Saving Money on Meals

[katybugsmom]

Hi everyone!
My DH and I are trying to find ways to pinch pennies and spend the least amount of money on our Disney trip this August. This will be our 9th trip, so it's not like this is our first time visiting the world.
I have come up with an idea that hopefully will save us money on meals and help our DD 15 and DS 9 learn the value of money and how to budget! I have researched the area for fast food and sit down restaurants in the Disney area. Before we leave on our trip, the children will look at menus for various restaurants they like and see what we would be able to eat for a certain amount of money. Then they will choose the places we will eat at based on the information they found out during there research.
We will eat a couple of times in Disney, but not sure where yet. I think the children will enjoy working on this project and it will be something that they can work on over the summer! Our trip isn't until the first week of August and DH and I start back to work at our schools the following Monday, so they will have all summer to work on this! Hope it works!

 

[snooty3]

I'm a penny pincher too and I believe that there are a few reasonably priced restaurants on property. Do your kids have big appetites? If so then your best value meals will be either buffets or family style restaurants like Whispering Canyon, Garden Grilll, Liberty Tree Tavern, where the amount is plentiful for the price. Also bring snacks, snacks and more snacks. It's not your first time at the rodeo but even well planned meal times can bring on hunger and its cheaper to bring a granola bar say rather than buying a box of popcorn. Although I love the Disney popcorn!!

 

[wishesuponastar]

It sounds like a great idea to have the kids look at the menus ahead of time and giving your kids a meal budget should also help you stay in budget. Good luck! We've only stayed onsite in Disney once and got the DDP and we'll probably get the DDP next time too. But we are going to Busch Gardens this Summer so I'll use idea there, thanks.

 

[kim929]

I did this with my ds for our Disney vacation last Aug. We went over all the menus and made decisions where to eat that fit into our budget... we had fun doing it.

 

[katybugsmom]

I did this with my ds for our Disney vacation last Aug. We went over all the menus and made decisions where to eat that fit into our budget... we had fun doing it.

Glad to hear this worked for you!

 

[katybugsmom]

It sounds like a great idea to have the kids look at the menus ahead of time and giving your kids a meal budget should also help you stay in budget. Good luck! We've only stayed onsite in Disney once and got the DDP and we'll probably get the DDP next time too. But we are going to Busch Gardens this Summer so I'll use idea there, thanks.

We've had the chance to use "Free Dining" several times too! We've also shared meals at POP and Cosmic Rays.

 

[katybugsmom]

I'm a penny pincher too and I believe that there are a few reasonably priced restaurants on property. Do your kids have big appetites? If so then your best value meals will be either buffets or family style restaurants like Whispering Canyon, Garden Grilll, Liberty Tree Tavern, where the amount is plentiful for the price. Also bring snacks, snacks and more snacks. It's not your first time at the rodeo but even well planned meal times can bring on hunger and its cheaper to bring a granola bar say rather than buying a box of popcorn. Although I love the Disney popcorn!!

Our kids are very healthy eaters! We may try the buffet at Fort Wilderness this year. I've heard the food is good! We plan to take stuff for breakfast and plenty of snacks too!

 

[JillyBean1899]

For sit-down meals, consider having everyone get appetizers (or get 2 or 3 for the table to share), and then have 2 people split an entree. Some people find the entree to be too little on its own, but a full app + entree to be too much. My mom and I tend to do this at QS places, too, so for example at Electric Umbrella we'd get the chicken nuggets and fries combo, then a side salad, and either share a drink (if we could agree on one) or each get our own.

 

[wishesuponastar]

We've had the chance to use "Free Dining" several times too! We've also shared meals at POP and Cosmic Rays.

Oh, we didn't get free dining. Maybe next time we can if they offer it in August.

 

[kugelette]

We are taking an $18 hot plate in our suitcase. We will do breakfast in the room and pack snacks and sandwiches in an insulated cooler purse for the parks, then dinner at the room. We'll do a few character breakfasts, have dessert at BOG for lunch and maybe a nice dinner out, but cooking in the room will save us a TON of money (especially because I like to eat good meals and not fast food or chicken nuggets).

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

We are taking an $18 hot plate in our suitcase. We will do breakfast in the room and pack snacks and sandwiches in an insulated cooler purse for the parks, then dinner at the room. We'll do a few character breakfasts, have dessert at BOG for lunch and maybe a nice dinner out, but cooking in the room will save us a TON of money (especially because I like to eat good meals and not fast food or chicken nuggets).

