Dinner suggestions for those who don't like to cook on vacation?

[mirlow]

We are going to stay at the BWV this July:D This will be our first stay at a home away from home. I like the fact that we have a kitchen, but I don't like to cook on vacation. We will be at WDW for 10 nights (splitting our stay at the PR). We have 3 young kids and eating out all the time can get very tiring. I was hoping to get some suggestions from those who are more familiar with staying at a DVC. What have you done for dinner that doesn't entail much work?

[eva]

We've bought the salad in a bag with Louis Rich chicken strips for a nice chicken salad. Serve along with a loaf of French bread and a dessert. The new pasta bakes by Ragu would be a quick meal too. Just pour the pasta in a baking dish with the sauce and water and bake. You could serve this with salad and French bread too. Of course be sure to have plenty of quick meals or snacks like frozen pizzas and chicken strips with fries. Sometimes we even cook breakfast for dinner. I've always brought my own skillet though. Pancakes would sure stick to the one provided. I'm not sure if there are grills provided at BWV, but we have used the grills at OKW near the pools for a great steak dinner. We buy the one time Match Light bag of charcoal and a few extras from the deli for a nice cookout.

Oh no! I have a feeling that we are going to see some pigs' feet in this thread!

[Dean]

The frozen entree items like lazagne, chicken pot pies and the like. Sam's has an array of frozen items from chicken sandwiches, burgers, wings, stir fry, etc. Salads are good and can be bought prepackaged as well. We too like to grill steaks with backed potatoes or burgers with fries (baked) or chips and beans. My brother has a good taco salad recipe that's easy to fix.

Also things like canned beans, corn, instant potatoes and the like. Don't forget fresh fruit which can go well with a large salad.

The grill at BW, only one now I think, is a large one located by the quiet pool. It requires briquets which I find less convenient than gas for a quick meal.

It really depends on what you like personally and what compromizes you want to make. Good luck and enjoy.

[Richyams]

Ahh, I was wrong. When I saw Dean had posted, I figured he had cut and pasted my pig's feet recipe.

[Dean]

Originally posted by Richyams
Ahh, I was wrong. When I saw Dean had posted, I figured he had cut and pasted my pig's feet recipe. No pigs feet, head cheese, chitlins, sardines, spam, souse or anything along those lines. Sorry to disappoint you.

[ripleysmom]

Hamburger Helper and Spaghetti are always easy choices. Cold Cuts and Salads would be good as well.

[Nanajo1]

We are considering bringing a George Foreman grill next time. Is that allowed?

[ripleysmom]

Of course. Cooking is permitted and encouraged in a DVC Villa!!

[Regina]

LOL Eva. My first thought was "oh no, here comes the Pig's feet!":(

My family loves it when we have pizza delivered. We kick back, relax, and have a casual meal "home."

That's the extent of "cooking" that I do on vacation.;)

[Aurora2000]

I am with DVCreg order pizza or run down to the snack bar and bring it back up to your room or even order room servoce chicken and such for those nights when you dpn't want to venture out to the restaurants .

[wdwnut]

hi: there is a grill available near the community hall and quiet pool area at bwv. we've never used it though. the frozen pizza isn't too bad. if you are stopping for groceries on the way in, check out all the frozen/easy fixing dinner ideas at albertson's or publix.

[Richyams]

If anyone wants the pig's feet recipe, just let me know.

[VickiVM]

We'll be staying at BCV this fall and we also will have 3 kids with us, so eating out for all (or even most) meals will be too expensive. Here's what I've planned out tentatively for meals:
B-fast: *Cereal
*Cinnamon Rolls (the refrigerated ones from Pillsbury
that you bake)
*Pancakes, bacon
*The requisite pop-tarts
Lunch: *Hot dogs
*Sandwiches
*Frozen Pizza
Chips, carrot sticks, salad etc to go with all these meals.
Dinner: *Quesadillas (super easy to make - the kids like them
with cheese & chicken, we like to add salsa, sour cream
and advocados to them)
*Hamburgers w/all the fixings
*Spaghetti and salad & bread

I figure all these meals would take as long to make and eat as it would to stand in line and get served in the parks.

We have only one character b-fast, two sit-down lunches and one sit-down dinner planned.

Does anyone know if there will be an outside grill at BCV??


Richyams, I'll bite...what's your pigs feet recipe?

[dianeschlicht]

No need to pack the grill. OKW has grills near all the pools.

[dianeschlicht]

OOPs!! Just realized you are staying at BWV, and I am not sure if they have grills or not. Just ask here though, and someone can give you that information.

[MarkRG]

I'd suggest the frozen family meals such as On-Cor and Stouffer's have if you really want an almost no-cooking meal. We usually get 1 or two of the On-Cor ones (the mostacholli(sp?) and meatballs or chicken strips with rotini are good picks) and a pizza or two.

