What food do you pack into the park for lunch?

[DSNY4ever]

We used to do this when we were tight on trip money, and it looks like we might have to do this again for our next trip. My husband HATES doing this, so I am trying to come up with some yummier ideas so it won't be so bad (usually we would pack PB&J since it doesn't need to be kept cold, along with an apple and some snacks like granola bars etc.).

Looking for ideas of what others do to save money. Maybe next time we should do a grocery delivery so we'll have more variety of snacks...? Do you guys pack a cooler in?

And no we won't bring a can of corn to eat on main street

 

[HM]

We haven't done this, but since my kids have carried around an 'insulated' lunch box all day to school and one of them doesn't like a PB&J every day (the other does)....here's what she might get: cheese quesadillas in a sandwich box and salsa in a small Glad plastic container; Hummus and pita chips; salad with separate container of dressing; premade tuna salad packet and slices of bread/cracker

The insulated lunch boxes with a "blue ice" pack keeps cool enough until lunch time. They even put yogurt, fruit juice boxes, apple sauce, packs of sliced apples, etc in them and they've been fine to eat. I imagine it would work well in the parks as well. And since you are aiming to save money, I'd skip the lockers to hold your lunch, but have each person carry their own in a backpack.

I hope that helps some.

 

[North of Mouse]

We used to do this when we were tight on trip money, and it looks like we might have to do this again for our next trip. My husband HATES doing this, so I am trying to come up with some yummier ideas so it won't be so bad (usually we would pack PB&J since it doesn't need to be kept cold, along with an apple and some snacks like granola bars etc.).

Looking for ideas of what others do to save money. Maybe next time we should do a grocery delivery so we'll have more variety of snacks...? Do you guys pack a cooler in?

And no we won't bring a can of corn to eat on main street

Are you staying off site? If so, I would plan on a large breakfast, and just bring granola bars or other easy snacks per person, and then go back and eat your evening meal where you are staying. You won't starve I just refuse to pack lunches in the park, too much trouble to me and not worth it - has nothing to do with affordability. I always pack a few goodies anyway - packs of peanuts, granola bars and a couple frozen pouch drinks to eat when they get slushy. We just enjoy pulling one out in a show or something (outdoor). As a PP said though, it would be every person pack their own

 

[hsmamato2]

Well, I always packed stuff I could use and toss,I don't want to be carrying empty containers around all day..... I packed pb&j... or I liked hard salami sandwiches, it seemed to keep pretty well till lunch- get water for free from cs places,or juiceboxes if the kids liked them.
I also love laughing cow soft cheeses on crackers (ate these while hiking Yosemite last year)
baby carrots, fresh apples or oranges- granola bars, delicious nuts.....
cheese sticks, used ziploc baggies so we could toss later......slim jims,beef jerky(my kids could live on it)

if we packed a sandwich, we could get some sides at the park,or a dessert,etc,or maybe a soda if we wanted a change- frequently the kids were happy with a sandwich and 3.00 worth of purchased fries.....

 

[DawnM]

can of pringles in the side pocket
sandwhiches
cheese sticks
trail mix
fruit slices
granola bars
crackers
cookies

If it is easy to take along, we have done it.

 

[swilshire]

Beef jerky, various nuts, cookies for the kids, chips.

As suggested above, we typically eat breakfast and just snack around at lunchtime, leaving early enough for dinner. If we are staying a long day, a couple of the family members insist on at least counter service. I'd be fine with the snacks.

Sheila

 

[juliemouse]

I pack frozen juice boxes and frozen "go-gurts" (no spoon needed) for the kids and that serves as an icepack. That way I'm not adding extra weight for ice. I also take granola bars, individual bags of cookies, cheese crackers, and fruit chews. We haven't taken lunch in though but we eat breakfast in the room, eat lots of snacks, and then we can usually just buy 2 CS meals to split between the 4 of us. Some portions are so big!
I'm on the lookout for a new backpack cooler. Anybody have one they like a lot?

 

[DSNY4ever]

Hmm, some new good ideas. I think I will definitely do a grocery delivery this the so we can have more variety. We do about 1 sit down meal per day, so breakfast is usually done in the room too, which we don't mind because it saves time...but packing lunch is a pain. I am just blown away by most of the dining prices and counter services priest since our last trip, and this time we'll have to pay for DS to fly, plane tickets are a killer!

I think there is an old thread about the best CS meals for splitting, is that still around? If not what are your favorites for that?

 

[DSNY4ever]

Are you staying off site? If so, I would plan on a large breakfast, and just bring granola bars or other easy snacks per person, and then go back and eat your evening meal where you are staying. You won't starve I just refuse to pack lunches in the park, too much trouble to me and not worth it - has nothing to do with affordability. I always pack a few goodies anyway - packs of peanuts, granola bars and a couple frozen pouch drinks to eat when they get slushy. We just enjoy pulling one out in a show or something (outdoor). As a PP said though, it would be every person pack their own

We'll be onsite. I am trying to look at off property, but adding in the cost of a rental car seemed to cancel out the savings.

 

[North of Mouse]

We'll be onsite. I am trying to look at off property, but adding in the cost of a rental car seemed to cancel out the savings.

You're most likely right. That would cancel out the cooking then I see, so can agree you definitely need more than snacks, but I'm at a loss on knowing how to pack tasty "good" food for all day. Wish you the best

 

[karliebug]

If you usually do one sit down a day, lunch is usually cheaper than dinner. If you bring cereal, muffins, bagels, etc. for breakfast, and then eat your sitdown meal as a late lunch...2 or 3 oclock you may save enough to have a counter service for dinner later. If you eat at counter service, asking for ice water instead of soda saves at least $10.

