For those that cook while on vacation

[rentayenta]

Great ideas and I'm going to write some of these down.

We will be at BCV for 8 days this summer. I seen some where here to plan for 1/2 of those days. I plan on 4 lunches and 4 dinners, doing breakfast at least 5 days too. Feasting for breakfast most mornings so we can last till lunch or whenever. Love the idea of pizza by the pool someone mentioned.

I want to plan EXACTLY for those 4 lunches and dinners. I don't want to throw food away. Planning only that so we can safely wing it here and there and not run commando style all week.

We plan on getting a car for arrival day and heading to Walmart for food/water and then to get some adult beverages. (Before that we can go to the Outlets and DTD). After we can head to the villa for a quick meal and then head to Epcot for EMH. Don't think I'll be able to keep my family from one park the first day.

Glad I'm not the only one tired of DDP. Still making ADR but not as many and some late lunch ones instead of dinner.

I hate to waste food too. We share a ton when we dine out and not just while on vacation. I think a lot of us tire of Disney Dining. I feel lucky to be able to have other options. Variety is key. I wouldn't cook 36 meals while on vacation but I wouldn't want to dine out that much either. My waist line would hate me too.

Our friends arrive the day before we do. We were planning on renting a car but they've offered to take us shopping. We'll send the men with a grocery list while my friend and I sip wine while I unpack. It's a win-win.

 

[ajf1007]

We will be having a group of 8 this September also, so I was wondering how you are planning a trip for everyone. Are you all staying together or different villas? We have GV at OKW for the 8 of us.

I have one two bedroom villa for 7 of us and then one studio for the remaining 3 at AKV. Out of the 10 of us 8 of them are first timers so I'm really excited about showing them (especially my two nieces). How are you planning? Are you making alot of ADRs? I'm trying to keep the reservations at a minimum and just let everyone do what they want when they want.

 

[rentayenta]

I have one two bedroom villa for 7 of us and then one studio for the remaining 3 at AKV. Out of the 10 of us 8 of them are first timers so I'm really excited about showing them (especially my two nieces). How are you planning? Are you making alot of ADRs? I'm trying to keep the reservations at a minimum and just let everyone do what they want when they want.

That's so smart. We went with a group of 10. While we planned to meet for meals, we kept touring wide open. Most of the time we ended up together. It was so low pressure and non stressful that we all wanted to hang out.

 

[DonnaL]

I think the best tip I can offer for cooking in would be to decide what your menu will be before you leave home and premeasure/pack in ziplocs any spices or dry ingredients needed for specific meals so you won't need to shop for those things. I've done this for years and saves me a ton since I only to need to get fresh or liquid items once we arrive in Florida. Depending on the trip.....sometimes I pack the items and they travel with us on our flight or sometimes I ship them.....makes a huge difference in amounts if there are two of us or seven of us.......a box weighing about 20 lbs only costs me about $12 to ship....that's what I usually do when we have a crowd.....dry rice, premixed spices for chicken, pork, etc., coffee, our favorite oatmeals, sugar, powdered drink mixes, etc.

 

[rentayenta]

I think the best tip I can offer for cooking in would be to decide what your menu will be before you leave home and premeasure/pack in ziplocs any spices or dry ingredients needed for specific meals so you won't need to shop for those things. I've done this for years and saves me a ton since I only to need to get fresh or liquid items once we arrive in Florida. Depending on the trip.....sometimes I pack the items and they travel with us on our flight or sometimes I ship them.....makes a huge difference in amounts if there are two of us or seven of us.......a box weighing about 20 lbs only costs me about $12 to ship....that's what I usually do when we have a crowd.....dry rice, premixed spices for chicken, pork, etc., coffee, our favorite oatmeals, sugar, powdered drink mixes, etc.

I hadn't thought about shipping stuff. That's a good idea. I think we'll pack fairly light though. Gosh I love my DVC.

We've got the menu pretty set. I think DH will want to cook more than he currently says. Maybe it's wishful thinking.

 

[alanapapa]

I hadn't thought about shipping stuff. That's a good idea. I think we'll pack fairly light though. Gosh I love my DVC.

We've got the menu pretty set. I think DH will want to cook more than he currently says. Maybe it's wishful thinking.