For whoever wants to bring the George Foreman- there is something as useful and a lot smaller to pack. Look at Linens 'n things or Bed Bath and Beyond, it's an aluminum stove top tray designed to fit over two burners and one side has the same channels as the GF grill. You'll still get your less grease cooking that way, but it's a lot smaller! :) It also works great for doing things in the oven the same way.

[dizfanz]

While you are at the BWV, you might want to try the take-out window at Spoodles downstairs. It is very good.

[bres@westernMA]

Order pizza, the front desk will tell you who is best. We always buy bagels, muffins or toaster stuff for breakfast and stock up with PB&J for sandwiches. We get tired of eating out after three or four days.
We have had good luck with grilled cheese and cold cut sandwiches (all ingredients purchased right at the resort) and soup (of course that was December). You can get condiments from take out places. You could try chicken fingers, serve with caesar salad (bag) for the adults and french fries for the kids or any heat and eat frozen dinner. We usually stop at Goodings or Winn Dixie and get the ready to heat stuff like chicken pies or lasagna.

[jmminarik]

Well, my first reaction was 'Well, Let your wife cook!', but I realize I'm the abnormal one and in most households cooking works the other way around. :)

If you can stomach more 'restaurant' food, you can always save your left overs for the next day if you're heading back to the room after a meal.

Crock pot meals also work well, as there's little human involvement in the cooking process. But, you'd need to bring one and there would still be a little prep work.

-Joe

[mirlow]

Thanks everyone for some great suggestions. Does the store at the BWV have much of a selection? We might not be renting a car and even if we have a grocery stop with a limo service it wouldn't do much good because we are at the Polynesian for 6 nights before we go to the BWV. Are the convenience stores the same at every home away from home?

[DeeP]

All the resort stores have basically the same things with the DVC resort stores having more because they have a pretty good variety of frozen foods, i.e. pizza, tv dinners, frozen breakfast entrees, etc. They also have all the basics: bread, milk, juice, eggs, bacon, etc. The prices are pretty high, IMHO. You can do much better at a grocery store off site or even the convenience store that is attached to the gas station on the corner right down from Boardwalk main entrance has basically the same things and lower prices. You will love BW, it is a fantastic resort!!

[nezy]

Uh-Oh DeeP--are trying to get Richyams going w/ that last comment?

For us a trip to Wal-Mart or Publix is always required!
We always get the pre-cooked fajita flavored frozen chicken and make fajitas (I think someone else mentioned fajita's).
Always have breakfast in room-cereal, frozen waffles, pancakes--easy but filling.

If you are hanging out by the pool cheese and crackers and frit and yogurt always hold us, dispersed w/ treats for the kidslike ice cream. At BW you can get hot dogs and such on the Boardwalk.

Frozen Pizzas are good, pasta and any Stouffers family size meal, All can be supplemented w/ salad & bread, as previously mentioned. No matter how prepared and what you bring, the kids always want a little something special that you have to buy at the resort!

I always bring candy or lollipops from home w/ Disney characters for in the parks. as an extra treat.

When in doubt PBJ!!
George Foreman grill souds like a good idea.

[DeeP]

Uh-Oh DeeP--are trying to get Richyams going w/ that last comment?

To tell you the truth, nezy, Richyams never even entered my mind when I answered the post! I am almost positive the orginial poster said they were staying at BWV and I answered based on the store at the BWV resort. And BWV is a fantastic resort, I was just stating a fact, no thought of RY intended in my answer at all, believe me!! :rolleyes:

[Jeanne]

First day at WDW DH always heads to the closest Einstein Bagels and get a dozen with cream cheese. Our kids love to go to the general store or the gournet store at Epcot and pick out a selection of crackers, cheese, sausage, dips, herring, etc. for hor's devours on the balcony dinner. They tend to graze as we watch what is happening on the boardwalk. Add a bottle of wine, and everyone is happy. It is a family fav and one night of grazing is planned for each trip. Left overs always are eaten.

[joepoe]

Originally posted by mirlow
We have 3 young kids and eating out all the time can get very tiring. I was hoping to get some suggestions from those who are more familiar with staying at a DVC. What have you done for dinner that doesn't entail much work?

You can order in pizza, of course! We have also made spaghetti. Hot dogs are quick. All the junk our kids eat at home is easily transferable to a DVC kitchen.

This may sound goofy, but sometimes we have cereal for dinner!

[dianeschlicht]

I have to agree with most of the other suggestions. Have you thought about packing a few boxes of Mac and Cheese? You can add things to these like frozen peas, tuna, hot dogs etc. and the kids love them!

[auntsue]

Where is the gourmet store in Epcot?

[DeeP]

Where is the gourmet store in Epcot?

I am trying to figure this one out also????? I know about and have shopped many times at the Gourmet Pantry in DTD but I can't place a gormet store in Epcot.

[nezy]

Of course DeeP, my RY statement was tongue in cheek!

I love the "grazing" idea and the cereal. I am trying to convince my family that a meal does not have to consist of a 3 to 7 course event! All of the snacks that are eaten during the day "was your lunch" I often say.