How to Save Money at Disneyland: The Food Edition

With ticket prices rising and gas costs climbing, finding ways to save money at Disneyland can be challenging, especially when it comes to slashing the costs of the food bill. Disneyland is filled with alluring aromas, everything from fresh candy apples, popcorn, corn dogs and turkey legs to enchilada platters and home-style fried chicken. It is easy to forget the $15 prices when confronted with those delectable options.

But there ARE ways to cut food costs while at the Happiest Place on Earth.

I have written a more general Saving for Disneyland Battle Plan and how to save money at home for a Disneyland vacation, so if you're looking to save money all around, you can visit those posts. This one focuses on saving money on food while vacationing at Disneyland.

Step 1: Do Your Homework

Before leaving for your trip, check if your hotel comes with a refrigerator and microwave. Plan to bring food from home if you are driving to the Park. If you are flying to Anaheim, check if your hotel is near any convenience stores, in which you can purchase cheaper food to store. Many of these convenience stores have fresh fruit available, which are nutrient-dense and much more affordable that the fruit inside the park.

Also, before leaving on your trip, check if any restaurants or fast food options are nearby. Along Harbor Blvd, which runs along the eastside of the Disneyland Resort, there is a Mimi's Cafe, McDonald's, IHOP, and Denny's. Further down Harbor Blvd near Katella Ave is a Subway and other dining options. Down Disney Way/Freedman Way is the Anaheim Gardenwalk, which is filled with many restaurants that offer free meals for those who join their mailing list.

Once you know which dining options you are nearby, go to the Anaheim, Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau website, which offers free, printable coupons for local restaurants. With our coupon, we fed our family of three for $10.75. The previous day we dined at Rancho Del Zocalo in Disneyland for $27. Therefore, finding ways to eat outside the park is worth the extra trouble if you're serious about cutting costs.

Even if you do not use coupons, dining outside the park can save you some serious cash. Many of these restaurants offer discounts to AAA and AARP members. Two weeks prior to your vacation, join the local restaurants' mailing lists for free, and they will send coupons and free meal vouchers to your inbox.

Again, do your homework:

1. Stay at a hotel with a fridge and microwave and, if you can, a complimentary/continental breakfast.
2. Print coupons from the City of Anaheim's website.
3. Join mailing lists of nearby restaurants and plan to dine there during your stay.
4. Take advantage of membership discounts.
5. Eat outside the park as much as possible.

Step Two: Arm Yourself with Snacks

Don't go into the park "empty handed." While outside food is not really "allowed" in the Park, cast members do permit guests to bring in bottled water and snacks as long as there are NO glass containers.

So bring in outside food!

1. Bring bottled water to keep you and your family hydrated and refill at the many drinking fountains within the park (many of which are in lines leading up to attraction). A bottle of Dasani water in the park can cost as much as $4, which is about what a case of water costs outside the park.  
2. Bring nutrient-dense snacks like dried fruit, beef jerky, seeds, trail mix, granola bars, etc.
3. Snack while waiting in line or during downtime to curb hunger inside the park; don't wait until you're actually hungry or you might not care that that delicious-smelling turkey leg costs $9.

Step Three: Choose Filling and Budget-Friendly Meals in the Park

While you don't want to eat in the park for every meal if you want to save money, dining in Disneyland is an enjoyable and relaxing experience. In that case, some places are better than others; therefore, you should seek out the most filling and budget-friendly dining options.

1. Rancho Del Zocalo, Disneyland- Frontierland

This restaurant is usually not very crowded, leading to a relaxing dining experience. The prices are not too outrageous for what you get. They offer Mexican cuisine like fish tacos, fajitas and enchilada platters as well as fruit and dessert options. The most expensive plate is around $14.99, but the tacos are only $9.99 and a heaping plate of fresh fruit is only $5. The servings are generous, so plates can be shared with children. The easiest to share is probably the fajitas, as you can make many servings and divide among your party.

      2. The Plaza Inn, Disneyland- Main Street (near the entrance to Tomorrowland)

This restaurant serves generous helpings of home-style food like fried chicken and pot roast. Even with their $12/plate prices, you get a lot of food for your money and food can easily be shared with children in your party.

