SUPER Cheap Eats - on & off property

[disneychrista]

It sounds like you know what you're doing! I only asked about dates in case you could use Gay Days tix, but you probably know about that if it applies.

I so wish the Gay Days tickets would work for us. It would save us SOOOO much money.

 

[deanimal]

We were able to eat a couple of times on this last trip for fairly cheap. At the Mcdonalds on Harbour we got "Mighty kids meals" for 4.69 each (umm, six piece nuggets or double cheeseburger with drinks and fries? In Canada we just call that an adult's meal, but okay) At the Coca Cola refreshment corner we got kids turkey dog meals for 5.99 each. A bit over $20 for four, but it was really handy for eating while waiting for the parade. So if you don't have a huge appetite, kids meals can be your friends!

 

[DLRfan31]

I'm not sure if this helps, but I put together a menu with prices for our family trip this fall. Prices are rounded to the nearest .50 cents.

http://disneyland-california-menus.warpedvisions.org/

I'm hoping to use this quick menu in the parks (on my phone), so we can find reasonable priced meals before the kids hit bottom.

I was pleasantly surprised at breakfast prices overall. With some sharing, I should be able to feed the four of us for $20 on days we eat breakfast instead of lunch. For lunches, soup, chili, and gumbos look shareable and reasonably cheap.

Great list! You did a terrific job with it. Thanks!

 

[dcraythorn]

Shakey's Pizza is really good and the prices are really reasonable. They are on Harbour also.

 

[rramstad]

Whitewater Snacks is a good suggestion, it's just outside DCA, the prices and portions are better than in the park for the prepared food, and they have convenience store type stuff too. One trip we headed out there, got nachos and/or burgers for everyone at a cost of about $6 per person average, and grabbed a bag of Oreos for $3 which we took into the park for snacks.

A great, great, great delivery place

http://marrispizza.com/

I'd also second all the suggestions for hitting up the local Vietnamese places... either eating in or taking sandwiches to go.

We don't usually eat in the parks and use Chowhound and Urban Spoon to find good places for lunch... do that as a midday break along with nap and/or swimming.

 

[HollyL]

Not sure if it's already been posted, but if you are staying somewhere that offers free breakfast, you can always grab a few extra pieces of fruit, mini boxes of cereal, etc. and bring those with you.

If you are staying at a Residence Inn, on the weeknights, they usually offer a free light dinner as well. That way, you are really only on the hook to pay for one meal per day.

If we have free breakfast, it usually keeps us satisfied until the afternoon, and we can have a big lunch, and then by dinner, we are only really hungry enough for a light dinner, or just snack for the rest of the day. It definitely keeps the cost of buying food down.

Also, if you are staying in a place that has a fridge, you can keep a few extra yogurts/milks, etc. in there.

Last time we went, we got chicken from Mrs. Knotts and had so many leftovers for the next day, we weren't able to finish it all.

 

[interstate70s]

Just ate at Pizza Press next to the Carousel on Harbor. Pizza's there were $8-$10 and very good. Probably big enough for 2 adults, not three. Deli size container of pasta salad was $5 if you wanted a bit more food with it. There is also a 20% off coupon on the Anaheim website.

 

[HollyL]

If you get your room through Priceline, you can save a bundle. I usually get a 4 star hotel for about $60/night, so if you are okay with a budget hotel, you may easily be able to snag one for under $40/ night.

Also, sign up for Groupon for Orange County, there might be some restaurant options on there.

Also, try Restaurant.com- I did that for the last trip, and there were definitely some good options in the Disney area.

 

[HollyL]

I just noticed that Restaurant.com has certificates for The House of Blues (DTD)! I am going to get one for our next trip. Just be sure to read the fine print. Also google "Restaurant.com promo code" to see if there are any on-line coupons. This usually allows you to get a $25 gift certificate for only $2-$4.

 

[binny]

Lots of great tips everyone thanks! We are going over Halloween as well and are looking for ways to help the budget

 

[theluckyrabbit]

To the OP:
If your dates fall between 10/14 and 11/09 AND if you know someone who will be doing the CHOC Walk, walkers can get discount tickets for 1 day/1 park or 1 day hoppers (about 50% off). Buying your tickets that way might save you quite a bit. Each walker can buy up to 5 tickets each on the day of the CHOC Walk. If those dates will work for you, maybe you can post a thread asking for a walker to help you.

 

[disneychrista]

To the OP:
If your dates fall between 10/14 and 11/09 AND if you know someone who will be doing the CHOC Walk.

Our (original) dates to fall between those dates but I don't know anyone doing the CHOC walk. But at this point our dates are bit up in the air, unfortunately.

 

[Twinprincesses]

I signed up for Mimis emails and got a coupon for 4 free muffins. Do not sign up too far ahead of time because the coupon expires within 3 weeks.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Our (original) dates to fall between those dates but I don't know anyone doing the CHOC walk. But at this point our dates are bit up in the air, unfortunately.

If your dates hold, and if it is allowed on these boards, you might want to post a request for a DIS walker to help you out. Just a thought... Of course, if your dates change, then all the above is moot.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

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!

When I signed up (I live in IL), they sent me a certificate for somewhere in NY. I just emailed them and asked for a DL resstaurant instead. It was no problem.

 

[disneychrista]

If your dates hold, and if it is allowed on these boards, you might want to post a request for a DIS walker to help you out. Just a thought... Of course, if your dates change, then all the above is moot.

Unfortunately I won't know until after the Walk if we are going, for sure. Things could change up until right before.

 

[sheetz]

We are booked at the Super 8 on Ball/Disneyland Dr. It is the cheapest that I have found. I believe we are booked for $59/night. We are looking at booking a hotel through hotwire which might save $25 ($12.50/each) but we won't book that until a few days before "just in case."

I don't know your exact dates, but you can get an extra 20% off your room rate if you use the discount from Geicoprivileges, which is free for anyone to join.

https://www.geicoprivileges.com

For the Super8 on Ball the rate comes down to $47.20 per night for certain dates.

ETA: Regarding cheap eats, unless you can get free giftcards or something, nothing will be as cheap as buying food from the supermarket and eating at your hotel. Even if you can't cook in your room you can buy a supermarket rotisserie chicken, some potato salad/cole slaw and rolls and have leftovers for WAY under $20.

 

[Tif]

When I signed up (I live in IL), they sent me a certificate for somewhere in NY. I just emailed them and asked for a DL resstaurant instead. It was no problem.

That's great that they did that! I ended up just putting my state where I live (AZ) and then I picked my favorite restaurant as Naples (downtown disney) even though I've never eaten there. lol It worked out though because the cert they sent was for all the California restaurants.

 

[BlueBayou]

We always stop in at Bengal Barbeque in Adventureland and get the chicken skewers. They are pretty inexpensive, I think about $4.00??? I always plan on using it as a snack, but it ends up being enough to fill me up. I think you could use this as a meal. They are YUMMY!!!! There are other kinds of skewers, but I love the chicken ones so much, I never have tried the others!

We get several of these and split them between us (two adults, 2 school aged kids). I would make sure you bring a refillable water bottle. Drinks can suck the life out of your budget.

 

[disneychrista]

I don't know your exact dates, but you can get an extra 20% off your room rate if you use the discount from Geicoprivileges, which is free for anyone to join.

https://www.geicoprivileges.com

Awesome! Thanks.