Stove Decoration - Do you use it?

[Niagara2]

We have the availability of that lovely white stove decoration each trip to our home away from home. Actually, I hate to admit it but I use it each and every trip. We have cooked a whole turkey dinner to using tea kettle and everything inbetween. We usually go for four visits a year and really feel at home. We both work ALOT and do not get to cook like we would like at home so a really good home cooked meal is done each trip. We have used a Grand Villa a few times and ran out of room in the fridge!! Once we turned it on only once, but it was a short visiit!! Do you cook? Do you warm and reheat? Breakfast only? Any hints to help with the terrible fry pan? Any pot, pan or dish missing to help make the dinner easier? We always need more large and medium bowls for left overs (even from restaurants to warm up) and storage of misc. stuff. We tried jello and pudding - glasses worked and then we ran out of those. Good thing we never went as far as to bake (LOL)!!!!:pinkbounc :bounce: :pinkbounc :bounce:

[Disney Doll]

I don't think we've ever used the stove, except to heat water for tea. We usually have easy breakfast food in the room (bagels, cereal etc) and some snacks.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I use that decoration all the time. No turkey dinner, but, lots of other things. :)
I DO NOT use the vacuum decoration EVER!!!! I do check to see if it is there and that is it. LOL

[Niagara2]

Gail - The queen of naming the stove a decoration and now the Vac - way to go!!! We started as members when the kids were 2 and 3 so we got to use that pretty decoration each day way back then.:rolleyes:

[Margie J]

I cook every time I'm "home". I even bring recipe cards and spices with me. :D

[alikat99]

We just stayed for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The only thing that we used the stove for this time was to bake chocolate chip cookies. They were great, right out of the warm oven. But, I never even thought about the vacuum.

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Hi,
Cannot take credit for naming the stove a decoration, that honor goes to another VERY clever member.
I bring my griddle with me to make pancakes and also my bacon rack to "nuke" the bacon.
Never made choc. chip cookies, but, brownies are GREAT.

[mikesmom]

We DO use the stove decoration for everything from full breakfasts to pizza. I never thought of buying dough and making cookies, though. My DS is a homemade cookie fanatic and would love it, I'm sure. Thanks so much for the idea.

By the way, we always use the fying pan with no problem. We follow the Julia Child principle on vacation and toss in a pat of butter. No stick and adds flavor! I know, not politically correct for those of you who cut fat at every opportunity, but let him him NEVER eats desserts, ice cream, etc at WDW cast the first stone, LOL. ;)

[Patricia]

I am with DisneyDoll. In fact, I don't think we have even used the stove for tea. In HH and Vero I have cooked but never at WDW. We eat simple breakfasts:Eggos, fruit, Poptarts, muffins. THat is it,the rest we eat out in the parks or at the hotel restaurants.

[Renee']

Okay, so this one took me a minute. I kept re-reading thinking "I've never seen any decorations on the stove". I finally caught on....better late than never I guess. :rolleyes: I definitely use the stove. I've baked chicken, pizza and made a few casseroles. I love to cook both on and off vacation. I use the heck out of that washer & dryer too. I love having clean clothes to take home. I have even used the vacuum (only once though).

[Luv2Dream]

Well, most of you really beat me on the stove decoration. I use it to make eggs, mostly. Never made a true dinner. I also really use the washer/dryer and I did notice the vac but never actually touched it! It's the jacuzzi decoration that I enjoy the most though!

[maureenmac]

If you check the supermarkets you'll find Gladware etc that isn't too expensive. If you bring the containers with you and you throw them away at the end of your stay, who cares? They also have disposable pans for the oven that can go in the micro and freezer. I find there aren't enough bowls or containers, so I bring them with me. The best part is they go in the dishwasher. I bought small containers in the camping store to put the spices in and buy the s&p plastic shakers at the market for .99 and bring them. We usually eat dinner in about 1/3 of the time and breakfast most of the time. Of course, the snacks and munchies to go with soda, beer and wine are a must. By using netgrocer.com, I only have to shop for the refrigerated and frozen food. I have never touched the vacuum.

