Eating for Cheap off-site?

[Cuddlemama]

I looked around and didn't see a current thread, so feel free to point me if I missed it.

We're heading down in a few months for our regularly scheduled DVC trip. So, we'll be staying onsite, but we're trying to keep this trip on a decent budget. We'll be cooking in our room for breakfasts, a few lunches and a lot of dinners.

To give the cook (ME!) a break, we'd like to also see if we can find restaurants in the area that we can get GC's for through our Discover card, or buy restaurant.com certificates or have great coupons. You know, good deals for a family of 5 or a group of 9 people.

Bonus points if they're either order ahead/delivery and have a gluten free option or two for our celiac kid.

Oh, we're staying at Kidani and would love things that are easy to reach from there.

I know this is the Orlando off-site forum, but the regular Disney forums don't really discuss off-site food.

 

[crazelion]

You have whole host of take-out go options: Chili's, Applebee's, Publix, Whole Foods, Pizza Hut and a lot more. We do this all time. We can't stand sit in a restaurant and noting watching TV.

Orlando have every restaurant known man. There are plenty gift cards are from Discover rewards.

Here is a list restaurant gift cards that I am getting spend offsite:
Olive Garden
Ihop
Cracker Barrel
Chili's
Applebee's
Joe Crab Shack
Dave and Busters
MC Donalds's
Burger King
Papa John's
Whole Foods
Red Lobster
Bahama Breeze
Logan's
Longhorns
Steak n Shake
Rainforest Cafe

 

[Cuddlemama]

Thanks for the list! I just added Starbucks cards to our list after finding out the ones in the parks take giftcards. It'll be a fun way to get snacks/treats without spending extra cash.

I think Outback (had great gluten free menu), Landrys (for Rainforest and T-Rex) and Applebees will definitely be on our list. Maybe also Darden (Olive Garden and Red Lobster). I figure if I pick 5 restaurants, that gives me the night off every 3 or so days!

This is a big change for our family, since we typically stick to Disney because of their great allergy menus.

 

[robinb]

I really love Sweet Tomatoes and there are a number of locations in near WDW. It's a long salad bar with soups, baked potatoes, pasta, etc. If you join their "Club Veg" they will send you coupons. For instance, the coupons that just came today were $7.99 for dinner or $9.49 with a drink. Lunch is $1 less. Kids under 12 pay less depending on their age.

Another option is to purchase gift cards from one of the resale sites. Go to www.giftcardgranny.com to find deals. For instance, the Landry's cards are 20% off.

 

[Judyat]

We love Steak N Shake. Great burgers with fries for $4 and great shakes that are half price 2- 5 pm. They have a great sit down menu. Very reasonable as in cheap and good. We go to the one on S. Apopka Wineland road not far from DTD. Also great sandwiches at WAWA. We go to the one across from Sea World. made to your liking. And of course if you like pizza there's the CICI pizza buffets.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

If you come out of AKL and turn right onto Sherbeth Road you an get onto the 192. Turn right and you will pass a TGI! Giordanos then Texas Roadhouse and my favourite the Ale House. There is a Publix, and across the road a Target for any groceries you may need. Near the Target is an Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Sweet Tomatoes. There is also a Cracker Barrel on this stretch.

Plenty of choice all within a short drive

 

[crazelion]

Thanks for the list! I just added Starbucks cards to our list after finding out the ones in the parks take giftcards. It'll be a fun way to get snacks/treats without spending extra cash.

I think Outback (had great gluten free menu), Landrys (for Rainforest and T-Rex) and Applebees will definitely be on our list. Maybe also Darden (Olive Garden and Red Lobster). I figure if I pick 5 restaurants, that gives me the night off every 3 or so days!

This is a big change for our family, since we typically stick to Disney because of their great allergy menus.

Welcome

 

[krazy4crusing]

We love Golden Coral. It's a buffet with steak and an awesome bakery (dont know about gluten free)

 

[robinb]

We love Golden Coral. It's a buffet with steak and an awesome bakery (dont know about gluten free)

I like Golden Corral in general but not the ones in Orlando. They are always super crowded and dirty. If you have one in the area that you can recommend I'd appreciate it.

