SUPER Cheap Eats - on & off property

[ballarinamom]

allears.net has all of the menus, descriptions and prices. You have to go to Disneyland, then dining and then sort by park/ hotel or DTD restaurant.

We do Rancho del Zachallo. The have a half rotisseries chicken with bean, rice and tortillas for under $12. You can add one of the other menu items and have more than enough for 3 people. The tortillas and refried beans make great burritos to help fill the gaps.

There is several hot dog and corn dog places that really help save pennies too.
Personally, for our family Bengal BBQ ends up being expensive as everone wants two skewers. They arent very big, especially for a guy.

 

[Mel522]

We didn't get a single meal at Disneyland or California Adventure that couldn't have been split. Most of the time it was $25-35 for 4 adults and one child.

 

[Ingrid0382]

Unfortunately the only birthday in our group is only turning 11 and you have to be 21 for the birthday club. BUMMER!

Not to be contrary, but I believe you're still eligible to receive the certificate! Hopefully others will chime in, but my 11 year-old used one with no problem.

 

[disneychrista]

Not to be contrary, but I believe you're still eligible to receive the certificate! Hopefully others will chime in, but my 11 year-old used one with no problem.

The "rules" say you have to be 21 or older - my guess is they think you will buy alcohol and make up for the $$. Did you you have to show any proof of age/DOB for your 11yo?

Maybe I will go ahead and sign up my niece and see what happens.

 

[julieheyer]

We have gluten issues, so the bread bowl idea won't work well for us . Bummer!

We bring lunch and lots of snacks-trail mix, cheese sticks, may try cottage cheese or lunch meat- but not sure if they'll let us bring in lunch meat? frozen yogurt tubes, nuts, Cliff bars, rice Krispy treats, and water bottles . We're planning 1 meal in the parks, w/ likely a snack or treat (ice cream, tigger tail, etc.) if we're hungry enough. Having plenty of snacks in your backpack makes good use of show times or long waits . And really stretches the budget!!

We do usually do Zocalo, good to know about the carne meal! Thx!

Any salads particularly large?

Also, ordering the kids meal usually is enough food for an adult, if you're ok w/ doing that ethically . I might ask a CM while ordering to see if it'd be ok? Very tempting!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... We bring lunch and lots of snacks-trail mix, cheese sticks, may try cottage cheese or lunch meat- but not sure if they'll let us bring in lunch meat? frozen yogurt tubes, nuts, Cliff bars, rice Krispy treats, and water bottles ...

We do usually do Zocalo, good to know about the carne meal! Thx!

Any salads particularly large?

Also, ordering the kids meal usually is enough food for an adult, if you're ok w/ doing that ethically . I might ask a CM while ordering to see if it'd be ok? Very tempting!

Bringing in sandwiches is fine, but bringing in sandwich fixings (bread and separate lunch meat) is not.

I think the taco salad at Rancho del Zocalo is pretty large. It's been a while since we shared one, but I don't think we could finish it.

It is totally fine and ethical for an adult to order a child's meal at any CS restaurant in the parks. If ordering a child's meal for an adult at a TS restaurant, just ask the server and offer to pay the adult price if necessary. There should be no problems at all.

 

[Eeee-va]

Regarding lunch meat, I've also heard repeatedly that you can't bring in sandwich fixings (like Theluckyrabbit said). If you "prepare" the lunch meat, I imagine you'd probably get it in without as much difficulty. For instance, if you made roll-ups with lettuce (if you have any) or cheese, made sandwiches of lettuce and bread, put it in/on a salad, etc.

If you tried to bring in unprepared lunch meat, you might be able to get through if you tell them it's for special dietary needs/etc. But one could buy bread at the resorts, so Disney could still assume you were going to use it to make sandwiches, which would not be OK. There are gluten-free options, for what it's worth.

 

[Ingrid0382]

The "rules" say you have to be 21 or older - my guess is they think you will buy alcohol and make up for the $$. Did you you have to show any proof of age/DOB for your 11yo?

If memory serves, someone from the boards actually called Patina Group or one of the participating restaurants and was given the green light. I can do some digging through the old threads talking about this tomorrow for you.

