How to not go broke on food?

[cmrules]

I also liked cosmic Rays, go to the chicken side, not all counters have the same menu. You can get a huge portion of rotisserie chicken that will serve an adult and a child.

Downtown Disney- We loved Earl of Sandwich. For $5 you get a HUGE real roast beef sandwich. Grab one of those and then feed the kids at MCDonalds.

Eat a meal at the castle. It is magical. They have the best beef barley soup. We usually get soup and bread and it is not expensive at all.

Someone mentioned the Japenese take out place in Epcot. This was probably the best value we had while there.


We never once bought a drink in Disney. We brought our own water bottles everywhere we went. Juice boxes for the kids too.

 

[MrsPete]

Since I just noticed you're staying in Wilderness Lodge, let me throw out a bit more advice:

We LOVED Wilderness Lodge. The lobby is wonderful, the pool was great, and the whole place has such a great atmosphere. The huge sandbox, the ducks in the pool, the water mice, the Electric Water parade. I don't think we'll ever find a WDW resort we like better than Wilderness Lodge!

But . . . every resort has its weak spot . . . and food is the weak point at Wilderness Lodge. We brought our own food for the room and ate most of our meals in the parks or other resorts. Here's a quick run-down:

Roaring Forks snack bar -- Imagine 7-11 food at $6/plate. It lacks the choices of the food courts at the moderates. We did pick up ice cream bars a couple times, but this place is neither budget nor appetizing.

Whispering Canyon -- the family restaurant -- This place is kind of "open" to the lobby -- it's kind of up half a flight, and it's divided by a split-rail fence type thing. The food is country, plentiful, and delicious; it's also expensive. While it's a good meal, it lacks the distinctive theming that sets many of the Disney restaurants apart. Unlike, say, CInderella's Royal Table or the Sci-Fi Drive-in Theater, Whispering Canyon is not distinctly different from places in your own town.

Artists' Point -- the upscale restaurant -- I'm sure it's wonderful, but we didn't want to take the kids out to a fancy place at WDW. The prices are also very high.

 

[DisneyPhD]

We are a little weird I guess... We stay at Saratoga and we tend to have big "dinner" breakfastes.

My kids love Stouffer's frozen meals, so when we get up in the morning we make a frozen lasagna, mac & cheese, etc. We then stuff ourselves with dinner in the room, and head out for the day.

We don't get hungry until around 2-3 so then we have a big lunch, our favorite this last trip was Cosmic Rays. By the time dinner runs around we can just get something light to eat, snack-wise like microwave Popcorn in the room.

This also lets us buy the kids things like Mickey bars, popcorn, pretzels, etc that we would normally pass up do to the fact that money would go to a big dinner.

Yes, that is a little strange. I can't even eat much in the morning, unless I have been up for a hour or so. The thought of frozen lasagna in the morning, I think I am going to be sick.

But hey, if it works for you.

I must confese many a morning I ask my 3 year old what she wants for breakfest and the answer is cold mac and chesse. So I give it to her, and drink my can of coke. (some now I am werid too.)

 

[amybowles9]

:QUOTE=firsttimeworldlodger]We will be staying at the WL for 6 nights, I have requested a fridge and microwave so I'm hoping to save some money using them. Not sure how to stock it yet, we will be leaving on Sunday morning, which is 4 days away I'm not sure if I have enough time to get food together, box it up and mail it. I'll probably use one of the grocery delivery services. Any suggestions on strategies and/or places to eat and not go broke? Counter food and food courts are fine, especially since we'll have our 3 3/4 year old and 15 month old.

Thanks!!! [/QUOTE]

I hope to get some tips of this too, I am really hoping to save some!

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Another great way we saved on our last trip is that we didn't buy any drinks in the park. We carried water bottles, but they would empty out quick and they get to be a pain by the end of the day.

