Question by Angela: I Need Money Saving Tips for Disneyland in California!!?
We are taking our 6 kids to Disneyland in a week or so, and I would love some input on Money saving ideas, we got our tickets from AAA and we bought the 3 day park hopper pass and with AAA right now, you get 2 days free with the 3 day ticket so we will be there for 5 days straight! We are 9 hours away and we are driving and staying at a motel 6, I was wondering if anyone had dinner ideas because we wont be able to afford to eat out for meals, with 6 children ages 8, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16 and 4 of them being big boys, eating out could easily cost us $ 100.00 a meal, I am taking my microwave, and packing sandwiches for the park, but ANY ideas including ANY meal ideas would be very much appreciated!!! Thank you in advance!
Best answer:
Answer by skilo47
save 100.00 per month for one year and you will have 1,200.00
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Disneys meals are outrageous at $ 25- per hamburger meal!! Pack sandwiches or eat pizza or fast food prior to entering and eat when you leave!
Cereal, oatmeal, poptarts, eggs,bacon,pancakes,waffles, in the morning and for lunch: soup,salads,burritos (69 cents each at the store, rice, macaroni & cheese, frozen foods:pizzas,meals,corn,peas,green beans and canned food: tuna, veggies, ravioli, pasta.
How to save money: put away money a side every pay check. Always eat in and don’t go out for a while like to the movies and dinner. Always.. try to pay your bills at the min. payment and do not buy un ness. things.
Well you are on the right track with bringing sandwiches and your microwave. We are very cheap people when it comes to vacation we always try to eat at least one meal out of the cooler if not more. Remember that there are a lot of restaurants that will give a discount for AAA members, also write the visitors center and ask them to send you their FREE visitors guide. It has a ton of coupons for places! We do this for every city we go to; you can even find coupons for fast food so hey you can eat out once. I would also stop at the visitors center and see what coupons they have. Anything that saves money is good. The park is just way expensive to eat at, just make sure the kids understand that you will not be eating or buying things there. Trust me you can get that toy at Wal-Mart for cheaper. As for meals you are doing great with your ideas! I might also bring a toaster with you, pop tarts, toast, toaster struddles, waffles and pancakes make for a great breakfast. I would also look into some cheap microwave dinners. They have them at dollar store or even a place like Save A Lot for less than a buck! I would also get some easy mac, hotdogs, burritos, pizza rolls, breakfast bowels, soup, chili, oatmeal and stuff like that. Spend some time in the frozen food isle you can find all kinds of things. Try the Stoffer’s frozen dinners here they have them on special all the time for 2 for $ 5.00. They have everything from Salisbury Steak to lasagna and they have 6 servings. Um however they are small servings so you might need two of each.
Don’t forget the veggies! You can cook frozen veggies in the microwave; just because you are eating other bad stuff doesn’t mean you have to skip the veggies! Think about it you can make Chili Dogs and green beans for like $ 7.00 for the all of you! Can’t get much cheaper than that! Also don’t forget that you can microwave rice. Instant rice fast easy and can complete a meal.
Bring healthy snacks, have raw veggies and dip, animal crackers, trail mix, peanuts, raisins, microwave popcorn and such. Bring granola bars, snack bars, cookies, fruit snacks, crackers, cheese, chips, dip and things like that. All these things can be useful on the go, and help make a meal. Get some of those on the go packets or Kool-Aid or sports drink or you can bring a pitcher and get the stuff in the larger packets. Poor into water bottles and use those for your lunch, and take water bottles to the park so you can keep filling up!
Here are some recipes for things you can cook in the microwave. I use them when I am short on time. They can make great snacks or side dishes. Some of them you can prep before you go. The only thing with doing this much cooking is space and keeping everything cold, you don’t want to spend a lot of money on ice. (However pack everything real good, include some of those ice packs that can be frozen and res-used and put them in the freezer at the motel. This helps with the ice, also wrap some towels around the cooler sides, help keeps the cold in)
Sour Cream Beef ‘n’ Beans
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1 (15 ounce) can, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can enchilada sauce
2 cups, divided
1 (4 ounce) can green chilies , undrained
1 1/2 cups corn chips 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes 1 cup sour cream to taste corn chips
Directions
Crumble beef into microwave-safe dish and cover with waxed paper.
Cook on high for 3-4 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, stirring twice and drain.
Stir in the beans, enchilada sauce, 1 cup of cheese, chilies, crushed corn chips and onion. Cover and microwave on high for 2 to 2 1/2 minutes or until heated through, stirring once.
Top with the sour cream and remaining cheese.
Heat, uncovered, at 70% power for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Serve with corn chips.
