Non Dining Plan Guests

[jlomama]

This is for those of you who don't buy the dining plan...

How do you balance your meals? Do you eat out part of the time and where? What do you cook at the camper?

Trying to figure out how to balance meals without doing the dining plan when we will be on the go much of the time.

Also, what are some of your favorite easy camper meals?

Thanks for sharing!

 

[bama_ed]

I'm not sure I understand your question.

I have a pop-up camper. I have a kitchen at my site every night beside the charcoal grill.

You have to understand that the Dining Plan has "dumbed down" the restaurants on the Dining Plan. We eat breakfast at the camper, pack a meal into the parks, and eat one meal either counter or table service. Plus we only do about half the days in the parks with the rest at the Fort or toolin' offiste.

The DP requires "every day" for "length of stay" whereas I do "as needed". On my most recent trip of 5 full days I did two table service lunches both of which I called up 24 hours in advance and got my meal ressie.

I've never done the DP. Why would I?

Bama ED

 

[connor2002]

On park days we eat a light easy breakfast, eat lunch at the park, crock or bbq for dinner. The crock is very easy... Like Bama Ed says we plan on the parks every other day ( I hope). On FW days we will cook big breakfast, light easy lunch, then BBQ or Dining in downtown...

Steve

 

[droycro]

On our last trip to FW, we were happy with how we balanced the dining. We had a light breakfast in our camper every morning (cereal, toast, etc.). When we visited either MK, E, HS, or AK, we ate our main meal at a table service restaurant around 1:00. We usually packed some light mid-morning snacks in our backpack (granola bar or trail mix) so we wouldn't be starving by the time we sat down to lunch. That evening we'd have a light lunch-like dinner in the camper. On days we visited the water parks, we packed a lunch, and then had a nice dinner out around 6:00 at either Downtown Disney or one of the resort hotels. It was great fun to pick a special place for dinner/lunch each day of our trip. (Of course we made the dining reservations as soon as we could.)

We found this balance to work out well. We didn't cook anything big at the camper, because it was July, and the thought of cooking in that heat is not appealing. It also make packing for the trip rather easy - lots of pb&j, lunchmeat, cheese, and fruit.

 

[gillenkl]

We eat breakfast at the popup and a counter service lunch or dinner. We have 2 breakfast ressies at Kona and Trails End. We have a few TS ressies for Rainforest, Trex, SciFi, etc... Meals at the site are simple - crockpot, hamburger helper, manwich, sandwiches, etc...we don't eat out much at home so we treat ourselves on vacation.

 

[Bricon]

We typically don't do the DP, I look at it this way, approx $110. per day(2 adults 2 kids) for every day of the trip seems like a lot.

We eat Bfast at the site then usually get lunch and sometimes dinner in the park or at other resorts.
if we are not in the park or come back mid day we eat at the site, I look at it as one of the benefits of camping.

 

[retired and happy]

Pretty much agree with Ed. Don't do dining plans. Don't need to. Eat a late breakfast or get to the parks for CS brunch. Usually eat supper at the MH. Still bring home much of the food we had planned on using.

 

[Mcert01]

We have done it both ways. We are on the go people as well. When we are not on the plan we generally plan on dinner at FW on Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and Water Park days. We sometimes will take a day off and have dinner at the Fort on that day as well.

If it is particularly crowded we will return to FW at lunch on Magic Kingdom and Epcot days.

In terms of meals, we focus on easy, but good. We load up the freezer with pre-made items, and easily and quickly cooked items. The last trip I smoked and vaccum packed ribs. We brought steaks and chicken breasts for grilling. I also brought pulled pork and italian sausage. Think quick, but high quality. You are on vacation - you should eat well!

 

[sbnewhampshire1]

I also agree with Ed. Breakfast in the motorhome. Pack a lunch,water bottles frozen the night before (they defrost during the day for drinking, also keep lunch cold, put into backpak w/snacks and dinner back at campsite. NEVER DONE THE DP!!