I just asked for large waters everywhere we went. As long as they serve drinks w/cups and ice, the CUPS of ice water are free!! Our first trip we spent so much money on water and soda that it was crazy! Hubby and kids would find a place to sit and relax, I would go get three large waters and we could spend 15 mins cooling down.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

Yes, that is a little strange. I can't even eat much in the morning, unless I have been up for a hour or so. The thought of frozen lasagna in the morning, I think I am going to be sick.

I know, but my kids love it! We call them our "backwards breakfast". They also ask for hot dogs and french fries. Who cares?! At least they're eating!

 

[loribell]

Another option that I have heard is wonderful and a great priced meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner is Trails End at Fort Wilderness. It is all you can eat for all 3 meals. I have not yet made it to try it out but have never heard anything but rave reviews on the place. Plus it is close by you there at the Wilderness Lodge and you could even stay for the campfire and movie if you wanted to after dinner.

I'm really going to try to make it there this summer.

Lori

 

[the kabuki]

Saved a ton of $ by going to Walmart's, buying a very large cooler with wheels for $17.88, and stocking with: Bagels, cream cheese, milk, cereal, muffins, donuts,OJ, pop and water bottles. Always ate breakfast in the room. We're a family of 5 (3kids) and I figure that this saved us at least $200 just in breakfast alone. Didn't even factor in the drinks taken to the parks in the small collapsiable cooler.
BTW- We went through 2 cases of water easily for 7 days.

We stayed at POP which charges for a frig, so even though I left the cooler there, we still saved money. I don't know how big the fridges at WL are, but in the past we've rented at ASM and they barely fit a couple of water bottles and 2 cans of pop, plus they never really got cold.

Another tip-I've read about doing the grocery stop on the way to the hotel from the airport. Instead of dragging the kids around the store with me after a long flight, we checked in first, got our room and I left them with Dad at the pool. Walmart's was easy to find, one freeway there, exit off and right back on again, and it only took about an hour total. And everyone was rested and ready to go. Except me of course, but us moms' are used to that aren't we?

Another tip-Have your list ready in hand before you go

One more-If you get a cooler with wheels, it makes it much easier to bring everything to your room from the car, just put everything inside.

 

[aubriee]

We will be staying at the WL for 6 nights, I have requested a fridge and microwave so I'm hoping to save some money using them. Not sure how to stock it yet, we will be leaving on Sunday morning, which is 4 days away I'm not sure if I have enough time to get food together, box it up and mail it. I'll probably use one of the grocery delivery services. Any suggestions on strategies and/or places to eat and not go broke? Counter food and food courts are fine, especially since we'll have our 3 3/4 year old and 15 month old.

Thanks!!!

Hope you get your fridge. We just got back last weekend (did a split stay at WL and AKL). When I made the ressies with CRO I requested a fridge and coffee pot at both hotels. When we checked in, I mentioned it again to the CM and she said no problem. When we got into our room at the WL we had the coffee maker, but no fridge. I immediately called downstairs and the CM said let me check on it. A few minutes later he called back and said they were out of refrigeraters. When I said I thought all the Deluxes had them now, he said they were free, but they didn't have them in all the rooms yet. He said he would put us on the list for one and we should get it fairly quickly. Well after four days, we still didn't have our fridge. Although to be fair, I didn't call back down to remind them either. We were supposedly on a list however. When we checked into the AKL, the coffee pot and refridgerator were both there waiting for us. I didn't know you could request a microwave. That's good to know.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Many meals at sit-down restaurants are easily shared by 2 adults. We did this at marrekesh, and Le Cellier.

The meal plan at Tusker house was also a great deal. for $10.99 you recieved a counter service meal, drink, and a voucher for a snack later on. We got 2 for our family of 4,and spilt. They are supposed to give you a small drink but gave us large ones. Fairly cheap food day.

We also seldom buy drinks, unless they come with the meal. We carry water w/ us, as well as tea bags. I plan on geting the crystal lite packets. You can fill with park water, but the tea, or drink packets make it drinkable.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Many meals at sit-down restaurants are easily shared by 2 adults. We did this at marrekesh, and Le Cellier.

