post your cheap food tips here!

[super_crunch]

We'll actually be at CBR...but I do recall a post about staying at the WL and eating PBJ

Trails End sounds great. We may make that one of our splurges. We don't have any other planned meals other than Chef Mickey's (and we're still trying for CRT or 1900 PF)

 

[3DisneyBuggs]

I'm going to try meal sharing this trip. Maybe my kids can share an adult CS instead of buying kid's meals for all 3. My 2yo can share w me as well. I would love it if DH and I shared the same food tastes. He is a burger or strips at every meal while I am not. We bring our own bottled water to the parks so no drinks at CS meals. Of course my DH ahs to otrder a Coke w every meal. THis time I'm going to do al 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.

 

[Aliceacc]

keep those tips coming folks

 

[disneyfan328]

I have heard that there is somewhere with a fixins bar ( not sure if it was pecos bills or not it may have been at epcot sunshine seasons maybe - where you can buy a bun for like 60 cents and a side of bacon for 1.00 or 2.00 and then you can use the fixins bar to make it a blt with a side salad!!! I love BLT's so if anyone knows where this is please post it!!!!

I have also read that in the food courts you can buy peanut butter for 50 or 75 cents 2 pieces of bread for less than a dollar and the jelly is free somewhere where the ketchup ect is so you can make pb & j for less than 2.00

we have the dining plan but since it won't cover all of our meals we are going to do the sharing thing at cosmic rays and a few other places so that we really get the maximum amount of food on the ddp. less than 50 days to go now!!!!!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Since we drive down and have a car with us if we are going to the parks later in the day we wander down by DTD to the Golden Corral, just off property, where for about $5 we can have a fantastic breakfast buffet (served until 11) before hitting the parks. It usually lasts us for the entire day with just enough room for a Mickey Bar or Dole Whip along the way.

Slightly Goofy

 

[Stinky_Pete]

I love some of these ideas, but I am concerned about the refernces to making salads at the toppings bars.

Please keep in mind that the toppings bars are intended to provide toppings for burgers and such. The intent is not for people to use them as salad bars.

WDW has been making changes to reduce these types of abuses and if people using the toppings bars as salad bars becomes a common occurance the toppings bars may be removed. Just look what happened to my beloved cheese sauce that used to be on the toppings bars!

 

[aubriee]

I love some of these ideas, but I am concerned about the refernces to making salads at the toppings bars.

Please keep in mind that the toppings bars are intended to provide toppings for burgers and such. The intent is not for people to use them as salad bars.

WDW has been making changes to reduce these types of abuses and if people using the toppings bars as salad bars becomes a common occurance the toppings bars may be removed. Just look what happened to my beloved cheese sauce that used to be on the toppings bars!

I was thinking the exact same thing. A few weeks ago someone had a thread on here about tacky things people had seen at WDW. I posted about an incident I saw at Pecos Bills. A couple sat next to me. He had ordered a hamburger and fries, soda, and water. After he sat down he dumped his burger and fries on some napkins and handed his wife the empty container and told her to go get herself a salad. He then placed the water next to her, while he drank the soda. A little while later we saw her reach over to get one of his fries and he slapped at her hand and told her to leave his fries alone, she had her salad. We couldn't believe our ears or eyes. Very tacky and cheap! (OT: I'd have never agreed to steal a salad like that in the first place and I'd have stabbed him with my fork for refusing to share the fries and soda ) That's not to say that I don't get a few extra mushrooms and pickles to eat on the side when I go there, but at least I've bought myself a meal. They hadn't purchased anything for her and all her husband was letting her eat was salad and water.

 

[KCMiller]

I absolutely second the posters who've mentioned getting a CS kids meal. Frankly, sometimes a PB and J just hits the spot, and I don't end up stuffed. That may end up being one of the downsides for the Free Dining I'm about to enjoy with my DD17 - with all the CS and TS, I'm thinking we'll end up rolling back onto the plane ! I don't know if I'd order a kids meal at a TS restaurant, but I might - I'd tip big, then, though (I'd base my tip on what the check would have been if I had ordered a regular dinner, and I'd tell the server I was going to do that). I HAVE just ordered a side dish, or an appetizer, when I'm with someone who I can share an entree with - but I don't think that works on the Dining Plan.

I also think if you're staying at a resort for more than a day or two, it's a very cost effective thing to get a refillable mug. My DD17 and I are hot tea drinkers in the morning, and will probably like a diet soda or two by the pool at night, and that could run about $6 per day per each. We'll be there for 5 days, and I'll pay about $24 for two refillable mugs, instead of at least $60, plus we'll have a nifty souvenier. I'll be bringing down a pack of disposable cups and lids (you can buy them at WalMart and other grocery stores, very inexpensive) so I can leave the refillable mugs in my room when we go out to the parks (we'll take a cup of tea with us to start our days), but we'll still save a good deal. We also bring our own refillable water bottles with shoulder straps, so we can stay hydrated at the parks - I'd rather spend my snack credit (or cash) on a Mickey Bar!

