Cheapest dining options in WDW?

[number1tiggerfan]

So for my senior trip in about two weeks (soo pumped!! ) my mom is giving me about $200 for meals and souvenirs. We both figure that's reasonable, as no one in my immediate family has ever been there so we don't know prices and things, and I'll have Pop-Tarts and granola bars for breakfasts. Plus, we'll be getting a meal ticket for one free meal, so I only have 5 meals to worry about... now, the question is, which eating options in the parks are cheapest?

Keep in mind I'll only be able to go to the parks allowed with the park hopper pass, and I'll also be getting souvenirs on Sunday, so I won't have to carry them around all weekend. Also, what are general souvenir prices? Thanks

 

[figment_jii]

For meal prices and variety of options, you should take a look at the menus on wdwinfo.com, disney.com, and allears.net. Table service meals (sit down) tend to run around $25 to $35 per entree with about $3 for drinks. Quick service (counter service) is probably about $15 per meal (entree plus drink). These are very rough numbers.

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

My guess is that with your budget, you'll be eating at Quick Service venues. There are several in each park, so you'll have a lot to choose from.

For prices of souvenirs range from a few dollars to thousands. I'd guess the average cost is probably somewhere around $15 for a plush (small), $20 to $30 for a t-shirt, $50 to $75 for a sweatshirt/hoodie.

As you can see, WDW is very expensive. With only $200 for 5 days, you'll have to be careful with your spending.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I think you're pretty much going to be eating counter service and even that is going to be tight when you factor lunch and dinner daily.

 

[Cynthiagayle01]

If you are staying onsite check the dining options there. One night I had to pay OOP at POR and I was able to get a kids meal. Much cheaper. It was around $7 or $8. With that meal I got a drink, grapes and a small pizza. It was plenty for me. So definitely check the kids menu at the Counter Service places, it can save you some money.

 

[Silver Queen]

You mentioned having a park hopper. If that's the case you will be able to go to any of the four parks at any time during your stay. I agree that you'll probably need to stick to the counter service restaurants. Sunshine Seasons in The Land Pavilion in Epcot offers the best variety of CS selections. There are a number of healthy options and dinner type meals with meat, potatoes and vegetables. If you like meddle eastern food the Tangeriene Cafe in Morocco has excellent schwarma platters. In the MK Cosmic Ray's also offers a variety of options that could sere for lunch or dinner. I wouldn't recommend eating CS at Hollywood Studios.
Another great CS option is Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD, good food and excellent value.

Have a great trip!

 

[number1tiggerfan]

For meal prices and variety of options, you should take a look at the menus on wdwinfo.com, disney.com, and allears.net. Table service meals (sit down) tend to run around $25 to $35 per entree with about $3 for drinks. Quick service (counter service) is probably about $15 per meal (entree plus drink). These are very rough numbers.

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm

My guess is that with your budget, you'll be eating at Quick Service venues. There are several in each park, so you'll have a lot to choose from.

For prices of souvenirs range from a few dollars to thousands. I'd guess the average cost is probably somewhere around $15 for a plush (small), $20 to $30 for a t-shirt, $50 to $75 for a sweatshirt/hoodie.

As you can see, WDW is very expensive. With only $200 for 5 days, you'll have to be careful with your spending.

well, i knew amusement park pricing was high, but i didnt expect it to be THAT high lol. thanks though!

 

[canopynut66]

So for my senior trip in about two weeks (soo pumped!! ) my mom is giving me about $200 for meals and souvenirs. We both figure that's reasonable, as no one in my immediate family has ever been there so we don't know prices and things, and I'll have Pop-Tarts and granola bars for breakfasts. Plus, we'll be getting a meal ticket for one free meal, so I only have 5 meals to worry about... now, the question is, which eating options in the parks are cheapest?

