Best way to save on food?

[Flossbolna]

mousesavers has some great tips: http://www.mousesavers.com/meals.html

 

[verlee]

And boy did they ever! Your not alone..I'm sorry to say, you said what I was thinking. It's not beyond the realm of possiblity that one takes a vacation they cannot afford...I didn't say you are..just said that it is possible.

This current economic situation is due to just that.

I happen to agree with you. I'm going in a little over a week and I am not by any means rich..just an average "jane". But..if I had to worry about splitting food and accounting for every cent it would not be worth the trip.

NOT saying your doing that..just saying I wouldn't.

Please do not take this as a flame. I just think that the previous poster really jumped to conclusions about my motives. And stated her/his opinion in a negative way. Call us weird ( many people do so you would be in good company ) but we always vacation this way. I over plan. We budget more on vacation then we do at home. That said, Many times we end up going over budget but I like to aim high. I will not deny my kids a mickey ice cream... They will have fun and not have to eat beans out of a can.

I just think it was a huge jump from us wanting to save money on food, to us being in the poor house and sacrificing all to go to wdw. Nothing could be further from the truth. I should have just ignored it. It just got under my skin. Thank you for giving your opinion with respect. Ok sorry, I won't mention it again.

Thank you everyone for the input on portion sizes, and food ideas. That really helps.

 

[verlee]

I think there a few places that are really big in portions!

Main street bakery has huge cinnamon rolls that could easily be shared for breakfasts and not to mention funnel cakes around the parks(not a nutritous breakfast but hey its your holiday!)

We have eaten at several counter service locations and found the place opposite POTC to give big portions. I had a chicken wrap that looked like a log I barely ate any of it!

Flame Tree Barbeque also gives big portions as well as Cosmic Rays. The Hollywood Studios is a difficult place as they don't have a lot of counter service locations to choose from so a picnic at this park would be a good idea!

We found that the desserts that come with meals are too much to eat just after and so we saved these for breakfasts! obviously this only works for non melty things!

Sunshine Seasons in Epcot seems like a place where you get a lot for your money! and there is a lot to choose from!

At pop you can get dominos pizza delivered there so that might be an idea for a dinner!

Very helpful info. Thank you. Especially about the limited CS in HWS, and portion sizes.

 

[Sabrina90744]

I don’t think you’ll find complete meals for $15 for 4, but maybe you could bring in sides, chips, nuts, small salad then split two pizzas or burgers. Buying the double burgers and getting an extra bun might work to.

 

[abirdd]

I am a big planner, and we always had the DDP up until our 2007 trip. Discovered the plan offered far too much food for our family, and it felt like we were wasting (I don't know how many desserts we gave away or threw out).

In any case, like a couple of posters have mentioned - KIDS MEALS! Both DH and I find they offer a great value, and since we prefer fruit over french fries, it's a wonderful alternative. Now, we do still frequent buffets or TS - but in the same token, knowing you can get a decent meal with drink for under $5 is something to keep in mind.

Also, follow some of the tips on Mousesavers. The two slices of toast option (the CM's will tell you to look for PB or Jelly in the condiment section) is great at the resorts, especially if your kiddos are not big eaters or if you need a pick me up!

 

[tinka-belle]

FYI, the ham & cheese crossant in the French Bakery at Epcot is not very big. It's very tasty, but maybe 4 or 5 bites. We made a light lunch out of a croissant and a chocolate mousse for dessert.

