Best value restaurants in parks?

[WhitneyBrock]

Hi- we haven't been since 2020 and now have "big kids" with "big appetites". I would love any ideas on where are the best value to eat in the parks but would prefer food that tastes good. I can only eat chicken fingers so many times, ha!! I know- I have champagne taste and a cheap beer wallet! We are open to splurging some, but don't want to break the bank eating.

Is bring in food with a cooler still an option?

 

[BrianL]

While nothing in the parks is a really great value, for big eaters you may find better value in a buffet. I recommend Biergarten. It doesn't have characters (there is a show) so it's a little less expensive, and you can fill up. The food is really good, at least if your crew is into meat! Its not exactly cheap, but it's cheaper than the other buffets.

You can bring in food, but not a cooler. You can bring a small, soft-sided type lunch bag though. I am not sure of the exact rules, but nothing on wheels is a certain. If it is manageable to carry around it should be okay.

 

[DisneyFive]

Anything that is NOT a character buffet. We find, by far, the best value from sit-down locations is where we can order from a menu. That way we can split entree's if we want, add an appetizer, etc...

Yes, you can still bring in food as far as I'm aware.

Whispering Canyon at Wilderness lodge has all you can eat skillets for $26 per person for breakfast and lunch, but you need like breakfast foods.

Flame tree at AK was always a decent value for the volume of food, something like the ribs/chicken combo for $16. 1/2 Chicken for just under $14, etc...

Pecos Bills at MK is fairly value oriented, with the fajita skillet hitting around $15, 3 tacos for $11, etc...

At EP, the mezzo metro sized pizza's at Via Napoli are a HUGE bargain. It's a table service, but one Mezzo Metro sized pizza can feed four people for $58, and it's GOOD pizza.

 

[WhitneyBrock]

While nothing in the parks is a really great value, for big eaters you may find better value in a buffet. I recommend Biergarten. It doesn't have characters (there is a show) so it's a little less expensive, and you can fill up. The food is really good, at least if your crew is into meat! Its not exactly cheap, but it's cheaper than the other buffets.

You can bring in food, but not a cooler. You can bring a small, soft-sided type lunch bag though. I am not sure of the exact rules, but nothing on wheels is a certain. If it is manageable to carry around it should be okay.

Good idea!

 

[WhitneyBrock]

Anything that is NOT a character buffet. We find, by far, the best value from sit-down locations is where we can order from a menu. That way we can split entree's if we want, add an appetizer, etc...

Yes, you can still bring in food as far as I'm aware.

Whispering Canyon at Wilderness lodge has all you can eat skillets for $26 per person for breakfast and lunch, but you need like breakfast foods.

Flame tree at AK was always a decent value for the volume of food, something like the ribs/chicken combo for $16. 1/2 Chicken for just under $14, etc...

Pecos Bills at MK is fairly value oriented, with the fajita skillet hitting around $15, 3 tacos for $11, etc...

At EP, the mezzo metro sized pizza's at Via Napoli are a HUGE bargain. It's a table service, but one Mezzo Metro sized pizza can feed four people for $58, and it's GOOD pizza.
View attachment 888183

Very helpful! That's a good thought. I am trying to figure out if the dining plan would be worth it. For our trip, it would be $1500 for the TS DP and I almost feel like we would spend that without being on the plan and then we don't have the stress of keeping up with costs.

 

[WinterSolider]

Kids breakfast at Woody's Lunch Box in Hollywood Studios.

 

[DisneyFive]

Very helpful! That's a good thought. I am trying to figure out if the dining plan would be worth it. For our trip, it would be $1500 for the TS DP and I almost feel like we would spend that without being on the plan and then we don't have the stress of keeping up with costs.

How many people and how long is your stay?

The dining plan is way more costly for us, but we're not ravenous eaters. The dining plan can be hard to justify unless you are doing a lot of character buffets, ordering the most expensive entree's at other locations. It DOES provide peace of mind and convenience, and that is worth something.