Keep in mind I'll only be able to go to the parks allowed with the park hopper pass, and I'll also be getting souvenirs on Sunday, so I won't have to carry them around all weekend. Also, what are general souvenir prices? Thanks

Will be very hard with $200.00 but in Downtown Disney is Earl Of Sandwich but time you get a drink and sandwich that is $10 in MK have Peco Bills and Caseys Corner but both will be $15 each. AK has Flame tree BBQ same there $15 same at Epcot and Hollywood Studios for counter service meals. Souvenirs ---is hard to fine much under $5.00 and most tee shirts are $20 and up now or were in November 2010. told my Granddaughter to save $200 for spending money and then would take her and I would pay all meals. as knew she would want to buy herself things as well as others back home and it worked out ---pretty good broke down and bought the make her own tee shirt.. OH and the Santa Mickey hat with her name on it at Downtown Disney and the "one" ornament she could not live without as was a football for her boyfriend.. all can be sent to your resort and picked up-- ask them to explain that to you and you do not have to carry it all day.....is free service

 

[-Hope-]

Since this is your senior trip I'm guessing you'll be with friends. You might try splitting some of the larger meals to stretch your dollars. Cosmic Ray's in MK has HUGE portions so you should definately be able to share there. Also, as I think a pp mentioned, the CS pizza window at the resorts (not the individual pizzas but a large pizza in a box) are easily split between 4 people for a reasonable price. Casey's on Main Street in the MK is also pretty reasonably priced.

Be sure to ask for ice water in a cup (not bottled) with your meal instead of soda- it's FREE! If you don't like water get some flavor pouches to throw in your bag and stir in.

Definately check out the menus on the allears link posted above- it will be a great tool in helping you stretch your dollars.

As for souvineers: get your picture taken with characters, get a keychain (or other small item) from each park, or plan to get one thing you'll get lots of use out of such as a t-shirt or tote.

I hope some of these tips are helpful. I went to WDW for (part of) my senior trip a loooong time ago- have fun!!

 

[DisMN]

Hey hon, sounds like you have a fun trip planned!

My thoughts are there's nothing wrong with counter service meals the entire time if you need to. To save a bit you might want to order ice water at the counter service places. Pop is soooo expensive and not so good for you anyway, right? Drinking water is a HUGE savings right there as opposed to pop with every meal.
Now IMHO counter service and the food carts in the parks have some of the best food at WDW!
For example there's the egg roll wagon at the MK....egg rolls for $2.00-$2.50.
There's Flame Tree BBQ at the Animal Kingdom and they serve a mean pulled pork sandwich for under $9.00.
Animal Kingdom has an egg roll place too and I believe there's still a fried rice counter service too!
Places like Flame Tree you'll almost have to split fries not because you HAVE to but because a single order is a lot of fries!
The bakery in France has a delicious quiche for about $5.00 and that can be eaten for any meal of the day....but we love them for breakfast. (of course you'd have to get it the night before and warm it in your room in the morning)

Also don't forget about kids meals if you see food you like....

I honestly think you can fairly easily get by with $20 per day and if you're having fun trying to stretch your dollar maybe even $15 per day! LOL

Have a great time!

 

[cajunbaby1]

Go to the dining section here and at AllEars.net and you can check out what's available at the counter services. Remember you don't have to order a combo meal for every meal (unless you want a side). Ice water is FREE at the counter services also. Like somebody said you maybe could even share with a friend at split the cost. Some place has like a 1/2 chick/ rib combo or even jsut a 1/2 chicken with 2 sides; to share.
i agree souvenirs are way expensive on side things. I believe at DTD there is a store where everthing is under $10. Look under the Downtown disney section.

hope you have a wonderful time on your trip

 

[number1tiggerfan]

Since this is your senior trip I'm guessing you'll be with friends. You might try splitting some of the larger meals to stretch your dollars. Cosmic Ray's in MK has HUGE portions so you should definately be able to share there. Also, as I think a pp mentioned, the CS pizza window at the resorts (not the individual pizzas but a large pizza in a box) are easily split between 4 people for a reasonable price. Casey's on Main Street in the MK is also pretty reasonably priced.

Be sure to ask for ice water in a cup (not bottled) with your meal instead of soda- it's FREE! If you don't like water get some flavor pouches to throw in your bag and stir in.

Definately check out the menus on the allears link posted above- it will be a great tool in helping you stretch your dollars.

As for souvineers: get your picture taken with characters, get a keychain (or other small item) from each park, or plan to get one thing you'll get lots of use out of such as a t-shirt or tote.

