How do you save on meals when paying out of pocket?

[mom25kiddos]

We are a big family, five kids, all are decent eaters, but none are particular foodies (the older two do like a good steak, but otherwise, eating is really just a necessity of life for them!). We typically do WDW about once a year, or every 1.5 years and we fly. I am looking for your creative ideas to keep food costs reasonable-my bigger issue is I hate the waste-I would rather pay a bit more for good food that everyone eats, than a cheap meal where we throw half of it out. Here is what we currently do-any other ideas or ideas specific to certain restaurants
-the ever popular water with meals-I do this, with a catch that if the kids have water at a restaurant they can have a can of root beer at home-a deal they are happy to make
-we often eat family style-get several meals and share them out-isn't always cheaper, but the food is often better and less waste than getting them each a 'kids meal'
-we do sometimes take our lunch to the park, but not everyday because it gets old

 

[DVC_Dad_Canada]

You seem to have all the basics. Myself and my three teenagers spent $175/day on meals last trip.

For our 17 night stay, we booked 8 ADRs. Each person picked one favorite and one new restaurant. No buffets, no signature. You don't really need a table service meal every night. Also, a bunch of appetizers might do as a meal.

For table service meals, pick the lower cost ones that provide good value. Sci-Fi diner, 50's Prime Time, the Plaza. Also restaurants at resorts like Olivia's, Kona and Disney Springs like Splittsville.

For quick service, look for larger portions like Flame Tree, Blaze Pizza, Sunshine Seasons etc.

Also remember your discounts for annual passes, DVC etc.

We also order groceries to our room through garden grocer, and have all breakfasts in our room.

 

[Disney Khi]

We use Tables in Wonderland. If you go once each year, you could have just one person get an AP for the discounts. If you don't think you'd save enough to make TIW worth the purchase, a lot of places have just an AP discount with no other card needed. We also share a lot of meals because we find the portions to be large. And we always get water unless a drink is included in a buffet, but that's more of trying to make a healthier choice/staying hydrated decision than budget.

Also, we take breakfast things to eat in our hotel room, but that is also for convenience and so we can get to the paks more easily in the mornings.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We too are TIW card holders. We love it and for us it works because of the discount on food and liquor and because we tend to eat at signature rwstaurants most nights. But even with that, we tend to share entrees and often our kids just get a couple of appetizers as they are often more interesting than the entrees anyway. We also make breakfast every morning but we always get at a least a one bedroom so we have a full kitchen. And because we don't go to parks much anymore, we often make lunch in our room and bring it to the pool.

 

[Beer Me]

I'm more concerned with waste than cost as well. I don't mind an expensive meal but it really bothers me if half of it gets thrown away. QS meals are usually a lot of food for us. Even with two teenage boys they often eat about half or 3/4. My wife and I will split something or order a couple of sides and scavenge on the kids leftovers. We almost always end up stuffed.

For table service I just encourage my kids not to order more than they can eat. We usually split an appetizer or two and rarely order dessert and if we do it's one or two to share.

Not penny pinching but moderation.

 

[StaciaRae]

For our family of 4, we usually just order three meals. We found them big enough to split between us. For lunch, three orders of chicken tenders and fries was plenty for us, we probably could've gotten away with 2 orders most days.

We also didn't penny pinch, it was just that we didn't need the fourth meal.

 

[mom25kiddos]

I'm more concerned with waste than cost as well. I don't mind an expensive meal but it really bothers me if half of it gets thrown away. QS meals are usually a lot of food for us. Even with two teenage boys they often eat about half or 3/4. My wife and I will split something or order a couple of sides and scavenge on the kids leftovers. We almost always end up stuffed.

For table service I just encourage my kids not to order more than they can eat. We usually split an appetizer or two and rarely order dessert and if we do it's one or two to share.

Not penny pinching but moderation.

I totally agree-my challenge with five kids meals on the table is the waste and throwing it all away. Plus my kids like to eat off the appetizer menus often, so we do that and find way less waste. We can afford to eat out and I really don't mind paying for a nice meal, but I go a bit crazy spending a fortune on food that gets chucked in the garbage! So like options where we can eat family style and order a better variety (rather than five orders of kids fries, where 4 of them go in the garbage).

 

[maxiesmom]

Ask for a meal with no fries. It saves you a couple of dollars. I'm not a huge fan of Disney's fries, so if I eat one or two I'm good. If you order 4 meals, order 2 with no fries.

Also, if you are not sure how much to order, err on the side or ordering too little. You can always go back and get more food if someone is still hungry.

 

[NYEmomma]

Do TS restaurants really not mind you ordering just one meal for two people to split? We've done it at CS before with my daughter & I and with my twins. But I've never attempted it at TS. I figured it would be frowned upon.

