Qusetion about charcoal grill at FW

[Disney Forever]

Me and my 2 DSs are going to WDW and staying in a Cabin at FW .

I have 1 or 2 questions about the Charcoal Grill at the cabin.

I know you can buy charcoal and matches at the trading post, but how hard is it to start the grill? Do you need Lighter fluid, or does the charcoal they sell have the fluid in it (I heard they make charcoal like that)?

I have never used a charcoal grill before, so I am just trying to figure out what I need to do to get the grill working .

Also, does anyone know the prices of the stuff needed (charcoal, matches, lighter fluid) from the trading post?

Thanks a ton

Nathan

 

[stacktester]

Are you driving in or flying? If you have a rental car go to Winn Dixie or Publix. Do NOT go to Goodings. I will always tell people not to go there as long as their prices are so high and I doubt they will come down.

I love using charcoal as it is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned if you're trying to cook good meat. I bring 2 kinds of charcoal because I like to use the Matchlight to get it going and then regular to cook with. To me, it takes forever to get that fluid smell gone from those self starting brands.

The grills at FW are great. They can be adjusted to keep the food from cooking too fast and are of good size. Since you've never used a charcoal grill I would recommend keeping the grate up high until you get the feel for the heat. Putting it too low at first will cook your food too fast and then it ends up dried out because you have to raise the grate back up and cook it longer. Mostly found that problem with chicken. Good luck with your trip.

 

[terri01p]

Are you driving in or flying? If you have a rental car go to Winn Dixie or Publix. Do NOT go to Goodings. I will always tell people not to go there as long as their prices are so high and I doubt they will come down.

I love using charcoal as it is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned if you're trying to cook good meat. I bring 2 kinds of charcoal because I like to use the Matchlight to get it going and then regular to cook with. To me, it takes forever to get that fluid smell gone from those self starting brands.

The grills at FW are great. They can be adjusted to keep the food from cooking too fast and are of good size. Since you've never used a charcoal grill I would recommend keeping the grate up high until you get the feel for the heat. Putting it too low at first will cook your food too fast and then it ends up dried out because you have to raise the grate back up and cook it longer. Mostly found that problem with chicken. Good luck with your trip.

We went into goodings last week, my dd was sick and just wanted nothing but soup, so we made our trip, 2.19 for a can of chicken noodle soup ...so we thought we would make some mac & cheese...ya, 3.19 a box ( it's .89 at my store here ) . We got out of there with a quickness and found the winn dixie.

 

[Disney Forever]

I will be flying in and was hoping to buy the stuff straight from the resort shop (even though I know its gonna be expensive). I was hoping to find out the prices at the store at FW

 

[RangerPooh]

We bought groceries and charcoal, matches and lighter fluid in advance through gardengrocer.com everything was delivered to our cabin prior to check in as our flight arrived late at night. With them you can choose the type of charcoal that you would like. So that's one way to go.

....So DH goes and starts our bbq, yet he quickly runs back into the cabin to get the fire extinguisher. Why , because the bbq is placed up against a tree and he was afraid that the tree was going to catch on fire . So here's my word of caution, have the extinguisher ready to go. It looked like the tree outside our cabin had been singed before.

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

The Meadows trading post has charcoal, lighter fluid, buns, dogs,burgers and matches, sodas and all of the basics.

Sometimes it's just not worth the time to go off site to save a couple of bucks

Jeff

 

[Disney Forever]

I know this might sound like a stupid question, but ive never used one of these before, is there anyway to get "directions" to using one of these grills, like how much charcoal to use, how to know when its ready to cook on, etc.?

is there any book to tell me how to grill?

Also, does the charcoal they sell at the meadows trading post have the lighter fluid built in, or do you need to use lighter fluid?

Thanks

Nathan

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

most any book store should have books on grilling. just get one with the basics.

Jeff

 

[davidlw]

Let your coals turn gray before cooking!

 

[CottontailCurl]

I know this might sound like a stupid question, but ive never used one of these before, is there anyway to get "directions" to using one of these grills, like how much charcoal to use, how to know when its ready to cook on, etc.?is there any book to tell me how to grill?
Also, does the charcoal they sell at the meadows trading post have the lighter fluid built in, or do you need to use lighter fluid?
Thanks Nathan

Your trip sounds like it's going to be fun! Is it your first time at FW?

