condo stay...need tips on eating in to save $

[dcldreamer]

I think we have finally decide! We are going to stay in a townhouse at Vista Cay during our US/IOA trip. We are driving down so we will hit the grocery store after arriving. We don't want to buy too much food and it go to waste as sometimes we find we do this when we rent a place at the beach during the summer, so we are going to try to be cautious about what we buy. I would like your ideas on some meals we can cook that aren't too time consuming. We are going to eat out for dinner some but would like to eat in some also to save money. What are some good ideas? We are very excited!! Thanks for all your help!

 

[crusoe2]

Make yourself a shopping list with an eye toward items that can be used for a variety of dishes. For example, a bagged salad can be used to top tacos, to add a little lettuce to a sandwich or wrap, to make a side salad to go with your entree, or to make a chef salad with all the trimmings. Fresh fruit is nice for breakfast or a snack or it could be added to a salad. A roast chicken from the deli could be the main part of one meal and the leftovers could be part of a salad or wrap. Definitely look into what is available in the grocery store deli - you can find some great stuff that's already cooked and ready to eat but still much less expensive than eating out (especially at Disney restaurants). The deli stuff is a time-saver too since it keeps you from having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen while you're on vacation. It's pretty easy to stop off and pick up what you need for a meal on your way back to your townhouse and your less likely to over-buy this way.

 

[dcldreamer]

Make yourself a shopping list with an eye toward items that can be used for a variety of dishes. For example, a bagged salad can be used to top tacos, to add a little lettuce to a sandwich or wrap, to make a side salad to go with your entree, or to make a chef salad with all the trimmings. Fresh fruit is nice for breakfast or a snack or it could be added to a salad. A roast chicken from the deli could be the main part of one meal and the leftovers could be part of a salad or wrap. Definitely look into what is available in the grocery store deli - you can find some great stuff that's already cooked and ready to eat but still much less expensive than eating out (especially at Disney restaurants). The deli stuff is a time-saver too since it keeps you from having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen while you're on vacation. It's pretty easy to stop off and pick up what you need for a meal on your way back to your townhouse and your less likely to over-buy this way.

Those are great!! Keep'em coming.

 

[braddillman]

Breakfast cereal, pop tarts, etc. can also be used as snacks inside the parks or travelling home. Our kids have learned that they can wait in line and eat a snack at the same time - if they wait in line to purchase food, that`s wasted time (less rides!).

We tend to let the oven do our cooking... well, defrosting anyway. Frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, etc. are things they`d eat in a restaurant anyway, and on vacation we tend to be lenient and let them. But there again, we have a rhythm where one parent takes the kids to the pool, the other goes back to the condo and throws something in the oven (and gets a short break from the kids). The kids aren`t bored waiting in line at a restaurant or waiting for their food. They come out of the pool and sit down at the table, and don`t mind not waiting.

I don`t try to save money at the grocery store, we`re already saving so much time and money not eating at the restaurant (family of 5). And we all tend to be pretty active, calories aren`t a big concern. It`s only for a week or two so health isn`t a concern either.

We just take the kids to the grocery store and let `em go - but we reign them in so they don`t buy too much. Serving sizes are written on the sides on packages.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

How many people/kids are you?
The deli roast chicken/hams are a great idea as they save time.
Pair with those Lipton packages of rice/noodles (Butter & Herb is delicious!) and bagged/boxed frozen veggies.

Bagels/bread for breakfast or meal sandwiches.

Cheerios, yogurts, apples & banana, carrots sticks are great to have on hand for snacks, even to eat shortly after arriving in parks.

Depending on the size of your
You prob won't be able to use up an entire container of tea or coffee, so bring your fav brand from home (premeasure or count out roughly what you'd think you'd consume).
Ditto for other nonperishable/relatively nonperishable items that are hugely cheaper at home because you bought them in large containers: like mustard, ketchup, sugar/substitutes, Fibre1 (if you just use it as topping instead of by the bowlful).

Many supermarkets will cut a carton of 12 eggs so you can just buy 6: Eggs fried or scrambled for brekkie, Egg salad sandwiches for lunch, boiled eggs are great to grab and go!

Even bring a couple dozen sandwich or snack size ziploc bags from home for those small snacks to take in the car/park with you. (I actually try to have a couple sizes in my purse while on vacation...helps to protect camera on water rides, and even to hold that Turkey Leg that I can't finish all at once!)

