Can we take food/eat in our rooms and still enjoy Disney?

[redandblue]

I would plan on eating breakfast in room. Get fruit, bagels, cream cheese, dry cereal and milk. Bring your own snacks. I would recommend good stuff, if you have kids they aren't going to want to snack on trail mix if they are seeing other people eating junk. Splurge and pack junk food and mix in a little healthy. And I would pack PB&J with some bread for quick lunches and dinner. I would do that even if you weren't on a budget sometimes your too tired or in a hurry or kids are crazy to plan a dinner out.

 

[kelcoppens]

Breakfast in the room here too. Also, Right outside of magic kingdom there is a Walgreens and a Mcdonalds. This is where we would buy lots of snacks and our lunch and take everything into the park with us. By dinnertime, we would have to eat in the park but I would order a kids meal for myself to save money.

 

[soonerfan2008]

We've done all sorts of trips, eating meals a lot of different ways. Last January, we did a very last minute trip to WDW, stayed offsite with a fridge and a microwave. We ate breakfast in the room or on the way to the park (some combo of yogurt, dry cereal, cereal bars, bagels with topping, fruit and milk). Then we packed uncrustables for lunch or dinner (still convenient in a hotel), goldfish/pretzels, fresh fruit, string cheese, water or juice. For our 3rd meal of the day (either lunch or dinner), we ate at a restaurant, in or outside the park. Sometimes it was a QS meal (like the chicken/mashed/veg combo at Cosmic Ray's) and sometimes it was a sit down meal.

I do not have a preference either way--DDP and eating food in room/packed lunches are equally fine for me. However, it is far cheaper to do it the way we did in Jan (and we still had one hot meal a day).

 

[DisneyFairytale]

I know this board is full of budget minded people and I want to say THANK YOU, with your help I have saved a ton over the years!!

I remember before seeing a thread on ways to save money by eating in your room and certain places that had meals big enough to split etc... I cannot find it now though!

So give me your best money saving food ideas!!

I think I have decided to stay away from the DDP and over-eating and we are staying at a moderate this time so we will have a refrigerator in our room and we are driving so we will be able to bring lots of snacks etc!

There are hotels that are within 10-15mins driving distance from Disneyland for great prices. You can pm me if you want some advice of places, but we always choose a hotel that has a suite with full sized fridge and cooktop and full kitchen. VERY CHEAP to do if you know where to look. Its the only way we do it, because food costs would be through the roof otherwise.

 

[bobbieh76]

Thank you everyone, excellent ideas!!!


My son is a bacon fan so I am thinking we will take lots of that pre-cooked bacon and use the microwave in the food court or what about using a small george foreman to cook it in the room? I think it only takes 1-2 minutes?

My daughter is really into PB&J so that will make her happy!

Wish I could pack a microwave! LOL!!!! I will pack cereal, bagels, and fruits!!!

I think you are right about eating Lunch out instead of Dinner... my kids are getting bigger so they should be able to hold out all day if needed with a good afternoon break!

I LOVE the idea about using the hard pencil cases to pack snacks in a backpack!!!! That will work PERFECTLY for us!!! I will pack my kids a typical school lunch pb&j, chips,fruit and juice box and they should be happy and this will allow us enough money to splurge on some snacks for them!!!!! That will be a PERFECT size!!!!

I also like the idea of going off site for a good hot meal or two at a buffet! We have always flown in the past so I keep forgetting we WILL have a car!!

I had planned on taking water and those packets to flavor our water and probably a case of Mt Dews for my husband he is not a big water drinker (yuck)

Sounds like we can save a ton by doing a little extra! I am EXCITED about that!!!!

 

[Marionnette]

Thank you everyone, excellent ideas!!!


My son is a bacon fan so I am thinking we will take lots of that pre-cooked bacon and use the microwave in the food court or what about using a small george foreman to cook it in the room? I think it only takes 1-2 minutes?

My daughter is really into PB&J so that will make her happy!

Wish I could pack a microwave! LOL!!!! I will pack cereal, bagels, and fruits!!!

I think you are right about eating Lunch out instead of Dinner... my kids are getting bigger so they should be able to hold out all day if needed with a good afternoon break!

I LOVE the idea about using the hard pencil cases to pack snacks in a backpack!!!! That will work PERFECTLY for us!!! I will pack my kids a typical school lunch pb&j, chips,fruit and juice box and they should be happy and this will allow us enough money to splurge on some snacks for them!!!!! That will be a PERFECT size!!!!

I also like the idea of going off site for a good hot meal or two at a buffet! We have always flown in the past so I keep forgetting we WILL have a car!!