Do hotels allow hot plates? That feels dangerous to cook on a hot plate in a standard hotel room :/ I'm not sure though this is just IMHO as a hot plate is an open heat source (not a flame but still).

Also wouldn't full on cooking smells seep into the room/neighbors. As a person who can be very sensitive to smells, I'd be very unhappy if I had somebody else's cooking smells pouring through my room in the am.

 

[supergoofy]

For sit-down meals, consider having everyone get appetizers (or get 2 or 3 for the table to share), and then have 2 people split an entree. Some people find the entree to be too little on its own, but a full app + entree to be too much. My mom and I tend to do this at QS places, too, so for example at Electric Umbrella we'd get the chicken nuggets and fries combo, then a side salad, and either share a drink (if we could agree on one) or each get our own.

This is the route we are going.

I explained to my kids that we only have "x" amount(didn't give them an exact dollar) and that we could each get a meal and not eat it all and we can't take it with us and by doing this we get just the meal.

But if we share then we will get enough and no waste and we will save money and be able to get snacks/dessert.

Once they started seeing what dessert/snacks were out there the more they came around to the idea of sharing.

I think its great that you are teaching your kids to budget.

 

[kugelette]

Do hotels allow hot plates? That feels dangerous to cook on a hot plate in a standard hotel room :/ I'm not sure though this is just IMHO as a hot plate is an open heat source (not a flame but still).

Also wouldn't full on cooking smells seep into the room/neighbors. As a person who can be very sensitive to smells, I'd be very unhappy if I had somebody else's cooking smells pouring through my room in the am.

It's probably against fire code in rooms which don't have a cooktop/kitchenette. I'm personally okay with it regardless, but leave it up to others to decide if it falls within their comfort zone morally. Hot plates when supervised are not dangerous. I would not leave a hot plate or crock pot or other cooking device on or even plugged in when not being directly supervised (even when in the room). Use common sense, as in everything.

As regards smells of food, what do you think happens when someone orders a pizza or has any other hot food in their room? Be considerate to your neighbors and don't cook bacon in the morning, but if you make pasta for dinners, I highly doubt you'll offend anyone. (Just as when you're in the room, you don't whisper, but neither do you jump on the bed and scream.)

 

[dpswift]

Do hotels allow hot plates? That feels dangerous to cook on a hot plate in a standard hotel room :/ I'm not sure though this is just IMHO as a hot plate is an open heat source (not a flame but still).

Also wouldn't full on cooking smells seep into the room/neighbors. As a person who can be very sensitive to smells, I'd be very unhappy if I had somebody else's cooking smells pouring through my room in the am.

I also just read on another thread that a Disney hotel had to be evacuated because of someone cooking in their room. However it does seem that Disney does not care about people cooking. I would however be concerned about being fined for a deep cleaning or damage.

 

[scrapquitler]

For sit-down meals, consider having everyone get appetizers (or get 2 or 3 for the table to share), and then have 2 people split an entree. Some people find the entree to be too little on its own, but a full app + entree to be too much. My mom and I tend to do this at QS places, too, so for example at Electric Umbrella we'd get the chicken nuggets and fries combo, then a side salad, and either share a drink (if we could agree on one) or each get our own.

We do this, too. One suggestion for saving more money...do not order drinks other than water. Drinks are a huge money maker for restaurants and they really increase your bill.

 

[Gracie09]

It's probably against fire code in rooms which don't have a cooktop/kitchenette. I'm personally okay with it regardless, but leave it up to others to decide if it falls within their comfort zone morally. Hot plates when supervised are not dangerous. I would not leave a hot plate or crock pot or other cooking device on or even plugged in when not being directly supervised (even when in the room). Use common sense, as in everything.

As regards smells of food, what do you think happens when someone orders a pizza or has any other hot food in their room? Be considerate to your neighbors and don't cook bacon in the morning, but if you make pasta for dinners, I highly doubt you'll offend anyone. (Just as when you're in the room, you don't whisper, but neither do you jump on the bed and scream.)

Cooking smells are different than prepared food smells and linger longer. That's why there are vents in kitchens. To keep the food smells and associated, smoke grease etc out of the area. I've burnt things and have been able to smell them a few days later, especially in fabrics. If you want to cook in your room get a room that is intended for cooking in. It's simple.

