Eating in Disney Frugally

[monorailsilver]

We do the room breakfast thing too. We fly so we ship things plus bowls and cups. I use the spoons from CS.

We ship shacks too.

I do have to say i planned $40/meal not including chef mickeys or WCC for our family of 5 last August and I was pretty much spot on. We did pay $50 for lunch at cosmic rays only because 2 of my kids wanted the orange frozen slushie thing. But the rest were as close to $49 as I could get.

What I think saved us and this was the first time we did this was no soda in the parks. Actually no drinks other then an occasional frozen drink for the kids...maybe 1-2 the whole trip.

I did buy the resort mug so I told my dh and my kids no soda in the park, only on our pool days and since we had 5 days at the pool and 5 days at the park no one was deprived.

On previous trips we have always done the ice from the ice machine and water from the sink. Only the trip in 2008 did I realize that I couldn't drink the water anymore...that and the fact that we had a 3rd kid adding more food money.

Anyways, we shipped water down (very cheap) too. So we filled the kids double insulated thermos (24 oz), dh and I had the plastic insulated ones which did not last like my kids did cold wise and we brought extra bottles with us. Guess what we drank all our water and no one complained. I didn't have to spend $2.50 on water/soda with each meal.

And the best part...I lost 4 lbs in Disney! I have never lost weight in Disney before.

 

[hsmamato2]

OP will have a car...... so the cheapest option is a super walmart run, get your groceries for your week.... eat breakfast in room, carry snacks, maybe some pb&j if your kids like it, then eat cs mostly to save $$$
if you end up flying,and you don't pack boxes of cereal in a suitcase, probably cheapest to do a small grocery order of cereal,milk,snacks....

 

[crisi]

OP will have a car...... so the cheapest option is a super walmart run, get your groceries for your week.... eat breakfast in room, carry snacks, maybe some pb&j if your kids like it, then eat cs mostly to save $$$
if you end up flying,and you don't pack boxes of cereal in a suitcase, probably cheapest to do a small grocery order of cereal,milk,snacks....

Or even pack lunch into the parks - Disney will let you. So you can pack in PB&J and fruit - or even lunchmeat or tuna in a small cooler.

Way back when, the budget board was more budgety - and people would talk about packing in crystal light packets (because Disney water isn't great) and getting a glass of water - or bring in a bottle, then fill it up when its empty from the water fountains. Bring in sandwiches and energy bars. Set aside money to share something that you can't get easily - like a Dole Whip in the Magic Kingdom - but avoid the hamburgers and chicken strips that are just as good - or better - outside the "world" and certainly cheaper unless you are at a sporting event.

 

[ShelliRenee]

We try to do our character TS meals at breakfast. It is cheaper, you are full for most of the day and can just bring some snacks into the park. Also, I bring along zip lock bags. I can save somethings and have them later. I also try to look up any discounts I can get. On Allears, they have discounts listed in the top right corner of each restaurant menu. My mom is a Florida Resident, so I can find 10% off at many of the restaurants. I am also not afraid to ask for discounts in regards to my AAA membership.