Menu/Grocery List for WDW Vacation Rental?

[BeerMe]

http://www.minimus.biz/Condiments.aspx

 

[kymom99]

Some may think this is tacky and I probably wouldn't go through the trouble myself, but if you are only going to need a small amount of a condiment, etc. try saving up a few packets from fast food meals. We don't use a lot of ketchup, so I probably wouldn't even bring it on vacation, but if you are having something one night that might need a little, just bring a few packets along. Also, sugar for coffee, etc, could be done the same way, or buy the packets and just bring a few. Many condiments don't spoil easily and you can always bring the extras home as well. We always bring home a partially used bottle of syrup, jar of peanut butter, etc. I jokingly call them my "souvenirs"!

I like the ideas for the spices in the pill containers and oils in the water bottles. I wonder if the oils could be put in those little travel bottles for shampoos, etc. For that matter, you could do ketchup and mustard the same way.

 

[MrsJessica]

I don't think that's tacky, but my husband might... Since we don't have a lot of fast food in our area, I often grab extra packets of sauce from certain places on vacation because its a bit if a novelty for us I'm sure we'll have hotdogs one night and only one of us eats mayo with them. I'm all for grabbing an extra when we're out in order not to waste almost a full jar. Ketchup on the other hand, is almost a food group in my family, so we'll definitely be buying some

 

[dancin Disney style]

Here are few tips I use when traveling when you just a smidge of something -
put cooking oil, vinegar etc in empty water bottles in just the amount you will need so not to bring the entire big bottles. Spices - put the various kinds of spices you will use in one of those 7 day pill containers so you don't have to bring tons of individual spice containers. Sugar/sweetner - but a weeks amount in a baggie. Bring foil vs saran wrap - more uses. Bring baggies of all sizes, trial size dish soap and put a weeks amount of dishwasher soap in a baggie. That is all I can think of for now...

I save up small plastic food containers or jars and wash them out. Then use then for small amounts of condiments. I don't worry about ketchup or mustard being in my suitcase for a few hours. I bring things like pancake mix, pre-measured, in a ziploc and label it. I also bring spices and coffee all in ziplocs.

Basically, I pay attention to what I'm using in my kitchen for a month or two before a trip and make a list of what I think I will need. Some items I start throwing in a suitcase as soon as I think of them and then weed it out later. If I get down to about a half roll of tinfoil I will put that in my suitcase so that I have plenty to use on the trip but don't feel that bad about throwing it away before returning home.

 

[burnurcomputer]

I have a friend who takes empty Mio containers and washes them out and replaced the liquid with some salad dressing. She packs them in a small cooler bag and then she has several flavors in just the right size, with little space taken up

 

[MrsJessica]

I bring things like pancake mix, pre-measured, in a ziploc and label it. I also bring spices and coffee all in ziplocs.

Basically, I pay attention to what I'm using in my kitchen for a month or two before a trip and make a list of what I think I will need. Some items I start throwing in a suitcase as soon as I think of them and then weed it out later. If I get down to about a half roll of tinfoil I will put that in my suitcase so that I have plenty to use on the trip but don't feel that bad about throwing it away before returning home.

Smart! We were just talking about packing a "food" suitcase since my mom will only use one of her two free allotted pieces. Not a ton of food, but more so stuff like foil and baggies and spices that we have in abundance at home (again, Costco). I'll have to post actual menus when I work them up. Thanks to the pp who posted the list of staples. I think it's early vacation brain, but somehow the house + vacation is throwing me off. I travel quite a lot and am usually great with all things food related But its always restaurants and take aways and no prep food. Real cooked meals on vacation is a new concept...

 

[dancin Disney style]

Smart! We were just talking about packing a "food" suitcase since my mom will only use one of her two free allotted pieces. Not a ton of food, but more so stuff like foil and baggies and spices that we have in abundance at home (again, Costco). I'll have to post actual menus when I work them up. Thanks to the pp who posted the list of staples. I think it's early vacation brain, but somehow the house + vacation is throwing me off. I travel quite a lot and am usually great with all things food related But its always restaurants and take aways and no prep food. Real cooked meals on vacation is a new concept...

I just helped a friend plan and pack a weeks worth of meals for a trip to the Bahamas. They had a condo with a full kitchen but weren't going to have a car or easy access to the grocery store. We decided that she could make a few things ahead and freeze them, then pack in a cooler in her suitcase. She made chili, grilled chicken breast and spaghetti sauce. She put them in heavy duty ziploc bags then froze them in a block shape. She also had frozen hotdogs and frozen precooked bacon. It was all packed very tightly together and then placed in a small soft sided cooler. Everything was still frozen when she unpacked. All she had to do was get a few fresh items delivered to the resort.

 

[happymommy]

I also wanted to suggest bringing some favorite herbs & spices in little ziplocs so you can season your meals without buying extra.

I was going to say the same thing!

I always pack a few spices (even the whole bottle, then I just bring back home), salt and pepper (some places have it but some don't, so I bring it just in case), plus since I had used coupons quite a bit over the last couple years, I have had extra things before some trips like cereal, instant pancake mix pouches, tiny bottle of syrup, etc... so I have even brought a bag of pantry items along (once when we went to St. Thomas I brought a ton, since we didn't pay for luggage and food cost a lot there).

I also bring splenda for my coffee!

I agree about frozen food being easy - one trip I made the kids the Stouffers frozen meatloaf (my DS has food allergies, but this one was safe, he can't do milk or egg so things like lasagna are out), then I had bought some little new potatoes and frozen mixed veggies - dinner was so quick, just boil the potatoes, microwave the veggies, and pop the casserole dish right into the oven. We also do pasta at least once, I like to grill so sometimes we do burgers or fish, whatever depending on where the vacation is, sometimes I buy chicken and marinate it and grill that.

PS: I also bring lots of zip loc bags. And small plastic food storage containers!

 

[ready123go]

I just helped a friend plan and pack a weeks worth of meals for a trip to the Bahamas. They had a condo with a full kitchen but weren't going to have a car or easy access to the grocery store. We decided that she could make a few things ahead and freeze them, then pack in a cooler in her suitcase. She made chili, grilled chicken breast and spaghetti sauce. She put them in heavy duty ziploc bags then froze them in a block shape. She also had frozen hotdogs and frozen precooked bacon. It was all packed very tightly together and then placed in a small soft sided cooler. Everything was still frozen when she unpacked. All she had to do was get a few fresh items delivered to the resort.

You should write that plan down and share it with us. We'd love to see the rest of it! (If you have the time, of course )