Hard to do huh!?!

Kathryn,
Here are the ideas I'm tucking in my pocket this year...a sneak peek at my notes.

I print a tiny font version for one park a day and tuck it in my jeans pocket...

Take into consideration the fact that adult meals aren't coming with a drink... We do counter service water and sprinkle flavors of Crystal light or presweetened koolaid in there.. (just enough for one cup's worth of flavor).
Cokes are OUTRAGEOUS there so we do our soda drinking offsite!


Eat Cheap the Disney Way

Magic Kingdom

11:30 AM Snack
Aloha Isle
Pineapple Spear $1.49

1:00 PM Lunch
Mexican @ El Pirata y el Perico in Adventureland
Adult = Taco Salad - fried tortilla, lettuce, taco meat, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream and onions, served with salsa $5.79
Child = Reserved for Mickey's Little friends - children's taco, cookies and child's beverage $3.49

4:00 PM Afternoon Snack (packed in fanny pack)
Goldfish crackers/Peanut Butter Crackers

Dinner for 4 (counter service)
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café in Tomorrowland
Family Meal serving 3-4 people Whole Rotisserie Chicken with Mashed Potatoes $15.99 or
1/2 Rotisserie Chicken - with Mashed Potatoes $6.99






MGM Studios

11:30 AM Snack (packed from home)
1:00 PM Lunch Rosie’s All American Café
Adult = Double Cheeseburger with fries $6.69 *add extra bun + .80 cents
Garden salad 2.19
Child = Child's Chicken Nuggets with fries & child's size soda $3.49

4:00 PM Snack
Mini slice of Carrot Cake .99 cents from Starring Rolls Bakery

Dinner
Toluca Legs Turkey Company
Adult = Turkey Leg $4.69 or a Foot Long Hot Dog $3.69; add chili .70; add cheese .50


Snack before the parade from
Studio Catering Company on Mickey Avenue

Popcorn $2.35 Served in a Souvenir Bucket $3.29 or
A Nestle Crunch King Size Ice Cream Bar $2.39



EPCOT (you eat more here!)

10:30 AM Snack Boulangerie Patisserie in France – World Showcase
French Baguette Bread $2.25
Cheese Plate $5.95

Lunch 11:00
Nine Dragaons – China – World Showcase
Adult = Pork & Shrimp Spring Rolls -- 2 pieces 3.95 and
Shanghai Wonton Soup -- Shanghai style wontons made with minced pork
served in a light and tasty chicken broth. $ 3.00 (ordered ala carte)
Child = Sweet and Sour Chicken - $4.75 served with soft drink and ice cream

(ps.. if your kiddo isn’t into multi cultural foods McDonald’s is near Canada and it’s 2.79 for (6) nuggets or 3.99 for (9) and 1.99 for fries)
or
Sunshine Season Food Fair The Land - Epcot
Adult = Veggie Wrap - lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, grilled portobello mushrooms, radish spread with balsamic vinegar wrapped in a spinach tortilla, served with potato chips $5.79
Fajita Chicken Potato - $4.69
Child = Children's Value Meal Mick-E-Roni and Cheese Pasta - served with cheese or marinara sauce, breadstick and child's beverage- $3.49; add a meatball for $0.99


4:00 PM Snack
Aren’t you full yet! HEE HEE! LOL! Just kidding!
This is where you just allow 10 dollars for wherever your nose leads you…and we usually have a pastry/sweet….


Dinner

Morrocco - TANGIERINE CAFÉ

Mediterranean Pizza - chicken, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese $7.95 + a side dish order of - Tangierine Couscous Salad $1.95 each
Kid's Meal - Hamburger or Pizza $5.95; both served with fries and small beverage
or
Japan - Yakitori House
Adult = Teriyaki Chicken - Broiled Chicken served with Teriyaki sauce and steamed rice $4.79
Mickey's Child Deal - Teriyaki chicken with mixed vegetables, steamed rice and a child size soft drink $3.49


Dessert while watching the Water Light Parade
Trapper Bob's Beavertails
Beaver Tail Strawberries and Whipped Cream - $3.25





Animal Kingdom
(smallest of all four parks… doesn’t take as long to explore)
Get there early when it’s cool to see the animals
Pack your water bottle! Drinks are the highest in this park!

10:00 snack
.99 cent fruit at Harambe’s Fruit Market (Apple, Pear, Banana)

Lunch
Adults and Children should eat the
McDonald's Happy Meal includes four chicken McNuggets, fries with child's size beverage and a premium toy $3.79
(You’ll be leaving this park early in the afternoon and can have a big supper somewhere offsite)

Shop in the Rainforest Café (Don’t eat there!)

Afternoon Snack (just before you leave)
Pack yourself a candy bar that won’t melt like a Payday

Supper ---
Eat Offsite Somewhere!



WOOHOO!
Have fun!
X





Ps.. We're doing more Universal Studios/ IOA this time for our crew...
I need their menus now!

Dont forget to stop for a churro.

For universal you used to get 10% off your food order when you show your AAA card. You may want to look into that to save yourself a few $$.

__________________
Mommy to Alverto (10/92), Cassandra Marie Elaine (8/99) ,Isabella Theresa Maria (8/04) and William Ryan (9/05)

Good post... I hope other can add their tips for eating cheap while there!
Mcleader Julie

Well Xhausted1
You must be exhausted putting togther all that great info! I live in FL and frequent Disney. I wish I had known all that info for the past times we've been there!

We do always eat in Morroco in Epcot, and I did know about the turkey legs, but your post was just great. Thanks for sharing those details!

Paulette

Thanks Paulette!

This post got started over on the Family Board Momsince96 announced she was going in Nov and was talking about needing to eat off site to "save" money....that would be so time consuming!

I admitted to my first time fears many trips ago!
Quote from original post on family board

I had posted...
forgot to add... first year we were scared of the prices too...
I had planned even more carefully back then...

We took things to make sandwiches for lunch with us for three days...

Squeezable tube peanut butter and those little IHOP jelly packages

Those Tuna Fish kits that are room temp on the shelf...(single pack of Mayo, Pickle relish, tuna pouch)

We froze pkg of thin lunch meat and placed it in soft side cooler..(ate earlier that day to ensure safety) used those mustard/mayo single packs from Burger King...


HA HA HA!!!
Bread, knife, folded napkins, and can of fried potato sticks as the *chips*!
(33 cents a can with a pop lid)

Can you tell I was as scared as you about the prices! hee hee!



YIKES!!


We don't stay onsite because Disney isn't ALL we do... but here were the breakfast ideas that others might want to do too...

Being able to Eat breakfast on the go in the car while driving over to the park helped get us going....

Minute maid sells boxed "orange juice" and "grape juice" in those convenient little juice boxes so we'd use those...

Morning 1 = Orange Juice + HoneyBun
Morning 2 = Grape Juice + poptart
Morning 3 = Apple juice + cereal Bar
Morning 4 = Milk + single serve donuts
Morning 5 = Oj + Little Debbie Coffee Cake
Morning 6 = Coffee + Pastry Swirl
Morning 7 = Big Breakfast before jumping in car to drive home.

ALL were portable and easy to trash as we arrived at the park of our choice.
All could travel down in the car at room temp and then be refrigerated the night prior to need....

Wake up.. Grab a box juice, grab your "package" of breakfast and hop in the car... get there and Play all Day!
Works for me!



We're looking forward to an awesome trip this time too!

WOO HOO!




X

first time staying on site and the cost of feeding a family of four during that time has me nervous - I am seriously considering smuggling in a toaster! I had friends that always packed their own coffee pot way before the hotels started providing them... poptarts, toaster muffins and thomas's waffles could provide a yummy breakfast option... wonder what airport security would make of a toaster....

My kids do not eat PBJs - so I picked up the lunch/dinner vouchers just to 'prepay' some meals.