 

[Napria]

For the amount of meals we would use it, the dining plan is much too expensive.

We like to take it easy on vacation, so we wake up at our own pace, have a big breakfast and head out to the parks when we feel ready.. No rushing. Sometimes we don't even get out before it's lunchtime, in which case we have lunch in the camper. We eat lunch and/or dinner in whatever park we're in. We *do* have ADRs and keep them, but for a ten day trip we only book 4-5 ADRs.

 

[articfox676]

Eating light meals on hot days is important to us. Breakfast at camper, lunch to go some days. Plenty of water. Back to the Fort by 3 or 4pm to shower and regroup for dinner and evening back at the parks.

We try to eat similar foods on vacation that are our usual meals. To much stress on the body takes it toll. If you're tired stay at the Fort rest and go for a stroll through some loops.

It is vacation go home refreshed.

 

[RoyalMom]

We are going to to the DP for the first time this next trip, mostly for Character Dining purposes!



In the past, we have brought along a mini fridge and the microwave. We hit the Publix and grab some single serve meals (pasta bowls, chef boyardee, etc.) plus pizza fixins (ready made crusts/cheese/pizza squeeze) and possibly a frozen dish or two, if freezer space allows. A big pack of croissants, saltines, PB, a jar of nutella, cereal assorted breakfast stuff (probably will still do this) and we bought our QS or TS meals on the fly.

Seems like most folks agree on the campsite quick brekkie. Works for us!

 

[Disneefun]

Breakfast: at the camper, usually cereal and toast.

Lunch: TS restaurant for about 1/2 the days we're there, otherwise CS in whatever park we're in. Unless it's a hang out at the Fort day, then it's sandwiches at the camper.

Dinner: Usually something light, esp. on days where we did a TS restaurant. Sandwiches, salads, etc. If it's been a fort day, we might fire up the grill and do burgers and smores, or get the giddyap and go from Trail's end. We make a point to have TE for dinner once during the trip.

Even before we had the camper we didn't do the DP. We packed a cooler and kept it in the room. We just don't eat enough to justify it, and the thought of having to book all of our meals in advance makes me ill. I don't want to plan that much on vacation. Plus, since the advent of the DP, particularly free dining, the quality of food in many places has gone way down to the point where it's just not worth it. I can do better in my camper.

 

[amylevan]

Breakfast in the camper, usually. (We did do 1 character breakfast this past year...)

Counter service lunch wherever we happen to be, unless it's a RNR day, than we eat in the camper. This is only because we get hungry early, before we get back to the camper, and I am too lazy to pack lunches for everyone. I'm on vacation too!

We usually come back for a break in the afternoon, and so dinner is then either in the camper with quick easy things or TS at a park that we are heading out to. (About 50/50 for the trip.)

Dinners that we eat in the camper: spaghetti, hamburgers/hot dogs, crock pot meals, kabobs. I keep sides to a minimum (i.e. a bagged ceasar salad with some grilled chicken = grilled chicken ceasar salad or the veggies on the kabobs).

 

[North of Mouse]

We're on vacation - no cooking in MH for us. We aren't heavy eaters anyway, are always on the run, and can always find something we want to eat where ever we are. Make a couple "must do" ADR's and the rest of the time "wing it" and have a lovely relaxed "no schedule" time

 

[Sally]

I think this thread helped me convince hubby to be brave and camp this trip at the fort. Thanks everyone

 

[allielew]

We do Breakfast in the camper, early morning park days it is light and fast. Lazy FW days my DH makes a mean Breakfast (pancakes, grits and sausage). We usually pack snacks for the park and come back and do a big early dinner so that we can go back to the parks for the evening. The DP is too much, the only way it would be worth it is if we made ADR at all the bigger resturants and my DH and DD would only get chicken strips so it is not worth it. We each pick one TS meal that I make ADR's for. Mine is always Ohan'a , my DD always picks a character meal and my hubby always picks Trail's end Buffet. Then I usually throw one extra in for a "new experience". We CS a few times for days we stay in a park all day. I pre-package at lot of food before we leave so that meals are quite and easy. Burgers, chicken, pizza, tacos. We have annual passes so we get 10% on a lot of TS meals and AAA also.