 

[RanDIZ]

I know you said in parks, but I’ve always found it relaxing and beneficial to break away from the parks for a couple hours. From MK, we hop a quick scenic boat ride over to Ft. Wilderness for Trails End. Plenty of good food at reasonable prices.

 

[WhitneyBrock]

I know you said in parks, but I’ve always found it relaxing and beneficial to break away from the parks for a couple hours. From MK, we hop a quick scenic boat ride over to Ft. Wilderness for Trails End. Plenty of good food at reasonable prices.

I am usually there at rope drop and leave when they kick us out. I should probably think about something like this!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

I find it very hard to financially justify TS in any park and generally stick to CS. The rare exceptions I found, if I really want TS, for a change, are The Plaza and Skipper Canteen in MK, Nine Dragons in Epcot, and borderline Yak And Yeti in Animal Kingdom. Close to Epcot is Beaches and Cream, and close to Animal Kingdom is Sanaa to go, get zebra domes and refill your mug in the gift shop, and eat in the library off the lobby
I know that you can bring in food without question, but not sure about the cooler-depends how big, I guess.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I second trails end. It’s only a boat ride away from MK and probably the cheapest food on property, and it’s good. They have family meals like fried chicken that’s really good value. The Plaza in MK nots a bad value either, and scifi snd 50s primetime also aren’t bad

 

[zebsterama]

If you're at Animal Kingdom I would argue that Satu'li Canteen is the best bang for your buck ... and it's QS but nice --- and it's actually healthy too. Shocking!

Have fun on your trip!

 

[BrianL]

If you're at Animal Kingdom I would argue that Satu'li Canteen is the best bang for your buck ... and it's QS but nice --- and it's actually healthy too. Shocking!

Have fun on your trip!

Well, those cheeseburger pods aren't healthy - I should know, they're what I always get! It is a good place though with a good "bang for your buck", especially because you can get free soda refills.

 

[RanDIZ]

I am usually there at rope drop and leave when they kick us out. I should probably think about something like this!!

We used to be the same way rope drop til close. Can’t believe what we’ve been missing by not taking a break from the parks over the years.

 

[zebsterama]

Well, those cheeseburger pods aren't healthy - I should know, they're what I always get! It is a good place though with a good "bang for your buck", especially because you can get free soda refills.

I stand corrected!

I’ll have to try those next time, to buck the trend. Haha!

 

[TheDailyMoo]

Best bang for buck is Steakhouse 71 and it's basically park adjacent. They could easily charge way more for the quality of food they give. Both breakfast and lunch/dinner.

 

[philharmagic fan]

Ale and Compass breakfast buffet at Yacht Club (15 minute walk from Epcot International Gateway). I think it's now about $23 but includes an al la carte entree (usual price around $15), non-alcoholic beverage, and all you care to eat pastries, yogurt parfaits, and other small items. They serve breakfast until around 11, so we often go for an early lunch. Love those chocolate waffles!

 

[jimmymc]

In Magic Kingdom, if you order a meal from Casey's Corner and upgrade the fries to chili-cheese fries, they are very filling. A footlong hot dog and the loaded fries are plenty even for a teenager. The trio platter at Columbia Harbor House also offers a lot of food.

In Epcot, Biergarten is all you can eat for $49, including soft drinks. Chefs du France offers pretty big portions, and the Patisserie is always a good value. Katsura Grill has larger portions too.

At Hollywood Studios, ABC Commissary probably has the best portion sizes for value. I really like both of the Galaxy's Edge locations and Woody's lunchbox, but I'll also admit they are smaller meals for the money.

For Animal Kingdom, you can't go wrong with Satuli Canteen or Flame Tree BBQ. Chicken and ribs combo is $16, and the noodle bowls at Satuli are the most filling.

 

[erinch]

How big are your big kids? Our prices went down when we could dump the kids for QS someplace and my DS and I had a nice romantic dinner with refined tastes.

Another option is the QS in Mexico in Epcot for lunch. They open up Hacienda San Angel for seating and you can have Table service at a fraction of the cost.

 

[DisneyFive]

Pretty soon, we will have every restaurant in WDW mentioned