Onsite stay--any tips to stretch the food budget?

[TommyJK]

although I'm hoping the Starbucks has egg sandwiches because I like protein in the morning

Indeed they do! Last time I was at CBBR it was my choice for breakfast on park days.

 

[bchbetha]

I think your decision to move to Cabana Bay is a good one. You have plenty of time so no worries about no express pass (and you could buy them for a day if you really wanted). Lots of fun stuff to do at that resort too! Nice kitchenette as well. You'll be in good shape.

 

[nkereina]

We stop at Cinnabon in City Walk on our way back to our resort after the parks and get us each one of the large cinnamon buns for a quick breakfast in the room the next morning. They keep pretty well overnight. For the two of us, we get two and a drink and it's less than $10.

 

[wookiebeck]

And the Bayliner has breakfast foods that fit a budget, too. I think I saw bread that you can buy for $1. Then you toast it yourself and put butter and jelly on it. We had the family suite so the microwave and fridge meant we could eat a nice big breakfast for way less than a restaurant.

 

[macraven]

Thank for all the great suggestions. I ended up booking CBBR instead of RPR to save $ and have access to bayliner diner. We plan on spending some time at Volcano Bay so it should be convenient. We'll aim to do breakfast in the room (although I'm hoping the Starbucks has egg sandwiches because I like protein in the morning) and packing some lunches and snacks to take into the park.

i know you can rent the micro waves at the deluxe.
maybe they are also available at Cbay...

buy the styrofoam chest for $4.00 at the shopping center that is near PBH
like others stated, get ice from the hotel ice machine and keep it in your bathtub during the day while you are in the parks.
keep extra food there as the mini fridge does not hold much.

another cheap meal is to order pizza/salad from off site places.
delivery is free.
meet the delivery person in your hotel lobby.

 

[cyndik1111]

I know you already changed your reservations. But an FYI for anyone else. RPR has a breakfast area set up in the morning just off the lobby. I found the prices really high. But what I also found was a microwave! We stopped at Publix and bought frozen breakfast sandwiches and fruit/yogurt
and put them in the fridge. Then in the morning, we headed down to lobby and microwaved those suckers for the lovely walk to the parks. No one even batted an eye.

Just a shout out to RPR- what a fantastic hotel. Staff amazing, rooms beautiful. Parking pricey but valets are so nice. I do recommend it highly.
We go again in 3 weeks and staying at Cabana Bay. Just a quick weekend for the harry potter thing. Don't need the front of the line passes when we really only want HP. Should be interesting to compare the two.

Also The pool side bar at RPR has amazing values for a deluxe resort. We got the nachos- two adults and two 12 year old girls couldn't finish the whole plate. It was really really BIG!!!! And on another day we got chicken fingers, burgers and fries and I was pleasantly surprised at the cost. Plus they are delivered to you poolside and someone comes clean it up. Better than a sit down if you ask me.

We also ate at city walk. They have an area up the stairs with lots of restaurants like burger king, mexican and chinese (sort of like a mall food court thing). Plus a sandwich and ice cream place down a few steps. Prices are only a little more than back home. But warning....super busy, long lines. We ate at one of the harry potter restaurants (can't remember which) It was OK. We got some kind of family meal that included corn and chicken or ribs or something. Wasn't that impressed. Didn't think it was worth it for us.

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[macraven]

i thought the orchid lounge was decent for prices after coming from the disney hotels and catching a cheap bite to eat before EE.

i only get an english muffin and cup of black coffee.
wasn't even $10 total.

if anyone does get coffee there, save your cup and get your free coffee refills while you are there that morning.


of course i already had cups of coffee in my hotel room with the keurig but still had the need for more coffee with the english muffin..........lol



On 99% of my trips to the motherland and the darkside, i usually go solo.
for those with families i do understand the need to control food costs.
park tickets and food/snacks really add up on the bill portion on vacations.

