Can you use a crockpot in room?

[csharpwv]

I don't know how people stay off site! HAHA

We stayed at the Hilton in Downtown Disney last spring - and we felt like we were too far out of reach from the pixie dust of on-site resorts. Ever though the Hilton is in walking distance to Downtown Disney - we still didn't feel like it was as magical! Not a hidden Mickey to be found! No happy smiley front desk staff! No staff members with pin lanyards to trade pins!

Call me spoiled, but if I'm going to Walt Disney World, I want to be in the heart of it all - experiencing everything Disney has to offer!

While YES Disney's lodging is more expensive than staying off site - the benefits MORE than make up for the price difference.

I travel for work all the time, and the last thing I want to do when I am on vacation is check into a 'business class' hotel with a 15X30 swimming pool - and a 4 person hot tub!

I want to feel like I am on vacation - and not just out of town on business!

We budget in other ways- but after staying off site once - it won't happen again! LOL

Everyone is different though - and every family is different - so to each their own!

 

[Sinderelly]

If you want to cook in your room get a room with a kitchen either onsite or off. I wouldn't try cooking in a regular hotel room. You could always make food in your room that doesn't require cooking. Maybe you could rent DVC points or maybe a free dining offer will come through for the time you want to go. Enjoy your vacation!

 

[luvthemouse71]

I understand that times are tough and that everyone is looking for ways to cut costs, but really folks……you’re on vacation. I have never been able to wrap my head around people staying in a regular hotel (not a condo or mini-suite with a small kitchen) and expect that they’re going to “cook” meals in their room.

Postpone the trip for a few months and save the extra $$$ for food. Enjoy your time with your family and splurge a little!

ITA.. Now people are carting their own kitchen appliances? Why bother going on vacation if you're going to penny pinch to this degree?

 

[Mickeypooh99]

ITA.. Now people are carting their own kitchen appliances? Why bother going on vacation if you're going to penny pinch to this degree?

You CAN have fun on vacation while still pinching pennies. I'm not saying to use a crockpot in the room, but there is nothing wrong with saving money!

My family of 4 went to Washington DC last summer for 5 days. I cooked meals ahead of time, and froze them. Then we had dinner in our room 4 nights on that trip. We just heated them in the microwave. It saved us a bunch of money. We had so much fun, and didn't feel like we missed out by eating our own food at night. We spent plenty of money on lunch and the 1 dinner we had out.

To say why bother doesn't make sense to me. Even if I had to cook all my own food at Disney I would still have fun in the parks.

 

[punkin]

ITA.. Now people are carting their own kitchen appliances? Why bother going on vacation if you're going to penny pinch to this degree?

Everyone has a different idea about what constitutes a fun vacation. I prefer not to cook often during vacation, but if that's the only way I can afford to go, I will certainly do it.

 

[luvmy3]

You CAN have fun on vacation while still pinching pennies. I'm not saying to use a crockpot in the room, but there is nothing wrong with saving money!

My family of 4 went to Washington DC last summer for 5 days. I cooked meals ahead of time, and froze them. Then we had dinner in our room 4 nights on that trip. We just heated them in the microwave. It saved us a bunch of money. We had so much fun, and didn't feel like we missed out by eating our own food at night. We spent plenty of money on lunch and the 1 dinner we had out.

To say why bother doesn't make sense to me. Even if I had to cook all my own food at Disney I would still have fun in the parks.

You are right there is nothing wrong with trying to save money on vacation however if it comes to a point where you have to bring your own refridgerator and cooking appliances then you need to book yourself a cheaper vacation.

 

[Missy1961]

You CAN have fun on vacation while still pinching pennies. I'm not saying to use a crockpot in the room, but there is nothing wrong with saving money!

My family of 4 went to Washington DC last summer for 5 days. I cooked meals ahead of time, and froze them. Then we had dinner in our room 4 nights on that trip. We just heated them in the microwave. It saved us a bunch of money. We had so much fun, and didn't feel like we missed out by eating our own food at night. We spent plenty of money on lunch and the 1 dinner we had out.

To say why bother doesn't make sense to me. Even if I had to cook all my own food at Disney I would still have fun in the parks.

In the situation you describe (the room had a microwave) I can understand doing what you did. But most rooms onsite at Disney don't have microwaves so doing what you did can be a pain. If the only way I could go to Disney would involve cooking food in my room, I'd get a room or condo offsite. The room would be cheaper too.

