Does anyone else take food with them?

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by BounceyOne
Am I the only one that gets tired of eating out? I loose my mind after eating a out for a week straight.
That being said, if we stay DVC I cook a few meals. When we stay regular hotel, the children have breakfast int he room every morning. I bring a box of cereal and some juice box size parmalat milk. It doesn't need to be refrigerated so there is nothing to worry about there. My children like to eat as soon as they get up, no waitning for everyone to get dressed and get to someplace to eat and wait for your order. They would go crazy by then.

Not me! I love to eat out. We eat out quite a bit at home as I hate to cook. When I'm on vacation I will not cook at all. I enjoy the nicer places to eat at in the resorts. As far as the parks, mostly they only have fast food so we are stuck with that so limit it. We try to time it so we have a nice meal in the resort before going to the parks and when returning. That way we are not eating fast food too much. I make sure the 4 y/o isn't starving before going to dinner or any other meal by letting her eat a light snack. That way she doesn't get cranky from being hungry and we can all enjoy a leisurely meal. We also enjoy room service quite a bit. That is so relaxing to pick the phone and order and then someone come up, lay out a nice tablecloth and all the goodies, and you just sit there and enjoy. We did this quite a bit too as it was so convenient and relaxing. Especially since all the food came from Kona Cafe! Yummy!

 

[ducklite]

We own DVC and most of our trips we're in a one or two BR villa. We eat breakfast in the villa five days out of a seven day trip, and have one CB and one other breakfast out, like to the Kona Cafe or Spoodles. When we aren't staying in a villa we normally stay concierge and eat the breakfast in the lounge.

I don't cook at all, other than to heat water for tea, or maybe make microwave popped corn.

We find that if we eat breakfast out, we only need a snack for lunch. If we eat breakfast in the villa we have a full lunch. We prefer to eat at full service places, although there are a very few counter service places we'll eat at.

Then for dinner we eat out every night, usually at one of the more upscale places.

I would never carry food to the parks, unless breath mints are now a basic food group . I usually start with a bottle of water, and that's about it. I don't like to feel like a bag lady carting my life history around with me.

We do stop at the market on the way from the airport to the World, and pick up water, beer, wine, soda, cereal, milk, tea, fresh fruit, and some sort of snacks--granola bars or Rice Krispies treats.

Anne

 

[WillAndFinn'sMom]

I guess I would just rather feel like a "bag lady" in DW, than a well-fed woman sitting at home!

I can understand not wanting to bring food, but it sounds like for many, myself included, it's a necessity. I'm just glad we're all able to make it to DW!

 

[SIDEWALK]

Anne - that wasn't very nice - we aren't "bag ladies" we're just bringing along some snacks - not a thing wrong with deciding that we are smart enought not to be ripped off.

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by BounceyOne
Am I the only one that gets tired of eating out? I loose my mind after eating a out for a week straight.

I totally agree. Especially when we are on a 2 week stint, I actually crave a homecooked meal. Part of the reason is, like peachgirl posted, the WDW food is hit or miss (we've had a lot of "misses" ). Not that I am a culinary snob or anything but 2 weeks of mediocre food is more than I can take. Also, eating out is a hassle sometimes bc. 2 of my DS's are pickey eaters.

We rent a house off-site and enjoy a mixed bag of eating out/ take-out/ and cooking in (always quick and easy stuff). I certainly am not forced to cook in, I chose to. I guess that's why I don't mind it. I really enjoy eating a Bar-B-Que dinner by the pool. Afterward, the kids go for a swim and my husband and I enjoy some much needed adult conversation! OOOOOH, I can't wait!

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by SIDEWALK
Anne - that wasn't very nice - we aren't "bag ladies" we're just bringing along some snacks - not a thing wrong with deciding that we are smart enought not to be ripped off.

HUH??

I wasn't criticizing anyone! I was simply stating that I PERSONALLY don't like to tote anything around the parks that I don't absolutely need.

Geeezzzz...

Anne

 

[crazymomof4]

This "bag lady" reference is too funny! I keep thinking to myself, "For the past 13 years, I've only carried around what I absoulutely need and I STILL feel like a bag lady!!"--kids!

