Cutting food costs at Disney

[Thing 1]

My best tip has already been mentioned and that is to eat a huge hot breakfast at your house/condo before arriving at the parks. We have not done this at WDW as we always stay on site but did at another park when we traveled with friends and rented a house. Saved us a ton of money with four tween kids that liked to eat. I was mostly the breakfast cook as I was up first, but we tried to do things that we could prep ahead of time. I made a breakfast casserole ahead of time and stuck in the oven as soon as I got up. We precooked ham on the grill the night before. Eggs scramble quick, oatmeal can cook in a crock-pot over night. Stash snacks that can handle heat in your car in case someone wants a quick snack before entering the park, and have something in the car you can eat when you leave the parks if everyone is starving. Also have quick food back at the house for late night snacks to avoid fast food places returning to the house at night. We have not taken meals into WDW but have done very pleasant packed lunches other places. With a good cooler that will keep things cold, you can do a lot. We prefer meat salads and pasta salads to sandwiches. Roasted deli chicken is yummy too. We have peanut allergies but for most families nut are a great easy protein food. Lockers to hold the food works well but there are limits on sizes of coolers. At parks other that MK it is possible to leave lunch in your car and return to your car to (depending on the weather) to eat there or maybe find a place outside the gate to eat. CS meals can be shared sometimes and its easy to carry simply snacks with you if your want too. You can choose to budget cut as little or as much as you need and want too. What we do is to choose to budget cut our meals at home in the weeks leading up to WDW and add that money to our trip food money. I would rather eat pasta and eggs a lot in the weeks leading up to our trip and then eat when we want on our trip. It just works for us.

 

[Bree]

Just to let you know, make sure you do not bring in a very large cooler or one on wheels. I have seem CM's telling guests that they cannot bring in their large coolers. Also, please do not use the counter service tables for your picnic meals. We had a problem last time in Animal Kingdom where a large family was taking up 2 tables with their picnic meals. There were no other tables available.

Sorry, but I view the outdoor tables as something for everyone to use no matter where your food comes from. You have no idea if those tables would have even been available if that family didn't use them. They could have easily been taken by other people that got their QS meal before you did.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm not big on packing lunch for the parks because it takes time...time to pack it, time to go thru the security gate, time to rent a locker, time to retrieve the cooler, time to return the cooler, time to get your locker deposit back at the end of the day. In Disney, time is money. Here are my ideas:

• Get a Landry Select membership for $25. You'll get that $25 back as a credit. You will also get a $25 Birthday month credit annually for no additional fee. Those two credits can be stacked together. You will have $50 to spend at RFC, Y&Y or T-Rex for a total OOP cost of $25.
• Get a rewards credit card that offers restaurant GCs as a redemption option. Even better if the CC has a sign up bonus. Or get one of the Disney Visa CCs with a sign up bonus of a Disney GC. Use the GC and any points that you earn to pay for meals. You can also get a discount at select TS restaurants by using that card.
• Look into GC churning on the Disney Gift Card Deals thread. Lots of info there on how to turn a small amount of money into a larger amount in the form of Disney GCs.
• Kelloggs Family Rewards for Starbucks GCs. They've made it easier to claim your rewards. Just register your loyalty cards for grocery stores and the points for purchasing participating products are automatically added to your account. Use the Starbucks GCs for an afternoon snack or quick lunch.
• If you are a Florida resident, DVC owner or are an AP holder, you can purchase the TiW card for $150. It's good at TS restaurants and select QS locations. They automatically add an 18% tip at TS locations, but you get a 20% discount off of your meals (including appetizers and specialty or alcoholic beverages). The 20% comes off pre-tax, so there's additional savings to be realized there as well.

 

[MichiganScott]

• Get a Landry Select membership for $25. You'll get that $25 back as a credit. You will also get a $25 Birthday month credit annually for no additional fee. Those two credits can be stacked together. You will have $50 to spend at RFC, Y&Y or T-Rex for a total OOP cost of $25.

That's only good at the sit down only Y&Y, not the quick serve right?