Omelet in a Mug
Ingredients
2 , lightly beaten
3 tablespoons cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons bacon (get the pre-cooked bits in the salad section)
1 tablespoon green peppers to taste salt and pepper
Directions
In a microwave-safe mug coated with cooking spray, combine all ingredients.
Microwave, uncovered, on high for 30-40 seconds and stir.
Cook 30-60 seconds longer or until eggs are completely set.
Enjoy!
Microwave Baked Potato
This is for 1 serving
INGREDIENTS
1 large russet potato
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
3 tablespoons shredded Cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
3 teaspoons sour cream
DIRECTIONS
Scrub the potato, and prick several times with the tines of a fork. Place on a plate.
Cook on full power in the microwave for 5 minutes. Turn over, and continue to cook for 5 more minutes. When the potato is soft, remove from the microwave, and cut in half lengthwise. Season with salt and pepper, and mash up the inside a little using a fork. Top the open sides with butter and 2 tablespoons of cheese. Return to the microwave, and cook for about 1 minute to melt the cheese.
Top with remaining cheese and sour cream, and serve.
Microwave Cracker Pizzas
This is for 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
24 whole wheat crackers
1/4 cup pizza sauce
24 slices pepperoni, or pizza toppings of your choice
1 1/2 cups finely shredded mozzarella cheese
DIRECTIONS
Spread each cracker with 1/2 teaspoon pizza sauce, place a slice of pepperoni on top, and sprinkle with about 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella cheese. Place crackers onto a microwave safe plate.
Microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, until cheese melts.
Microwave Chicken Teriyaki (this is for one serving make the mix at home then pore on chicken and go from there.)
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 packets ketchup
2 tablespoons garlic powder
3 individual packets white sugar
1 skinless, boneless chicken breast half – cut into strips
DIRECTIONS
Stir together soy sauce, ketchup, garlic powder, and sugar in a bowl. Toss chicken in sauce to coat, and place onto a microwave safe plate.
Cover with plastic wrap and cook in the microwave on High for 5 to 8 minutes, until chicken is opaque in the center and no longer pink.
Don’t forget wraps those are always good and easy!
Beef Wraps
Roast Beef (Lunch Meat Style)
Cheese
Spinach Leaves
Mayo
Horseradish
Tortilla Shells
Mix ½ cup mayo and 4 tablespoons of prepared horseradish. Spread on tortillas. Layer spinach leaves, cheese and beef. Roll up and micro for about 30 seconds or until hot.
Turkey Wraps
Sliced Turkey
Swiss Cheese
Lettuce
Tomato
Onion
Mayo
Brown Mustard
Tortilla Shells
Mix Mayo and Mustard together. Place lettuce, onions, tomatoes, cheese and turkey in tortilla shell and roll. Enjoy!
Bachelor Grilled Cheese
Have these and some soup you have a meal.
INGREDIENTS
2 slices white bread
2 slices American cheese
DIRECTIONS
Toast bread in a toaster until golden. Place slices of cheese between the two pieces of toast. Wrap sandwich in a paper towel, and heat in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds, or until cheese is melted.
Mock Sliders
This makes 24. I usually put mustard or mayo on mine.
INGREDIENTS
1 (12 ounce) can corned beef, chopped
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
1 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
2 (8 ounce) packages dinner rolls
1 (16 ounce) jar dill pickle slices, drained
DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, mix together corned beef, sour cream and dry onion soup mix.
Cut rolls in half horizontally. Spread bottoms with the corned beef mixture. Replace tops.
Microwave 30 to 45 seconds on high heat, until hot and moist. Top with dill pickle slices before serving.
Far East Tuna (Canapes)
Makes 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
1 (6 ounce) can tuna, drained and flaked
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
24 buttery round crackers
DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, mix tuna, mayonnaise, pecans, crushed pineapple and curry powder. Top buttery round crackers with the mixture, and arrange in a single layer on a large, microwave safe dish.
Microwave topped crackers on high for approximately 1 minute, until toppings are warm.
Well I hope this helps you, you will really enjoy Disney, make sure you take an extra
memory card for your camera, or extra film. Also take sunscreen and have spare clothes in
the car, take a small backpack for things, wear good walking shoes, and have a great time!
On the cooking side of things you will want to bring paper plates, napkins, a spoon or
two, utensils, maybe a spatula, cutting knives, oven mitts (things do get hot in the microwave)
Bowels, plastic cups, and dish soap (hate to say it but wash in the sink). Side note, I am always looking for good recipes and with that many mouths to feed I am thinking you do to, you might want to check out these sites:
http://allrecipes.com/
http://www.recipesource.com/
http://www.cooksrecipes.com/