post your cheap food tips here!

[krmlaw]

Ok ... so can we bring food/drinks into the parks? I was hoping on packing snack bars, fruit, crackers and bringing them with me to the parks. Is that allowed? 5 days to go!!!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Officially, you cannot bring coolers. But no security guard is going to make you throw out snack bars and fruit in your backpack.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

krmlaw, I have seen many folks with small coolers and backpacks going through the bag checks with entire meals and other than the guards teasing them about letting them have a cookie or whatever there is no problem. There are many places where you can find a quiet spot to sit and have a nice view and eat your meal. Many do so.

BTW, if you pack a few of those single serve dry drink mixes you can have a nice beverage.

If you have children you might consider a fanny pack with snacks and even a small canteen for a drink. They will probably think it great fun! You will save more than enough to buy a Mickey bar a day or so and if you have very picky eaters they will probably prefer this to the CS meals they might otherwise have to eat.

Have fun! Slightly Goofy

 

[krmlaw]

Thanks everyone! I think bringing snackas and water or drinks will save us alot of money. We are going to eat breakfast at the condo. Then bring snacks to the park (now that I know you are "allowed") and eat dinner at a Disney resturant. I love Disney, but not the prices! And thats a great idea about the single drink mixes. And from reading above it sounds like you can get free ice water anywhere.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

And from reading above it sounds like you can get free ice water anywhere.

Anywhere that sells fountain drinks. Some snack stands only sell bottled drinks and do not have cups, ice, etc. Also, specify that you would like a large cup of water. In the past few weeks, several places have started handing me a coffee cup of water. I'm sorry, that just does not cut in it 95 degree heat.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

If you book a meal for the latest lunch time you will save some money over the higher dinner prices.

SG

 

[edk35]

If you book a meal for the latest lunch time you will save some money over the higher dinner prices.

SG

That is a good one. We have actually done this a couple of times. Plus it is easier to get in for late lunches than dinner at some places.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

The official rules of DW do allow for a small cooler to be brought and I have seen large ones brought in. Why anyone would want to lug such around the parks and what they do with them when on rides I have no idea though.

Myself, if on a very limited budget I would eat before or after the parks and just carry a few snacky things in the parks.

SG

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I was not implying to heap some humoungous salad onto your plate in place of buying a meal. All I was saying is that you are patroninzing the establishment with the bar, and for me, I would take a (as in one) piece of lettuce and 2 tomatoe slices for my blt. Then maybe 2-3 pieces of lettuce and one tomato slice for a little "salad" on the side. You would also be paying for the dressing as indicated above which you can tell they mark the price up on. Regardless - I dont want this to turn into something it isn't. I have seen how much some people heap onto their burgers and in many cases its more than I was stating.

If anyone wants to see how Disney is losing money, visit the photopass sharing thread. That's all I am going to say on that.

Anyway most of what I stated was not anything that is not already printed on at least 3 otherwebsites, and NUMEROUS books on how to get the most for your money at Disney.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do - I was only passing on info that I have gathered.

I didn't initially point any finger at anyone in particular, but since you decided to quote my post and get all defensive...

I have seen this suggestion other places too, and more than one person on this thread mentioned it, so I just thought it might be a good idea to provide an alternative point of view here.

IMO just because others have suggested it doesn't mean it's a good idea in the long run. It's kind of like going to a restaurant and putting sugar and ketchup packets in your pockets for use at home. I've seen restaurants go to keeping those types of things behind the counter as a result of that practice.

I would hate to have the toppings bars removed, and the more times people repeat this suggestion I think the more people will think it's a good idea and do it and therefore the more likely it is we will see the bars removed. As I mentioned, they've already removed the cheese sauce, and now charge for it.

And don't even get me started on the idea that it's o.k. because they mark the price up on things...

 

[firsttimer2007]

firsttimer2007, the Golden Corral is just right of Crossroads Shopping Center (on the left at the first light, I think) but there is no way you could walk it as it is a busy highway with interstate exits betwix and between. If you do not have a car might I suggest that you go over to Trail's End before going to MK and load up for the day? If you are staying at the AS's there is a McD right at the entrance and is easily walkable if you are staying at the Sports.

I applaud those who budget carefully. Each family is best able to tell how they wish to spend their dollars. The only thing worse than pinching pennies on a vacation is coming home to bills that you either have difficulty or find impossible to pay.

We can 'afford' to stay at a Moderate or even upper level but prefer to put our bucks toward longer trips and other things in life. A room is a room to us. If others feel differently they can make other choices.

If you stay at a Value you can either bring, pack or have delivered some food stuffs and take them up to the foodcourt to nuke them to save some dollars. One really big meal a day is all I can endure anyway. Having a can of V-8 for breakfast is a way of life for me and I certainly do not want anything heavy before going to sleep. We splurge on a few of our favorite restaurants when we feel hungry enough to justify the expense.

