What foods to pack for our trip to Orlando

[Emteach]

Hello all,
We will be going to Orlando in July and are planning on bringing food to save some money and because of food allergies. What types of food do you bring? Looking for ideas. We will have access to a fridge, coffee pot for boiling water and are also planning on bringing a small/ light grill for toasting things. Don't want to bring things that are too heavy since we are flying and don't want it too heavy.

Have some ideas but looking for suggestions! Thanks!

 

[ssawka]

Hello all,
We will be going to Orlando in July and are planning on bringing food to save some money and because of food allergies. What types of food do you bring? Looking for ideas. We will have access to a fridge, coffee pot for boiling water and are also planning on bringing a small/ light grill for toasting things. Don't want to bring things that are too heavy since we are flying and don't want it too heavy.

Have some ideas but looking for suggestions! Thanks!

Since you are flying, I would not bring anything perishable, especially if you are putting it in checked luggage. We tried to bring Thomas' bagels once, and they were fine the first day, but by the second day they were moldy.

We usually pack cereal and snacks (cookies, chips, pretzels, etc.) Especially for DD because she needs to be Gluten-Free.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

You can pack "snack size" pretzels, graham crackers, pop tarts, cookies, bagels, cereal. That shouldn't weigh down your suitcase too much. We have always drove to Disney though so I am not sure if these would get squished in the suitcase en route?

Also, if you are renting a car while down there I'd suggest taking a ride to the local grocery store for some fruits that you can bring into the parks, easy to eat like apples and bananas. You can also bring instant oatmeal (Make sure you pack the styrofoam bowls and spoons for the oatmeal). Surprisingly, the Walgreens in Lake Buena Vista, a 2 minute drive from our hotel was very cheap! There was a sale on whole wheat bread for $1.29

 

[Luvchefmic]

Hello all,
We will be going to Orlando in July and are planning on bringing food to save some money and because of food allergies. What types of food do you bring? Looking for ideas. We will have access to a fridge, coffee pot for boiling water and are also planning on bringing a small/ light grill for toasting things. Don't want to bring things that are too heavy since we are flying and don't want it too heavy.

Have some ideas but looking for suggestions! Thanks!

that's not going to be allowed at any WDW Resort or any hotel/motel off site that I can think of, fire hazard

 

[dzneelvr]

please check with the resort as to whether you can have appliances or equpiment in your room. You would not want to be evicted. Ask about microwave availability, refrig in room, and what meals could be included (very common in off site hotels). The grocery stop is a winneryou can make your list according to what you will have access to. We see many families eating sandwiches and snacky things in the park. You get points for being economical, but don't take it too far

 

[Emteach]

Thanks for the suggestions thus far, some great ideas that I hadnt thought of. I will definitely check that out regarding the small grill, didn't even think of that as it was suggested by a friend but makes sense. We will have access to a fridge so able to keep things cold. Will have to check regarding a grocery store as well nearby. Most of our trip will involve being at a hotel as we are there for a competition so need economical food options for in our room (cost for hotel dining all meals everyday will be too much!).

 

[bababear_50]

Hi Emteach

Here are some of the things I have packed for myself.

I stay in a DVC studio.
Small refrigerator,microwave,toaster,and a coffee maker.


Small packages of mandarin oranges.(Dole)
2 bananas
1 can Tuna
small baggie croutons
box of small crackers
Small jar peanut butter
1 can Campbell s soup (ready to serve)
1 can chilli / or stew
1 or 2 potatoes
1 bag microwave popcorn/ Lays Chips in a cylinder
trail mix nuts/ Granola bars
2 pouches oatmeal
cinnamon raisin bagels/cheddar cheese bagels.
Tea bags
hot chocolate pouches


I usually pick up one liter of milk , bread and juice from the resort store.


Edited to add
Uncle Bens Bristo Express Rice packages travel well and is easy to cook in a microwave oven.

Frozen Mixed berries are usually ok if packaged in a small ziplock container and then placed in a ziplock baggie
I usually pack frozen yogurt tubes in the baggie.

Tortillas and English Muffins pack well.

