Off-site eating?

[artofanimation]

My family of four will be heading down to the World for the last week of January. My stepfather (39) and brother (13) have never been, and my mother (48) hasn't been in fifteen years. This is our first opportunity since I was 5 to go all together, as money has been a serious issue with us, and every attempt we've made to get this vacation together has fallen through, until now!

While we can afford the trip, we are cutting it pretty close, and will have to share a lot of food as well as eat off property a few nights for dinner.

So, I have a question to the penny pinchers (or people who just don't like Disney's food!) : where do you suggest eating off-site that isn't the McDonalds nearby? We generally shy away from fast food, and anything cheaper than Disney food will work for us.

Sidenote: I am beside myself with excitement! We booked our room in Pop Century and bought our last park ticket today! This has been such a long time coming that I absolutely cannot wait!!!

 

[kapoof]

I don't have any advice for off site, but while at wdw some good cheap eats would be found at Epcot. We alway hit the cafe on France, really good and pretty cheap. Also the fried fish in Great Britain. Good size portions that can be shared. And nachos in Mexico are good cheap and can be shared. My sister always raves about the chicken dinner at the mk it is the restaurant with sonny eclipse. You get a half a chicken with mashed potatoes , for like 9 bucks, and that could be spilt up between people. . Good luck and have fun!

 

[yulilin3]

My family of four will be heading down to the World for the last week of January. My stepfather (39) and brother (13) have never been, and my mother (48) hasn't been in fifteen years. This is our first opportunity since I was 5 to go all together, as money has been a serious issue with us, and every attempt we've made to get this vacation together has fallen through, until now!

While we can afford the trip, we are cutting it pretty close, and will have to share a lot of food as well as eat off property a few nights for dinner.

So, I have a question to the penny pinchers (or people who just don't like Disney's food!) : where do you suggest eating off-site that isn't the McDonalds nearby? We generally shy away from fast food, and anything cheaper than Disney food will work for us.

Sidenote: I am beside myself with excitement! We booked our room in Pop Century and bought our last park ticket today! This has been such a long time coming that I absolutely cannot wait!!!

There's a Golden Corral all you can eat buffet on 535 close to I-4, there's also a Cici's Pizza on 535 as well. Those are the cheapest options I can think of. There's a TGIFridays and a couple of other restaurants in the same plaza as the McDonalds on 535 (by the DTD entrance)

 

[LindaBabe]

On property, I would stick with counter service. That does NOT mean you are limited to burgers and chicken nuggets!

EPCOT

Sunshine food fair downstairs in the land has real food - like pork chop or chicken with veggies. Kids meals are sufficient for me, and much less expensive than adult meals.

Tangerine Cafe - middle eastern and Yummy.

Portions at the fish place are not as large as they used to be, making sharing more difficult.

Magic Kingdom

Cosmic Rays and Pecos Bills both have "toppings bars" . If it's open, Plaza pavillion has some decent oriental food.

Animal Kingdom

Flame Tree Barbecue, Yak & yeti counter service, and even Pizzafari.

Studios - I don't eat there, so not sure.

Resorts
Art of Animation Food court
Animal Kingdom Lodge - Mara
Coronado Springs - pepper market
Wilderness Lodge - the quick serve has the same breakfast french toast as they serve up in whispering canyon for less.
Polynesian - Captain Cooks has the Tonga Toast they serve at the Kona upstairs
Contemporary Cafe is also good

Off Property

Sweet Tomatos in the Crossroads shopping center - light on protein, but inexpensive and filling salads, carbs and desserts.

Cracker Barrel on I drive



In fact, you'll find most of the chain restaurants somewhere on I drive.

 

[kathy884]

We like Sweet Tomatoes (known for Salads, soups, and pastas). They are a chain that some people don't have in their home towns and seem to be a favorite with Orlando travelers. We have these at home, hit them regularly here and usually stop once on Orlando trips too. // Maybe it's too close to McDonald's but after a busy theme park day we have on more than one occasion done drive through Wendy's a picked up things on their dollar menu.

