Trip went BUDGET! Suggestions and Tips?

[itchin2go]

I had all my ADRs lined up, but we've decided to scale back on spending. We talked about cancelling the trip altogether, but everything is free (hotel) or paid for (tickets) except food and gas. SO, we decided to just make this a budget trip. We will have a full kitchen, so we can eat some meals in the room, but aside from breakfast, that probably won't happen. We're also foodies, so we want GOOD food.

My short-list right now is:

Tangierine Cafe
Sunshine Seasons
Columbia Harbor House
WP Express
Earl of Sandwich

We're going to eat 3 or so TS meals to break up the CS, but we will be leaning heavily on CS.

Any other suggestions? Offsite is ok too.

 

[Microcell]

You have been reading the boards! You hit lots of good ones out of the gate!

We like getting brats at the CS in Germany, DH likes Mexican.. I happen not to like Mexican in general so I am personally no help there.

I am interested in trying Electric Umbrella in Epcot.

Pecos Bills in MK has the toppings bar that people rave about.. haven't been there myself.

People really talk up Cosmic Rays, but I gotta say, the place smells like a bathroom to me.

Have fun no matter what!

 

[natalielongstaff]

my offsite tip would be friendly's

 

[eventamy]

What about the Plaza too? That way you could have a TS that's fairly cheap. I also found Sci-Fi pretty reasonable as long as you stick with burgers and fries. We only spent a few dollars more at Sci-Fi then we did at Sunshine Seasons and you get the great setting. We really enjoyed our meal there, the burgers and fries were great and the shakes were awesome!
Other then that I think you have some great suggestions!

A couple of other for offsite - we stay offsite as my mom is an owner through Interval and we can get a 2 bedroom condo for free.
Check out www.restaurants.com and see what's available in the area and purchase gift certificates. Sign up for the emails and you will get some serious deals! I have gotten $25 certificates for $2.

Also try Soulplantation and Sweet Tomatoes. People seem to love this salad, soup and pasta buffet. If you sign up for the emails you'll get coupons. AND if you sign up for the birthday thing and your birthday "happens" to be the same week as your trip you'll get an extra coupon. I meant to try this last year and we didn't get around to it, but I'm determined to try it this year.
http://www.souplantation.com/

 

[blanq]

You have some great CS options, and I can tell by what you picked that you don't want the usual burgers/fries for your CS meals. I have two other options to suggest:

1 Trails to Go, at the Trails End Restaurant at Ft Wilderness has a Giddyup and Go meal deal for $22.99 that includes 10 pieces of chicken, fries, cole slaw and biscuits for 4. If you want all white meat, the price goes up to$26.99. Not bad for a meal for 4 people. Ft Wilderness is abit out of the way, but you can take the boat from the MK for a meal there without much hassle.

2. When you are at AK, try the "Picnic in the Park" deal. Here is a link to more information: http://allears.net/din/akpicnic.htm

 

[Pirate's Princess]

Those are definitely good cs choices. I'd recommend sharing the meals instead of always ordering 1 per person.

Also don't buy bottled water. It's such a rip off. Instead go the cs place or any other place with a soda fountain and ask for a cup of ice water. It's filtered and tastes good unlike the water fountains. And it's free. Sometimes you get a tiny cup other times I received a large cup. Either way you're saving a lot of money if you like to drink water.

 

[itchin2go]

Thanks for all the tips! We have always leaned so heavily on the onsite TS locations, so this will be a learning experience for us!

 

[Kathy Z]

At Earl of Sandwich I tried both a hot sandwich (The Original 1762 - roast beef etc.) and a wrap (Chicken Caesar.) I felt the Original was overrated, it had very little meat. But the Chicken Caesar wrap was delicious and an excellent value at $5.95.

If you can afford treats at Ghirardelli while at DTD I learned something of value. I requested a hot fudge sundae with dark chocolate. When I was asked if I wanted the whipped cream, nuts and cherry I said "no whipped cream or nuts." The CM at the register then said "well I'll only order a scoop of vanilla, dark fudge and a cherry. It is less expensive that way." The scoop (I had my choice of flavors) was huge - really like two scoops and priced at 3.95. The fudge was 1.00 and the cherry was .25. I would have skipped the cherry too if I had realized I was going to pay .25 for it - but it was good. The sundaes on the menu are 7.95 and up.

Flame Tree barbeque in AK has lots of good value foods if the day is warm enough to sit outdoors. There are both covered and uncovered patio areas with chairs to sit.

I like Cosmic Ray's (except for the noise) in MK. Pecos Bill's always smells great when we walk by but we have not eaten there.

 

[blanq]

Oh, I have one more thing to add that I forgot about in my first response. Sometimes you can eat at TS restaurants for not much more than a CS one; you get the more relaxing atmospehere of a sit-down for not much more money. Our family loves to eat at LLT for lunch when at the MK. DH and I like to split the Tri-Corner Sandwich (roast beef and swiss cheese with Liberty Slaw, horseradish cream sauce and arugula served on herbed focaccia with fresh fruit or tavern fries for $11.49). He will then get the soup of the day, and I will get the Declaration Salad with strawberries. We often will order water with lemon, saving a boatload on drinks. So, for about $12 per person we get a nice meal that fills us up...not too bad!

Yak & Yeti CS is another good option. You get decent portions. The mini mango pie is heavenly!

 

[kimbac3]

The 1/2 chicken meal at Cosmic Rays and the meals at Flame Tree are very good AND big enough to share!

Here's another tip - if you want to do table service go for a buffet, you get more for your money.

We also bring our own drinks to our counter service meals. My kids prefer juice or water. That saves alot of money!!