cheap eating at DLR

[frazzle]

Hi

We have sorted our dates and will be in the DLR for 3 full days and 2 half days in the weeks June 15-19.

Now as we are coming from New Zealand our poor old kiwi dollars will dispensary into nothing. I think we only get 71c US for our dollar. Its goign to be very important for us to eat on the cheap so we don't blow all our spending moeny on food.

Now we will be trying to eat out of the park as much as possible but I would love to hear your recommendations on cheap and yummy places for us to eat in the park. we love fresh and tasty food, bbq stuff, spicy stuff. We have 3 kids ages 3,6 and 10 so sitting in a restaurant is not a priority. We will happily take our food and find a spot somewhere. Maybe one nice sit down meal would be fun. I was thinking maybe the Carnation Cafe. Does anyone know if you can book on line?

So any ideas and recommendations would be great. Cheap and cheerful and hopefully a bit healthy

 

[Raindown]

No advance online booking for DLR. However, if you do eat in the parks counter service places do tend to be cheaper than a sit down meal.

 

[specialks]

2 things:
- Not sure how healthy it is but we really enjoy eating at Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill in DCA. It is in a nice little spot near Paradise Pier. I remember we thought their prices weren't too bad and the outside eating area is nice.

- One way we save a lot of money is bringing bottles to refill and also sandwiches. I don't know if you will have access to a fridge or grocery store (some hotels will shop for you at no additional expense - you pay for only the grocery cost and some grocery stores have free delivery to your hotel). It helps us only pay for 1 meal in the parks. We also always stay where a free breakfast is provided so we don't enter the parks hungry.

 

[dxcspilk]

When we did Disneyland on the cheap, we always to advantage of the free continental breakfast our hotel provided. Or we would eat granola bars or cold cereal in our hotel. We ate at the McDonalds outside the park entrance (across the street to the left) probably 3 or 4 times (lunch/dinner). They have normal prices instead of the inflated prices in the park.

Also, if you are going to California Adventure, you can go into the Grand Californian Hotel and eat at White Water Snacks (take your first left, you can't miss it). I love their nachos and they are large enough to share. Everything they have is under $10.

We went to dinner outside the park at a sit down restaurant a couple times. There are a few to choose from outside the park entrance.

Good luck. I am trying to figure out our strategy for our upcoming trip!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We like Mimi's near the HOJO and Fairfield Inn on Harbor. It's not that they are cheap, but prices are reasonable and portions are very large. You can do well splitting a few things or have leftovers for later. Plus, if you don't necessarily need a whole meal but don't want fast food either, they're great for soup, salad, dessert, muffins in the morning, eating in or taking out.

Our family are fans of Pizza Port in Tomorrowland for the pasta and salads. The pizza isn't worth it. Although on the topic of pizza, a great affordable way to eat outside the park is to order delivery pizza. We still haven't done this, but I think somebody said in a different thread the other day that they like to use Round Table.

Hmm. Re-reading your post and realizing that none of my suggestions, except salad maybe, are particularly healthy. Maybe I should be looking more closely at what my family eats.

 

[Escape2Disney]

We've done budget trips to DLR many, many times. Here are a few suggestions:

• Jamba Juice in Downtown Disney has smoothies, oatmeal, and other breakfast foods relatively cheap.
• Carnation Cafe is reasonably priced for a table service restaurant.
• The Royale Veranda (I think that's the name) across from Cafe Orleans sells gumbo and other soups in bread bowls. The servings are HUGE and very filling.
• Some people like Riverbelle Terrace, but I prefered the old menu. Their prices aren't too bad.
• The Plaza Inn Lunch/Dinner menu has HUGE portions. If you share, it's very cost effective.

Hope you have a great time!

 

[DisSarahK]

Whitewater Snacks is great! We ate there even though we weren't staying at the Grand Californian--affordable and there were some good healthy options. My children loved the boxes their meals came in.

 

[Flitterific]

I agree that White Water Snacks inside GCH is a great place to eat at and I too love their nachos. Other cheap eats at DLR include:

~ Taste Pilot's Grill in DCA: they were burgers and BBQ (most items under $10)
~ Pacific Wharf Cafe in DCA: love their chicken apple salad and clam chowder in bread bowls ($10 each and definitely big enough to share)
~ Carnation Cafe in DLR: reservations recommended...their loaded baked potato soup is yum!
~ Plaza Inn in DLR: fried chicken meal is about $15...comes with three pieces of chicken and sides

 

[rentayenta]

Share.

 

[Eeee-va]

Since you like spicy food I would highly recommend the Bengal Barbecue. A skewer per person (about $4) will serve as a hearty snack or a small meal, and I find the spicy beef skewer to be delicious. If you want to really do it on the cheap, I've heard you can buy bread in DCA and share it with the skewers and make a decent meal out of it. (You can also buy breadsticks there, as I've done, but they're pricey.)

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_bb.htm

I think eating at Carnation Cafe is a good idea. While counter service is in general cheaper than sit-down, there are quite a few cases where the prices are pretty similar (except you have to tip for sit-down). Like, you could get some entrees at Rancho del Zocalo for $11.49 (plus tax), a Bacon Cheeseburger with fries at Hungry Bear for $8.59 (plus tax)...or a soup and half-sandwich at the Carnation Cafe for $10 (plus tax/tip). Admittedly some meals will be more filing than others, but I imagine it could be worth a couple dollars per person price difference to just sit down and have a nice experience.

If you can drink water instead of soda, you will save several dollars per meal.

Have a great trip!

 

[glendalais]

You're also welcome to order off the Children's Menus at most Disneyland Resort restaurants.