 

[dcldreamer]

Breakfast cereal, pop tarts, etc. can also be used as snacks inside the parks or travelling home. Our kids have learned that they can wait in line and eat a snack at the same time - if they wait in line to purchase food, that`s wasted time (less rides!).

We tend to let the oven do our cooking... well, defrosting anyway. Frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, etc. are things they`d eat in a restaurant anyway, and on vacation we tend to be lenient and let them. But there again, we have a rhythm where one parent takes the kids to the pool, the other goes back to the condo and throws something in the oven (and gets a short break from the kids). The kids aren`t bored waiting in line at a restaurant or waiting for their food. They come out of the pool and sit down at the table, and don`t mind not waiting.

I don`t try to save money at the grocery store, we`re already saving so much time and money not eating at the restaurant (family of 5). And we all tend to be pretty active, calories aren`t a big concern. It`s only for a week or two so health isn`t a concern either.

We just take the kids to the grocery store and let `em go - but we reign them in so they don`t buy too much. Serving sizes are written on the sides on packages.

How many people/kids are you?
The deli roast chicken/hams are a great idea as they save time.
Pair with those Lipton packages of rice/noodles (Butter & Herb is delicious!) and bagged/boxed frozen veggies.

Bagels/bread for breakfast or meal sandwiches.

Cheerios, yogurts, apples & banana, carrots sticks are great to have on hand for snacks, even to eat shortly after arriving in parks.

Depending on the size of your
You prob won't be able to use up an entire container of tea or coffee, so bring your fav brand from home (premeasure or count out roughly what you'd think you'd consume).
Ditto for other nonperishable/relatively nonperishable items that are hugely cheaper at home because you bought them in large containers: like mustard, ketchup, sugar/substitutes, Fibre1 (if you just use it as topping instead of by the bowlful).

Many supermarkets will cut a carton of 12 eggs so you can just buy 6: Eggs fried or scrambled for brekkie, Egg salad sandwiches for lunch, boiled eggs are great to grab and go!

Even bring a couple dozen sandwich or snack size ziploc bags from home for those small snacks to take in the car/park with you. (I actually try to have a couple sizes in my purse while on vacation...helps to protect camera on water rides, and even to hold that Turkey Leg that I can't finish all at once!)

These are all GREAT!! We are 2 adults, 1 DD age 13. I am really loving all of these tips!! Great tip about the plastic baggies by the way!

 

[momtotwins]

my biggest tip is to plan before you get there. i have found if we try to shop while there we end up buying way too much food. my last trip. is at down and planned how many meals we would be needing and designed them and then made a grocery shopping list. make sure to include things like spices and butter/spray/oil for cooking things.

when planning meals i tried to pick out meals with few ingredients. we grilled a few nights, spaghetti and sandwiches on our last trip

 

[sjanus]

I think we have finally decide! We are going to stay in a townhouse at Vista Cay during our US/IOA trip. We are driving down so we will hit the grocery store after arriving. We don't want to buy too much food and it go to waste as sometimes we find we do this when we rent a place at the beach during the summer, so we are going to try to be cautious about what we buy. I would like your ideas on some meals we can cook that aren't too time consuming. We are going to eat out for dinner some but would like to eat in some also to save money. What are some good ideas? We are very excited!! Thanks for all your help!

Great choice, you'll love the townhouse! With your Clubhouse pass you get 10% off of NYPD Pizza. I think it might be Tuesdays they have buy one get one free pizzas, but look for their specials. It is an awesome place. You can walk right next door, they also deliver.

I sometimes like to make ham barbecues with some potato chips, easy to put together. Sometimes buy frozen ravioli's and jar of spaghetti sauce, some bagged lettuce, things to go with it already chopped up, and put together a salad. I love Publix's tropical fruits all cut up, come in large and small size, right next door. The Publix next door is very friendly and has a wonderful bakery and deli, so lots of choices.

Sandy

 

[crusoe2]

Just had another thought. Since you are driving down you might want to leave room for a cooler and, at the end of the trip, pack some of the stuff you have left for picnic meals on the drive home. This would work with anything that could be eaten right out of the cooler - sandwiches, salads, fruit, fresh veggies and dip, etc.

 

[At World's End]

Great choice, you'll love the townhouse! With your Clubhouse pass you get 10% off of NYPD Pizza. I think it might be Tuesdays they have buy one get one free pizzas, but look for their specials. It is an awesome place. You can walk right next door, they also deliver.