Slightly Goofy

Love your point of view. Totally agree.
I asked if there was salad dressing on the burgar fixing bar because I would rather have salad than fries. My DS's would eat a burger everyday. If I can have salad with it, it just might be tolerable. If they sell salad dressing that would work too.
I would rather stay at the value resort. Since I did not come to see the room. I only plan to sleep there. I am worried my diet will be blown on this trip though. With ALL the unhealthy foods, salad are better choices.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

firsttimer2007, I agree about not paying to look at the room myself. Frankly the AS resorts do not have a view worth paying a nickel extra for IMO. The kids enjoy the icons and such but you can walk/drive around and look at them for free. I might be willing to pay extra for a room nearer the main building but if you check the site you will see that many of the regular buildings are as close, some even closer, and without the extra costs.

I am afraid that I cannot reccomend that you make a salad from the fixings bar. It would be greatly frowned upon. I will tell you that they have pretty nice and large salads available in the food courts and such.

I have recently managed to hit my 100# weight loss (more to come) and can promise you that you will most probably not gain any weight at DW. All the walking will keep it down to a minimum. I always have lost weight there in spite of eating what I darned well pleased AND stopping when full.

Many of the CS meals are huge and could easily be split and then you could do what I do when payng OP. I get the kid's meal. It comes with an entree, side, chips, small dessert and a drink usually for about $4. Since the servings are not child size, full size, quality hot dogs, chicken nuggets, wraps etc. I think you would be satisfied calorie and cost wise.

You can also get carrots or apple slices instead of fries with your burger. I often take them along instead eating them right then and use them as a snack for later.

Please check out the menus and you will see many possiblities. The CS are the best as you do not have the added expense of a tip. (ducking cause someone is sure to take umbrage at that one) !

I have been on every sort of trip from extremely budget minded to more liberal spending. I have enjoyed each and every one.

Slightly Goofy

 

[leebee]

In addition to being more affordable, another benefit to a table service lunch is AIR CONDITIONING!!! A leisurely table-service lunch, around 2pm, is always on our schedule. It's a great way to take a break and get a much-needed rest while enjoying some terrific food at a more-reasonable price.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

-(BTW, Mickey bars are Dove bars, so you can get some without missing out on anything!).
-

Soory, but Mickey bars are NOT Dove bars! They are Mickey Bars! That's blasphemy!
I can get Dove bars in my local grocery store, but MB's only at WDW!

Also, I would put any ice crean in those tiny cube fridges they have in the rooms at WDW (Except maybe DVC rooms). They aren't reliably cold enough.

To save money, we share. If you've got at least three people, order one less meal than you have people. (or just an appetizer). If you are still hungry, there will be plenty more opportunities to get more food. If you eat small meals, you'll eat less overall.

Bringing bottled water is good. If yo must have soda, limit it to waht you can put in your refillable mug. Buy one mug a share it. If you must buya soda with your QS meal, buy one and share.

Skip the alcohol. If you won't, buy it from the gift shop. Do the same for milk and oj (at least for the am).

In addition to the late lunch is the late breakfast. The buffet's not a bad deal if you skip lunch...but then you will be eating a big meal. remember, the buffet meals include beverages, like coffee.

 

[*Flower*]

Of course my DH has to order a Coke w every meal. THis time I'm going to do all the CS ordering so the poor guy won't be getting soda. He will make up for it at the vendor stands though. It's OT but I don't get refreshed drinking soda when it is hot out.So I hope we can save some $ on meals this trip.

We've shared Cokes at Columbia Harbor House, or anywhere where the soda comes in a cup.
We order 1 large soda with no ice, and some cups with ice. When we get to the table, we divide the soda into the cups, and have some left over too!

Imagine- 3/4 cups of ice, 1 large soda at $2.19 + tax, and for that amount (about $2.33) you have 3/4 drinks for your party. I think it works out to about $.58 - $.78 a person instead of breaking the bank.

HTH!!

 

[Miniefan]

You know I was wondering where the heck the Cheese Sauce at Pecos Bill's was when my hubby and I ate there in June....that really stinks...I just thought they might have been out of it. But, I guess people just were abusing it. They still have the grilled onions for now. BTW, the lettuce is shredded so it would be fairly hard or nearly impossible to take only one or really even a few pieces, personally I find it hard to think that if you were to make a salad from the fixings bar that it would even taste worth a crap!

My hubby and I share most meals, even at restaurants here at home. Most portion sizes are large and honestly we don't want to leave any meal in the parks or around Disney that we feel too overfull or stuffed, because then we'd be too miserable to ride anything or walk around. So, we share meals and if we are still hungry share a snack later. We always bring fruit, granola bars, honey buns and eat breakfast in the room.

Kim