I had planned on taking water and those packets to flavor our water and probably a case of Mt Dews for my husband he is not a big water drinker (yuck)

Sounds like we can save a ton by doing a little extra! I am EXCITED about that!!!!

No!

Aside from being a fire hazaard, the smoke from a grill can set off the smoke detector.

Over and above that, grilling releases grease particles into the air. It gets on everything. That's why kitchens get so greasy. A regular hotel room does not have an exhaust like a kitchen does. And do you really want to sleep in a room that you've been cooking in? Leave the george forman at home.

 

[barandalson]

We was at Disney in November of 2010. We stayed at barefoot n the keys in celebration. It was wonderful with the full kitchen. We ate all of our meals there axcept one night we went to Fultons. You can still have a great time at Disney eating meals in your room. It will save you a ton also.

 

[wonderlandaddict]

We like to order take out (Chilli's & Olive Garden) and bring back to room. If we order the Cheese dip at Chilli's and a couple to kids hamburger meals to split it is VERY reasonable. The kids hamburger is a reg size burger and saving on drinks makes a big difference. Plus its fun to relax in the room while watching TV after a long day in the parks. We also order pizza and bring back to room. All of these places are within 5 miles of the resorts and the food is always good (better than most of the fast food at disney and lots cheaper).
During the day we usally split the counter service meals because we are big snackers and love to snack (popcorn, ice cream bars...) during the day. I will put a couple of bottles of coke or water in my backpack to sip on in the park. Ice is free everywhere if your drink gets cold.
I'm not cheap, I just don't like to waste money!!!!!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Here is what we have done the last couple trips. These have been summer trips so hot weather and therefor we don't want a heavy meal. We like the values because we can get 2 rooms instead of one and we get the refillable cups. Which we can fill as we walk through the food court to the bus and if we are hanging out by the pool.

Breakfast in the room (pop tarts, cereal boxes, cereal bars) Coffee from the food court

We carry water into the parks. 1 bottle that we can refill. I take the kool aid or tea packets to add to the water as we don't like the taste of FL water. edited to add 1 bottle per person (my kids are teens and can carry there own stuff) OR we just ask for a cup of ice water at the counter service places. They are always very nice about giving us one with no charge.

We carry small snacks into the parks. (bags of chips, fruit snacks, nuts, whatever looks good from what we brought along)

We stop at about 11:45 and everyone gets a kids meal or snack at a counter service place. This is not really lunch but more like a break and snack

We leave the parks around 2 for a swim and late lunch early dinner. this is usually sandwiches from the cooler. Sort of a picnic by the pool.

We go back to the parks around 5 or 6 tour for awhile and then have a counter service meal. Sometimes it is another kids meal or snack sometimes a real meal. Usually depends on if it has cooled off at all.

We carry microwave pop corn in our backpack and pop it at the food court on the way back to the room.

With this plan you would need to either bring snacks and sandwich foods from home or we just stop at Publix when we get there.

It would cost about $18 per person per day to have 1 counter service meal and one kids meal or snack in the parks. (counter service meal $10.99 kids meal $4.99. ice cream around $4. Not buying drinks really helps.

 

[dougsmom98]

Since you will have a car, don't be afraid to venture off Disney property for meals too. There is a Steak and Shake by DTD and it is really inexpensive and the food is better than Disney's CS meals. http://steaknshake.com/menu/the-original-steakburger/ I think their original Steak Burger and Fries came to $3.99. There is a link at the top of the page for 4 meals under $4. I think kids eat free every Sunday. Their milkshakes are fabulous. We always go to the Golden Corral for a buffet meal that costs $10-$13 each depending on the time of day. They always have steak in their buffet and that is a huge hit with my family. If you eat a late lunch there, you won't have to eat dinner and so you get two meals for the price of one. Almost every restaurant does some form of take out and then you don't have to pay as much for a tip and you don't have to pay for drinks. I would definitely pack some plastic plates, forks and knives, and dish detergent so that if you got take out at a TGI Fridays, or an Outback Steakhouse, you can split the meals on the plates and eat in your room. I would also bring plastic wrap, foil, and/or large baggies to store left overs in the fridge from these meals for other meals later in the week.

 

[dimimi]

Your kids are young. I think the kids meal prices are reasonable and come with a drink and dessert...if I remember correctly. You and your husband could split a full meal (we think it is plenty of food.)

I think that would save a lot of money, we also bring in our own water, we freeze it so it stays cold, and bring in our snacks.


We also eat breakfast in the room and have snacks in the room for before bed.

In my opinion, it would take too long to return to your room to eat.
Have fun.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

What she said. Seriously! No George Foremans!

No!

Aside from being a fire hazaard, the smoke from a grill can set off the smoke detector.