Do you have an Owners Locker? I keep some nonperishables in ours so I don't have to repurchase as often.

 

[SusieBea]

We almost always get pizza on one night of our trips. Usually it's Uno's carry out (we always have a car), but on our trip in early December, we got delivery to OKW from Flippers. It was wonderful. We also ordered salads which were delicious as well. We will order from them again.

 

[rentayenta]

Do you have an Owners Locker? I keep some nonperishables in ours so I don't have to repurchase as often.

We don't. We only go to WDW once every two years but it's a great service. Wish we could partake in it.

We almost always get pizza on one night of our trips. Usually it's Uno's carry out (we always have a car), but on our trip in early December, we got delivery to OKW from Flippers. It was wonderful. We also ordered salads which were delicious as well. We will order from them again.

I think I'm adding pizza to our list. You're the second person to mention Flippers. I haven't been to an Uno's in probably 20 years. We don't have them in Utah but did in So Cal.

 

[ajf1007]

That's so smart. We went with a group of 10. While we planned to meet for meals, we kept touring wide open. Most of the time we ended up together. It was so low pressure and non stressful that we all wanted to hang out.

I'm hoping to make it as low pressure as possible and also save them some $$ at the same time by using the kitchen and cooking some meals. Between me, my mom, my sis-in-law and my bff (sorry our men don't really cook - I'd prefer not to have cereal for dinner LOL) we should be able to all take part in the cooking and no one person has to do it. The ADR's I'm looking at are Mickey's Backyard BBQ, Lunch (or dinner) at the Castle, and one other dinner but I haven't decided on that one yet. The rest of the time, everyone is on their own and can do what they want when they want. I think with 10 people it's impossible and probably very frustrating to keep people on a schedule so I'm gonna wing it the rest of the time.

Do you or any of the other posters happen to know where the bbq grills are outside at Kidani?

 

[goofydad99]

We drive so we bring a lot of food with us.

We will premix our dry pancake ingredients and bring it with us. we will also precook brisket and ham and then freeze it.

It goes back and forth what we eat. We try to make it easy on all of us. Cooking is still a lot less hassle than trying to make an ADR and setting your schedule around that meal.

 

[whitepicketfence]

We drive as well so always bring food to cook. After years of kids in travel sports, a DVC kitchen is "fancy"! I have a plastic file box with essentials like sharp knives, good salt and pepper and ziplocks, plastic wrap, foil, etc.

Planning is essential as others have said. We usually plan 1/2 of meals dining in the villa. Usually all b'fast in the villa, lunch in the parks and split dinners. I like to bring as much prepped as possible so I am not "in the kitchen". I cook ahead of time and bring frozen meals like lasagna, pulled pork, chicken curry and quiche. Depends on the season. Just look at the frozen food aisle at your grocery store. I also bring paper plates and cups so clean up is quick. Also, I usually cook whatever casserole I have brought while we are unpacking, etc and in the villa for a couple of hours. So much faster to reheat the next day!

I go to Publix for perishables...at WDW, HHI and Vero. I love Publix and their deli and bakery are awesome. They will do whatever they can do help you. I have called ahead so we had sandwich platters for our first night, also great subs, decent rotisserie chicken and the best bread in FL, imo. Well, white unhealthy bread. The French hamburger rolls .....mmm

Look at it as a challenge instead of chore and it becomes fun. If you are flying, even bringing your favorite coffee is easy to do and makes your trip better as no one has to go out early.

Eating out becomes an event, dinner in is a memory (and usually a lot of laughs) and I can say yes to all the popcorn, Mickey bars and churros the gang wants!

 

[redrosesix]

We spend a week in our timeshare in Orlando every year, and most of the summer in a trailer (the first few weekends we're there for only 3 days at a time). Pre-planning is definitely the key, if only to avoid buying condiments that we'll never use.

We're travelling internationally so we can't bring any food with us. Our favourite meal is grilled steak -- Winn Dixie sells some great steaks that are pre-marinated and pre-spiced. With a caesar salad (prepared from a kit) and roasted potatoes, this is a very healthy meal. We make the salad and take that, the dishes and the rest of the food to the grills and eat there. And the other times we grill we can accompany it with pasta salad or potato salad -- we usually make our own, since mayo is one condiment we can't avoid buying.

You can also save a ton of money on desserts -- it's cheaper to buy a whole cheesecake then buying by the slice. Same goes with buying ice cream.

And we splurge a bit on really great breads and fruit, so any leftover meats and vegetables can be used in sandwiches.

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

We are planning on doing most meals in the villa on our summer trip. I have a great chicken casserole recipe that will last a couple of days and we're planning on picking up a Stouffer lasagna and making salads. Lunchmeat and breakfast items and we should be set.

We will probably eat a few counter service meals while in the parks and we will have 1 ADR for DD's Sweet 16 Birthday Dinner.

Looking forward to shopping on check-in day since we are staying offsite the beginning of the trip. Mom loves Publix so I'm sure that's where we will go. The list will be prepared before we leave and any ingredients that can travel with us will.

 

[rentayenta]

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[rentayenta]

Is Publix the favorite around here? I have no experience with east coast grocery chains. Is there a Wegman's nearby? I've read great things about it. I've heard of Winn Dixie due to the movie. I hate the meat at Walmart!


Who sells the best meat, bread, and produce?



Thats cool Susan that you'll be celebrating a Sweet 16. What restaurant did you choose?


redrosesix, the whole cheesecake idea is a great one.

 

[Micca]

Is Publix the favorite around here? I have no experience with east coast grocery chains. Is there a Wegman's nearby? I've read great things about it. I've heard of Winn Dixie due to the movie. I hate the meat at Walmart!


Who sells the best meat, bread, and produce?



Thats cool Susan that you'll be celebrating a Sweet 16. What restaurant did you choose?


redrosesix, the whole cheesecake idea is a great one.

Can't really comment on the other stores, but the Publix stores we've visited around WDW are really nice stores and compare favorably to what we have at home (Kroger). Very nice stores and the prices seem fair.

 

[DonnaL]

No.....no Wegman's in Florida....they are primarily NY and PA I believe...maybe up to New England...not sure. The two groceries you will find closest to WDW are Publix and Winn Dixie......several Publix very close ..no matter which direction...the only Winn Dixie I'm familiar with is on Route 535/ ApopkaVineland Road...which is a short distance from the DTD/Hotel Blvd. area. I believe there is also an Albertson's about halfway between WDW and MCO ...not sure exactly where since I haven't been there myself. I do like Publix very much myself.....Winn Dixie is OK for a few things, but, they don't have the selection of items that Publix has. Also, you mention meat, bread and produce.......I would definitely say Publix.

 

[rentayenta]

Can't really comment on the other stores, but the Publix stores we've visited around WDW are really nice stores and compare favorably to what we have at home (Kroger). Very nice stores and the prices seem fair.

We have Kroger here too. Is Publix the place with the good bakery?

 

[rentayenta]

No.....no Wegman's in Florida....they are primarily NY and PA I believe...maybe up to New England...not sure. The two groceries you will find closest to WDW are Publix and Winn Dixie......several Publix very close ..no matter which direction...the only Winn Dixie I'm familiar with is on Route 535/ ApopkaVineland Road...which is a short distance from the DTD/Hotel Blvd. area. I believe there is also an Albertson's about halfway between WDW and MCO ...not sure exactly where since I haven't been there myself. I do like Publix very much myself.....Winn Dixie is OK for a few things, but, they don't have the selection of items that Publix has. Also, you mention meat, bread and produce.......I would definitely say Publix.

Awesome, thank you! I'm going to Google right now. Not that they'd post a picture of bruised bananas though.

My friend in PA loves Wegmans! Harmon's is the best local grocery store here in Utah.

And Whole Foods but DH will spend the mortgage there if given the opportunity.

 

[robinb]

We like Papa John's pizza and often order from there. We have also ordered from Giordanos (407-239-8900) a couple times. We plan to try Flippers Pizza this summer. I usually bring a salad and cooler with drinks. It's fun!

Thank you for the pizza referral. Keep us posted on Flippers please. We like a thinner NY style pizza vs the fat crusted Chicago type.

We ordered Flippers on our last trip and I liked it. It's a thin crust type of pizza. I also really like Giordano's but I grew up with Chicago pizza. I don't like Papa John's at all. I think it tastes like cardboard. I would rather eat Pizza Hut over Papa Johns any day. Heck ... I even like Little Caesar's better!