 

[Main Street Matilda]

Like many of the other posters, we "mix it up" between meals in the park and meals at the site. There are always a couple of restaurants we want to try or revisit - and of course, we hit Trails End at some point.

I just make sure that our meals at the site are easy meals. I don't want to spend any real time cooking while on vacation. We prepare food in advance, freeze some to defrost as needed, and enjoy anthing we can put on a grill.

 

[Mcert01]

When we stay at one of the hotels ... dining plan definitely. At FW, we balance by the park / activity we are engaged in each day.

Keep in mind, we are park commandos ... rope drop until closing most of the time. However, there are opportunities to come back, take a break and eat.

MK day is a good example. Our kids are now older, so we can see most everything by noon or 1 at MK. In this case we actually get CS at MK (Columbia House), come back, relax, go to the pool, have dinner, then finish the day back in MK for a couple of repeats, shopping (2 daughters + 1 DW means lots of shopping! ), then fireworks. This works for the water parks and AK as well.

Epcot and HS studios days are typically full days in the parks, so we have both CS and TS both days. Last year we took the boat from HS to the Boardwalk for dinner at Kouzzina's. We usually pick a restaurant on the first night as well (Sanaa last trip ).

Dinners are pretty much grilled ... ribs (pre-smoked), steaks, chicken, chops, pork tenderloin etc. Italian Sausage and/or Bratwurst is always good. Tacos or Fajita's is a good choice too. Pulled Pork is a staple (smoked, vacuum packed and frozen) and is always good as well - the Food Saver is AWESOME! .

All of this can be pre-made and/or frozen, thawed, quickly prepared, are delicious and easily cleaned up.

 

[tlh0726]

Trying to keep the trip low budget so this trip we are planning all meals except for one at the camper.

Our plan is to hit the parks early, back to the motorhome for lunch (quick and easy foods) and to change into swimsuits, hit the waterparks, back to the motorhome to grab showers and eat dinner (30 min or less cooking times), then back to a park for the evening.


My kids are not breakfast eaters (due to having lunch served at school at 1045 and 1115 and getting reprimanded for not eating enough ) so it is a glass of juice or milk before we leave and we'll pack pencil boxes with some little powdered donuts and other snacks and they will munch on that when they get hungry mid morning.

Here is what we came up with that everyone will definitely eat ( We haven't filled in the fruits and desserts yet )

Saturday lunch - ham and cheese sandwich, chips/cheese curls (simple for on the road)
Saturday dinner- pizza, french fries
Sunday lunch -toasted cheese, tomato soup
Sunday dinner - cheeseburgers, macaroni and cheese
Monday lunch - cold cut subs (hoagies), chips/cheese curls
Monday dinner- chicken parmesan, spaghetti, garlic bread, salad
Tuesday lunch- Top your own waffle (I have one that you spin the handle just like in the hotels)
Tuesday dinner-chicken strips,french fries, applesauce
Wednesday lunch - hot dogs, baked beans, oodles of noodles
Wednesday dinner - Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, green beans
Thursday lunch -cold cut subs(need to use up the lunch meat), chips/cheese curls
Thursday dinner-chicken alfredo, salad
Friday lunch - soft tacos
Friday dinner - Pizza, french fries
Saturday lunch - lunch in the parks (due to moving out of site)
Saturday dinner - Sloppy joes, vegetable soup (easy to microwave since we will have started our trip home sometime in the afternoon)
Sunday lunch - ham and cheese sandwich, chips/cheese curls (easy for on the road)
Sunday dinner - at home

After coming up with the menu, I realized one micro convection oven wasn't going to cut it. So we now also own a 2 rack toaster oven too!