Food is among the largest bills of a Walt Disney World trip, so consuming on a funds may be troublesome. Here we’ll share money-saving tips about beneficial eating places, what to eat & keep away from, hacks for reducing your eating bills, and concepts for “dining on a dime” at WDW. (Updated February 23, 2023.)
With the ‘Free’ Disney Dining Card Discount at Walt Disney World for Summer by means of Fall 2023, it’s a good time to revisit this listing to consider methods to stretch these eating playing cards even additional. These eating playing cards should not all-inclusive–not that common Free Dining was, however most individuals acquired extra meals than they may probably eat with it! You’re prone to have out of pocket eating bills consequently should you don’t plan accordingly. With the recommendation right here, you possibly can scale back your Walt Disney World eating funds, spending much less out of pocket consequently.
Before we start with the money-saving Walt Disney World eating suggestions, we now have a few “rules” that we’ve imposed upon ourselves. The first isn’t any spreadsheets. Budgeting may be finished by loosely following widespread sense technique and suggestions. Eating inexpensively doesn’t require superior analytics or being a grasp statistician. Walt Disney World planning obsessives will in all probability think about this heresy, however I hate spreadsheets…
I might not want spreadsheets upon my worst enemy–not to mention folks I’m attempting to encourage to have “fun” on “vacation.” From my perspective, spreadsheets are antithetical to the core idea of vacationing. Not solely that, however visiting Walt Disney World is already difficult and nerve-racking sufficient with out introducing much more ‘rules’ and planning parameters to the combination. I perceive others vehemently disagree, so to every their very own. If you get pleasure from making spreadsheets, be happy to go nuts at it.
You can use the ideas right here to create the identical form of complete lists that Disney Dining Plan diehards used to make when planning the place–and what–to eat to maximise their worth on that. Thankfully, the brand new Disney Dining Card promo is way more laid again and easy than that.
Second, we seldom dine off-site. Part of that is wanting to stay immersed within the Walt Disney World bubble. Another half is the sensible actuality that spending money and time to get off-site rapidly eats away at any monetary financial savings. Vacation time is effective, and the way a lot of it are you keen to “spend” to avoid wasting ~$5 per particular person on a quick meals entree?
Admittedly, ‘no off-site dining’ is one which’s getting harder to justify as a tough and quick rule for ourselves, particularly with the Orlando space’s burgeoning eating scene. With that in thoughts, we’d refer you to our List of Great Restaurants Near Walt Disney World should you’re excited by venturing off-property.
The upside is that the eating places on that listing that we’ve tried are superlative–most are higher than the very best of Walt Disney World. The draw back is that the majority are fairly far off-property. (If you’re keen to enterprise off-site, the closest distinctive possibility is the Kissimmee location of 4 Rivers Smokehouse; a special twist on 4 Rivers can also be obtainable at Disney Springs.)
With that in thoughts, listed below are our money-saving suggestions for eating at Walt Disney World…
EAT: Hype-less Hidden Gems – When a restaurant at Walt Disney World turns into standard, its costs rise and high quality usually falls. It’s a story as outdated as time that may be witnessed in a number of eating places, with Le Cellier being essentially the most foremost instance of this basic ‘dining downfall’ arc.
However, the converse can also be true. When a restaurant is much less standard, there’s much less of a purpose to lift costs. Not solely that, however eating places which can be much less standard usually need to attempt more durable to draw and preserve an viewers, and the culinary groups are given extra freedom to experiment and check out new issues.
Honestly, the much less you hear a few restaurant…the higher it in all probability is. That applies to each the delicacies high quality and worth for cash. No offense to Be Our Guest Restaurant, ‘Ohana, Chef Mickey’s, or California Grill, however I’d take the eating places on our List of Underrated Restaurants at Walt Disney World or Top 10 Best Value Table Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World over the entire highly-hyped
EAT: Groceries for Breakfast – With a handful of exceptions, breakfast at Walt Disney World leaves rather a lot to be desired. Most counter service eating places supply a restricted collection of phoned in entrees with staples like powdered eggs and rubbery paper-bacon. Table service eating places are likely to do issues higher, however breakfast continues to be overpriced for what you get, time-consuming, and most gadgets aren’t memorable.
Even for many who aren’t on a good funds, we advocate grocery supply for breakfast. (See our Tips for Grocery Delivery at Walt Disney World.) We are likely to deal with issues like vegatables and fruits, since these are overpriced at Walt Disney World and there’s probably not something to do when it comes to preparation.
It’s an important alternative to get wholesome, nutrient-dense meals in an effort to provide you with vitality and begin your day on the precise foot, save time and money…and make you’re feeling rather less responsible about consuming 4 cupcakes and three orders of ice cream later within the day. After all, you had carrots and oatmeal at breakfast!
EAT: Disney Springs Restaurants – When it involves eating at Walt Disney World, your greenback goes a lot additional at most Disney Springs eating places than in-park ones. This is basically true as a result of Disney Springs is (virtually) on a stage taking part in subject with actual world eating places. It’s almost as simple for on-site friends to dine off-site as it’s to eat at Disney Springs, and it’s completely as handy for locals (for the latter, Disney Springs might be much less handy).
The major results of that is eating places at Disney Springs charging premium pricing…however with considerably much less mark-up than in-park eating choices. The secondary result’s that Disney Springs eating places should compete on high quality. Cuisine-wise, Disney Springs is the epicenter of Walt Disney World’s culinary scene. (Sorry, World Showcase, however it’s not even shut.)
