Saving $$- 'Cooking' in the hotel room

[torinsmom]

I would do breakfast in the room, but eat offsite for lunch. You can go to Cicis pizza for $5-$6/person, and other fast-food places are fairly cheap as well. In the parks, anyone can order a kids meal which includes a drink. Kids' meals are $5 at most CS restaurants. Order water to drink at other times and save some money there. We bring along the flavor packs to mix it up. Pop has microwaves in their food court, so you can get the Quick Mac or other microwave meals as well. And they have a Mom's special at one of the food court restaurants each night that is a lot of food and less than $10. Order pizza from a chain if the food court is too expensive, then go pick it up. I'm thinking you could really save the fridge rental fee and just use a cooler with ice for your milk, etc.

 

[tarheel618]

Here is the soda,,please pass the popcorn

 

[LilyWDW]

You are not supposed to have toasters or microwaves in your room that have not been approved by the hotel. They don't know the condition of your appliances and they are not set up to have that sort of load on their circuits. If you are found to have these items, the hotel has the right to remove them from your room.

Also, cooking in the hotel room is really not a good idea... especially anything that has a strong smell. You are not only stinking up your room, but the rooms around you AND the hallway.

The coffee makers can do a hot water mode usually. This is great for things like oatmeal or instant noodles. The food courts have toasters and microwaves for guest use as well. Otherwise, stick with foods that do not need heating.

I will say, as long as you use something to protect the iron, I see nothing wrong with heating a quesadilla with the iron. Just be careful and don't get cheese on it.

 

[torinsmom]

One of the kids at my school often brought hot dogs in a thermos for lunch. Her mom put boiling water in the thermos, added the hot dogs and they were still warm at lunch. I guess you could heat water in the coffee maker and bring a thermos to "cook" hotdogs this way. I have seen recipes for things made in a coffee maker, but I don't think I could use it for more than water. I'd be worried about a lingering taste when future guests made coffee. There are probably a lot of things you could add water to, cover and then eat. Things like ramen noodles come to mind.

 

[mdsoccermom]

Okay, I LOVE the quesadilla idea. I will be doing that on our next trip. And I really, really like saurekraut...can you post your dad's recipe? I won't be making that in the room, because I'm lazy, but I'd like to try it at home. I don't get some of the snotty comments either. I think cooking/eating in the room shows creativity and financial smarts. I'd be tempted to do the same if we didn't have free dining. But we don't use free dining for breakfast, hence the quesadillas. I'll have salsa and guacamole in the fridge...it will be great.

I don't know if you are aware of this, but hotel room irons are meant for clothes. I personally do not appreciate it when I've tried to use the iron to find that a previous guest had managed to get something all over the bottom which subsequently got on my clothes.

Creativity and financial smarts is finding a place that actually allows you to cook in the room. and fits into the budget.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I don't know if you are aware of this, but hotel room irons are meant for clothes. I personally do not appreciate it when I've tried to use the iron to find that a previous guest had managed to get something all over the bottom which subsequently got on my clothes.

Creativity and financial smarts is finding a place that actually allows you to cook in the room. and fits into the budget.

Just as another guest has the responsibility to not use an iron for a sandwich maker, you also have the responsibility to check the bottom of an iron used for public use to make sure it gets nothing on your clothes. It is a shared responsibility by all. That is just common sense, because after all, SOMEONE has to show common sense for those who don't.

You can't blame others for you not checking first. Regardless if what they do is wrong, it is up to YOU to check before using a public appliance. Do you use any other amenity without checking it first?

 

[mdsoccermom]

Just as another guest has the responsibility to not use an iron for a sandwich maker, you also have the responsibility to check the bottom of an iron used for public use to make sure it gets nothing on your clothes. It is a shared responsibility by all. That is just common sense, because after all, SOMEONE has to show common sense for those who don't.

You can't blame others for you not checking first. Regardless if what they do is wrong, it is up to YOU to check before using a public appliance. Do you use any other amenity without checking it first?

