I hope you embellished plenty ... quite a 'tude in these lines! As to your questions:
Is a family suite worthwhile? Depends:
- How long is your trip? If it's just a few days, you'll probably be "on the go" and a larger /more expensive room wouldn't be worthwhile. If it's a week-long trip, you'll appreciate "spreading out a bit".
- How many people are in your party? If you're a family of 3-4, I think you'll be fine in a standard room. If your kids are teens or you're a larger group, go for the suite. (Note, too, that the suites are kinda limited, and you need to make that ressie fast -- you can always "downsize" to standard room, but the suites will go fast.)
- How strict is your budget? While a larger space is nice, I wouldn't splurge unless I was solidly able to afford all the other parts of the trip.
Quick-service at Hollywood Studios? It's kinda Disney's dining weak spot.
- ABC Commissary is a bargain (for Disney) with loads of seating and air conditioning ... but it's nothing special.
- You can't go wrong with Pizza Rizzo.
- I want to try the Baseline, but their food options seem kinda limited, and you may or may not want a bar atmosphere. And I want to try some of the new Star Wars options.
Refill your popcorn bucket a few times to tide everyone over until you get back to your hotel room each night.
That doesn't sound frugal or healthful; however, we do tend to eat small meals at Disney (kids' meals, sharing a plate, etc.). We do this partially because it's a money-saver and partially because we don't tend to want big meals at Disney (we do tend to go in the hot hot weather). We'd rather split a meal, then have room for a snack later.
Where can I get frozen lemonade in Epcot?
- Just keep your eyes open for kiosks. Frozen lemonade is kinda a theme park staple.
- I LOVE free ice water. I ask for it frequently, and no one has ever been even remotely rude about it -- I certainly wouldn't start spouting off about "the law", especially 'cause I don't think that's true. I'm not hauling warm water bottles all day when I can just ask for water.
THIS EXACTLY!!!! Especially the souvenir part!!
- Okay, I'm with the meanies on the souvenirs. If you really want something, by all means, buy it, but it seems to me that most of the souvenir buying is just consumption for the sake of consumption ... buying something because it's "what you do" on vacation. That type of stuff ends up in next year's yard sales. We decided we'd be a no-souvies family when our girls were toddlers. I really saw the results when they were old enough to go on school and church trips: For so many of the kids, the whole trip became about buying something. I saw kids rush through the aquarium so they could reach the gift shop at the end. I saw a kid who could barely afford the trip spend ALL her spending money at our first stop, which was a gas station ... then she was hurt that other kids still had money. I have NEVER regretted deciding to skip souvenirs.