We handed over the certificate at the end of the meal, but we explained to our server that we would be using it before we ordered. Even when we've used these for myself or DH, no one has ever checked our IDs

Maybe there's been some kind of crackdown as knowledge that this offer is available, spreads.

 

[mshrm]

Sorry I didn't realize you needed walking distance to parks. There is an El Pollo Loco on harbor but it's a bit down from Disney. We're a large group and always eat on a budget so we do them every trip.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

rainforest cafe 25bucks sign up for there select card, get it back on the first visit have a bday in that month put it down as your bday and get 25 back. we did this and today we have 50bucks to eat there with 10 paid in cash and we will have a good meal tonight

 

[ducky_love]

Does anyone know if the rainforest card has to be used ON your bday? We are going a week before my DH's bday. (It is a milestone so he wanted to be home on the real day to celebrate with friends and fam). Thanks!

 

[Bossy22]

The best budget meal "in" Disneyland is the Fried chicken at Plaza Inn, It easily fed my wife and I and we are not small eaters. Not only was it filling, it was also awesome!!!

 

[tylerandalexsmom]

Though I'm not sure what you mean by $20 per meal...if you are thinking breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I'd definitely bring some breakfast fixings (even just instant oatmeal) and eat breakfast in the room, then put the savings toward lunch and dinner (or snacks, but I have a bit of a sweet tooth ). And/or, you may be able to have a large, late lunch and then a light dinner...that works well for me in hot weather.

We usually take breakfast items with us when we drive to WDW, but we are flying in for a trip to DLR. Is there someplace we can get something to have in the room? (cereal, breakfast bars, poptarts, milk) -- no car, and staying at DLH, so would need someplace close by (or is there something in the hotel we could stock up on and just have in the room, if not to save $, at least to save time in the mornings and not waste touring time)?

 

[KalamityJane]

We fly in and I just bring the breakfast stuff from home. Buy milk at Whitewater Snacks in GCH.

 

[tylerandalexsmom]

I thought you couldn't fly with food in your baggage? Or is it just that it can't be in your carry on? That would be great to be able to bring that kind of thing with us!

 

[KalamityJane]

You can fly with just about anything in your checked luggage (well, not hazardous items, but figured that was a given). You can travel with non liquid food in your carryon.

 

[MychaelP]

The best budget meal "in" Disneyland is the Fried chicken at Plaza Inn, It easily fed my wife and I and we are not small eaters. Not only was it filling, it was also awesome!!!

Don't forget you can get all-white chicken. I did this a few years ago and it was only $2 more. One time they didn't charge us the extra. I do agree it has the most food for the price. Also they used to do the AAA discount there.

Rule of thumb for me to save money at Disneyland... never buy small meals since they are marked up so much... Dinner meals are best since they are close to the same as outside restaurants. Bring granola bars or CliffBars. Buy the refillable coffee in the morning. A nice pick-me-up to get through to dinner.

One more suggestion, but it is for a small meal, contrasting what I said earlier I guess. Is the vegetable skewer at Bengal BBQ. Chicken there is about 3 or 4 little pieces, but the vegetable skewer with extra hot sauce is great.
Oh, also if you get the burgers or sandwhiches, don't get fries... they tire you out with the grease. Get the fruit option for free. There isn't much there but the energy they provide really helps. You can add some sugar if you really need the extra boost too.

 

[ltl engine]

The Rain Forest Card (Landry's Card) is usually good for the month of your birthday. It does not have to be used on your birthday. I know the website has an option to defer any rewards too but I have never used that...Enjoy!

 

[MychaelP]

A quick FYI: I learned of the Patina site from this thread. Missed my birthday sign-up a few weeks ago. But when I signed up today they still sent my certificate. I'm guessing since it is good for 60 days.

Thanks to all who mentioned this... Almost free dinner later this week!

 

[Tif]

I have a questi about the Patina Group that some people mentioned. When you sign up for that do you put the state you want t use it in or the state you live in? Also, it asks your favorite restaurant.....Are the disney ones listed? Is it best to select one of those? I'm not sure if the discount is based on the things you select there so I want to be sure before I submit anything. THANKS!