Dining Dilema

[klize]

Hiya folks! I have an unusual question. How long of a walk is it from RPR to restaurants that are off site? Not that i'm trying to be cheap, and we will be checking out the park restaurants but.....with a 14 and 17 year old in tow my food bill for the week we will be staying their (8/26 to 9/3) will quite possibly be ASTRONOMICAL .Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I've never tried it, but I think I'd scrap the idea of walking offsite to eat.

If you're not choosy about where you eat, I'd consider this instead: http://www.universalorlando.com/tic_meal_deal.html
Take a quick bite for breakfast in your suitcase to tide the teens over (I have a DS(14) myself & I know what you mean. ). By the time they're hungry again, they should be able to get something on this deal. They can eat until they're sick or until they get sick of standing in line to get food.

A great option for a meal outside the park is Pat O'Briens. The burger w/ fries is huge, & very reasonable. I think the prices on food are good, because food is almost an afterthought. The burgers are great though.

 

[t-and-a]

You might want to check out the menus at the counter service restaurants at US/IOA and see if the meal deal will be worth it for you. For us, it wasn't since we aren't big dessert eaters and the deal does not include drinks.
Here is a link to a site that has the menus:

http://allearsnet.com/uni/menu/menus.htm

 

[magicmouse2]

I wouldnt walk to offsite - those roads are dangerous!! eat counter service for lunch and take a taxi offsite to I drive for dinner at Sizzler or something. as another poster suggested get the meal deal then they can eat as luch as they want of counter food!!

 

[No11's Mom]

I've never paid to take a taxi offsite, but it seems like it might offset any money you would save at offsite restaurants. Walking offsite is defintely too far.

You could walk over the the HRH and eat at the Beach Club out at their pool...I think most of their entrees are in the $10 range and they are huge portions. Try the popcorn shrimp basket. That should definitely fill them up.

At the Hard Rock Cafe they have an appetizer platter that is reasonably priced and big enough to share. My 16 yr old son and I shared that several times last year, and it was plenty.

When we are on vacation, we try to get water instead of sodas at restaurants. That saves several dollars per meal. Also, if you are a AAA member, you will get a 10% off of most counter restaurants in the parks and the restaurants at CityWalk. We saved quite a bit of money that way.

Good luck!

 

[PattiPB]

We've ordered Flippers Pizza to be delivered to RPR several times. I'm sure there are other restaurants that do this, but we like Flippers!

One night we order pizza, and eat by the pool.

One night we order hot and cold subs, and eat by the pool.

One time we ordered as we were leaving IOA. Took the boat to RPR, got dressed and headed for the pool. After we got settled at the pool, DH went to guest services to check on delivery, and they were just calling the room. He grabbed the pizza and brought it to the pool. Timing was great!

 

[No11's Mom]

Something we've also done to save food money is get a fridge in the room (I think it was $10/nt) and stock it with sodas, fruit, lunch meat, etc, and eat some meals in the room. On our last trip, we stopped at a grocery store on the way from the airport and got a styrofoam cooler, along with some snacks/groceries, and just kept the cooler cold with ice from the resort. It worked fine. At the end of the stay, we just left the empty cooler there. We usually eat something for breakfast in the room. That saves a lot of money. Sometimes we just snack around in the parks, and then eat one big meal, usually an early dinner.

If you come up with more money saving ideas, please let us know...I could also stand to save some money!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

A well stocked cooler is a must for us. I like the idea of ordering from Flippers. You could order from them & get a drink out of the cooler. Purchasing soft drinks does add up quickly.

 

[robvia]

Unfortunately, the RPR is far from the offsite restaurants. It's a mile walk over the bridge to International Drive. Or you'd have to walk 20 minutes thru citywalk, thru the parking garage, and across Kirkman. It would take you about 30 minutes of walking, kinda far. If you were staying at the PBH or HRH, then you could walk across Kirkman Road to the shopping center across the street where you'd find these restaurants.
http://www.nogodforme.com/AcrossUSF2005.htm
Flippers is awesome, you'll pay about the same for a pizza that you would at the hotel, but instead of paying an 18% service charge, you trip the driver. Some people get peaved over the hotel service charge. Here's my flippers page.
http://www.nogodforme.com/IOA072905.htm
Write down that phone number, look at the menu, and then you'll be ready to call.
Here's my directions to Publix page. Most have seen it, but since you are new, take a look.
http://www.nogodforme.com/directionstopublix.htm

 

[klize]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. We are bringing some breakfast foods and some snacks with us. Flippers sounds great. Any other delivery places near by anyone? This is going to be the last family vacation before my oldest son goes off to college and after seeing what it will cost to send him......our next several vacations will probably consist of a tent in the backyard. Thanks again for the tips so far