Best non expensive restaurants?

[sersee05]

Ok...so I had asked awhile back about places to eat. ..but now I am curious about the best non expensive places to eat?

We have been back and forth with this planning. I leave sunday for goodness sakes and I am just getting this all together. I managed to stay well within my budget for planning though.


We decided this would be our summer vacation but didn't want to spend $6k coming. We are a family of five with kids ages 17, 12 and 9. The 9 year old is the only one who eats off the kids menu.

I managed to get my tickets from Undercover tourist and get a nice deal on an offsite condo. So I don' t have free dining or a dining package. This will be all oop.

So I don't want to kill our budget by eating at high priced signature restaurants. But I haven't eaten at most of the restaurants. We never got to have a dining plan and enjoy that aspect of Disney.

I have eaten at Cinderellas castle, the italian place at epcot(a looooong time ago) and Mama Melrose. Thats about it. I have eaten at trex too.


So if I can get it, Trex is on the list just because my kids love it there. It's a fun restaurant . I have checked reservations and surprisingly there is a lot for me to try.

I don't need character dinners at all. So what can you suggest that won't be $50 a person. I have been told Olivias cafe to try?? We are open to trying different things.. I like Italian, some of us like seafood, some love steak and my son would be happy with pizza every night. We are fine with a good Mexican place or just something different. My husband likes all sorts of food.

TIA

 

[militarymomto5]

Captain cooks is awesome, at the poly. Remember that food portions are so large at a lot of counter service that meals can be split, even in our family of teenage boys!
As far as table service, I feel they are all just so expensive. Buffets are less budget friendly, esp because no one eats enough to pay for the buffet!

 

[aristocatz]

It's casual and simple, but I LOVE The Plaza at MK. Especially at dinner, you get a beautiful view of Main Street and the Castle

 

[figment_jii]

I think there are plenty of places where you can get by will less than $50 per person, although it depends on how many courses you order. Some of the less expensive TS locations that I like include Via Napoli, Rose & Crown, and Sci Fi.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We haven't made our ADRs yet, but based on the menus where we want to eat, we'll pay OOP for Via Napoli and Kona Cafe since they'll be the cheapest. (Really, I'm not aware of any WDW restaurants that are inexpensive compared to the real world.)

It also depends on how much everyone in your party eats. DH and I generally eat an entree each at restaurants (sometimes we share with DD and DS). When we go out locally, we usually bring home leftovers (especially if we get an appetizer, but usually we don't). But my dad, for instance, could easily eat 3 CS burgers in a sitting. So for him to be satisfied, it would cost less total to spend $30 for an AYCTE platter (like at WCC) or $40 for a buffet than for him to get a large entree plus salad plus appetizer plus dessert.

 

[staceyrhood]

If you want to venture offsite...Columbia and cafe D'antonios in Celebration are extremely wonderful, better than any on site I've had, and very close by.
On site we do really like Trails End at fort wilderness, it is a great buffet!

 

[wdwloverz]

Biergarten for lunch is quite a good value, you can sit as late as 3 pm and still pay the lunch price, making it an early dinner and you will just need snacks later.
Counter service Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavilion has SOMETHING for everyone, the strawberry shortcake from the bakery is one of my favorite things!
A mezzo metro (XL) pizza from Via Napoli would be a great value for your family, you can customize the pizza up to 4 different ways (I think) and it is HUGE. Great restaurant.

YES to the Plaza, simple sandwiches and sundaes but very good for only a dollar or two more PP than a counter service meal. Highly recommend,
Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch is VERY good and reasonable prices.
Ditto for a BOG lunch (this is counter service)

Sci-Fi drive in is FUN and not too bad on the prices, depending on what you choose.
Starring Rolls has super bakery items and HUGE sandwiches, great place for breakfast or lunch at DHS.

Flame Tree BBQ at AK is awesome. Counter service
Rainforest Café outside AK maingate would be fun for the kids, B, L or D. Prices similar to T REX.

At DTD Marketplace Earl of Sandwich is yummy and at $5.99 per sandwich it is a great value as well. If you have the Entertainment book there are two coupons in it for buy one sandwich and a drink, get one sandwich free.

Sounds like you can do simple breakfasts & snacks at your condo, always a nice way to go! Love a condo with a full kitchen.

 

[illinidp]

Snacking on small plates at places like Spice Road Table or the lounge in The Hollywood Brown Derby is another great option.

 

[snowweisz]

Grand Floridian Cafe is one of the most beautiful, delicious places on property and I was so shocked to see the prices. Its cheap and delicious.
This year, we've booked Beaches & Cream and it's a similar situation, the menu looks awesome and very few entrees go over $20.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

We have gone with the DDP and paying OOP and it's totally doable with some research. We have been blessed a few times to accompany my DH on a business trip and his company was fine with him staying anywhere that was a comparable price so we stayed at a WDW moderate and the kids and I toured the parks while he worked and then he joined us in the evenings. We flew on points and stayed with my DH and bought tickets separately and were paying OOP for meals and I got fairly creative. We did breakfast in the room and that helped. I packed some plastic dollar tree bowls, plastic spoons, instant oatmeal, protein bars, microwave popcorn, slim jims and other flat stuff in our bags as well as microwave popcorn. We had a rent car so we stocked up on bottled water at a Walgreens and had Mio and Crystal light packets but I did buy the refillable mugs for the resort because it was nice to not be buying drinks over and over during downtime and we are a soda family so that is a bonus for us and it made me happy. If you don't have a car you can take the bus to DTD and make a quick run to the gas station/convenience store and pick up bottled water, beer, soda etc and perhaps milk if you're cereal people.