The meal plan at Tusker house was also a great deal. for $10.99 you recieved a counter service meal, drink, and a voucher for a snack later on. We got 2 for our family of 4,and spilt. They are supposed to give you a small drink but gave us large ones. Fairly cheap food day.

We also seldom buy drinks, unless they come with the meal. We carry water w/ us, as well as tea bags. I plan on geting the crystal lite packets. You can fill with park water, but the tea, or drink packets make it drinkable.

There is a lot of good advice on this thread, many of my hints so I won't repeat them. However I have to say, we love Tusker house. Eat there at least once everytrip (so much so there is a lot of other good places at AK we never hit, always Tusker house for us!) We also share meals and carry our own water. This is important since water at WDW is really bad and you need to drink alot.

Also when my DD was 15 months old, we rarely got her a meal herself, she always just shared some of ours.

 

[MsMulan]

for breakfast..we always got the hotels freebie...

allisonwonderland-
What hotel do you recommend for the free breakfast?

 

[Taja]

The refrigerators at the Deluxe and Moderate (and available for rent at Value) resorts are the small, countertop dorm-style refrigerators. If there is a freezer compartment at all, it will hold 2 ice cube trays. Don't buy gallon-size anything--either it won't fit or nothing else will!

If you aren't renting a car, a towncar service with a 30-minute grocery stop is a good way to stock supplies. Most are about $100 round trip (plus tip each way). That's "about"--probably in the $90 to $100 range for standard sedan. Most will stop at Publix or Winn Dixie; they won't stop at super WalMart or Target. Check the cost of grocery delivery plus Mears transportation (round trip) against the cost of the towncar service to determine if it's a good value for you.

Stock up on: bottled water (individual size to carry into parks, plus 2-litre bottles for in your room), snacks (I like to carry a snack bags with a few crackers and baby carrots into the parks--healthier and less expensive!), and sandwich fixings if you like that sort of thing. I usually have a bread roll and a piece of fruit for breakfast (purchased at the grocery store), carry a bottle of water and my small snack bags of goodies into the park (I buy additional bottled water in the parks as needed--4 or 5 bottles in hot weather, usually about 3 in cooler weather).

If you're using a stroller, you can bring a small soft-sided cooler into the parks with additional water/snacks. Actually, you can bring larger ones, but I'm being practical--I don't want to be weighed down with a lot of stuff! A "12-can" size is practical to pack in your luggage, along with some storage zip-top bags for ice (not sandwich--they're too thin!), sandwich zip-top bags for food storage and snack-size zip-top bags for--snacks! Don't bring the boxes, just pack the smaller bags inside the larger ones and put them in your luggage. Saves having to buy them in Florida!

Now you have a lot of ideas to think about!

 

[crazymomof4]

SHARE SHARE SHARE! portion sizes seem to be too big for just one person. It helps to order just one meal (even for adults) share the entree & order say an extra side dish or even dessert! This works best at counter service places such as Cosmic Rays (try rotissiere chicken or double patty hamburgers & ask for an extra bun) & the place over by haunted mansion that has fish & chips & clam chowder served in bread bowls - I ALWAYS forget the name of this place

I agree with several posters who suggested sharing. This is my biggest tip for saving $$ on food. Afterall, it can save you up to 50%! My DH is the spender and I'm the saver (I know that is odd) Before the trip when I suggested sharing (bc I learned about it on the DISboards) he would roll his eyes. Well, by the end of the trip HE was the one who was suggesting who could share with who when it was time to order! The one time that we didn't share was at Liberty Tree Tavern and we regreted it. There was SO much food left on the table when we left! Remember, if you feel you're a bit too hungry to just have a split meal, order an appetizer to share also. You still come out ahead.
My second best $$ saving tip is buying the Brita Fill N Go sport bottles. The tap/fountain water in WDW has a very strong sulfur taste. With out the filters in these bottles we would have had to spend a ton on sodas and bottled water. Instead we asked at kiosks and counter service stands for a large cup of ice. We'd dump the ice in our Britas and then fill them w/ water from drinking fountains. We always had cold water for all-- drinking water is not only healthy but it staves off the urge to snack between meals.

