Do You Bring Food With You or Buy it When You Arrive?

[Julia M]

Okay, I know this sounds like a dumb question, but, does anyone pack food to eat at the hotel?

Our plane arrives at 10:30 pm, so I anticipate not arriving at our hotel until 11:30 or 12:00. I DO NOT want to add a trip to a grocery store.

I have been thinking about shipping through some of the instant oatmeal in a bowl, individual boxes of cereal, some juice boxes and hot cocoa packets. We plan to eat b'fast in our hotel, to save money and time.

I can buy these items cheaper at home (on sale, like "buy one, get one free" promotions), it will save us time, and if I can pack them in my suitcase, it will give us extra space when we return home (always a problem for me!)

Then, we can just stop at a convenience store for milk-that can even be postponed a day or two.

My dh thinks I am crazy. What do you think?

First trip: July, 1983
Second trip: April 17-20, Dixie Landings
April 20-28: Orange Lake COuntry Club

 

[Dopeygirl]

We take food. I like to have the extra room in the suitcase for the return trip. In fact, we usually designate a small bag for the food. If we need the space, then we have it on the way back. If not, it gets folded up and put in the suitcases. In June, we took bagels, peanut butter and some of those little butter things you get from restaurants (I saved up a bunch before we left and then just threw them in some ice when we got to the room). Those oatmeal bowls would be a great idea! And I know some of the little cereal boxes come in little plastic bowl type things, perfect for holding milk and eating straight from it.

We also took some Cheese-Itz, Snack Stixs, etc...and made up little Rubbermaid snack containers. Although we wanted to be able to get snacks from the parks, those made for good standing-in-line-sudden-snack-craving times! LOL

Seeing as how you are arriving late, I think your plan is a good one! Who wants to stop that late, after traveling and all? Not me! Just want to get to the hotel, check-in and crash!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh watch me go,
I'm a happy girl,
And I've come to know,
That the world won't change,
Just 'cause I complain,
Let the axis twirl,
I'm a happy girl."

--Martina McBride

 

[Chipmunk]

We bring a lot of food with us because we only eat one meal out a day. We even bring nonrefridgerated milk with us so we can eat breakfast in room. We made it cold in a soft cooler we brought and used hotel ice. We ate breakfast and lunch in the room and go out for dinner. It's easier on our bodies not to eat out every meal and we make sure we're eating enough fruit and carrot strips.

 

[SueM in MN]

We always bring some stuff with us for the reasons you mentioned. As long as it's non-perishable, it's fine to bring. My MIL even brings some stuff like cans of tuna, so she can buy bread and make sandwiches. I think that's a little overboard because a few cans of tuna get awfully heavy. You can buy things like individual packets of cereal at the resort gift stores, but the prices will make you choke, compared to what you could buy them for at home.
The extra empty room for packing souvenirs on the way home is nice too.ÿ

SueM in MN
Co-Moderator of disABILITIES

 

[Qwackertoo]

We opted for Tiffany Town Car and did do the grocery stop and bought a few boxes of Pop Tarts and a few snacks and most of it got left as we were never in the room to eat it. I figure its my vacation too and being a Stay-At-Home-MOM with a 3 yr. DS and 7 yr. DD we don't go out to eat much throughout the year and keep fast food during the year at a respectable minimum so it's my time to splurge a litte while at the happiest place on Earth

Deana

Wilderness Lodge Dec.'00
All-Star Movies Oct. '01
Wilderness Lodge Dec. '01

Addicted to Disney After Just One Trip

 

[Kaa]

We have a rolling duffle bag that we pack food in for our trips. We limit the cereal selection to one and I purchased a Rubbermaid container to put the cereal in so that it survives the plane. We also pack a loaf of bread (in another Rubbermaid container) and a jar of peanut butter. We purchase a quart of milk each night from the gift shop at the resort and ice it down in either the ice bucket or the sink. The milk is less expensive in the gift shop versus the food court - just a tip! We also pack plastic utensils, but you could also pick up plastic spoons from the food court.

Have Fun!

Tammy aka Kaa
Budget Board Co-Moderator
tammy@wdwinfo.com

 

[kimmy66]

We brought our snacks with us. Sad to say, but I brought way too much! So pack only what you know you will eat, it's a pain bringing it all back home with you.

 

[Julia M]

I think I will ignore my dh and pack some stuff. Kimmy (I think it was you), that's a good comment about not packing too much-I don't want to bring it home, either!

We generally eat in the parks-I don't want to cook on vacation-but b'fast is a different story.

I also usually pack a small snack or two for the parks (like a package of "gummy" fruit treats or a cheese and crackers package per child) for emergencies-when we're standing in line and the kids start to get cranky. I know there is a "no outside food" rule, and I try to follow it (and now that we don't need a diaper bag-the last kid is now potty trained-I want to travel light!) but those snacks have come in handy sometimes.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. Anybody else?

First trip: July, 1983
Second trip: April 17-20, Dixie Landings
April 20-28: Orange Lake COuntry Club

 

[CookieGVB]

I've used Netgrocer both times - I didn't feel like having an extra bag to lug through the airport. I ordered juice boxes, chocolate milk boxes, cereal, applesauce snack cups, fruit snacks, raisins, etc., etc., etc. True - we brought some stuff back with us, but with the prices at some of the local stores, I was glad I had it sent.

SueM - do you know they sell tuna in a bag now? (I thought my friend was joking when she told me, but I saw it recently!) Starkist sells it in foil packages that don't have to be drained...no more heavy cans or can openers! I have to admit, my first thought when I saw it was - "cool, I can pack some for WDW!"

Sis-boom-baaaaaa!

I wanna go back to the SwanDolphin! I wanna, I wanna, I wanna!

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Gail a/k/a CookieGVB

"All you need is mugs..."