OT - traveling (and eating) on a shoestring budget

In 2 weeks I'm flying to Florida for vacation. 4 days in Orlando with my 6
yr old daughter, and then a few days with my good friend jay jay ;-)

I want to do this as frugally as possible, without detracting from my DD's
experience, since this will be the first time going anywhere like this. Our
room has a microwave and refrigerator, so I'm trying to think of food things
to pack, and then things to buy once we're down there. Any suggestions
would be great! I'm thinking about taking my kashi cereal and some rtd meal
replacements with me.

det

Now, I don't recall your ever saying where in the country you are from, but
I do know that when my family went down there we were warned about the high
cost of everything, including horror stories about expense in the parks
themselves. We are from No. Va. and when we got the bill in our first,
definitely family, restaurant we were amazed at how much food we got for so
little money! We didn't find the sticker shock at all to be what we
expected, so my advice would be to buy anything you need down there (why lug
food through an airport). However, I will admit that even when family comes
down from Baltimore, even if we are just running to the grocery for milk,
all they do is grouse about how expensive everything is here, so maybe you
will have a different opinion of the prices. We always had breakfast and
dinner outside the parks, lunch was not to be avoided inside the parks.
Have fun...my family is a bunch of adrenalin junkies, so all we did were big
ride type parks, but there is so much else to do. Honestly...if I were you
taking a grand adventure with my daughter, I'd eat whatever I wanted!
Especially, if my goal was to save money...there are so many inexpensive
places to eat, if you count your time factor vs expense. Think about it,
unless you want to invest in a lot of cooking garbage, you will be eating
instant foods anyway! Don't stress out over food...enjoy your daughter and
the area. You will walk miles and sweat bullets (the entrance to Universal
Orlando is so far away from the parking garage I got tired just looking at
how far I had to walk, was a lot heavier then, though) Enjoy. Elise.
"determined" wrote in message
...
In 2 weeks I'm flying to Florida for vacation. 4 days in Orlando with my
6
yr old daughter, and then a few days with my good friend jay jay ;-)

I want to do this as frugally as possible, without detracting from my DD's
experience, since this will be the first time going anywhere like this.
Our
room has a microwave and refrigerator, so I'm trying to think of food
things
to pack, and then things to buy once we're down there. Any suggestions
would be great! I'm thinking about taking my kashi cereal and some rtd
meal
replacements with me.

det

On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 11:02:42 -0800, "determined"
wrote:

In 2 weeks I'm flying to Florida for vacation. 4 days in Orlando with my 6
yr old daughter, and then a few days with my good friend jay jay ;-)

I want to do this as frugally as possible, without detracting from my DD's
experience, since this will be the first time going anywhere like this. Our
room has a microwave and refrigerator, so I'm trying to think of food things
to pack, and then things to buy once we're down there. Any suggestions
would be great! I'm thinking about taking my kashi cereal and some rtd meal
replacements with me.

det


Tell you what - if you want me to cook up some stuff and bring it so
you can nuke it to warm up, or have to eat already prepared - just let
me know.

I can hard boil some eggs, make some chicken or something, and just
bring it up to O town on Sat when I come up. THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM!!!


The key things you'll want to think about are keeping hydrated and
nurished while at the parks. If you want, I'll bring my hydration
pack backpacks. You can fill it up with water or wateredown gatoraid,
and when you get thirsty, just drink. It also has expandible pockets
which hold lots of stuff. THe water works as a "cooler" too - to keep
things temperately cool. That way you can put some fruit and granola
bars and even a sandwich in the packpack to thake to the park with
you. Then you don't have to stop for big meals at the park.

Seriously - I can bring up a "picnic" basket of all the essentials
(utensils, cutting knife, Condiments (mayo, mustard, the basics) etc).
You can just bring it all back with you when you come down to my
place. Heck - I could even bring up the hibachi or the mini stove
and the camp gear.... We've done that many times in hotel rooms
(balcony or parking lot) to cook up simple things like warm up a stew
or cook hots and hams.

Food wise:
fruit
salad stuff
dressing
cottage cheese
yogurt
granola bars
sandwhich makings
Cereal
milk
juice (or powdered)
gallon jugs of water.

Most this stuff you can pick up a thte store when you get here - don't
bother packign it.

And for steak dinner - I can bring up the hibachi and we can buy some
steaks and grill out a steak dinner at the park on Saturday night.

