advice on dining with plan

[tinker_tubbies]

I'm estatic that I have won a Disney World/Disney Cruise package for my family. Unfornately, it appears that I will not be able to take advantage of any meal plans while in Disney even though I've extended the days I'm staying.

My question is for any advice on less expensive dining within the parks and properties. I plan on taking the recommended snacks and drinks, but we are still going to have to have some decent meals somewhere, and I'm not wanting to have to pay $20 per person for a meal a day.

I'm sure there are more reasonable diners, any recommendations?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

You should check out www.allearsnet.com. They have menus for every TS and CS place in WDW, including prices. You can look those over and decide which food (and prices) look best to you.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Here is a link to the DISboards menus. There are many pictures of the restaurants along with the menus and sometimes pictures of the food too!

There is a sticky at the top of the board with links to food threads showing pictures of the meals.

TS meals are the most expensive. There are many CS places that offer so much more than burger and fries. Seasons food court in Epcot has an amazing variety of food. Columbia Harbor House in MK has some different choices too.

One of our favorite places to eat in WDW is at AK at Flame Tree Barbecue. We eat here every trip.

Hope that helps and good luck with your planning!

 

[LizinSTL]

I'm estatic that I have won a Disney World/Disney Cruise package for my family. Unfornately, it appears that I will not be able to take advantage of any meal plans while in Disney even though I've extended the days I'm staying.

My question is for any advice on less expensive dining within the parks and properties. I plan on taking the recommended snacks and drinks, but we are still going to have to have some decent meals somewhere, and I'm not wanting to have to pay $20 per person for a meal a day.

I'm sure there are more reasonable diners, any recommendations?

Congratulations!

I'd recommend sharing...a lot! 1 or 2 CS breakfasts are a nice light breakfast before heading to the parks. Then share 1 or 2 CS meals at a time, if you need to grab one every 2 or 3 hours for your family, that's still going to be less food in the long run than getting 4 meals 3 times a day. Ask for cups of ice water from any CS location- it's free and saves you $2.50. Buy a couple refillable mugs at your resort if you like coffee or soft drinks and drink that in the morning and evenings- just stick w/ ice water during the day.

Double cheeseburgers are big enough to share. Cosmic Rays has combo platters big enough to share. Tusker House has a chicken plate big enough to share. A turkey leg is definitely shareable! Munch your way through the "world" in the World showcase.

If you can swing it, all you care to eat meals timed correctly can be your only real meal of the day. 10:30 am seatings will be breakfast prices at the Crystal Palace but they'll be putting out the lunch foods and you can get brunch for a cheaper price and then just grab a light snack much later in the day. It'll blow your budget entirely for the day but you should probably look at the budget in terms of the trip rather than on a day-by-day basis. It makes it a bit less painful, imo.