Easy meals to make while at WDW?

feezle

Mouseketeer
Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
454
Our trip is next month. Our first two nights are at POP and then we are staying 7 days at Wyndham Cypress Palms. We will have a full kitchen and plan on taking things like our waffle maker and crock pot.

I am setting a goal of at least 3 meals in the room. There is a Walmart close by so we will be able to pick up groceries but obviously we don't want to have to purchase too many ingredients or spend too much vacation time cooking.

What are some reasonably priced meal options for our home away from home?
 
One of our favorites to quick because it is quick and easy is French Toast. I buy the Texas Toast so the slices are nice and big.

  • 1 loaf of Texas Toast bread
  • 1 dozen eggs
  • 1 bottle of syrup
  • 1 can of Pam

Happy kids!
 
We always stay off property in a townhouse with a full kitchen. I make a plan to show me all meals for the week, plug in our ADRs and then fill in what we'll need to buy from the grocery store. Breakfast foods are very quick and easy. Bagels, yogurt, protein bars, fruit and cereals.

Some of the lunches/dinners on our October menu:

*Honey Ham slices, perogies and green beans
*Whole chicken (hot from the deli), packaged mashed taters and frozen corn
*Soup and grilled cheese
*Hot dogs on the grill with Hormel canned chili and deli potato salad
*Lunch meat sandwiches and wraps


We fill in meals if necessary with applesauce, yogurt, fruit, cottage cheese, etc...
 

Dinners

Pulled pork in the Crockpot with buns and slaw for making sandwiches. Chips and fruit to round out meal.

Will there be a gas grill for cooking? Hamburgers or steaks or chicken on the grill. Store bought potato salad or green salad, and corn on the cob to round out.
 
We usually do:

tuna and noodles - tuna, cream of whatever soup, and noodles;

"Enchiladas" - frozen burritos, which we thaw, pour canned enchilada and shredded cheese over and then throw in the oven for a few minutes.

Not cooking, but Giordano's pizza is always a must for us.
 
Crockpot--best decision ever.

There was a thread not too long ago with great Crockpot meals on this board or the community board.

I've told this story before, but will share again.

Last time we went to Disney for the week 2009, we stayed at the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. I preplanned a dinner meal for each day we were there. When we got to Orlando, after checking in, we went to Walmart and purchased the fresh ingredients I needed for the meals I had planned.

I brought the recipes with me and knew what we were having each day.

We were so thankful to return to the cabin about 2 or 3 in the afternoon and have our big meal of the day. In the evening, we'd get snacks at the parks. SAved a ton of money for our family of 6.

Boneless skinless chicken breasts and ground beef that I cooked before we left home were my main meat ingredients. Just picked up a bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts and put the amount I needed in the crockpot frozen each day. Worked great! Bring down your own spices in ziploc baggies for the meals you plan.
 
We do a lot of cooking on vacation as well.

I love to grill dinner; it is quick, and doesn't mess up the kitchen too much. We grill brats, burgers, fish, a lot! Then just get a veggie tray from Costco, toss a salad, make some rice or potatoes, and it's so easy. Also I buy cookie dough that you just pull apart - fresh cookies baking smell so nice!

I also think it can be much healthier to eat in for us on vacation. I always stock up on fresh fruit, and keep a huge bowl in the middle of the dining table filled with it.

We do one night of spaghetti and frozen meatballs, Pillsbury French bread (the roll of dough that you bake), and a salad. It takes almost no time, and is a nice simple meal. We do whole wheat pasta, since we all like that. Barely costs $15 for a family of four for that meal.
 
Lots of great ideas here! Thanks everyone!

I don't think there will be a grill anywhere...really wish there was. Always good for a quick meal.

I will have to find some crockpot recipes. These will be good for when we stay at the campgrounds next year too!
 
One night you can do a deli chicken, bagged salad and a loaf of french bread. With leftover chicken, use a soup starter in the crockpot. That will warm and ready for you when you get back, served with leftover french bread. Yummy and inexpensive!
 
DH and boys favorite crockpot (don't forget to use the crockpot disposable liners--easy cleanup)

Frozen meatballs
1 can/jar favorite spaghetti sauce

Cook on low for 6 hours

Serve on sub rolls with provolone cheese melted on top with green salad on the side.

Here's a link to a few recipes on the Camping/Fort Wilderness boards (crockpot lasagna, shredded beef, crockpot meatloaf--sound yummy)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2747743
 
Chicken (whatever cuts you like, enough for about 6 servings)
1 bottle of bbq sauce
1 can pineapple
Put chicken in the crockpot. Pour the bottle of bbq sauce & pineapple (with juice) over the chicken. Let it cook on high for 6-8 hours (until chicken is done). We serve it over rice (the sauce is really good on the rice!) and steamed broccoli.
 
I've been taking notes. Our October trip we are staying at POP so no crock pot on that trip, I guess I could use the 110 outlet in the Prius but probably not a good idea. However our February trip is DVC. We'll definitely use one then. I like the liner idea too.
 
you could do a veggie chili, no need to brown any meat. just add beans (black and kidney), diced tomatoes, chopped onion, tomato paste, and then whatever veggies you want, i like peppers and corn. for the peppers most food stores have a mix frozen already chopped for you, sometimes you can even find chopped frozen onions.

i also have done a version of chicken caccitaore in a dutch oven/ casserole that i have seen as a crock pot recipe. you just need a package of hearty (thighs, or even quarters) chicken, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped onions, and i put in chopped peppers and celery. for spices i use italian spices, herb de provence, and then red pepper flakes, but i am sure you could come up with your own combo. i eat it over rice and just add some parm cheese. i really stretch it (because i love the taste of the sauce) by then making a veggie soup from the leftover liquid since i never seem to eat it all with the meat.
 
My extended family just got back from a short week at a coastal beach house and we LOVED having a kitchen!

I don't know if you're driving a long distance or not (I assume if you're bringing a crock pot you must be driving) but you might want to make and freeze a lasagna ahead of time. Let it defrost in the car on your way then pop it in the oven for your first night!

Another tip - if you plan your meals out ahead of time you can save money and space by bringing little baggies of spices you need for each recipe. It's such a bummer when you have to spend like $8 on something like cinnamon and sugar that you know you have more than enough at home.

My fav crockpot meals are taco soup and pulled pork. They are so easy and cheap! I also like to make scrambles on the last morning of our stay with any and all leftovers. Yum!

If you'd like more ideas you should check out "A year of slow cooking" blog. I was mildly obsessed with crockpots a while ago and followed this blog closely. I have to admit though - not everything is better in a slow cooker - some things just belong in an oven =)

I hope you have a great trip and I hope the trip keep on comin!
 
Since, I'm taking a four year old with us we have to deal with those naps. (Of course, she doesn't think she needs naps) But it would be great for lunch to be waiting in the resort when we get there.
 
Yeah, it is an 18 hour trip and our first two nights are at POP, so freezing things to take isn't going to be possible. We also are going to have to watch what groceries we purchase before checking in at Wyndham because we will be checking out of POP in the morning, going to a park, and checking into Wyndham at lunch time. We will have to make sure we eat any perishables we bought for POP because everything else needs to sit in the van for a little while.

Will do the big grocery run after we get done at the park that night. That is kinda why I want to plan all the meals out now so we can figure out exactly everything we need. We want a painless trip to the store.
 
Forgot a couple- Rhoades cinnamon rolls for breakfast and NY 5 cheese Texas toast with spaghetti or lasagna (both we don't usually spend the calories on.) We also did a taco night and you could do a 'breakfast for dinner.'
 





New Posts










Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top