SandraC
Longs for the feeling of sandy salt water in her k
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2000
- Messages
- 5,091
Hi All ~ I thought it would be fun to start a BUDGET thread here on the Canadian boards about inexpensive meals/restaurants.
I'll start....
First, we always rent a car so groceries and off-site meals aren't a problem.
Here are some budget restaurants near Disney:
OH! Before you head to Florida, spend some time Googling restaurant coupons, deals, and grocery coupons.
OFF SITE RESTAURANTS
* $5.49 Cici's Pizza Buffet. It's not fancy or even that yummy, but it's cheap and plenty. So if you are very hungry head over to Cici's Pizza Buffet. They offer oodles of different types of pizza, one type of pasta with two sauces [alfredo and marinara], small salad bar, ceasar salad, really YUMMY bread sticks...three different kinds and three desserts; brownies, cinnamon buns [yum] and apple pie pizza...like Pizza Hut. Drinks are extra. I found that I got full fast because of the carbs and fat. It's in line with a McDonald's meal.
* McDonald's. Before the recession, we NEVER went to restaurant chains that we have in Ontario while on vacation. However, now, we are watching our spending while on holiday so we went to McDonald's twice during our March trip. We actually found it a little different than our McD's at home. Nicer. The menu was cheaper too. Lots of $1.00 USF stuff. All four of us eat for $13 during one lunch and $18 for dinner.
* $8.00 -ish Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation Buffet. We've been to Souplantations three times in Orlando [near Universal Studios] and once in Marina Del Rey in California. The Orlando one is much better than LA. I really like this buffet. It's very healthy yet plentiful. You start by filling your plate at the salad bar [you can return as many times as you like...however, it may look busy...but it's okay to join the line again....everyone understands]. At the end of the salad bar you pay. Then they seat you and you can visit all the other buffets. Lots of soups, bread....yummy corn bread....and desserts. There is pasta too. It's a good meal!
* $9.99 Sizzler. We like Sizzler alot. We don't have one in Ontario, so it's nice to visit in the States. Our kids are vegetarians but they love the salad bar. The salad bar alone is $9.99 or you can order the Manager's Special, which is usually a few choices of steak dinners PLUS the salad bar for the same price of $9.99. We all order the steak special for $9.99, dh and I eat ours, and box up the kids steaks for late or the next day's lunch. I cut up the steak and baked potato before putting it in the take-out container, that way we can nibble at it by the pool as sandwiches. Very good salad bar and LOTS of other stuff too!
TIP: We never order drinks with meals to keep the cost down and get our water in for the day!
DISNEY FOOD IDEAS
* Everyone knows about The Earl of Sandwich at DTD, but I thought it was worth a mention on this thread. Great sandwiches, awesome price!
* You HAVE TO get a resort mug! $13. If you are staying several days and love your coffee in the morning, lemonade by the pool, pop with dinner and tea in the evening, you'll need a mug! Great souvenir too!
* Big cheat here, but we were starving and the lines were long....One day while at MK, we decided to have lunch at Peco Bills. When we arrived STARVING at the restaurant, the lines were HUGE! My kids needed to eat and fast, so I went to the fixin's bar and took four tomato slices and topped them with grated cheese. I know...BAD ME....but I had to. I won't do it again, but I wanted to mention the fixin's bar.
* Once at CBR, dd and I went to OPR. She wanted a meal at 10pm. Teenagers! LOL. While she was loading up her meal with fixin's, I took her side plate and made a salad with the lettuce, tomatoes, onions and that yummy honey mustard sauce as dressing. It was really good! I know...BAD ME....but I had to. I won't do it again, but I wanted to mention the fixin's bar.
* KIDS MEALS! Again, it's like nearly 10pm and my kids are hungry, so off I go to the POP Century food court. I ordered them Kids Pizza Meal! WOW! It came with OODLES of food for $4.99! Pizza, milk, two sides....read the fine print....there are WAY more sides to pick from than listed! Breakky is good too! Mickey Waffle with meat and milk!
* EATING AROUND THE WORLD! I love doing this! We arrive at Epcot about 4pm. Start in Mexico and order the KIDS MEAL. We all pick at it to try the mexican food. Then off to China and order one KIDS MEAL, then Norway, then Italy...get the picture? By the time we get to Japan, we are STUFFED! All four of us can eat for about $40 and we get to chat with people from around the world! To hit all the pavillions we have to go to Epcot twice! We don't mind thou! Get to see Illuminations again!
* Share a meal. Disney....the United States for that matter....give HUGE meal portions. We often order two meals and share between the four of us. Especially at TONY'S in MK.
* Character Meals. Breakky is less expensive and you get to start your day with characters! I might be cheap....but we've done Cinderella's Royal Table Breakky four times. Save a buck by eating at McD's so I can go to a character meal? YOU BET!
GROCERIES
I've been to Publix and Winn Dixie at the beach and near Disney. I've done Goodings and all the Walmarts. And you wanna know something....they are all about the same price at the end of the bill.
Things we like to buy at the grocery store:
water bottles [although next time, I'm just bring an empty water bottle on the plane for water]
beer [no need to spend a fortune on a beer by the pool when you can get a case for the same price as one beer]
bread [and yes....I've taken my own store bought bread to the POP Century food court and toasted it]
peanut butter [knifes, jams and butter at the food court] dh and I don't mind a pbj sandwich as a late night snack while the kids eat a KIDS MEAL pizza.
grapes
bananas
cookies
cereal
I'll start....
