How to save money dining solo at WDW?

Simba's Mom · Mar 30, 2015

How does a solo save money dining at WDW? The biggest tip I hear is to share entrees. Well, solos can't do that. My understanding is that at QS I can order a child's meal, but not at TS places. The biggest problem I've found, though, at QS places is that at most places "child's meal" means uncrustables, chicken nuggets, or pizza. I haven't found many places at all that offer child's meals that go beyond that. Any suggestions of places that do? How about appetizers that are good entrees? At Tony's TS, I had a great salad and soup-great meal, and not very expensive. Any places besides Spice Table Road offer small plates? Does anyone have any other suggestions besides what I've mentioned?

lustergirl · Mar 31, 2015

For me saving money means not having and ADR every day. Disney offers you a lot of food to begin with. The buffet style meals are quite expensive and I will save booking those when my whole family is going to Disney. I have a couple of ADR's this upcoming trip and will wing it on counter service the rest of the way.

com_op_2000 · Mar 31, 2015

At DTD, in both T-Rex and Rainforest Cafe you can set at the bars and order from the whole menu. The appetizers are large and can be a meal. DW and I will often each order one and share, thereby having our meals using only appetizers.

ludari · Mar 31, 2015

I save money by skipping some of the daily dining options and having groceries delivered to my room. Nothing fancy just some of your basic snacks/meals (cereal, milk, chips, soda, water, muffins, etc.) which allows me to skip having to dine out for every meal.

kwdw · Mar 31, 2015

Traveling solo - I tend to only eat one large meal a day - that's how I save money. I might do a nice TS meal - either a late breakfast, early lunch, late lunch, or early dinner - and then do snacks I either bought at a local grocery store or brought with me in my suitcase for one meal - and then just get my favorite snack if I need more.

This last time - instead of ordering an entree at a signature restaurant - I just ordered an appetizer and a fancy alcohol drink - since that's what I wanted anyway! Wasn't really about saving money. Waiter was still happy to serve me!

I've never ordered off the kids menu, even though I know it an option. Their choices just aren't what I'm looking for.

loves to dive · Apr 6, 2015

Whether solo or with my son and DIL, more often than not I eat a kids meal. I'm not a big eater and they make sense for me. I've never had nuggets or an uncrustable. For bfast the kids meal of eggs, sausage and a biscuit is more than enough or I just get a cin. roll in the parks, which are huge and cost about $4. I usually just drink the coffee/tea that is in the room in the morning and get a bottle of water with my meal which I carry around with me. If I'm eating in my room and don't want eggs, I'll get a yogurt or muffin and take it back to my room, again with the coffee/tea provided. For lunch either a kids meal with comes with an entre, desert or fruit (I get the fruit) and a drink (I get water). I usually get a turkey sandwich if offered but most of the countries in WS at Epcot offer something of their fare and not sandwich or hamburger with the kids meals. For supper if I'm at a TS I usually get an app and a salad, glass of wine and a desert if I'm in the mood. Rarely do I order a meal, again not because I'm saving money just not a big eater but the side effect is I do save money. I don't drink soft drinks and you can get a free cup of water at any of the QS restaurants and just drink water at a TS. If you are really worried about it, study the menus before you go and you can budget out what you are going to spend.

Simba's Mom · Apr 6, 2015

loves to dive said:
Whether solo or with my son and DIL, more often than not I eat a kids meal. I'm not a big eater and they make sense for me. I've never had nuggets or an uncrustable. For bfast the kids meal of eggs, sausage and a biscuit is more than enough or I just get a cin. roll in the parks, which are huge and cost about $4. I usually just drink the coffee/tea that is in the room in the morning and get a bottle of water with my meal which I carry around with me. If I'm eating in my room and don't want eggs, I'll get a yogurt or muffin and take it back to my room, again with the coffee/tea provided. For lunch either a kids meal with comes with an entre, desert or fruit (I get the fruit) and a drink (I get water). I usually get a turkey sandwich if offered but most of the countries in WS at Epcot offer something of their fare and not sandwich or hamburger with the kids meals. For supper if I'm at a TS I usually get an app and a salad, glass of wine and a desert if I'm in the mood. Rarely do I order a meal, again not because I'm saving money just not a big eater but the side effect is I do save money. I don't drink soft drinks and you can get a free cup of water at any of the QS restaurants and just drink water at a TS. If you are really worried about it, study the menus before you go and you can budget out what you are going to spend.

Sounds like a good plan! Any appetizers you recommend? I remember one time at Tony's, I had the appetizer salad as my meal, and when it came I couldn't believe how large it was!

spiceycat · Apr 6, 2015

if you are not staying in a studio - then would go along with loves to dive suggestions - they were GREAT!

loves to dive · Apr 6, 2015

Simba's Mom said:
Sounds like a good plan! Any appetizers you recommend? I remember one time at Tony's, I had the appetizer salad as my meal, and when it came I couldn't believe how large it was!

We love Brown Derby at HS and I usually get a cheese plate and the app cobb salad. The meal one is huge and way too much for me.