I would welcome any posts about cheap buffets in the disney area. Breakfast and dinner - please..... (soup, salad, decent food)

I would highly reccommend you do not bring a toaster. It is a fire hazard, (thats why they are not allowed)...Check out the disboards.com there were some threads from people sneaking their kitchen appliances in. a toaster or microwave or crock pot would be a fire hazard, and another poster talked about the offensive smell of other people's food. I would say you would be encroaching on your fellow hotel guests personal time by providing a possible fire hazard and subjecting them to any smells that may waft away from any household appliance.If you really feel that you need to cook your own food, maybe look into a villa, fort wilderness, or stay off site (we rent a whole house 5 minutes from the Animal Kingdom , with a private pool in a gated development with 4 bedrooms for 109 a night. a regular room in disney can be much more than that, even in the value hotels. We even checked out the Holiday Inn Family Suites, and it was more expensive than renting our own house. I am not really big on public pools (esp full of toddlers, yech no offense to anyone) .

International Drive leading right to the Beltz outlet malls has every restaurant you could think of. There is a Shoneys or Big Boy or something like that that has a breakfast buffet. To find more of that stuff, pick up those brochures at gas stations, the outlet mall,etc. They will have ads and coupons. The down side is time away from the parks while you are driving to and from somewhere outside the parks. Traffic can be horrific and will take up even more precious time.

The Trail's End Buffet over at Fort Wilderness (campground) has buffet meals that are the bargain of the property. You may want to check them out for a breakfast or dinner.

At Animal Kingdom you can find bags of pretzels that are shaped like Mickey Mouse.. I believe they were .50 a bag!! The price may have gone up a little since I saw them last, but a very good deal.. Great cheap snack for the kids!

but if you're driving, invest in an "extreme" cooler - I purchased a 4-day (guaranteed to keep ice up to four days in 90 degree heat) 55 qt. Coleman cooler at walmart for $13.88.

I bought a case of water at CVS - $1.01 after using my $3.00 CVS coupon (ExtraBucks?). I froze all of them.
I also bought about 4 boxes of the Capri Sun juice packs and froze them. They work great as ice packs for anything else in the cooler - no draining, and no refilling with ice.
Then each day, pack whatever you think you'll need into a backpack (you could put a couple in a soft-sided lunch pak too but they may not thaw quick enough), and they will thaw as the day progresses - drinks will be cold ALL day.

If you are flying, you can still buy a cooler there - for the expense, it is STILL less than renting a room fridge, then RAOK the cooler to another family before you leave, or pack all extra items purchased (dirty clothes,...), and check it as luggage (will have to secure it somehow). You will have to fill it with ice from the hotel, but you will still save a bundle on drinks.

Also good for storing anything like chocolate or other heat-sensitive snacks - and then they will stay cool in the backpack all day too.

We brought a backpack chock FULL of drinks and snacks into Disney and Universal - were checked both times, no problems.
We also brought TWO coolers when we went to Blizzard Beach (Disney) water park.

__________________
Cyndy lou


"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
Gandhi

The best way to do it cheap is to get a room outside of the park that has a kitchenette. Then, eat a good breakfast. Pack sandwiches, fruit, veggies, and drinks in your car. Take a break and go back to your car for lunch. Then, eat dinner back in your room.

__________________
Writing is more difficult that speaking since it is easier to be misunderstood.

When we were at Animal Kingdom just last week, they had a special offer for a "value meal ticket"---that wasn't the exact name, but something like that. For 50 cents more than the cost of the kids meal, I got not only the kids meal, but also two coupons...one for a bottle of water or soda almost anywhere in the park, and aother coupon for an ice cream or box of popcorn. Didn't see this offered at the other parks, only Animal Kingdom, but with water at $2.50 a bottle, it was a deal for us. Lots of drinking fountains around to refill the bottles, although honestly, I did not care for WDW water fountains H20!

A similar type of value option was also available for adults.

Don't forget that WDW offers the meal deal vouchers in AK. For around $11 for adults and $5 kids you get an entree, side and a beverage PLUS you get a seperate voucher for another beverage and ice cream for later.

You can also join hotwire savings club ( first month free) and order quick and casual vouchers for 11.50 ea. They can be used at any counter service restarants at WDW. They include entree, side, beverage and desert. These are great to use at Beaches and Cream dinner, located close to the boardwalk area of WDW. They serve great sundaies that are $8 ea and inlcuded with your voucher. Tax and tip is included with the quick and casual voucher. You can also order vacation kingdom lunch vouchers for 31.50 to use at sitdown restarants in WDW. These are a good value as they include tax and tip.

