Saving Money on Food???

[ashley0139]

Isn't buying tickets to the park "giving into the man"? I enjoy a lot of the food at the park. I had 4 kids under 7(mine would have been 6, 5, 4, and 2, they are now 33, 32, 31, and 29, and have a 7 and 3yo that now tag along too!), and do understand the costs. We did RI most trips, but as the kids told me as they got older "Pick a place to stay where we can afford food in the park too." We did do 1 meal a day in the park, and we often shared meals to keep the costs down. But part of vacation for us is the food.

As for costs, the park food is definitely cheaper than movie theaters (I haven't gone in a while and was amazed at the cost yesterday! $10 for popcorn, $6.50 for a soda, $8 for nachos (ie 1 ounce corn chips with cheese))

The actual meals are actually not even more expensive than LA in general (unless you're going to eat at Wendy's all the time). $10-$15 for a meal is on the cheap side for a fast casual meal. I can spend more than that at Panera, and Disneyland's food is better and bigger portions.

 

[Malcon10t]

The actual meals are actually not even more expensive than LA in general (unless you're going to eat at Wendy's all the time). $10-$15 for a meal is on the cheap side for a fast casual meal. I can spend more than that at Panera, and Disneyland's food is better and bigger portions.

That is my opinion also. I can remember people commenting "You're eating at Carnation? That is so expensive!" And my thought was "With my AP discount, it is cheaper than Denny's..."

 

[azdisneylover]

For me, when we go on vacation, that means I do NOT cook, prep, etc any food what so ever. I enjoy eating at Carnation Cafe, Tortilla Joe's, etc. Loved having tea with my daughters at Steakhouse 55. I think planning is the key. You can get 5% off Disney gift cards using Target red card. That saves off the meals/snacks already. Then, by checking out the menus and the threads here (great pics of food posted here) shows portion size, will help you decide where to eat and get great tasting food. You can eat as healthy or unhealthy as you want at the parks. The best thing about sharing food is you get to try something you want to try, and you find out, without breaking your budget and wasting food if you like it or not. This goes for treats too.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

For me, when we go on vacation, that means I do NOT cook, prep, etc any food what so ever. I enjoy eating at Carnation Cafe, Tortilla Joe's, etc. Loved having tea with my daughters at Steakhouse 55. I think planning is the key. You can get 5% off Disney gift cards using Target red card. That saves off the meals/snacks already. Then, by checking out the menus and the threads here (great pics of food posted here) shows portion size, will help you decide where to eat and get great tasting food. You can eat as healthy or unhealthy as you want at the parks. The best thing about sharing food is you get to try something you want to try, and you find out, without breaking your budget and wasting food if you like it or not. This goes for treats too.

I agree with this. Being thrifty or being extravagent, being health conscious or splurging -- it's all up to my choice and my responsibility at DLR. Which makes things really flexible and fun. We just had dinner with friends at the Jazz Kitchen last night. Friends are gluten free and I have my allergies and sensitivities. We'd sent our friends the menus ahead of time so they could study up and asked for the allergy menus when seated. Our server was fantastic, checking with the kitchen about every dish at our table to make sure that all plates could be shared by everyone. Our friends got two entrees and shared, so that they got to try two different things each. DH and I shared one entree, which was plenty for both. Appetizers went around the table. With our AP discount, we saved a nice amount and everyone got plenty to eat. The food was fun and healthy. And, best of all, we all got a break from doing the dishes!

 

[NannyBeBe]

The whole idea of a vacation is to get away from the normal routine and have fun. Therefore, when I am on vacation, I do not make beds, clean bathrooms, wash dishes, prepare food, do laundry, or any other of the mundane activities I do at home. So we buy our meals and I leave the maid a nice tip for cleaning up after me and making my bed. Everyone profits.

 

[azdisneylover]

The whole idea of a vacation is to get away from the normal routine and have fun. Therefore, when I am on vacation, I do not make beds, clean bathrooms, wash dishes, prepare food, do laundry, or any other of the mundane activities I do at home. So we buy our meals and I leave the maid a nice tip for cleaning up after me and making my bed. Everyone profits.

I am with you about everything, except the laundry. The only reason I do laundry is because my family will ride Grizzly over and over again until they squish all the way back to the room (we stay at the Grand Californian). They think this is the only way to end an evening at Disneyland. No matter how much you try to dry clothes, they do not. So, I will do a couple of loads of laundry at Disneyland, so we do not take home moldy, smelly clothes.

 

[rentayenta]

That is my opinion also. I can remember people commenting "You're eating at Carnation? That is so expensive!" And my thought was "With my AP discount, it is cheaper than Denny's..."

And the size of their meals; totally sharable!

 

[Boku41]

I think the point of this thread is that not everyone spends $10-15 per person per meal on any kind of regular basis. Many people have to save money for long periods of time to be able to afford a trip to Disneyland, especially families. The choice then becomes whether to skip Disneyland or be frugal on meals and souvenirs. A few years ago, we had to save a long time to go and our kids knew we were eating homemade sandwiches and the only souvenir was a pressed penny. Our trip was still awesome and the kids still loved it! This thread is probably not for the family that has AP discounts. Nothing wrong with bringing sandwiches and sticking them in a locker with homemade snacks to eat in the park. Now with annual passes we feel we can afford one meal in the park a day and maybe one treat, but we still try to watch what we spend. Some meals are definitely better values than others and will fill up a growing teenager better than others.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I think the point of this thread is that not everyone spends $10-15 per person per meal on any kind of regular basis. Many people have to save money for long periods of time to be able to afford a trip to Disneyland, especially families. The choice then becomes whether to skip Disneyland or be frugal on meals and souvenirs. A few years ago, we had to save a long time to go and our kids knew we were eating homemade sandwiches and the only souvenir was a pressed penny. Our trip was still awesome and the kids still loved it! This thread is probably not for the family that has AP discounts. Nothing wrong with bringing sandwiches and sticking them in a locker with homemade snacks to eat in the park. Now with annual passes we feel we can afford one meal in the park a day and maybe one treat, but we still try to watch what we spend. Some meals are definitely better values than others and will fill up a growing teenager better than others.

What are your faves for larger portion and great value?

 

[Boku41]

I mentioned earlier that our favorites are bread bowls with soup. They really feel you up and are a good value but they aren't necessarily cheap. The chicken fusilli at Pizza Planet is a meal that is shareable, even with teenagers. Meals at Rancho del Zocalo and Lucky Fortune Cookery are places where the meals are decent values and filling. Of course we like to splurge and get corn dogs at Stage Door Cafe so we can get fries with them. Years ago we ordered pizza from outside the park and ate them at the tables between the parks. They wouldn't let us bring them in the park but it was a nice quiet area with picnic tables that they sent us to.

 

[love2go2disney2]

There are so many foods at DLR that I never get to have anywhere else -- flavored churros, beignets, shrimp and grits, good corn dogs, Dole Whips, Mickey waffles, etc. They are part of our trip and I save especially so I can enjoy all the good foods.

We do the same. We are a family of 5, and save and eating is part of the fun! I go on vacation for a break , from every day life. Plus with the long lines at security, it is not worth it, to leave the parks for food and then get back to the park. I guess, a person does what best for your family.