You're right I don't always check. It's because I tend to stupidly assume that people are adults and know the proper use of an iron and how to keep it clean.

 

[Metsfan520]

You're right I don't always check. It's because I tend to stupidly assume that people are adults and know the proper use of an iron and how to keep it clean.

I'm with you. I would never have thought that someone would actually cook with an iron.

 

[Disneyliscious]

I would have never thought that either, but do you not check an iron for crayon or other staining agents that could have melted onto the bottom? Do you not check the coffee pot for dirt or dust?

Using things that are available for public use without checking to make sure they are in working order (let alone have improper food on them) is just common sense to me.

 

[eliza61]

Just as another guest has the responsibility to not use an iron for a sandwich maker, you also have the responsibility to check the bottom of an iron used for public use to make sure it gets nothing on your clothes. It is a shared responsibility by all. That is just common sense, because after all, SOMEONE has to show common sense for those who don't.

You can't blame others for you not checking first. Regardless if what they do is wrong, it is up to YOU to check before using a public appliance. Do you use any other amenity without checking it first?

Sorry totally and respectfully disagree. The natural & inherent assumption is generally that adults will use appliances for their intended job. I never think to check the coffee pot to make sure some one is not using it as a planter or to check the dryer to make sure some one is not trying to pop microwave popcorn in it.

I assume in a hotel that I do not have to check for cleanliness or residual food particals on appliances, mainly because I assume that the hotel employs maids who clean in between guest.

So in answer to your question, No, when I am in a caliber hotel with a reputable company I don't run around checking to make sure that the a p&J sandwich has been stuffed in a dvd. I totally admit that when I pick up the hair dryer I expect hot air to blow out and I don't check to see if some one has used it for a clothes dryer.

Personally I'd be a little worried about someone who would actually cook food using an iron they knew was previously used with starch and clothing!! Yikes

 

[wtccheermom]

Maybe the OP meant s/he'd like to hear ideas about meals that can be stored in the room fridge, not necessarily cooked there. We have an electric ice chest that plugs into the car and an outlet in our room and we're bringing:

cold cuts/cheese
green salad
boiled eggs
milk
grilled chicken strips
bread for the kids' pb&j sandwiches
salsa & chips
sausage & egg muffins (scrambled eggs baked in muffin tin)
pepperoni slices
cream cheese
jelly

The food courts have a microwave for guest use, so we're also bringing mac & cheese and noodle cups, and microwave popcorn for snacks. We might use the toaster at breakfast for toaster waffles or poptarts. We'll also bring a ton of fresh fruits/veggies and snack items like crackers, jerky, nuts, cereal bars, nut butters and chocolate bars. We plan to bring about 90% of our food for the week. If we need to replenish, there's a Wal-Mart pretty nearby.

Somewhere online I saw a video of a guy cooking a really yummy-looking burrito using a hotel room iron. I have used the irons at POP to make quesadillas with two tortillas and cheese between a sheet of foil. They turned out awesome and saved us at least $5 at a restaurant.

YUCK, YUCK and more YUCK!!
Why not stay in a place with a kitchen?

 

[kla]

I don't run around checking to make sure that the a p&J sandwich has been stuffed in a dvd.

Haha, sounds like a good flick!

I agree with the personal responsibility thing with regard to guests' use of appliances. I, for one, am totally responsible and -- just to clarify for people who think I may have ruined their favorite shirt with my melted cheese -- I always use foil to protect my quesadilla from your cooties. And I steam clean the iron before & after use. I cannot say the same for the guest who used the iron before me to press their sweaty, wrinkled pants.

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v4402217m2SafSJX

 

[kla]

YUCK, YUCK and more YUCK!!
Why not stay in a place with a kitchen?

Kids stay & play free

 

[wtccheermom]

Kids stay & play free

So you are saving money why not just eat out even if not at WDW but there are many choices off property for a hot meal?