I can't say enough about meal vouchers. We just LOVED them! Beaches and Cream was AWSOME! We used one voucher to order 1 drink, 1 double double cheeseburger with grilled onions and bacon (on each level) and an extra bun. We made 2 burgers out of it (The bacon was actually only to seperate the 2 levels without loosing the cheese on the bottom burger!) and then onion rings (they're REALLY good) and a No Way Jose sundae. OMG! I think that worked out to over $20, but it was all (including tax/tip) included on the voucher!

We also went to rainforest cafe and out bill came to almost $450! OMG! We used the more expensive vouchers (Vacation Kingdom), 4 adult and 2 kids vouchers (so like $150). We loved it

We also used the vouchers at Tangerene Cafe. Very yummy

Unfortuantly WDW just did away with all food vouchers as of May 2005. Anyone that was lucky enough to already have vouchers will be honored until may 2005. They are no longer sold anywhere.

We stayed at the Hawthorn Suites on Palm Parkway. Free shuttle that only drops you off at Epcot [ you can take the Disney transport to other parks] saves $8 a day parking. Free bkfst. Cereal , toast, eggs, sausage, tater tots, donuts or danish [rotated every other day], also english muffin or bagels, and fresh cut Florida oranges. Kept us full for free till about 11 11:30. Also free newspaper, and free happy hour, beer[ watery ]or old and food soso. If you are not in the hotel do not make special plans to be for this. The rooms for a family with 2 kids or more is great sized. It had 2 queen beds in one room, and the room with the full kitchen had a sofa bed. On our last day we had to catch the plane early so we put some eggs and bagels in the room/fridge for the morning. Very nice hotel, not noisey at all and I am a very light sleeper.
[anything wakes me up]
Also we loved the Animal Kingdom vouchers. We used them at the Flame tree barbecue for the adults, the ribs are awesome!! 10.99 Ithink so like adollar more for the drink and ice cream, also maybe free beverage with meal. We carried the pizza from the other rest. Pizzafari, to the flame tree for the kids[meal voucher also] We actually didn't need the extra pops and put them in the fridge at the hotel.

I am a picky low fat eatter but I love Epcot.
i don't know the name of the place but it is a BIG eattery near the entrance and there is a hamburger topping bar.
Well, and this is not to be cheap, my husband got the burger and I was able to stnad there and just stack up a really great salad!!

Outside of Downtown DIsney Perkins is great AND filling.
There usually is a 10% coupon in the tourist books.

DO NOT go to the grocery store near there though.
It is expensive.

__________________
John 14:1
GO GATORS!!
GO BEARS!!
Check out my pictures!! Just click below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gotjenks/

When we go places, we go to the nearest grocery store and get cereal, milk, fruit, yogurts, veggies, bread, and cheese. We eat this stuff and have maybe one meal a day out.

There are Safeways and other grocery stores no matter where you go.

We sometimes bring either a toaster oven and/or electric skillet depending on where we are going and for how long. This is a great way to save money. If you wanted you could bring stuff from home like almond butter, jam, or whatever.

Both the Pop Century and All Star (value resorts) have a food court where the food is not expensive. They have a ton of condiments, utensils and they have toasters and microwaves for general use.

We bring our own dorm size refrigerator and coffee maker with us. (I am not sure if they are allowed or not, but we have never had a problem).

Bring canned soup, spaghetti, etc. and ask for a bowl (they gladly will give them to you! - the utensils are sitting out. Just bring a pop-top or your own can opener)

Bring bread and peanut butter. They have packets of jelly / honey and butter sitting out.

Ask for a water cup. They have sliced lemon and sugar packets sitting out.

Also, if you carry hot cans of soda into the main parks, the restaurants will give you a cup of ice for free if you ask.

Also I just found a Publix this past week very close to the Pop Century. (I used to go to a further one). But this one is right at US 192 right by the Gaylord Palms Hotel. The one the Disney personnel directed me to was much further. Publix has a great bakery/deli.

