Large family, small budget... driving... food ideas for room or dining?

[lpoeppelman]

We are sqeaking a Disney trip this year--but without the dining plan as we have always done before.

I need some ideas... we are staying at the ASM suites and we are driving. I would like to make all breakfasts in the room and most other meals, but we have a small budget for a couple meals... albeit, not chef mickey's or anything like that.

For outside dining I was thinking:

50's Prime Time (I thought I could easily share a meal with a couple kids--plus we've never been here)
Other ideas?
Counter Service? Where are the best deals?
Sharing Double cheeseburger (how much is the extra bun?)
Water/no pop

For the room, I was thinking:

cereal/morning breakfast items
mac and cheese
fruit/veggies
cold meat sandwiches
shredded roast beef (canned or purchased at store in deli)
grilled cheese/pizza sandwich in the small george forman grill... I've read this is okay on disboards... the grill? Not sure on that.

I'm kinda at a blank. Any other ideas? I don't mind being a little creative, but it does have to be something I can make and clean up and I don't want anything overly smelly.

Thanks!

 

[pocomom]

I haven't stayed there but I believe you have a small fridge and microwave. (don't think it is actually ok to use a grill due to fire code? )
I would think about making up some easy to microwave meals.
You could precook pasta and sauce and reheat in the microwave. Any sort of casserole, especiallly if you pre-divide it into individual or 2 person sizes for easy heating. Make burritos/breakfast burritos at home for easy to heat up food. Bring buns and veggie burgers. Fruit. Cut up veggies ahead of time for easy side dish or snack.We aren't meat eaters but my mom used to make tuna casserole and the only thing that needed to be cooked was the noodles. (course I grew up to not eat meat so... My kids like english muffin pizzas. Bagels, cereal,
We do a lot of sandwiches. You can get pretty creative with them. Bring water, sodas. I don't eat a lot of processed stuff, but I'm sure there are a ton of add water and microwave foods, like rice blends etc. you could bring.
Bring a big cooler for the first day or too, and put your less risky foods in it (like the pre-cut veg) if the fridge is to small for much.

 

[auralia]

PB and J travels well and can be brought into the park... figure pb and j for everyone add in some of those squeeze apple sauces and a couple of cans of pringles and you could call it a meal. Bring your own water or ask for ice water at any counter service.

As I understand it you can no longer get an extra bun for a reasonable price and i don't remember double burgers really being available any more.

Sharable meals would be at flame tree in AK and cosmic rays in MK.

Power bars for snacks can also replace meals.

canned soup, spagettio type things, any canned food can be heated in the microwave. I'd also bring some paper plates/bowls.

Just some random thoughts in no particular order.

 

[brymolmom]

When we stay offsite and have a kitchen - we frequently bring food to the parks. That's what I would do to save a ton - stock a soft-sided cooler FULL of sandwiches, chips, fruit, drinks, water and sweets (saves on asking for mickey ice cream bars quite so many times a day). If your kids are older than stroller-age - then I would rent a locker - you would still save a ton even with the locker rental charge.

I'm a big believer in take-out on trips.

Eating breakfast in your room....lunch out of a cooler and then $30 on take-out pizza is a CHEAP day for eating - and no cooking for anyone. Same can be said for subs, chinese, etc. - You won't spend too much over paying $10 - $20 at the grocery store for stuff for the grill and sides AND no worries about cooking.

By the way - if it is a hugely budget trip - I would bet that you could save at least $500 on renting a 2 bedroom condo for a week over staying at ASM suites.

 

[HeatherC]

When we vacation in condos, we like rotisserie chicken from Publix with their mashed potatoes and a bag of ceasear salad. Can heat potatoes in microwave.

Feels lkke a real meal and not processed junk so much.

Does ASM have a grill area? Can do hot dogs and burgers.

We also pick up cold fried chicken from Publix or KFC. Good as lunch the next day too.

Have a great time!!

 

[Darcy03231]

We did breakfast in the room. We had a mini-fridge but no microwave (but there is one in the food court, along with a toaster). We had cereal, milk, fruit and yogurt. We also got snacks - trail mix/granola bars, cookies, chips, cheese & crackers, nuts, etc. We also bought bottled water for the parks and flavor packets. Once we drank the water we saved the bottles for refills that day at the park from the fountains and added the flavor packets.