 

[Revf]

Do TS restaurants really not mind you ordering just one meal for two people to split? We've done it at CS before with my daughter & I and with my twins. But I've never attempted it at TS. I figured it would be frowned upon.

As long as it is not a buffet or a price fixed menu, they don't mind. We have split meals at TS places all the time. My wife and youngest DD often share a plate.

 

[wilkeliza]

Our big ones is not to order QS dessert. They just aren't worth the price and usually are blah compared to the other snacks in the parks. As crazy as it is we order what we want. We never order the steak or whatever simply because it is offered we order what we want to eat. So if I don't want an appetizer I just don't order it even if others at the table are getting one. I'm not sure if your family is that way but I know some people who feel like they have to order an appetizer if someone at the table is because they feel weird if someone else has food and they don't. I also sometimes order just an appetizer as my entree. Just depends on the meal and again how hungry I am.

We also sometimes split things. Nothing to do with cost just for my hunger level. When I'm hot I have a hard time eating a ton of food at once so I pick all day instead. So I may eat 1/4 of a plate and fiance will eat the rest. No place at Disney has ever minded as long as paying OOP.

 

[danikoski]

Mom and I split flat bread pizza twice. A lot of the resorts have them, as does Sunshine Seasons.

Sunshine Seasons is my favorite CS because the food is good portioned and can be split. Also, their desserts are pretty darn good.

Also, there are some good snacks like pretzels. Mom and I split a Mickey pretzel and a fruit cup for lunch, and that was plenty.

 

[disneyseniors]

If your 5 children are big eaters, ie: teenagers!, then I think the standard dining plan would be a help. But all kids don't eat like it's their last meal like my teenage grandsons did My daughter, husband, and 3 kids, (2 teenage boys with big appetites and one 11 y/o girl, bought the dining plan and they ran out of credits way before they left. We ended up giving them 10 of our QS which was left on our plan.
So, if you have big eaters, I think the dining plan would be a good idea.
However, If you have finicky eaters with small appetites, then no plan might work.
When my husband and I go, we now eat OOP, and we save money, eat what we really want, and have room for dessert if we want
So I guess you have to figure what type of eaters you have whether you save money or not.
We never do the dp anymore, and love OOP, but it's just the two of us. Good luck.

 

[holden]

We stay DVC and have breakfast in the room.

Sometimes we do a TS at lunch. I feel like I can eat a bigger meal at lunch than dinner. Often I'm not hungry for a big dinner.

 

[DaniMoon]

We pack breakfast in our backpack and snack on that in the parks (poptarts and granola bars, we aren't big breakfast eaters). As others have said, we split a lot of our meals. Many times my daughter and I will share an entree, or we will share an appetizer and get desserts.

 

[cigar95]

One approach to savings that applies to many aspects of a Disney vacation, not just meals - some warehouse clubs sell Disney gift cards at below face value. For instance, my current go-to-source is bjs.com, which sells $100 cards for $95, and will sell to non-members. And since Discover is currently giving a 5% cash-back bonus at warehouse clubs through June, I can double-dip on the savings.

 

[cedricandsophie]

Do TS restaurants really not mind you ordering just one meal for two people to split? We've done it at CS before with my daughter & I and with my twins. But I've never attempted it at TS. I figured it would be frowned upon.

We split entrees and even dinner salads all the time. Never a problem or any pushback from servers. In fact if I ask for an extra plate because we are splitting something the servers often have the kitchen split it before it arrives at the table. And we always get one soda that my daughter and husband split. He just keeps asking for refills.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Do TS restaurants really not mind you ordering just one meal for two people to split? We've done it at CS before with my daughter & I and with my twins. But I've never attempted it at TS. I figured it would be frowned upon.

Its totally allowed and not at all frowned upon. Many people share meals at restaurants! Go for it.

 

[luluj11]

Not trying to hijack your post but - I have a similar question since we are staying at OKW and can have meals in the room. I can't figure out what's my best option. I want to do a couple of character meals (paying OOP) but hate to pay over $150 for breakfast, and I'm concerned my 3 year old will meltdown by dinner. Is there a big advantage to booking a character breakfast vs lunch.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Not trying to hijack your post but - I have a similar question since we are staying at OKW and can have meals in the room. I can't figure out what's my best option. I want to do a couple of character meals (paying OOP) but hate to pay over $150 for breakfast, and I'm concerned my 3 year old will meltdown by dinner. Is there a big advantage to booking a character breakfast vs lunch.

Breakfasts are cheaper, but if you are doing it to enjoy the characters and not rush, rush, rush the experience to get pre-park opening time, do a lunch (or best of both world's - the latest breakfast time to make it a brunch)...book your must do one 1st and schedule a 2nd or 3rd one more than 48 hours later and you can decide if the 1st one was good enough to make the next few "worth it" (and you won't question the $150+ cost for the joy you get)...