Budget Meals

[Okiemom]

Do you think it is cheaper to eat counter food, or do sit down and split meals? I know buffets would be expensive , but if the portions as large as people say, I am thinking we could split.

[Cheshire Figment]

Splitting table service meals is no problem and the WDW restaurants do not charge extra. Sometimes when you explain it, they will even do the splitting in the kitchen for you.

Also I would suggest you go up three forums to the Disney Restaurants forum where there is lots of discussion on these type items.

[ALostBoy]

Hi,
My wife and I will split a Double CB at a counter service
resturant. With the toppings bar, it's certainly enough for
us. Good Luck.

[polkadotladybug]

My husband and I would split a double cheeseburger meal - cut the burger in half and you are essentially eating a single burger (well - minus one piece of bread, but who needs that anyway?!) - plus they give you more french fries than a human really need be eating - so we split those.

We drink waters all the time - if we were eating at the food court (like for a light dinner, after returning to room, going to pool, taking naps, showers, etc) before going to the park in the evening - we would also carry cans of soda and then get cups of ice and put them over that.

My girls (3 and 6 at the time) would split a chicken tender meal - neither finished it (my hubby ate any spares) - and then as a treat - I'd split a soda in a cup for them.

So our average counter meal tab - was around 13 - 14 dollars for 4 people. Everything adds up there!

[polkadotladybug]

I forgot to add - you may be able to split a meal in a restaurant, but a buffet? I seriously doubt it! I think I was told the character buffets are in the neighborhood of 27 bucks or so (each person - and that's adult price) and kids are around 11 or 12?

Not sure how much regular (non character) buffets are - but it's a rare restaurant that allows people to share a buffet! You'd even have a different plate - I just don't see that happening at DIsney - sorry!

[Okiemom]

I did not mean to say we would split at buffets, I know they won't. I meant to say they are just expensive. Good, but high. It all adds up, you are sooo right. There will be 6 of us, all adults and teens, no little ones. But its nice to know the portions are large at the counter food places too.

[aka-mad4themouse]

MouseSavers.com mentions going to the Trail's End at Fort Wilderness and doing "take out". MouseSavers.com - Best "All You Can Eat" (http://www.mousesavers.com/meals.html#buffet) I haven't tried it but for the adult dinner price of $16.99 plus tax, you get one large styrofoam container, one salad container, one soup container and a drink to load up as you see fit. It would probably take at least 2 and maybe 3 meals to satisfy 6 adults & teens (depending on whether the teens are boys or girls).

Buffet lunch is $10.99 plus tax per adult. This is wayyy cheaper than the $21.99 character buffets found elsewhere on property. The only problem with Trail's End is that it is off the beaten path for anyone not staying at Fort Wilderness. But if you have a free evening, or if you're heading there for the campfire anyway, it might be worth the visit.

[Chicago526]

Eating counter service vs spliting a sit down meal, as far as cost is concerned, really depends on what kind of eaters you are and what types of things you tend to order. If you've got teens with you (especially BOYS) they'll eat whatever you put infront of them, lick the plate clean, and be hungry again an hour later! But if your group tends to eat light, then spliting sit-down is a good way to save money, I'd think you'd break even with counter service in most cases. In my own experiance, girls and women can split counter service very well, but boys and men tend to eat the whole thing with no trouble. But I'm sure that's not true of everyone!

BTW, no mater what, try to plan on at least one or two sit down meals. Burgers, hot dogs, and chicken strips get old after eating them all week!

[EthansMom]

Also, you can save a bundle by asking for ice water (with lemon, if you prefer) instead of ordering a soda. You can order free ice water at both sit-down and counter service meals. Soda at the counter service places is $1.99!

[DSNYRose]

Eating counter service vs spliting a sit down meal, as far as cost is concerned, really depends on what kind of eaters you are and what types of things you tend to order. If you've got teens with you (especially BOYS) they'll eat whatever you put infront of them, lick the plate clean, and be hungry again an hour later! But if your group tends to eat light, then spliting sit-down is a good way to save money, I'd think you'd break even with counter service in most cases. In my own experiance, girls and women can split counter service very well, but boys and men tend to eat the whole thing with no trouble. But I'm sure that's not true of everyone!

BTW, no mater what, try to plan on at least one or two sit down meals. Burgers, hot dogs, and chicken strips get old after eating them all week!

I agree Chicago526. It depends on the types of eaters you're traveling with. I tend to lean toward counter service for most meals because you don't have to worry about adding a tip. One Entre' (if you split), beverages, and tip can, in some places, be more costly than 2 counter meals.

[extremesoccermom]

My husband and I would split a double cheeseburger meal - cut the burger in half and you are essentially eating a single burger (well - minus one piece of bread, but who needs that anyway?!) - plus they give you more french fries than a human really need be eating - so we split those.
You can ask for an extra bun and each have a burger. The bun is only .15 and many CM will just give it to you for free. DD10 and I always split Counter Service meals and we are both full but DS15 and DH could put away 2 meals.
DD and I will do a mother daughter trip in June and with any luck we will be able to play $40 a day and eat well. Some of our favorites are Pecos bills the turkey or chicken wrap with chilli cheese fries, a double burger w/ fries that we split, the 1/2 slab of ribs or 1/2 chicken, and at the food court we love the chicken alfredo at POR and we are full until we decide where to go to split dessert. :rotfl: :grouphug: