Skipping DDP for the first time, need advice!

[khenderson11]

So I'm a looooong time lurker, but have just started posting myself! I am planning a quick trip to Disney in January (I finished my college program in July and am in serious withdrawl). I don't really have extra cash since I'm headed back to grad school, so for the first time I'll be vacationing at Disney without the DDP. Anyone have tips for where to eat and NOT spend a ton?

I'm guessing we'll do a nice dinner one night, I'm hoping Yachtsman or Cali Grill (my all time fave), but other than that we'd like to eat affordably and not have a hamburger every meal for four days straight. On my CP we usually didn't eat often in the parks unless it was a quick snack or a fancy dinner when we all happened to have the same night off, so I'm not too well versed in the more moderate/cheaply priced meals in the parks.

We'll either be staying at POR, CSR or BCR, depending on if we have 4 or 5 people. If it's POR or CSR this will be the first time I've ever stayed moderate, so I'm not really sure what to expect with those either. Contemporary is my all time favorite, but I just can't swing for that or the Poly this time around. Anyway, any advice would be great!

 

[Quin]

You could eat CS meals at WDW every day for a week and never once touch a burger. As much as possible, hit the CS locations at the resorts. All of them, from Values to Deluxes, have more and better choices than the CS within the parks. Also, all of them have expanded choices at dinnertime with full dinner platter meals (salmon, chicken, etc). Finally, remember that if a CS meal comes with fries, you can ask for just the sandwich without the fries and the price is lower that way (works if there are 2 of you; one gets fries and one does not, so you can share) (or if you're by yourself and would rather splurge a little on dessert instead).

For an occasional lower-budget TS without getting into the question of whether there is "enough" food to split a meal, remember that lunch is cheaper than dinner. Biergarten lunch buffet, with an ADR around 2 pm, is a very good value. Trails End buffet (dinner only, now) at Ft. Wilderness is also a good value.

 

[krb2g]

We avoid the DDP (we usually don't want that much food). To save money, we try to eat TS lunch instead of dinner if we're doing TS. We also have a bunch of favorite CS places (which definitely serve more than just burgers and often serve enough to share)--in MK we like Pecos Bill's (great toppings bar), in Epcot Sunshine Seasons and several of the WS CS eateries, in AK Flame Tree BBQ. We don't have a favorite in-park CS for DHS.... We are also not big breakfast eaters, so we always do a light breakfast before we get to the parks (and make sure we're in time for rope drop).

 

[h2odivers]

JK! This will our first time using the DDP so I'm a bit nervous that I won't get my money's worth. We all ate well at both CS and TS restaurants. We always used our $15 coupon for Planet Hollywood which helps. I know it's like eating at applebee's but it's always a good time. We tried to make our TS meals at lunch. We also like Wolfgang Pucks for CS. Boatwrights at POR has a great menu for lunch and dinner and isn't to expensive and we go see Piano Bob's show after dinner in the lounge. The show is free and he is a great entertainer. Biergarten has a lot of great food for a good price, go at lunch and you won't need dinner. I've done a lot of research before deciding on the DDP and I find, for my family, that we had to really pick which TS restaurant we eat at we won't get our money's worth. Example character dinner at Akershus is definitely worth it, and Plaza restaurant at MK for lunch probably better to pay out of pocket. I think with a little planning you'll be fine.
Have Fun!

 

[NLD]

Check out this thread for some ideas:

$40 a Day for Disney Dining

For CS places, some good spots for non-burger fare are:

Columbia Harbor House (MK)
Sunshine Seasons (EP)
Kringla Bakery Cafe Norway (EP)
Boulangerie Patisserie in France (EP) (They have a ham & cheese croissant for little $$, and a sandwich, and a cheese plate)
Flametree BBQ (AK)

Haven't found a good CS in DHS yet...

 

[Quin]

Haven't found a good CS in DHS yet...

Starring Rolls in DHS is good for lunch, but they close around 4 pm. The "entrees" are a couple of sandwiches. They are made fresh that day but are not made to order, and when they're gone, they're gone. I've read reports here on the Dis that people have sometimes found them sold out by 1:30.

They are very, very good sandwiches, and come with a side (chips or fruit) plus beverage plus your choice from the bakery counter which includes the famous Butterfinger and Red Velvet WDW cupcakes.

I believe someone reported on the to-go thread that if you are just at DHS for the morning, you can stop here on your way out of the park and the CMs will package the food up for you so you can take it back to your room - maybe an afternoon meal by the pool.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

We had the QS and TS plan OMG both seemed like toooo much food! We hardly get dessert and boy we were full!

 

[catne]

Starring Rolls in DHS is good for lunch, but they close around 4 pm. The "entrees" are a couple of sandwiches. They are made fresh that day but are not made to order, and when they're gone, they're gone. I've read reports here on the Dis that people have sometimes found them sold out by 1:30.

They are very, very good sandwiches, and come with a side (chips or fruit) plus beverage plus your choice from the bakery counter which includes the famous Butterfinger and Red Velvet WDW cupcakes.

I believe someone reported on the to-go thread that if you are just at DHS for the morning, you can stop here on your way out of the park and the CMs will package the food up for you so you can take it back to your room - maybe an afternoon meal by the pool.

Agree Starring Rolls are excellent sandwiches, but wanted to point out that if you're paying cash, dessert does NOT include your choice from the bakery counter unless you're willing to pay extra for it. The only time you get dessert with a combo meal is if you're on a dining plan. OP said they will not be on a dining plan.