       3. Pacific Wharf Cafe, Disney California Adventure 

This place serves clam chowder and shrimp Louie salads inside large and hearty sourdough bread bowls. Meals can easily be shared and will keep you full for most of the day.

Step Four: Resist the Food Carts

The food carts that are sprinkled throughout the park serve salty and mightily expensive goodies. A box of popcorn can cost you $6 and have you craving a Coke soon afterward. Instead, stick to the snacks you bring with you. If you really want popcorn, bring some from home. We bought a bag of popcorn at the local Dollar General for $1 and munched on that at night.

Step Five: Always Enter the Park with a Full Belly

Even though you might want to rush into the Park first thing in the morning, it might be better to eat something before going in, whether it's a morning snack brought from home, continental breakfast, or a sit-down breakfast at Denny's. You are likely to walk and move faster than expected while in the Park, and doing so on an empty stomach, will more quickly lead to fatigue. Fill up first!

If a family of four ate in the park, for every meal, they could possible spend:

$15/plate for 3 meals x 4 people = $180/ a day.

By eating outside the park, using coupons, and choosing budget-friendly meals, guests can significantly lower their food bill and have more money to spend on souvenirs (which will last much longer than a turkey leg!).

Healthy and Tasty Cereal

I have been playing with different breakfast cereal combos in search of a healthy, relatively inexpensive, and tasty morning meal. I just may have found it:


Step #1:

Add a bit of Multibran Flakes to your bowl. I use Nature's Path Organic Flax Plus Multibran Flakes,

but you can use any variety of whole grain flakes cereal so long as the ingredients are simple. This cereal offers 5g of fiber, 10g of whole grain plus some omega-3 and 3g of protein.

Step #2:

Next, add a bit of whole wheat biscuits like Autumn Wheat or Shredded Wheat.

Adding this will enhance the cereal with  50g of whole grains, 6 more grams of fiber and 6g of protein.

Step #3:

Next, sprinkle in some Grape Nuts, which is a natural whole grain wheat with barley cereal.

A half a cup will give you 100% of your day's whole grains (not to mention what you already received from the previous two cereals). It also provides you with loads of vitamins (like 90% of your daily value of iron!).

Step #4:

Now, toss in a small handful of uncooked quick oats. I use Mom's Best Naturals Quick Oats, but Quaker Oats works too. As long as you choose something that is 100% whole grain rolled oats with no other ingredients, you're set.

 

Step #5

 

Next, I toss a bit of organic agave nectar for sweetness. Be careful with agave nectar as it's super sweet. Only a teaspoon is needed.

 

 

This is a low-glycemic sweetner, a great substitute for sugar. You could also use raw local honey as your cereal sweetner.

Step #6:

Sprinkle a bit of flaxseed meal to your cereal.

Flaxseed is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and has been known to help fight against breat cancer, heart disease, cancer and stroke.

Step #7:

Load on some fruit and nuts. Go crazy here!

I like adding:

-sliced bananas
-blueberries
-raisins
-dried cranberries
-sliced almonds

but you can also add kiwis, peaches, mangoes, strawberries, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, etc.

Adding colorful fruits and nuts not only makes it tastier but adds a wealth of vitamins and minerals for you.

Step #8:

Pour in some unsweetened almond milk and enjoy!

I know this seems like a lot of steps, but it gets easy. Little bit of this, little bit of that, and done. The most important thing is to choose whole grain cereals without added sugar (the more basic, the better), fruit, and some sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Please let me know if you come up with more combinations! I love tweaking my cereal combos. : )







Simple and Affordable Meals

In an effort to save for a big family vacation, I've simplified our menu and prepared easy, affordable meals. Whatever the reason, anyone can cut back on groceries while still providing their families with healthy meals. I tested out a few methods, but feel free to share how you cut costs, too. I'm always learning!

Here's how I did it:

First, I "shopped" my pantry and took note of what I had available. I created a list of the pastas, beans, and rices I had and anything extra in the freezer.

Then I plugged in different ingredients at allrecipes.com. With what I had on hand already, I had quite a few choices!


Second, I calculated how much money I wanted to spend and limited myself to spending only up to that amount and no more. I shopped first at a very low-cost store and picked up spices (which tend to add up in more expensive stores), dry goods, eggs, milk, etc. I shopped a second store for everything else.

I stuck to the list, and made sure to compare prices.

