Best meal value for the money

[Colleen A.]

Since our big expense on this year's trip is the tickets to MVMCP, we're not going to be eatting in the parks too much. What do you think is the best meal value for the money? We were looking at Cosmic Rays and getting the chicken and mashed potatoes meal plus an extra half chicken (there are 5 of us). Should cost about $21.00. Also the breakfast buffet at Trail's End looks good! All you can eat, adults for $8.99, kids (11 and under! ) are $5.99. How do you eat on a budget?

Colleen

 

[pat fan]

Aunt Polly's had the most economical meal as far as I could tell.Ican't remember exactly what it cost,but I remember thinking it was a super deal.

How about getting a turkey leg and suplementing it with either fruit from a vendor cart or chips or something?You could do that for lunch if you know you're going to have a big dinner,or vice-versa.

The food courts at the AllStars are pretty good too,although I don't know where you are staying.

We were on a budget and here's what we did.

Ate breakfast in the room,cereal boxes from home with milk/fruit from the food court.

Lunch was either our big meal(Garden Grille or Liberty Tree Tavern),grab-n-go or food court at the AllStars.

Dinner was usually food court or grab-n-go,

"Grab-n-go" is like Rosie's All American in MGM,Cantina de San Angel in Mexico(Epcot),El Pirata Y el Perico at PoC in MK.You can't actually GO with those meals,but they were pretty reasonable.We avoided big meals at dinner because the price is so much higher.

 

[busy mom]

Colleen: We found an off-site hotel (Amerisuites) that offers a free breakfast buffet. That is a huge savings for a family of 5. We plan to have a big breakfast and then a late lunch, and snack in between on snacks we bring with us. If we need dinner, we will grab something and take it back to the hotel to enjoy by the pool!

 

[Colleen A.]

We're staying on site at FW so most meals will be eaten in the camper. I did want to do a few meals "out" without spending a fortune. I thought we'd do the Buffeteria on Sunday morning (our "day off") and Cosmic Ray's on our last evening there (Fri). I heard that FW also has a 16" large pizza for something like $12.00. That is also a possibility. We did some character meals last time we were there, but the 5 extra hours in the parks sound a lot better than an hour eatting with Mickey!

Colleen

 

[trustknoone]

Trails' End breakfast is really good, and the cheapest breakfast buffet at WDW. There dinner buffet is pretty good also, and alot cheaper than the other dinner buffets.

Angela

 

[MELSMICE]

Another vote for Trail's End Buffet. Reasonable and very good, both for breakfast and dinner.

 

[Belle5]

The Trail's End Buffet is a great deal at breakfast and lunch. Not so for dinner, IMHO. Check out the prices yourself and compare it's dinner price with other non character buffets such as Boma. The cost is close but the quality, while very good, cannot begin to compare with Boma or Cape May Cafe.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Why don't you check out the link below for all the answers to your questions. It's how I'm planning meals for DH and myself since we're doing it ourselves next year...no more packages!

Good luck!

~~~Denise

RESTAURANT MENUS

 

[GeorgeG]

While it probably isn't the least expensive buffet, the Biergarten may well be the best value if you consider the food, entertainment, and atmosphere.

 

[ellyn2000]

We love Trails End and intend to eat there again this year.

 

[Kermit]

I've heard that the chicken at Cosmic Rays isn't very good and have never tried it. You may want to keep that in mind.

Some of the best meals we've had are also the cheapest. We just buy little things that look good and share. For example, if you share a turkey leg, you'll still have room for a yummy snack and won't have spent much. Epcot is wonderful for grazing. You can buy lots of small things at the various countries.

 

[karin037]

We loved Cosmic Rays. We thought the chicken was very good. We ate there 3 times in November 2001. We kept going back. The family meal was only $16.99 (feeds 3 or 4). The rotissere chicken was good, the mashed potatoes were delicious (made from scratch with red skin potatoes), and the corn muffins were really good too. The family meal was a great value, and it was very good.

 

[mbkteach]

We agree that Cosmic Ray's is a good deal. With our large group over the last two years, we've had burgers, soup, the chicken meal and the caesar salad with chicken. We always split because the portions are big for us. Beverages seem high as they do almost everywhere - again they are huge...so, we split. At counter places such as this, drinking the bottled water that each person carries with him/her can really cut down on eating bills - when you're talking about several people.

 

[campingcorgi]

We always get the Cosmic Ray's chicken, too! I love the chicken and the potatoes!! However, last month they were not serving the corn muffins Hopefully that was just temporary.

 

[cinlee3]

When we were there in Dec. - the counter service places gave you water for free. I didn't find this out until the end of our trip, until then DH and I always shared a soft drink.

 

[*Flower*]

As far as drinks go-
If we're both really thirsty, we order a large cup of soda with no ice, and ask for 2 cups of ice.
This way we can split the soda, and save $$$ to boot!!

We just did this over the July 4 weekend (HOT!!!) and the CMs didn't even bat an eye!

 

[ChiTownZee]

Hot Dog on Main Street! $2.50 and you get a great view!

 

[Colleen A.]

Wen did the hot dogs on Main St last time and sat down and waited for the fireworks. When you consider we had to buy 5, $12.50 for hot dogs alone seemed kind of expensive...then, of course, they were still hungry and needed popcorn, then they got thirsty and needed a drink.....

Colleen