counter service & POR food

[opsomyo]

OK. I hope this doesn't get too long but seriously need some advice! Does ANYONE ever just get along on counter service, food at resorts & possibly eating outside of disney? I have read the menus for most of the resteraunts, They are very expensive & I have a very pickey family. We are driving down & will have alot of water, pop, snacks & stuff. I don't think I can deal with making sandwiches a whole lot but may. I think the prime time cafe has a dessert platter that sound unbelievably yummy so thinking of going for dessert or trying to get it to take backe to our room. Would that be a possibility?

Some history: DD3 had a neuroblastoma on her spine when she was 16 months old, the cells mimic the cells in her brain so when her antibodies attacked the tumor, they attacked her cerebellum & brain stem. The tumor has been removed so now her immune system just attacks her brain, It is incrdibly rare. We have been through the worst 1 1/2 yrs possible. I give her (steroid)shots-- we are just taking her down to every 3 days from everyother but use to be daily, She has monthly infusions therapies etc. Just had her 3rd spinal tap 4 hours from home, got her home & she was in agony admitted to local hospital for spinal headache & muscle spasms, she was in soooo much pain. They treated it with torodol & valium. Terrible terrible thing that was.
My point- In July DD5 & I sailed 3 day wonder. Just us. She obviously has been through the wringer too. I guess on the spur of the moment, after we were back, I booked 7 day Land/Sea. Since, We have moved due to the school in the area we were living & have had some unexpected expenses. I did the cruise so I know we can get by pretty cheap then. But our budget is al ot smaller than we originaly planned. I am scared we are not going to have enough money to enjoy ourselves. It sounds like no one doesn't do the reseraunts. Is it possible? That is the biggest expense I think. Sorry I am rambling. How much (or little) can a family of 4 get by on 4 days in Disney. My kids don't ask for a ton of stuff so not alot of souveniours. DD3 has the Minnie Ears DD5 got her on the cruise. DD5 ( Actually, yesterday was her birthday so now she is 6) got the Cinderrella dress she wanted on the cruise. From Disney store-on sale alot cheaper than the one on ship. She got the Tiara on the ship. I am getting worried. My 6 year old cried all day yesterday on her birthday. It was so sad. She will no longer let my husband go with me on overnight trips with little one. (she informed me of that yesterday) Daddy needs to stay home with her. I know I am using you guys for free therapy-sorry. Anyway, we really can't afford this vacation, But I don't care! We paid for most of it already. $2800 for the 4 of us. I think That is good. So, Please help! any suggestions? One very sick baby, one very depressed child & parents who don't want to kill themselves making this possible. Thanks if you read this whole thing & for any suggestions to cut down on expences.
www.geocities.com/opsomyo - needs updating

 

[zakatak]

Hi!

I visited your website and I would like to wish you and your family the best of luck in the future.

As far as your question goes, I am planning on being in WDW on a solo trip from Nov 29th - Dec 4th and not eating at many if any sit down restuarants... (Maybe Prime Time 50's with some friends). My other meals I will eat at counter service either at POR, other resorts (AKL has a nice food court) or counter service at the parks. I don't feel like spending the time or money to sit by myself and eat!

I think you can do it and if you would like to just get desserts at the nicer restuarants, that is a good idea.

Go and enjoy your trip! You deserve it.

Hugs,
Karen

 

[disneymania]

We are in the same boat as far as money this trip!!! We are going to try to focus on time in the magic of the parks rather than great restaurants this time. We have done trips with only 1 priority seating & personally it was probably more relaxing than having 3 little ones at a bunch of sit down restaurants. Many of the restaurants are very overpriced especially if your kids are picky. We are staying at POR too & they have a great food court. Everyone can get what they want without breaking your budget.

I am so sorry for what you have been through with your sick child. There is nothing worse than seeing your children in pain. Go & enjoy every moment of your magical WDW vacation. You all deserve it.