[KimOhio]

Gail thanks for making me laugh. I did not know there was a vacuum cleaner either, I will have to check on sunday 6/24 when I am there (doing the happy dance) LOL. Kim;)

[DisneyMim]

Cute thread!! Have never used the stove in ten years. I do use the stove top to heat water for tea. We have breakfast in, but only things like muffins, etc. We use the washer and dryer a lot, I love clean clothes and hate to pack dirty ones for the trip home. I will confess to using the vacuum. I had to laugh about the stove decoration because my kids usually open it and look inside each trip because they know that Mim is NEVER going to use it!!

[Peggy Sue]

I always admire how clean the stove decoration is..I always open up the oven door and peer inside, breath a sigh of satisfaction that I have at last arrived some place that actually has a clean oven, and it's not just for the first few hours a new stove arrives at your home! And, I didn't have to flip on the clean oven cycle and drain half the electrical power from my community!

We actually used the stove and oven last month. We made egg mcmuffins in the morning, and one evening I heated up a stouffers mac and cheese...it was actually fairly good..combined with a dole bag of ceasar salad! lol!

We will admit to bringing home left overs from our dinners out, and every few days using the microwave to heat up a nice dinner, with lots of variety! lol!

Now, I have seen the vacuum decoration in the closet, but haven't felt the urge to touch it yet. The washer and dryer are given a good work out while we are there. we wash towels every day, and our clothes too..we always go home with clean clothes in our suit case. We really love unpacking and putting stuff back into the drawers at home instead of the laundry basket!

We do enjoy having a full kitchen available. the microwave gets a lot of use with popcorn as a quick evening snack.

I also use that dishwasher decoration every morning..find we have to to make sure we have enough glass ware available!

[MalificentMe]

We have yet to use the stove but, you have got me a bit excited about trying it out!!!! Take care, Tammy:rolleyes:

[Dennis the WDW Menace]

As the King of the stove decoration I use it almost every trip. I make breakfast for the whole gang about 3 or 4 times each trip. I am the cook at home and when we go to WDW. We like going to some early mornings so we catch breakfast those mornings at the park. I have cooked several large dinners for the holidays when we were there and I usually cook some meals and freeze them for dinner when we get back from the parks. My favorite is a caserole I call call "goop", the kids and all of the adults love it and it is a request on every trip to WDW. It's tater tots, hamberger, cream of chicken & mushroom soup, cheese, and top it with fried onions. Freeze it and heat it up in 45 mins. After all of the trips we have made to WDW we got a little tired of the fast food at the parks so we go home in the evening to heat up some great dinners, and it does not take alot of time because of the stove decoration. Of course "goop" is great if you have Kirspy Kreme donuts to follow.
:wave: :wave:

[Regina]

No way! This is one Mom who doesn't cook when she's on vacation.

DH likes tea, so we heat hot water. Other than that, I have never touched that range in 10 years.

I wish I could say that about the one I have here.:(

[tsacyensid]

:jester: Thank you for making me feel like I am not the only one. Being a single mom I use the kitchen more often then not. We usually have breakfast in the room and then an early dinner. I use the washer all the time and well I have a very young child so the vaccuum goes with out saying- darn cheerios make an awful mess from little sneakers. I do it at home so why not my home away from home.

[bres@westernMA]

We have heated up soup and served it with grilled cheese sandwiches (BYO Pam); have heated up quiche, chicken pie and other prepared foods from local grocery stores; have boiled up a pot or two of hot dogs but generally just have bagels or muffins for breakfast and lots of snacks. Vacations come to infrequently to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

[Peter Johnson]

We do pastry and fruit for breakfast, and occasionally get pre-made meals to nuke, but we've never used the stove. Never used the vac either. Those are things we do all year... why do them on vacation? We will admit to doing the dishes and washing clothes several times each trip. The less we have to pack, the better. Our vacation clothes stay in the suitcase in between vacations, so we like to take them home clean.

We did have one person in the unit above us vacuuming one night at 12:30am. We could hear it clunking over the tiles. Get a life! :)

[penguincruiser]

For all of you that use the stove (and why not) I save some empty film canisters and use them to bring spices with me. You can make up your own mixes (chili, pasta etc) before time if you want.

