post your cheap food tips here!

[super_crunch]

We will be at CBR 8/27-8/30 for our first WDW trip ever!

We don't have free dining because we booked too late (last minute trip). We are planning on stocking our fridge as much as we can, but I am looking for cheap meal ideas in MK or at resorts for when we want something different.

Any cheap food tips you have would be great!!

Thanks!!

 

[digskat]

We buy two double cheese burger meals and two extra buns and it feeds the four of us for one meal. If you attend the DVC presentation..non pressure, enjoy it imensely and we got four free cs vouchers for entree and drink and dessert..good for anywhere. We get the box of doughnuts from the gift shop for breakfast you get 12 for $3. Hoping to hear of more deals!

 

[dyna]

Turkey legs are HUGE messy but huge we often share an order of fries an a turkey leg Turkey legs cost like 6 bucks.

DH an I often share a salad an a sandwich we put half the salad in the lid one of us eats out of the lid.

Sometimes if DH is hungier than I am I only get a kids meal.

Some trips we been to poor to eat at all in the parks and at in room peanut butter sandwiches for a week.

We take cooler an breakfast from home already got the stuff we gonna stock the cooler with.

It helps to travel during the cooler months when ya don't need so many drinks but you done got your plans made.

 

[chipndalefan]

the chicken and rib combo at cosmic rays is enough for 2 and only costs around $12.

 

[Tink3Belle]

Order food from the grocer online that delivers to Disney and pack some PB&J and get your other items you need to save money.

 

[SnowWtch]

My DH and I learned this past weekend how to eat cheap. Due to parking issues we couldn't leave the resort so we used the coffee pot in the room for cup-o-ramen each night. We'd have crackers with ham or chicken spread (or doughnuts) for breakfast, split a pizza for lunch and then ramen at night. We brought cheese and crackers and Little Debbie cakes for snacks along with some mandarin oranges in individual portions. A quick trip to Publix for milk and extra water and we were set. It was definitely an adventure and we're going to do it again in December since we'll be at WL for a week. At least they have a food court so we can have a choice for lunch.

 

[jsmla]

Greasy and bad for you but cheap: I get an order of chili cheese fries at Pecos Bills and then load them up at the fixin's bar. With a cup of (free) iced water, I can fill up for less than $4. Unfortunately the rest of the crew insists on real food.

Jennifer

 

[helenabear]

Ice water is always free if you ask for it

If you aren't hungry, order off of the kids meals (CS and TS alike)

You can buy any sandwich at CS w/o the side dish and save money that way.

Bring breakfast foods (donuts, granola, cereal if you have a fridge for milk, etc) with you on the plane in your checked baggage and skip breakfast in the parks. Do the same with snacks!

Bring a water bottle with you and fill up at fountains instead of wasting money on sodas or bottled water. If you want taste, buy the to go packs of crystal lite and I think propel to add to the water.

 

[kjs1976]

I can't second enough on bringing b-fast foods with you to eat in the room before you go out and snack items. We save a ton by doing this. Snacks can really kill you budget wise if you figure you'll have one when you get back from the parks in the afternoon and then probably again late at night.Also, we always take for granted that we can run to the pantry at home and grab a snack whenevr we want but always forget about this when at WDW, so we try to pack snacks accordingly so as not to be tempted by running over to the food court for a $4 cup of fruit or ice cream cone. When we stay at Mods or Deluxes we make a grocery stop and buy sandwich stuff and fruit and that is good, healthy, cheap snackin' for a week!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

another tip about pecos bills and the other counter service places with a great topping bar!!!

get a burger or something and get enough lettuce and tomatoes to make a small salad too!

 

[seven dwarfs]

We like to book a TS lunch at the last lunch seating. It is late enough to feel like dinner, miss crowds, and is much cheeper then dinner. We also order water and share a dessert if wanted. If we do a buffet we like to book Breakfast since it is less then dinner.

