Who cooks?

[dgaston]

I usually don't cook at home, getting home around 7 or 8 most nights and DH has already fed DS17. They love the microwave! And take-out! So on vacation it is actually nice for me to cook a little in a nice kitchen. While it's off site, I have done Christmas dinners (oh wait, I cooked one in a FW cabin) and then we use the turkey or ham for sandwiches and other meals. I'll get a frozen lasagna, or if we're driving I'll bring one in a cooler. Last week at Windsor Palms we had breakfast twice, once eggs, and then pancakes, pasta 2x, a frozen beef stroganoff, corn dogs (DS17's influence), also microwave popcorn. We had reservations at LeCellier, Crystal Palace, Sci Fi Dine In at lunch, and also ate at Beaches and Cream. We have the DDE and this worked out well for us.

 

[Beca]

We cook a few dinners while we are at WDW. We don't eat out a whole lot when we are home. Therefore, I find that all of my family members get sick if we don't have some "simple" food from time to time at WDW. Even with eating some food in, I still find there is one or two days where I don't feel well (my stomach gets really upset).

Plus, the kids' meals at WDW are absolutely terrible!!! That much "chicken fingers" really does a number on my dd's digestive tract. I like cooking so I can make sure she has healthy fruits and veggies, non-fryed foods, and simpler foods like what we eat at home.

But, when I say "cooking", it is a VERY loose term. Most of the time, we are happy with cheese & saltines, and fruit for our "dinners in". I have also cooked mac 'n cheese, cheese tortellini, and had a rotisserie chicken and salad.

You have to learn what works for you, but with 19 people...I would definitely keep some food in the rooms!!



Beca

 

[missymagic]

I like to make a hot breakfast for the girls in the morning (most important meal of the day) especially when you burn so much walking all day. Wjile I make breakfast they do their homework . No rush to get somewhere to eat before the parks open. Eat and leave.

I dont like to do lunch or dinner because being single mom this is my break and I usually go for long weekend. If I were to go for a week or two I would definitely consider cooking some of the meals. Pooside go back to room for dinner eat on Balcony and head out somewhere after.

You know your family's eating habits do what you think is best. Have a grfeat time.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Plus, the kids' meals at WDW are absolutely terrible!!! That much "chicken fingers" really does a number on my dd's digestive tract.

Seeing my kids being served up another plate of WDW chicken fingers is enough to make my stomach quisy. It seems like that's all the ever want in the restaurants there.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

Disclaimer: Our first trip Home isn't until October 06, so we haven't actually done the following. . . but it's our plan!

I'm a big fan of Reynold's Oven Bags. There are a couple of great recipes on the insert that we have used for years when we travel. In a small baggie, I take a ROB, a tiny Tupperware container of pre-measured spices, and a copy of the recipe. For a week at the beach in a condo, I usually take three different recipes. Plus I make a master grocery list and shop when I get there for dinner ingredients and breakfast/lunch/snacks. Oh, and the wine. Don't forget the wine!

Because the ROBs are pretty self-contained, the cleanup is minimal. The chicken, rice and squash dish we usually make takes about 30 minutes in the oven. Instant rice, chicken, chicken broth, bell pepper and squash. Prep time: <10 minutes. Conception to dining: <40 min. Easy, nutritious and not a lot of cleanup (everything can go in the dishwasher). Big winner!

With a good plan of which low-hassle meals you want to fix, cooking on vacation isn't such a chore. For an occasional meal. It is, after all, a vacation!

JMO.

 

[Tigger7570]

We have owned at OKW since 93 and we have always done a mixture of both cooking and dining out. We do this whether it's two of us or up to eight or more. When our son and dil and gds are with us, I find it so much simplier to have breakfast in for the majority of days because for some reason everyone seems to forget that little ones only have tiny stomachs. If at home they only ate a bowl of cereal, why is it an expectation that on vacation, they will eat a whole lot more. It's worked out great having breakfast in because they have a choice of juice or milk then oatmeal (usually I get instant), fruit, cereal or toast and/or whatever else we are having, whether it's the full bacon eggs, homefries or pancakes. We're sure that they are starting the day out right and also, when they are finished they can go play or watch t.v. while the adults enjoy their breakfast. We still do a couple of breakfasts out as well. This has worked well for us over the years. We basically follow the same thing for dinner. Like someone else said, it's so hard on the little ones to wait around in a restaurant for long periods. They get overtired and also lose their appetite. Whatever you decide, have a great trip.

 

[schatterjee]

I usually cook. Partly because our little guy was/has been so impatient (he'll be four this trip). We're thinking of the DDP this time though just for the thrill of being able to try all those restuarants & because DS can handle it this time. But we're going to be there two weeks and that might get old - it's nice to eat in your jammies sometimes...

Decisions, decisions!

 

[Luvmyfam3]

Just cereal and popcorn while we're at WDW, but when we go to Vero beach, we plan on eating every meal in our rooms!!! Nothing special since everyone will be anxious to get back out in the sun!!!

 

[mommyceratops]

Our first trip is going to be in December. But I am "thinking" of buying a turkey breast and cooking it so we have "left overs" to nibble on through the week. Kind of like a thanksgiving leftover idea.

just my thoughts. It will be my mom 2DS (6 and3) most of the time and DH will be there part of the week. We are going for 2 weeks so eating out will be too much money.

 

[K&KsMom]

Our family eats breakfast in the room each morning and possibly one other meal.......we find it to be healthier and cheaper to do it this way. Our meal out is usually lunch.