Less expensive meals

[mnlovesdisney]

After checking prices at Disney restaurants and getting sticker shock, I'm looking for some off-property restaurants that would be less expensive. Anyone have any suggestions for places near Downtown Disney?

 

[Marionnette]

After checking prices at Disney restaurants and getting sticker shock, I'm looking for some off-property restaurants that would be less expensive. Anyone have any suggestions for places near Downtown Disney?

There are plenty of places to "eat cheap" both in Disney and offsite. The question would be, what kind of meal are you looking for?

Do you want an all-you-can-eat buffet, cheap but filling? Are you looking for casual dining more in line with Olive Garden or other franchises? Or maybe dinner and entertainment along the lines of Medieval Times? Or are you looking for unique, fine dining experiences like Emeril's?

 

[Teresa Pitman]

Our favourite place is Sweet Tomatoes, which is quite close to DTD. If you google them and sign up, they will send you coupons.

Teresa

 

[TLPL]

Has anyone tried to walk to Sweet Tomates from DTD? how long does it takes?

 

[lastminutemom]

At Disney World, in my opinion, because of the high ticket prices, time can be money as well. If you are there when the park hours are not long, if you leave to get lunch, for example, you are burning valuable park time. In the same scenario, if you stay all day and then go out to dinner, that may work.

Just my two cents.

 

[mrsklamc]

Giordano's pizza. Yum. (don't know about close to DTD but I think they deliver.)

 

[DawnM]

About a mile each way.

You aren't going to find anything closer and walking would be difficult and take quite a bit of time.

Dawn

Has anyone tried to walk to Sweet Tomates from DTD? how long does it takes?

 

[maxiesmom]

At Disney World, in my opinion, because of the high ticket prices, time can be money as well. If you are there when the park hours are not long, if you leave to get lunch, for example, you are burning valuable park time. In the same scenario, if you stay all day and then go out to dinner, that may work.

Just my two cents.

I agree with you.

OP--you can always pack meals and bring them into the parks with you. The only thing they don't allow to be brought in is glass, alcohol, and in the Animal Kingdom they don't allow straws. Otherwise you can bring in food. That way you save money and time.

 

[SunnieRN]

Giordano's pizza. Yum. (don't know about close to DTD but I think they deliver.)

I agree, Giordanos is the bomb and often you can get coupons from Restaurant.com.

The pizza is great! The staff was friendly. The restaurant was clean!! Win, win in my book!!

 

[VAfamily1998]

I agree with you.

OP--you can always pack meals and bring them into the parks with you. The only thing they don't allow to be brought in is glass, alcohol, and in the Animal Kingdom they don't allow straws. Otherwise you can bring in food. That way you save money and time.

We did that our last trip. We stayed off site in a 2 bedroom villa with full kitchen, and were there in mid November so the parks weren't open very early/very late.

We ate our breakfasts in the room in the morning, then we would bring sandwiches/drinks/fruit/cookies with us into the park. We just put the food in lunch boxes and put them in our backpack (we carried just one large backpack for our family of 6--2 adults and kids ages 3, 5, 7, and 9).

We'd eat one meal in a park restuarant, and one meal was our picnic. Most of the time, we just found a bench and ate there. However, in the Magic Kingdom, on Tom Sawyer Island, we just happened upon a picnic bench...just all by itself. It was getting close to lunch anyway so we just stopped there and ate our picnic.

 

[jacksmom]

We loooooove Sweet Tomatoes! We eat there several times each trip!

 

[dougsmom98]

For an inexpensive lunch/dinner try Steak N' Shake. They have amazing shakes and lots of burger meals for less than $5. Here is a link to their menu
http://www.steaknshake.com/menu/the-original-steakburger/

We have never been, but I think that Ponderosa has a breakfast buffet for $3.99 or $4.99.

We always get Krispy Kreme donuts when we go to WDW. It's not the healthiest breakfast but they are so good and less expensive than eating at a restaurant.

We enjoy the Golden Corrall buffet. If you go before 4 pm, it is a little less expensive. My family loves the steak that they cook to order. I love their chocolate ganache cake and their carrot cake.

Here is a link to a thread in the Orlando Hotels and Attractions forum that has a suggested off site restaurants.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=498998&highlight=offsite+restaurants

 

[mnlovesdisney]

Thanks for tips. We will be staying at Old Key West and probably cooking some of our own meals, but want to eat out as well without it costing an arm and a leg. Son loves deep dish pizza, so Giordanno's is a place we may have to try. All suggests appreciated.

 

[BobbyBudnick]

After checking prices at Disney restaurants and getting sticker shock, I'm looking for some off-property restaurants that would be less expensive. Anyone have any suggestions for places near Downtown Disney?

Miller's Ale House and Bahama Breeze are both great places. Very close to downtown disney.