Hotel room 'cooking'

[carmel]

I guess I should have said there are no kid friendly or reasonably priced restaurants around. This is a leg of the trip that has to do with a convention in an area which is mostly businesses and very high end restaurants. I think we might pick up things like a container of egg salad or tuna. A rotisserie chicken is also a great idea. Pizza one night and soup another. Great suggestions. Then when we get to Disney, pig out like fools!!!

 

[disykat]

I have actually seen people grilling out at hotels. They usually park their vehicle at the far end of the parking lot and do it like a tailgate picnic. If you wanted to do that, you could also just go to a nearby park. If you MUST cook, I think it's a viable option - like camping, but sleeping at a hotel.

 

[dwblonde]

If you will have a cooler a pasta salad from a deli is another option. Sometimes the salads will have salami, chicken, or even beans for your protein.

 

[Mommaof3]

I had a situation close to this once. I bought a cooler at Walmart once we got the rental car. I also bought a cooked chicken, chicken strips, potato salad, pasta salad, lunch meats, etc. I also bought cheese and crackers, fruit, pudding cups, etc. I even made hubby stop for a cheese pizza which I cooled and put in ziplocks and into the cooler. My kids will eat cold pizza and cold chicken so that along with fruit and sandwiches got us through. This hotel did not have a microwave in the breakfast type room that I could use. I have been in hotels that let me use the microwave in the breakfast room which does give more options. Watch your family for a few weeks and jot down things that are cold or unheated that they eat. You might get a few ideas that way. Nothing I did went beyond hot water from a coffee maker. I don't like hotel ones, so I bought the cheapest at Walmart and threw it away when we left. I planned to get rid of the cooler too, but a man saw me at the dumpster and asked what I was doing. (guess I looked odd!). I gave it to him and he seemed happy!
Melissa

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

Disney will be one leg of our trip. Another leg will have us staying in a hotel with nothing more than an ice bucket and a coffee maker (probably not even one of those that make a whole pot but one of those new one-cup systems they seem to have).

I need suggestions from all of you families out there. We will be in this hotel for 4 days. We will have a car but this hotel is quite isolated and we can't just jump in the car and go to McDonalds. Unless you eat in the hotel restaurant ($$$$$$$$), forget it. This is our 'pinching pennies' portion of our trip.

What are some things I can get on the way into this hotel to eat. Here is what I've thought of. Remember, we have no access to a fridge or microwave.

loaf of bread
peanut butter and jelly
bag of muffins or bagels
crackers and string cheese (can keep those cool in collapsible ice chest)
fruit

What I'm mainly interested in is dinner ideas. No, we don't need to be gourmet but I'm at a loss for anything more substantial than sandwiches. My girls like Ramen but can you cook Ramen with just hot water from coffee machine? I have a 2 yr old, a 10 yr old and a 14 yr old.

I know there are some really inventive minds here. Parenthood breeds invention, right?

Thanks so much for the ideas!!!!

Two things I pack because I know my kids; a plastic electric hot water kettle, and toaster. They are ravenous when they wake and a toast or English muffin does well to break up cereal. Especially for the teens. The water pot I have at home using was about $10 and he toaster $8.00 at Walmart. They travel every Disney trip except free dining.

I do not get up as early as hey do to run for breakfast. This holds them over until a good lunch. As far as dinner, I order out to Papa Johns with an online coupon for $2 off. Also, if leaving the park, sandwiches at the bakery are huge. If you have fruit, or something to go along with it.

One trip we ordered from garden grocer for cold meats, milk, tub of butter, breads, fruit and water. I packed a squeeze bottles of jelly and mayo, bowls, paper plates.

I found that we really did not eat as many meals at Disney or on vacation. Just counter service once a day, snacks, and the morning set up I had. At night having the crackers with chicken salad or tuna filled the kids if they did get hungry. They have thm in small packs the kids love.

I would forget Raman unless it is a favorite and you use the hotel microwave for 3 minutes. Oh, they have the contents already in ontainers you can cook in, we keep a few at home for fast snack.

Try to just put aside the few dollars instead of worrying about night dinners.
Have fun! Relax!

 

[Mama Who]

I guess I should have said there are no kid friendly or reasonably priced restaurants around. This is a leg of the trip that has to do with a convention in an area which is mostly businesses and very high end restaurants. I think we might pick up things like a container of egg salad or tuna. A rotisserie chicken is also a great idea. Pizza one night and soup another. Great suggestions. Then when we get to Disney, pig out like fools!!!

Seconding the rotisserie chicken. It can also be dressed up into different meals easily- get some nice tortillas (maybe the spinach or tomato ones) and a fancy condiment and make wraps with some slices of bell pepper. Pack a single good kitchen knife (NOT IN YOUR CARRY ON!) it will be worth the luggage space.

 

[khaoskat]

I would not BBQ indoors as the fumes can be toxic.

I did say grill OUT....
*LOL*