Preparing food in your hotel room, need some tips

[dawnedwards]

All 4 of our previous WDW vacations have included the dining plan so our experience with bringing food to the hotel is limited.

We are staying at ASMu for 3 nights before our cruise in September and we are interested in reducing our food budget. This is a whole new experience for me so we need some help.

Here are some info about our trip.

We are taking the auto train and have a mini van so we have space to pack extras like food etc

We have a standard room at ASMu. We are not going to upgrade to a suite bc if I was going to spend the extra I would rather spend it eating out than on a kitchen area.

We are arriving Wed am, staying until early Sat am. We only plan to do MNSSHP party Friday, no other parks.

I am thinking that I would like to do breakfast and maybe one lunch in our room.

We have a 7 night cruise after so these 3 days are just to unwind and relax at the pool before our cruise.

We have 2 adults and 2 kids ages 4&7.

Ok those are the details, please let me know if you have any tips.

 

[donaldlovesdaisy]

I would not cook in the room so I would probably just do cereal, , fresh fruit, bagels, granola and yogurt.

 

[Hoosier37]

We only had breakfast in our room each day. We brought things like trail mix, cereal bars, toaster pastries, things that could be eaten without cooking. We used our mugs to get something to drink and bought fruit the evening before to go with our breakfast. We used the dining plan for the rest of our meals, and that worked out nicely for us.

 

[tsme]

I don't think you can cook in your room. But for breakfast you can have cereals, poptarts, breakfast bars and for lunch you can make sandwiches.

 

[TDC Nala]

Cooking is not permitted in standard rooms. Nor are electric appliances like microwaves or toasters.

 

[rcraw45425]

Cooking is not permitted in standard rooms. Nor are electric appliances like microwaves or toasters.

Have never cooked but you could bring instant oatmeal and a measuring cup treasure water for oatmeal in the room using the coffee maker to heat water. I used to do this for my girls before cheer competitions

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Since I drive up.. I cook things ahead of time that can be served cold and use a cooler until we arrive..

Some lunch examples are: Pasta salad and other salads...

I also bring a mini cutting board to make it easy to make my own salad (I make my own pesto dressing ahead of time) I also use cold chicken in the salad (Pre-cooked before coming)

I also make sandwiches with potatoe pancakes (Kind of like a Latkes in Hanukkah - If you know what it is - but with Sweet potatoe as well).. This goes really good in baguette with a sun dried tomato paste.

Also, cheeses or lunch meats - sandwiches - but I always bring sun-dried tomato paste and pesto sauce to make the sandwiches less bland...

Everything above can also be purchased pre-cooked once arrived at Publix for a fraction of the cost of a restuarant. (And tastes much better than most counter services I have ever eaten)...

You can still eat in your room and not live off cereal and bagels...

 

[dawnedwards]

Thanks everyone. I didn't have any intentions of "cooking". Just looking for some ideas of things that work well.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Thanks everyone. I didn't have any intentions of "cooking". Just looking for some ideas of things that work well.

I would be happy to give you additional ideas if you liked those... I have very picky eaters and it isnt about saving $$$ as it is they hate eating out... I work in the food and wine business and studies under a chef... This makes for very picky eaters... LOL

There really are a lot of options that do not require cooking...

 

[dawnedwards]

I'm open to any and all ideas. These three days are a last minute add on and not in the origin budget. We are buying tickets for MNSSHP and would rather spend money on souvenirs than food.

I do plan to eat a a quick service restaurant for dinner. May do ASMu food court one night, Earl of Sandwich at DTD and I'm interested in the new Quick service that took over McDonalds in DTD.

We will have the small fridge in the hotel and I am also open to brining my cooler which can keep ice frozen for days.

 

[rcraw45425]

I'm open to any and all ideas. These three days are a last minute add on and not in the origin budget. We are buying tickets for MNSSHP and would rather spend money on souvenirs than food.

I do plan to eat a a quick service restaurant for dinner. May do ASMu food court one night, Earl of Sandwich at DTD and I'm interested in the new Quick service that took over McDonalds in DTD.

We will have the small fridge in the hotel and I am also open to brining my cooler which can keep ice frozen for days.

Do you have a Yeti?

 

[rcraw45425]

I would be happy to give you additional ideas if you liked those... I have very picky eaters and it isnt about saving $$$ as it is they hate eating out... I work in the food and wine business and studies under a chef... This makes for very picky eaters... LOL

There really are a lot of options that do not require cooking...

Your options sound great, and not just for Disney! I'm so tired of cooking dinner at home in this heat!

 

[Sue M]

Have never cooked but you could bring instant oatmeal and a measuring cup treasure water for oatmeal in the room using the coffee maker to heat water. I used to do this for my girls before cheer competitions

I don't think values have coffee makers in the rooms? But they could use hot water in food court.

 

[Sue M]

We just have breakfast in our room, and don't want to fuss much. So I have bagels,muffins, yogurt, fruit, milk & cereal in room. We are in a park for lunch.

 

[Butterflygirl35]

Your options sound great, and not just for Disney! I'm so tired of cooking dinner at home in this heat!

I agree but last time I tried not to cook... My son (he is autistic) did not eat for four days as he is very picky.... So unless I want him to eat cereal and goldfish for four days straight.. I have no choice...

 

[vzmom]

We do breakfast in the room and then we usually make cold sandwiches for lunch and have things for snacks. We eat our dinner at a Disney Table service restaurant.

 

[Patrickprincess]

We do breakfast in the room and then we usually make cold sandwiches for lunch and have things for snacks. We eat our dinner at a Disney Table service restaurant.

when i went to disneyland a few years back with my DFB we ate breakfast in the room. We usually skiped lunch because we ate at the buffets. As long as you have a cooler,i think things like lunchon meats and cheeses snacks should see you through have a wonderfull time and don't worry to much about meals

 

[Planogirl]

How do you heat water in the coffee makers without everything tasting like coffee? I like to make hot tea when I can.

You can put a few lunch meats and a bit of cheese in the fridge. It looks pretty small though.

 

[kat3668]

I've brought oodles of noodles cups and easy mac cups for a quick lunch... not the healthiest but works in a pinch. I've used microwave in the food court.

 

[CableKC]

Usually whenever we travel anywhere, after we get back late to the room....we usually bring a portable water kettle with us and some "Cup O Noodles" from home ( or at the local Target/Walmart ) for the kids to eat for a late night snack.

Here's a portable one that boils water real quick and isn't super huge.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=18232286

We can usually fit it in a duffle bag. You can also use it to boil water for coffee or tea in the morning.