Have a great time planning

Hugs Mel

 

[Luvchefmic]

Thanks for the suggestions thus far, some great ideas that I hadnt thought of. I will definitely check that out regarding the small grill, didn't even think of that as it was suggested by a friend but makes sense. We will have access to a fridge so able to keep things cold. Will have to check regarding a grocery store as well nearby. Most of our trip will involve being at a hotel as we are there for a competition so need economical food options for in our room (cost for hotel dining all meals everyday will be too much!).

Where are you staying? Can you have access to a car? If not, at least finding out how much a taxi from your hotel back /forth to a one time grocery store in the area would cost....trying to help you but If we had a little more info maybe us "locals" could help with better advice

 

[Emteach]

Where are you staying? Can you have access to a car? If not, at least finding out how much a taxi from your hotel back /forth to a one time grocery store in the area would cost....trying to help you but If we had a little more info maybe us "locals" could help with better advice

We are staying at the JW Marriott and will not have access to a car. Were thinking about making a trip to a grocery store but not sure what is nearby. Also, considered Garden Grocer but took a peek and their prices seem a bit higher. Thanks

 

[Emteach]

Thanks, those are great suggestions as well.

 

[Happyjen27]

How long is your vacation?

When I was checking out Garden Grocer, their prices seemed to be in alignment with my grocery store, at least for the organic things I ususally buy. You can get a fair amouint of food for $54.00 (the $40 minimum plus $14 shipping).

Here is what we brought with us last trip:

Homemade cookies
2 boxes of cereal
2 boxes of Annie's Snack mix
2 boxes of granola bars
1 box of frozen Stonyfield Go-gurts. We had a direct flight which was only 3 hours. They started frozen and were half thawed when we unpacked.

Parmalait makes shelf stable milk you can buy by the quart. It only requires refrigeration once it's been opened. It's real dairy cow's milk, just ultrapasturized and packaged to not spoil.

I think during the flight the baggage is kept in an unheated hold, so it stays pretty cold. The concern is how long they leave your bags on the tarmac once you arrive in the heat of FL. I bet with a cooler with a cold pack I would feel comfortable to pack some hard boiled eggs for sandwiches and grab and go protein.

You can get very creative stretching restaurant take-out. If I were staying somewhere with a decent restaurant, I would get steak to go, and bring it in the room and make a meal out of it by cooking some broccoli with the boiling water and some instant rice with boiling water also. Most restaurant steaks can feed more than one person. I may also do this type of thing with a chicken parm. I learned from my uncle (he hikes the Appalacian trail) that pasta does not need water boiling the whole time to adequately cook, so maybe just put the pasta in hot water and change the water once to get it hot again. Then you can stretch the chicken parm too. Check and see if your hotel has a continental breakfast, if so, you might be able to use the toaster during the day, and you could make some toast, put some cheese in between while it is still hot, microwave some soup and have grilled cheese and soup.

 

[hearts8701]

Rice Krispies treats
Smuckers Uncrustables pack frozen in ziplock
Frozen hot dogs
Chips, crackers and cheeses
Dried fruit or firm fruit such as apples or pears (ziplock also you never know)
Raw vegetables snack size carrots & celery sticks
Granola bars
Microwave popcorn
Nuts
Lunchables (freeze)

 

[Emteach]

Thanks to everyone for the tips.
We came back from Orlando and thought I would share what we packed for our trip.
- Peanut Butter
- Pringles
- Dried Apricots
- Frozen Juice Boxes
- Cheese Bar
- Cream Cheese (both of which kept cold for our drive, wait at the airport and flight)
- Granola Bars/ Nature Valley Bars
- Crackers
- Applesauce
- Oatmeal (was a godsend)
- Fruit Snacks
- Frozen Yogurt Tubes
- Goldfish Crackers, which shockingly stayed in tact
- Bagels
- English Muffins (both bread items kept for the whole trip)
- Raisins
- Small Cereal boxes

I think that is it. All I can think of anyways.
We also ended up making a trip to a grocery store which was around the corner with a friend. Bought staples like milk, bread, meat, etc. We ended up saving quite a bit (especially instead of making a trip to the hotel restaurants). Hope this is good advice.