I've also, in the past, gone to Restaurant.com, where you can get gift certificates for at least 50% off - sometimes they have sales where you can spend $3 on a $10 certificate! There are a number of restaurants in the WDW area who participate - we've had great meals at a Cuban place and also a breakfast place called Le Peep, for big discounts.

Hope this helps!

KC

 

[SmallWorld71]

Freeze juice/ gatorade and bring it with you into the parks if you don't want only ice water. You will need lots of drinks in the heat!
Also, I always throw a few snacks in the backpack. (crackers, fruit snacks, whatever) This saves $ and it also saves time as kids never seem to be hungry when you want them to be.
I also have to agree with all the poster who suggested eating breakfast in the room. Not only will it save you $, it will save major time. The food courts tend to be at their most crowded in the morning, but in the summer heat you want to head out early before things become unbearable.
Have a great trip! We will be down there then also.

 

[edk35]

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.

I think I would do the same thing...stay somewhere cheaper in order to enjoy food at WDW. I like the WHOLE PACKAGE...LOL Now I can see eating breakfast in your room and bringing snacks with you but I look forward to eating meals out at WDW. I know if we eat a big breakfast we will skip lunch and have dinner early stuff like that or vice versa....light breakfast, big lunch and light dinner. You can eat cheaply at WDW by eating more counter service, splitting meals and ordering kids meals and of course eating breakfast in the room and bringing snacks.

 

[helenabear]

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

I have made ADRs, but it never seems to be that busy. Depending on when you go (peak times and summer) I wouldn't chance it and would make an ADR. More down times I may not. If you have a cell phone, you can always call the day you think you want to go and try to make an ADR that morning.

 

[Jillpie]

I have made ADRs, but it never seems to be that busy. Depending on when you go (peak times and summer) I wouldn't chance it and would make an ADR. More down times I may not. If you have a cell phone, you can always call the day you think you want to go and try to make an ADR that morning.

ok thanks Elaine

 

[disneyfan328]

I love some of these ideas, but I am concerned about the refernces to making salads at the toppings bars.

Please keep in mind that the toppings bars are intended to provide toppings for burgers and such. The intent is not for people to use them as salad bars.

WDW has been making changes to reduce these types of abuses and if people using the toppings bars as salad bars becomes a common occurance the toppings bars may be removed. Just look what happened to my beloved cheese sauce that used to be on the toppings bars!

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.

 

[pixiemel]

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

I'm not sure I "get" your attempt at humor/sarcasm. The person that you quoted included her tips for cheap meals. I have to admire her for choosing the nice place to stay, and she found a way to do it that works for her family. She
just insured that she WON'T have to stay at the " Econo-Lodge", and she'll probably be eating healthier than most.

 

[Conservative Hippie]

-Don't buy sodas, drink water. You can get free cups of ice water from any CS or snack stand that also sells fountain sodas (not bottles).

-Bring your own snacks, like granola bars, raisins, etc. For a treat you can keep a box of ice cream sandwiches in your hotel freezer for when you return to the room (BTW, Mickey bars are Dove bars, so you can get some without missing out on anything!).

-At CS, DH and I get one combo meal and an extra side and split it. You can also do this at TS with one entree and one appetizer.

-At TS, I like to get an appetizer and a dessert an skip the entree all together. It costs about the same, but if I got an entree, I'd skip dessert because of the price, so it feels like a splurge.
-

 

[mom2my3kids]

Stock up on sandwich meats,chips,microwavable items. Maybe split counter service meals if its just two of you then I would think you would be fine. I know WGPE pizza is big enough for two people just drink water or split a fountain drink. It is very hard going somewhere like this and not spending money left and right things add up. Good luck and I hope you have a great time..

 

[firsttimer2007]

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!

Do they have any type of salad dressing on the bar?

 

[firsttimer2007]

Since we drive down and have a car with us if we are going to the parks later in the day we wander down by DTD to the Golden Corral, just off property, where for about $5 we can have a fantastic breakfast buffet (served until 11) before hitting the parks. It usually lasts us for the entire day with just enough room for a Mickey Bar or Dole Whip along the way.

Slightly Goofy

how far is golden corral from DTD? Could we walk to it?

 

[Conservative Hippie]

Oh I forgot to mention, if you have a car there are about half a dozen Cracker Barrells very close to WDW. Two people can eat a good meal (and breakfast served all day) for under $20.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

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