Some of our favourite worth choices on the counter service entrance embrace Blaze Pizza, Chicken Guy, and 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck (the final is by far the very best). For desk service, attempt Boathouse, Morimoto Asia, Homecomin’, STK (lunch or completely happy hour), and Raglan Road. Note that each single one in all these eating places has a prolonged menu, with costs which can be all over. To lower your expenses, you’ll (clearly) wish to order from the decrease finish of the worth spectrum.
EAT: Hotel Food Courts – Similar thought right here as with Disney Springs; resort friends are much less of a captive viewers. You’ll discover costs that are typically a number of {dollars} cheaper per entree, and high quality that tends to be higher.
The issue right here is making dinner at a resort meals court docket work throughout the context of your schedule. This both means leaving the park (which wastes time) or doing a late dinner, which might not be possible. Regardless, it’s one thing to think about.
AVOID: Epcot Festivals – We benefit from the numerous particular occasions at Epcot, however “fun” and “value” should not the identical idea. It’s probably not any secret that the meals gadgets at Epcot’s festivals supply poor worth for cash. In reviewing virtually each sales space at these festivals over the previous couple of years, I’ve in all probability written some variant of the road, “a fair price by regular Walt Disney World food standards” fewer than a dozen instances.
Without exception, you can be higher off spending the identical cash on a comparably-priced counter service entree, somewhat than the 2-3 snacks that will purchase you on the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, or any of the opposite occasions all year long.
AVOID: Signature Restaurants – Pretty simple. Walt Disney World’s costliest eating places are its ‘Signature’ choices, that are altogether incompatible with eating on a dime. This isn’t to say you possibly can’t scour the menu for good values, however you are able to do the identical at cheaper eating places with higher outcomes.
To that finish, think about Sanaa, Sebastian’s Bistro, one of many aforementioned Disney Springs eating places, or one thing in Swan & Dolphin if you wish to splurge a bit. It’s additionally price contemplating Three Bridges Bar & Grill or Toledo – Tapas, Steak & Seafood, two new eating places at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (the latter is the rooftop restaurant in Gran Destino Tower).
AVOID: Soda & Sides – We’ve been harping on these two issues for some time, so common readers will in all probability have their eyes glaze over at this level. It’s price reiterating that ice water is free, and you will get your caffeine repair by packing espresso packets and making your personal. (I can’t keep in mind the final time I purchased soda at Walt Disney World.)
The different massive one just isn’t spending additional on sides, or particularly ordering entrees that don’t include them (pizza and salads, for instance). Sides at counter service eating places are typically overpriced, that means that you just may pay an additional $5 for a small aspect of coleslaw or pickles. (Looking at you, Regal Eagle!)
This can also be why we extremely advocate doing grocery supply and consuming your every day servings of vegatables and fruits earlier than even leaving your resort room. Fruits and greens are vital gasoline, however they’re absurdly priced in eating places and at snack stands all through Walt Disney World. Also, there’s zero distinction between oranges and carrots delivered to you by Walmart+ and people offered at Walt Disney World, save for the worth. You’re not lacking out on something ‘fun’ by saving cash on these.
AVOID: Overhyped Desserts – This one pains me to jot down. Snacking is an enormous a part of the Walt Disney World expertise for us, and I wouldn’t advocate anybody swear off snacks solely for the sake of a funds.
However, it’s price noting that the majority snacks don’t supply commensurate nutritiousness and ‘filling-ness’ for his or her price. Basically, be weary of snack prices, goal those underneath $5, and be even handed along with your snack expenditures–however don’t give them up utterly.
An excellent instance right here is cupcakes, which are actually $6 at most areas round Walt Disney World. Years in the past, Disney cupcakes developed a powerful following and have largely rested on their laurels since, rising in worth as they’ve decreased in dimension and high quality. You might completely swear off cupcakes at Walt Disney World in favor of cheaper, higher snacks.
AVOID: Disney Dining Plan – Good information! It needs to be very simple to keep away from the Disney Dining Plan in 2023, because it’s nonetheless not again. (See When Will the Disney Dining Plan Return? for our predicted timing of its comeback, in addition to our rationale.)
Whether the Disney Dining Plan is an efficient strategy to funds, saves most individuals cash, or provides good worth for cash is a sequence of debates that’ll by no means be resolved. However, none of these are the pertinent query right here.
We’re asking: is the Disney Dining Plan the least-expensive strategy to eat at Walt Disney World? Reframing the problem ought to make it much less contentious. Save for Free Dining (and even then, solely in some circumstances), the Disney Dining Plan is undoubtedly not the most affordable strategy to dine at Walt Disney World. It might supply good worth, budgeting, and many others., however following the opposite suggestions right here to “dine on a dime” will produce cheaper outcomes.
With the ideas right here, you are able to do two counter service meals per day for $28 (or much less). Add $7 to that per day price for breakfast groceries and snacks. That brings us to $35, which could be a conservative quantity, however it’s nonetheless over $20 per day cheaper than the bottom tier of the Disney Dining Plan price beforehand.
In a nutshell, that ought to clarify how one can come out forward by paying out of pocket for meals and why it’s not the top of the world that the Disney Dining Plan nonetheless isn’t again. Who is aware of, after doing a trip to Walt Disney World throughout which you pay as you go for meals, chances are you’ll by no means wish to return to the complicated and convoluted Disney Dining Plan!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about resorts on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every thing it’s good to know!
Your Thoughts
What’s your recommendation for saving cash on meals at Walt Disney World? Anything beneficial right here that you’d not do? Anything you’d add to our listing? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we will help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!