 

[JessB320]

First off we have a large family too (seven of us). We have done multiple Orlando trips (some Disney some universal) and did most meals in the room and had a great great relaxing vacation. BUT, I really think you should at least look at renting a condo. We have stayed at Wyndham bonnet creek 4 times and we really love it there. It's great for big families. There are a few reasons I think you should look at bonnet creek

1. If this is a budget trip WBC will be a lot less than An ASM suite (even with extra parking fees or shuttle fees)
2. You will have much more room
3. WBC located past the Disney gates, so while your off property you are actually just as close to parks as on property resorts.
4 this is the big one- if you are planning to eat in the room a lot then that needs to be easy and enjoyable, a full kitchen and full size fridge will make life sooooo much easier!!!

We pack lunches and eat in the room almost all the time. I can't imagine doing it without a full size fridge and a way/space to do that. Also trying to eat in the room without a place to sit everyone is a nightmare!

I would look at the we love bonnet creek threads here on the dis (I think there 3 parts now) lots of really great info and pictures!!!


Also if you drive, bring a crock pot (well if your in a condo you can), lots of easy meals you can throw in while your out at the parks!!
WBC also has serval gas grills to use, last trip we grilled a lot, grabbed steak and chicken at Costco, marinated while we were at the parks, threw it on to cook when we got home, add a couple sides and dinner in like 20 min

There a lot of condo choices but bonnet creek is the one we have used, so that's why I recommend that one (and how close it is to the parks)

Good luck!!

 

[mrsklamc]

I know you have your accommodations set already but is there any way you would consider Windsor Hills? It's VERY close and we love it.

 

[jameyh]

While we don't have a large family, I found that staying on site in the values were too expensive for the type of room. I'm not sure how much better a suite will be but for the cost my family is staying at bonnet creek, found rental thru vacation strategies. Com. Prices for 2 bedroom with full kitchen and laundry were cheaper than Disney value for our time frame (9/18/13).
Planning on cooking most meals in and packing snacks. I would rather spend the extra money on fun than on a place to lay our heads at night.

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

By the way - if it is a hugely budget trip - I would bet that you could save at least $500 on renting a 2 bedroom condo for a week over staying at ASM suites.

You know, I was about to say the same thing.

If you're not doing the dining plan, and you have your own car, why pay the high Disney prices to stay onsite?

Then I checked our accommodations (May 19 - 25) at Orlando Courtyard Suites where we are staying for $69 a night in a one bedroom luxury king suite with full kitchen, pull out sofa, etc. and they are now charging double what we are paying for the same suite the exact same week!
I thought- let me check October, rates are usually cheaper further out- but no- same thing.

Egads.
Guess this will be our last budget trip to OCS...
Next time we'll look for a villa/real condo instead of a hotel condo.

And another way to save money on visiting WDW.
Consider just doing a waterparks trip- a waterparks + DQ annual pass is only $130 (last Oct) and now we'll play for free on this trip since we paid for the pass last October.
The water parks are just as magical and a whole lot less $$.

Also, sign up for restaurant coupons- like Sweet Tomatoes (I get a coupon from then a couple of times a month - free drink, buy one get one)
Bahama Breeze sends me coupons too.

I know steak restaurants are probably not in your budget but to give an example of the savings:
Last year we saved big $$ by eating at Texas de Brazil with a buy one get one free dinner birthday coupon.
Eating there ($50 an adult dinner) was less pricey than eating at Boma.

Gather coupons for places like Chick-Fil-A (a number of them in Orlando area) where you can get a variety of healthier options.

Also check out this site:
http://www.mykidseatfree.com/family_vacations/Orlando_Results.asp

 

[robinb]

I agree with many of the other posters. Large Family + Budget = Stay Offsite.

Since you will be driving anyway there is no additional cost for rental car, just for parking and that $14 per day is peanuts compared to how much you will save staying offsite. People really seem to like the Wyndham Bonnet Creek and they provide a shuttle to the parks (included in your daily resort fee) so if one parent wants to stay in the parks with the older kids while the other takes the younger kids back to the resort you can split up. Other folks really like Windsor Hills. I stayed at a pool home in the Formosa Garden area (near WH) and it was less than a 10 minute drive to the Purple Gates.

 

[JessB320]

Some of our favorite meals from our last trip

Breakfast:
B. sandwiches (meat egg cheese on bagel or English muffin) and b. burritos ( potatoes, eggs, meat , cheese)
Pancakes
(We did breakfast for dinner our first night, I cooked lots of extra, then just reheated the parts I needed for different breakfasts throughout the week )
Costco muffins
Hard boiled eggs (made a batch our first night)

Lunch:
Lot of sandwiches but we got bread, bagels, hogie buns, and wraps to make them a little different each day.
Chicken salad, steak sandwich, cold BBq pork sandwich (all made from dinner leftovers)
Leftover pizza (packs well and my kids love it cold lol. )
Pasta salad ( leftover from a dinner )

Snacks:
My kids liked the basic fruit, cut up veggies, trail mix and because its vacation chips, chez its, etc.