 

[califred]

the ham and cheese croissant is my favorite thing, but only heated up..

last time we went there were 3 of us , 3 adults and 2 kids and we ate mostly counter service minus (two TS meals) and we'd split everything. We'd get a kids meal (my kids were 3 and 6) and then and adult meal with an extra side or two and we were fine and it saved us a lot. But i still don't think it was 15 bucks (again though we were feeding 3 adults, not two)

 

[cymbaldiva]

Way back when I was a fan of ordering the kids meals as a way to get a lighter meal and save some $$, but now I couldn't in good conscience recommend it - now the kids meals are tiny portions of extremely dumbed down food. I feel bad for the poor children who have to eat them

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I don't understand why in the world, just because people are looking to save some money on their food expenses while on vacation, people jump to assume they shouldn't be going because they can't afford to?!?!?!?! That drives me nutso!!!!
Guess what!?! The family that is eating a picnic lunch of pb&j sandwhiches, goldfish and juices boxes they brought in a cooler may be on their 6th trip to Disney that year,are debt free and have $300,000 in savings. The couple dining at Victoria and Alberts, wearing designer clothing, may be adding another $350 to their already exisiting $175,000 credit card debt after enjoying their meal.

Sorry to get off subject OP... You are getting lots of excellent $$ saving advice!

 

[LiteBrite]

OP, I think you could accomplish feeding your family of 4 at a CS for $15 if you really put your mind to - this is keeping in mind that you already said none of you are big eaters. If you and your hubby split a meal, your kids split a kid's meal, you supplement with a side or a dessert to share, and you all drink water, you could easily come in for $15 or less.

Hubby and I routinely split CS meals. Most of the time we leave feeling satisfied, but we figure if we're still hungry later, that leaves more room for a Mickey bar if we want it. We don't feel the need to stuff ourselves at every meal.

I have also ordered lots of kid's meals. I particularly like the one at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot with a rotisserie chicken leg, 2 sides and a small beverage for $4.50. Hubby and I also once split a kid's meal at the Yak and Yeti CS to have as a snack when we were hungry between meals.

As others have said, it helps to eat breakfast in the room, and carry some snacks from home with you (crackers, pretzels, etc.).

Budget on, sister!

 

[fuji]

At DHS you can go to Pizza planet and get 2 combo meals which are a pizza and salad (maybe a drink) and have plenty of food. for $15-$18. Also planet Hollywood has huge portions and great prices and if you have a MYW package through WDW you get a coupon for $15 off your meal.

 

[DisneyDork712]

Food is really expensive. $15 for a meal for 4 is not reallistic.

I understand how magical disney is and how everybody really really wants to go but in these economic times if you have to resort to splitting a hot dog 3 ways or splitting meals or seaching out the cheapest food maybe you should wait until you are a little more financially stable before you travel to Disney.

I will get off my soapbox now.

Flame on!

B.

Just wanted to chime in and say that my husband and I don't split food on a Disney World trip because we can't afford to get two separate meals. We just don't eat a lot. And, yes, Disney food is expensive, so that means I don't want to chance wasting a bunch of food if we order too much! Some of the platters and meals are huge and perfect for sharing anyway! We can always go back and get more, or like someone else mentioned, get a Mickey bar or other snack later! We're actually opting out of using the Dining Plan next month because it's just way too much food for us. (However, if we get to do free dining this fall, we'll be all over that! lol)

We were talking about Disney World menus and such the other day, and we figure we will also probably drink a lot of water this time. Just because that's what we're used to drinking while not in Disney World, and you feel better touring the parks if you're not full of Coke. That alone would save us at least $30 for the week, and that's if we were to share a small size soda just twice a day!

Also, I plan on doing quite a bit of the grab 'n' go foods, too. They always look so yummy! And you can sort of put together your own little meal. There's side salads, fruit and cheese plates, sushi (if you like sushi!), boiled eggs, veggie sticks and dip, apples and caramel, deli sandwiches, chips... And most if it is pretty cheap, too. I noticed you're staying at POP. The food court there has an awesome selection in the grab 'n' go area - it's in the back of the food court, sort of in the middle. Boxes of donuts for breakfast, the deli sandwiches, ice cream bars. At least, this is what I remember from our last trip! Plus there's the Mom's Night Out dinners, which look like plenty to share.

I think I'm almost as excited to eat at Pop Century as I am about visiting the parks! lol

 

[DisneyDork712]

Darn!

