Would you cook to save $400 on vacation?

[Jerseyguy's Wife]

That is the main reason we are staying at the cabins. I can buy a whole bag of chicken nuggets for the price of one kids meal. Heck, I can even get Mickey shaped nuggets!

Okay, so I haven't read the whole thread, but what I really want to know is this: Where do you find Mickey shaped nuggets? I desperately need some! TIA

 

[kirstenb1]

I found Mickey nuggets at Walmarts, but it was last year (don't go there very often, the closest one is far away)

 

[Jerseyguy's Wife]

Thanks, kirstenb1.

 

[leebee]

When we stay offsite (which is what happens for most of our trips) we always have breakfast in the condo/villa/suite. Bagels, cream cheese, yogurt, fruit, maybe cereal... what we usually have at home, we have on vacation (unless we are at CP to see Pooh and Pals, or splurging on brunch at Boma). Sometimes we cook, sometimes we eat out. When the kids were very little and we didn't stay for evening shows, we'd go back to the villa where "the men" (we often travel with another family) would start dinner for the kids (usually pasta, pasta, and more pasta) while we women went to pick up dinner from a restaurant or get the pre-packed meals at Goodings. We'd take them back to the room and heat for dinner. Now that the kids are older, we will stay til park closing in the winter months and then cook back in the villa. It's always easy stuff, but I can make a decent baked chicken cacciatore by putting chicken pieces and cut up peppers and onions from the salad bar in a baking dish, pour on some jarred sauce and seasonings, and bake while we boil some fresh pasta, slice bread, and make a salad. It's good, and wholesome. I have learned to bring basic spices from home... garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, basil, oregano, curry... I just put some of each in separate snack sized zipper bags. I also bring ziplock bags of a variety of sizes and a small roll of foil (I buy all of these at the dollar store at home), then stop at Publix on our way from the airport to the condo (or drop dads and kids to settle in and Dsis and I hit the grocery store). In the summer we tend to go to the parks much later in the day and stay until closing, but if we get an early start, we'll go back to the condo in the late afternoon, relax, have dinner, and go back to the parks for the evening, especially when MK is open until midnight or 1am. In the summer we are more apt to have a big lunch at the condo before going to the park and then eating dinner at a ts restaurant. Among other things, we are all happier with an hour or so sitting in an air conditioned restaurant!

 

[Evi]

I don't know that I'd want to cook on vacation. But I've also not had the facilities while staying onsite. I might consider a mix of the two. With alot of premade from a restaurant or delivery service items. Like someone else said we have a local healthy food store that has both frozen and fresh premade items to reheat and cook or bake and cook. Though at home I like to cook from scratch I could see using a service like this as a midway while on vacation. Perhaps doing breakfast in room and eating out for lunch or dinner. Honestly I've always done dinning plan not because I think the restaurants are that fab but because I like the convenience it brings while on vacation. I think you can make it work just don't let it ruin your vacation. Keep meals simple and easy with recipes that will go easy from one day till next. Like say pasta carbonara, lots of sandwiches, Breakfast cerial etc. I'd keep food realy simple so your not spending tons of time cooking.

 

[dhdozier]

I would and do cook some on vacations. Easy meals like grilled hot dogs or for breakfast a fried egg sandwich. Not only does it save money but it does cut down on the hassle of having to get the whole family dressed, loaded up in the car, etc.etc.... Somedays you just need to hang out at your hotel all day to relax and with easy meals hubby doesn't mind at all cooking at cleaning. Here's another thing to consider - if cooking on vacation will save you 400 bucks, that is money you can use to eat out at home a few days after you return home and "extend" some vacation feeling to there too