Food is among the greatest bills of a Walt Disney World trip, so consuming on a finances might be tough. Here we’ll share money-saving recommendations on advisable 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 aren’t all-inclusive–not that common Free Dining was, however most individuals received extra meals than they may probably eat with it! You’re more likely to have out of pocket eating bills because of this for those who don’t plan accordingly. With the recommendation right here, you’ll be able to cut back your Walt Disney World eating finances, spending much less out of pocket because of this.
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 is not any spreadsheets. Budgeting might be achieved by loosely following frequent 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’d not want spreadsheets upon my worst enemy–not to mention individuals I’m making an attempt 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 irritating sufficient with out introducing much more ‘rules’ and planning parameters to the combo. I perceive others vehemently disagree, so to every their very own. If you take pleasure in making spreadsheets, be happy to go nuts at it.
You can use the rules right here to create the identical type 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 rather more laid again and simple 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 shortly eats away at any monetary financial savings. Vacation time is effective, and the way a lot of it are you prepared to “spend” to save lots of ~$5 per particular person on a quick meals entree?
Admittedly, ‘no off-site dining’ is one which’s getting tougher 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 for those who’re all in favour of 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 might be prepared to enterprise off-site, the closest distinctive choice is the Kissimmee location of 4 Rivers Smokehouse; a distinct twist on 4 Rivers can be out there 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 well-liked, its costs rise and high quality typically falls. It’s a story as previous as time that may be witnessed in a number of eating places, with Le Cellier being essentially the most foremost instance of this traditional ‘dining downfall’ arc.
However, the converse can be true. When a restaurant is much less well-liked, there’s much less of a cause to boost costs. Not solely that, however eating places which are much less well-liked typically must attempt tougher 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 loads to be desired. Most counter service eating places provide a restricted choice 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 objects aren’t memorable.
Even for individuals who aren’t on a good finances, we suggest grocery supply for breakfast. (See our Tips for Grocery Delivery at Walt Disney World.) We are likely to deal with issues like vegetables and fruit, 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 so as to offer you vitality and begin your day on the appropriate foot, save time and cash…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 essentially true as a result of Disney Springs is (nearly) on a stage enjoying area with actual world eating places. It’s practically 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 primary 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, but it surely’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 glad hour), and Raglan Road. Note that each single considered one of these eating places has a prolonged menu, with costs which are in every single place. To get monetary savings, you’ll (clearly) wish to order from the decrease finish of the value spectrum.
EAT: Hotel Food Courts – Similar concept right here as with Disney Springs; resort friends are much less of a captive viewers. You’ll discover costs that are usually just a few {dollars} cheaper per entree, and high quality that tends to be higher.
The problem right here is making dinner at a resort meals courtroom work inside 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 varied particular occasions at Epcot, however “fun” and “value” aren’t the identical idea. It’s probably not any secret that the meals objects at Epcot’s festivals provide poor worth for cash. In reviewing nearly each sales space at these festivals over the previous few 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’ll be higher off spending the identical cash on a comparably-priced counter service entree, moderately than the 2-3 snacks that might purchase you on the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, or any of the opposite occasions all year long.
AVOID: Signature Restaurants – Pretty easy. 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’ll be able to’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 may get your caffeine repair by packing espresso packets and making your individual. (I can’t bear in mind the final time I purchased soda at Walt Disney World.)
The different large one is just not 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 usually overpriced, that means that you simply may pay an additional $5 for a small aspect of coleslaw or pickles. (Looking at you, Regal Eagle!)
This can be why we extremely suggest doing grocery supply and consuming your day by day servings of vegetables and fruit earlier than even leaving your resort room. Fruits and greens are necessary gas, 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 bought at Walt Disney World, save for the value. You’re not lacking out on something ‘fun’ by saving cash on these.
AVOID: Overhyped Desserts – This one pains me to write down. Snacking is a giant a part of the Walt Disney World expertise for us, and I wouldn’t suggest anybody swear off snacks totally for the sake of a finances.
However, it’s price noting that the majority snacks don’t provide commensurate nutritiousness and ‘filling-ness’ for his or her price. Basically, be weary of snack prices, goal those underneath $5, and be considered along with your snack expenditures–however don’t give them up fully.
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 robust following and have largely rested on their laurels since, rising in value as they’ve decreased in measurement 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 must 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 option to finances, saves most individuals cash, or provides good worth for cash is a collection 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 option 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 cost effective option to dine at Walt Disney World. It could provide good worth, budgeting, and so forth., however following the opposite suggestions right here to “dine on a dime” will produce cheaper outcomes.
With the information 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 is perhaps a conservative quantity, but it surely’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 tip 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, you might 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 get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips publish takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects 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 start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every little thing you must know!
Your Thoughts
What’s your recommendation for saving cash on meals at Walt Disney World? Anything advisable 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 might help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!