 

[MadiWI]

I get it, too. We travel with food allergies, and life outside "the world" requires that we travel with food way more than I'd like to. Disney is the only place where I can go on vacation and not have to cook most meals.

As crazy as it sounds, one of my favorite appliances is a hot dog "toaster." I've traveled with a toaster oven before, but that can only do so much. The hot dog toaster can heat 2 hot dogs nicely (we don't use the bun part) and it is light enough to pack in a suitcase for air travel. It is a nice alternative to sandwiches in the room, and we're careful not to start a fire with it. They run about $20. Great for a simple, hot meal - albeit not the healtiest on the planet. Obviously, this isn't needed when you have a microwave available.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I can just imagine the look on my dh's face if I tried to make dinner with the hotel iron. I think he would question my sanity at that point and feel that perhaps I spent too much time in the Florida sun.

I get bringing some stuff in the rooms and we do bring stuff. We might bring a box of cereal, easy mac, granola bars, chips, fresh fruit (apple slices are such an easy snack) or even a loaf of bread and pb an J because Disney makes gross peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I will not however try to go all Martha Stewart and make Thanksgiving dinner with the coffee pot and iron. I'd rather not eat.

 

[wtccheermom]

I get it, too. We travel with food allergies, and life outside "the world" requires that we travel with food way more than I'd like to. Disney is the only place where I can go on vacation and not have to cook most meals.

As crazy as it sounds, one of my favorite appliances is a hot dog "toaster." I've traveled with a toaster oven before, but that can only do so much. The hot dog toaster can heat 2 hot dogs nicely (we don't use the bun part) and it is light enough to pack in a suitcase for air travel. It is a nice alternative to sandwiches in the room, and we're careful not to start a fire with it. They run about $20. Great for a simple, hot meal - albeit not the healtiest on the planet. Obviously, this isn't needed when you have a microwave available.

Yes I also get it!! We just got back from a long trip with the Dining plan and well the food in the WDW is not all that great. My stomach was messed up for days. We love to have fresh fruit, yogurt, cereals and granola for breakfast and light lunches(sandwiches, salads, and veggies) so for our next trip we will be renting one of the Ft. Wilderness Cabins. So we can have the foods we like and prepare them safely without causing an inconvenience to others like funny smells or fire issues. I just don’t get the we have to go to WDW every year at all cost mentality so we will cook with an iron at a value as opposed to skipping a year and staying somewhere that offers us the amenities we need to be comfortable and enjoy our vacation.

 

[Sandy321]

go during free dining!

 

[Disneyadore]

Sorry totally and respectfully disagree. The natural & inherent assumption is generally that adults will use appliances for their intended job. I never think to check the coffee pot to make sure some one is not using it as a planter or to check the dryer to make sure some one is not trying to pop microwave popcorn in it.

I assume in a hotel that I do not have to check for cleanliness or residual food particals on appliances, mainly because I assume that the hotel employs maids who clean in between guest.

So in answer to your question, No, when I am in a caliber hotel with a reputable company I don't run around checking to make sure that the a p&J sandwich has been stuffed in a dvd. I totally admit that when I pick up the hair dryer I expect hot air to blow out and I don't check to see if some one has used it for a clothes dryer.

Personally I'd be a little worried about someone who would actually cook food using an iron they knew was previously used with starch and clothing!! Yikes

I actual did read here on the Dis that people used the hair dryer to heat up their doggie bag filled whit clams

I guess this are the kind of people that sew Disney for serving " rotten" food in their restaurants a day later.

 

[Disneyadore]

I can just imagine the look on my dh's face if I tried to make dinner with the hotel iron. I think he would question my sanity at that point and feel that perhaps I spent too much time in the Florida sun.

I get bringing some stuff in the rooms and we do bring stuff. We might bring a box of cereal, easy mac, granola bars, chips, fresh fruit (apple slices are such an easy snack) or even a loaf of bread and pb an J because Disney makes gross peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I will not however try to go all Martha Stewart and make Thanksgiving dinner with the coffee pot and iron. I'd rather not eat.