I guess I have a lot of "needs".

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by SIDEWALK
Anne - that wasn't very nice - we aren't "bag ladies" we're just bringing along some snacks - not a thing wrong with deciding that we are smart enought not to be ripped off.

Well I don't think Anne meant it to mean that everyone bringing in food were bag ladies! I took it to mean that carrying all the food around in bags made her feel that way. But reading your post you were rather rude in saying that you are smarter then the ones that would rather buy all of your food. I took that to mean everyone that buys their food is stupid and you are not. That was rude.

 

[peachgirl]

I'm glad to see that there are no flameing posts here!

It was nice while it lasted.

Oh well, it was just a matter of time.

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by peachgirl
It was nice while it lasted.

Oh well, it was just a matter of time.

I saw it coming but I thought it would be people who strictly abide by WDW rules-vs-those that bring food in. I never would have predicted it would be over the use of a term like "bag lady".

I'm sorry but I do find this funny. I just can't get this picture out of my mind: Me, entering the MK, dressed in a grey, well worn trench coat and floppy hat w/ holes in it, pushing a shopping cart. There are pigeons landing on my shoulders, too. Like the old lady in Mary Poppins.

Much-a-do-'bout-nothing, if you ask me.

 

[peachgirl]

I'm sorry but I do find this funny. I just can't get this picture out of my mind: Me, entering the MK, dressed in a grey, well worn trench coat and floppy hat w/ holes in it, pushing a shopping cart. There are pigeons landing on my shoulders, too. Like the old lady in Mary Poppins.

You know, "Feed The Birds" was supposedly Walt's favorite song...so I think he'd be quite pleased with the idea...

Just don't dumpster dive and I think you'd probably be okay.

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Ok I'm a bag lady then. Unfortunately I do need to carry a bag around Disney and I envy those that don't. I need that rain poncho, that sweater, that camera and other assorted necessary stuff like bandaids etc. I also need to carry around my blood testing supplies and my medication (not insulin) since I'm a diabetic (type 2 diagnosed 2 years in August). I do take food into the parks because it saves money but also because I need to control my blood sugar and unfortunately the types of food offerings in WDW aren't necessarily the type that I need in the combination that I need. I've realized over the last 2 years that it's not a big deal if I look after it but blood sugar too low -- look out b/c I'm liable to snap your head off. I get very, very cranky and it comes on quite suddenly. My Dh has taken to just handing me something out of the snack bag and staying away til I've swallowed.

Blood sugar too high -- give me the nearest park bench for a nap. I've napped on It's a Small World after eating a sundae (I'm by no means perfect) A 5-10 minute nap and I'm ok.

I actually love going to WDW because if I spend the day in the parks I don't need to do any more exercise, it's done and I've had fun doing it. The food temptation though is bad. Trust me even if you think the food isn't that great, if you've cut most sugars out of your diet -- anything with sugar looks good, good, good.

Don't mean this as a downer at all because I don't even think about it most of the time. I'm constantly amazed at the sugar free food that's available. I can still eat most things just different -- my cookies are sugar free, my syrup for pancakes is sugar free and there's sugar free ice cream. The best part is that my teenaged DS doesn't eat my 'stuff' because he doesn't react well to the sugar substitutes in them. They take a little bit of getting used to I've discovered but it does mean that my ice cream actually stays in the freezer rather than disappearing in two days!!

Just meant to say that maybe there's a reason for the bag ladies which doesn't have anything to do with wanting to break the rules, or having to cook on vacation etc.

I'd love to be able to eat out every meal (although I'd get bored like someone else said and go broke) but if I did that you'd find me on the nearest park bench and then I really would be a bag lady.

 

[Selket]

Originally posted by ducklite
We own DVC and most of our trips we're in a one or two BR villa. When we aren't staying in a villa we normally stay concierge and eat the breakfast in the lounge....We prefer to eat at full service places, although there are a very few counter service places we'll eat at....Then for dinner we eat out every night, usually at one of the more upscale places. Anne

When we go to the parks in August I plan to hire a personal chef from V&A to follow us around all day with a portable food prep station so he can make gourmet meals on the spot. I hope all the bag ladies eating PB&J are impressed!