 

[Stuck In Wonderland]

My DH and I learned this past weekend how to eat cheap. Due to parking issues we couldn't leave the resort so we used the coffee pot in the room for cup-o-ramen each night. We'd have crackers with ham or chicken spread (or doughnuts) for breakfast, split a pizza for lunch and then ramen at night. We brought cheese and crackers and Little Debbie cakes for snacks along with some mandarin oranges in individual portions. A quick trip to Publix for milk and extra water and we were set. It was definitely an adventure and we're going to do it again in December since we'll be at WL for a week. At least they have a food court so we can have a choice for lunch.

Let me make a suggestion. Change your reservation from the Wilderness Lodge to the Econo Lodge and live it up a bit.

 

[mrzrich]

Trail's End. Get the buffet to go. Fill the boxes they give you to the brim. I can feed my family of 4 chicken and Ribs for $18.

If you don't want to get it to go, the restaurant is still one of the best deals on property. $11 breakfast buffet, $13 Lunch buffet, $18 Dinner buffet.

 

[Jillpie]

We've been to hoop de doo several times and it was so easy from the MK. I just read the menu for Trails End and it sounds yummy for lunch, I love the fried chicken at hoopdedoo. Is there mac and cheese at this buffet too? I didn't see that. So it worth the trip, would dinner be better at 4:30 or 5? It'll be me, DH and my 2 teen boys. thanks.

 

[cvallee]

The breakfast thing at WDW can kill a budget. I'm with the others and eat breakfast in the room if possible. We always stay in the villas and are "spoiled" because there is a microwave/fridge/toaster. If this is where you stay then buy bagels, cream cheese, butter, milk at the store on property(unless you have a car and can buy stuff at Publix) Pack a couple boxes of cereal, snacks, and yes water bottles into your checked luggage. We have done this many times and the suitcase that we have the water/snacks in on the way down is used to pack the stuff that we buy while there.

This year we have DDP in November and this will be the first time we can actually eat like normal people rather than scavengers

 

[Quinn222]

Unless you are huge eaters the sandwiches at the Plaza, Columbia Harbor House and the Morocco pavilion are all large enough for two people to share. I think someone said you're staying at the Wilderness Lodge? If so the sandwiches at Roaring Forks are great and also big enough for two people to share.

 

[mrzrich]

We've been to hoop de doo several times and it was so easy from the MK. I just read the menu for Trails End and it sounds yummy for lunch, I love the fried chicken at hoopdedoo. Is there mac and cheese at this buffet too? I didn't see that. So it worth the trip, would dinner be better at 4:30 or 5? It'll be me, DH and my 2 teen boys. thanks.

There's always been Mac and Cheese when I've been, but as you know with WDW your milage mary vary.

The main difference between lunch and dinner in the Ribs I think.

 

[DiszyDeanette]

Let me make a suggestion. Change your reservation from the Wilderness Lodge to the Econo Lodge and live it up a bit.

Well... I wouldn't have worded it that way, but YEAH. I guess it all depends on what you want out of a vacation? But we would much rather stay at a cheaper resort and not have to worry about every meal, but like I said, it depends on what’s important to you. We spend so little time in the resort, and like good food that it’s an obvious answer for us.

 

[Dizneydaz]

the chicken and rib combo at cosmic rays is enough for 2 and only costs around $12.

It's even big enough for 3-I share this with my DM, DD7, and myself.

My tip would be to not buy sodas in the park, but to ask for cups of water (with ice). I don't object to the flavor of WDW water, but if you do, you can add some Crystal Lite, if you want. The sell it in those little tubes, which are designed to add to a water bottle. Those can get expensive too, so you could just bring some in a ziploc.

Also, we too eat breakfast in our room. We have a toaster and we'll use it for toast, bagels, and pop tarts. We also have fruit, cereal, and milk, as well as snacks. I you have a car, you can visit Super Walmart, and get your supplies there.

Also, don't be afraid to order the kid's meals. We've even done this at Brown Derby (not to save $$, just to have a lighter meal.) And of course, you can share at TS-we do it all the time (on DDP or off.)

HTH.

 

[Jillpie]

At Trails End do you just walk in, or do you make ADR's?