Thrifty Thursday: Disney at Home

Your car needs a new motor. Your husband lost his job. The IRS has slapped you with a giant fine. Life costs money. Sometimes more than you have. And at that point, a flight to Orlando (not to mention on-site lodging and daily Park tickets) simply isn’t an option.

When money is tight and a visit to the Mouse House just isn’t in the cards, I like to make a little Disney magic in my kitchen. It’s easier than walking to Orlando, cheaper than eating out, and more fun than eating the same old brussels sprouts and dry chicken breast.

Last New Year’s Eve, Tracy, my blogging partner over at Mouse on the Mind, prepared a Disney-inspired feast for our small gathering of friends and coworkers. We had a nearly-authentic California Grill cheese plate, ‘Ohana’s honey coriander wings, nutella waffle sandwiches inspired by Sleepy Hollow Refreshments and topped it all off with Pop Century‘s Twinkie Tiramisu. It was such a fun way to bring a little Disney home! 

Recently, my friend Sarah and I enjoyed a Walking Dead marathon at my place. As a thematic snack, I took a page from my recent stay at Pop Century and made some Worms and Dirt! We took pre-made chocolate pudding, crumbled some Oreo cookies on top and then let some gummy worms make their slimy way into the mix. Yum! The whole thing only cost about $6.50, and we had enough to feed about six people. (You could get that cost even lower by making your own pudding.) 

You can find all kinds of recipes for Disney treats on the Internet. In fact, last Thanksgiving, we prepared the Pumpkin Mousse from the Hops & Barley booth for our whole family! It was a big hit, and I’m hoping that my husband plans to make it again this year. It’s a super inexpensive way to get your Disney dining on at home! 

What are your favorite ways to recreate Disney Dining at home? Let us know in the comments below! 

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Melissa Sue works in higher education communications in upstate New York, where she lives with her husband Robert, a secondary school teacher, and her cavapoo George (as in King George). Melissa began visiting Disney World when she was six and today owns a piece of the magic at Bay Lake Tower. She blogs at Mouse on the Mind and tweets @msorrellsgalley. She’ll be contributing money-saving tips to The Affordable Mouse.