 

[BethR]

Things were going along very well on this thread and I am sure that they can continue to do so. Perhaps we all can just consider what we post a little more carefully and if we all don't take things quite so personally. Thanks!

BTW - even *I* who love to eat out, get tired of eating out for every meal for 8 or 9 days. Some simple fare in our room always seems in order after eating out a few days in a row.

 

[WillAndFinn'sMom]

We should start a bag ladies club. Do they make lime green trash bags? Maybe we could spray paint grocery carts green.

All in good fun. We all do what we can to make it to DW. Maybe someday I can go upscale and throw out my bag!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I like the idea of the chef following me around all day and doing all the cooking. Course he'd have to clean up too.

I can just see the table with nice white linens, candles, china etc set up in front of Cinderella's castle. Might have to order in a violin player too.

 

[crazymomof4]

I will never use the words "concierge" and "upscale" on any of my posts to the Budget Board........they are obviously flame magnets!

Seriously, on pondering this further, I remembered that 3/4 of my kids are no longer babies or toddlers. They can carry most of their own needs, including snacks/water. I remember someone posting once that the made up a big box of assorted snacks to keep in the hotel room and each morning she allowed her kids to "pack" what they wanted for the day into their fanny pack or back pack. I think I'll do that this time.
I am still up in the air about whether or not to get those Brita water bottles. Do they improve the strong sulfer taste I've heard about? If not, I guess I'll be buying bottled water to take in. Still a huge savings over buying water there!

 

[ducklite]

My DH uses his Brita all the time. He thinks it takes out "enough" of the taste. I can still taste it though, and prefer Dasani (or Mimosa's from the restaurant in Morroco )

I don't like the Zephyr Springs they used to sell and all the local markets stock heavily. I think that also has the "taste" to it.

Of course now I'm sure I'll get trashed by all of you because I don't drink out of the water fountains or have a personal maid to carry my bottled water around behind me.




Anne

 

[DMRick]

have a personal maid to carry my bottled water around behind me.

When we bring the grandkids, I feel like I am the personal maid. I'd love to have chef follow me around..or even just have one once a day..but alas, we go to Disney often, and some things we have just had to cut out, to afford lots of trips. Maid was the first thing to go.

When it's just hubby and I, we try to go light..but we still end up with either two light backbacks, or one very heavy one. I need my book for long lines, poncho's, food (we eat out and share a lot, but I like to snack my way around Disney, and bringing peanut butter crackers, fruit, water (ugh to the Disney water..can't fool me, unless I also carry the lemonade and container to make it in..which I do when grands are with us..and I don't care for the flitered water, prefer spring), and fruit. I like to wash my own fruit, and I like the outside prices, so I carry it. Sometimes we'll bring a sandwich, usually bought at a food court or downtown Disney...just because I prefer it to hamburgs and french fries for lunch. That means a small lunch size soft bag inside the backback too.

The best (and worse) part of bringing young grands, is the stoller to carry everything with. Great to have a place ot carry stuff..bad, because you have ot get in and out of places. I do like to buy from the vendors etc, just because when we brought our kids when they were small, we trudged in most of our "eats" because although we could afford Disney, we couldn't afford to eat Disney. Now we can, and I love getting the kids food from the stands knowing that the Mom and Dad of the kids, are pinching the same penny's we used to pinch.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I love the idea of a bag woman because its brings back such wonderful memories of my mom's big black bag!!! When I was a child my parents liked to take us places but my dad was king of the budget club. No way would he pay the prices in a theme park. My mom had this huge black pocketbook that seemed botomless. She carried sandwiches, ham biscuits, cookies ,fruit, canned drinks, whatever we needed. We sometimes ate at fast food resturants but often ate in the room. They would not cook in the room but had a camping stove that we would take to a rest stop and cook our meals. We hated it back then, but looking back the memories are so nice. When our son was small and our budget tighter we did carry food with us places. Now we just do this for breakfast. My parents however have no need what so ever to worry about a budget and they still almost always carry that bag!!! Camping stove stays home now, but they still carry that bag ladies bag!!!!


Jordan's mom