 

[shh]

This thread is super helpful - thank you to all who asked and answered questions. Hoping I can ask one more. Staying at RPR and the morning buffets are also a bit pricey for us - and I don't think Orchid's quick choices include any hot egg sandwiches/protein type items? We're only staying 2 nights - don't want to bother paying for a microwave and getting frozen sandwiches at publix ahead of time. Starbucks sounds perfect - what's the closest one to RPR? Cabana Bay or are we better off just going straight into the parks sooner in the am - I think there's one there, correct?

 

[macraven]

In in Orlando and sleep deprived so can't concentrate where all the Starbucks are

Do. Ow there is one in city walk area befor me going to ioa

Bay liner has breakfast so you think for you could go there?

Island has menu items
Could get a full breakfast for about $10

 

[schumigirl]

There's a Starbucks in Citywalk, opens at 7am.

 

[TommyJK]

Just to note that the Starbucks in Citywalk is a bit pricier than standard Starbucks.

Breakfast sandwiches are $5ish while at CB they are $3ish.

 

[shh]

Thanks everyone!

"Island has menu items Could get a full breakfast for about $10" That's perfect! I thought they only had the $20 ish/pp buffet normally (and only the $26+character buffet sunday) both of which are a waste for us- something like a 2 egg/toast combo plate thing would be great. It's for my DH - I'm low maintenance - a quick yogurt and coffee is all I need. But he'll want to fuel up on something more substantial. If they do ala carte, that works for us. Or we'll hit the City Walk starbucks. Paying a couple bucks more doesn't bother me. I just couldn't see spending $25-30 including tip for a quick breakfast for him each morning.

Bayliner sounds great, but opens at 11am according to what I saw - maybe I was looking at wrong thing. CB SB would work, but isn't cabana bay off the beaten path a bit if we're headed to parks from RPR? Seemed like city walk is right on the way. We just want to grab something and go (I know - Schumigirl - you definitely don't approve of those grab and go breakfasts - I read your TR! And I'd agree if we were there more than 2.5 days!) But we'll enjoy the sit downs for lunch or dinner.

 

[schumigirl]

Thanks everyone!

Bayliner sounds great, but opens at 11am according to what I saw - maybe I was looking at wrong thing. CB SB would work, but isn't cabana bay off the beaten path a bit if we're headed to parks from RPR? Seemed like city walk is right on the way. We just want to grab something and go (I know - Schumigirl - you definitely don't approve of those grab and go breakfasts - I read your TR! And I'd agree if we were there more than 2.5 days!) But we'll enjoy the sit downs for lunch or dinner.

Yep, Citywalk would be much easier for you, and a couple of bucks isn't much of a difference........

The a la carte offerings at the Islands Breakfast are excellent. My son never ate a full breakfast there, and he often just had cereal and juice........he's quite cheap to feed actually.........lol. Unlike us apparently!

Lol.......you made me laugh there..........no I'm not a grab and go type of person.........but, everyone does what suits them

Glad you read the TR! Hope you enjoyed it.........

 

[shh]

Glad you read the TR! Hope you enjoyed it.........

I did. But now my Feb Uni trip has turned into a part 1 of 2 - will probably hit HHN this fall - that actually wasn't in the plans until your TR. We haven't been in at least 10 years. And probably a part 3 in Dec since we're at WDW every year anyhow - may pop in and see how Universal does the holidays as well. Good thing we only live 3 hours away!

 

[schumigirl]

Glad you read the TR! Hope you enjoyed it.........

I did. But now my Feb Uni trip has turned into a part 1 of 2 - will probably hit HHN this fall - that actually wasn't in the plans until your TR. We haven't been in at least 10 years. And probably a part 3 in Dec since we're at WDW every year anyhow - may pop in and see how Universal does the holidays as well. Good thing we only live 3 hours away!

How fabulous!!!! HHN is amazing......yes living so close is very handy for you! I`m not jealous.........