How do you eat on a budget?

[DisneyAllison]

I am looking for ways to eat on a budget. We are thinking about not using the Dining Plan. What are some things that you have done in this situation?

Can I
- bring a toaster?
- bring a small microwave?

I need ideas! Please help!

 

[TDC Nala]

Are you staying onsite? I don't believe cooking is permitted in the resort rooms that don't already have a kitchen or kitchenette.

Food courts may have a toaster or microwave for the use of guests.

 

[disneyfan61]

I order our breakfast items from Garden Grocer & have them delivered to the resort. I think it saves some $$$ but also time in the am. We order milk, oj, yogurt, muffins, donuts & fruit. We also order a case of water thru them. We stay at POFQ so we have a fridge in the room. We also eat counter service for most lunches so that saves $$ as opposed to eating all sit down. If you have little ones you can also share meals.

 

[davinakb]

We don't eat 3 big meals a day. We usually start with a filling breakfast in the room (of late, an off-site condo). Then one big sit down meal in the park, usually a late lunch. Then bring our water, snacks for the rest of the day. Or we snack all day, maybe split egg rolls or a pretzel, then dinner at a resort. Splitting and sharing food also helps a lot, let's us try more, get full and still have room for dessert. Plus we have the DDE card. FWIW.

 

[mrzrich]

I wouldn't toast or microwave in the room. I'm all for cereal, muffins, etc. My kids have even been known to be seen eating a PB&J while sitting at LMA or waiting for a parade.

To save money on park meals we often share. We'll split a sandwich or burger, an order of Ribs or a half a rotissere chicken. Sometimes we supplement with an extra side of fries or onion rings, sometimes we don't.

When its hot, we just don't eat as much food.

If you want to save money on Table service meals, consider sharing, ordering appetizers as entrees, or driving off site.

Check out the menus of all the WDW eateries and see which places fit your plans and budget.
MENUS

 

[neffernie]

We don't eat alot during the day either. We graze around the parks sharing stuff (a turkey leg here, some popcorn there, a piece of fruit as we're walking around.) We will probably do this and one CS meal a day. It isn't really how we save money (though i guess it does), it is just how we normally eat.

 

[MemoryMakers2669]

The only trip we did on a serious budget (2005), we did bring a toaster. There were 12 of us (6A and 6Kids), and we had three rooms at POR for 9 days. We hit Costco when we got there and got three cases of water, two packs of bagels, one pound of turkey, one pound of ham, two loaves of bread, cream cheese, yogurts, juice boxes, muffins, PB&J and cereal (we brought with)...can't remember what else. We brought mayo packs, plasticwear, paper plates and bowls, fruit snacks with us as well.

We ate out three and a half times. We did Ohana, Sci Fi for lunch, Chef Mickeys and half of us did the Castle for lunch using the DDE card for all. We ate almost all our others meals in our room. We ate breakfast each morning of course, in the room. Then I would say at least half of hte other meals we ate in the room. We did eat a few counter service meals when needed...cause we didn't take food other than snacks and drinks into the parks. I do remember the AK day was one where we ate CS for lunch, but can't remember any others...though I am sure there were.

OH, as for the $6 Walmart toaster, we used it, packed it back up each time to keep it out of the way (it was in FULL view of the Mousekeeping, but not just sitting on the table still plugged in) and threw it out at the end of the stay.

 

[Tink888]

All of the food courts do have microwaves and toasters. There was a debate about having toasters in the rooms on another thread and yes there are guests who bring a toaster for the room, not sure if I'd bring a microwave.

To save money on prior trips we have brought our own bottled water, pop, small breakfast items such as fruit and muffins, and snacks for the room. We tend to do two meals per day, usually lunch and dinner. Have done some later lunches at the TS buffets which are a great value IMO. We also take advantage of the refillable mugs at the resort.

You can also save a lot of money by eating offsite but for our family, once we get to Disney, we like to stay put until it's time to go home.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Really depends on where you are staying. Are you at a value? They have toasters and microwaves in the food courts that can make it easy for you. Pack a jar of peanut butter, pick up a loaf of bread in the story and peanut butter toast for breakfast or sandwich for lunch

TS meals are always less for lunch than dinner. A late lunch will tide you over. Maybe a snack later.

Some CS have a fixin's bar. You can also order a burger without the fries. We will do this, get one with fried one without, just don't need that many fries, you know?

Lots of ways to cut back where you need to.

Here are the DIS Menus. Check out the great variety available at some of the food courts. You can eat reasonably if you need to for a budget trip. I know we have! I would rather a budget trip than no trip

 

[DrDeb]

when our kid were small we booked @ Fort Wilderness Cabins-- they have a kitchen-- and a grill & picnic table-- so we ate bfast each day & sometimes lunch [they needed a nap anyway]AND grilled in the evening-- saved many dollars-- but ALWAYS ressied one character bfast and ONE character dinner..

 

[lizzytizzy]

We stayed at the Caribbean Resort last year and there were stuff to buy at the store there. We bought bagels, milk, etc and ate them in the room before we went to the parks.