eating on a budget

[espec]

I am going to Disney in January with my boyfriend, and being that I am a full time college student, we are going on a budget. I've read the suggestions about getting a big lunch and a smaller dinner, but with the earlier park hours it seems like we would be giving up time in the parks to eat. We're doing the cruise combo (3 in park, 4 on Boat) and the Behind the Scenes Tour (our one big splurge, and a holiday present for my bf) so we have a limited amount of time to spend in the parks. Any suggestions??? We already have reservations for the CB at Chef Mickey's.

I'm also interested in any other suggestions people have regarding deals...

I have the disney club card, if that helps.

Thank you!!!

 

[ASFCurly]

Well, we did Chef Mickeys for Breakfast and other than that we just did counter service the rest of the time, if you do a breakfast or two and maybe a lunch that would not be as much time as a bunch of lunches.

 

[Meagansmom]

One thing we do when we go to Chef Mickey's is schedule a later breakfast.

1. We like to take our time looking at things on the way there. Also gift shops. Then we are
not in a hurry.

2. After eating a later breakfast, you can basically skip lunch, you are so full. This helps on
the cost of a lunch.

3. Plus sometimes on a later breakfast we don't feel so rushed to get out of there.

Hope this is a suggestion.

 

[cdntowdw]

I would never spend my precious park time eating breakfast in the parks. We always have breakfast in our room with foods I've brought from home. We do sit down meals on our non-park days. For eating in the parks, my DH and 2 DS were happy with counter service and could hardly wait to get the food in and return to the rides. We took snacks with us and one day we didn't have dinner until back at our hotel after Fantasmic.

 

[annemariec]

DH and I split meals often. (Unless we are super hungry.) We just aren't big eaters.... The portions are usually way too much for one person. That way we even have room for dessert and split that too. (There's no way we can eat a dessert after eating a full meal at the World.) It works out nicely. No wasted food, don't feel miserably full, and saved some money too!

I've heard where you can order from the kid's menu too. I didn't know about that. But I wouldn't be shy on that one, either. I read a post where a lady said she just wasn't terribly hungry, but wanted something and asked. And the waiter said no problem! Why not?!



Annemarie

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says.............................................Do Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and MGM, and start planning for your next trip!! I would cancel Chef Mickeys, as much as I like it and have done it, you need to use every minute you have at the parks. Get the kids meals if you enjoy hot dogs, or chicken fingers, they are a good deal and will fill you up. As for the actual planning of your trip, as long as early entry is canceled, I would go with Mon. MGM, Tues, MK, Wed,EPCOT,Thur, MGm, Fri.MK.

 

[SandraC]

We like character breakfasts. They are less $$$ than lunches and dinners and we love to eat big breakfasts. We eat a big char buffet breakfast, granola bars for lunch and park counter service or resort food courts for dinner. My fav counter service at MK is Pinocchinos!

 

[espec]

bump, sorry looking for some more answers

 

[Bunchkin]

My suggestion to you is...
Bring a soft sided cooler (or purchase a styro foam one when you get there), fill it with ice and make a grocery store stop. Bread, lunch meat, snack bags of chips and pretzles, individual fruit cups with the pop off tops, water,soda. Bring zip locks from home to pack the groceries in so they don't get soggy from the ice & pack yourselves a nice little lunch to bring into the parks with you in a backpack. If you want condiments on these sandwiches look for individual packets at fast food returants near your home on your next visit. I don't think they'll miss one or two extra.
Try to eat breakfast in your room. It will save time and money. Bring (or buy) bagles, cream cheese, fruit, individual boxes of cereal and milk, coffee cake, muffins.

I have the Disney Club card too, make sure to check their site for the available restaurants on site discounts. There are not alot, but there are some. But again eating at a sit down restaurant will cut into park time, and you did say that your park time was limited.

 

[WorknFires]

We just got back from a big trip and did sit down at almost every meal but this coming january we're going for a week and plan on doing the "on a budget" thing.

We plan on sharing meals at Tusker house (it's half a chicken and was far too much food for 1 person)
Eating at Pinnoccio House in MK. I had the child's hot dog with the great topping bar!
as long as your eating counter service, eating from the kid's menu is never a problem and DH and I split several meals.

I've never done Chef Mickey's so can't give any advice to keep or give up.

Good luck and have a great time,
Cheryl