Anything goes with the cutbacks. Point is at least your taking the vacation and it doesn't matter where you stay or eat just as long as you are there.
I am a single woman with one income. I am attempting to plan 3 seperate trips there next year or beginning this December. Two will probably be offsite and one more expensive one onsite.
I was just there this past December with family for an extended stay (10 days total and worked in US). We drove and obtained a room offsite through priceline (do research on biddingfortravel.com to determine what the rooms in that area are going for). We got a great deal. I know that a lot of people will never stay offsite, but I have done both. My opinion is that Disney theming is great and even when I am not staying on property, I still love to visit the hotels, but practicality tells me I can't stay there most of the time. In the end they overcharge for there rooms and amenities (I really don't like the AS and feel that I don't need to pay for that theming). The hotel we obtained through Priceline was a 3* one mile away from AKL (and had its own entrance to a back access road to AK- so you could avoid the traffic on Hwy 192). The room was larger than most at Disney, came with a refrigerator which held gallon of milk, 1/2 gallon of orange juice, few 2 liters and water bottles. There is a nice pool and pool area with hot tub, iron/ironing board, hairdryer, safe and restaurant with bar.
We brought breakfast for most of the days but ate a few mornings at Shoneys (2 blocks away), only splurged on one breakfast at Rainforest in AK. We ate lunch in the parks usually as the better rest. because we had it with the fast food by day 2 and then most nights ate dinner offsite at the various rest. with 2 dinner exceptions. That was our big splurge eating better food on Disney property. However, as in the off season most of the parks close early (6-7 pm) head offsite and eat somewhere on International Drive or Hwy 192 to save money (it will definately be cheaper than on dis property unless you keep eating fast food). We always bring in those snacks. I think it is absolutely ridiculous to buy these things in any theme park (come on $2.50 for a freaking coke).
Lastly, we bought most of our souvenirs from the stores on Hwy 192. They had plenty of Disney stuffed animals, t-shirts and so on (official Disney licensed gear) and paid less than we would've on property. I think I bought 2 things in the Disney stores on property and paid $30.
Point is, do what you have to do to have your vacation. Should you be forced to eat breakfast in your room and make sandwiches for lunch in the parks, you won't be the first or the last. Just enjoy.
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