What Do You Cook in Your Villa?

[brandylouwho]

I love having a kitchen at WDW.

I almost always cook eggs for breakfast (cereal doesn't seem to "stick" with us very long). Then we like to have sandwich fixings, fruit and other quick things along. So, we don't eat particularly healthily, but it is so nice to have easy things like (spaghetti & sauce from a jar, kraft mac & cheese for the kids, frozen pizzas, heat & serve meals, etc.) This past trip we used WeGoShop and ordered from Sams Club. It worked out perfectly.

We also go through a ton of water, soda, apple juice & milk.

I am not big on cooking on vacation, so I don't make things that need a lot of prep or take a lot of time, but eating out and having to make so many table service ADRs months in advance gets old too.

So, we usually eat breakfast in, a CS lunch out and then dinner in (or we plan a few dinner ADRs per trip).

 

[LadyTrampScamp&Angel]

Thanks for the great ideas - I'm inspired to use some of them on our trip in about a month

 

[vacation4me]

Thanks for the ideas! I am inspired too!

 

[Niagara2]

We have had many Thanksgiving dinners in our Villa during the last 12 years. I have tried the buy the meal in a box from Publix that you warm up the turkey and the fixins, to large dinners for our family of 12 in a GV at OKW. That one was done just like one would be done at home. The three sister in laws stayed back that day and each did something but spent most of the day together at the pool.
When it is just the 4 of us I do get a fresh turkey and throw it in the oven for the day. You need to buy one of those throw away foil baking pans. No mess!
I do get bottled gravy, bagged salad, baked potatoes, frozen veggies, frozen pumpkin pies to bake, whipped cream and we have a great dinner. After dinner we hang our Christmas lights on the porch to start our Holiday season!
After 12 years of owning DVC with kids that grew up going to Disney 3-4 times per year we feel like we are at home. Thanksgiving has been on our list every year.
The rest of the week we do like most of you, pizza, hot dogs, sandwiches (made with the left over turkey, just like at home!) snacks and breakfast.
We like to eat out but if we ate out each trip we would not be able to go as much. We always joke with friends and family that they can come with us and stay for free if they buy the food in the parks for a week

 

[PalVal]

Does anyone ever have any trouble with the airline when they freeze meals and pack it in their checked bags? We have a family of 8 staying in a 2-bedroom and I'd like to make some meals in advance and bring frozen. Do they open your luggage or move the ice packs around while looking at what you have packed? Another problem might be if my room is not ready when we arrive. I'm assuming that some of you have had to store your "frozen luggage food". Is that a hassle?

 

[TINKERIFIC]

Never thought about packing frozen food in my luggage? Interesting, hmmm. We usually drive, so cannot answer that, but I am curious as well.

 

[MamaCrush]

Does anyone ever have any trouble with the airline when they freeze meals and pack it in their checked bags? We have a family of 8 staying in a 2-bedroom and I'd like to make some meals in advance and bring frozen. Do they open your luggage or move the ice packs around while looking at what you have packed? Another problem might be if my room is not ready when we arrive. I'm assuming that some of you have had to store your "frozen luggage food". Is that a hassle?

I'm wondering if you could buy one of those cheap styrofoam coolers, put your stuff in it with ice bags (dry ice?) and duck tape it closed. But whatever you do, I would call the airline and ask them how to do it. I would hate for all that hard work (and food) to go to waste!

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I'm wondering if you could buy one of those cheap styrofoam coolers, put your stuff in it with ice bags (dry ice?) and duck tape it closed. But whatever you do, I would call the airline and ask them how to do it. I would hate for all that hard work (and food) to go to waste!

You can do this but not the duct taping part of it. They will want to inspect it and if it's sealed you will have to tear that stuff off. I know this because a dear friend of mine purchases a special brand of NY hot dogs, freezes them and transports them with her by plane. It was never a problem before by sealing them but after 911 everything changed, they must be able to be opened for inspection.

