Money money money - food

[Demonica]

Hi all

Another query! We need to get saving spending money as we're on a budget. Breakfast is included and I'm the type to nick a couple of rolls for lunch if I can get away with it lol

That means we only need to save for dinners (2 x adults, 1 x child, baby will munch from our plates).

What are the prices of meals like? Does anyone have any examples?

I'm aware places like Planet Hollywood are usually around £8 for a burger type meal in the UK so assume it's similar there?

But what are the counter service places like price-wise?

Other than food and souvenirs is there anything else we should add into our budget?

Thank you! x

 

[Cyrano]

I've kept our receipts from the summer so will post up some examples tonight

 

[DLPdaft]

This site is good - gives you most of the menus and prices for the restaurants, fast food joints etc in and around DLP.

http://www.dlpfoodguide.com/index.php

Elaine

 

[davewasbaloo]

Counter Service restaurants run about £6.50 each for a set menu. Table service 3 courses cost between £15 - 30 each.

My tips for saving money - eat a nice table service restaurant meal at about 3pm. You are likely to spend less than eating junk food.

good value restaurants on a budget are plaza gardens and La Grange at Billy Bob's in the village (very good value buffets). Annette's offers good value for money as does the Deli. If you are really doing things on a budget, maybe consider McDonald's or eating at the Val de Europe which is about 30% less than Disney prices.

 

[punkin712]

We got back from a week at DLP last week. Breakfast was also included for us and we usually ate so well that we didn't need lunch. Rather than eat out every night, we went to the grocery store at Val d'Europe (it's call Auchan) and bought things like cheese, olives, bread, etc. so we could have "picnics" in the room during our evening rest breaks. We also bought a 6-pack of bottled water and avoided buying sodas at the parks.

If you go to Val d'Europe for dinner, avoid the Italian restaurant - I think it's called Pizza Roma. We ate there one night and it was probably the worst meal we ever had. Service was nonexistent, silverware and glasses were dirty, the food was less than mediocre and, when we finally were able to get our check, it had dishes listed that we didn't order. We weren't the only ones complaining either, seemed like anyone who was actually eating there (not just hanging out with a carafe of wine) had problems.

 

[6.2.6]

If you are on a budget, you can buy some food at the RER station (salads, sandwiches, drinks). Or you can have your menu to take away at Annettes. 10 euros, including one burger, one drink and fries.

The RER shop closes aprox. at 20:00 or 20:30. Its located at the left of the tourist information stand

 

[wendybird7]

don't worry - EVERYONE can do disneyland on a budget.

definitely nick some rolls and pain au chocolats from breakfast - its not stealing - do u see the amound that goes to waste?!

planet hollywood i'd definitely recommend, from what i recall most dishes are about 16euros, with burgers about 10euros, so about 8 pounds.

however, treat yourself to a nice meal - cafe mickeys is lots of fun, and you can still get a lovely meal without spending 30euros - just get a starter and dessert like me! and unlike a lot of places - in disney there's no judgement

i also usually take some biccies and crisps for the hotel room in case i get the nibblies!

 

[SandraVB79]

I would also advice to rather eat a "decent" meal at a table service restaurant instead of snacking all day long or eating junk food all day long. You will have eaten better food, and it'll turnout cheaper in the end

What we used to do when staying on site: eat a big breakfast. Eat an ice cream/ waffle in the afternoon (no need for lunch, still full from breakfast) and then have dinner at a TS restaurant. The portions are huge everywhere, so you don't always need a 3-course meal. Just a main course or an appetizer + dessert are not that expensive.

I like Cafe Mickey, lots of fun, and although I'm a big eater, a main course is more than enough for me.
We also like the buffet at Cape Cod. And the one time I went there, I liked Annette's.

Also, we take some snacks (like cookies, brownies) to eat while waiting in line, and we bring our own drinks. Yes, you then have to carry them around in abackpack or so, but this saves a LOT of money!

 

[scald]

Also worth noting that children under three eat for free in some of the TS restaurants. We went to Plaza Gardens with my son when he was 2 and a half and were duly told that he eats free as he wass under three!!!

 

[DisneyZell]

Someone mentioned Val D'Europe...definately go there to get meats, etc, and grab baguettes from the mall as well. This is out lunch every day: Baguette split open, with butter, Brie, and salami. buy some zip-lock type bags to carry them in, and throw them in a backpack. Because the bread is pretty hard it doesn't squish much, and tastes great. I didn't find the drinks too badly priced compared to WDW to be honest so we usually bought water there. Since Lunch is so cheap you can splurge at dinner, or again go to the store for cheese and bread for dinner. Frankly speaking I could have done the baguette sandwhich for lunch and bread/cheese for dinner every night it was so good! good luck!

 

[Demonica]

Thanks everyone for the ideas! Hubby usually needs feeding every three hours or so or he gets grumpy (like a 3rd child )

I'll have a look at the restaurants. I keep hearing Annettes Diner is good. Is that the one where they have rollerboots on?

 

[Demonica]

Thanks everyone for the ideas! Hubby usually needs feeding every three hours or so or he gets grumpy (like a 3rd child )

I'll have a look at the restaurants. I keep hearing Annettes Diner is good. Is that the one where they have rollerboots on?

Ignore me, just saw the A.Diner thread below

 

[Cyrano]

Ignore me, just saw the A.Diner thread below

No problem

 

[dee slack]

Someone mentioned Val D'Europe...definately go there to get meats, etc, and grab baguettes from the mall as well. This is out lunch every day:

do you need a car for this? We're flying so won't have our own transport unfortunately, and rather foolishly turned down the option of paying for hold luggage, so only have 2 pieces of hand luggage for both of us for 3 nights.

 

[Cyrano]

do you need a car for this? .

Only one RER stop away from DLP or get a shuttle bus available from the hotel

 

[dee slack]

Only one RER stop away from DLP or get a shuttle bus available from the hotel

Thanks!

 

[Ste7en]

You can save 1 EURO per bottle of pop/water if you buy it from the Relay kiosk in the RER Station.

Could save you 20 quid over the course of your trip.