when it comes to eating while staying at dvc

[SLM]

We eat all but one of our breakfasts in the villa and most of our lunches by the pool. We have food delivered-hummus, cheese, fruit, crackers, baby carrots-and other snack type things that we can throw in a soft-sided cooler and eat at the pool. Dinners are usually at one of the better counter choices-The Land food court, Earl of Sandwich, Wolfgang Puck's cafes. We will eat at one of the restaurants-California Grille, Saana, The Flying Fish. We usually go in August, so we tend to eat lighter than if you were traveling in cooler months. I also like to cook, and our next trip we will travel with our DD, her husband our our grandson who will be three. We've already decided to cook a couple (or assemble-I like that idea!) of dinners in our villa. We will babysit so they can have a nice dinner out on their own one night.

 

[missymouse]

At HHI we eat breakfast and usually lunch in the villa, and then go out to eat for dinner.

At Disneyworld we have basic groceries delivered to have a quick breakfast in the room, and then juices, sodas, and adult drinks in the fridge.

 

[Iggipolka]

I buy groceries from Garden Grocer, mostly breakfast stuff, peanut butter, milk, juice, snacks for the toddler and soda. We have eggs, cereal, English muffins or pastry for breakfast. We usually eat lunch and dinner in the parks, but may occasionally get something in the store to cook in the room.

 

[lucyem]

Our first DVC stay last year was in a studio and I loved just being able to reheat leftovers. I get sick of eating out since I prefer much smaller less elaborate meals. I am really looking forward to a 1 bedroom with full kitchen this fall. I do not plan to make any big meals but just some basics will be great. Spaghetti, eggs, that kind of thing.

 

[Sammie]

Breakfast and snacks in the room, dinner out.

 

[SamSam]

Breakfast is always in the room, just toast, bagels..we're light breakfast eaters. We always have a rental car and do a grocery trip at least once during our stay, stocking up on soda, cheese, crackers, deli meats, bread...oh, and mustn't forget wine!
We usually only eat out one meal a day, but it's usually at a good sit down restaurant...Jikos, Sanaa, California Grill, Narcoose's...the rest of the time we eat in our room.

 

[Magic3forme]

We have breakfast in the room and eat all the other meals out. I am on vacation, I want someone to cook, serve and clean up after me.

 

[dgaston]

PPs have mentioned my off-site favorites -- Sweet Tomatoes in the Crossroads Plaza, Bahama Breeze, and Cici's especially when we have teens in the party. I've also heard that Miller's Ale House is pretty good. We have also enjoyed Steak n Shake (don't have those where we live). In the parks, we enjoy signature restaurants like Jiko, Sanaa, a few favorite buffets like Boma, Crystal Palace and Cape May and will cook simple microwave meals, have sandwich fixings, snacks, yogurt, and fruit in our DVC.

HTH

 

[normr]

We do both, it's much easier to do breakfast in your villa, then hit the parks for a few hours, come back grab lunch, maybe take a little nap or dip in the pool and then head back out around 4 to the parks refreshed, that way we're walking in and sweaty tired people are leaving the parks, we then can grab dinner in the park, or at a hotel before a night in the parks.

 

[normr]

On one of our last stays, I saw a private chef service vehicle parked outside a villa @ OKW, it appeared that they had this private chef come to their villa and cook them stuff right in their own kitchen.

They probably had a great meal, we have done something like that at home as a present for my mom, she was able to choose what types of meals she wanted an the private chef came to her home and prepared several days of meals for her at a really reasonable cost.

 

[goofy4tink]

The first time we stayed in a one bedroom I was bound and determined to make 'real' food....the only meal I cooked was pancakes for breakfast. The rest of the family just laughed at me...said I was on vacation, why the heck was I cooking??? Stopped that immediately.
Then, when I took my two dd's (the 34 y/o's first trip to WDW), my oldest, the 34 y/o, told me that she didn't see why we had to eat out so often. She traveled with her dad and step-mom a lot and they always cooked meals in their condos. She moaned and groaned so much I finally gave in. I hitched a ride with a friend and went to the grocery store. Bought hot dogs/rolls, bread, cold cuts, cheese, soda, beer, wine...all sorts of stuff to cook in the villa. Well....long story short....we never cooked a thing!!! I was so incredibly peeved. We were never in the villa at the right times to cook...yeah, dd messed up my park timing to a fare-thee-well.
So, no...I don't cook on vacation in WDW. My friend on the other hand??? Huge cooker. I remember one day she told me she was serving her dh's favorite meatloaf!! Seriously?? You're at BCV and you're making meatloaf???

 

[seelyt2]

If we're there for 6 days (which is our usual) I'll make all breakfasts (pancakes usually) in the villa for except for one. I make all lunches (sandwiches/mac 'n cheese) in the villa, and all dinners (chicken, pasta, pizza, etc.) in the villa except for maybe 2 or 3. We eat in the parks and DTD, depending on our mood and plans. We don't eat off property.

