2015 Dining on a Budget COMPLETE 17 days inc Universal/Disney Cruise
 

Welcome to my latest dining review

This year we were 10 nights at Universal with a mix of Universal and offsite eats, 2 nights disney’s vero beach and 4 nights Disney dream cruise.

We are

Me 40, will eat most things

DH, 41 doesn’t do seafood or mushrooms

DD 9 – prefers plain food no spice or sauce. Still happy with kids meals.

Links to previous reports:

Dixons do DDP October 2013
Dining on a Budget - $100 with coupons
All new Dining on a Budget of $100 May 2012
Dixons go Deluxe Oct/Nov 12
Show me the minions tour October 2014 Index -- $100 a day returns - all new for 2014

Hooray!

Day 1 Travel day

Breakfast

We ate at home as we were on the later 1.45pm flight from Manchester airport.



Airport

2 coffees and a pain au chocolat

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2 £1 just ham sandwiches from Boots for DD on the plane (small panic when first Boots didn’t have them but second one did)

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Lunch

We were flying with Virgin. I chose the curry which was actually nice, I ignored the green stuff. DH had the pulled beef. DD hated her kids meal, was chicken in breadcrumbs with mushy peas.

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Later they served a mini fab lolly.

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Before landing we had wraps, I had cheese, DH chicken. Plus ‘plane’ crisps and mini millionaires shortbread.

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Snacks were needed



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Dinner

Village Inn Westwood Boulevard

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One of or usuals. Not fancy just a diner but we always enjoy the food.

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I had my usual grown up grilled cheese and fries which I enjoyed.

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DH had a burger on sour dough bread and fries .

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DD had a kids meal, pancakes with fries?!

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We had soda to drink

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It was Wednesday so we got a free slice of pie per person for dessert. DD and DH really enjoyed the Nutella cream pie special and I had cherry pie.

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We will definitely eat here again, always hits the spot when you are tired and just want a quick cheap meal.

The do accept the kids eat free card and usually send a coupon for $5 off for joining the email club but you can’t use these plus the free pie promotion.

We left a tip on the full amount at the table then paid at the register. After the pie was removed total was

$32 plus tip

(receipt shows price before pie removed)

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have been looking forward to your new reports :)

Dining October 2015

Day 2 Universal



Breakfast

Leaky Cauldron Universal Studios

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I’d bought 3 of the dining deals from the Universal website. I took the printout to guest services and swapped them for 3 cards. You can just buy at the restaurants too. For adults they were $19.99 plus tax and DD’s (9 and under) was $12.99 plus tax.

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I had the engligh breakfast $15.99, DH had an American breakfast, DD had the kids pancake breakfast $12.99. We had coffee to drink and DD pumpkin juice (yuck)

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It was the same idea as be our guest. We ordered paid and someone seated us. Then the food was brought to us. It was tasty and better than we were expecting. It was fun eating in the leaky cauldron, theming is great.

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The 3 all day dining deals covered this plus we had a snack worth up to $5 left on each card and another drink each. These didn’t have to be used same day so we used them over the week we were there.

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The all day dining is worth getting if you are eating at one of the harry potter restaurants as the entrees are more expensive.



Snack

DD used her snack for a big pink donut which she shared with DH. They enjoyed it again this year. They are $4.99 plus tax.

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Some sweets in weazly wizarding wheezes

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We didn’t buy today but should have as the skiving snack box ($40) DD wanted was sold out for the rest of our trip.



Lunch

Breadbox citywalk

Our first time here. We ordered at the counter, found a seat and the food was delivered to us.

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It was nice and bright and clean inside.

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DD and I shared a grilled cheese and fries, no peppers

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DH had a patty melt

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DD had a Nutella milkshake she loved

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We just had water to drink

It was all nice and I would eat here again but not a must do.



Total $25.53

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(We had upgraded our 14 day tickets to annual passes today including 1 preferred annual pass which saves 10% on most dining but I forgot to use the new AP!)

Cabana bay beach Resort

We got 3 refill mugs for $17.99 plus tax each (saved another 10% with preferred AP)

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These are the same as the Disney resort mugs you can use them at the resort for coffee, hot choc, soda and ices (slushies) They have coca cola freestyle machine in the diner and normal soda machines at both pool bars. They are slightly cheaper if you only need 3 days or less.

They had Halloween designs this year so we got those.

$53.97



Dinner

Bahama Breeze, Altamonte Mall

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We have eaten at a few Bahama breezes but not for a few years. Always enjoyed the food and atmosphere.

Weekdays at some bahama breeze locations they have happy hour 4-6pm with half price appetisers and drink specials. This isn’t on at all locations– I drive doesn’t but lake Buena vista and Kissimmee are showing as participating, details on the website.

We opted to share some appetisers and DD had a mac and cheese kids meal. DH doesn’t do seafood and I wanted the lobster quesadilla and coconut shrimp so we definitely over ordered, 5 appetisers to share. I had an ultimate pina colada which was good and only $4, DH had Jamaican coffee he enjoyed. DD had soda.

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Total was $38 plus tip

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Great meal, will definitely be back again but order less.

Drink

7/11

DH popped into a 7-11 for a big gulp and came out with a bucket of soda for $2.99. Refills were $1.49.

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Thank you

Thanks for giving me the nudge to get posting :grin:

Whoop love your reports!

Thank you :)

I love the Village in. It always surpirses me how quite it is though.

It was late so very quiet when we went.

It doesn't seem as well known as dennys, perkins etc but we have always enjoyed it.