If I were flying in, I would buy the charcoal at the store. I'm usually a buy it all before I get there kind of person but over the years found that the convenience of the store there makes up for the couple dollars extra. Also have figured it's way less than a meal at some Disney restaurants. You can buy fire starters at any discount store in the camping aisle and have them with you ahead of time. I've started using these in place of liquid fire starter and they work really well. They even give a smoked accent instead of gassy flavor to your food. They look like larger Kit-Kat bars (like a large brick that snaps in pieces like a kit kat bar). Found one online: http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s...r=60083&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults So what you do is take your charcoal, pour it into a pile that's shaped like a volcano, then snap the fire starter brick into pieces, tuck the pieces into several nooks and crannies between the charcoal brickettes. You'll have half of the piece of starter under the charcoal and half sticking out. I like to put two in the back on each side of the pile and two on the front on each side of the pile, if you have a lot of charcoal, maybe one or two extra on top. Then light the ones in back, then the ones in front, and viola, it's started. Now you get your cold drink, or play game with the kids while the coals do the rest. Let it burn for a while, you don't want to start cooking on it while there are flames. It's best when the flames die down and your brickettes are white and ashy. Use something to spread the charcoal in an even layer, lower your grill over the top of it and you're ready to cook.
I think I'll be cooking out soon myself. Where's the cooking out smilie?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I'm pretty sure, but not positive, that the last time I saw charcoal at the trading posts it was Matchlight (ie. no fluid necessary).

 

[WeRblam]

I know this might sound like a stupid question, but ive never used one of these before, is there anyway to get "directions" to using one of these grills, like how much charcoal to use, how to know when its ready to cook on, etc.?

is there any book to tell me how to grill?

Also, does the charcoal they sell at the meadows trading post have the lighter fluid built in, or do you need to use lighter fluid?

Thanks

Nathan

Not a stupid question - I have the same one! I am heading down with the kids but no DH. I grew up on Charcoal so I have an idea but it has been over 30 years since I used one! If anyone has any tips for us, it would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Colson39]

I agree with FtWildernessGuy, I'm pretty sure all the charcoal at the Fort is Matchlight, and you won't even need any lighter fluid. The charcoal is already soaked in the fluid, all you gotta do is put a match to it and it will pretty much instantly light the whole pile up.

And don't let them turn too grey before you start cooking! I once saw someone start a charcoal fire, waited till they turned grey, and then about 10 minutes later put some chicken on. Needless to say, the charcoal was pretty much falling apart way before the chicken was done

 

[Disney Forever]

all you gotta do is put a match to it and it will pretty much instantly light the whole pile up.

And don't let them turn too grey before you start cooking!

So how do you know when to put the burgers on?

also, how much charcoal do you put on the bottom and how low do you put the metal grate?

HEEEEELLLLPPPP

 

[perdidochas]

Me and my 2 DSs are going to WDW and staying in a Cabin at FW .

I have 1 or 2 questions about the Charcoal Grill at the cabin.

I know you can buy charcoal and matches at the trading post, but how hard is it to start the grill? Do you need Lighter fluid, or does the charcoal they sell have the fluid in it (I heard they make charcoal like that)?

I have never used a charcoal grill before, so I am just trying to figure out what I need to do to get the grill working .

Also, does anyone know the prices of the stuff needed (charcoal, matches, lighter fluid) from the trading post?

Thanks a ton

Nathan

My advise--go to a state park somewhere, and experiment with cooking on a charcoal grill before you risk it at Disney.

If they sell charcoal, undoubtedly they will either sell lighter fluid, or the kind that is already soaked.

SOme hints for using lighter fluid. Use a lot of it, and let it soak in a minute or two before lighting.

Hints for either: put the briquets in a cone shape. Light them. WHen the fire stops and the edges are all gray, spread them out.

DO NOT TRY TO COOK WHEN THERE ARE STILL FLAMES. That means the lighter fluid is still burning.

Plan on at least half an hour to get the charcoal ready. A charcoal grill is not for fast food. It takes a while.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

My advise--go to a state park somewhere, and experiment with cooking on a charcoal grill before you risk it at Disney.
.

Most excellent advice. Grilling over charcoal is an art, which can never be completely mastered. You must nurture the fire. Patience is of primary importance. Sear the meat, then slowly cook it so the juices are sealed in and the burgers baste themselves. I learned the art in California, where the philosophy is that everything can be grilled. After over 20 years, I still consider myself a student of the grill. By the way, food is grilled directly over the heat source. Barbecued meat is cooked with indirect heat. Lesson one.

 

[Gatordad]

you don't need to go to a state park, go to home depot and buy a charcoal grill.

Then, light the coals, drink 4-5 beers and then you can cook.

 

[perdidochas]

Most excellent advice. Grilling over charcoal is an art, which can never be completely mastered. You must nurture the fire. Patience is of primary importance. Sear the meat, then slowly cook it so the juices are sealed in and the burgers baste themselves. I learned the art in California, where the philosophy is that everything can be grilled. After over 20 years, I still consider myself a student of the grill. By the way, food is grilled directly over the heat source. Barbecued meat is cooked with indirect heat. Lesson one.

So true. I don't ever plan to barbecue. I don't have the patience for it. I do love to grill, though.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Then, light the coals, drink 4-5 beers and then you can cook.

And that would be Lesson 2.

 

[stacktester]

That is funny as heck.