Easy Ideas for in the room cooking

[pezgirlroy]

Morning all,
We are heading down the week of Jan 9th and staying in a one bedroom at Beach Club Villas. Will be myself, husband, 6 year old and 9 month old. We don't want to spend all of our money on meals in the parks so looking for some quick and easy dinners we can do in the room (with the kitchen). We plan on ordering groceries from garden grocer before we arrive. What do you love to do in the room?

Also we are renting points for the room. I heard somewhere that they will not refill the coffee pods because of that. Anyone know what kind of coffee pods are needed? Thanks as always.

 

[Pixie VaVoom]

Dehydrated hashbrowns (look for them by the instant potatoes) with eggs and toast (sorry - breakfast), tuna and chicken helper dinners with canned veg. Dinty moore stew, "Sue bee" canned chicken and dumplings. Canned chili and cheese made into frito pie, boxed scalloped potatoes baked with canned or packaged ham, canned pasta sauce and refrig ravioli or tortellini, Boxed pasta salad and sauted polish sausage. Just a few ideas.

 

[Pixie VaVoom]

Oh - I though of another one - heat up canned "chicken pot pie soup" and use it to top toasted, buttered, english muffins as "chicken a la King". I always add some extra veg.

 

[Kristamouse]

Are you driving? You could pre make your favorite meals, freeze ahead and put them in the crock pot or heat in the oven.
Because we have 6 kids we stay off property in a rental home and I make 3 dinners to take with us. One is a lasagna from Costco, Crock Pot Beef stew and crock pot pork loin. I use disposable trays and pack crock pot liners, So clean up is quick.
I also pre make some breakfest casseroles for the mornings. As my husband put the kids to bed first night I run to the grocery store and get any fresh needs:salad, fruit, milk, creamer and anything we forgot
We eat a table service lunch or dinner in the park and the rest at our vacation home. I don't buy or pack much junk food, we eat that in the parks
If you are flying than pasta with meat sauce, grilled sandwiches and pretty sure they have stoffuers lasagna.
Enjoy your trip, we will be there on 1/21

 

[pezgirlroy]

Are you driving? You could pre make your favorite meals, freeze ahead and put them in the crock pot or heat in the oven.
Because we have 6 kids we stay off property in a rental home and I make 3 dinners to take with us. One is a lasagna from Costco, Crock Pot Beef stew and crock pot pork loin. I use disposable trays and pack crock pot liners, So clean up is quick.
I also pre make some breakfest casseroles for the mornings. As my husband put the kids to bed first night I run to the grocery store and get any fresh needs:salad, fruit, milk, creamer and anything we forgot
We eat a table service lunch or dinner in the park and the rest at our vacation home. I don't buy or pack much junk food, we eat that in the parks
If you are flying than pasta with meat sauce, grilled sandwiches and pretty sure they have stoffuers lasagna.
Enjoy your trip, we will be there on 1/21

No not driving. Pasta is always a good idea. Thanks.

 

[Weather_Lady]

Unless it's changed in the last two years, the coffeemakers in the DVC villas are standard ones and don't require any special pods. You can bring your own coffee and filters, or buy the pre-measured filter packs.

If I were you (I assume you're flying since you mentioned Garden Grocer), I'd bring non-liquid, non-perishable food items with you, and order only your fresh/liquid items from Garden Grocer.

Pantry: Milk, salt & pepper, butter, garlic powder, ketchup, coffee and filters

Breakfast meals: cold or hot cereals, frozen waffles and syrup, frozen sausage patties, fresh or powdered eggs, fresh fruit, bagels or English muffins with desired condiments (e.g., PB&J, cream cheese)

Lunch//dinner meals:
- Any frozen boxed meal (e.g., Stouffer's lasagna) with fresh or frozen veggies of choice
- Grilled cheese sandwiches with canned tomato soup
- Broiled hot dogs (plus desired condiments decanted and brought from home, or in single-serve packets or purchased in small quantities) with potato chips and fresh or frozen veggies of choice
- Hot meatball sandwiches (use leftover hot dog rolls) with cheese, chips and veggies
- Pork 'n beans (canned beans, plus leftover hot dogs)
- Quesadillas (leftover cheeses, frozen chopped Southwest veggie mix, canned shredded chicken, with plain yogurt or sour cream) with boxed Spanish rice mix (usually calls for a can of chopped tomatoes)
*(Use any leftover tortillas to make breakfast burritos.)
- Final meal: Pasta with "Leftover" Sauce (boxed pasta, canned sauce, plus any leftover tomato soup or canned tomatoes, and/or meatballs - toast leftover bread or rolls with garlic butter and/or leftover cheese. Cut up any leftover whole fruit to make a fruit salad.) Alternatively, leftover bagels or English muffins can also be used to make "personal pizzas" using the same sauce/meat/cheese.