"determined" wrote in message
...
In 2 weeks I'm flying to Florida for vacation. 4 days in Orlando with my
6
yr old daughter, and then a few days with my good friend jay jay ;-)

I want to do this as frugally as possible, without detracting from my
DD's
experience, since this will be the first time going anywhere like this.
Our
room has a microwave and refrigerator, so I'm trying to think of food
things
to pack, and then things to buy once we're down there. Any suggestions
would be great! I'm thinking about taking my kashi cereal and some rtd
meal
replacements with me.

det

Are you planning on visiting any of the parks in Orlando? Most Disney
resorts have a food court where you can get a wide variety of food at
reasonable prices. You don't have to be a guest to eat at them and it
would give you a chance to visit some of them. They might even have the
Christmas decorations up! On our last visit my daughter and I ate
breakfast at the food court each morning and probably spent less than $10
for two adults. I bought some energy bars and fruit to snack on during
the day and we ate our evening meals out. Evening meals were rather
expensive but we tried all the resort restaurants on our vacation. I'm
sure we could have gotten by on a lot less had we tried - but it's vacation
time - enjoy. If your daughter is anything like mine were when they were
young the last thing they thought about doing on vacation was eating.
Years ago when I traveled with them a late breakfast and dinner in the
evening were often the only meals we ate. Anything in between was probably
a piece of fruit or one of those local treats you just had to try.

Try to keep the breakfast and lunch to a minimum money wise and enjoy a few
of the great restaurants in the area in the evening. Have fun...

Beverly

In article , "determined"
wrote:

In 2 weeks I'm flying to Florida for vacation. 4 days in Orlando with my
6
yr old daughter, and then a few days with my good friend jay jay ;-)

I want to do this as frugally as possible, without detracting from my
DD's
experience, since this will be the first time going anywhere like this.
Our
room has a microwave and refrigerator, so I'm trying to think of food
things
to pack, and then things to buy once we're down there. Any suggestions
would be great! I'm thinking about taking my kashi cereal and some rtd
meal
replacements with me.

det



Don't bother to take food with you--that'll just be a hassle. Pick up
fruit, vegies, yogurt, milk, cereal, bread, and lunch meat when you get
to your destination. Eat lunch out--that's usually the least expensive
meal--and dinner in your room. Does your hotel offer "continental
breakfast"? You'll save a little there, as well, and plan to walk that
off during the day. And only get one bottled water, and refill all day.

Amy (living on cheap)

"Jayjay" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 11:02:42 -0800, "determined"
wrote:

In 2 weeks I'm flying to Florida for vacation. 4 days in Orlando with my
6
yr old daughter, and then a few days with my good friend jay jay ;-)

I want to do this as frugally as possible, without detracting from my
DD's
experience, since this will be the first time going anywhere like this.
Our
room has a microwave and refrigerator, so I'm trying to think of food
things
to pack, and then things to buy once we're down there. Any suggestions
would be great! I'm thinking about taking my kashi cereal and some rtd
meal
replacements with me.

det


Tell you what - if you want me to cook up some stuff and bring it so
you can nuke it to warm up, or have to eat already prepared - just let
me know.

I can hard boil some eggs, make some chicken or something, and just
bring it up to O town on Sat when I come up. THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM!!!


The key things you'll want to think about are keeping hydrated and
nurished while at the parks. If you want, I'll bring my hydration
pack backpacks. You can fill it up with water or wateredown gatoraid,
and when you get thirsty, just drink. It also has expandible pockets
which hold lots of stuff. THe water works as a "cooler" too - to keep
things temperately cool. That way you can put some fruit and granola
bars and even a sandwich in the packpack to thake to the park with
you. Then you don't have to stop for big meals at the park.

Seriously - I can bring up a "picnic" basket of all the essentials
(utensils, cutting knife, Condiments (mayo, mustard, the basics) etc).
You can just bring it all back with you when you come down to my
place. Heck - I could even bring up the hibachi or the mini stove
and the camp gear.... We've done that many times in hotel rooms
(balcony or parking lot) to cook up simple things like warm up a stew
or cook hots and hams.

Food wise:
fruit
salad stuff
dressing
cottage cheese
yogurt
granola bars
sandwhich makings
Cereal
milk
juice (or powdered)
gallon jugs of water.

Most this stuff you can pick up a thte store when you get here - don't
bother packign it.

And for steak dinner - I can bring up the hibachi and we can buy some
steaks and grill out a steak dinner at the park on Saturday night.

How kind of you! I don't really mind splurging on dinner, at least a couple
times during the week. But wherever I can cut costs, that would be great.

det

"determined" wrote in message
...

How kind of you! I don't really mind splurging on dinner, at least a
couple
times during the week. But wherever I can cut costs, that would be great.

det

Well - as people have said - dining at the parks can be expensive.
Bringing in snacks and sandwhiches can really help, and maybe plan on just
getting something on one of the days. Once you are here, they'll be no
need for much food costs.

I can easily bring up the "camping" gear on Saturday - afterall, its still
out from last weekends camping trip, and I brought it all in to wash well
before we restow the camper. Hey - ya know - if you get too annoying
staying here, I could just kick you out to the camper. (lol).

I had a thought about something to do w/ the kids on Saturday night - but
now that thought has dissappeared into the abyss of my brain. It'll come
back to me though.