Over and above that, grilling releases grease particles into the air. It gets on everything. That's why kitchens get so greasy. A regular hotel room does not have an exhaust like a kitchen does. And do you really want to sleep in a room that you've been cooking in? Leave the george forman at home.

 

[bobbieh76]

All great ideas!! Again Thanks!! Keep them coming!

I don't see a george foreman for warming up already cooked bacon as a fire hazard it's not like I would not be sitting there watching it!?! But that is JMO!!! I need to find a way for warming up bacon in the room b/c that is about all my son who has ASD will eat! Any suggestions?

It is already cooked just needs to be warmed up! Any suggestions?

 

[lily28]

You can take it to the food court and heat it up at the microwave there

 

[eliza61]

I think it depends on what you call a meal.

For breakfast the most I want to do in the room is maybe cold cereal.

I have a lot of issues with eating in a regular room.
1) space. usually this entails some one eating on the bed or floor with the food on the lap.
2) cleanup. Once again,I always think "where do you wash the dishes up in? the tub? where I have to bathe? I read post of people "cooking" on toaster ovens or crockpots but once again where do you clean up at.
3) meals themselves. while I'm not a "health" nut I do try to stay away from overly processed foods. so I'm not one for frozen foods or processed lunch meat. If I'm going to order take out pizza, for a few bucks more I'll eat it in the restarurant.

All in all, I'd stay off site or at ft wilderness cabins if I planned on really eating a lot of meals in the room.

 

[lisa3635]

We did this a few weeks ago. We stayed at SSR in a studio so we had a microwave, toaster and refrigerator. I made eggs (micowaved them in bowl) and toast for breakfast, not cereal eaters here. I packed sandwiches and snacks for the parks and then we either went offsite and had dinner or had a pizza delivered. I LOVED not having to wait for dinner reservations and being free to go to whatever park I wanted. We'll never do the dining plan again. I think we ate the entire week for $250 for the 3 of us.

 

[Deb123]

The first time we ever went to Disney we were on the tightest budget you could imagine. We did exactly what another poster did. We brought a cooler with ice and kept ice in it for 6 days in the room. We kept milk and yogurt in there for 6 days, it was great! The food court had disposable bowls and spoons for free, all I had to do was ask. Had cereal in the room every morning. I packed a loaf of bread. There was no need to pack peanut butter or jelly, because again the food court has them out every morning, there is no charge for these. Made fresh sandwiches every day. Filled water bottles in the parks. Another way to save on a CS meal is to order the double cheeseburger plate. Then ask for an extra bun. The bun is usually no more than a dollar. Split the fries, and put one patty on the extra bun and that equals to 2 meals at a very good price! I would also order a kids meal, and that would usually fill me up, especially if you a snack brought from home with it. A large pizza at around $15 from the food court will definately feed a family of 4!

 

[mhsjax]

All great ideas!! Again Thanks!! Keep them coming!

I don't see a george foreman for warming up already cooked bacon as a fire hazard it's not like I would not be sitting there watching it!?! But that is JMO!!! I need to find a way for warming up bacon in the room b/c that is about all my son who has ASD will eat! Any suggestions?

It is already cooked just needs to be warmed up! Any suggestions?

I m sorry, but that is just beyond something I can understand. Just take it to the food court and warm it up there. There are so many people coming and going that no one would eve notice that you brought in the bacon. I would not want to stay in a room where bacon had been cooked previously. That is just gross. Sorry, but you asked for opinions.

 

[mjbaby]

I m sorry, but that is just beyond something I can understand. Just take it to the food court and warm it up there. There are so many people coming and going that no one would eve notice that you brought in the bacon. I would not want to stay in a room where bacon had been cooked previously. That is just gross. Sorry, but you asked for opinions.

I agree that the bacon should be warmed in an area designated for food prep. For every kid who will only eat XYZ food, there's another one who has some smell-related sensory issue and would be troubled by experiencing a not-quite-aired-out room after bacon and goodness knows what else. One person's super awesome deluxe money-saving bacon experience is someone else's nightmare of smells lodged in the linens and window coverings.

Cook in a kitchen! Sleep in a bedroom!

 

[mhsjax]

I agree that the bacon should be warmed in an area designated for food prep. For every kid who will only eat XYZ food, there's another one who has some smell-related sensory issue and would be troubled by experiencing a not-quite-aired-out room after bacon and goodness knows what else. One person's super awesome deluxe money-saving bacon experience is someone else's nightmare of smells lodged in the linens and window coverings.

Cook in a kitchen! Sleep in a bedroom!

I love me some bacon, but as soon as I am finished with it at home, I am running around opening windows and lighting candles to get rid of the smell.