Best meals for your buck!!!

[minzaina]

Trip next month will be low budget....where are the best places to eat at MK, Epcot, AK and HS for big meals that can be split between me and 5 y/o DD?

 

[PictureJumpr]

Not sure how much you or your daughter normally eats, but WDW portions are fairly large in most places, and downright huge in others, so you shouldn't have a problem.

If you're looking for something other than a burger or such to split, there are plated meals (roast chicken, barbecue, sides) to be had at Cosmic Ray's in MK, Sunshine Seasons at Epcot, and Flame Tree at AK. AK's Pizzafari also has a comboe which is an individual pizza and a salad and can easily be split. Mexico in Epcot makes large plates of nachos, and Tangierine Cafe in Morocco makes shawarma platters that are quite generous.

Also, there is no restriction against you ordering a kids' meal for yourself, if you are buying OOP. Two of those with carrots/grapes/applesauce as the sides, plus a side of fries or a dessert to share, would make a meal for two for about $15.

 

[ChillyWilleys]

I know you specifically asked about the parks but I have to say that I think Earl of Sandwich downtown is hugely under rated as far as being worth the money. I fed my entire family of four there for about $20. Granted they're sandwiches, but they are absolutely delicious, huge and cheap! The prices are good for home, for Disney prices they're unbelievable! So if you happen to be Downtown at anytime keep that in mind. Other than that I would say look over at the menus and see what you and your daughter would like to split. Most of them have the prices too so you can plan ahead that way. I think most things are big enough to split with a 5 year old but if you had any questions on a specific dish I'm sure we could come up with plenty of input.

 

[andrea2289]

Our favorite thing to share is the Tuna Sandwich at Columbia Harbor House at MK - We get the sandwich and a side of clam chowder. It's the perfect amount of food! Picture bit.ly/OqeKPp

The burger at Pecos Bills are huge. Pay for an extra bun (I think it's around $1), load up from the fixins bar, and your all set!

Also at MK, Cosmic Ray's has a large ribs and chicken meal for $13.99 that would easily serve two.

At AK, Flame Tree BBQ rib dinner is a favorite for sharing.

At DTD, my hubby and I shared the club sandwich and a soup. Again, it was the perfect amount of food. Wolfgang Pick Express has huge portions. We've shared the spaghetti and meatballs and the pizzas!

HTH

 

[LisaBi]

often order CS kids meals for myself. Not just for the cost savings, but because they are often just the right amount of food. One in particular is the kids pasta at the values food courts. And a lot of the time I want the kids side option anyway (grapes instead of fries.)

 

[rznhal]

Hello!

One thing that saves us $ on food in the parks is grabbing a couple of snacks from home. We are big snackers.....esp. when everyone around us is eating!!. I bring things from home (fruit snacks, granola bars, skittles) and carry them in my purse..saves me from needing to buy a $4 snack when someone gets a little snacky.....I have brought water with us before too (with the little lemonade single serve packets you get at the grocery store), but that was a lot of trouble since we don't have a car while we are there, so I'm on the fence about that, but the snacks are super easy and def. saved us some money!!!!

Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[smiths02]

Hello!

One thing that saves us $ on food in the parks is grabbing a couple of snacks from home. We are big snackers.....esp. when everyone around us is eating!!. I bring things from home (fruit snacks, granola bars, skittles) and carry them in my purse..saves me from needing to buy a $4 snack when someone gets a little snacky.....I have brought water with us before too (with the little lemonade single serve packets you get at the grocery store), but that was a lot of trouble since we don't have a car while we are there, so I'm on the fence about that, but the snacks are super easy and def. saved us some money!!!!

Have a wonderful trip!!!

Every CS location will give you free ice water

W

 

[Gorechick]

We were happy with the pizza meals at Toy Story Pizza Planet in HS. THere was plenty of decent food for the price and it was the only place where we got all the components of the meal without things being "forgotten."

 

[AuntPol]

My son (12 years old) and I shared andmy husband and 13 year old daughter often shared:

Pecos Bill burger -We got the one w/onion rings and cut in half and lots of extra fixings and the carrot cake -extra bun for vegetarian girl who made a tomato/lettuce/cheese sandwich). Get large drink and an extra cup. They are huge drinks. 2 meals here for our family of 4

Fairfax Fare- chicken and ribs meal. We got 2 of these w/drinks and desserts one kids meal for our vegetarian and fed the entire family of 4-and took the desserts back to hotel. Cosmic Rays has a similar meal for dinner.

Pizzafari-we got 2 breakfast platters and orange juices and shared among 4 people. It was plenty. I normally wouldn't buy breakfast at the park but we were having trouble using our credits because my son and I shared most everything so we "splurged" here on an early morning extra magic hour day.

Be Our Guest -we didn't spit here but we could have. The steak sandwich and fries are huge and a good value for $8.79!! Free refills here.

Wolfgang Puck -My husband I split a chicken alfredo and creme brulee. The kids split a pizza. We let the kids have the drinks and my husband and I had water.

Pizza planet -we got one pizza/salad and one sub/salad and 2 cupcakes and 2 drinks and extra cups to feed 3 of us. I got a sandwich, apple, cupcake, and bottled water at Starring rolls but I ate the salad from the pizza and the kids ate the apple. We took one cupcake home and split the other two four ways each.

Starring Rolls -the cupcakes were big enough for us to split 4 ways!

Main Street Bakery -the cinnamon rolls there are big enough to split -especially if you are light breakfast eater or using it as special snack. Good snack credit value.

We didn't eat at Sunshine Seasons but we passed through and they looked big enough to share.

We also brought home a lot of desserts because we were usually too full to eat them! We had free dining but I would not buy the dining plan -too much food and easily be done cheaper than actually buying it.On the last day we had 13 snack credits to use!! This was after using a ton at Epcot (where we got one thing from each country food and wine festival booth and shared it 3-4 ways) -it was our lunch that day.


We brought a lot of bottled water but quit brining it in after 2 days because it was easier to just get a free cup of water at most of the restaurants or carts. It might not be as easy during the peak seasons though.

I agree that Earl of Sandwich is a good value for OOP. $5.99 sandwiches and $1.99 drinks w/ free refills.

Pepper Market has a breakfast buffet for $14 per person (not sure kids prices). No characters but they do have Mickey waffles. It was just as good as the character breakfasts we ate at. (I didn't like Pepper Market for dinner though -food and service subpar and one of the few places I felt the OOP price was higher than the value of the meal).

We had character breakfasts at Crystal Palace and 1800 Park Faire. The price was the same. We liked 1800 Park Faire better. The service and food was so much better, the character interaction longer, the space between tables bigger, and you get a picture w/photopass. Crystal Palace was okay but so crowded and we had to wait even with a reservation and the food was kind of cold.

 

[butsy113]

Go to easywdw.com to find a list of the restaurants at the parks. They are ranked several ways (Best OOP, Best for DDP, etc.)

 

[goofyintoronto]

often order CS kids meals for myself. Not just for the cost savings, but because they are often just the right amount of food. One in particular is the kids pasta at the values food courts. And a lot of the time I want the kids side option anyway (grapes instead of fries.)

I have done this as well. Not to save money, but quite often the portions would be more than enough for me.