Where are the Biggest Portion Sizes for Sharing Meals?

[belleincanada]

My boyfriend and I are going in January 2015, and this is our first time not getting the Dining Plan. It's expensive, it's always too much food, and I really don't need to eat two desserts a day. We're also not really big soda or juice drinkers. It's generally water or wine/beer for us.

BF is less convinced that we'll come out better financially without the Dining Plan. So I've suggested we split QS and TS meals on some of the days. We'll be staying at the ASMu and will not have a car, so we won't have the luxury of picking up groceries and eating in the hotel. (Unfortunately I'm gluten free, otherwise we'd bring down something like bread and peanut butter for the mornings. We're also Canadian, which means bringing down say, a bag of apples is a no no at Customs.)

So, where in WDW have you found the biggest portion sizes that would be good for splitting an entree between two adults (we're light to moderate eaters)?? Any specific restaurants or specific dishes you can think of?

 

[melissalee]

I find 50s prime time has big meals. My DH and I have shared one especially if u get a milkshake to drink.

 

[marmalade]

The Yak and Yeti quick service location in AK has some pretty large portions that are easily split between 2 people. The last time we were there, the food was served in the traditional Chinese food take out boxes. You can fit A LOT of lo mein in one of those puppies.

 

[monorailsilver]

Don't forget to bring down stuff for breakfast. That will also save some money.

Wolfgang puck express had big portions. Maybe the land food court. A turkey leg and then you can get some other kind of treat after. Pizzafari sandwich/salad

I am hungry now!

 

[DaughteroftheKing]

Have not eaten here yet but we will on our upcoming trip: Flame Tree BBQ in AK. You can get the ribs and chicken combo and from the pics I've seen it looks like enough to share. It comes with beans and coleslaw and IIRC is around $15.

 

[robndani]

I agree with you about dining plan. We used it on our last trip and doesn't more than we would have without it (& ate worse than we normally do).

You could do light breakfast in room (have groceries delivered if you don't have fridge, or pack muffins, cereal from home). Try a buffet for lunch or dinner, which will really fill you up, then split a sandwich for the other meal.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[scrapquitler]

Keep in mind that some of the childrens meals might be enough for you (maybe not for your boyfriend).

 

[SEA333]

If you are in the area, the shrimp po boy sandwich at POFQ food court is huge. I think it came with chips and we bought a side of beignets. It was more than enough for DH and I to split, and it was fantastically yummy!

 

[MomToOne]

Even without splitting meals, I find it's still cheaper to not get the dining plan. This is especially true if you get cups of water with meals (so you don't pay for sodas - we limit soda drinking to our refillable mugs at the resort), only eat a desert when you really want one that the restaurant offers, and eat breakfast in the room most days (I pack up a suitcase with cereal, shelf-stable milk, breakfast bars, bagels/muffins, etc. which works for us, but I admit it doesn't work for all people).

 

[Baptist]

Sharing items is a great way to save money. You will be way better off than with the dining plan.

Here are my suggestions

Quick Service:

1) Chicken and Ribs combo at Flame Tree BBQ (AK) or Cosmic Rays (MK). It's big enough to share and very good.

2) Pizza at Pizza Planet (HS) or Pizzafari (AK) are hard to recommend because the pizza is not that good. However, it's pretty big and doughy, so it fills you up. A possible share for light eaters.

3) At Yak and Yeti cafe (AK), I suggest getting one entree and a side of fried rice. The side of fried rice is large and a great snack by itself (and only $4). I like to get one early(around 11), before the lunch lines get long. This is always an item I'm forced to share with the family.

Table Service:

Unfortunately, I don't have many recommendations here. While I've enjoyed many good TS meals, not many stand out as large enough to share.

1) San Angel Inn (EP) we will order a side of guacamole (large and filling) as an appetizer (they also give you chips and salsa). Then, share an entree.

2) 50's Prime Time (HS) is a fun restaurant with "home cooked" meals. Home cooked means higher in fat (it's more filling but less healthy), so you don't need a large portion. Share the sampler (it's really good). Then, share a dessert (they are big).

3) At Le Cellier (EP) (yes, I'm recommending this as a budget TS meal) each order a bowl of the cheese soup. It's $10 each but really good and filling (served with pretzel bread). Then go crazy and split an $8 creme brulee. Walk out of there stomachs full for about $20/person all in (tax and tip).

Have fun and enjoy your vacation!

 

[epsmith921]

Have you tried one of those calculators that shows what you would spend out of pocket versus the dining plan? I did it once years ago when it was the two of us and there was no way the dining plan made any sense. And we drink lots of sodas and buy bottled water and my husband likes beer! Husband has never wanted me to look at the dining plan again.

I would consider doing a garden grocer order for a few breakfast items or beverages for the room and snacks, but beyond that, we would really almost always have only two full meals per day with a couple snacks in the middle. I do like to have fruits or vegetable snacks in the Florida heat so a few apples or bananas went a long way and are inexpensive.