Third, I wrote out all the possible meals on a sheet of paper and placed it in view. I always felt like there was something to make. The list said so.

Fourth, I prepared as much as possible beforehand.

My husband leaves for work super early and used to forget breakfast, resulting in a trip to Subway or Burger King. One evening, I made him several whole-grain blueberry pancakes, cooled and tucked them in sandwich bags and froze them. In the morning, he pops a couple in the toaster, slathers it in maple syrup, and HAS breakfast.

Easy.

I also made a few Crockpot dishes, especially on days I worked.

I made an easy Turkey with Bean Soup. I used two cans of red beans, one can of kidney beans, a mammoth turkey breast, onions, garlic, and spices and let it cook for six hours. I shredded the turkey and stirred it in. The meal lasted a few days.

I threw in some chicken breasts with BBQ sauce in the Crockpot, shredded it, and used it to make BBQ Chicken Sandwiches (with some bread I had in the freezer).

Fifth, I kept cooking meals even when leftovers were available. I wanted to always have a ready-supply of food for my husband to take to work and to help us avoid relying on fast food dinners on busy days.

Other Easy-Peasy Meals/Side Dishes Include:

oatmeal with fruit                       fruit
pancakes                                     chicken pasta
baked french fries                       PB&J sandwiches
roasted potatoes                          Apple Cake (I'll have to post the recipe sometime!)



Relying on my cupboards, low-cost stores, and easy meals, I only spent $66 on food for the week!

Saving for a Disneyland Vacation: On the Homefront

With a 5-day Disneyland vacation on the sunny, sunny horizon, we're finding that our recent spending habits need to be whipped up into shape, Olympics-style.

Disneyland can be costly. It's true. That doesn't deter us from going though. The loads of hundred-dollar bills  amount that it costs us financially is meager compared to the full-throttle experience and warm life-lasting memories of the Happiest Place on Earth. We bond as a family, cut loose, and escape for a sliver of precious time. In other words, it's completely worth it.

To be honest, we don't have tons of expendable income to toss at a trip or attempt one without some financial planning.

Starting today, we are on a cutthroat, military-assignment type of duty to save, save, SAVE. It's starts on the homefront, people.

Prior to cutting costs at home, there are a few other factors to enjoying a frugal getaway at Disneyland:

1. Plan a trip in the off-season.
Fewer crowds = more room to maneuver, shorter lines, more rides in a day, quicker dining, and less stress.

The best times to go include:

January (after LA schools resume)
early to mid-May
September (after Labor Day)
October
early to mid-November
early December

2. Book a close and affordable hotel that comes with a fridge.
You can find good deals on Expedia.com, but make sure to pick a hotel on the right (east side of the park) or lower right hand corner (lower east side and south side of park). The main entrances are on the east side.

3. Find the ticket plan that works best for your family.
-If you plan on going more than once a year, opt for passes, which are now available at monthly rates.

-Buy park hoppers so you can visit both parks for less.

-Use your AAA membership or military status to receive discounted tickets.

Now onto the homefront...

Below are some cost-cutting strategies we are putting into place to help us save extra money for the Big Trip.

a. Save on energy consumption.
- Turn computer off at night.
-Turn lights off when not in use.
-Adjust brightness display on TV to dimmer setting.
-Unplug appliances not in use.
-Wash clothes in cold water and decrease drying time by adding a dry towel to the load.
-Replace light bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs.

b. Eat mindfully.
-Prepare low-cost, healthy meals.
-Quit dining out!
-Use coupons.
-Freeze meals for later.

c. Save on outtings.
-Drive calmly by avoiding brake-slamming, quick accelerations and reckless driving.
-Use gasprices.com to find affordable gas. Start shopping around for good gas prices at a quarter tank.
-Take only free or low-cost field trips and take food along in a cooler.

d. Be mindful of spending.
-Track spending every day.
-Track energy use every day.
-Buy nothing (except edibles and consumables)
-Use coupons for things I already plan on purchasing.
-Talk about saving with family members. Help Aidyn save his own money.

e. Cut costs and earn money wherever possible.
-Pick up extra work hours.
-Sell books online.
-Recycle plastic and aluminum.
-Take quicker showers.
-Cut hair at home.
-Repurpose unwanted clothes .

Only 80 days to go. I wonder how much I can squirrel away...