I think you're asking about Table Service restaurants and value for paying OOP so I would suggest 50s PT Cafe for a nice, indoor sit down dinner that doesn't break the bank at DHS. We like to hit it at lunch and find it pretty awesome. Plaza Restaurant is a nice option at the MK to sit down inside and get a nice meal that isn't crazy expensive. I also think that Casey's can be a great deal for a quick sit down spot. We also really like Columbia Harbor House and Pecos Bills for a spot we can all go inside and catch a break and sit down too. Lots of things can be shared. In DAK I thought Flame Tree BBQ had nice options and wasn't too costly. My son did the chicken and rib combo (17 year old teenaged boy and it was enough food for his hollow legged, bottomless pit appetite) Epcot has so many food options both counter service and sit down. It can get pricey fast but there are ways to mke it work. The Fish and Chips window in England is good, sandwiches in Norway and the QS in Mexico (Nachos!) have served us well.

When we were flat out exhausted and needed a night in to relax at the resort we've done well with grabbing a whole Pizza (it's not the greatest pizza but it does the trick and for around 16.00 for the whole pie it was fine for our family of 3 and I contend 17yo son counts as two appetites. It helped that we had our refillable resort mugs) and then we went to the smores campfire and watched the movie and it was a great way to have some more normal family time and recharge our batteries and rest our worn out feet. We have done this at POFQ though I think it's the same pizza you can get at pretty much any counter service window. We did it once at FW too when we went for the outdoor movies and campfire. In reality, I think with three kids and feeding five people, and they have big appetites and needed two pizzas for around 32.00 and had to buy bottled drinks I'd call that a big success to feed a party of five for around 40.00 - 45.00 OOP.

Hope some of that helps. Have fun!

 

[sersee05]

Thanks for all the ideas!! Yes i was talking about the cheapest table service restaurants. We lime to sit down for a nice dinner but not at $40pp. We also get tired if the burger fare. I don't really want to eat at a panera or restaurants I can eat at home.


Where is celebration? Is it s nice area? I would def. Look into those...

What about downtown Disney?

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

Thanks for all the ideas!! Yes i was talking about the cheapest table service restaurants. We lime to sit down for a nice dinner but not at $40pp. We also get tired if the burger fare. I don't really want to eat at a panera or restaurants I can eat at home.


Where is celebration? Is it s nice area? I would def. Look into those...

What about downtown Disney?

This is a great tool to see pricing by location and scope out the menus.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

 

[Grumpy92]

Konas, Wolfgang Puck Express, Crews Cup, Espn club, Capts Grill
Olivia's is very good.
If you are open to some nicer QS locations - Tangerine Cafe, Columbia Harbor house.

 

[kkhoarell]

If you are looking for cheap TS restaurants, Sci-Fi is your best option! Cute atmosphere good but affordable food too!
The Plaza Restaurant is another one with great food and low prices!

Also, don't be afraid to go to one really nice restaurant! Just steer away from the really expensive dishes! Every Disney restaurant with have $10 meals and $30 meals. Just pick wisely!! Good luck!

 

[borgthe]

Check out Sweet Tomatoes. Go on their website and join club veg and they will email coupons. My family of four ate for $26. It is a buffet, but on the healthier, fresher side.

Awesome salad bar, pizza, pasta, soups, desserts, soft ice cream.

YUM!!!!

I wish they would open some in New Jersey.

 

[starwart]

Check out Sweet Tomatoes. Go on their website and join club veg and they will email coupons. My family of four ate for $26. It is a buffet, but on the healthier, fresher side.

Awesome salad bar, pizza, pasta, soups, desserts, soft ice cream.

YUM!!!!

I wish they would open some in New Jersey.

Yes to Sweet Tomatoes. I got this tip here in disboards and we did go to this place last Spring. Nothing fancy but we like their salads. And for the price we paid, it was a good value. We will go there again. Keep it coming folks...recommend us other alternatives to the so..so.. meh ..wdw restaurants

 

[Marthasor]

We love The Wave at CR and Sanaa at AKL. Although I haven't been, I've heard the Dr. Phillips area in Orlando has good restaurants. If going to T Rex, go on the Landry's website (they own T Rex), you can join their loyalty and birthday club and get $$ off your meal!

 

[Itinkso]

Our favorites in your price range are Wolfgang Puck Express, the Turf Club, Sanaa, Kona, The Wave, and Sci-Fi. I think Teppan Edo was even in that range. Because we are from California, we always head out to Cracker Barrel on the 192... it's a novelty for us and we always have great meals there.

 

[sharadoc]

Trail's End is the best value for a buffet and has food that everyone likes. Under $20 a person.

Definitely agree the Plaza for a nice sit-down that is not too expensive, although it's all sandwiches.

Olivia's is a lovely restaurant at OKW, and they are like any Disney Restaurant - they have $15 meals and $30 meals.

 

[sersee05]

I think I do want to put in a couple of more expensive meals and the rest more reasonable..like a previous poster suggested. These are awesome ideas!

Ok so I hear Sweet Tomatoes a few times...I would be glad to try it.. I will also look into the wave.