Eileen

We were lucky enough to get the package with the free dining... yeah! All we had to do was buy a 1 day ticket for each of us.. so that is all I was out... and they tol dme that ticket will never expire so we will save it for later.. we already had our tickets... we bought a 10 day park hopper last trip... buying the 10 day is much cheaper than buying your tickets each year.. saves a ton of money! But I love the package they have going on right now with free dining.. we will get a character meal everyday! I can't wait!

The free dining is no longer offered. This was a special during the slow season last year. You can still add the dining pkg. to your pkg. but it is for length of stay for your entire party on WDW property only. Adults are like $37./day and kids under 9 I think are $11./day. It is alot of food.

Forgot to add..you need to buy your tickets and on site room to get this dining pkg. Can't stay offsite and can't buy tickets off site.
Check out the great Disney links on MyCoupons travel section. Great boards...Lots of info.

We went to WDW on 3/6/06 for 8 days.

We rented a car and stayed (free parking everywhere) at Port Riverside (part of Port New Orleans) and thought it VERY VERY pretty!! (I have tons of pics if anyone wants to see),

We ate Bfast ONCE at the cafeteria in the restaurant inside the resort and it was okay.. the eggs were SO WEIRD: not REAL TO ME. They DID have a toaster and I watched people bring in loaves of bread and toast them (brillant!) .. I used the microwave to pop corn.

After settling in, we hit a store (Publix - don't.. it's like a Ralph's or King Soopers - nice, but PACKED and $$$, hence, defeatest) I picked up a case of water, croissants and bananas.

during the week, I hit up Super T and a Super WM for yogurt, milk, o.j., etc.. We had a small room fridge, that we stocked with drinks and cold water for the parks each day.

I brought with us pudding cups and tubes (Big Lots, $1.29), two cans of cheese, smoked almonds, snacky things.. oh yeah, and MANY SMALL ZIPLOC BAGS and several LARGE ones. We had leftovers here and there and they came in handy also when I wanted to dole out small bags of snacks to take inside the park. When you find a place with the free 'handi wipes' snag a few dozen.. they are SO refreshing in the heat (VERY mild for us) and to get sticky junk off the kids. I DID also BUY at Super Target a box of the individually wrapped ones before hand.

There are several places, like inside the Living Seas in Epcot that they sell just double cheeseburgers.. we ordered one and got a second bun cheap.. AWFUL BURGERS TO ME.

We did eat at the all you can eat buffet for lunch in Epcot in Germany, it was OKAY. I just couldn't find a simple TUNA sandwich! One night we went out to a KFC place and brought back enough chix for two nights. One very very physically depleted day I allowed to DH to order a pizza.. hey, it WASN'T THAT BAD, just the price ($20.) .. it took forever to arrive and then it was completely wrong! The order taker wrote it down RIGHT. Another 30 min and the correct one came, we were allowed to keep the wrong one and we ended up giving an entire pizza to an English Couple next door with two teens on their last night.

All you can eat lobster and buffet at Boston Lobster House off International Drive was great our first night - about $25/pp.. smaller whole lobsters, but big crab legs, fresh meats, salads, side dishes, fishes.. all fres.. Loved it.. I"m in CO, NOTHING from the ocean is fresh here.

DO NOT GO TO THE PONDERSOSA for Buffet. It's shi&&ty! It's misrepresenting and their all you can eat is very very limited. NEVER AGAIN. Better off at the local Sizzler than THERE.

BTW: I SO wanted to stay at the Carribean Beach: do you all KNOW you are NOT ALLOWED in the BEACH WATER? ONLY at the pool.. sure put a daper in my whining. We visited all the main resorts, took pics and video. Overall, IF I should go again, I will not stay at a resort, b/c all the positive for us was getting into one park 1 hr early, or staying 1 or 2 hrs later and, they do not allow you access to ALL 'lands' or rides either.

So much for $4,000.

amberngriffinco

We went to WDW on 3/6/06 for 8 days.

We rented a car and stayed (free parking everywhere) at Port Riverside (part of Port New Orleans) and thought it VERY VERY pretty!! (I have tons of pics if anyone wants to see),

We ate Bfast ONCE at the cafeteria in the restaurant inside the resort and it was okay.. the eggs were SO WEIRD: not REAL TO ME. They DID have a toaster and I watched people bring in loaves of bread and toast them (brillant!) .. I used the microwave to pop corn.