We also did get snacks/ treats in the park

Dinners;
Crockpot BBq pulled pork
Grilled steaks
Grilled chicken
Breakfast for dinner (again I made massive amounts of bacon, sausage, ham, and pancakes then just reheated for breakfasts )
Take n bake Costco pizza
Costco rotisserie chickens
A make your own Mexican night, I made beef, rice, beans and toppings, they made nachos, tacos, or burritos out of it (and leftovers were great for breakfast burritos)
A pasta / garlic break night
Chef salad (I did this on pasta and pizza night, kids got their happy food and I got mine )

 

[JessB320]

I agree with many of the other posters. Large Family + Budget = Stay Offsite.

Since you will be driving anyway there is no additional cost for rental car, just for parking and that $14 per day is peanuts compared to how much you will save staying offsite. People really seem to like the Wyndham Bonnet Creek and they provide a shuttle to the parks (included in your daily resort fee) so if one parent wants to stay in the parks with the older kids while the other takes the younger kids back to the resort you can split up. Other folks really like Windsor Hills. I stayed at a pool home in the Formosa Garden area (near WH) and it was less than a 10 minute drive to the Purple Gates.

The shuttle fee is now an additional $5 round trip per person fee at WBC, but still a savings over Onsite options for big families!!
There is still no parking fee at the resort however, so only a fee to park at Disney for their car.

 

[Cynt]

First off we have a large family too (seven of us). We have done multiple Orlando trips (some Disney some universal) and did most meals in the room and had a great great relaxing vacation. BUT, I really think you should at least look at renting a condo. We have stayed at Wyndham bonnet creek 4 times and we really love it there. It's great for big families. There are a few reasons I think you should look at bonnet creek

1. If this is a budget trip WBC will be a lot less than An ASM suite (even with extra parking fees or shuttle fees)
2. You will have much more room
3. WBC located past the Disney gates, so while your off property you are actually just as close to parks as on property resorts.
4 this is the big one- if you are planning to eat in the room a lot then that needs to be easy and enjoyable, a full kitchen and full size fridge will make life sooooo much easier!!!

Good luck!!

THIS^^^^^

I believe the money you will save by staying offsite will be more than enough to feed your family for the week along with the food budget you have in place. Big breakfast at condo - scrambled eggs, pancakes, sausage, juice. Late lunch at the parks. Back to condo for dinner - crock pot dinners sound good or fire up the grill. The dining space and full size kitchen sounds fabulous for your family.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

People really seem to like the Wyndham Bonnet Creek and they provide a shuttle to the parks (included in your daily resort fee) so if one parent wants to stay in the parks with the older kids while the other takes the younger kids back to the resort you can split up. Other folks really like Windsor Hills. I stayed at a pool home in the Formosa Garden area (near WH) and it was less than a 10 minute drive to the Purple Gates.

I remember reading on the Orlando Hotels Section that they charge a separate shuttle fee now if you use the shuttle.

ETA: I guess I should have read all the replies - I didn't see JessB's post before replying.

 

[pigletto]

I am going to highly suggest Bonnet Creek as well. We're staying there for the first time in August. Out of curiosity I just priced what it would cost me to stay in a All Star Music family suite for the same dates. Bonnet Creek is $1000.00 cheaper.
I am paying $120 a night, for 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a full kitchen.

For that thousand dollar difference you could make 2 meals a day in the condo and still go out for one. Yes it will cost you $14 per day to park but like someone else said, you are still saving a bundle.

Then there's the fact that you have a ton more space, more pools, pool slides, free mini golf, hot tubs, laundry in your suite etc. All things ASMu won't have. I do understand the lure of staying onsite. But it's a no brainer for me. I'll still be just as close to the parks and will have room to spread out.

 

[robinb]

The shuttle fee is now an additional $5 round trip per person fee at WBC, but still a savings over Onsite options for big families!!

Thanks for correcting my mistake . Doesn't the shuttle fee max out at $20 or $25, though? Maybe that's what I'm thinking of.

 

[Deb & Bill]

All the double hamburgers have been changed to third pound burgers. So no more "take one pattie and put it on a separate bun".

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We always bring an electric skillet on vacation. Works for burgers, grilled sandwiches, pancakes, etc.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We always bring an electric skillet on vacation. Works for burgers, grilled sandwiches, pancakes, etc.

Surely not in standard hotel rooms, right?