 

[Marionnette]

That's only good at the sit down only Y&Y, not the quick serve right?

Correct.

 

[aquabone1109]

Sorry, but I view the outdoor tables as something for everyone to use no matter where your food comes from. You have no idea if those tables would have even been available if that family didn't use them. They could have easily been taken by other people that got their QS meal before you did.

I was referring to tables surrounding QS restaurants (BBQ restaurant in AK) and indoor tables at QS restaurants. You can easily sit at benches or find a space on a lawn somewhere. I have no problem with other patrons of the QS restaurant using them. I have never taken in a meal to the parks. I am on vacation and have no desire to haul food around the park in order to save a few $$.

 

[garada3]

• Get a Landry Select membership for $25. You'll get that $25 back as a credit. You will also get a $25 Birthday month credit annually for no additional fee. Those two credits can be stacked together. You will have $50 to spend at RFC, Y&Y or T-Rex for a total OOP cost of $25.

Is the birthday month credit only valid during the birthday month?

Thanks!

edited to add that I found the answer on the website:

Birthday Rewards expire on the 15th of the month following your birthday month; if you defer your Birthday Reward it will expire on the 15th if unused.

 

[vratiana]

Here's what I like to do:
Eat breakfast at the hotel.
Pack a lunch in a small backpack that can be easily carried. I do not like to waste time with lockers. We eat the heaviest items first for midmorning snacks while walking around or in line. Cool grapes are my favorite park snack. Apple slices, baby carrots, etc. Then around lunchtime, or whenever someone gets hungry, we eat whatever else we packed (sandwich, granola bar, snacks, etc). This saves money but also time. We sometimes grab a table and a drink (usually free cups of water) but sometimes we don't want to stop so we just eat while park touring. We are then usually ready for a QS meal around 4 or 5pm. And then a few shared snacks sprinkled in too. I feel like only sitting down for one meal per day saves not only money but also a lot of time, which is a nice rationalization for me.

 

[rigs32]

Make sure your condo breakfast includes protein and isn't mostly carbs to keep everyone full longer.

You'd DD is old enough to carry a small backpage - even a string backpack. You can each carry your lunch and snacks with you so it's with you when you're ready. Eat a piece of fruit in line or a sandwich when you take a break. No need to pay for a locker rental - they are NOT cheap - so you end up spending money to try and save money. Once the food is gone midday, so is the carrying of it.

 

[bbak30]

I don't have any suggestions, but I feel your pain! We usually stay onsite and do the dining plan. My oldest is now 10 and I can't justify the price for her! So we will be skipping many onsite meals. I'm not planning to bring in food to the parks, but plan to eat offsite when possible. I would rather pay $75 for a meals at Outback Steakhouse or something similar, rather than $150 for a TS meal for my family of 4.

We will cook in our villa some. Probably chicken fajitas, spaghetti and meatballs. Probably a pizza delivery too. All way cheaper than Disney food for every meal.

 

[sunshinemelody]

I don't have any suggestions, but I feel your pain! We usually stay onsite and do the dining plan. My oldest is now 10 and I can't justify the price for her! So we will be skipping many onsite meals. I'm not planning to bring in food to the parks, but plan to eat offsite when possible. I would rather pay $75 for a meals at Outback Steakhouse or something similar, rather than $150 for a TS meal for my family of 4.

We will cook in our villa some. Probably chicken fajitas, spaghetti and meatballs. Probably a pizza delivery too. All way cheaper than Disney food for every meal.

I was contemplating discarding a lot of our ADRs because of how expensive it already looks. We may or may not go with kid meals for most of my meals (I don't eat much, but one can never know after walking upwards of 20 mi a day), so we may just do away with some of them. But it's making me a little sad because I was really looking forward to this being an extremely special trip for us (it's his first time and it's our first vacation together and just lots of firsts!) and was willing to make the splurge, but, oy vey, our food budget is being blown out the water and we still haven't gotten to look into Universal food pricing and grocery shopping! ;___;

 

[tomeaine]

I'm not big on packing lunch for the parks because it takes time...time to pack it, time to go thru the security gate, time to rent a locker, time to retrieve the cooler, time to return the cooler, time to get your locker deposit back at the end of the day. In Disney, time is money. Here are my ideas:

• Get a Landry Select membership for $25. You'll get that $25 back as a credit. You will also get a $25 Birthday month credit annually for no additional fee. Those two credits can be stacked together. You will have $50 to spend at RFC, Y&Y or T-Rex for a total OOP cost of $25.