 

[gwensgoofy]

It sounds like a lot of people do half cook/half eat out like we do. All breakfasts in the room-muffins, eggs, pancakes, cereal, etc. Lunch meat and cheese, bread, lots of fresh fruit-all for the stay at home day lunches; spaghetti, rotisserie chicken, tacos for dinners. We also buy a couple of stouffer family size casseroles-the chicken enchiladas are great. lasagna's not too bad. My kids hate wasting time at restaurants for breakfast and lunch. This makes those dinners out more special!

 

[momx2]

Right now I am cooking Stouffers Chicken alfredo rigatoni, cesar salad, garlic bread. We had the Stouffers lasagna few days ago and grilled out Bubba burgers and hotdogs.

 

[Pixieflip]

Yes, all the Stouffers meals are my fav! No work, no clean up, more of a meal than QS and everyone is full. Love all the ideas here!

 

[TINKERIFIC]

Right now I am cooking Stouffers Chicken alfredo rigatoni, cesar salad, garlic bread. We had the Stouffers lasagna few days ago and grilled out Bubba burgers and hotdogs.

I am very curious about the availability of the BBQs. Did you have to wait or were they pretty much vacant when you grilled out. About what time of day did you grill out. I am scared we will plan to grill out, but never be able to use the grills because they are occupied.

Also, another idea for dinners are the frozen bagged meals with the meat and veggies already. The ones you open the bag and cook about 10 minutes in a pan on the stove, then make a quick salad and starchy side....voila dinner. Those are great and there is a lot of different choices.

 

[renda460]

Does anyone have more suggestions of things we could pick up in the grocery store that just require heating? Like a frozen pizza, but not pizza. Frozen stouffers lasagna, etc wouldn't be bad, but dont they take forever to heat. Any other similar foods that people have eaten and enjoyed, and would recommend? Preferably ones that wouldnt dirty any pots/pans?

We typically never eat dinner in our room, but we will be coming off the disney cruise then disney world for our next trip. I know we will feel so stuffed from all the food on the cruise that we wont mind missing some of the big restaurant meals at disney.

 

[momx2]

I am very curious about the availability of the BBQs. Did you have to wait or were they pretty much vacant when you grilled out. About what time of day did you grill out. I am scared we will plan to grill out, but never be able to use the grills because they are occupied.

Also, another idea for dinners are the frozen bagged meals with the meat and veggies already. The ones you open the bag and cook about 10 minutes in a pan on the stove, then make a quick salad and starchy side....voila dinner. Those are great and there is a lot of different choices.

We grilled at Saratoga Springs in the Grandstand area. They have 2 covered charcoal grills there with 2 picnic tables. We have seen others grill there and my DH actually was grilling while another family was using the other grill, but we did not have to wait. We started around 5 or 5:30 since it takes longer to grill with charcoal than gas. I have never seen anyone grilling at BWV were we have stayed twice and AKL Jambo doesn't have grills.

 

[TINKERIFIC]

Does anyone have more suggestions of things we could pick up in the grocery store that just require heating? Like a frozen pizza, but not pizza. Frozen stouffers lasagna, etc wouldn't be bad, but dont they take forever to heat. Any other similar foods that people have eaten and enjoyed, and would recommend? Preferably ones that wouldnt dirty any pots/pans?

We typically never eat dinner in our room, but we will be coming off the disney cruise then disney world for our next trip. I know we will feel so stuffed from all the food on the cruise that we wont mind missing some of the big restaurant meals at disney.

The frozen bagged all-inclusive meals. Sorry, forgot brand name. There is a great variety..with veggies and meat included. Open the bag, pour into pan on stove and cook about 10 -15 minutes, maybe less, cannot remember off the top of my head the length. They are really good!

Sorry, these require a pan, but nothing more. The clean up is really easy when you have a dishwasher!

Also, Tyson makes bags of frozen seasoned chicken strips for fajitas. I had a coupon and decided to try one night for a chicken fajita dinner. While the kids were in the shower, I completed dinner! Just pour into pan and heat.