We also carried granola bars, oatmeal bars, breakfast bars, PB or cheese crackers.

We really liked:
"Cosmic Ray's Starlight Poulet--Family Meal serving 3-4 people Whole Rotisserie Chicken with Mashed Potatoes $15.99"

 

[agnes!]

SHARE SHARE SHARE! ...(snip)... the place over by haunted mansion that has fish & chips & clam chowder served in bread bowls - I ALWAYS forget the name of this place

As another poster said, "Columbia Harbour House".

Sad to say, the breadbowls are no more, though ...

agnes!

 

[agnes!]

The OP said that she was staying at WL & also requesting a microwave. I know about the fridges at the moderate & deluxe resorts (sorry to hear about another poster's problems with the complimentary fridge, though), but... microwaves? If this is for real and for folks staying at the Wilderness Lodge, I want in too! (since we'll be there in a little over a week...Woo-Hoooooo!)

agnes!

 

[ducklite]

You can't get a microwave in your room at any WDW resort, except HAFH and certain suites.

If your resort has a food court you can use the microwave there, however you should always allow any guest with food bought at the food court to go ahead of you in line.

The minifridges are MINI (unless you are in a HAFH studio), then they are a decent size dorm fridge. The little cubes have virtually no freezer compartment and can store about a six pack, some yogurt cups, and a quart of milk, not much more.

Anne

 

[DisneyPhD]

You can't get a microwave in your room at any WDW resort, except HAFH and certain suites.

If your resort has a food court you can use the microwave there, however you should always allow any guest with food bought at the food court to go ahead of you in line.

The minifridges are MINI (unless you are in a HAFH studio), then they are a decent size dorm fridge. The little cubes have virtually no freezer compartment and can store about a six pack, some yogurt cups, and a quart of milk, not much more.

Anne

We are DVC, so we always get it all!

But anyway, does anyone remember the Great Hotels on the travel channel with Sam Brown? She shows a WL room (not the DVC part) that has bunk beds, a mini bar, fridge, and microwave. There are some that do have it. I don't know if she requested a room like that or just one to be brought to the room. I know my friends stayed at WL while we were at VWL and requested a fridge. It was a cheap, (yucky) mini fridge and they just brought it to the room. This was Jan 2004, before all deluxes and Mods were got get free fridges.

BTW I talked to the OP via PM and she left a day early to beat the snow. I hope they are having a great trip. (We have 15 inchs of snow outside right now, I wish I was in WDW intead.!)

 

[ducklite]

I think that might have been one of teh junior suites.

When we stayed in a suite at the AKL there was a microwave in the room along with a minifridge (not a cube) a coffee maker, and possibly even a toaster, not sure about that one though.

Anne

 

[matdamom]

My kids like the juice pouches, so I would freeze several of those the night before then pack them along with water bottles. I didn't find any bad taste or smell to the water in the parks, so we used the water fountains a lot. I think we may have bought two drinks the whole time we were in the park, besides when we ate. And then we always split a large drink for the adults and didn't buy the combo meals for the adults. One child never eats her fries, so dh and I split those. The other child would not eat her fruit so we gave that to the other girl. Eating your biggest meal outside the park is *much* cheaper. The four of us went to Macaroni Grill and it was about half the cost to eat in the park. We only at one breakfast (Princess Storybook in Norway) the whole time we were at WDW. Since we were staying in a timeshare, with full kitchen, we bought groceries and that saved a bunch of $ as well.

From reading these boards, and from our last experience, I'm cutting our food budget in half for our next trip. Plus, I'm saving up my "My Points" to get GC to WDW area restaurants, and considereing the DDE.