The canisters are airtight and hold enough for a couple of meals and you can chuck them when you've used them.

JJ Penguin

[rbuzzotta]

I thought both the stove and vacuum were ONLY for decoration!!!!! Since I am a stay-at-home mom while in the "real" world....I intend on being a "Queen" at my other home ( we have the 3 princesses)!!

God Bless you all that enjoy cooking on vacation!! As for me, I call 1-WDW DINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[akasleepingbeauty]

Just a note about the film canisters. I have heard that it is not recommended to put any edible items in film canisters due to chemical residue (mercury?) left from the film. I always used to put aspirin etc. in them until I read that it can be dangerous so I quit. So, you may want to check into this before you use them for anything edible in the future.

Can't wait to see my very own stove decoration for the first time in 3/2002!!

[GAIL HAYDEN]

If there is any residue it would be from silver. No harm there since the film canister is sealed and the silver is not released until processing. Wash them first and you will be fine.
Rest easy, you get more residue from fish, and that would be mercury.

[Niagara2]

Bump = anyone else?

[Tigger1]

That stove decoratoin should be left for it purpose, decoration.

I can burn more food on it than at home.

Microwaves are what your really supposed to use to cook food. Also great for drying wet papers.

Tigger

[SleepyatDVC]

Another suggestion besides film cannisters for codimennts, would be mini-M&M flip top bottles. I use them to hold pre-measured infant formula, thanks to a tip I got from another board! I pour out the candy into a glass jar and put it out for guests! :rolleyes:

Course, film cannisters are more readily available and cheaper.:)

[sgtdisney]

We have used the stove 'decoration' a few times on trips but never to make big dinners. We have bought eggs and bacon or pancake mix once in a while, and have used the 'decoration' at lunch time to heat up soup, boil hot dogs or grille sandwiches. The only time we have ever eaten a dinner in the villa was when we ordered pizza in.

And incidentally, we have never used the vacuum cleaner 'decoration'. :)

[Lil]

I must confess.......I use the stove and vaccuum decorations.
We usually stay 7-10 days twice a year in a one bedroom, then 5 days in a studio once a year. Sporadic visits inbetween..
I plan on cooking two full fun meals while in the one bedroom. I enjoy cooking.....but more so......get tired of eating out.

Crumbs on the rug drive me insane.......I am anal about keeping the one bedroom picked up, bed made, towels just so........I guess because it is something I have never achieved here at home. Vacations are my "I wish my house looked this good"...being a kindergarten teacher with all the assorted clutter....a clean one bedroom is kinda nice...but only lasts a short while....then I'm home again.

I don't know what there is about a studio....it doesn't matter what size or location........it looks nice when the door opens for the first time then whamo!!!

[mrsdon]

We use the stove ALL the time and I even bring a crockpot!
We like getting up in the am and taking our time getting ready. The teens shower while Im making breakfast. I shower while they are doing the dsihes and then we're ready to go.
The crockpot comes in handy, cause I put the meat in and trun it on. Its ready when we get back from the parks.

[Jeanne]

I read this whole thread with shock to see no one else has mentioned our favorite use of this stove decoration - extra counter space to drop the bags, and bags of goddies we have purchased. This extra space keeps everything out of our way while trying to get to the beer and wine that is stored in our favorite appliance, and would not want to trip over bags to get to it. We have never found the kitchen lacking in anything other than glasses or coffee cups, but I'm not really sure what is in all of those cabinets. I find the resort resteraunts must have fabulously equipped kitchens, because they have done a very nice job in keeping me over fed on every trip. I recommend the stove decoration as a bag holder, and let the chefs use the kitchens that have been properly equipped. I bet they don't have a frying pan problem.:)

[Jeanne]

bump

[crusoemom]

We used the stove decoration two of our nights the last stay - one for making spaghetti and the other for heating up a frozen lasagna (yummy!). We figured with 4 adults and 3 kids we saved about $100 each time from not eating out.

Now the vacuum decoration - I don't even know where it's located!