Do you know if they ask for ID when you use your birthday credit or is it automatically taken off when you present your membership card?

 

[Princess Vespa]

We like to stay offsite at places with a kitchen. We always just eat a big breakfast at the hotel room before we go to the park. This usually holds everyone over for a good amount of time. At the park we just eat snacks which I pack or sometimes buy until dinner time. Dinner is at the park, but this way it is only really 1 meal at the park.

 

[garnetandblack]

We like to order the kids salmon meal at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. It's just slightly smaller (portion-wise) than an adult meal and includes a drink. We get two sides (mashed potatoes and green beans) instead of dessert (grapes or a chocolate chip cookie) and it's a very satisfying meal for $5.99.

We do the same thing. We ordered the kids Mongolian beef with fried rice and a side of green beans. It came with a drink and only cost $6.49. It was more food than we could eat! We are Star Wars fans so we ordered the kids Vader chicken and waffles and that was plenty of food - even for my husband who weighs over 200 pounds. At BOG lunch we order the kids pork with green beans and mashed potatoes - it's delicious and plenty of food for an adult to eat. All 3 of those restaurants allow free refills on drinks as well. The Yak and Yeti quick service at AK is wonderful. The fried rice is enough for a meal at $3.99. The Korean BBQ chicken is delicious and enough to split at $9.99, especially if you add 2 egg rolls for $5.99. They also have chicken fingers or a cheeseburger kids meal and while we have never ordered them they are filling and come with a drink.

Pinocchio Village Haus kids flatbread is also another good deal at $5.99. The kids size is just half of the adult flatbread and comes with 2 sides - it's not the healthiest but you can get double fries. Again, as a kids meal it comes with a drink. The side caesar salad is only $3.29 and is a nice addition if you want something green. The adult chicken parm is a large serving and comes with a salad for $11.49. Adding an additional salad is a great, very filling meal for 2 for under $15 if you order ice water to drink.

When we get snacks we tend to split them and we only get 1 per day. We do not split Mickey Bars or Dole Whips, lol! We do a few special treats like popcorn during Fantasmic, Mickey Pants Sink sundae at The Plaza ice cream parlor, Mickey pretzel, etc. We never order dessert with our meals and use that money saved for something special.

We also bring food into the parks. We have a backpack cooler that we purchased on Amazon. It's great and as long as you don't add too many drinks it should be light enough to carry all day. It's very inconvenient to walk back to the front of the park to get to the lockers. I don't pack our food in ziplock bags, I pack them in plastic containers. This keeps the food from being crushed. I go to Publix as soon as we get into town and buy sandwich meat from the deli, cheese, and a bag of spring salad mix. I make sandwiches or wraps with them in the morning before we head to the parks. To keep them from getting soggy I have the little packets of mayonnaise and mustard to add when we are ready to eat them. I also pack fresh fruit (strawberries and grapes), cheese sticks, protein bars, and some frozen bottles of water. You can get free ice water at any counter service location so you don't need to bring a ton of water with you since that will make your backpack very heavy.

 

[Crystal824]

We always bring a small cooler with snacks and drinks. That saves a ton on drinks alone. Also, we usually eat breakfast in the room. If you are going to splurge on a character meal, do a breakfast. They tend to be cheaper. When we order QS, I will often order the kids meal if it is something that appeals to me.

