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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

How to cut costs whilst in Florida

31 replies

CabanaBayLife · 06/09/2017 09:21

Hi guys we are going to Florida soon and we are wanting to know how we can cut costs?

I.E taxi in groups, cheaper meals etc.

OP posts:
BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 06/09/2017 09:24

Avoid Orlando?

PatriciaHolm · 06/09/2017 16:16

Where exactly are you going?

PoptartPoptart · 06/09/2017 18:17

Do not buy Disney merchandise in Disney - head for the cheap outlets on International Drive and in Kissimmee or in Walmart

StealingYourWiFi · 06/09/2017 18:21

Have a look at The Dibb forum, there's some restaurant reviews by someone called Dixons - family of 3 who aim to spend less than $100 per day.

Here

2014newme · 06/09/2017 18:23

Dibb is a great place for advice

Dailystuck71 · 06/09/2017 19:43

Use uber and not taxis. Where are you going and what are you doing? Cutting costs and Disney just sounds a bit miserable.

Dailystuck71 · 06/09/2017 19:44

Actually, apologies I take that back. You didn't say Disney.

keeprunninguphill · 06/09/2017 19:52

try to get a hotel that has breakfast included - not many do as it's mainly room only. Start the day early, good breakfast on board, it will keep you going most of the day without having to buy expensive food in the parks. The hotel we stayed at was Comfort Suites Maingate East.

budgiegirl · 06/09/2017 20:54

I agree with keep, if you can get a hotel with breakfast, it can save a lot of time and money. Eat a big breakfast, and just take a few snacks to the parks, saves spending out for overpriced park food.

Don't eat out every evening, get a takeaway or easy dinner from Walmart some evenings. Some suite hotels offer snacks/drinks/basic evening meal for free, which can also help.

dontcallmethatyoucunt · 06/09/2017 21:30

We always took a picnic into parks. Mainly due to allergies, but the food inside is expensive and pretty revolting

LoniceraJaponica · 06/09/2017 22:20

When eating out choose somewhere with counter service as you are expected to tip around 20% of the value of the bill if you have waiter service.

Don't forget that state tax is added on at the till when ever you buy anything, so nothing is the price it says on the price tag.

"but the food inside is expensive and pretty revolting"

Expensive yes, but we never ate any revolting food. We steered clear of the fast food places as they just don't appeal to us, and DD is vegetarian.

Don't underestimate how much a Florida holiday costs. It is not a cheap holiday destination.

CabanaBayLife · 07/09/2017 00:43

Hi guys,

Thank you for all the replies we are going to Orlando and staying at Universal's Cabana Bay. We will be in a party of 10.

Also do you have any recommendations on where to eat as it's our 2nd wedding anniversary whilst there?

Has anyone eaten at toothsome in citywalk what is that like?

OP posts:
LoniceraJaponica · 07/09/2017 06:45

We stayed at the Cabana Bay last year. The food there is expensive and ordinary.

Our favourite places to eat were Pei Wei and Sweet tomatoes. Both were counter service and the food was really nice. DD is vegetarian and both these places had loads of veggie food, something that was surprisingly difficult to find in Florida as they often add things like bacon to what is a traditional veggie dish.

The rooms were very comfortable, and the beds even more so, but I really didn't like the public areas. The 1950s music loop that is played all the flipping time soon loses its novelty, and the plasticky canteen furniture in the eating areas makes it feel like a school canteen.

We ended up getting coffee and croissants from Starbucks for breakfast most days and taking them back to our room.

We ate at City Walk loads of times, but not at Toothsome. It is expensive to eat at any of the waited on restaurants there, and alcohol is expensive.

The shuttle bus from the hotel to Universal was a godsend and very regular. TBH I would struggle to do your holiday without a car. We drove to all the Disney parks, Kennedy Space Centre, Boggy Creek, Walmart, Pei Wei and Sweet Tomatoes. There wasn't anywhere within walking distance of the hotel.

We could have walked to Universal, but in 36 degree heat and high humidity we would have been utterly drained by the time we got there.

I will come back later and tell you where we had some lovely meals at City Walk.

LoniceraJaponica · 07/09/2017 08:08

Back now

At City Walk we had great meals at The Cowfish (DD was still eating fish at the time) and Vivo Italian Kitchen.

There are some fantastic restaurants at Epcot, and the food at the Rainforest Cafe at the Animal Kingdom was amazing, BUT it is very noisy.

PoptartPoptart · 07/09/2017 13:07

I've copied my post from the other Disney thread here regarding restaurants...
Ohana at the Polynesian Hotel for dinner is amazing, plus you can wander out into the hotel grounds afterwards and sit on the beach and see the Magic Kingdom fireworks - just incredible.
We also had a great meal at Teppan Edo in Japan in Epcot.
Cafe May at the Beach Club do an excellent buffet breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Donald & Goofy.
They would be my three main must go to places to eat.
Oh, and the Rainforest Cafe at Disney Springs!

WindwardCircle · 07/09/2017 13:21

It's often the little and often spends that end up draining your cash, things like bottles of water, coffees, snacks and ice creams. One of each of those a day for one person will be at least £25. Take water bottles into the parks and refill at water fountains and take small snacks in to keep you going.

For counter service meals don't buy one each, we can easily split two meals between three and don't buy drinks with them, stick to water.

If you've got a fridge in your room take bowls and spoons then buy milk and cereal there and make use of the in room coffee maker.

2014newme · 07/09/2017 13:50

That's what I like about the free Disney dining, the snacks and drinks all included

LoniceraJaponica · 07/09/2017 13:59

We looked at the Disney Dining, but we would never have eaten that much food. Can you even get Disney dining if you aren't staying on site?

Also, in the evening we wanted to eat nearer where we were staying (Universal resort). We aren't snackers either. I find that I can last from one meal to the next without having to snack.

2014newme · 07/09/2017 14:34

No, free Disney dining is for on site

SweetGrapes · 23/04/2018 15:50

Watching with interest as we may be going in August-sept.

SweetGrapes · 23/04/2018 15:56

Oops! Wrong year!

Footofthestairs · 23/04/2018 16:09

Panda Express is an awesome Chinese and really reasonably priced. If you like seafood Bubba Gump's is supposed to be amazing.
Disney (and Harry Potter) souvenirs are miles cheaper at Target or Walmart and still good quality. Miller's steakhouses are reasonable and pretty good food.
Don't eat in the parks, a meal for 2 adults and 2 children in the Three Broomsticks in Islands of Adventures Hogsmeade area cost us over 70 dollars 4 weeks ago.
If you park in a Disney car park you pay 22 dollars for the day and can go to other Disney parks and park without paying again.
Disney Springs has free parking as do the Disney waterparks.

BrandNewHouse · 24/04/2018 20:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sevendown · 26/04/2018 20:25

Take as much snack food as you can with you.

Even Walmart is much more expensive than U.K. supermarkets.

DOLLYDAYDREAMER · 03/05/2018 21:16

park at downtown disney for free and get shuttle bus to parks.