I do eat food in my room--things like Pop Tarts, granola bars, cereal--things that are easy to pack & don't require much work.

 

[chwgmjay]

I don't work for Disney, but I *do* work in a hotel. I know that we would never allow anyone to use a cooking appliance (other than a microwave and/or coffee maker) in the hotel due to insurance regulations.

Crock pots CAN start fires.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705356103/Kitchen-fire-damages-Eagle-Mountain-home.html

 

[Marionnette]

I understand that times are tough and that everyone is looking for ways to cut costs, but really folks……you’re on vacation. I have never been able to wrap my head around people staying in a regular hotel (not a condo or mini-suite with a small kitchen) and expect that they’re going to “cook” meals in their room.

Postpone the trip for a few months and save the extra $$$ for food. Enjoy your time with your family and splurge a little!

Really, you don't need to be able to wrap your head around that idea. It doesn't work for you. Fine. Some people are willing to try it because they eat to live. They don't live to eat. Food is nothing more than fuel to them.

There are ways to *cook* without hauling kitchen appliances with you if you know how to take advantage of what's already there. Lots of good suggestions on this thread for anyone who prefers to spend their money on something other than restaurant food.

 

[mhsjax]

For those that want to cook, I suggest staying off site at a condo. It isn't for me, but I do understand.

Even if I did stay off site, there would be no cooking on my vacation. We are family of 5. I cook almost every night. For me, if I have to cook and do any, and I do mean any prep or clean up, then it isn't vacation.

This is just my opinion, not judging anyone else, but staying on property and not cooking is the only way I do WDW.

 

[gillenkl]

What resort are you staying at? Fort Wilderness cabins have kitchens where you could cook all your meals if you so choose.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I think if we do it I am going to do pop century with the quick service dining plan. And we can just do breakfast in the rooms!
You guys all had great suggestions

 

[EllenFrasier]

Thanks everyone. My next question is probably another odd one, but has anyone taken their own refrigerator with them? I believe that the fridge they probably have at the resort is a 1.7 cu. And we just bought one for $55 at sears so it would be cheaper for us to take ours. Has anyone done this?

Are you bringing the kitchen sink too?

 

[kmvand1]

I know this is probably a crazy question, but was just wondering since I was looking at budget ways to eat at disney where people bring in coffee makers, etc. I was wondering about crockpots? Since we will probably be driving I was thinking we could just go to the grocery store and possibly make crockpot meals?

Why??????????

 

[Deb & Bill]

If you use your crockpot in your bedroom at home, bring it along to use in the hotel room. If you use it in your kitchen at home, you won't have a kitchen in your hotel room unless your room does have a kitchen or kitchenette like DVC resorts, Ft Wilderness Cabins or All Stars Family Suites, so leave it at home.

 

[gillenkl]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I think if we do it I am going to do pop century with the quick service dining plan. And we can just do breakfast in the rooms!
You guys all had great suggestions

I would add up the cost of the quick service plan - then check out the menus at: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

it might be cheaper to just pay out of pocket - just something to think about.

 

[momxx5]

Deb&Bill-

BEST perspective I've heard. I love it.
That makes answering lots of questions easier:

Use in bedroom = fine in traditional hotel room
kitchen = efficiency/kitchenette/condo.

Thank you for putting the often asked questions into simple common sense.


I am ALL for bugeting and saving money, so I don't mean to offend, but at some point it has to be fair, safe and happy for all.

 

[bwilcox]

OP: If you are trying to save $, it might work out better for your to skip the DDP and pay out of pocket for counter service, but split the meals. My DH and I often split counter service meals and then just buy an extra drink-there is so much food, and we end up throwing half of it away if we don't share.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Hey maybe you'll get Free Dining ~ otherwise I'd skip the plan and share meals, it'd be you and your nephew right? Depending on his age/appetite the 2 of you could easily share an adult CS meal

 

[Kirby]

It's been while since we've been to WDW but when we went we took breakfast and lunch stuff plus snacks/drinks for our room. Sometimes we would eat out at lunch time and then have a sandwich that evening. We only ate one meal out a day and saved quite a bit of money that way. Counter service meals were shared.

I can understand wanting to save money but I don't like to cook when I'm on vacation. We stayed at a Residence Inn in Chicago two years ago just in case we thought we might cook a meal. We didn't but someone in another room did. And we smelled their dinner for hours and it wasn't very pleasant.