 

[staceyeileen]

If you come out of AKL and turn right onto Sherbeth Road you an get onto the 192. Turn right and you will pass a TGI! Giordanos then Texas Roadhouse and my favourite the Ale House. There is a Publix, and across the road a Target for any groceries you may need. Near the Target is an Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Sweet Tomatoes. There is also a Cracker Barrel on this stretch.

Plenty of choice all within a short drive

To add to this list, in the same general area you've also got:

Bonefish Grill
Chuy's Tex-Mex
Joe's Crab Shack
Panera Bread
Carraba's

 

[iloveokw]

Miller's Ale House has weekday lunch specials for $4.99. They also have evening specials. Their regular entrees are huge and could be shared. We also really enjoy Sweet Tomatoes and like it for a change of pace from burgers, etc. Flipper's pizza is great, too.

 

[pigletto]

Just got back from a trip where we ate exclusively offsite except for one meal at DTD at House of Blues. For that meal we had a Restaurant.com certificate for $50 off $100 that we bought for $10 on Black Friday. So that essentially worked like a $40 off coupon. We really enjoyed our meal there.

Our other favourites were Sweet Tomatoes.. (it was a welcome break from all the heavy fattening restaurant food and we went twice), Steak and Shake (yummy and cheap), Olive Garden (yummy and we don't have them here) and CowFish at CityWalk.

The kids loved CiCi's..it's decent and cheap all you can eat pizza. I wasn't thrilled but with the Groupon it was ridiculously cheap.

I hated Golden Corral and if I ever set foot in one again it will be too soon. It was dirty and the food was anything but appetizing. The kids didn't mind it.. and I had some soup and salad but many items were dried out, cold or gross looking. There was some sort of skin on one of the dishes.. it was just gross. Wouldn't go again.

Next time we want to try Millers Ale House and Wood Grill Buffet.. maybe Carrabas as well.

 

[formill]

I like Golden Corral in general but not the ones in Orlando. They are always super crowded and dirty. If you have one in the area that you can recommend I'd appreciate it.

We are just back and agree-not the one we were at on 192......it was lunch we went to, not much selection as other Golden Corrals we have been at-they were out of ice for the drinks, ran out of forks and spoons- kids running up and grabbing food without using utensils or a plate-many selections were empty-had to wait while they refilled. We had been to one in Myrtle Beach and it was beautiful and clean and a much wider selection. We went to Cicis twice- got great deals from Groupon.....love that place- we can each order our own pizza with what we want and they are loaded- or just grab off the buffet with the selections they put out. We went to a CICIS on 192 with the mini golf with a mountain behind it and it is kind of dirty-the one on Palm Parkway was really nice bright and clean.

 

[sheboz]

Hot krust panini , has great sandwiches and they are in the same plaza as the whole foods. They have gluten free buns, so the kids can order what they want. You can get great food in whole foods, hot items and great salads. We like to go mid week to stock up on more allergy free treats for the family.
Sweet tomato is great when it comes to allergies. I called before we left home and made sure we could all eat there. ( egg, wheat and dairy allergies).

I have a list if restaurants and menus before we leave the house. No stress because I've done my "homework" ahead of time. We call ahead and place a take out order as were exiting the park. Our family likes to get take out and eat outside pool side at the hotel.

Trip advisor has a rated list of restaurants that is always great to read.
Make sure to sign up online to get extra discounts on food through loyalty programs.

 

[hiroMYhero]

There's a Shula's Burgers in front of Target - on the side opposite of Bahama Breeze.

If you want inexpensive sandwiches, there is a Wawa on the 192 as you are heading towards Clermont.

 

[kaetra]

We ate at Denny's a couple times for dinner when we were there. It was quiet, tasty, super cheap and has a good kid's menu. The smoothies are really good. The kid got a keepsake smoothie cup that looks like a cupcake. They have really good burgers, but my favorite is the Tilapia dish that comes with cheddar mashed potatoes. Can't beat the price!