After settling in, we hit a store (Publix - don't.. it's like a Ralph's or King Soopers - nice, but PACKED and $$$, hence, defeatest) I picked up a case of water, croissants and bananas.

during the week, I hit up Super T and a Super WM for yogurt, milk, o.j., etc.. We had a small room fridge, that we stocked with drinks and cold water for the parks each day.

I brought with us pudding cups and tubes (Big Lots, $1.29), two cans of cheese, smoked almonds, snacky things.. oh yeah, and MANY SMALL ZIPLOC BAGS and several LARGE ones. We had leftovers here and there and they came in handy also when I wanted to dole out small bags of snacks to take inside the park. When you find a place with the free 'handi wipes' snag a few dozen.. they are SO refreshing in the heat (VERY mild for us) and to get sticky junk off the kids. I DID also BUY at Super Target a box of the individually wrapped ones before hand.

There are several places, like inside the Living Seas in Epcot that they sell just double cheeseburgers.. we ordered one and got a second bun cheap.. AWFUL BURGERS TO ME.

We did eat at the all you can eat buffet for lunch in Epcot in Germany, it was OKAY. I just couldn't find a simple TUNA sandwich! One night we went out to a KFC place and brought back enough chix for two nights. One very very physically depleted day I allowed to DH to order a pizza.. hey, it WASN'T THAT BAD, just the price ($20.) .. it took forever to arrive and then it was completely wrong! The order taker wrote it down RIGHT. Another 30 min and the correct one came, we were allowed to keep the wrong one and we ended up giving an entire pizza to an English Couple next door with two teens on their last night.

All you can eat lobster and buffet at Boston Lobster House off International Drive was great our first night - about $25/pp.. smaller whole lobsters, but big crab legs, fresh meats, salads, side dishes, fishes.. all fres.. Loved it.. I"m in CO, NOTHING from the ocean is fresh here.

DO NOT GO TO THE PONDERSOSA for Buffet. It's shi&&ty! It's misrepresenting and their all you can eat is very very limited. NEVER AGAIN. Better off at the local Sizzler than THERE.

BTW: I SO wanted to stay at the Carribean Beach: do you all KNOW you are NOT ALLOWED in the BEACH WATER? ONLY at the pool.. sure put a daper in my whining. We visited all the main resorts, took pics and video. Overall, IF I should go again, I will not stay at a resort, b/c all the positive for us was getting into one park 1 hr early, or staying 1 or 2 hrs later and, they do not allow you access to ALL 'lands' or rides either.

So much for $4,000.

amberngriffinco

LOL I knew that about Carribean beach. We have stayed there and it is a beautiful hotel.

I dont believe there is one spot in Disneyworld where you can swim in a lake.

I have also stayed at Port Orleans-Riverside Aka Dixie Landing.

We are going back in August and because of my 4 kids we are staying there again.

PS.. Dont forget FREE DINNING is back from 8/13 - 9/30.

__________________
Mommy to Alverto (10/92), Cassandra Marie Elaine (8/99) ,Isabella Theresa Maria (8/04) and William Ryan (9/05)

we'd like to purchase the dining package, but are finding it very difficult to do so. we're staying in a WDW property (coronado springs resort), but it was booked through dh's work. can you purchase the package seperately or do you have to buy it when you're booking your room? ANY help would be greatly appreciated, thanks

We just got back from a week stay and had a blast at all 4 parks. Here are a couple tips we used while there regarding food:

1) We visited Walmart earlier on and bought supplies for the week: for breakfast (cereal, milk, donuts, fruit, juice) lunch (couple loaves of bread, Peanut butter and jelly, ham and cheese, yogurts, apples, crackers, fruit snacks), and dinner (spaghetti, sauce, garlice bread, frozen chicken parmesan, hot dogs/brats/beans/mac-n-cheese, large bag of frozen chicken nuggets, french fries, salad mix and some frozen veggie mixes). about $110 in food supplies for the week total for making at "home" (we had a condo type thing with full kitchen).