Not your question, but Disney does let you bring your own food into the parks too. We save a little by making our own sandwiches and bringing these and fruit into the parks on park days for one of our meals. Some carry a little soft sided cooler. I have a cooler backpack that I got years ago at REI that I use. We often go with a party of ten and when your numbers get up this high, the savings are really significant.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

Sorry, no offsite eating advice - just wanted to say enjoy your family trip!

Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney is a good value - and good food. If you are driving, you can pack some stuff to keep in the room (you will have a fridge) to help keep costs down as well.

Enjoy your first trip together!

 

[disneylovin24]

Golden Corral is probably the best place on a budget. We went a few years ago and for 10 dollars a person about you get a really huge buffet to eat from. I would recommend.

We also have done Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings and Uno's off site(all 4 are near the DTD gates). Olive Garden and Uno's are not really cheap but probably are cheaper than any Disney places All three are very good too, Buffalo Wild Wings have become a favorite for my family in Florida and Olive Garden is always a favorite.



I think you can pretty much find anything you like (actually we have eaten at the TGI Fridays too which was also good~what you would expect there~again, right outside DTD gate) around the Disney area because it is very well built up.

Don't worry about going off-property to eat a couple of times. We also do it just because it is ok to leave Disney for a couple of hours

 

[DizneyNutz]

My family of four will be heading down to the World for the last week of January. My stepfather (39) and brother (13) have never been, and my mother (48) hasn't been in fifteen years. This is our first opportunity since I was 5 to go all together, as money has been a serious issue with us, and every attempt we've made to get this vacation together has fallen through, until now!

While we can afford the trip, we are cutting it pretty close, and will have to share a lot of food as well as eat off property a few nights for dinner.

So, I have a question to the penny pinchers (or people who just don't like Disney's food!) : where do you suggest eating off-site that isn't the McDonalds nearby? We generally shy away from fast food, and anything cheaper than Disney food will work for us.

Sidenote: I am beside myself with excitement! We booked our room in Pop Century and bought our last park ticket today! This has been such a long time coming that I absolutely cannot wait!!!

We have been driving down or renting a car for 14 years and spend a lot of time driving around offsite because we are DVCers and stock our kitchen with groceries(Super Wal Mart). Someone mentioned Golden Corral. We ate at the one on SR 535 the first week of December this year and would have to say it was probably the worst GC we have ever been in. OP mentioned Olive Garden, we also usually have one night of KFC Chicken. There are several Pizza locations that will deliver to your resort. There is just about anything you could want within a 4 mile drive around Disney. Smokey Bones, Cracker Barrel, Outback Steak House, Shoneys, etc. and it is all very easy to navigate around and get back to your resort.

 

[Itinkso]

If you head towards Animal Kingdom Lodge and turn left onto Sherberth Road, you'll get to the 192 where you can find Cracker Barrel, Bahama Breeze, Panera Bread, Chick fil A, Carraba's, and other standard fast food places. There's a Menchie's froyo in front of Target where they have Dole Whip!

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

We always make a visit to Millers Ale House. There is one in Kissimmee and one near the DTD exit from property.

www.millersalehouse.com

 

[PanamaMike]

Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney is a good value.

I love the Earl Of Sandwich and eat there several times each time I visit WDW, but in no way, shape or form would I describe a small $6 sandwich as "a good value".

 

[pampam]

I'm partial to Steak and Shake. It's on #192 E. across from Walmart.

 

[Mrsjvb]

So, I have a question to the penny pinchers (or people who just don't like Disney's food!) : where do you suggest eating off-site that isn't the McDonalds nearby? We generally shy away from fast food, and anything cheaper than Disney food will work for us.

I honestly do not find non FF off site to be any cheaper esp when you factor in transportation( time and cost) . and plenty of on site CS meals are big enough for two. with larger groups I see lots of people get 3/4 to share amongst 6 or more esp with kids.

