Trying to eat as cheaply as possible

[DopeyDame]

I've had some unexpected financial problems and have gone on a huge fiscal fast. We already had a trip to WDW planned for this month and with everything already paid for it made no sense to cancel, I'd only lose money that way. So we're going, and will try to enjoy it to the fullest since it will be the last trip for quite awhile. The only major OOP expense I can see for the trip is going to be food. We're taking DME straight to WDW and won't have a car, so there's no opportunity to stop and pick up supplies. I'm going to try and pack in our suitcases some stuff like granola bars, and I'll probably pick up Entenmann's donuts from the resort store for breakfast in the room. We'll also have refillable water bottles and in the parks we'll get cups of ice water. But it's the lunch and dinner costs that I'm trying to keep down. I cancelled all of our ADRs except for Beaches and Cream where we'll just get sundaes anyway so that keeps costs down there. I've been trolling the menus on Allears to try and figure out the cheapest meals. Even if it's unhealthy, I could probably subsist on snacks in the parks, but I have a 14 year old son who's still growing and who can eat like a horse and he's going to need more than that.

What food/meals do you recommend to 1) eat cheaply, 2) get the best value, and 3) if possible largest amount of food for the money (see always hungry 14 year old above). This will be our 14th trip to WDW, but I've never really paid attention to costs before and was hoping to get some good advice.

TIA!

We used Amazon now on this trip and it worked out great. (Although they did have some problem finding the order - it was in the fridge in bell services and they didn't think to look there at first)
So you could get all sorts of food, including refrigerated items, delivered to your room. Maybe some some PB&J and bread delivered and bring sandwiches, get some oatmeal or cereal for a larger breakfast to tide you over.

I also frequently order kids meals at CS restaurants without a problem (which might not work for the 14 year old, but would probably work for you)

 

[lauritagoddess]

Quick question about kids meals at CS restaurants. I'm not a chicken nugget person at all, except at Disney parks. Do they kids meals have the same nuggets as adult meals or are they different? I seem to recall that when my son was still getting kids meals that some places had regular ones and others had these sort of flatter nuggets that didn't taste that good, at least to me. But it's been awhile.

 

[elaine amj]

Quick question about kids meals at CS restaurants. I'm not a chicken nugget person at all, except at Disney parks. Do they kids meals have the same nuggets as adult meals or are they different? I seem to recall that when my son was still getting kids meals that some places had regular ones and others had these sort of flatter nuggets that didn't taste that good, at least to me. But it's been awhile.

Oh I remember those awful kids nuggets when we ordered them several years back. We VERY quickly learned our lesson and have since ordered adult nuggets/strips for my son (who pretty much lives on that stuff during Disney vacations).

 

[Barbydoll8]

They are the same nuggets.
Another suggestion: check the DVC boards & FB DVC groups as many DVC peeps "swap" left over food they didn't use (not open stuff usually) and will post that they have stuff available. Some people from regular rooms do the same.
If DVC'ers leave stuff behind, it goes to the cleaning staff so it's not wasted but if others can use it.....

I will also second the use what you have. You will have a can opener in the room so cans can be packed. I go to the QS location and get extra paper plates and plastic ware as needed. You will have real coffee cups, real small drink glasses and a regular toaster in the room.
Use the BBQ grills there. The community center on site will have BBQ utensils to borrow so you can cook. They are charcoal grills though so you'll need to have the charcoal or the heat elements to cook on.

The only other thing I would be sure to pack is either tin foil or plastic wrap. Left overs or if you grill you'll want that to cook with and any spices you really want to use. When i was a kid, my Mom made us grilled cheese sandwiches using tin foil and the iron. It was a little squished but instead of dirtying a pan, make sandwich like normal and butter both sides, wrap in tin foil and iron on high for about 45 seconds to 1 minute. Flip over and repeat. Instant grilled cheese or grilled cheese and ham. Not fancy but it works. You'll have an iron in the room.

There is also a grocery store in the shopping plaza on 535 just south of Disney Springs. It's walk-able but a hike.

 

[nkereina]

Sorry if I am repeating, but you can get a large pizza at Via Napoli for $30ish - that is enough to feed you both for dinner, and have some leftover for lunch the next day. Or eat there for lunch and have some for dinner. Either way, it's an inexpensive TS meal that would give you a decent size portion.