Forgot to add this earlier...

You could also buy side items at Everything Pop to make a meal, too!

They have things like cups of soup, chili cheese fries, hummus (I love hummus!) and bagel chips, and bread sticks and marinara sauce.

All this food talk is making me hungry!

 

[teacup princess]

I don't know about everybody else, but I sometimes feel like 2 meals a day are enough when we're at Disney. We're so busy that we're not thinking as much about food. We try to plan some of our TS meals at unusual times like 10:30 and 3:30 with a snack here and there. Like say me and DH just do coffee and the kids do a poptart for breakfast then we'll have a big Brunch and a small dinner. Or we'll have a light lunch and a big meal at 3:30 then we're too full for anything else the rest of the night. This will work good with your Boma ressie. I also agree with a pp who said bring poptart and lots of other snacks you don't normally give your kids at home. I don't feed them alot of this stuff at home but I bring it all on vacation and they don't ask for as many snacks in the park.

 

[mickeymom629]

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but if you ask for NO FRIES, they will deduct $2 from the cost of the meal at a CS restaurant. We usually end up with way to many fries. Of course, if you replace them with the carrots or apples, it's healthier but the same cost.

We have 4 kids and try to save $ on food, too. We also eat breakfast in the room. We drive and I bring a small toaster and a cooler for milk that we get ice from the machine to keep cold. I bring granola bars and raisins/apples in my backpack. We eat at CS restaurants mostly - maybe try one or 2 TS, but my family doesn't like to spend a lot of time in a restaurant when we are at WDW - too many other things to do and see!

 

[FidlMom]

We do a lot of road trips (not just to WDW). I always pack a lot of fruits and vegetables, because those seem to be the most expensive and inconvenient to buy out. The starchy food is generally the cheapest, so buy that out, and bring the raisins, baby carrots, walnuts, cheese sticks, etc to eat as snacks.

I haven't done it, but I've heard there are refrigerator swaps that go on in the Value resorts - maybe you can get in on one of those to save the cost of a refrigerator.

 

[TLPL]

I think just bring a case of bottle water with you on the trip and carry a bottle or two into the parks with you each day already save you a lot of money.

 

[2005s4]

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but if you ask for NO FRIES, they will deduct $2 from the cost of the meal at a CS restaurant.

THAT is great info! I always wind up throwing away most of my fries, I'd rather just save the calories and $$! lol

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

DD9 and I have shared with no problem at Electric Umbrella in Epcot, Cosmic Rays in MK, Pizzafari at AK but didn't share at DHS.

DH is a huge eater and won't share with DS13 and we spend about 25.00 total per CS meal when DH, DS13 eat their own and DD9 and I share.

We buy snacks throughout the day too - usually just one in the afternoon and one in the evening. So if you brought your own snacks, you could save quite a bit of money too.

When we are really hungry because of all the walking and don't share it's about 35.00 per CS meal for all of us. DD9 and I usually share a diet drink because she's always throwing half of hers away otherwise.

If you want to save money, breakfast is a great meal to have in the room and you could pack a picnic lunch in a small cooler to put in a locker, then you could eat a CS supper. That way on the days you don't feel like a sandwich for lunch, you'd still have saved money and can add a CS lunch a few times during the trip.

 

[Donnainnj]

Anyone else think of the Main Street canned corn family when OP mentioned the canned beans? (from a long long time ago on the boards) Anyway, I have recently read that Disney has done away with the cheap extra bun to make a double into two singles. I think you can still order it, but it is a lot more money. I believe the ice water (free) and spliting meals, maybe two adult counter service meals for the four of you (the choices for adults are usually much better any more) along with breakfast in the room, and an occasional picnic lunch will get you closest to your budget. That said I tend to buy what we want on vacation even knowing their will be a lot of waste because, DH is a good eater, no leftovers, and I don't want to have to have something my kids will eat, it is rare we order the same meal.
Donna