Not A WDW Food Fan...What To Do....

[viluvsdisney]

Hi - our family is not a Disney parks food family. Some of it's good - but we've never come across any meal that we just loved and thought was worth the amount we spent on it (I.e. character meals or sit down meals). We've eaten at many of the Epcot locations, all but one of the sit down locations at MK, all but MamaM at Hollywood Studios, etc. We find ourselves "snacking" through out the parks. A turkey leg here and there, frzn bananas (lol) light counter service items like french fries for the kids, etc. We usually eat dinner off property just to save on costs.

Just wondering if there's another group out there and how they combat the problem of eating through out the day. Our groups consists of myself, DH, DD10, and DS6. We have no food restrictions/special diets or allergies. But we don't like feeling so full after a meal that you feel like you have to nap. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[RCMommy]

What about just sharing meals ? Then you can cut back on costs and you will not feel so full. Even if you are not overly crazy about the food in the restaurants it bets snacking on odd things all day long. (and should mean healthier options as well)

Honestly I find the snacking foods is what gets pricey! Those little things here and there add up big time.

I am not a 'sharer' but I would rather share a meal with my hubby in a sit down area then walking around muching on one of those turkey legs!

[viluvsdisney]

Are you able to split entrees at WDW?

[TDC Nala]

You cannot share one meal between two or more people who are age 3 or over at any buffet, or all you can eat family style, or fixed price, fixed menu restaurant. Sharing the all you can eat skillet at Whispering Canyon is not permitted, everyone who eats from the skillet will be charged for it. If you use the dining plan, Beaches & Cream does not permit sharing entrees (they do if you pay OOP). There's been one report (and so far only one report) that California Grill may now have a no-sharing policy for dining plan users. Other than that, you should have no problem sharing entrees. But it's up to each individual a la carte restaurant, not a policy throughout the WDW resort.

[brergnat]

You can absolutely share entrees at the table service restaurants at WDW, so long as you are not at a buffet or "family style all you can eat" type restaurant, as mentioned.

SOME places may impose a "split plate charge" if you elect to share an entree, but the majority do not. The ones that DO are few and far between, and will be the more expensive signature restaurants.

We share all the time! It's the best way to go. No feeling overly full. Being able to try an appetizer, entree, AND dessert.

We frequently share counter service meals too. They are sometimes really big...

But, I'm with you on "snacking here and there". We do that too, but usually try to choose the healthier stuff, like the fruits and veggies at the stands, the soft pretzels, yogurt parfaits, etc.

[Missytara]

I like to have a long, leisurely dinner with a few glasses of wine, so I also snack during the day with carrot sticks, etc.

I took my mom a few years ago, and she is a very light eater. We did share plates. We didn't do any buffets and the only place that charged us a nominal plate fee was Rainforest Cafe.....

[TheGoofster]

One great way to save on cost is to order a double burger (cheesburger) at a CS restaurant, and an extra bun (costs like a dollar or so for the bun). Then just make 2 burgers out of the one double. This works especially well where there is a good fixings bar (like Pecos Bills). We did this a lot on our last trip, and also brought our own flavor packs for the water. Typically we would pay less than 20 dollars for a good meal for the 4 of us by doing this.

[viluvsdisney]

any other suggestions on healthy snack options and where they're located?

[eliza61]

Will you have transportation. I find that the price I save eating off site more than pays for any rental, if I don't have my own. Also the food is always better. If you go to the crossroads shopping plaza which is about a mile from DTD you will find a plethero of restaurants.

We will do a counter service meal at the world. We like Beaches and cream. Las April after 7 days of very mediocre meals (nothing horrible, but when you go to a steak house and the best thing about it is the bread, you know you're in trouble. LOL), we've decided to just let go of disney dining. Not worth the price and the hassle of ADR's. Our 11 day trip in August we ate 3 meals on site.

[PrincessTrisha]

What about bringing in some of your own snacks?

Also, depending on the time of year you go and how late the parks are open, an option that we used when I was young was we would be at the park at opening (after having breakfast) have a snack mid morning that we had brought with us and then leave the park around 2pm as the crowd peaks. We would go off site to eat and then back to the hotel for a swim or shopping and then return to the parks as many are looking for dinner options (around 5 or 6pm) and then stay to park close. Usually, we'd buy something in the park in the late evening like a special snack or ice cream. So really we had two meals a day (breakfast and a late lunch/early dinner) and a couple of snacks through the day (one prepurchased and one bought at the park).

[viluvsdisney]

Eliza - thank you for understanding We do get our own car rental for this exact reason....any suggestions for off property eating?

[GrammyJudy]

We often order the childrens meal off the CS menu for the adults as well as it is plenty of food and much cheaper. Always share the chicken parm at Tony's with my daughter...more that enough for 2.

[viluvsdisney]

any snack suggestions? Our toughest eating at is at HS....

[PrincessTrisha]

At DHS, try the Starring Rolls Bakery - they have some good snack items.