 

[perfectparanoia]

I wouldn't mind the cooking so much but I hate the cleaning up. I am on vacation, too so we eat out everything except breakfast (which is cereal and fruit).

We do, however, love having a table to eat said breakfast and a place to keep all our beverages cold. (And a coffee machine.)

 

[DE_Chris]

We have been members since 1997 and usually cook a good amount in our villa. With the economy the way it is, we like having the ability to eat in. We just did a Florida roadtrip and stayed at VB and HHI (plus a week at another timeshare). We did a dinner at the VB resort and a dinner at the Sea Shack at HHI; otherwise, we ate in. When we stay at WDW, we usually have one meal a day at a park or hotel restaurant and the others in the villa (or, we just get ice cream for lunch).


Chris from DE

 

[WilsonFlyer]

In the interest of full disclosure, take this from the fact that we tend to stay at Kidani about 70% of the time. Having said that...

We go to Winn Dixie or the Super Target over on 192 within hours of getting onsite. Sometimes, we actually go on our way into "town" if we know it's late enough that our room should be ready fairly soon. We buy sandwich stuff, drinks, beer and wine and maybe some snacks and Pop-Tarts (breakfast of champions!).

We'll make a sandwich at lunch occasionally and usually have a late-night snack after getting back from the parks or other resorts to wind down.

We never cook in the room. In all of our trips, I never even remember turning the stove on unless it was for my wife to make a cup of tea or something.

Usually, we're in the parks around lunchtime and we grab a couter service somewhere or is if we're at HS, we'll see if we can get into 50's PT for lunch.

My real point is this. 192 is only about 2 miles from Kidani Village. If I'm willing to drive maybe 5 minutes and relinquish the illusion of Disney Magic for about an hour, I'm only 5 minutes from a whole SLEW of chain restaurants that nobody but the locals seem to frequent very much. Sure, there are a few other Disney tourists there, but nothing like the crowd at the restaurants around DTD. My whole family can eat a decent sit-down meal for < ~$60 (with a couple of beers and a glass of wine) at a national chain where I know what I'm going to get every time.

Within 4 miles of KV, there's an Outback, Red Lobster, Olive Garden, and the list goes on and on. Quite a deal, if you ask me, to only having given up the Disney Illusion for an hour or so, and then I'm right back on property. It's almost like blinking your eyes. You turn 2 immediate 90 degree turns out of the stoplight at AKL and drive a mile and you're there. It's like blinking your eyes and it's magic.

Although we still do the occasional sit-down meal at Disney's Restaurants, it's a rarity now given the range of much more affordable opportunities just minutes down the road, and the fall off in quality of the Disney Restaurants in the last few years.

 

[buzz5985]

In my family it depends how long you are going for and if you have family/friends coming. If it is a short trip - 7 days or less, we will have breakfast in the room, come home have lunch in the room, pool time then out to dinner. If we are with freinds/family we will eat in a lot to just spend time together. The cooking is never left to one person, everyone chips in and everyone helps clean up. No matter what the age.

This summer we will be away for close to 3 weeks. So we will be cooking in more often. We will be at HHI - so will take advantage of their charcoal grills, play horseshoes while the food is cooking, it's heaven. We have one night out planned. We will be at VB for several days - we have one night planned out there also. Another week at Marriot Lakeshore Reserve (my DF couldn't use his week) so we will eat breakfast in, lunch somedays in, but dinner mostly out.

Janis

 

[RumpleMom]

We have found that we like IHOP, Sweet Tomatoes, Anthony's Pizzeria and Flipper's Pizza. We have gone to Celebration for dinner too.

We go off site to eat just to explore the area.

I have a crockpot, which I only use in colder weather, stored in my Owner's Locker. I only use the crockpot when I have a crowd of hungry boys to feed. It doesn't feel like I cooked when I use the crockpot and everyone likes spending time together, especially at OKW with the large living area.

We really appreciate being able to eat in during an afternoon rain storm.

 

[Brancaneve]

We have a car

We plan on going to mk one day
Seaworld one day
Maybe a water park
We are there from July 1 to July 8
This is our first time at a vacation club resort
So any suggestions on places we can eat at that r not in the park

I think my favorite restaurant is Wolfgang Puck Express in Downtown Disney. It is close to the resorts and there is plenty of parking. But the food is so fresh, simple and healthy. The pizzas and salads are delicious and the service is really good. It's a low key restaurant and pretty peaceful and quiet.

 

[BraveMom3]

We usually eat breakfast in the room, except when at BWV where we love the bakery!!!! Depending on the length of our stay, we will eat sit-down meals every couple of days for dinner, the rest we cook. Lunches are usually counter service/snacks.

 

[RayRing]

We always eat breakfast in the room. It is quicker, cheaper and easier.

Most nights we eat out.
However, on longer stays, we will order a pizza one night, and let the kids eat, while watching a DVD. This breaks up the "eating out" routine, saves time and gives everyone a much needed break.