They provide full balanced meals (including beverages) at approximately US$6.50-US$7.00 per person (NZ$9.00-NZ$9.50). Compared to the regular servings, which can average approximately US$8.00-US$12.00 (NZ$11.00-NZ$16.60) per person, not including beverage, which for Soft Drinks can be an extra US$2.79 (NZ$3.85) for a regular-sized drink or US$3.29 (NZ$4.50) for a large drink, they are a significant bargain.

 

[NVDisMom]

Since you like spicy food I would highly recommend the Bengal Barbecue. A skewer per person (about $4) will serve as a hearty snack or a small meal, and I find the spicy beef skewer to be delicious. If you want to really do it on the cheap, I've heard you can buy bread in DCA and share it with the skewers and make a decent meal out of it. (You can also buy breadsticks there, as I've done, but they're pricey.)

DCA does have loaves of fresh sour dough for sale. We paired it with some fruit and cheese we had brought in for a late morning snack one day. yummy! and cheap.

 

[Lissame]

Last year when we were at the Pacific Wharf Cafe, we bought a loaf of sourdough bread for less than $5, we had them slice it and they gave us a load of butter. Our kids thought that was the best meal ever--warm bread and butter, and they couldn't come close to eating the whole loaf.

 

[cooniez]

Last year when we were at the Pacific Wharf Cafe, we bought a loaf of sourdough bread for less than $5, we had them slice it and they gave us a load of butter. Our kids thought that was the best meal ever--warm bread and butter, and they couldn't come close to eating the whole loaf.

yummmmm after hearing you talk about sourdough I feel like getting a sandwich at our local deli, California Sourdough, which bakes awesome sourdough daily If they sold the bread by itself I wouldn't have to buy a sandwich

 

[frazzle]

You're also welcome to order off the Children's Menus at most Disneyland Resort restaurants.

They provide full balanced meals (including beverages) at approximately US$6.50-US$7.00 per person (NZ$9.00-NZ$9.50). Compared to the regular servings, which can average approximately US$8.00-US$12.00 (NZ$11.00-NZ$16.60) per person, not including beverage, which for Soft Drinks can be an extra US$2.79 (NZ$3.85) for a regular-sized drink or US$3.29 (NZ$4.50) for a large drink, they are a significant bargain.

Thanks thats very helpful. Which resturants don't allow it? So the kids meals are large enough for an adult?

 

[Aust]

Take a lot of snacks yourself, the quarantine rules are much less strict getting into the US as compared to Australia (and I assume New Zealand) - we took muesli bars, little tubs of fruit, cereal, crackers etc.

As mentioned by others the portions can be huge. Myself, my 3 year old and 6 year old for dinner one night shared a turkey sandwich and a tray of raw salad vegies with dip, it was huge, and plenty for us all! That was from a place in Downtown Disney, I can't remember the name but it's a bookshop and cafe.

 

[glendalais]

Thanks thats very helpful. Which resturants don't allow it? So the kids meals are large enough for an adult?

You can do so at most restaurants, however, some people have reported difficulty doing so at Table Service Restaurants inside the Theme Parks.

Here's an example of a Quick Service Kids Meal from here at the Walt Disney World Resort. The portion sizes and content are very much the same, however.

If you like, you can subsitute the chips for carrot slices or apple crisps.

 

[nunzia]

You're also welcome to order off the Children's Menus at most Disneyland Resort restaurants.

They provide full balanced meals (including beverages) at approximately US$6.50-US$7.00 per person (NZ$9.00-NZ$9.50). Compared to the regular servings, which can average approximately US$8.00-US$12.00 (NZ$11.00-NZ$16.60) per person, not including beverage, which for Soft Drinks can be an extra US$2.79 (NZ$3.85) for a regular-sized drink or US$3.29 (NZ$4.50) for a large drink, they are a significant bargain.

I do this and find the serving sizes are plenty big. I especially like the kids meal turkey carver at Riverbelle Terrace. Also, there is a new place in Fantasyland..Troubodor Tavern or something, with baked potatoes and sausages..the prices didn't look bad at all. I also say try Whitewater. DH and I split a breakfast burrito and then he gets a cinnamon roll to round it out. Also, Rancho whatever in DL..nice sized plates, we shared an entree..the kids meals would be fine also. Also do Bengal Barbeque. Corn dogs are HUGE and good..2 kids could easily share. I'm happy at Cafe Orleans (sit down) just having the gumbo and beignets. Biggest tip..you can get free ice water at CS places..no need to buy water. We tend to graze so we don't have to buy as many 'meals'. Popcorn, a pretzel, dole whip, pineapple spear. Then we can eat a regular meal and not feel like we blew the bank. Oh..do not eat a whole cookie at a time! Really big and not a good meal When are you coming again? If the Food and Wine festival is still going on, they have the tapas sized things in DCA. Love the Boudin Bakery..nice meals and also just buy a loaf to snack on.

 

[nunzia]

Last year when we were at the Pacific Wharf Cafe, we bought a loaf of sourdough bread for less than $5, we had them slice it and they gave us a load of butter. Our kids thought that was the best meal ever--warm bread and butter, and they couldn't come close to eating the whole loaf.

Wow..I didn't know you could do that. I'm definately doing that and taking it back to the villa. I can't wait to get there...really need this vacation.

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I love the Asian Chicken Salad (probably not the cute name) at Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. It's huge--I split it with my mom and we barely finished it. Sprinkled it with crushed red pepper flakes for spice--yum!
Not healthy but very filling--fish & chips or chicken fingers at Golden Horseshoe (Frontierland) and "Market"-something near Bugs Life area in DCA. I order without the fries (ha so just fish--no chips!) to save a buck and the portions are still huge.
Ask for a cup of ice water at any restaurant--they're happy to give it to you and you'll save about $3 over soda. After I realized this I stopped lugging so many water bottles in each day