Agree - thank you

We are not foodies but do get out to dinner 2-3x per month. Mostly for socialization. Food is ok but not as good as what we found before moving here.

Yeah - I try not to complain too much about the quality of food inside the bubble. I did my homework, and knew I would have to compromise in that area, so that came as no surprise to me. My first year here, I ate out breakfast almost every morning, and dinner 5-6 times per week. I’ve been to every restaurant in the bubble (except Anglers) and most in Leesburg, Wildwood, Lady Lake, Tavares, Summerfield, Inverness , along with a good chunk of Ocala multiple times. I’m down now to eating out for dinner 2-3 times per week - and have vastly narrowed down the bubble restaurants to a small handful. Dining out in the bubble is more for convenience sake as well as to socialize with friends. The best meals are those I cook at home.

Am I getting this right? $1,000 fee to join and $200 a month. Is there a membership renewal every year?
Edit: And you have to pay for the food you eat and the alcoholic beverages you drink.

Sounds like the $200/month is the minimum you must spend on food, or, if you don't go, you still get charged $200...

Much like the "food minimum" at most private country clubs...

The $1000 fee seems to be a one time initiation fee, not a yearly charge...

You get by that minimum pretty quickly in one night. From a recent menu:
Elk Meatloaf: $62.
Veal Chop: $79.
Lobster Tail: $90.
Surf and Turf: $125.
Tomahawk Steak: $145.

It was good.

Skip

Thanks Skip, but we’ll gladly Skip that.

I plan on Skipping that too.

Not counting our CC membership $$$ buy in up north our bar/restaurant fee was $400. Eat drink or not either way thats the monthly fee. Our kids, grands can use the account so it’s not a problem, when we are away.

Yes Anglers monthly fee is $200. Membership fee and food minimum, very clear before you apply for membership, which doesn’t guarantee your acceptance. Anglers has specialty events usually monthly between $80-175 for multi course experience per person.

Average entrée in TV restaurants is $24-60 plus drinks.

In all honesty we easily spend $100-150 every time we go to Disney on food and drink.

For those prices one better love it

Those prices are in-line with what one would pay for fine dining in large metro cities in 2025 - so as long as the experience and food is comparable, I’m OK with that price point - nice to have something a little different here in The Villages.

Elk meatloaf? With catsup on it who could tell?
Veal chop? Baby cow, and only one?
Lobster tail? Better be a 20lb tail!
Surf and turf. Can of sardines and alfalfa sprouts fits that description.
Tomahawk steak? What part of the horse is the tomahawk? Or is it just that tough?

Well, apparently you enjoyed it, and that is really all that matters.
I love coming out of a restaurant and smiling because I would have loved my meal at twice the cost. I hate coming out of a restaurant feeling the meal would have been disappointing at 1/2 the cost.

Good chef.
Paying for better service, clean glasses, etc.
Paying for nicer surroundings.
Paying for the lack of crowds.

Here lies the reason, many don’t post if one chooses better service, unique menu pairing, reserved dining experience. It’s ok to enjoy a nice dinner, even if some don’t understand.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