Last time we at at Marakesh in Morocco I had a sort of sampler app. plate, it was actually more than I could eat (of course we had been drinking and snacking around the world most of the day and I really wasn't hungry)

I don't really like any of the TS at MK and haven't tried any of the AK ones either. My DIL and I shared a meal at San Angel in Mexico last trip and at China we order two meals for the table and share. I've had the child's meal at the Paris restaurant, Mac and cheese yum

Stefecatzz · Apr 7, 2015

When I go solo, I like to sleep in which helps me skip a meal. So the 1st meal I eat is an early QS lunch which lasts until about 6ish that evening. I've learned from my solo trips that there are lots of things considered 'snacks' that I can make a meal out of. I've had a side of onion rings from Pecos Bills before (yes, you read that right...sshhhh I'm on vacation

), I've tried the Nudel Gratin (mac & cheese) from Sommerfest in Germany which I really enjoyed & there are also things like soups from the QS in the France Pavillion w/a 1/2 Baguette that act as a meal. You can get all of these things I mentioned for anywhere from just under $4-$6ish. I also am not a soda drinker & always get an ice water for my drink for free which saves another couple $.

Fantaluminishes · Apr 13, 2015

I don't usually think about "saving" money on meals when I go to WDW. But at many TS restaurants (especially in Epcot), the lunch menu pricing can be cheaper than the dinner options, and they are sometimes the same food. There is potential for savings. I'll usually have a light breakfast, and a TS lunch. Then I'll have QS for dinner.

Oneanne · Apr 16, 2015

loves to dive said:
We love Brown Derby at HS and I usually get a cheese plate and the app cobb salad. The meal one is huge and way too much for me.

Last time we at at Marakesh in Morocco I had a sort of sampler app. plate, it was actually more than I could eat (of course we had been drinking and snacking around the world most of the day and I really wasn't hungry)

I don't really like any of the TS at MK and haven't tried any of the AK ones either. My DIL and I shared a meal at San Angel in Mexico last trip and at China we order two meals for the table and share. I've had the child's meal at the Paris restaurant, Mac and cheese yum

At Flying Fish I love their version of Caprese Salad instead of a full entrée, and last time I ate at Canada they were offering one as well... as a matter of fact I was introduced to Caprese done right at Brown Derby many, many years ago. A delightful cool light meal for busy hot days.

HSMndLKfan92 · Apr 16, 2015

I went solo (kind of) last month. I met up with my CM friend and we hit the parks for a bit before he left for work. I managed to mooch off of some of his lunch at Cosmic Ray's since I wasn't hungry. But for dinner, I had Casey's.

EPCOT was where it was really fun for me (no sarcasm). I hit up some of the QS places and food stands. China had an egg roll for pretty cheap, and Japan has sushi rolls that are also fairly cheap. EPCOT is full of neat nibbles and bits, but I can see how it would be more difficult to stomach a TS.

MrLight · Apr 16, 2015

Last time I went I packed peanuts and granola bars in my suitcase for breakfast. Then I'd get QS lunch at the park... and hotel food court for dinner.

bigtony777 · Apr 18, 2015

Pack or get some breakfast items from the grocery store. You can have a small breakfast from these items and then either have a late breakfast or early lunch. We actually do this almost every morning with our kids or without.

bigtony777 · Apr 18, 2015

Also depending on the length of your trip and room type, I have many times rented a car for one day either from the airport to the Dolphin or pick up and return at the Dolphin for under $30. You can then grab items from the grocery store. I prefer to pick out my own items instead of paying to have them delivered and often the car option will be cheaper than the markup on the delivery.

Maleficent Dragon · Apr 18, 2015

Going solo is saving money - food for one.

Outside of that, doing Garden Grocer or counter service only would be your other options.

godders · Apr 19, 2015

When I travel solo I have one TS meal a day and that's about it but I usually nip to a supermarket and get some cereal bars or snacks to take with me to a park if I'm not having anything until dinner.

I also drink a ton of water because half the time you feel hungry it's because you're dehydrated.

If I'm in the parks late then I'll grab a quick snack (my current fave is the Cinnamon buns from Gaston's Tavern) and often they are so big it's easy for me to keep them for a couple of days

Xennia · Apr 20, 2015

Simba's Mom said:
How does a solo save money dining at WDW? The biggest tip I hear is to share entrees. Well, solos can't do that. My understanding is that at QS I can order a child's meal, but not at TS places. The biggest problem I've found, though, at QS places is that at most places "child's meal" means uncrustables, chicken nuggets, or pizza. I haven't found many places at all that offer child's meals that go beyond that. Any suggestions of places that do? How about appetizers that are good entrees? At Tony's TS, I had a great salad and soup-great meal, and not very expensive. Any places besides Spice Table Road offer small plates? Does anyone have any other suggestions besides what I've mentioned?

Picnic. Bring your own food or order it from grocery store and have them deliver it to you. Then you can eat whenever wherever you want. And it will be healthy filling and affordable. Save the money for little treats. Or one day of spending.

officialkt · Apr 21, 2015

Last trip ,I took Cereal Bars for breakfast...and tea bags lol..well I'm British...then in the mornings I was up and off..also was able to eat lunch before the crowds and tea too.

How to save money dining solo at WDW?

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