Cooking in the Villas! Favorites?

[ColonialMouse]

On most trips we use the kitchen primarily for breakfast + Grandma usually does pizza with the kids on date nights.

Last trip was a bit different and we had a Treehouse where I used the grill for dinner on two nights. So nice…

Bruce

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

Tombstone pizza. We always bring a pizza cutter. Bagels, cream cheese, deli meat, cheese, bread, peanut butter, jam, honey, sausage, eggs, pop tarts, apples, bananas, cereal, popcorn, nuts, water, soft drinks. We usually do one quick serve somewhere per day, but we are getting tired of spending the money on that. Just don’t enjoy it as much as we used too. So we might try the crock pot idea that others have offered. Thanks for that!

 

[The Jackal]

Just don’t forget to bring salt and pepper. We drive and bring a small bin with some cooking supplies that are not provided.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

do you have a couple fav places for breakfast?

We usually stay at the BW so we always go to Ale & Compass at the Yacht Club for at least one breakfast. I love their blueberry-bacon pancakes, they come with orange flavored butter (butter w/orange zest) , they are the best and I always have enough for another breakfast back in our room.

We have most breakfasts in our room, pork roll or sausage with egg and cheese (American) on an English muffin, I have an egg poacher for the microwave that works really well for the sandwiches. It's from the Food Network and I bought it at Kohl's. We also have bagels w/cream cheese and left overs depending what they are.

We don't really do much cooking in our room, we are on vacation and since we cook most of the time while at home it's a treat to go out for dinners. We really only eat breakfast and dinner, we may have a small snack during the day but not a real lunch.

Since we now drive to WDW we bring a cooler with coffee cream, cream cheese, frozen bagels, Jimmy Dean pre-cooked sausages, cheese (for slicing = cheese and crackers), stick of butter. Salsa, peanut butter, grape jam, crackers, Triscuits, snack pack chips, nuts, popcorn, cooking spray, salt & pepper. We pickup ketchup packets and Splenda at the fast food areas or bring them with us. Don't forget aluminum foil, plastic wrap, plastic bags (lg and small), paper plates, good knives, coffee and coffee filters. I'm sure I'm forgetting something but this is what I can think of off the top of my head. I keep a list that I use from year to year and alter as needed.

We stop at a local store for eggs, OJ and fruit. Oh I forgot! We bring a case of wine and some gin along with lime juice. We are at WDW for two weeks and lately we go to Vero Beach for a week so it's cheaper for me to bring wine from home that I accumulate over the year between trips. LOL, got to have my wine!

 

[jodifla]

One trick we learned was to get a big tray of cut up veggies from Publix or Costo. In addition to snacks we could add them to salads, omelets or saute as side dishes.

We also typically do a big breakfast and have throw-down meals in our Owners Locker of canned chicken and red beans and rice packages.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

I've been debating bringing my instant pot or air fryer for a similar reason. Have healthy stuff in the resort and keep a snack budget for in the parks.

We have never regretted bringing our crockpot (next trip will be instant pot) while driving to WDW. We love splurging on restaurants at WDW but have cooked more in our villa than eaten out over the years. Every family has their own favorites and type of meal planning and preparation, so YMMV but here are some of our fave WDW villa food ideas:
As previously mentioned spaghetti sauce in the pot - add salad and possibly garlic bread
Also previously mentioned pulled pork in the pot - add coleslaw or veggie tray. We make a vinaigrette slaw at home to eat as is or add mayo for a creamy style slaw - to each their own
My personal fave is the breakfast casseroles made at home, sliced, and frozen in individual baggies - defrost your fave flavor the night before to eat cold on the walk to the buses or heat it up for a hot, easy, satisfying breakfast (or sometimes, dessert or snack). These casseroles are a layer of bread (hearty multigrain/protein bread or white) in a greased dish on the bottom and top with different fillings then topped with egg mixture to sink into the bread. Fillings that we have enjoyed include: cinnamon and maple fried bananas and sausage (think tonga toast with sausage), peppers and onion blend with sausage and/or cheese, and spinach with cooked bacon crumbles and topped with tomato slices. Due to other breakfast options on some days two 9x13 casseroles last a family of 4-6 an entire week.
Blender Boys frappucino packets - add milk and ice and blend. Same for margaritas in the evening - add tequila and ice and blend.
Instant pot HB eggs as is or turned into deviled eggs - I can not ever make enough devilled eggs for the family.
Overnight slow cooker oatmeal (we prefer steel-cut, but rolled is fine too) cooked with a mix of milk and water and fruits, nuts, cinnamon - again using whichever combos your family likes such as cinnamon apple, banana walnut, maple with raisins and dates...
We've done pot roast stews too in the pot - try something like you'd otherwise get at Raglan Road
We use left-over slaw for a cookout meal - remember the villas have access to grills - bring charcoal and a BBQ flipper. (and baked beans)
Things we do when we don't have a full kitchen are: cooked chicken chunks on salad with bread and hummus or crackers and cheese, taco salad with tortilla chips (pre-make the taco meat and just warm it up) and guacamole, tuna salad wraps, and UHT quarts of soup with added veg, cheese, and/or meat to make it more hearty and unique.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

Just don’t forget to bring salt and pepper. We drive and bring a small bin with some cooking supplies that are not provided.

Yes, we too have a small plastic bin of kitchen items including S&P, extra ground coffee and filters, sharp knife... Definitely bring little baggies of your fave seasonings or those planned for recipes so you don't have to start over buying spices for just a teaspoon.