 

[minnie mum]

OP, you are getting a lot of suggestions for off-site dining, but I would like to reinforce what Kathy884 suggested. Since I assume that you will have a car, either bring with you, or stop and buy, groceries to keep in your room. You will have a fridge in the room. Breakfast is easily done- milk, juice, cereal, fruit etc. You can also have snacks on hand and prepare sandwiches and fruit to take with you into the parks in a soft sided lunch cooler. Soda is SO much cheaper if you buy a case or 2 at the grocery store instead of from the Disney vendors.

I also agree that you shouldn't overlook the possibility of eating at CS onsite. The portions can be quite large easily shared by 2 and the variety of foods available may surprise you.

 

[disnut8]

My family of four will be heading down to the World for the last week of January. My stepfather (39) and brother (13) have never been, and my mother (48) hasn't been in fifteen years. This is our first opportunity since I was 5 to go all together, as money has been a serious issue with us, and every attempt we've made to get this vacation together has fallen through, until now!

While we can afford the trip, we are cutting it pretty close, and will have to share a lot of food as well as eat off property a few nights for dinner.

So, I have a question to the penny pinchers (or people who just don't like Disney's food!) : where do you suggest eating off-site that isn't the McDonalds nearby? We generally shy away from fast food, and anything cheaper than Disney food will work for us.

Sidenote: I am beside myself with excitement! We booked our room in Pop Century and bought our last park ticket today! This has been such a long time coming that I absolutely cannot wait!!!

I'm also assuming you will have a car available to you and you will find just about every single chain of restaurant available all along Highway 192. However, I do find that going offsite to eat might seem to be less expensive but if you aren't into fast food, it could be about the same or even higher than a counter service meal in the parks. And there are good counter service places that don't feature burgers and fries. Flame Tree BBQ at Animal Kingdom quickly comes to mind. We also enjoy the Studio Catering Company at, yep, Hollywood Studios. And the varieties at Epcot are too numerous to mention as you go around World Showcase.

 

[Dawnie]

Since you are staying at POP, don't forget about their food court! Lots of options for everyone and pretty good prices. Here is the link to their menu. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?restaurant.id=361

 

[sueliz]

Our party of 6 recently enjoyed eating at Chik fil A off 192 (chicken tortilla soup very hearty) and splitting pizza back at our town home from Giordano's (near target off 192).

We usually grabbed breakfast at our town home before going to park- hearty stuff like peanut butter on toast, greek yogurt, etc. grabbed apples, clementines, and frozen waters to carry to park. Also nuts/trail mix, packs of travel peanut butters, and I made filling/nutritious homemade granola bars at home before traveling to orlando. So we really didn't need to eat so many meals in parks.

At parks a few of the more inexpensive meals were yummy pizza and salad at via napoli, very delicious and filling lunch at liberty tree tavern, and better than expected quick lunch at Columbia Harbour house.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Princess Nancy]

Wes just returned. I would say my biggest cost savings came in drinking water, carrying snacks in a backpack and ordering kid's meals.
A kids meal was plenty for me (mom) & my girls, 18 and 14. Each meal included an entree, side and drink. The boys, dad and day 20 needed more food. We always asked for cups of ice water at meals. Once we ordered a big platter and everyone at a little, then we ate dinner at Subway when we left the park.
Have fun!!!!

 

[TW1080]

So, I have a question to the penny pinchers (or people who just don't like Disney's food!) : where do you suggest eating off-site that isn't the McDonalds nearby? We generally shy away from fast food, and anything cheaper than Disney food will work for us.

Cici's Pizza is cheap, Sweet Tomatoes is great. I don't care for Golden Corral, but we do really like a similar place, called Wood Fire Grill which is close by, and around the same price.

 

[dward1961]

Sweet Tomatoes, has a lot to offer, if you sign up for their emails, they send you a buy 1 get 1 free coupon. Went there for the first time during our last visit, early Dec, wish there was a Sweet Tomatoes near home.

We will be going back, someday!!