If you'd still like to do some other TS meals, maybe consider the TS restaurants at the moderate resorts. They tend to be a cheaper price point since they are not as popular and there are no characters.

Also, if you're at Disney Springs, Wolfgang Puck Express is a QS with excellent food and large portions. You could easily split a pizza or pasta here.

 

[SillyFamily]

No one has mentioned this but next to/in trails end (PJ's Take out) has a huge chicken dinner that you can take back to your room. You get 8 pieces of chicken 2 huge sides and corn bread or biscuits for $23. You can also make it all white meat which makes it 8 chicken breasts (huge) for around $40. This can easily last several meals and you can explore the fort at the same time.

Funnel Cakes are a huge snack though they are bit pricey.

Caramel Apples are a nice large and almost healthy snack.

Refillable popcorn buckets make for filling snacks.

Carrot Cake Cookies are another large snack (it usually takes me several days to finish one)

You can have pizza delivered from several local and chain pizza places at the same price as regular plus tip. Double your order and have leftovers for several days. Pizza for breakfast YUMMY!!

If you do want to try a buffet trails end and the wave (breakfast) are of the cheapest and imho best buffets on property. Boma and Tusker House are up there for great foods but they are much pricier. At the wave if you wanted to save money you could get your son the buffet and you could order a continental breakfast for $30 plus tip. You can do the same thing for breakfast at the captains grill for their breakfast buffet. I have found the captains grill breakfast to be good or just ok. I would plan these meals after the golden hour at the park a for a brunch. Filling your teenager up for 2 meals.

 

[WhispyPixie]

Earl of Sandwich is quite a bit less (compared to WDW prices) and the food is really good! Also, highly recommend Amazon Prime Pantry. You get a box and begin filling it up with grocery items. If you have at least 5 items there is NO COST for delivery. We use this every time and order early enough so that it is waiting for us when we arrive at WDW. You can pick the box up at Bell Services & not have to tip. We order all of our breakfast items, cereals, snacks galore and water and flavored water!!! Hope this helps!

 

[Flora Fan]

This thread is great. I have really enjoyed everyone's ideas.

I can (as I say it proudly) do Disney with two kids for less than $30/day on food. And that is with a teen aged son who is a big eater. But, you have to plan it like a military operation.

We fly Southwest so bags are free. one of our suitcases is exclusively food and one of our carry on bags is a soft sided rolling cooler.

Packed bag: Loaf of bread, boxes of cereal, plastic bowls, peanut butter and jelly, tuna packets, mini donuts, poptarts, cans of pringles, apples, apple slicer or knife, ziplock bags, granola bars, nuts, cookies, random snacks. Mio water flavoring. I also take a small empty soft sided cooler.

China Mom, you're my hero. Packing a second bag with food stuff...genius. I'm typically a Southwest flyer too and never thought of using the free 2nd bag for food items.

 

[lauritagoddess]

Oh I remember those awful kids nuggets when we ordered them several years back. We VERY quickly learned our lesson and have since ordered adult nuggets/strips for my son (who pretty much lives on that stuff during Disney vacations).

Good, I'm not the only who thought they were awful. My son was okay with them, but then I don't think he's ever met a chicken nugget he didn't like.

They are the same nuggets.

Another suggestion: check the DVC boards & FB DVC groups as many DVC peeps "swap" left over food they didn't use (not open stuff usually) and will post that they have stuff available. Some people from regular rooms do the same.
If DVC'ers leave stuff behind, it goes to the cleaning staff so it's not wasted but if others can use it.....

They are the same nuggets now, great! And thanks for the info about the other DVC people who have food to swap/leave behind, I will definitely look into this.

No one has mentioned this but next to/in trails end (PJ's Take out) has a huge chicken dinner that you can take back to your room. You get 8 pieces of chicken 2 huge sides and corn bread or biscuits for $23. You can also make it all white meat which makes it 8 chicken breasts (huge) for around $40. This can easily last several meals and you can explore the fort at the same time.

That sounds really cost effective, we could multiple meals out of that. Good to know.

This thread is great. I have really enjoyed everyone's ideas.