 

[nickys]

Morning all,
We are heading down the week of Jan 9th and staying in a one bedroom at Beach Club Villas. Will be myself, husband, 6 year old and 9 month old. We don't want to spend all of our money on meals in the parks so looking for some quick and easy dinners we can do in the room (with the kitchen). We plan on ordering groceries from garden grocer before we arrive. What do you love to do in the room?

Also we are renting points for the room. I heard somewhere that they will not refill the coffee pods because of that. Anyone know what kind of coffee pods are needed? Thanks as always.

Pasta bolognaise ( or whatever sauce you like), pizza with garlic bread and salad, sausages and chips. That's our standard list for starters. Also done stir fries for us, whilst the kids had sausages, for example. Cheese on toast, baguettes with fillings like tuna mayo or egg mayo.

Breakfast includes pancakes, bacon & eggs, scrambled eggs etc. All of which could be a lunch or dinner for the kids if you like.

 

[Mr Ferret 75]

Did someone not get removed from property for "cooking" in room

 

[BigHero4]

Unless it's changed in the last two years, the coffeemakers in the DVC villas are standard ones and don't require any special pods. You can bring your own coffee and filters, or buy the pre-measured filter packs.

If I were you (I assume you're flying since you mentioned Garden Grocer), I'd bring non-liquid, non-perishable food items with you, and order only your fresh/liquid items from Garden Grocer.

Pantry: Milk, salt & pepper, butter, garlic powder, ketchup, coffee and filters

Breakfast meals: cold or hot cereals, frozen waffles and syrup, frozen sausage patties, fresh or powdered eggs, fresh fruit, bagels or English muffins with desired condiments (e.g., PB&J, cream cheese)

Lunch//dinner meals:
- Any frozen boxed meal (e.g., Stouffer's lasagna) with fresh or frozen veggies of choice
- Grilled cheese sandwiches with canned tomato soup
- Broiled hot dogs (plus desired condiments decanted and brought from home, or in single-serve packets or purchased in small quantities) with potato chips and fresh or frozen veggies of choice
- Hot meatball sandwiches (use leftover hot dog rolls) with cheese, chips and veggies
- Pork 'n beans (canned beans, plus leftover hot dogs)
- Quesadillas (leftover cheeses, frozen chopped Southwest veggie mix, canned shredded chicken, with plain yogurt or sour cream) with boxed Spanish rice mix (usually calls for a can of chopped tomatoes)
*(Use any leftover tortillas to make breakfast burritos.)
- Final meal: Pasta with "Leftover" Sauce (boxed pasta, canned sauce, plus any leftover tomato soup or canned tomatoes, and/or meatballs - toast leftover bread or rolls with garlic butter and/or leftover cheese. Cut up any leftover whole fruit to make a fruit salad.) Alternatively, leftover bagels or English muffins can also be used to make "personal pizzas" using the same sauce/meat/cheese.

^^ Pro

 

[ford91exploder]

Unless it's changed in the last two years, the coffeemakers in the DVC villas are standard ones and don't require any special pods. You can bring your own coffee and filters, or buy the pre-measured filter packs.

If I were you (I assume you're flying since you mentioned Garden Grocer), I'd bring non-liquid, non-perishable food items with you, and order only your fresh/liquid items from Garden Grocer.

Pantry: Milk, salt & pepper, butter, garlic powder, ketchup, coffee and filters

Breakfast meals: cold or hot cereals, frozen waffles and syrup, frozen sausage patties, fresh or powdered eggs, fresh fruit, bagels or English muffins with desired condiments (e.g., PB&J, cream cheese)

Lunch//dinner meals:
- Any frozen boxed meal (e.g., Stouffer's lasagna) with fresh or frozen veggies of choice
- Grilled cheese sandwiches with canned tomato soup
- Broiled hot dogs (plus desired condiments decanted and brought from home, or in single-serve packets or purchased in small quantities) with potato chips and fresh or frozen veggies of choice
- Hot meatball sandwiches (use leftover hot dog rolls) with cheese, chips and veggies
- Pork 'n beans (canned beans, plus leftover hot dogs)
- Quesadillas (leftover cheeses, frozen chopped Southwest veggie mix, canned shredded chicken, with plain yogurt or sour cream) with boxed Spanish rice mix (usually calls for a can of chopped tomatoes)
*(Use any leftover tortillas to make breakfast burritos.)
- Final meal: Pasta with "Leftover" Sauce (boxed pasta, canned sauce, plus any leftover tomato soup or canned tomatoes, and/or meatballs - toast leftover bread or rolls with garlic butter and/or leftover cheese. Cut up any leftover whole fruit to make a fruit salad.) Alternatively, leftover bagels or English muffins can also be used to make "personal pizzas" using the same sauce/meat/cheese.

