cheap eats near DW? We will have a car

[finz2left]

and are willing to drive a bit to avoid 100.00 dinners! Pizza, Chinese, Chili's even? Thanks!

 

[In Luv with Disney]

There are TONS of places to eat outside of WDW!!! At the Crossroads right outside of DTD, there are a bunch of restaurants (Pizza Uno, TGI Fridays, Chevys, etc)

On 535, there's a Bennigans just a mile or so down the road from DTD. There's also a Pizza Place called Giordanos that I've heard great things about on 535, also.

Then if you go to 192 or International Drive, you can find ANYTHING you want! The dining possibilities are endless in the Orlando area...

 

[susan1]

hi
cici's at palm parkway lake buena vista area,
sweet tomatoes on international drive

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I think in the Orlando area there is at least one of every major fast food, diner, or Italian chain in the country. All the way from Morton's and Ruth's Chris Steakhouses down to Denny's and Waffle House. Olive Garden, Romano's, Cabbreras, Pizza Hut, Cici's are a few of the Italian chains here.

 

[Freyja]

How much is a dinner at TGI Fridays for a family with 2 adults and 4 kids (2,5,10 and 12)?

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

TGIF's has a new menu now (atleast around here). They have some dinners for $10 each and there pretty good.

If you like buffets there is Sizzler's and Shoney's that it right off property. We you come out to CrossRoads take a left. You can't miss them. There is also an Olive Garden to the left. Also, if you continue traveling past those rest. there will be an ABC package store (much cheaper than the bars by the pool).

Make sure you stop in any small store and pick up the coupon books. There are always good deals in them.

 

[HeatherFeather]

There is a delicious little chinese place on 192 right after you pass I4 coming out of WDW. If you turn right into this shopping center that is brand new and is yellow w/white trim, it is in there. There is going to be a Gooding's supermarket in there, but it isn't open yet. The chinese place is next to a Quizno's, I think and is called LeChina. It is NOT a buffet, which I prefer as Chinese seems to be better when prepared fresh.

Oh yes...there is also a Chik fil A just past this shopping center.

HTH!

 

[CajunDixie]

Here's the link for Sweet Tomatoes Site

You might consider checking out your favorite national chains websites for locations/maps. And if any of your schools, churches or other organizations do the script program (sell gift certificates as a fundraiser) you could help them out while sort of "pre-paying" for part of your vacation meals.

 

[Tiffer]

WE always hit STeak n' Shake. IT's about $8 bucks for dinner and they are sirloin burgers.

There are several of them around, you can go to their website and find a location.

 

[crjack]

Sweet Tomatoes gets fantastic reviews on the off-site and Orlando attractions board. I know there are some current threads with inexpensive dining suggestions there as well.

We're still hoping to try it for the food and the value. As others have said there is every type of restaurant and chain outside the parks.

At every store, gas station, etc. you will find coupon books loaded with discounts as well. Many offer deep discounts for weekday dining.

Have fun.

 

[bama-mom]

We love Flipper's Pizza. It is really good and also really cheap. There are several locations around Orlando, we always go to the one outside of the DTD entrance, just down the street from the Crossroads.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

There's a huge thread on the DIS for offsite restaurants:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=498998&goto=newpost

I'm sort of in the camp that finds many of the chains really blah. I really prefer places that are either one of a kind or local, small chains. Many of the restaurants in the Orlando area are chains, as it is the chain testing ground capital of the USA. But some of the chain outlets are a slight cut above others you might find elsewhere in the country. (Like the gourmet McD's)

We tried Sweet Tomatoes. Large salad bar, but don't expect too much for meat offerings. That was the one downside of the place. The only meat I recall was in the soup or the small portion of pepperoni on the flatbreads. They did have a number of fresh breads though, and the soup was quite good. (though it is a chain)

There's a cute little place on 192 that has a train, and is in with miniature golf. The prices were pretty good. Not all of the food was fantastic, but the ribs were very good.

Another place we liked was Logan's Roadhouse. It's also on 192, right near the Gaylord Palms (from Gaylord Palms drive towards 192, it's on the corner). It's not quite as good as Texas Roadhouse, but the prices were lower. With all the excellent sides (i.e. baked seet potato), you could definitely share meals there and get a bargain, especailly if you pick one of the larger steaks.

One more option is the prepared foods at the Publix grocery store. I only tired a few things, but several of theones I've been to had very generous prepared foods sections that looked very nice. If your resort has outdoor tables, it could be a nice way to go. Theone that stands out is the one near the Premium Outlet Mall (just off I-4, South I-drive). While you are over there, check out the Disney store at the premium outlets. They have lots of WDW stuff.

 

[Syrreal]

OMG- I miss sweet tomatoes!! We don't have them up here in KY. They are awesome and have the hugest salad bar Ive ever seen. Like mickeyluv'r said, they do not have a lot of meat offerings (I only remember there being chicken soup and maybe some chili)

There are a couple of chinese places right by DTD. There is one that I never know the name of b/c the only sign sayd Chinese food or Chinese restaurant but it is just past the crossings on your right hand side. They have a great chicken corn soup (like egg drop soup with chicken and corn) and their honey chicken and general tso's chicken are excellent. On saturday nights they have chinese karaoke.

Across the street (if you were to trun left instead of right) there is an inexpensive and good chinese buffet. It is right accross from the Orlando alehouse.