I sometimes like to make ham barbecues with some potato chips, easy to put together. Sometimes buy frozen ravioli's and jar of spaghetti sauce, some bagged lettuce, things to go with it already chopped up, and put together a salad. I love Publix's tropical fruits all cut up, come in large and small size, right next door. The Publix next door is very friendly and has a wonderful bakery and deli, so lots of choices.

Sandy

This is our go-to meal: bag of frozen ravioli, jar of pasta sauce, bag of shredded cheese. Dump the ravioli in a 9x11 glass dish, cover with sauce, sprinkle with cheese, cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Serve with a salad kit in a bag and some dinner rolls. Quick, easy and cheap!

Since you are driving, bring a box with stuff like foil, ziplock bags, paper towels, fast food packets of ketchup, mustard, mayo, hot sauce. Some foods that can do double duty include ham, croissants, sliced cheese (deli sandwiches for lunch or dinner or add an egg for a yummy breakfast sandwich).

I also recommend checking out restaurant.com for Giordano's and House of Blues. They have discount codes all the time.

 

[cheerky]

I like to cook the week before we leave and freeze the food in disposable pans. I've brought baked ziti, sausage/ peppers and meatballs in brown gravy. I transport the trays in a cooler. When we arrive at the condo, I put the trays in the fridge. They gradually defrost in the fridge. It's easy to pop the tray in the oven or warm up in the microwave after a long day in the parks. Best part- having great home cooked meals without having to cook while on vacation!

Have a great time!

 

[dioxide45]

If you will have a grill available to use and a Costco or Sam's membership consider stopping in and buying a pack of steaks and some sides.

We usually buy 4 or 5 large choice rib-eyes for about $30-$35. Pair those with their refrigerated but prepared mashed or scalloped potatoes (about $6 each) and you have a perfect meal for four or five people. The potatoes can be heated in the oven while someone grills the steaks. Far cheaper than an equivalent meal at a steakhouse.

 

[northriver]

Last trip was just myself, two teens and a preschooler. So we stuck with REALLY basic food items, and the kids were very happy eating "junk food" and even cooked diner a couple times. I think all I bought for the week was cereal, fresh fruit, hot dogs, hamburgers, mac and cheese (with cut up leftover hot dogs), soup, and deli and pb & j sandwich type stuff, snacks and beverages. I also had a few sides, potato salad, canned baked beans, baby carrots. Don't be afraid of buying only what you need and making a second trip to the store. My teens ate a TON of cereal for late night snacks - I had to back to the store for more cereal. But there were a few other items we needed at that point, so it was fine. I bought a HUGE bottle of ketchup for $1, because the small size was like $2.50. I threw most open containers away but left some things like the ketchup in case the cleaning crew was brave enought to take them home. Seems like a waste to throw out so much stuff...

Whatever you choose to prepare, make a grocery list and try to think of what ingredients you can bring from home, like spices, or small condiment pkts you can pick up at fast food places. For example, I grabed a bunch of pkts of bbq from a local bbq restaurant. Felt a bit foolish but I do know the owners pretty well and we eat there regularly. It was nice not to have to buy a whole bottle of bbq sauce!

We also had Giordonos pizza one night, and McDonalds drive through one night.

 

[dcldreamer]

You guys are awesome!! Thanks so much for all of these ideas!! I'm thinking of taking my crockpot. My family loves meatballs. I buy the fully cooked bag of meatballs, pour bbq sauce on them and let them cook on low; my DD loves pasta roni with this! I keep hearing about the Publix grocery store but is there a Super Wal-Mart near Vista Cay? I'm just wondering if the prices at the Publix are comparable to Wal-Mart's prices. I'm making a list now . Again thanks so much!! More ideas are always welcomed!

 

[happymommy]

If driving, I would take the crock pot too! We drove once and I packed (instead of suitcases) plastic storage bins with pantry items, pasta, even a case of juice boxes from Costco, water, wine , etc. We didn't even make a grocery stop! We use soy milk, so had that in the containers that don't have to be refrigerated until opened. I would look into bringing a cooler as well, but be careful.

I would also plan the meals ahead of time, and make lists. It will make it so much more relaxing on vacation.