A real DVC pro here, I'd suggest getting an inexpensive panini press as it makes hot sandwich production soooo much easier as hot sandwiches are great in summer when you don't want a heavy meal.

 

[Weather_Lady]

A real DVC pro here, I'd suggest getting an inexpensive panini press as it makes hot sandwich production soooo much easier as hot sandwiches are great in summer when you don't want a heavy meal.

Not a pro by any means -- like so many of us, I'm just an obsessive overplanner!

 

[brifraz]

@Weather_Lady had a lot of great ideas for you. You are in a 1 bedroom, so you have a full kitchen. What do you usually make at home when you want to whip something up fast? Just do that at Disney! The 1 BR are great since they do have the oven and stove in addition to a microwave and fridge. Tons of options!

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

Are you driving? You could pre make your favorite meals, freeze ahead and put them in the crock pot or heat in the oven.
Because we have 6 kids we stay off property in a rental home and I make 3 dinners to take with us. One is a lasagna from Costco, Crock Pot Beef stew and crock pot pork loin. I use disposable trays and pack crock pot liners, So clean up is quick.
I also pre make some breakfest casseroles for the mornings. As my husband put the kids to bed first night I run to the grocery store and get any fresh needs:salad, fruit, milk, creamer and anything we forgot
We eat a table service lunch or dinner in the park and the rest at our vacation home. I don't buy or pack much junk food, we eat that in the parks
If you are flying than pasta with meat sauce, grilled sandwiches and pretty sure they have stoffuers lasagna.
Enjoy your trip, we will be there on 1/21

Who do you rent the house through?? I am thinking about doing this.... Do you find it easy to get in and out of parks with the kids? And how far is the house (roughly) from the parks? Thanks for the info. I appreciate. As a family of 6 as well it's nice to have many options to consider.

 

[LAKid53]

In agreement with @Weather_Lady. Use Garden Grocers just for perishables. Amazon Pantry allows you to fill a large box with non perishables like cereal, coffee, tea, bottled water, paper goods (Disney's toilet paper, even in a deluxe, is one grade above sand paper, IMHO), etc. As you fill the box, Amazon tells you the % filled. It's a flat shipping rate, not free, like Amazon Prime. I did that for my trip to Disneyland last year...no problems.

If you end up with a rental car, there's a Publix grocery store nearby. You drive past the GF and wind your way behind MK, through the terminal for the Disney buses. And get a great view of the back of Splash Mountain along the way.

We drive, so I have a cooler packed with milk, juice, eggs, butter, something for dinner the first night. And then bring a few things like bread, coffee (hate Joffery's), tea, sugar, etc. The kitchens are equipped with the basics...pots, pans, plates, bowls, glasses, mugs, utensils, very dull cutting knives, colander, some mixing bowls, measuring cup, stuff like that. I have a small box with what I consider kitchen essentials Disney doesn't provide or to replace the crappie ones they do (like those dull knives).

If you haven't done so yet, cruise over to the Allears.net channel on YouTube. I'm sure they have a video of a one bedroom villa at BC...will give you full tour of the room. They even open all the kitchen cabinets and the fridge.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[BigRedDad]

If you are driving, there are tons of ideas. Bring a good crockpot. You can leave in the morning and come back to a meal ready to eat. We have one that has an On timer to schedule when it starts. You can do almost anything...soup, beef stew, spaghetti. Using the grills are great as well. Nothing like slapping $20-$25 worth of steaks on it and saving $200.

 

[Tommye1078]

Just get a personal chef to prepare meals for you. He can ship them to the hotel.

 

[LAKid53]

Just get a personal chef to prepare meals for you. He can ship them to the hotel.

Best idea ever!

Contact Art Smith..he's got a restaurant in the vicinity and he's a pretty good chef.

In all seriousness, there's a service in the Orlando area called Owners Locker. You rent storage space in a climate controlled facility. You are provided a large container bin to pack as you please. The service includes delivery and pickup to your resort. You can pack anything that's not perishable in the container...that crock pot, a filtered water pitcher, all those things you need but don't want to drag with you to WDW, especially if you fly. I've seen the bins at several DVC resorts and they're pretty big. And the service isn't limited to just the DVC resorts.

I would suggest anyone who visits on a regular basis check them out.

 

[Kristamouse]

Who do you rent the house through?? I am thinking about doing this.... Do you find it easy to get in and out of parks with the kids? And how far is the house (roughly) from the parks? Thanks for the info. I appreciate. As a family of 6 as well it's nice to have many options to consider.