China Mom, you're my hero. Packing a second bag with food stuff...genius. I'm typically a Southwest flyer too and never thought of using the free 2nd bag for food items.

Yes, so many great ideas, thanks so much to everyone. I wish though that I could pack an extra bag for free, but we're flying Delta, no luck there.

 

[maxiesmom]

You can always send a box down if you don't have enough room in your luggage. Or make one of your carry on bags a food bag. As you each get one personal item and one bag to go in the overhead fill a backpack with snacks and have that as one of the personal items. That way it can go under the seat and not be squished.

 

[horselover]

This is definitely something to consider.



That pie looks huge! Too bad there's just the two of us, if there were more that looks like it would be a really good option.

They will give you a to go box for anything you don't finish. Plan your meal for when you think you'll be ready to head out of Epcot so you don't have to carry it around with you. Whatever is left over would be a perfect lunch for the next day. You do have a microwave. Via Napoli's pizza really is fantastic.

 

[jo-jo]

No one has mentioned this but next to/in trails end (PJ's Take out) has a huge chicken dinner that you can take back to your room. You get 8 pieces of chicken 2 huge sides and corn bread or biscuits for $23. You can also make it all white meat which makes it 8 chicken breasts (huge) for around $40. This can easily last several meals and you can explore the fort at the same time.
.

We loved that meal. We get it and take it on the boat back to BLT. Dh and I always get two meals out of it. Last time we got 6 pieces of cornbread. The extra cornbread went great with the cans of beef stew we stuff in our suitcase.

We are in the camp of bringing stuff in suitcase. Although it's nice to save money, it's more of saving time in the morning and sometimes we are just too tired to go out for food or the weather is awful awful.

Shhhhh The chicken meal is the best deal on site.

 

[lauritagoddess]

We loved that meal. We get it and take it on the boat back to BLT. Dh and I always get two meals out of it. Last time we got 6 pieces of cornbread. The extra cornbread went great with the cans of beef stew we stuff in our suitcase.

We are in the camp of bringing stuff in suitcase. Although it's nice to save money, it's more of saving time in the morning and sometimes we are just too tired to go out for food or the weather is awful awful.

Shhhhh The chicken meal is the best deal on site.

Now, I'm in the mood for fried chicken, lol.

 

[mrzrich]

Oh, oh, oh! I just realized something! You are staying at the Poly! You can get the twilight feast! Its Ohana delivered to your room! All reports that I have seen say that a one portion could feed 3 people. Others have reported that a child's portion is enough for 2 adults. Look for picture reviews to assess how much you should order.

 

[rnorwo1]

Oh, oh, oh! I just realized something! You are staying at the Poly! You can get the twilight feast! Its Ohana delivered to your room! All reports that I have seen say that a one portion could feed 3 people. Others have reported that a child's portion is enough for 2 adults. Look for picture reviews to assess how much you should order.

View attachment 219091

I did not know this existed! Do they charge a room service fee? I looked at the menu, and you can even get tonga toast, which I've never been able to try because my family doesn't like breakfast enough to justify the expense of a TS. I know you can get it at the CS, but it doesn't come with the compote, I believe. Breakfast is my favorite meal, I would be so excited to eat it in the room if it wasn't too much extra money.

 

[mrzrich]

I did not know this existed! Do they charge a room service fee? I looked at the menu, and you can even get tonga toast, which I've never been able to try because my family doesn't like breakfast enough to justify the expense of a TS. I know you can get it at the CS, but it doesn't come with the compote, I believe. Breakfast is my favorite meal, I would be so excited to eat it in the room if it wasn't too much extra money.

I do not know details about the feast, but there are reviews on YouTube

 

[halfpintpeggy]

A good option for an affordable dinner is the Family Meal at Picabu. You get a large rotisserie chicken & 3 family sized sides for $25.

 

[lauritagoddess]

Oh, oh, oh! I just realized something! You are staying at the Poly! You can get the twilight feast! Its Ohana delivered to your room! All reports that I have seen say that a one portion could feed 3 people. Others have reported that a child's portion is enough for 2 adults. Look for picture reviews to assess how much you should order.

That looks amazing! I think it's too pricey for us, but mmmm....