$100 A Day Returns for 2016 COMPLETE: Budget Eats and Treats Offsite and Universal

[dixonsontour]

S100 a day 2016 Budget Eats and Treats Offsite and Universal

Introduction

Me Stephanie age 41 lover of most foods and writer and avid reader of dining reviews
DH Also 41 Lover of meat but no seafood or mushrooms.
DD Anna age 10. Fussy and prefers plain food no sauces or spices. Still happy with kids meals and portions.

We’ve been to Florida over 25 times since 1997, this was DD’s 10th trip.This time we were onsite again at Universal Cabana bay resort with a car. This was an ‘extra’ trip (see countdown) so aimed to stick to a budget of $100 a day. I use an envelope system $100 a day to cover drinks, snacks and eating out and roll over any spare. As regular readers know I like a deal and a coupon (understatement!). We also had a kids eat free card. We do of course have other spends for shopping and DD has her own souvenir money.

My previous dining reviews

2015

2014

2013 DDP

2012 DxDDP

2012

2011

[DisneyD]

Love ur foodie trippies looking forward to lots more tips and some great food!

[dixonsontour]

2016 Budget Eats and Treats Day 1

Travel Day May 28th 2016



Manchester Airport Terminal 3

Trattoria Millano



Not a huge range of breakfast options at T3 (last time from there we ate at Costa coffee) DH had flown on business to Belfast two days earlier and said food was nice here so we gave it a go. We had a coffee, tea and DD hot choc. We got 2 of the Massimo big breakfasts and toast for DD and shared with her. Food and service were good.











£29.83 plus tip

Approx $43 plus tip



Boots

2 just ham sandwiches for DD who doesn’t do plane food and 2 bottles of water we didn’t end up drinking as they gave us lots of drinks on plane

£4



Approx $6



American Airlines Food

Not the best. We had cheese pasta. Apparently we hadn’t ordered DD a kids meal (thought I had) Pretty irrelevant as she doesn’t usually eat plane food. DH would not even eat the pasta.

They did serve a hot snack before landing which was nice rather than the sandwiches Virgin/Thomson do.









Philadelphia Airport

We were delayed then rerouted via Charlotte and then onto MCO (I’ll save this tale for the trip report!)

Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen

DD had a cheese pizza slice. We had a stomboli each which was like rolled up pizza with Italian sausage and pepperoni and came with some marinara sauce to dip. This was really really good (we were starving and losing the will to live at this point though!). We also had some garlic bread and bottled water.





Approx $25

Total day 1 $74

[OnOurWay]

So excited to read another of your food reports - it was one of your previous ones that got me hooked on the Dibb. I have a page in my holiday planner (places to eat) called the 'Dixon's recommendations'. Thanks for doing them😊

[joanna23]

Another massive fan here. Looking forward to all of your recommendations again.

[Guest]

I've read all your trip reports, which are all fab by the way. Always pick up some great tips from you. Really looking forward to reading 😊🖒

[CazP]

Love your reports and this is off to a great start
Anna looks so grown up now! Beautiful girl

[BriarRose]

I have been hoping you would do a trip report We are flying with AA via Philly so interesting to see what you had.

Looking forward to the next instalment.

[dixonsontour]

2016 Budget Eats and Treats Day 2

Sunday May 29th 2016



Sweet Tomatoes breakfast buffet



This was 5 mins drive from Cabana bay on corner of International Drive and Kirman Rd. I have signed up for club veg coupons on the sweet tomatoes website so they had been sending details of their new breakfast buffet at some locations on a Saturday & Sunday.

We gave it a try but were unimpressed and it was the most expensive breakfast of the week.

The food wasn’t labelled or very accessible and nothing seemed hot. The omelettes were ok but you can get much better for cheaper at Perkins, Bob Evans etc.




You can imagine how much DH and DD teased me about wanting to go there.



$28 plus tip



Free water Universal

We took our refill minion cup. You can pay $1.19 plus tax to have him refilled with soda or get free water from any of the coke freestyle machine. It was so hot we just ended up with water. After a day or 2 when we weren’t buying soda I just brought a plastic bottle for the water machines, sorry minion you are a bit bulky. They do still sell the minion and other themed refill cups for about $15. They also have the coke freestyle cups which are $12.99 plus tax for unlimited drinks day 1 and can be re used another day for $5.99 plus tax.



