No DDP need ideas to cut food costs down

[mdb78]

Still very helpful

 

[goofygirl76]

Definitely share meals when possible! If you're still hungry, you can always get a fabulous snack! PB & J sandwiches are easy to have in the room when possible!

 

[DisneyOma]

Even though it is a "zombie thread" -

i'd just be careful about toasters. i think they are not allowed in the rooms for safety reasons. i have read that WDW will leave a message warning of a fine.

Yes, WDW does not allow appliances in rooms unless they are suites with kitchens/kitchenettes, and only WDW supplied appliances.

We always drive, and when we don't have
free dining, I bring my crock pot. I plan meals ahead,and make preparations. For stew, I brown then freeze the meat; then bring vegetables and a paring knife. I usually fix stew one day,spaghetti the next, and chicken with Alfredo sauce
We bring water, breakfast food, snacks, and sandwich fixings. We always do this at the value resorts. We're pretty good at doing Disney on a dime.

Lucky you didn't lose your crockpot and reservation. WDW does not allow toasters, crockpots, microwaves, etc in rooms where WDW has not supplied the appliance.

 

[DrunkJam]

We always drive, and when we don't have
free dining, I bring my crock pot. I plan meals ahead,and make preparations. For stew, I brown then freeze the meat; then bring vegetables and a paring knife. I usually fix stew one day,spaghetti the next, and chicken with Alfredo sauce
We bring water, breakfast food, snacks, and sandwich fixings. We always do this at the value resorts. We're pretty good at doing Disney on a dime.

Isn't this really dangerous? And you would be on shaky legal ground if anything happened?
I mean, I don't know what it's like in terms of PAT testing and electrical appliances, in USA but, Disney is probably obliged to test and regulate ALL of it's small appliances, so that they are safe (and they are liable if they are not safe) But, if you bring your own stuff into that, they can't regulate that.
Oh, and WAY more dangerous if you are leaving it switched on all day.

 

[Brittani G]

All hotels will tell you they can't have the extra appliances for safety reasons. No need to risk in when there are so many food options that do not need it

 

[jeepnjudy]

Like many have said, we eat breakfast in our room, pack in a lunch (and there was another thread a while back about the many different things people pack in for lunch so you do not have to be limited to sandwiches), pack in our snacks (except for the occasional Mickey ice cream bar ), and then we treat ourselves to dinner in the park. Besides the financial savings, we also notice as a family we do not pack on the pounds during vacation by eating out for every meal.

 

[Missyrose]

Also worth noting since this is a zombie thread, Disney got rid of "lunch" prices for character meals and AYCE meals, lunch is now the same price as dinner.

 

[china mom]

We fly Southwest so bags fly free. For week long trips, I have one suitcase dedicated solely to non perishable foods. It usually weighs in at just under the 50 pound weight limit. It is full of:

breakfast items (cereal, mini donuts, poptarts, oatmeal etc.);
a loaf of bread in a plastic breadbox;
peanut butter;
Jelly;
granola bars;
Pringles;
Cookies;
Apples;
MIO Water flavor drops
any other snacks that will travel well.

I also have plastic bowls, dish soap, dishrag and tons of ziplock bags

I have a rolling cooler that I will fill with lunchmeat, cheese and cream cheese (If I take bagels). I use this as one of my carry on bags and go to any counter serve restaurant and have them fill by ziplock baggies with ice.

I also take a small soft sided cooler for use in the parks.

On property, I buy half gallons of milk as needed.

Breakfast is in the room. Lunch is sandwiches and pringles brought in via my soft sided cooler and drinks are free ice water with MIO.

For dinner, we may split a $18 pizza at the resort or splurge on counter service.

Adult and two kids (11&13) average daily Disney food bill is around $30

Add hubby to the mix and our average daily food bill jumps to $70 per day - he is no where as disciplined as I am.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Even though this is a VERY old thread, the answer is in the title, No DDP, great way to cut food costs.

 

[SuperPreparo]

Since we fly I can't bring a lot of food with me, but I always pack granola bars and make coffee in the room for breakfast. I also pack some snacks to have in the room and at the pool. We only do a few table service/character meals, and these we plan for lunch. We do mostly quick service meals, and I will often split an entrée like a flatbread with my adult daughter. We usually ask for cups of ice water rather than buy bottled water.

 

[davper]

I did disney 3 times this year. I had a fridge only; a Microwave, toaster, and fridge; and a full kitchen.

Your freezer is not going to hold much, but you could get bread for toast, frozen dinners, canned foods like soup or chefboyardee, and Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches for hot food. Cereal, cold cuts or other sandwich fixins. Fruit to eat on the way in.

If eating in the park with quick service, splitting meals is absolutely possible. They are large. Get cups of free ice water instead of expensive sugary drinks.

Plan your day so that you are back at your room for either Lunch or Dinner. Bring snack bars into park to help you keep this schedule.

If you must have your (iced) coffee, get a hydro flask and fill it in the room. When empty, rinse it out and fill with free cups of ice water from QS restaurants in the park.

You said you will have a microwave. I am guessing you are staying in a DVC Studio. Inquire if crock pots are available. They were when I had the full kitchen. This gives you more options. Prepackage your spices at home for your recipes. Remember to pickup storage bowls for the leftovers.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Well, I guess it's good to look at stuff I posted 7 1/2 years and many WDW trips ago and think, "Yeah, that's about right."

 

[scrapquitler]

Personally, I often order the kids meat at a QS restaurant. It's big enough for me, and includes a drink and two sides. I think last time I got a salmon meal at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot that came with juice, rice and carrots, for about $7. Other times we will get 2 adult meals and share among the three of us (DH, myself and DS13).

Pizza at the QS at Pop is an inexpensive option. A pepperoni pizza for about $16 feeds all three of us. Sometimes we'll get a side or two to go with it, but even with that, dinner for under $25.