunch & dinner & even used a couple of breakfast vouchers there too after we had a medical problem that kept us @ the hotel instead of going to some planned PS's

this was my 1st time using them & the staff was great, telling me i could even go back & get items since it was already included on the voucher.

it helped saving my cash & not having a hugh CC bill once i got home because the meals were already pre-paid

also no problem using them @ the restaurants in the park - all the staff know about them seem to like that you are using them, if i remember correctly the tip is included in the voucher

also i did some comparisons b4 i ordered because sometimes it saved using cash instead of the voucher even factoring in tax & tip (esp if you are planning on using them for childrens meals, so make sure you check)

[Connears]

I did order all our vouchers from connections on line. It was thru dealpass.com. Since I'm not a member anymore, I think the 1 month trial at Hotwire savings is worth it. Like I said previously, there were many negative comments about connections(you can read many threads from disgruntled patrons), but I got wonderful service for every order. Never a problem.
Connears

[Owl]

OK.. I ordered a trial membership through hotwire....
originally they said I had to wait 72 hrs.. not so
I was able to order tonight.. since we "hopefully" will be leaving on the 19th. I also ordered some movie tickets while I was at it..
it was a hard decision how many to order..
I'll keep everyone posted.
Thanks for the help.
Carolyn

[Owl]

Well, as I posted earlier.. I order a trial membership with HotwireSavings a week ago Monday evening.. Thursday the movie passes and vouchers showed up in mail via Airborn Express.. very fast..
then I started thinking.. about how many tickets we had, and that the 7day hopper plus were a good savings and that we "might" need for meal vouchers. So Tuesday (2/10) I ordered a few more vouchers .. just to be safe, movie tickets (since no expir date) another 7day child hopper plus (Alex can use it this time, Libby on subsequent trips or upgrade it) and a ToysRUs cert (there's a rebate which I can do before month's end). Well I got everything today.. mighty quick and to let everyone's who's interested....
the Quick & Casual vouchers now have a May 2005 expiration date
the ones I got last week were the old ones with 2004 so if we don't use all of them, I'm sure they won't be wasted.
Let you know further outcome w/membership.
TIA
Carolyn

[MargaretJ]

Thanks Carolyn I am interested in hearing about how you used them when you get back from your trip.

[Owl]

Just got back late last night...
Margaret...
the q&c vouchers really work out nicely, exp. if you're staying at Coronado Springs.. we were staying at CBR but had stayed at CSR many times and really liked the Pepper Market. The food court at CBR didn't really appeal to us. We REALLY got great value w/the vouchers, especially if you plan ahead of time AND if you're hearty eaters... (or in our case had the kids split the meal)... an example.. 1 prime rib (huge) dinner w/potatoe and very generous grilled vegg ($18.95), smoothie drink ($3.95) <we already had a mug which I traveled down with so that the kids also had lemonade though they usually drank water> and a really yummy choc. oreo cake ($4 ish I think) all was included in voucher AND could feed 2 easily... fruity smoothy was treat there and took cake in togo box for snack in park or room later. Mike had grilled ahi tuna for his main dish since he wasn't too fond of beef. If you'd like any additional info, please contact me directly (I still have 3 leftover that have a 5/05 exp. date). I know you travel w/your son and I think you may find these a good way to budget. We ate VERY well and didn't blow the bank. Also used it one night at Beaches and Cream... saw MANY folks using them. We had a GREAT waitress (Darlene) who brought 2 lemonades for kids (not just 2 straws) and we had double bacon cheese burger and mudslide for the sweet... they didn't bat an eye on the vouchers... and we only used one.. 'cause it was a "treat" and not a meal... (oh I forgot the onion rings there).

[MargaretJ]

Carolyn thanks for the update. I joined HotWire.com & bought four of them. We know we are going to use one at Beaches & Cream & have been checking the Menus at Deb Wills site.

So how was your trip? Want to hear all about it.