They have stopped the free water now on the coke freestlye machines but you can ask for a cup of water at any counter service restaurant.



Margaritaville, Universal Citywalk




Sat on the patio. Enjoyed as usual and friendly service. Never had a wait for a table at lunch time.



We had 2 dine tickets left from a golf and dine deal I’d bought in 2015. There is a special menu with 6 main courses plus you get soda and tax and tip included.

The deal can be bought online or from citywalk kiosk. Deal costs $23.95 inc tax. Mini golf is $14.99 so only $9 for the meal. It is a great deal if you want to pay either of the cirtwalk golf courses. Golf and dine don’t have to be used same day. They do a similar movie and dine deal for a couple of dollars cheaper.

DH had the cheeseburger in paradise, me the grilled grouper sandwich which I really enjoyed and DD a kids cheeseburger.









We paid for DD’s kids meal (saving 10% as DH has a preferred Annual pass for Universal)

$8.61 plus tip for DD + our meals/drink/ tip were prepaid at $18)



Total $26.61 plus tip





Menchies, Citywalk



1st time here thank you Abiknox for the recommendation. It is up the steps near Breadbox.





DD wanted to go as they had Nutella frozen yoghurt.



You add your own toppings and pay by weight. Dd’s is the smallest cup size. She enjoyed this. Saved 10% with preferred annual pass.



$4.28



Walmart, Turkey Lake Road

5 mins drive if that from Cabana bay. We were in a suite so got some food and snacks for the room plus some stuff to bring home.

I did take a few random pics but DH and DD lose patience with me photographing everything!




We spent $48 but some was stuff for home.



Approx $30 for snacks, beer, breakfast and sandwich stuff

$30



Refill mugs, Bayliner Diner Cabana bay

Got 3 for the length of stay $17.99 each less 10% preferred AP discount. You can use these for soda, coffee, hot choc and iccees (slushies). Basically same idea as Disney resort refill mugs. They have coke freestyle machines in the foodcourt and normal soda machines by both pool bars.





$51.73

[dixonsontour]

O’Charleys, Turkey Lake Road



This was less than 5 mins drive from hotel. On plaza where wholefoods is at junction of Sandlake road and Turkey Lake Road.

I’d got a coupon off restaurant.com last year but not used it. They don’t expire. Deal was save $25 when you spend $50. There is usually a discount code for restaurant.com, so think I paid $8.

It is southern comfort food. Server called us y’all! Was worried it would be very bar like but was like a normal restaurant in room we were seated in.



DD had a steak off the kids menu and was impressed, decent size and cut for a kids steak. Me and DH chose off the $9.99 menu. For an extra $3.99 each we added a soup or salad and a slice of pie.

I had a Kentucky mai tai to drink. I was tired. This was very nice but very strong. Stuck to the one, think I’d have needed carrying out with two. I’d seen it had ameretto and juice and ordered it. Got DH to try it and he said what do you expect it’s got Makers Mark bourbon in, what did you think the ‘Kentucky’ part was. More teasing from DH and DD. DH had a beer $2.99 for 20oz.



We got bread to start the same yeast sweet rolls like at Mannys chop house.



I had a Caesar salad and DH cheese potato soup.



DH had a spicy chicken sandwich and me bayou shrimp pasta which was lovely, nice kick to it and a massive portion. I had lemon pie and DD ate DH’s French silk which were good.




We didn’t manage to hit $50 (deal was spend min $50 to use coupon) but waitress still took groupon off. You tip on the full bill before groupon taken off.



We all really enjoyed. Food and service were great. They have lots of deals. Happy hour is 4-7pm with cheap drinks and half price appetisers. Free pie with an entrée on a Wednesday. Will definitely go back.

Cost $23.91 plus tip and groupon cost $8?



$31.98 plus tip



Total Day 2 $172.60

($90.87 on eating out plus food for room and mugs for the week so not as bad as it seems. DH paid for walmart and mugs on his card so not paid out of my food budget)