mickey2008.1
Well-Known Member
OOOOPPPPPS! That may have been the rum we brought in by accident, all I know is we had a drink on a cold winters day. SSSSHHHHHHHH!
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Dining On A Budget At WDW.!
- Thread starter real mad hatter
- Start date
mickey2008.1
Well-Known Member
I was thinking of DHS and a totally different meal, I just remember the beer. Sorry. But we did bring the rum that year as it was very cold, lows around 20 degrees and highs in the upper 30's. It was my first night, give me a break.
dave&di
Well-Known Member
I thought the title said 'dining on a BURGER at WDW' I must be hungry!
Yes I will dine on a burger (or two) at WDW.
No I don't dine on a budget at WDW.
The DDP helps, anything other than DDP if I want it I'll have it, I'm at WDW for god sake! I'll pay the bills another month!
EDIT: I meant the Free DDP, that helps even more!
Yes I will dine on a burger (or two) at WDW.
No I don't dine on a budget at WDW.
The DDP helps, anything other than DDP if I want it I'll have it, I'm at WDW for god sake! I'll pay the bills another month!
EDIT: I meant the Free DDP, that helps even more!
StarWarsGirl
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Prime Time Cafe is usually pretty good on a budget. Food is usually good. It's a standard choice for us because we usually like to throw a couple of cheaper meals in. My parents like Rose and Crown. I'm not thrilled with it.
bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Most QS meals are fairly reasonably priced. My fave is Sunshine Seasons- a salad.
Pooh Lover
Well-Known Member
Only if I could get a glass of white wine and a piece of that awesome strudel too!
mrdisman
Well-Known Member
Adds to the cost...but you're worth it
Pooh Lover
Well-Known Member
Don't worry, I'll pay for everything at La Cava!Adds to the cost...but you're worth it
mrdisman
Well-Known Member
Can't pass up that deal
Spikerdink
Well-Known Member
The easiest way to dine on a budget is go to your favorite quick serve restauarant and wait for a family of 5 or 6 to come in. Mom will usually sit with the kids while Dad goes to get the food. At this point, offer to help carry the tray to the table, make a quick right turn and disappear. Voila! Eating on the run and within budget!
Weather_Lady
Well-Known Member
It can certainly be done! Bring your own breakfast foods (e.g., cereal, Pop Tarts) and eat them at the hotel, restrict TS meals to lunchtime (or to restaurants with an "all day" menu where the prices don't change), share large "platter"-sized quick-service meals, buy items a la carte when you don't want the extras (e.g., order your burger at Pecos Bill's without the fries -- you'll pay less, and can construct yourself a hearty side salad from the toppings bar), bring some of your own snacks (e.g., fresh fruit, granola bars), skip dessert (save $5 and get a Mickey bar outside if your sweet tooth needs attention) and NEVER pay for beverages (order free ice water when you buy a meal, or whenever else you're thirsty, or if you have to have something in particular, bring it yourself from home).
Also, consult the "best counter service [or table service] values" lists that can be found all over the internet, which will steer you toward the eateries that give you the greatest bang for your buck.
In my experience, some of the best "bang for your buck" options are:
- Epcot: Tangeriene Cafe (portions big enough to share), Sunshine Seasons, Biergarten buffet for lunch (moderate cost, but you can eat late, fill up and skip dinner), Rose & Crown, Akershus (breakfast only, and the kids get their princess fix without you having to wait in line somewhere, or having to shell out bigger bucks for Cinderella's Royal Table)
- Magic Kingdom: Pecos Bill's (have a burger, skip the fries and make a side salad from the toppings buffet), Cosmic Ray's for dinner (split a BBQ platter), Crystal Palace (late breakfast only: fill up and skip lunch), the Plaza Restaurant (table service quality for little more than counter service cost)
- Animal Kingdom: Flame Tree BBQ or Tamu Tamu (portions of some dishes are large enough to split)
- Hollywood Studios: Starring Rolls Cafe
Also, consult the "best counter service [or table service] values" lists that can be found all over the internet, which will steer you toward the eateries that give you the greatest bang for your buck.
In my experience, some of the best "bang for your buck" options are:
- Epcot: Tangeriene Cafe (portions big enough to share), Sunshine Seasons, Biergarten buffet for lunch (moderate cost, but you can eat late, fill up and skip dinner), Rose & Crown, Akershus (breakfast only, and the kids get their princess fix without you having to wait in line somewhere, or having to shell out bigger bucks for Cinderella's Royal Table)
- Magic Kingdom: Pecos Bill's (have a burger, skip the fries and make a side salad from the toppings buffet), Cosmic Ray's for dinner (split a BBQ platter), Crystal Palace (late breakfast only: fill up and skip lunch), the Plaza Restaurant (table service quality for little more than counter service cost)
- Animal Kingdom: Flame Tree BBQ or Tamu Tamu (portions of some dishes are large enough to split)
- Hollywood Studios: Starring Rolls Cafe
Vader2112
Well-Known Member
What they all said!!! Was it a BYO from an outside source?
eddiemcgarrigle
Well-Known Member
Stuff the budget, you're on holiday.