 

[hockeygirl14]

I think you will come out ahead not doing the dining plan especially if you dont do dessert. That being said, I would agree with the chicken and rib combo at flame tree! Kids meals are also an option. At MK Caseys Corner is relatively inexpensive for hotdogs and fries! At table services I dont think the portions are really big enough to share but you could always just share an app, each get an entree and then skip dessert (and pick up a mickey bar later!!) I use http://www.distripplanner.com/ to calculate my costs and see if I will save money.. I check the prices out on allears!

 

[monorailsilver]

Even without splitting meals, I find it's still cheaper to not get the dining plan. This is especially true if you get cups of water with meals (so you don't pay for sodas - we limit soda drinking to our refillable mugs at the resort), only eat a desert when you really want one that the restaurant offers, and eat breakfast in the room most days (I pack up a suitcase with cereal, shelf-stable milk, breakfast bars, bagels/muffins, etc. which works for us, but I admit it doesn't work for all people).

This is us too! Last year was the first year we had bottle water so it was even better.

I told my kids no soda in the park. When we had pool days they could fill up to their hearts content and they did!

I ship breakfast and some snacks too. I think I even shipped Mac and cheese bowls for 2 of my 3 kids.

 

[eliza61]

Splitting meals has never worked for dh and I. It just never saves us money. Here's what happens with us.

For example Yak and Yeti: we split the rib combo plate. Yes it is too much for me but not really enough to satisfy dh. Now about an hour later dh is hungry. Not starving but definitely no way is going to make it until dinner.

Result: we end up stopping while dh snacks, usually I join him and whatever we saved by splitting is gone.

Or we tried the 'split the double burger and get an extra bun" trick a while back at Peco's bill (I've heard they no longer sell double burgers). once again by the time we purchased an extra fry and soda (we do occasionally like pop). the few bucks savings wasn't enough to justify the split.

Let me ask, how do you naturally eat at home?

Do you have dessert every day? qs lunch every day. dining plan stopped being a bargain when they got rid of the tip and the appertizers (for my family).
Do you have a ts dinner every day? we go in august which is nuclear hot, there really were days when we did not want to eat a big heavy dinner.

Think of how you really would eat, go to allears.net and then calculate out how much you may eat, that would give you a good heads up.

 

[MomToOne]

This is us too! Last year was the first year we had bottle water so it was even better.

I took that a step further on our last trip, and just brought filtered water bottles with us. So no need to buy bottled water and have it shipped. From the moment we get through security at the airport we start using them (we fill them up at a water fountain just past security) and they stay in constant use until we reach home again.

When I first bought the bottles I thought it would be a case of them being more pain than they were worth but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. I have to say I ended up loving those darn things - we use them a lot, much more than any other water bottles before because the filter helps get rid of "funky" tastes from different water! (And for those that don't know, if you keep your eyes open there are plenty of water fountains at Disney, some of them even chilled!!)

 

[pooh4me]

You can also get free ice water at counter service by just asking.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

My boyfriend and I are going in January 2015, and this is our first time not getting the Dining Plan. It's expensive, it's always too much food, and I really don't need to eat two desserts a day. We're also not really big soda or juice drinkers. It's generally water or wine/beer for us.

BF is less convinced that we'll come out better financially without the Dining Plan. So I've suggested we split QS and TS meals on some of the days. We'll be staying at the ASMu and will not have a car, so we won't have the luxury of picking up groceries and eating in the hotel. (Unfortunately I'm gluten free, otherwise we'd bring down something like bread and peanut butter for the mornings. We're also Canadian, which means bringing down say, a bag of apples is a no no at Customs.)

So, where in WDW have you found the biggest portion sizes that would be good for splitting an entree between two adults (we're light to moderate eaters)?? Any specific restaurants or specific dishes you can think of?

There are a few entrees that have already been mentioned that could be split, but if you are both moderate eaters, you probably are better off each getting your own entree and getting water instead of soda. Not many meals will satisfy two adults anymore-- I think portions at many locations have shrunk a bit, to allow for better profit margins, on the dining plan......

 

[Mrs.Malone]

I agree with you about the DP. We're pretty big eaters but paying oop still comes out the same or cheaper for us.
Is your BF gluten free too? We have a family member who has dietary restrictions and sharing won't usually work in this case because no one else in the family has to (or wants to) eat with those limitations.

 

[mtabh]

The dining plan likely doesn't make sense. Take the time to look at menus of restaurants you want to dine in, then choose whatever you and your SO would typically order. Add it all up. It takes a bit of time, but it's the most accurate way to decide if the Dining plan makes sense for you.

For us, it was about $150 more (than what we would typically eat in a day) for the dining plan. The only reason I bought it was pure convenience. We will have a 5 y/o and a 3 m/o when we go, I won't have the ability to calculate as we go (to keep from blowing budget) and somehow maintain my sanity while taking care of an infant and making sure DD enjoys her birthday trip. For me, it wasn't worth it.

If this were an adults only trip, I would have paid OOP hands down.

 

[Ali]

The Yak and Yeti quick service location in AK has some pretty large portions that are easily split between 2 people. The last time we were there, the food was served in the traditional Chinese food take out boxes. You can fit A LOT of lo mein in one of those puppies.

This is one of the scariest places for GF eaters, everyone gets sick!