We travel and stay in condos a lot more now that the kids are older, and in Hawaii we always grill a lot. We buy frozen burgers at Costco, and buns, and we'll have burgers a couple of times, plus I'll thaw them out in the microwave then cook crumbled for either mac and cheese with ground beef or tacos (more kid food). We also like to get a big veggie tray, and we'll eat on it for the week, and toss the veggies in salads, etc.

Definitely bring condiments and things for baking with you. If you shop ahead of time, find small amounts (even stuff that you can leave and not bring home). Don't forget salt and pepper.

I like to have treats, too, and have read some fun ones on the DVC area of here - like bringing refrigerated cookie dough, that you just separate and bake. Fresh cookies! I like to make instant sausage gravy (super quick and easy) and biscuits, along with a quick egg or two. Nice big breakfast, little work. Or cinnamon rolls - pop in the oven, yum, and only a couple of dollars.

Definitely have a big bowl of fresh fruit in the room. Depending on what's fresh and in season, we always have bananas, then maybe oranges, mangoes, kiwi, grapes, apples, what looks good at the store (pineapples in Hawaii always).

Have fun planning!

PS: I'm sure you can look up Wal Marts on the web, to see what one is closest to your condo. Plus then supplement with Publix if Wal Mart doesn't have fresh meats or something you need.

 

[dcldreamer]

This is our go-to meal: bag of frozen ravioli, jar of pasta sauce, bag of shredded cheese. Dump the ravioli in a 9x11 glass dish, cover with sauce, sprinkle with cheese, cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Serve with a salad kit in a bag and some dinner rolls. Quick, easy and cheap!

Since you are driving, bring a box with stuff like foil, ziplock bags, paper towels, fast food packets of ketchup, mustard, mayo, hot sauce. Some foods that can do double duty include ham, croissants, sliced cheese (deli sandwiches for lunch or dinner or add an egg for a yummy breakfast sandwich).

I also recommend checking out restaurant.com for Giordano's and House of Blues. They have discount codes all the time.

Which Giordano's and House of Blues would be closest to Vista Cay?

Giordano's at 6203 W. Sand Lake Rd or 12151 S Apopka Vineland Rd

House of Blues at 1490 E. Buena Vista Dr.Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 - how far is this away from universal area?

 

[braddillman]

Canadian Costco memberships work in the US. I've already tried this in September 2010, so I'm certain they do.

There is a Costco on the Orange Blossom Trail just south of the Central Floria Parkway, say, 10 minutes from International Drive. They have already roasted chickens for $4.99 (nice size too), and ready-for-the-oven meals. Or you could get a pizza for take out at their lunch counter. Oh, I think they have beer and wine too. We're planning to pick up some things there, like already-individually-packaged snacks (for the parks), but we have to be careful not to buy too much.

Again, read the serving sizes and do the math. I think I might print out a spreadsheet to budget servings (not money), e.g. how many servings for lunch, dinner, etc. so that as we're shopping we can check off (with a pencil) how much we have purchased to eat.

I think we could use the pool/preparation model described earlier, e.g. one parent takes the kids to the pool, the other runs to costco for chicken or pizza. It could work. Might also be easier to just make a detour on the way back from a park.

I think the trick is not to leave too little time for supper prep, or you'll give in and go to a drive through for instant gratification. This shouldn't be a problem for our next trip because we 15 days, and won't be pressured or stressed to make the most of every minute. We're in fact planning to do less for just that reason.

 

[reservations4five]

I take my crock-pot everywhere. I agree plan your menu before you leave so shopping is a breeze with a list.
Easy meals for us are- tacos or fajitas , meatball subs, chicken salad pitas, hot dogs, reubens, lasagna, chili, bbq pulled pork.

I am going to try this year to cook and freeze meals for our trip.

 

[dioxide45]

Which Giordano's and House of Blues would be closest to Vista Cay?

Giordano's at 6203 W. Sand Lake Rd or 12151 S Apopka Vineland Rd

House of Blues at 1490 E. Buena Vista Dr.Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 - how far is this away from universal area?

House of Blues is in DTD, so it is about a 20 minute drive from the Universal area.

 

[braddillman]

I take my crock-pot everywhere. I agree plan your menu before you leave so shopping is a breeze with a list.
Easy meals for us are- tacos or fajitas , meatball subs, chicken salad pitas, hot dogs, reubens, lasagna, chili, bbq pulled pork.

Sounds like good eats to me!

When are you going, exactly?