First, we always rent a car so groceries and off-site meals aren't a problem.
Here are some budget restaurants near Disney:
OH! Before you head to Florida, spend some time Googling restaurant coupons, deals, and grocery coupons.
OFF SITE RESTAURANTS
* $5.49 Cici's Pizza Buffet. It's not fancy or even that yummy, but it's cheap and plenty. So if you are very hungry head over to Cici's Pizza Buffet. They offer oodles of different types of pizza, one type of pasta with two sauces [alfredo and marinara], small salad bar, ceasar salad, really YUMMY bread sticks...three different kinds and three desserts; brownies, cinnamon buns [yum] and apple pie pizza...like Pizza Hut. Drinks are extra. I found that I got full fast because of the carbs and fat. It's in line with a McDonald's meal.
* McDonald's. Before the recession, we NEVER went to restaurant chains that we have in Ontario while on vacation. However, now, we are watching our spending while on holiday so we went to McDonald's twice during our March trip. We actually found it a little different than our McD's at home. Nicer. The menu was cheaper too. Lots of $1.00 USF stuff. All four of us eat for $13 during one lunch and $18 for dinner.
* $8.00 -ish Sweet Tomatoes and Souplantation Buffet. We've been to Souplantations three times in Orlando [near Universal Studios] and once in Marina Del Rey in California. The Orlando one is much better than LA. I really like this buffet. It's very healthy yet plentiful. You start by filling your plate at the salad bar [you can return as many times as you like...however, it may look busy...but it's okay to join the line again....everyone understands]. At the end of the salad bar you pay. Then they seat you and you can visit all the other buffets. Lots of soups, bread....yummy corn bread....and desserts. There is pasta too. It's a good meal!
* $9.99 Sizzler. We like Sizzler alot. We don't have one in Ontario, so it's nice to visit in the States. Our kids are vegetarians but they love the salad bar. The salad bar alone is $9.99 or you can order the Manager's Special, which is usually a few choices of steak dinners PLUS the salad bar for the same price of $9.99. We all order the steak special for $9.99, dh and I eat ours, and box up the kids steaks for late or the next day's lunch. I cut up the steak and baked potato before putting it in the take-out container, that way we can nibble at it by the pool as sandwiches. Very good salad bar and LOTS of other stuff too!
TIP: We never order drinks with meals to keep the cost down and get our water in for the day!
DISNEY FOOD IDEAS
* Everyone knows about The Earl of Sandwich at DTD, but I thought it was worth a mention on this thread. Great sandwiches, awesome price!
* You HAVE TO get a resort mug! $13. If you are staying several days and love your coffee in the morning, lemonade by the pool, pop with dinner and tea in the evening, you'll need a mug! Great souvenir too!
* Big cheat here, but we were starving and the lines were long....One day while at MK, we decided to have lunch at Peco Bills. When we arrived STARVING at the restaurant, the lines were HUGE! My kids needed to eat and fast, so I went to the fixin's bar and took four tomato slices and topped them with grated cheese. I know...BAD ME....but I had to. I won't do it again, but I wanted to mention the fixin's bar.
* Once at CBR, dd and I went to OPR. She wanted a meal at 10pm. Teenagers! LOL. While she was loading up her meal with fixin's, I took her side plate and made a salad with the lettuce, tomatoes, onions and that yummy honey mustard sauce as dressing. It was really good! I know...BAD ME....but I had to. I won't do it again, but I wanted to mention the fixin's bar.
* KIDS MEALS! Again, it's like nearly 10pm and my kids are hungry, so off I go to the POP Century food court. I ordered them Kids Pizza Meal! WOW! It came with OODLES of food for $4.99! Pizza, milk, two sides....read the fine print....there are WAY more sides to pick from than listed! Breakky is good too! Mickey Waffle with meat and milk!
* EATING AROUND THE WORLD! I love doing this! We arrive at Epcot about 4pm. Start in Mexico and order the KIDS MEAL. We all pick at it to try the mexican food. Then off to China and order one KIDS MEAL, then Norway, then Italy...get the picture? By the time we get to Japan, we are STUFFED! All four of us can eat for about $40 and we get to chat with people from around the world! To hit all the pavillions we have to go to Epcot twice! We don't mind thou! Get to see Illuminations again!
* Share a meal. Disney....the United States for that matter....give HUGE meal portions. We often order two meals and share between the four of us. Especially at TONY'S in MK.
* Character Meals. Breakky is less expensive and you get to start your day with characters! I might be cheap....but we've done Cinderella's Royal Table Breakky four times. Save a buck by eating at McD's so I can go to a character meal? YOU BET!
GROCERIES
I've been to Publix and Winn Dixie at the beach and near Disney. I've done Goodings and all the Walmarts. And you wanna know something....they are all about the same price at the end of the bill.
Things we like to buy at the grocery store:
water bottles [although next time, I'm just bring an empty water bottle on the plane for water]
beer [no need to spend a fortune on a beer by the pool when you can get a case for the same price as one beer]
bread [and yes....I've taken my own store bought bread to the POP Century food court and toasted it]
peanut butter [knifes, jams and butter at the food court] dh and I don't mind a pbj sandwich as a late night snack while the kids eat a KIDS MEAL pizza.
grapes
bananas
cookies
cereal
Very cheap breakfast, serious diner-y. (Don't get the cheese grits. 
) Filled with locals. We also like Cracker Barrel, I know there's at least one or two in Orlando area. LOTS of food, reasonable prices. "Home cookin' ", sweet tea, good daily specials.