 

[crusoe2]

When we have to do a real low budget trip, we rent a condo at Windsor Hills through vacationcentralflorida.com. They have some of the lowest rates around and we've found the pictures on their website to be truly representative of what the units look like. My only caution would be that sometimes the rates listed on their rates page don't match up to what you get when you start to actually book a unit. But you will see the actual price and any additional charges before you actually book - so no unpleasant surprises after the fact. It's possible you could save enough by renting from them to more than make up for a rental car. Especially when you factor in being able to do a grocery run after you get there and having a full kitchen so you can eat some meals in.

Last time we stayed at WH, we filled a backpack cooler with bottled water and snacks and took it into the park. I bought a big block of cheddar cheese and sliced it into bite-size pieces and packed it in a ziplock. I also packed nice, cold grapes and strawberries in one of those little plastic storage bowls. We used the outside pockets of the backpack for things like a can of Pringles, individual packets of drink mix to add to the water, and napkins. We loved having drinks and snacks handy whenever we were ready for them - saved money and time cause we didn't have to go stand in line every time someone wanted a bite to eat. We did eat a few counter service meals that trip and did one character meal. But we could afford it thanks to the savings on accommodations and snacks.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We like German style Sommer sausage (we have ours made with 50/50 deer & pork, but our butcher also sells pre-made pork only). It's harder than a hard salami & is very flavorful and doesn't need to be kept cold. Makes a nice snack, just make sure to slice it up ahead of time Otherwise, sandwiches in disposable bags. BTW, this is what we've done for OTHER parks - still waiting on our own family Disney trip Most other places we've been, there's shade trees in the parking lots & rather than rent a locker, we just keep everything in a cooler in the car and get our hands stamped to go out & have a picnic under a tree somewhere.

 

[SDSorority]

We used to do this when we were tight on trip money, and it looks like we might have to do this again for our next trip. My husband HATES doing this, so I am trying to come up with some yummier ideas so it won't be so bad (usually we would pack PB&J since it doesn't need to be kept cold, along with an apple and some snacks like granola bars etc.).

Looking for ideas of what others do to save money. Maybe next time we should do a grocery delivery so we'll have more variety of snacks...? Do you guys pack a cooler in?

And no we won't bring a can of corn to eat on main street

We're gluten-free, so in order for us to not live off of Amy's Rice Mac and Cheese at the parks (which we COULD do because it's so doggone good....) we always like to bring our own food into the parks. Things that work well for us are:

PB and J or veggie sandwich (on gluten-free bread- prefer Udi's, packed in our suitcase because Publix GF food is SO expensive! )
Cut up fruit
Cut up veggies (like celery, carrots and cucumbers)
Nuts
Cheese
Enjoy Life "granola-type" bars
Yogurt
Flax or Rice Crackers
Enjoy Life cookies (also available in the parks)
Larabars
Water (of course)

We do bring a cooler with us into the parks (soft- it fits in our backpack) filled with ice packs.

Normally we'll do a breakfast in the room of cereal and milk, maybe a piece of fruit, and our vitamins.

Then, we'll do an 'early' lunch (around 11am) in the parks with our packed cooler.

Dinner is normally around 4:30-4:45 at a TS in the parks or at one of the Deluxe resorts. We do off-hours because of our special dietary requests. It's easier to talk to the chef when it's not the THICK of dinner hour. And since we always go during September (free dining season) the restaurants fill up more than normal.

Then we'll have some sort of sweet treat in the evening- 7pm-8pm, most likely also brought with us into the park.... or picked up from Babycakes!

 

[North of Mouse]

Crusoe2, the OP just said she would not have a car, that staying off site and having to rent a car was off setting the staying on site price. I just remembered that some off site places do have shuttles to Disney, don't they? I thought someone had mentioned that on here, but can't remember which places.

 

[Natalie's Mommy]

i usually place an order with garden grocer for a couple different types of lunch meat, bread and pack sandwiches. and since we fly jet blue we get 4 free checked bags so we always have enough extra room to pack a couple boxes of fruit snacks, granola bars, snack bag sized chips, peanut butter and nutella (be advised sercutity will most likley open and inspect this bag). i also make my own ice packs with ziplock baggies and ice from the ice machines. i also put our water bottles and juice boxes in the freezer so they help keep our sandwiches cold.

 

[gillenkl]

By the time you buy all the stuff to take into the parks, seems like it would be just as cost effective to share a counter service meal and request ice water.

 

[Friendly Frog]

You could also take canned meat with pull top lids, such as light chunkey chicken, tuna or chicken salad. They need no refrigeration until opened. That way you can open them and add them to bread when you are ready. Of course if you take tuna, I wouldn't eat it in a line or near other people

 

[leidig32]

I was going to get an insulated pack to carry. Love the ideas of snacks posted here!

 

[dclfun]

We like to bring tortillas vs. bread and make wraps. We actually make the wraps in the parks vs. having them pre-made as they stay fresher. I pack a small ziploc with lettuce, have the small hummus packs and then some type of sliced meat in a separate bag- usually turkey or chicken. Any of the kids who don't want hummus can get mayo or mustard from one of the QS places. I've also brought celery, baby carrots, and fruit- esp. grapes and bananas. Then there's the cheese sticks, peanut butter packs, sourdough pretzel bites, graham crackers, and granola or Kind bars ( expensive but so good and good for you). No one in our family likes eating a big or greasy meal for lunch, nor do the kids want to eat only salads so these options make for smiles vs. grumps and are easy to pack and carry.