Eating in Orlando

[saysib]

We just had a car repair and half my Disney spending budget is gone It wasnt a huge budget to begin with, but now its much smaller. We are going for 2 weeks in October, staying at ASMu (without fridge) and we have car hire (travelling from the UK) so shopping at supermarkets is fine, I just dont really want to live on bread and such for the 2 weeks!

How and where can we eat cheaply? We are 2 adults and a 4 year old and we eat pretty much anything apart from seafood.

Please help as I'm really stressing myself about going now

 

[KeroKero]

Do you fall into any of the free dining weeks that are currently being offered for October? That would be a big big help

 

[saysib]

I do, but because I booked in the UK I dont appear to be eligible would have been great though!

 

[fairyprincess1]

Have you looked into one of the fridge swaps at All Stars? I haven't done one but I see htem on here all the time... best part is they are FREE!!! That way you could have a fridge without Disney prices...

 

[saysib]

Have you looked into one of the fridge swaps at All Stars? I haven't done one but I see htem on here all the time... best part is they are FREE!!! That way you could have a fridge without Disney prices...

I had a look a couple days ago and I think there was one available for 3 days our 2nd week - I know its better than nothing. I'll go take a look and see if its still available! Thanks for reminding me!

Edited: no availability for Allstars my weeks bummer

 

[Kay1]

There are a lot of affordable restaurants on US 192, which is close to the All Stars. Google: Us 192 Kissimmee. I would give you a link but there are several sites to help you. One has an interactive map so you can see what restaurants there are that interest you, then go to their websites to look at menus ahead of time.

Good luck.

 

[Marionnette]

And don't forget that American portions are notoriously generous in comparison to European meals. You will probably be able to share plates for some meals, so take a look at the plates being served before you place your order. I think that a lot of the expensive Disney meals get left on the plate when dinner is over.

PS - Avoid the buffet meals on site. They are a poor value for your money and you're mostly paying for the character interaction.

 

[Kay1]

Also, if you want to keep items like sandwiches and milk cold in your room, you could just buy a cheap styrofoam cooler at any grocery store and use the free ice from Disney's machine. I'm not sure what they cost but maybe someone else could tell you.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

The food prices at Earl of Sandwich at DTD is very resonable and very good!

Consider ordering appeatizers as your meal. Usually they are a smaller version of the same item on the regular menu and are at reduced price.

Having a 4 year old you could order a meal and share it with the 4 yr old since they usually don't eat a lot.

A few times we have gone to the Poly resort and ordered the tonga toast from the CS location, which by the way is cheaper than the tonga toast at Kona's at the Poly, and because it is so big we split it. Remember tonga toast is only served during breakfast.

 

[saysib]

Also, if you want to keep items like sandwiches and milk cold in your room, you could just buy a cheap styrofoam cooler at any grocery store and use the free ice from Disney's machine. I'm not sure what they cost but maybe someone else could tell you.

This is an excellent idea! I didnt know I could get ice, so that does open up a few more options, thanks!

 

[GatorMama]

TONS of places off 192 in Kissimmee as mentioned above. We were just there (and staying at a resort off 192) so I researched several options in the area. We ate at Chili's one night with a giftcard I earned on SwagBucks. We also drove a little farther and went to a Sonny's BBQ. Not the best meal in the world, but it reminds me of home (we don't have one near our new home) so we had to eat there once. We also ordered pizza one night and had it delivered to our resort... not sure if you can do that if you're staying on property though. If all else fails, Publix deli has DELICOUS sub sandwiches. And they're less expensive than sandwich chains like SubWay.

 

[dizneemom]

Can you cancel your car hire and use magical express (free) to get to the property? I would buy my groceries through some online ordering site like gardengrocer.com and keep them cold in an ice chest. That would save some money to use on food on property. Just a suggestion-not sure if it works for you!