 

[garnetandblack]

I was contemplating discarding a lot of our ADRs because of how expensive it already looks. We may or may not go with kid meals for most of my meals (I don't eat much, but one can never know after walking upwards of 20 mi a day), so we may just do away with some of them. But it's making me a little sad because I was really looking forward to this being an extremely special trip for us (it's his first time and it's our first vacation together and just lots of firsts!) and was willing to make the splurge, but, oy vey, our food budget is being blown out the water and we still haven't gotten to look into Universal food pricing and grocery shopping! ;___;

There are several TS locations with very reasonable prices. Like Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch, Sci-Fi Dine In, The Plaza, 50's Prime Time, Yak and Yeti, etc. When we ate TS at Yak and Yeti I ordered the side of fried rice and wonton soup. It was delicious and more than I could eat. Next time I plan to order the Dim Sum basket for 2 for $13.99 as my entree. The lettuce cups for 2 is also yummy and enough for a meal for 1 - I suggest just eat QS for Yak and Yeti though since it's the same food for much less. When we eat TS meals I typically just order a side salad and my husband orders an entree. The side salads are a good size and I just eat a few bites of his entree.

 

[scrapquitler]

I don't have any suggestions, but I feel your pain! We usually stay onsite and do the dining plan. My oldest is now 10 and I can't justify the price for her! So we will be skipping many onsite meals. I'm not planning to bring in food to the parks, but plan to eat offsite when possible. I would rather pay $75 for a meals at Outback Steakhouse or something similar, rather than $150 for a TS meal for my family of 4.

We will cook in our villa some. Probably chicken fajitas, spaghetti and meatballs. Probably a pizza delivery too. All way cheaper than Disney food for every meal.

You can still order off the kids meal for her, or just get apps. My 13 year old son still orders of the kids menu everywhere we ever go, both in and out of Disney. If somewhere ever told him no, he'd just get a soup or some kind of app instead (and not because I make him)

 

[mom2rose&john]

My daughter and I shared many CS meals. If she didn't want to share I would order a kids meal. They come with apple slices, grapes, or carrots and most times it was plenty. I would snag a few fries from my daughter or son if I wanted. I always bring granola bars, individual peanut butter cups, and gold fish for snack or additional lunch items. I can't stand the water so I bring in 4-6 bottles of water.

 

[Jen and Ashwin]

I'm not big on packing lunch for the parks because it takes time...time to pack it, time to go thru the security gate, time to rent a locker, time to retrieve the cooler, time to return the cooler, time to get your locker deposit back at the end of the day. In Disney, time is money. Here are my ideas:

• Get a Landry Select membership for $25. You'll get that $25 back as a credit. You will also get a $25 Birthday month credit annually for no additional fee. Those two credits can be stacked together. You will have $50 to spend at RFC, Y&Y or T-Rex for a total OOP cost of $25.
• Get a rewards credit card that offers restaurant GCs as a redemption option. Even better if the CC has a sign up bonus. Or get one of the Disney Visa CCs with a sign up bonus of a Disney GC. Use the GC and any points that you earn to pay for meals. You can also get a discount at select TS restaurants by using that card.
• Look into GC churning on the Disney Gift Card Deals thread. Lots of info there on how to turn a small amount of money into a larger amount in the form of Disney GCs.
• Kelloggs Family Rewards for Starbucks GCs. They've made it easier to claim your rewards. Just register your loyalty cards for grocery stores and the points for purchasing participating products are automatically added to your account. Use the Starbucks GCs for an afternoon snack or quick lunch.
• If you are a Florida resident, DVC owner or are an AP holder, you can purchase the TiW card for $150. It's good at TS restaurants and select QS locations. They automatically add an 18% tip at TS locations, but you get a 20% discount off of your meals (including appetizers and specialty or alcoholic beverages). The 20% comes off pre-tax, so there's additional savings to be realized there as well.

Another easy source for Starbucks gift cards is bing.com. Sign up for their rewards program and go to the website every day to earn about 35 points per day. It is very fast earnings You can earn about $125 per year per account and redeem for Starbucks cards. DH and I both have accounts, so we are earning about $250 a year this way.

 

[Marionnette]

Do you know if they ask for ID when you use your birthday credit or is it automatically taken off when you present your membership card?

I haven't gone in my birthday month in 3 years, but I carry my ID with me anyway because I have an AP and TiW. Both of those require ID for any discounts.