Cutting food costs at Disney

[aquabone1109]

[QUOTE="Bree, post: 55460858, member: 222142" Last time I checked there was no Tom Sawyer's Island or a Riverboat at Hollywood studios.

Wait, but there is a Tom Sawyer's Island.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/fro-sawyer.htm[/QUOTE]
Haha. I never mentioned Hollywood studios in the first place. I was always referring to MK. There are plenty of places to eat on the island and the big ferry boat that goes around the island is always empty.

 

[Marionnette]

I think that we've found a new money grab....er, I mean "revenue stream"...for the Disney bean counters! They can institute a "dining your way" surcharge...$5 for a table in the sun, $2 extra if it has an umbrella or shade OR you can splurge for a table indoors for $10. Naturally, this pricing would be scaled for families of 4. Families of 3 or fewer still pay the same price. Families with 5 or more would need to pay for enough tables of 4 to seat their entire party.

As always, walls, curbs and open grassy areas will still be gratis as long as they are not being used for super-de-dooper, extra exclusive parade/fireworks viewing.

 

[aquabone1109]

I think that we've found a new money grab....er, I mean "revenue stream"...for the Disney bean counters! They can institute a "dining your way" surcharge...$5 for a table in the sun, $2 extra if it has an umbrella or shade OR you can splurge for a table indoors for $10. Naturally, this pricing would be scaled for families of 4. Families of 3 or fewer still pay the same price. Families with 5 or more would need to pay for enough tables of 4 to seat their entire party.

As always, walls, curbs and open grassy areas will still be gratis as long as they are not being used for super-de-dooper, extra exclusive parade/fireworks viewing.

Of you can get fast passes for tables and must eat at times given.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Breakfast in your off site kitchen.

On early nights--lunch at counter service and either picnic dinner in locker or in car. (We did car for day trips and just ate as we drove back home.)

On late nights, do the counter service for dinner.


Our biggest issue is bread because it squishes. So a more sturdy roll or even tortillas for wraps work best. Tortillas take up less space.

Most of my kids don't eat jelly, so we bring bread and a jar of PB when we pack a meal.

Wraps can be lunch meat and cheese. Then a chip and fruit or veg and a sweet like chewy granola bars.

Our crew has grown (family of 7), so we don't do packed meals in parks much as it is too much to carry even with stroller. Hence keeping it in a cooler in the car for the ride home or transition to another park works better.

Ice water is free from counter service. Vendors that don't have the fountain drink machine will give you a cup for the water fountain. This will save having to lug around water bottles.

 

[juliebee70]

Thanks for the tip about free cups of water. I'll have to admit I've always bought the water bottles because I didn't know they would give out water. Does anyone know what size cup it is? Just wondering if a packet of Crystal Light would work in it.

 

[kathy884]

We have cooler backpacks that we use for hiking in the National Parks as well as for theme parks like Disney that let you bring food in.

 

[Anal Annie]

Thanks for the tip about free cups of water. I'll have to admit I've always bought the water bottles because I didn't know they would give out water. Does anyone know what size cup it is? Just wondering if a packet of Crystal Light would work in it.

They are usually small (probably 8 oz) but you could ask for more than you really need - they don't count heads.

 

[LovesTimone]

There are a lot of ways to cut corners without seeming like you are cutting corners.

I got some deals on Starbucks gift cards, Sams and at BJ's which I gave as gifts during Christmas, I know they carry them year around, you could use them for snacks or breakfast.

Also sometimes Target offers GC deals with the Red Card, I have a friend who is the Queen of this, she know how it really works. So I call her when I have questions.

I sometimes will buy a GC when I am buying grocery, and I save them for trips.

Since your staying off site, I would make a big hearty breakfast, bring in snacks, everyone carry a water bottle you can bring in those flavoring packets to change it up, lunch in the parks, using snacks as needed, then dinner at the condo in the evenings. Hauling a cooler around isn't fun in my book. It was okay when we had a stroller but once that went away we had to rethink that...

Snacks, pick them up ahead of time, cheese crackers, chips, granola/breakfast style bars, the protein ones are our favorite. Those individual cups with cookies, chips, Pringles, goldfish, I like these as things don't get smashed in the back pack. I shop at Publix, and just picked up Bogo on Lances Crackers, and the week before they had chips ahoy and nutter butters boxed in individual serving on BoGo. The more you save now is more towards Disney later on. Also buying ahead of time means you won't have that expense right before vacation.

See if your condo has a crock pot, you can put something on in the morning, and it nice to have dinner ready when you get back.

Check Groupon for deals, Sweet tomatoes always has some promotion going, normally 4 can dine for 22.00 and includes drinks or buy one get one, or something along these lines, pick up pizza or Chinese to take back at night.

I would do research on what you feel you can share at the QS, so that you know what's available ahead of time. Also you can always get a extra side of something if needed, it won't be listed, just ask. For instance when our DD where around that age, we might stop at Cosmic Rays, and get 2 - 1/2 rotisserie meals (13.79 price on Disney app right now) which comes with mashed potatoes and a veggie, but we would order extra sides of mashed potatoes, I don't know the price right now of extra sides, ( anyone know?). We could eat for under 50.00 dollars for the 4 of us including drinks, that about 12.50 a person which isn't to bad. or 3 Chicken Nuggets meals (8 nuggets) ( 9.49 on Disney app right now), around 30.00 with tax, and you can drink water, its free. That's around 7.50 to 8.00 per person which isn't to bad.

 

[Disney_1derland]

I would strive for as many "shelf stable" items as possible, they are just easier to carry and not worry about keeping cold. You can buy peanut butter in individual cups, nutella, jelly (a local fast food restaurant will sell you individual packs of jelly for $.10 each and salad dressings for $.50 if you have a hardee's near you.) Then you can make sandwiches as you need them, or use them with fruit/vegetables.

Also, at counter service restaurants, we share. A lot. The meals are huge and each adult can easily share with a child. We also try to hit the counter service places that have toppings bars since you can really extend your meal with toppings (lettuce, tomato, etc) which makes a big difference when you are sharing.

Also, whole fruits will keep well in your bag during the day and make great snacks throughout the day.

I know a family who successfully packs in all their meals each day with these tips and only spends money on one special treat (ice cream, etc) each day. They just tell the kids that's how it's going to be and it works really well for them.

 

[lovewdwdvc]

We do not like squishy sandwiches so started to use bagels instead of bread. We found that the frozen water bottles that were serving double purpose did not squish the bagels.