Best bang for the buck? $15 gift card

[aprilfoolwed]

DD is going with her school band. They are getting $15 gift cards to cover lunch each day (one day in each park). DD is hoping to stretch her $15 as much as possible to get lunch and a snack out of it.

What is the best bang for her buck in each park? If she wants something "lunch" but not necessarily a full meal. I know some places have little sandwiches or snacks that are almost a full meal.

Thanks for sharing your tips!

 

[sharonabe]

If she can drink water with her meal, she can eat her lunch at just about any QS location. They all have some entrees in the $10 range. And they all have kid's meals that are around $7-8. Anyone can order a kid's meal, but they are pretty small.

She might still need a $1-2 to get a snack. Most ice cream and popcorn type snacks are $3.99-4.99 PLUS tax and the QS meals also charge tax.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would also recommend simply ordering a kids' meal. She will get a small side and a drink with it and should have plenty of money left over to get a snack.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Does it have to be a Disney snack? If not, I'd pack a few offerings from my local supermarket or Target's. Granola bars, fruit or applesauce cups, whatever she likes that doesn't need refrigeration. Eating utensils are easy to get from any QS site.
Another vote for water as the drink of choice for lunch since hydration is a good thing and she can get it for free.

If she's adept with a plastic knife and fork and is traveling w/ a like minded friend, sharing a 1/2 rotisserie chicken with sides from Cosmic Ray's @ MK makes for a nice lunch at about 7.50 per person. Same for smoked turkey leg plus salad available at a few MK spots. Both will allow a nice chunk of change for a Disney snack treat.

At Epcot, a stop at Katsura Grill, will give a relaxing atmosphere to put up weary "dogs" as well as a substantial lunch.
Same for Sommerfest (lot's of shade but crowded seating). Personally, I recommend the frankfurter over bratwurst but that's just me. If the budget allows spring for a ginormous pretzel and split it with a friend or just eat the remainder the next day or so. Took three of us to eat 2 pretzels over 2 days, LOL.

HTH!

 

[Mome Rath]

I would just generally tell her to look at the kid's meal offerings. My mother and I both can eat just a kid's meal and be full. As a PP said, they come with a small drink (it can be a small bottle of water). If she gets the bottle of water she can also ask for an ice water, then she can drink the ice water with her meal and take the bottle of water with her.

 

[OurLaughingPlace]

If she bought a refillable popcorn bucket (I believe original cost is around $11) then she can fill it up as many times as she'd like (for a cost of $1.50). Over time, this makes an affordable snack and she gets a souvenir to take home (my DD uses it for pens/pencils on her desk). She can get regular popcorn or flavored popcorn (at Epcot they have cheddar, sour cream and buffalo chicken and I believe maple at Epcot and MK, although I haven't had maple yet). The only downside to this is having to carry the bucket around.
Affordable meal suggestions
MK- Sleepy Hollow -waffle with nutella/fruit
Epcot- France Bakery- ham and cheese croissant

 

[2PrincessesRmine]

Just a word of advice from someone who has been on band trips. Remind her to make sure she stays hydrated and that she eats well. Also, since she most likely knows from experience, tel her to remind her friends! So many kids go on these trips and don't eat and drink enough and get sick. Our group does breakfast vouchers, if her group does too, you can get a big breakfast at the resorts and pack some to go. And if something happens where she oversleeps or something and doesn't get breakfast before the parks, there is at least one place in each park where they can use them.
I hope she has a great trip!

 

[aprilfoolwed]

These are all excellent suggestions. Thanks!

She’s done Disney enough to sort of know what to do, but she’s always had mom to remind her. Lol

She knows about free ice water and isn’t shy about getting that. The kids meals are a great idea. She could eat even two spread out over the afternoon.

They get a breakfast voucher to use at the resort, and another voucher for dinner, so she will have full meals then. We are also sending her with gift cards to fill in the gaps, but we tend to be budget minded. . She knows she can buy more souvenirs if she’s frugal with meals.

We will send granola bars in her suitcase as well.

I just wish I was going with her! I love planning!

 

[2PrincessesRmine]

She will have plenty of food! Our kids just get a breakfast voucher and a $15 meal card. They don't even get a dinner voucher. She should be fine.

 

[mom-2greatkids]

When my kids were little they loved getting plain white rice at Katsura Grill in Japan. They'd sit outside by the pond and eat it with chopsticks. At the time the rice was only $1.00 each.

Fast forward to DD's band trip a couple years ago. She brought a bunch of her friends to Katsura for an inexpensive lunch of white rice.

 

[NYCgrrl]

When my kids were little they loved getting plain white rice at Katsura Grill in Japan. They'd sit outside by the pond and eat it with chopsticks. At the time the rice was only $1.00 each.

Fast forward to DD's band trip a couple years ago. She brought a bunch of her friends to Katsura for an inexpensive lunch of white rice.

I bet my then kiddos and current grand kid would love that with the addition of edamame. That crew is nothing w/o their veggies.