 

[opsomyo]

I am stessing out over the food budget. We aren't real into food. My kids would prefer to eat hot dogs & pizza etc. That is a big part of vacation to them. No geen beans or meatloaf! I just can't see spending $600- $800 On FOOD! It seems like no one on these boards avoids the character breakfasts etc. My little one will be in awe but from afar. I think getting pics with the characters will be hard enough on her. When we go to nice resteraunts at home, we don't take them. Trying to get them to sit through a long meal during all the excitment would be impossible. I was afraid we were going to starve or something! I am glad to know there are ather options. With drivibg, there has to be Mcdonalds etc outside of disney right. Or a Dennys ? My DD6 loves their pancackes with candy sprinkles on them. I am looking forward to the cruise. Relaxing, & the food has already been paid for! Thanks all for easing my mind!

 

[Snoozan]

I have been to WDW many times and most times don't "do" a big restuarant. We eat breakfast in our room, ask for ice water at the counter walkups, split meals alot of the time and do not spend alot for our food because of this. My DH and I even split some of the meals at the counter restaurants so we can save room for a snack later. Our theory on food is "we eat to live, not live to eat". I don't think you're missing the Disney spirit if you don't go to the expensive restaurants.

Don't worry about not doing the sit-down restaurants. I find it too stressful having to worry about Priority Seating reservations and even skipped Chef Mickey's because we were having too much fun at DQ one year. Just go, eat where you want and don't worry about it!

 

[babyblue61]

I am twenty-seven and have been to Disney over ten times, both as a child and an adult. As a child, we never did the sit-down restaurants. All I wanted was a hotdog. Your kids will not feel they're missing out by not doing the sit-downs. In fact, they will appreciate not being dragged to sit through a long, "boring" meal when they could be out in the park or in an arcade. Do not even think about it! Don't forget, portions are huge even at the counters. Split meals because you can always get snacks later. Also, last summer (after my bar exam and before securing a job) I was worried about money at Disney. Therefore, I brought peanut butter crackers, granola bars and other snacks with me and brought a water bottle to fill up during the day. Anything is possible. You'd be surprised on the Budget Board what [minimal] amount of money people can do Disney in and not even miss a bit of the magic.

 

[Steffi]

I don't think your kids will even notice what or where they're eating My family of 3 has stayed a week at POR with an almost non-existent food budget & we had a great time!

I am so sorry for all that your family & your sick little sweetie have endured. My prayers are with you. You guys derserve a truly magical escape from the real world...enjoy.

 

[TINKTWINS]

You can absolutly skip the restaraunts!! Youll probably be better off!! They get very pricy and crowded and its tough on the little ones. Your kids will never miss it. We stayed at POR in April. There are some very good food choices there and if you kids are like mine, they dont eat a whole lot. Plus you factor in all the excitement, even you and DH probably wont eat as much. A few mornings I had my 11yo DS walk with me down to the food court and just bring back some cerial and muffins and such. And we had it in the room. We have 2yo twins and eating in the rest. is tough, plus DH and I arent breakfast eaters. There are plenty of small things to choose from to satisfy thekids and more than likely you also.

We invested in the refillable mugs. They are 10.00 each but for us it was worth it. We used them alot. But depending on how long you will be there it may not work for you.

I wish youlots of luck

 

[Goofyish]

We are going to POR next August for 14 nights and are only planning 2 sit down dinners at WDW restaurants, the rest of the time we plan on eating at counter service places or at the POR foodcourt. Breakfast will be a snack in room, and then we plan on a early lunch and dinner when we feel like it.

This worked fine for us last October. There is plenty of choice at the POR foodcourt and you can really fill up at the counter service restaurants with the fixings bars.

If you can venture off site try out places like Ponderosa or Sizzler, they do great value all-you-can-eat buffets for very few $$.

 

[tksbaskets]

We found the Dixie Landings food court had something for everyone. DSs felt like big guys going around to get their dinner. As for budgeting - we brought a couple of boxes of cereal with us. DH and I (MIL was with us) would go to the food court in the AM and get coffee, milk, bananas, & bowls and bring them back to the room for breakfast. We used the drink mugs that you can refill all you want. We usually did one sit-down character meal a day but that was also a blast for the adults in the crowd because we could sit and enjoy our meal while the kiddies were totally thrilled with the characters. Some days we just ate granola bars and PB & J (also brought from home) for our lunch.

