There goes our food budget...any ideas?

[Scrapmouse]

We just got back from Disneyland and these are some things we did to cut our food budget.

Go to www.anaheimoc.org and print out some coupons from their site for 20% off La Brea Bakery, 10% off McDonalds, 10% off IHOP. We printed several of each. We discovered La Brea Bakery has the best tasting sandwiches. To be honest, I ate a corndog the first night in Disneyland and it didn't sit well with me. All I wanted was a basic ham & cheese sandwich and so I went to La Brea Bakery. It's in downtown Disney close to the security checkpoint. The club sandwich is huge and DH & I were able to share one sandwich. DS also liked the ham & cheese panini. He downed the whole sandwich. We took the sandwiches back to our room where we ate them with Lays Stak chips we brought from home. With all the walking, we realized it's a little hard to have a big meal and then continue in the parks. It's much easier to share a meal so you don't overdue it and then you can continue walking in the parks. Otherwise, if you eat too much, afterwards all you want to do is take a nap or worse, you feel sick to your stomach. And you don't want to ruin your trip that way. So coupons and sharing meals is one way to cut your food budget.

Also, remember you can get FREE cups of ice water from any of the restaurants inside Disneyland. All you have to do is ask and they were very nice about it. They usually had the cups ready to hand out. They are the small cups but you can always get more if needed. We had refillable water bottles that we filled with water and ice at the hotel before heading out to the parks. Then as we ran out of water we refilled them with the cups of ice water from inside Disneyland. One discovery we made was Redd Rocket Pizza in Tomorrowland. We went inside to ask for ice water but they didn't have small cups so the castmember let us fill up large cups with ice water from the soda machines for free. That was very nice of her. We also brought Propel and Crystal Light packets from home to add to the water throughout the day. With all that walking exercise, those Propel packets sure hit the spot. The Crystal Light went better with meals. So remember free ice water is available inside the parks.

We brought some food items from home to eat in the hotel and to carry as snacks. We brought PB&J, bread, cheesesticks, Lays Stak chips, trail mix, granola bars, cereal. It helped make breakfast go fast in the mornings before heading out to the parks. And the other snacks helped hold us over in between meals. If you want breakfast in the park, I recommend the blueberry muffins from the bakery on Main St. next to Carnation Cafe. They are delicious! Also, if you want you can have the early morning breakfast and share it. One plate is eggs, potatoes, bacon & muffin and the other is the french toast sticks plate. Both plates are big enough to share between two people. So you can share meals in the park and/or bring in your own snacks. But for snacks inside the park, I recommend the churros and Mickey ice cream. They are yummy!

Also, don't forget you can always order the $10 pizzas from Pizza Hut and have them delivered to your hotel room. Believe it or not but that pizza is like a meal from home because it's so familiar it's delicious, especially after eating all that park food.

Hope this info helps and hope you have a great fun time at Disneyland!

 

[DizMe]

One thing I've learned to do is to bring in some small cups (like Dixie cups) and use them when we want/need to share drinks. Then we can get one drink (or smoothie or such) and everyone can share without arguing about who got more. The cups don't take up much space and don't weigh much. They're also handy for sharing snacks like nuts, dried fruit, etc so you don't get everyone's grimy, sweaty hands in the bag.

Now THAT'S a great idea!!!!

 

[disneygirlinphoenix]

DisneyGirl...

That is funny, your DH thinking bringing water and food into your room, is white trash.
Well let me tell ya! White trash at a motel, is when Big Bubba, who is wanted not by his wife, who is pregnant again, I might add, but instead in 3 different states for FTA's and for speeding tickets too. Then Mr. Bubba, comes yelling out of Motel Hades, with a 6 pack in one hand, and a bag of pork rinds in the other, complaining to his wife that his beer ain't cold enough. And the pork rinds are too fresh. He prefers older pork.Um.. okay he he!
Then he is yellin about junior Bubba, not getting out of his facial, and he is going to send him to the moon if she doesn't get him under control. Mind you, this all takes place before their first day at Disney. Now the mom is yellin at Bubba, because she told him she did not want to have an 11th baby.... but that now she is pregnant, and is currently undergoing terrible mood swings, swollen ankles and morning tossing of thy cookies, for him to shut the hades up, or else, then it goes from there, and not in a good direction either, believe you me, for I witnessed this first hand, when I was staying there in order to save money on accommodations. Well never ever again, next time HO JO man!.... so then Bubba starts yellin' again, you shut up you bleep and bleep bleep, then she says don't you tell me that you bleepin, bleepedy bleep, bleep bleep! OMG! World war 3 then ensued, because by now Bubba senior is a burpin, fartin, complainin' cussing away, and bubba junior 1 -6 (The others are back at the farm) are defended their very pregnant mama, then fists start flying. I realized that this guy was profiled on AMW two weeks ago, and so I call 911, to begin with to report a domestic dispute, and to let them know that this individual is also a wanted felon! Whooo hooo! I get that reward! Disney Hotel here I come!!