 

[Lost boy]

We stayed two weeks in a one bdrm earlier this year and had some fantastic thick rib eyes from Walmart of all places, their black label steaks. We've bought them several times at home since then, all were excellent. I also love scrambling half pound of ground beef and tossing in a half dozen eggs and topping with shredded cheese for breakfast. Of course an occasional pasta meal, but mostly we eat carnivore, dozens of eggs and meat, and yes my cholesterol is perfect.

 

[Yinn]

Just don’t forget to bring salt and pepper. We drive and bring a small bin with some cooking supplies that are not provided.

And ketchup, mustard, various condiments. I'm not ashamed to say I've gone to the local QS scanned for the cheapest item and then grabbed a fistful of condiments. Yes...that ketchup IS for my croissant thank you very much.

Hey DVC families!

We're planning on using our kitchen a lot on our upcoming "Welcome Home" stay (Nov - BWV). What are some of your favorite things to prepare while at DVC full kitchen Villas? Do you have a favorite copycat recipe?

We're doing our first family vacation with both our oldest (23) and youngest (7).

Thanks in advance, I'm looking forward to hearing your ideas!

We got a 1 BR for the first time this past trip. We used Amazon fresh and it was a nice and easy way to be able to pre-load our grocery list and have it delivered when we got there. I finalized the order when I arrived at MCO and we got bell services to bring it up shortly after.

My favorite thing to cook was....breakfast. 2eggs, sausage patties, hash browns, waffles, English muffins. It was the easiest thing in terms of time/money saved. We did some spinach and mushroom omelettes one day. Simple scrambled other days, breakfast sandwiches, etc.

Anything else we tried to cook has never really gone well. We find we're missing condiments, which then...do we buy some? Then how do we get it home? Or there's just not enough kitchen for us to do a full out meal, constantly washing the cutting board, need to transfer because I need that same pot/pan, etc. So we just stick to making breakfast.

 

[The Jackal]

One of our new traditions, since Garden Grill is not open for breakfast yet, when we are not in a studio. I make cinnamon buns, eggs, toast, bacon, sausage and tater tots and Mickey waffles. Yes we bring a Mickey waffle maker with us. I usually make once then we eat it for several days.

 

[bianca]

One of our new traditions, since Garden Grill is not open for breakfast yet, when we are not in a studio. I make cinnamon buns, eggs, toast, bacon, sausage and tater tots and Mickey waffles. Yes we bring a Mickey waffle maker with us. I usually make once then we eat it for several days.

We do exactly the same!

 

[Turn the Page]

This past week we ate all our meals in the villa. For breakfast we had bagels, fruit, oatmeal, french toast, and fritatas. Lunches were sandwiches and leftovers. Dinners were blt's, chicken Caesar salad, spaghetti, chicken alfredo, quesadillas, and tacos.

 

[Ms.Minnie]

One of our new traditions, since Garden Grill is not open for breakfast yet, when we are not in a studio. I make cinnamon buns, eggs, toast, bacon, sausage and tater tots and Mickey waffles. Yes we bring a Mickey waffle maker with us. I usually make once then we eat it for several days.

Last year I made Mickey waffles at home and froze them in large baggies. We bring a cooler now that we drive, the waffles kept very well along with all the other frozen items we bring (bagels, English muffins, sausage patties) which helps keep all items cold. For me it's easier to make them at home rather than bringing the waffle iron, waffle/pancake mix, and oil along with us.

 

[808blessing]

I bring English muffins for breakfast and mini pizzas.Good with peanut butter too. I now cook Mac and cheese and a bunch of steamed stuff in a rice cooker but haven’t done that at the villas yet.

 

[The Jackal]

Last year I made Mickey waffles at home and froze them in large baggies. We bring a cooler now that we drive, the waffles kept very well along with all the other frozen items we bring (bagels, English muffins, sausage patties) which helps keep all items cold. For me it's easier to make them at home rather than bringing the waffle iron, waffle/pancake mix, and oil along with us.

I tried to do this, I was outvoted. They wanted fresh made waffles.

 

[Yinn]

I tried to do this, I was outvoted. They wanted fresh made waffles.

How fresh are we talking about?

Look kids. I'm ok with making you fresh waffles, but we'll need fresh ingredients. Step 1..get some chickens. We need eggs.

 

[MegMoves]

Great ideas, all! We're definitely kitchen gadget people. Just debating how much to bring on the drive.

Any favorite local spot for fruit?

 

[Old Man Goofy Runner]

When the kids were younger we ate most of our meals in the room, still have almost all breakfasts. Lunch was usually something easy like PBNJ or Grilled Cheese. We always had one cookout a trip, the grills by the pools don't get that much use. Pasta was a favorite, easy quick and cheap.

 

[mickeymom629]

On our last trip, I pre-chopped veggies and brought the rest of the fixings and uncooked ground turkey (cooked it in the villa) for nachos on our first night after our drive. I also put boneless/skinless frozen chicken breasts in a plastic bag with a little vinegar and a zesty spice packet. I brought my Foreman grill and Minute rice and we had chicken in 8 minutes on another night. On my next trip, I may bring foil and pre-marinated pork tenderloin. It really helps with costs to cook a couple of meals if you are staying for more than a few nights.

We always eat breakfast in the villa and have sandwich fixings and snacks available.

Try not to plan too much in case you don't finish it - unless you are driving and can bring it home.

 

[westfamilyof5]

Here are some easy meals we do, and the family loves!
Tacos
Frozen prepared lasagna with breadsticks and salad
Buffalo Chicken Dip with chips for late afternoon snacking
Eggs and Bacon Breakfast
Sloppy Joes
We try to keep the cooked meals pretty simple so we aren't spending a ton of time preparing. You'll love being able to keep left overs and reheat too!
Enjoy your trip!