What food to pack or groceries to buy?

[WDWmom86]

We are heading to Disney for 8 days in February with a 11 month old and 6 year old. No dining plan. We plan to do breakfast and maybe some lunches. I'm trying not to buy a lot but would also be able to pack some since we have extra luggage.

What do you normally pack or buy to save money on dining in WDW?

 

[bbak30]

Cereal, juice, bottles of water, granola bars, Pop Tarts, goldfish.

 

[SweetMissy]

If we drive, we pack water, granola bars, travel size boxes of cereal (and plastic bowls, spoons), juice boxes. We ordered from garden grocer for the 1st time for our trip in January, (we flew). At the time our baby was 7 months old, so we also ordered baby food too....that was awesome not having to pack that, and of course I ordered more than needed, lol.

 

[TwoMisfits]

We are heading to Disney for 8 days in February with a 11 month old and 6 year old. No dining plan. We plan to do breakfast and maybe some lunches. I'm trying not to buy a lot but would also be able to pack some since we have extra luggage.

What do you normally pack or buy to save money on dining in WDW?

I'd buy everything fresh there and wouldn't bother bringing anything, since you are planning to shop anyway.

I'd buy shelf-stable milk, 100% juice bottles and water bottles for the kids...and for the grown ups, I'd add soda bottles or Iced coffees/Frappucinos if you drink them (I'm assuming you have Disney accomodations with little to no fridge/cooking ability). I wouldn't skimp b/c a. you'll probably have a stroller, so you can bring as much as you need into the park and just leave it on the bottom of the stroller and b. 10 packs of drinks cost what one does in the park, so you can't lose.

I'd also buy single serve cereal boxes and/or cheerios, bananas/apples/clementines (even pears), suckable shelf-stable yogurts and fruit sauces, bread, peanut butter (use the fruits for the jelly), snack foods you like (chips, nuts, dried fruits, m&ms, mini-donuts, crackers like cheez-its, rice krispie treats, etc). I'd have a plan to start each day, like each kid will get 1/2 a milk box with cheerios, a banana, and a juice box or water. Or they'll have 3 mini donuts, apple slices, and a milk box. And then plan for you and your husband, too. For lunch, if you have no fridge or way to heat water, that's harder, but if you can at least heat water, I'd grab some of those mac and cheese cups and pasta cups that only need hot water added and some of those chicken/tuna salad pre-made packets to go along with the PB you already would have, to give a few options (separate from a fruit/nut lunch)...

 

[jvz82]

We bought this cheap sandwich press from Amazon and we plan to make and freeze a bunch of Uncrustables style PB&J sandwiches. We'll also bring some sliced up cheese, meat, and crackers for snacks or a light meal. Apple sauce pouches, bananas, grapes, juice boxes, string cheese. My kids like these Belvita breakfast crackers, they're somewhat expensive but I found them for 40% off at Target one day so I stocked up on the berry flavored ones, and the larger peanut butter sandwich kind. I have been stocking up on snacky food whenever I find a good deal. I got some market pantry brand Nilla Wafers and Nutter Butters (husband's favorite). Oh and a giant bag of Dum Dum suckers because I think they'll be a good distraction for my kids when we are in line!

We have a 27 hour drive and would prefer not to eat out at all on the way down so I've been doing lots of food planning!

 

[monorailsilver]

Water-not sock but ship.

Cereal, bowls, paper cups, whatever you eat for breakfast. Muffins, bagels, snacks-chips, salsa, individual packed snacks.

We don't do dining either and come out ahead. We do breakfast with the stuff we brought and buy lunch/dinner. I have brought the Mac and cheese cups for pool days for my kids and they were fine with that as well. We do t buy drinks in the park and drink the water from our water bottles.

 

[happymommy]

If you have extra luggage space, you can pack snacks like goldfish or other crackers, cereal bars, granola bars, stuff like that.

You can now order from Safeway for delivery, and although I've used Garden Grocer many times, I found the prices to be a bit better at Safeway (and I'm going to use them for our next mom/daughter trip in March). I'm ordering wine (I have my priorities!), 2 cases of bottled water (I don't care for the tap water in Orlando much, and we like to have a bottle next to the bed and to make coffee with), a 4 pack of Starbucks double shot light (DD likes them sometimes), a few bananas, some juice, cheese and crackers (late night snacks or by the pool), one bag of chips, disposable coffee cups with lids, good ground coffee, and a bottle of creamer she likes. I bring a travel coffee maker (we're staying at a value resort), and can get sugar at the food court. Oh, and chocolate muffins for her & bran ones for me from the bakery. That's what is in my cart right now.

I do prefer protein in the mornings, so I may add some deli meat. We aren't big breakfast eaters, but like a little something with our morning coffee.

When the kids were little, I would have things like poptarts too (no they're not healthy, but it's vacation). Also I'd add soy milk (DS is allergic to milk).

If your kids like yogurt, you can have that too for breakfasts. For light lunches, you could get a loaf of bread and PB&J or lunchmeat, and get paper plates too. It's nice to have, not so much for the savings but for convenience I think. Sometimes when kids are hungry, they are hungry NOW, and meals are so big to me even at the food courts. I always had a few healthy snacks in my purse or backpack in the parks (but I have one kid with allergies, so it was easier when he was little). And, some protein is better than too much sugary stuff all the time.