I guess it could be worse! Oh how pathetic!

 

[cooniez]

Thanks for all the suggestions. DH didn't object to bringing water bottles & snacks (and I would've brought them even if he did)...he's basically saying he doesn't want to have a budget mentality like we usually do when we eat out once or twice a week after church. I do understand him not wanting to have to watch everything since we're on vacation & we don't take trips often. I just know how much restaurants charge for soda so it worried me a bit about how much that would add up! Maybe it's because I don't care for soda and would rather spend it on dessert , but it just seems like a waste.

I have the following supplies/snacks so far:

- bottled water
- energy drinks for DH
- baked Cheetos
- 2 boxes granola bars
- Asian rice crackers w/nuts
- Pop-Tarts
- Wheat Thins
- Dixie bowls
- styrofoam cups
- mixed plastic utensils set
- large flexible cooler/tote from Costco (only $6.99 & a beautiful flower print )

I still need to get a small soft-sided cooler to go under the stroller. Oh and some blue ice cooler packs, keep forgetting! I really wish the GCH had a microwave...then I could bring instant oatmeal. I read about that coffee pot trick to heat up water for oatmeal, but after someone posted about the fact they rarely get washed (or people pour water in from their used cups )...well, it just really grossed me out.

 

[VivekB]

no peanut butter? Heck, when we go anywhere, i'm the biggest PB hog (too lazy for the jelly); I stop by a grocery store, get some mini bagels for the room, and that's my favorite energy snack. Although with 2 kids, i'll make them, turn to put the stuff away, and by the time I turn back both kids have each grabbed one so I have to make another one. I also make a few just to have as boosters when we're out & about, the mini-bagel size is perfect.

 

[cooniez]

no peanut butter? Heck, when we go anywhere, i'm the biggest PB hog (too lazy for the jelly); I stop by a grocery store, get some mini bagels for the room, and that's my favorite energy snack. Although with 2 kids, i'll make them, turn to put the stuff away, and by the time I turn back both kids have each grabbed one so I have to make another one. I also make a few just to have as boosters when we're out & about, the mini-bagel size is perfect.

oh shoot I forgot the pb & j...that's been DD2's breakfast since the doc. said she needed to fatten up. Thanks for reminding me!! I wonder if I should just pick them up now and put them in the cooler or buy some over there?

 

[Gisele]

Target has those crustable or is it non crustables actually I believe that would be it. Which are p b and j. The Target in Garden Grove, might have these, for many Target stores do.

 

[cooniez]

Target has those crustable or is it non crustables actually I believe that would be it. Which are p b and j. The Target in Garden Grove, might have these, for many Target stores do.

Yes, I'm not sure if they'd make the 6-7 hr. drive (even if in a cooler with Blue Ice). I may just pick them up at the Target near DL...just hope they're not marked up to $12

 

[PFopma]

We always try to save a little money where we can by bringing in water and sharing meals or eating a good breakfast, a lite snack for lunch and having a nice dinner. Tell your husband with the money you save doing this you can splurge on a nice meal somewhere like Blue Bayou or WoC dinner package. This way the money is spent on something special (that will enhance the vacation) instead of $3 bottle of water.

 

[Funball]

- bottled water
- energy drinks for DH
- baked Cheetos
- 2 boxes granola bars
- Asian rice crackers w/nuts
- Pop-Tarts
- Wheat Thins
- Dixie bowls
- styrofoam cups
- mixed plastic utensils set
- large flexible cooler/tote from Costco (only $6.99 & a beautiful flower print )

well it sounds like you guy will have a rockin good time! that list sounds great!!

 

[cooniez]

This way the money is spent on something special (that will enhance the vacation) instead of $3 bottle of water.

Yes, I would much rather put that $3 towards a nice, big ice cream sundae or another equally satisfying dessert

well it sounds like you guy will have a rockin good time! that list sounds great!!

I'm sure my list is missing a ton of stuff, but thanks!

 

[Funball]

OOH WAIT you did forget something..

a bottle of apsrin or tylenol.. you never know when a headache may hit!