2) For all days, we ate breakfast at home. For most days, we packed lunch. We ate by 11-11:30 to lighten the load and we were hungry by then anyway. Made pb&j sandwhiches, fruit snacks, etc I don't like pb&J but do like pb on crackers, so had that for me. The extra benefit to this besides expense mgtmnt was that we could eat when and where we wanted. No waiting in line, no trying to find a table close to where we bought food, etc. A few times it worked out really great as we took advantage of "wait" time to eat - like at MGM when we went to see the 11:45 stunt show. We were seated in the stadium for about 20 minutes before the show started - great time to eat lunch!

3) For all days, we took in empty water bottles and little baggies of lemonade mix. When we were thirsty, we poured in the drink mix, filled up with water at a water fountain, and drank till we were full. We either carried the bottle until empty or emptied it to lighten the load, whichever seemed best at the time. It wasn't the coldest but it was refreshing. We were all willing to share from the same bottle, but we could have taken multiple small bottles had that been an issue. I think we bought one drink on park property the whole time.

4) We did the Chef Mickey character breakfast at the Contemporary our first day there. It is actually a breakfast buffet but we got the lastest spot (11:20) and used it as our lunch food instead. It is one of the least expensive character breakfasts and we got to meet and get pictures with Mickey, Goofy, Pluto, Chip n Dale. Donald sometimes shows but not this time. Was great to do this at the beginning as it really got us "in the mood" and took off the stress of trying to find and meet this guys during the trip.

5) When we went to see Fantasmic at MGM (night show) our last night (highly recommend this as a final night event - a boat goes by at the very end with all of the characters and it was very neat to see them all and count how many we had met/photos/autographs with - almost all! a perfect ending, and the best night show at any of the parks in my opinion). Anyway, there is stadium style seating for this show and it is first come first sit. Show starts at 8:30 so we went in about 7 and procured excellent seats, and I went across to the counter service place across from the entrance and got food to take in and eat, so we ate dinner while we waited. tip: the double cheesburgers are a $1 more than the single cheesburgers. Get a double and and ask for an extra bun (no charge or 50c); the fries were enough for everyone to share , for us at least - make two meals for $6.50 instead of 1.

6) We shared among 3 people 2 orders of Fish & chips in Britain in Epcot. Highly recommend the Morrocco chicken meal - big pile of gyro type chicken and sides too.

that's it for now but I'm sure there were others. We did spend some big bucks on the Hoop Dee Doo review ($150 for 2 adults2 kids). Go in with a big appetite, it is all you can eat and the food was good and the entertainment was great. adults and boys (ages 6&9) enjoyed it greatly. Food is fried chicken and bbq ribs - they will bring out a pan pizza on request for kids who won't eat the chkn or ribs (we asked for one of our boys and they did it with a smile). Also bottomless beer and wine :-)

ok, so now we know for sure the meal plan isn't available for us due to dh's husband's work paying for the room. NOW he tells me we're driving!!!!!!!! We live in NJ. I get car sick driving to my mom's an hour & 10 min's away. will post a question about the travel on another thread. Just wanted to thank you all a MILLION for all the food advice. I've been taking notes. One good thing about driving is now I can pack the truck w/food!

Here is what we do....we stay at the Embassy Suites hotel, where breakfast is free every morning (and it's a cooked-to-order breakfast, too!)...so we'd FILL outselves up with breakfast...and take some fruit to go....then go to the parks on a full stomach....then we'd have those chocolate covered mickey mouse ice cream things as an afternoon snack and bring our own drinks. We only ate lunch there the day we were at Epcot (dad has to eat in Italy!). Anyway, after leaving the parks, we'd go to a big buffet-type place for dinner, like Shoney's, and again just eat until we couldn't eat anymore...plus we bought grocery store snacks for the room..

so besides lunch at Epcot, the only 'food' we purchased at Disney itself were the ice cream things.

if you stay at one of resorts, you can use their toasters in the cafeteria. We microwved croissants and muffins we bought at a local grocery store. We even microwaved microwave popcorn to take INSIDE the parks as a snack and at bedtime!

We had a fridge/freezae in our room, and I froze water and juices for the day (even early MARCH was HOT!) ..