Hope this helps.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Actually, I prefer counter-serve to sit-down most of the time (guess I'm just a counter-serve kind of girl!). When I go solo, I rarely eat sit-down. I have done trips that were entirely counter-serve. For my next trip, I have one PS for sit-down with no plans for any more. Usually, just give me a food court at POR or any other counter-serve.

 

[opsomyo]

I am feeling much better! Has any family of 4 ( 2 little ones) done the 4 days in disney 3 on wonder? Trying to figure out my budget. If anyone feels like letting me know what their budget is It would help. We aren't doing any excursions on the ship, Just a horse & carraige ride in the Bahamas. We are driving, from Indiana. (Scary thought with 2 kids but we have a t.v. vcr in the van.) I plan on bringing lots of snacks & water. thanks for all the info!

 

[mitros]

By all means, you can get away with eating at food courts and fast food spots. I just would not recommend leaving the property. It's just too much work. There are plenty of places to eat at disney without spending a lot of $$$ at table service restaurants.

 

[ahutton]

There are a ton of ways to do a trip inexpensively. You can eat very well, with lots of atmosphere by going to any of the fast food places in the parks. If you do decide you want to have a sit down meal in a park I recommend going to a place that is NOT a buffet or all you can eat, as many of the portions are large enough for sharing. DH and I can share an entree, get a kids meal for our DD and share a dessert for the table and have plenty to eat. To economize, do a sit down meal as a late lunch if you want one, where lunch prices are in effect but you can survive the night with just a snack, and if you have your heart set on trying one of the all you can eat deals, make sure eveyone goes hungry and leaves full. Bring twice the water you think you'll need if you have an aversion to drinking fountains, as I find we drink a lot more than we eat. Have a wonderful time with your family.

 

[JulesMom]

You can definitely only do counter service & off-site.

We have always eaten several meals in the food courts of the resorts we stay at. PO-R has one of the best. There is a lot of variety-chicken, burgers, spaghetti and etc.

Have a great trip!

 

[wld]

We also have done several trips with just food courts/fast food. Our cheapest meal is a cheese pizza and 2 liter bottle of pop(if you don't have refillables) for our family of 4. And our DD's are older than yours. I think it was around $15. We usually take granola bars, eat them in the morning, then have a late breakfast and early supper, for 2 meals a day.

As far as character breakfasts, I think they are overrated. With the over abundance of characters and character greets I think you will find plenty of characters to interact with. Might not be as overwhelming when they are trying to eat too. I wish I could give you dollar amounts, but I just don't remember, but I do remember food wasn't a huge part of the budget.

Our DD's are now 16 and 20, but have grown up with the idea that the trip (where ever it is) is the treat and present. We usually do get them a little something. If you look you can find some less expensive things. One year for my niece's birthday we bought her something from each country around EPCOT and still spent less than $20.00. We had fun searching.

My best wishes to you and your precious family. I think WDW is probably one of the best places to leave some of your cares behind if only for a short time.

 

[goofy4tink]

In a word.....graze. We always do breakfast in our room. We get fruit, bagals from the food court. THen pack munchies(peanut butter crackers, granola bars, juice boxes) in our packs for the day. Maybe a hot dog on the run in the parks. Then the food court for dinner(earlyish). Then if the parks are open late, we go back and have dessert there. Our last trip was with another family and they had a lot more money to spend than we did. Next time we do it on the cheap side. Maybe 1 character meal for DD9 and a nice meal for DH and myself, with DD at the Neverland Club. But, you can do WDW more cheaply than you can imagine. Pack your munchies and bring them with you. Also peanut butter and bread, cereal, juice boxes, m&m/nut mix(gorp), even wine for the adults! Go, have a great time. Your family deserves it. Know that we are all praying for you.