[Kellerites]

The four of us just got back from DW and I think we probably set a record for getting the biggest bang for our food dollars. We only spent about $300 for food for the entire week. Here are a few tips:
- Take snacks with you. Pop Tarts, donuts, pretzels, anything you can snack on during the day when you get a little hungry. Why spend $4 for a hotdog at the parks?
- For breakfast, pack some Pop tarts, oatmeal, and bagels. The Food court at the All Star resorts have all the toasters and hot water you will need. Breakfast at the food courts are about $5 each. We could have spent $25/day on breakfast instead of the $3 we actually did.
- For lunch hit one of the casual eateries (Pecos Bills or Cosmic Rays are good in the MK) and split meals. The caeser salad at Cosmic Rays is huge and very good, big enough for 2 people. If you're still hungry, have some of the snacks you brought.
- For dinners, same as lunches. You can spend $25/person at the all you can eat buffets, or you can split a couple of casual meals between the family. We normally spent about $20 for dinner for the four of us and never went hungry.
- If you want a snack, they have great ice cream sundaes at the parks and they are huge. Try the garbage pail at Typhoon Lagoon for $7.50, more than enough for 4.
- Do a character breakfast late in the morning. Chef Mickey's has great food and lots of it. Eat till you can't eat anymore, it will hold you all day long. We spent $60 there and didn't spend another penny all day on food.
-Buy the all you can drink mugs at the resorts. For $12 for the week, we must have filled them ten times a day. Coffee in the morning and soft drinks when we got back in the evenings. They only hold about 10 ounces each even though they look huge.
-If you want alcohol, buy beer at the commissary in the gift shops. Beer is $1.75/can versus $4.50 at the bar.
We had a great time doing everything that makes DW so great and didn't miss out the expensive and long and drawn out meals. Plus, I think I lost a couple of pounds walking all those miles ever day.
And don't forget to get your Fastpasses. The longest wait we had all week was 20 minutes for Buzz Lightyear without a FP (great ride!). Time the FP so you can get on all the good rides thoughout the day. Some people were waiting way over an hour for Space Mountain, we waited maybe 10 minutes with the FP.

[Dana]

Thanks for all the food tips and welcome to Disney Central. I think I missed out on welcoming you before.

[trishb]

Those are great tips! Thanks for sharing!

[kimluvsmickey]

Awesome tips. We go to Disney often as well and we brown bag it alot. We eat a few fun, good meals at Epcot or with characters and cheap out the rest. We often buy and share special treats (maybe one a day) and we have never ever felt like we missed out on anything. We also carry some of our refillable drink mugs with us (in a backpack) and fill them from the water fountains for waiting in line. :)

[JM0318]

Kellerites, Welcome to Disney Central. those are some really good tips... Bye chance did you tote all the snacks with you or did you get a locker and go back to get your snacks when you got hungry... When we had small ones we used to brown bag it a lot but we found that putting it in a locker helped us. That way we did not have to lug it around with us... We also found that if you like hot dogs... that a childs hotdog was the same size as an adult on top of you get a drink and fries of some sort which is cheaper than an adult hotdog with nothing else... Hope this helps some save some money on food at Disney...



:) Judy

[cbeccaboo2]

Question-I don't want to sound cheap-I have been dieting and another person in our group going has had tummy surgery and does not eat much-at the sit down restr. do they let you split meals or do they look at you like your nuts? We were thinking that we would split meals while we were there alot. We have PS at CRT for dinner and were wondering? Thanks.

:heart :) :) :heart

Becca

[Dana]

Originally posted by cbeccaboo2
Question-I don't want to sound cheap-I have been dieting and another person in our group going has had tummy surgery and does not eat much-at the sit down restr. do they let you split meals or do they look at you like your nuts? We were thinking that we would split meals while we were there alot. We have PS at CRT for dinner and were wondering? Thanks.

:heart :) :) :heart

Becca

I have heard many peple mention splitting meals. I cannot ever imagine anyone thinking your nuts. Just tell your server you are sharing.

I am calling tomorrow (SAT) to make my PS. I have not forgotten about asking about king beds in Dalmation buildings. Do you want me to ask about splitting meals at CRT?

[mickaholic4077]

I don't think they will let you share at a buffet or family style meal,but they do let you share at a sit-down place.

[kphil89]

Those are great tips, I think I will use some of those on my upcoming trip! It will just be me ans DD and I think we'll be fine with sharing meals...Hmm I think I could fit some bagels in my suitcase :D

[MickeyRon]

Awesome tips... we just returned and our food bill was much less than budgeted as well... More money for Mickey Stuff!! :)

Tips:
Pack snacks... we carried a camelbak (a backpack with insulated water compartment... ice cold water all day!, we got the 3 liter version) and able to carry snacks, ponchos, ect... great investment!
Share meals... we split meals and no one gave us any issue about it... I too am sure that they would not let you do this at the buffets! Another key is if you do decide to eat at the sit down restaurant... have a late lunch... same food cheaper...
We were able to do breakfast at the condo... small and convenient...
Another tip... I did not get to try this yet, but if you like Hoop dee do and Mickey's BBQ... Try trails end buffet at the campground... same food much cheaper!! (I got this from BDavis!)

If you are interested in camelbak check this out... I promise I don't work for them but it is an awesome product!!

www.camelbak.com

[crystalrp]

Originally posted by cbeccaboo2
Question-I don't want to sound cheap-I have been dieting and another person in our group going has had tummy surgery and does not eat much-at the sit down restr. do they let you split meals or do they look at you like your nuts? We were thinking that we would split meals while we were there alot. We have PS at CRT for dinner and were wondering? Thanks.

:heart :) :) :heart

Becca

DH and I shared meals quite often during our trip. We would tell the server that we were sharing, and usually when the sandwich or whatever came out, they had cut it for us, put them on separate plates, and it really seemed they gave each of us our own order of fries even though we were only ever charged for one order!

Also, at the counter service places, go ahead and order the kids meal. It is usually alot more manageable serving size and they never come out to make sure you have a kid eating it! :D

[llama]

We always buy three meals for four adults. One of my kids is a vegetarian and the other one and myself are small eaters. We always ask for an extra plate and kind of divy up the meals, taking a little of each of what appeals to us. I refuse to pay a lot of money and see good food go to waste, and I don't feel like carrying around a Doggy bag all day in the hot Florida sun!

[cbeccaboo2]

Thanks Gang for the sharing info on meals. I don't feel bad about sharing meals then. I understand no buffets but the sitdown and counter service would be great!!! Kid meals are a great idea also. I don't want to blow this diet thing I doing and gain everything that I've lost so far at WDW. Thanks Bunches!!!

:heart :) :) :heart

Becca