The day we arrived, I went to the store and bought a CASE of water (8 days there and Waaay too long!!) , croissants, muffins, tortilla chips, bananas, apples and string cheese, o.j. and milk.

I BROUGHT: microwave popcorn, small indivdiual cans of cheese dip, boxes of cookies and crackers, candy and gum and we even brought on cans of the aerosol cheese in a can!! (HAVE to carry this on board!)

Someone mentioned inside a place, hmm, where the SkyRide is, to go to that place and buy a cheeseburger, which is a double and $$ and order an extra bun for $1. and make 2 burgers. WE DID and it worked great!!

Amber
CO

Where do you get details on the free dining?

LisaNJ25 - in your post about Disney World, you stated that free dining was back 8/13/06 - 9/30/06. We are going then and would love to get in on this deal. Can you tell me how? I spoke to Disney rep, but was told I could buy the offer for 38.00 a day. Free would be better. Can you help? Thanks

Sorry...that particular deal has ended....it needed to be booked back in June. It was posted here early in April. Keep your eyes on this board or other Disney related boards for other deals. Attendance has been good, so don't know if/when they will try to encourage business with the free dining, but, who knows?

Thanks so much for the info.

I read somewhere in this post (I think) of a fast food type rest. in a park, MK I think, that had a small salad bar type thing to fix up your burger. Yes, it was MK, it's coming back to me now!!!

It's on the left side of the park, adventure land? Not sure, anyway, we ordered two burger and fry meals for two hungry adults and it was wayy too much food. Two adults could split one burger and fry meal and fix up your half of the burger with sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes and the normal fixins. I pigged out on the mushrooms! Yum! You could make a side salad in the boat type container the burger is served in, no dressing though!

Also, the warm pretzels thru the parks we thought were a deal. $3.50 I think and two of us could not finish it! We broke it into sticks to eat easier while walking. The turkey leg price was like $5.49 or something, we thought that was too much for what you are getting. The BBQ pork sandwiches we saw at some parks were tasty and large, with fries they were approx. $7.25.

For those of you who want to know, they have "seedless" buns in all Disney parks available for the asking if you cannot eat seeds. (we saw someone ask and heard the answer) I was surprised to hear that!

Just back from 5 days in Disney (Orlando)

Paulette

The baby care stations at each park have a microwave. The new Kraft Easy Mac cups make great snacks/meals for the kids.

The Land in Epcot has a pretty good chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots kids meal that comes with a drink for only $3.99.

There is a cart near Liberty Square at MK that sells cheap loaded baked potatoes.

We are leaving for disney in the morning. If you can afford it, and are staying in a disney resort...the meal plan is worth it. If anything just the fact you don't have to budget for meals. I have heard nothing but praise for it. Oftentimes in late fall they seem to offer free disney dining to increase park attendance once schools are in session.

Otherwise we are loading down on bottled water (to refill of course), prepacked snacks, and juice.

__________________
Amy
Lake Charles, LA
Mom to Harrison and Nicholas

Unfortunately we can never go during that time due to my DH's work schedule. I heard that they are making changes to the meal plan where it isn't going to be such a great deal anymore.

Have fun on your trip.

we went to disney over the 4th of July. I love that place. If I had it to do over again I would have purchased the meal package along with tickets. We ended up spending about the same in food and did not eat as well as we would have with the meal plan. Dh and I went out to dinner one night alone and went to the board walk. It was a place that brews its own beer. We are not been drinkers but that food was sooo good. we got some kind of chicken that was crusted with nuts. oh my I still think about that meal. lol
One thing that I loved is you can take a cooler or back pack in with food. I packed a small cooler that would fit on the stroller and put drinks in it. then I carried a small back pack. I put snacks in there like gummy bears or pre packaged cookies and cheese crackers or something. It really helped when standing in line. when the little ones get all cranky and tired it was amazing how bringing out a juice box and a small snack cheered them right up. we ended up sharing with other cranky kids in line all the time. it passed time and cooled them off. I am so glad a lady gave us snacks in line on the first day. It worked like a charm. plus it was not so expensive to keep getting bottled water all day. The stroller carried the load and we had a blast!!!!! I am dreaming of going back one day.