 

[TINKERIFIC]

We grilled at Saratoga Springs in the Grandstand area. They have 2 covered charcoal grills there with 2 picnic tables. We have seen others grill there and my DH actually was grilling while another family was using the other grill, but we did not have to wait. We started around 5 or 5:30 since it takes longer to grill with charcoal than gas. I have never seen anyone grilling at BWV were we have stayed twice and AKL Jambo doesn't have grills.

Thanks, momx2, we will be at Kidani during the summer so heres hoping!

 

[momx2]

The grills at Kidani that we saw were across the street with the tennis courts. I don't know if there are any other grill, but those seemed to be in an odd place. My DH, who loves to grill, commented he wouldn't walk all the way over there to grill. I hope there are others in another location.

 

[Paticake]

I have used the Bertolli brand frozen bag meals and they are pretty good. We like the chicken broccoli one. For our upcoming trip (June 27th) we will be travelling with DS, DDIL,DGS 8 months, DD, DSIL, DGS 2 yrs old, my parents (from south FL) will join us for a few days in the beginning of the trip. We generally only cook breakfast and maybe light snacks, maybe a BBQ. This trip will be abit different because of the size of our group and the ages. We will cook breakfast each day, eggs, pancakes etc. One night we are planning to just get cold meat, sandwich fixings etc for a fix your own, we are planning to BBQ-hot dogs and hamburgers. We ar planning to do some easy lunches also. (Pizza, chicken caesar salad etc)

 

[mouseaddicts]

Well, you can count us in as new "converts" to cooking @ WDW!
I too used to be the "it's MY vacation - I don't want to cook!" variety, but after crunching the numbers over the past couple of years and becoming more aware of our food costs for a family of 5 (DH, me, DD15, DD12 and DS9) , I've had a complete change of attitude! Last year, DH & I looked at each other in the planning phase and said "HEY - we have a whole kitchen we aren't using! What's wrong with us!?! We'll cook in a couple of meals and see how that works."

The first meal I made was DD15's favorite ...... Frito Chili Pie ... yummmmm! Somehow, it's just tastes better when you eat it in your villa!
What is the wonderful concoction you ask? I'm so glad you did! Get out the large rectangle baking dish (it's only 1 dish & you have a dishwasher!), open a bag of Fritos and spread across the bottom. Next, open up 3 cans of Hormel chili with beans & pour evenly over the Fritos. Finally, spread shredded cheese (pick one - casserole blend, Mexican, shreeded colby jack - just your favorite will do) over the top and pop in the oven on 350 for about 20-30 minutes until the cheese is nicely melted & bubbly! Voila! Instant dinner casserole! You spend 5 minutes in the kitchen & your family has a fantastic meal that they'll love you forever for on your magical vacation! Add a side salad, fruit cup, etc. and you've made it healty to boot!

I've read this whole thread and gained some fantastic ideas! Why have I never thought about taking my crock pot!! I have a wonderful recipe for crock pot lasagna - I think we'll be having that this summer! (I'm happy to share the recipe for that if anyone wants it) And we love meatball subs (frozen meatballs & spaghetti sauce!), so that's going on the list too!

Thanks for all the ideas! Keep 'em coming!

 

[extremesoccermom]

We stayed in a one bedroom a few years ago as a free upgrade from POP Century w/ free dining so we didn't cook just used the fridge.
When we were in a two bedroom last year we made DD14 a frozen pizza since we were having a grown up's night out. We also had some of the frozen breakfast sandwiches that you heat in the microwave.
When DD15, DS19 and I go in July we will only have a studio so we are going to try the QSDP.
But finally in Oct 2010 we are planning on using our DVC for a relaxing vacation after a 3 day cruise so I am planning on cooking and doing a lot of the previous techniques of precooking or buying super easy meals. One of my favorites from the food network is Rachael Ray and her 30 minute meals.
This will allow us to have good meals with me being stuck in the room cooking while the family swims.