WDW 3
Well-Known Member
Mama Melrose- DH & I shared this for lunch with water.
Carne D'Italia Flatbread - with Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Pancetta, and Spicy Marinara Sauce $13.99
Caesar Salad - with crisp romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing and herb croutons $5.99
Often we order like this simply because we don't need that much food and when we share we still get enough and have room for a tasty afternoon snack
If it saves money.... that's a bonus.
Carne D'Italia Flatbread - with Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Pancetta, and Spicy Marinara Sauce $13.99
Caesar Salad - with crisp romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing and herb croutons $5.99
Often we order like this simply because we don't need that much food and when we share we still get enough and have room for a tasty afternoon snack
If it saves money.... that's a bonus.
crispy
Well-Known Member
In January 2012, DH's work decided to send him to a work at a conference at WDW with very little notice. Lodging and transporation were free so we decided to make it a family trip. Since it was unexpected trip (we had just been in October), we decided to do it was cheaply as possible since we hadn't budgeted for it, and I didn't consider it enough of an emergency to touch our emergency fund. Fortunately, DH's company provided him a per diem for his meals so we only had to pay for me and the girls. Here's some of the things we did to save money during our 6 day trip:
- Eat breakfast in the room. We brought cereal, fruit, and other quick breakfast items from home and then bought milk at the resort.
- We packed our lunch most days. Since DH was working, it was just me and the girls so I packed us sandwiches, fruit, chips, and drinks. It saved a ton of money.
- The days we did eat lunch in the parks with just the girls, I bought a kid's meal. The portion size is actually perfect so it worked out fine. We tried to find places that had interesting kid's meals so I wasn't stuck eating chicken nuggets!
- Since we brought our lunch most days, I did let the girls get a snack or two during the day. The were happy eating PBJ sandwiches as long as they had popcorn and Mickey bars.
- When DH was able to join us for dinner, he and I ended up splitting meals. Once again, the portion sizes ended up being perfect. For example, we split the chicken and rib combo at Fairfax Faire and ordered 4 hot dogs and only two orders of fries at Casey's Corner (for the four of us). That was plenty of food and we didn't waste a lot.
- We limited our TS meals to two, and we chose two of the more inexpensive options - The Plaza and Via Napoli. We had never eaten at either because they aren't the best value on the dining plan so it was a treat to finally try them. We loved them both!
- We ordered pizza from the resort for dinner one night and ate it at the pool. The girls thought this was a great fun and it only cost $15.
- We packed drinks so we didn't have to buy them during the day. That also saved a lot.
All in all, we ended up spending very little for meals during that trip. Granted, we prefer eating at least 1 TS every day and don't necessarily like to pack a lunch when we are on vacation, but if I have to choose between a very budget trip or no trip at all, I certainly will choose the budget trip.
Fortunately, DH's company provided him a per diem for his meals so we only had to pay for me and the girls. Here's some of the things we did to save money during our 6 day trip:- Eat breakfast in the room. We brought cereal, fruit, and other quick breakfast items from home and then bought milk at the resort.
- We packed our lunch most days. Since DH was working, it was just me and the girls so I packed us sandwiches, fruit, chips, and drinks. It saved a ton of money.
- The days we did eat lunch in the parks with just the girls, I bought a kid's meal. The portion size is actually perfect so it worked out fine. We tried to find places that had interesting kid's meals so I wasn't stuck eating chicken nuggets!
- Since we brought our lunch most days, I did let the girls get a snack or two during the day. The were happy eating PBJ sandwiches as long as they had popcorn and Mickey bars.
- When DH was able to join us for dinner, he and I ended up splitting meals. Once again, the portion sizes ended up being perfect. For example, we split the chicken and rib combo at Fairfax Faire and ordered 4 hot dogs and only two orders of fries at Casey's Corner (for the four of us). That was plenty of food and we didn't waste a lot.
- We limited our TS meals to two, and we chose two of the more inexpensive options - The Plaza and Via Napoli. We had never eaten at either because they aren't the best value on the dining plan so it was a treat to finally try them. We loved them both!
- We ordered pizza from the resort for dinner one night and ate it at the pool. The girls thought this was a great fun and it only cost $15.
- We packed drinks so we didn't have to buy them during the day. That also saved a lot.
All in all, we ended up spending very little for meals during that trip. Granted, we prefer eating at least 1 TS every day and don't necessarily like to pack a lunch when we are on vacation, but if I have to choose between a very budget trip or no trip at all, I certainly will choose the budget trip.