Last trip and for our trip in only 20 Days (eeek so excited). I looked over Home Away for our Villa's. We choose the locations to be less than 10 mins from
The parks, which is about what the resorts busses take for park transportation.
MK is a pain to get in and out of so we tend to stay there all day and duck out before the fireworks so we dont get stuck waiting for the monorail or boat. We do AK mid week with no break and enjoy an early night to do homework, we pull our kids out of school for Disney. The rest of the parks we do a break depending on our kids moods. Babies #5 and #6 nap well in the stroller we will see if that will still work in a few weeks.
We have stayed in two adjoining rooms and the family suites along with a room at PORS (only 4 kids then.)
The family suites are our favorite because they have the small kitchen area for some food prep and dishwashing. But our #6 child was making the suites tight.
The adjoing Room was fine but so much money for nothing. Double the price and no real advantage other than extra beds and potties.
The rooms at PORS were a JOKE for a large family, surprised they were recommended for families with 3 or more kids. Any family needs
More than two potties
We have also stayed in the two bedrooms suites @ Homewood Inn suites and those were very comfy too with a kitchen area two bedrooms, two baths, family room and free befest and dinner m-th.
We liked the house and did not feel removed from the Magic. In fact our house had darling Disney decorations/accents everywhere. We loved the private pool, hot tub, 3 bathrooms and 4 beds rooms plus a gaming area, fully kitchen and laundry. I can not stress how much I loved being able to toss in a load of laundry nightly and chilling in the hot tub with a delicious adult beverage with my husband while our kids slept a few feet away.
Odd to say I loved doing laundry but I took no dirty clothes home, that was a real treat. I know laundry can be done in any Resort hotel but you have to give up an hour or more or go back and forth to check. And have many rolls of quarters. Having the laundry wash while the kids were getting ready for bed and dry while I was in the hot tub was quite nice.
My only complaint offf property was not having charging privileges with our bands and playing to park. We did not miss EMH or transportation becaus with 6 kids the Burmese are a pain and we found driving to the parks, even when on property, was faster.
Unless Disney comes up with a killer deal on property we are happy with our vacation homes.
Hope that helps! Happy planning

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

Last trip and for our trip in only 20 Days (eeek so excited). I looked over Home Away for our Villa's. We choose the locations to be less than 10 mins from
The parks, which is about what the resorts busses take for park transportation.
MK is a pain to get in and out of so we tend to stay there all day and duck out before the fireworks so we dont get stuck waiting for the monorail or boat. We do AK mid week with no break and enjoy an early night to do homework, we pull our kids out of school for Disney. The rest of the parks we do a break depending on our kids moods. Babies #5 and #6 nap well in the stroller we will see if that will still work in a few weeks.
We have stayed in two adjoining rooms and the family suites along with a room at PORS (only 4 kids then.)
The family suites are our favorite because they have the small kitchen area for some food prep and dishwashing. But our #6 child was making the suites tight.
The adjoing Room was fine but so much money for nothing. Double the price and no real advantage other than extra beds and potties.
The rooms at PORS were a JOKE for a large family, surprised they were recommended for families with 3 or more kids. Any family needs
More than two potties
We have also stayed in the two bedrooms suites @ Homewood Inn suites and those were very comfy too with a kitchen area two bedrooms, two baths, family room and free befest and dinner m-th.
We liked the house and did not feel removed from the Magic. In fact our house had darling Disney decorations/accents everywhere. We loved the private pool, hot tub, 3 bathrooms and 4 beds rooms plus a gaming area, fully kitchen and laundry. I can not stress how much I loved being able to toss in a load of laundry nightly and chilling in the hot tub with a delicious adult beverage with my husband while our kids slept a few feet away.
Odd to say I loved doing laundry but I took no dirty clothes home, that was a real treat. I know laundry can be done in any Resort hotel but you have to give up an hour or more or go back and forth to check. And have many rolls of quarters. Having the laundry wash while the kids were getting ready for bed and dry while I was in the hot tub was quite nice.
My only complaint offf property was not having charging privileges with our bands and playing to park. We did not miss EMH or transportation becaus with 6 kids the Burmese are a pain and we found driving to the parks, even when on property, was faster.
Unless Disney comes up with a killer deal on property we are happy with our vacation homes.
Hope that helps! Happy planning

Yes it does help! I am always so apprehensive about staying off property for fear of not feeling like we're in the "Magic." I love the ideas about staying at MK all day (or until kids crap out -lol) and having an early night when going to AK... These are all such great ideas. Our older kids are getting older (18 & 15 at time of this trip) and pretty soon we won't need such large accommodations... maybe staying offsite won't be too bad knowing that in the future we won't have to do so... We actually might be presently surprised too and enjoy it... I really appreciate your feedback and you have set my mind at ease if we do go and stay off property. Thanks a bunch!! Oh and enjoy your trip. Take pics and let me know how everything fared!