 

[Marionnette]

We are taking an $18 hot plate in our suitcase. We will do breakfast in the room and pack snacks and sandwiches in an insulated cooler purse for the parks, then dinner at the room. We'll do a few character breakfasts, have dessert at BOG for lunch and maybe a nice dinner out, but cooking in the room will save us a TON of money (especially because I like to eat good meals and not fast food or chicken nuggets).

How did a thread about teaching the kids about budgeting their dining choices get turned into a "cooking in your room" discussion?

Did you just want to ?

 

[LovesTimone]

I think its great that you are teaching your kids to budget money. We did this with our DD and she is great with money, and knows how to save it.

I would not cook in room, its just not safe..... for me to many what if's.

There are lots of options for breakfast, cereal & milk, breakfast bars, bagels, muffins, orange juice & fruit.

Snacks are a huge way to save, granola / cereal bars, chips or crackers - here I would suggest that you check out the dollar store and find some small container to put these in so they are not smashed up. Make sure that they fit in the back pack easily. Fresh fruit / veggies- apples, banana's, grapes, carrot and celery stick with individual dressing.

I would have some microwave options in the room, pop corn, or those noodle bowls work well for something hot to eat and do not need to be refrigerated.

You also might want to check out local coupons for restaurants, groupon, amazon local, Pizza and Chinese take out or buffet. Also sign up at different restaurant for their email, and normally you will get a coupon for free appetizer, plus any other coupon or promotion that they might have.

Outside DTD there is a Perkins, they have mammoth muffins, you can get breakfast very reasonable with good portions and choose a muffin for your bread, and save it for later for a snack or breakfast the next day.

Also you might want to do early dinner in the parks before the dinner menu takes affect at the TS restaurant's. For CS you can share meals, you might want to check out some of the Resort Food court choices were you can make your own pasta and salad. Planet Hollywood, T- REX, Rain Forest , Raglan Road has great appetizers with large portions so.... you might want to order a few and maybe a couple of side salads and share. We did this in January, for 3 people, We order 2 side salads, and the large appetizer plate it was more than enough for us. One a girls trip there were 4 adults, We order a entrée salad and a appetizer plate, and this was more than enough food for all 4 of us.

Let us know how they do with this project.

 

[eliza61]

We always look over the menus. not so much to pinch pennies but really who wants to go on vacation and have a bad meal. LOL
Besides it's fun.

Not sure if you will have transportation or not but here are some tips that work well for my family.

1) We are huge breakfast eaters. I've found that the days we eat a good breakfast we spend way less on snacking and junk. if you have a car, right outside of DTD is Shoneys,
I-hop and Denny's. Last year Ihop had a breakfast 2 eggs, 2 pancakes, 2 bacon and coffe for 4 bucks. I have 2 young men in my family, all 6 footers football players. everyone had big breakfast's under 25 bucks.

2) Beware of the "split meal" thing. Now as I said I have/had teenage sons, which means they will eat any thing that's not nailed down with some ketchup. We've never had a meal where we could split and everyone would be satisfied. I have had meals that were more than enough for one but unfortunately not enough for two.
So what usually happens is that we either have to buy sides and extras or two hours later some one wants a snack. Not much of a savings.


Now I'm going to also add a plea not to cook in the room. Unfortunately we got a room that some one decided to make saurkrat and hot dogs in. It stank to high heaven, we did get a whif when we first checked in but figured "we'll just open the balcony door" get some fresh air. well after one night we had to go and get a new room. the smell was in the rug and the drapery. Uggg.

Look at it this way, do you cook in your bedroom at home? there is a reason why stoves have exhaust fans. food smells get into linens and drapery.

 

[Adventure1]

We are taking an $18 hot plate in our suitcase. We will do breakfast in the room and pack snacks and sandwiches in an insulated cooler purse for the parks, then dinner at the room. We'll do a few character breakfasts, have dessert at BOG for lunch and maybe a nice dinner out, but cooking in the room will save us a TON of money (especially because I like to eat good meals and not fast food or chicken nuggets).

Question: Where will you buy food at to cook with or are you shipping it to your hotel in advance?

I am hoping to do breakfast in-room too. Thinking about bringing some mini-bagels or muffins. Then planning to buy the refill drink mugs for morning coffee, assuming they have refillable coffee...

I'm planning on buying dinner at Pop or quick service somewhere since we are doing sit down character buffets for lunch 2 of the 4 days. Might not even need a big dinner, just buy a sub sandwich and split it up.