How do YOU save money on dining?

[Marilyn Michetti]

It's easy for us "older folks". We book three or four ADR's for the week. The rest of the time, we eat when we're hungry, where we are. We don't qualify for the dining plans, so we don't even have to think about it.

We've never come home hungry, and it saves so much time not standing at a podium somewhere.

[PinKy]

In the past, we have bought one water bottle each and then re-use the water bottle the whole trip filling up in water fountains, at the food court etc - where ever there was water. This saves a lot of $ in drinks!! Also, what a lot of folks have mentioned..... either ship down a box of easy breakfast items or, if you have a car, run to the grocery store on your first day (there is one right by DTD) and get some inexpensive, easy to carry things like granola bars, pop tarts, bagels, etc for breakfast and then you can also grab a couple of bags of pretzles, dried fruit, peanuts (whatever your snack is) and package it in a few zip lock bags to bring to the parks for snacks. (you'll only need a few zip locs if you re-use them so you could probably just pack those in your suitcase) If you would like to do the table service - lunch is less expensive, and then do counter service for dinner. Honestly, some of the snacks at WDW are like meals (turkey leg for example), you could probably get a couple of snacks to share and save the $ for a nicer meal later. Good luck!

[Flower]

WE USE A GROCERY DELIVERY SERVICE

We had food delivered to our room in September and it worked out very well. We ordered pop, water, cereal, milk, snacks and diapers,etc. We took a fold up cooler bag and kept it in the bathroom with ice for the milk & juice, etc.

I have a cheap $8 toaster from Walmart that we take so we can make toast in the room for breakfast.

We have our resort mugs, but I like a cold can of coke at night and the fountain soda just does not cut it sometimes.

We also split a lot of our meals. his way we can get and appetizer, salad, entree and dessert and not feel guilty about it. I find the portions are huge otherwise and so much food goes to waste.

We also have the Disney Disney Experience 20% off card, but with them now adding an 18% gratuity I do not think it is as good of a deal, especially if the meal/service was not that good.

[EmmMOM2]

I know "technically" you aren't supposed to bring in outside food to the parks.
I take it they NEVER enforce this since many of you have taken coolers etc through with you??

[Hull-onian]

We haven't saved any money. But I remember one trip where we had no ADR's, so we had to eat counter service. I vowed, no counter service ever again. Now we have nice TS meals, and eat Mickey Bars in between.

[dolphinmickey9170]

We use a grocery delivery service as well. I order individual cereal cups, gallon of milk, two half gallons of orange and apple juice, 3-6pks diet pepsi (24oz) bottles, creamer for coffee and some snacks. We have breakfast in our room everyday, unless we have a TS breakfast. If we do a TS breakfast, we sometimes have the cereal for dinner when we get back to the room. We bring our own coffee filter packs and sugar packets to cut down on the costs. I'll even pack some disposable coffee cups and covers and plastic spoons for our cereals.

[offwego]

I know "technically" you aren't supposed to bring in outside food to the parks.
I take it they NEVER enforce this since many of you have taken coolers etc through with you??

I think some of the coolers referenced are the soft sided "lunch size" ones which won't be a problem. Your traditional cooler won't be allowed.

However if your room at value doesn't have a fridge (which is 10. per day) many people will get a cooler to store items in their room. (or even get one if the fridge they do have is too small for all they want to have handy.

Personally we often split the cs lunches (buying two for the three of us) and always always pick up cases of water to bring fresh water with us to the parks instead of paying the park prices for the water.