 

[disneymarie]

I have an electric hot pot to cook water in and take a toaster. There is a toaster in the values food court too. It was just nice to have english muffins, bagals, toast or pop tarts for snacks. I also picked up cold meat and bread for park sandwhiches for Days we had fruit or cereal for breakfast. I had packets I saved of mayonaise, Ketshup, and mustard. A squeeze bottle of jelly, peanut butter for the kids, OJ, milk.
A pizza delivery from Poppa Johns with a bottle of soda, plates and napkins. They have internet coupons and will deliver to the Value. The mini mart/fuel station near Down Town Disney has sandwhiches, snacks and drinks near by to pick up.

Is there items you could sell before you leave. Do you use Ebay, or have someplace to advertise, maybe pick up extra work hours.

One good thing is the conversion of money, you will have almost twice as much here for your $1 bill. I had a friend send money paypal to a person here. When I got the paypal the $100 was almost $180. they were thrilled how much further the money went.

 

[sk8jdgca]

Just outside downtown disney are alot of places to eat- one sweet tomatoes is an all you can eat salad and soup place-if you go to their website and sign up you will get coupons. I just got a 9 day car rental for 160 for 10 days and I'm sure having it will save me 16 per day- for souveniers you can go to super walmart or to the disney outlet.
walmart also has great barbeques whole chickens with sides- My family of 3 will get 1 dinner and a bunch of sandwiches out of it.
Bob evans is a great restaurant-I can feed the 3 of us for under 20 there and the food is great with big portions
Sign up at restaurant.com- right now you get 80% off coupons so 25 coupons for 2. Giadornoes pizza is always on (read all of the fine print though)
The character meal at Dolphin is there often too (garden grill?) to get around needing a US zip code, pay with paypal. The current promo code is HOT

A styroform cooler is less than $5 at Walmart also at walmart buy some microwave popcorn then you can go to the food court and pop it up

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I have an electric hot pot to cook water in and take a toaster.

Please note that cooking in a regular hotel room using these appliances is not allowed. It is a fire code violation.

 

[CaptainAlex]

When I was in Orlando last August there were tons of cheap eats up and down and around International Drive.


From what I understand the Foodcourts at POR and the All Starts are a good value.

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

Do people really take toasters? Or, was this a joke?

 

[PrincessSteph]

On our last trip we went out for several inexpensive meals - Wendy's, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Subway. We also did Chili's and Joe's Crab Shack - not fast food. Each of these was a short drive from our hotel (POR).

Most times when eating in the park, DH and I would split a meal. If one of us was still hungry we could always go back and order more, but I really don't remember ever having to do that. Our favorite snack to purchase was popcorn - one was enough for the whole family to share. I also packed water bottles and snacks in our stroller to help save some money (we drove to Walmart to pick up these items).

We are not breakfast people, so we had that in our room - cold pop tarts (I understand that there is a toaster in the cafeteria - but my kids prefer them cold), granola bars, etc.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Bay Hill]

Look for coupons in various stores.

Do not go to Gooding's in the Crossroads Plaza. The store is overpriced. But they have coupons.

Buffalo Wild Wings in the Crossroads Plaza has a happy hour. $6.00 Bud/ Bud Light 60 oz every day.

Flipper's pizza is good and Sweet Tomatoes are also in the same plaza.

Hess on WDW has good deals on soda's, water, hot dogs, etc.

Mousesavers.com has a link on savings on dining at WDW...
http://www.mousesavers.com/meals.html

enjoy your holiday.

 

[disneymarie]

Please note that cooking in a regular hotel room using these appliances is not allowed. It is a fire code violation.

Left along with the fridge swap I was in with a coffee pot. Not a frying element, the same usage as the fridge and coffee pot in the Mod's. You unplug it when not in use. Nothing said about the lime green lights in the window with an extension cord either.
House keeping had no issues and the swaps passed along benefits to others.

Nothing like a cup a tea and whole grain toast in the morning as the kids get their cereal. For the price we pay a room, it is less then pennies to have a $19 coffee pot, and $70 fridge use in the room.