I hope some of these tips are helpful. I went to WDW for (part of) my senior trip a loooong time ago- have fun!!

yeah i'll be with friends lol and i was definitely planning on getting pictures with characters also, thanks for all the other tips, they're all excellent suggestions and hopefully next time i go to WDW i'll have more money to work with lol

 

[TBLaube]

You can order an extra bun with a double cheeseburger and turn it into two burgers. The cost is about $1 I think. This is great if you aren't a big eater. I felt weird about doing it at first but it was no problem whatsoever.

We always pack a box of cereal, oatmeal packets, bagels, Fiber One bars, etc. Then we just buy a small container of milk to use in the cereal.

We also find that some of the snacks are very filling like the soft pretzels. These are our favorite!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

No suggestions, just saying Hi to a fellow WNYer!

 

[dchronister]

Go to Cosmic Rays in MK, they are pretty good, don't go to Pecos Bills, it really stinks, in my opinion. In AK, go to Flame Tree Bar B Que, I have eaten there several times and the food is very good for Counter Service. I never found anywhere in DHS that I liked to eat at, we always eat before we go and then somewhere else when we leave. Epcot has so many places to choose from, there is a place outside of Soarin that is pretty good, name is on the tip of my tongue, but not coming to me. If you are staying at an All Stars hotel they have a food court and we only stayed there once, they had a good selection to choose from and it was pretty good for the price. Also, make sure you get a Dole Whip over by Alladins Flying carpet and the Tiki Room, they are so good, or maybe you shouldnt get one, you will spend all your money on those. They advertise a $10 and under store in Downtown Disney, going this trip, but have not been there yet, not sure what all kind of stuff they have in there, but you can probably find a few things in there to haul back home. Also, you can have your souvernirs sent back to your hotel in you are staying on propery, but they wont get it there till the next day. Any way, have fun.

 

[mouseverse]

Have at the menus on WDWinfo.com (the link is at the top of this page.)

You can pull up menus by where you'll be and which meal you're looking for. My picks by park would be Cosmic Ray's at MK, Sunshine Seasons at Epcot, Flame Tree at AK (never been there but I've heard good things), and Starring Rolls at DHS.

 

[minushka72]

A Ham and Cheese Croissant at the Boulangerie in France, Epcot is about $4, add a drink and you have a nice filling meal for around $7. The also have yummy pastries if you would rather just a snack.

 

[TnTWalter]

Epcot:
France Ham & Cheese Sandwich $5.25
France Cheese Plate $5.95
France Various Treats & Pastires $2-4ish
Germany Bratwurst $6.70
England Fish & Chips $8.19

Sunshine Seasons Sandwiches $8-$9 each

Studios:
Turkey Leg $7.50

Pizza Planet Pepporoni Pizza w/salad $8.30

Magic Kingdom:
Casey's Hot Dog Meal [Hot dog and applesauce or fries] $6.50
Aloha Isle Dole Whip $3.19
Cosmic Rays Burgers or Sandwiches with apples or fries $6.50-$8.50

Animal Kingdom
Yak & Yeti Counter Service
Pork Egg Rolls [$4] + Chicken Fried Rice [$4] = $8

DTD

Earl of Sandwich
Hot Sandwiches $6
Soup $3
Salad or Wrap $6

you could easily do 5 meals for <$20 each if you wanted...

Souveniers...
I find the shops after rides seem reasonable. There's also the shop in DTD that has wide range of pricing. Our kids usually spend $20-40 on souvies and feel content with purchases! You should be able to eat 5 meals for $100 and spend $100 on souvies or more food. :O)

Have a great trip!

 

[Bimmy56]

Tortuga Tavern by Pirates of the Caribbean has some good stuff under $10

in Epcot - free drinks at Club Cool next to the big fountain

at the Boardwak boat dock there is a general store where you can buy pb& j fixens and all sorts of large snack bags, etc.

 

[number1tiggerfan]

No suggestions, just saying Hi to a fellow WNYer!

roflmao hi! i got to see one of the best musical groups ever in buffalo last summer Rascal Flatts baby

 

[number1tiggerfan]

Epcot:
France Ham & Cheese Sandwich $5.25
France Cheese Plate $5.95
France Various Treats & Pastires $2-4ish
Germany Bratwurst $6.70
England Fish & Chips $8.19

Sunshine Seasons Sandwiches $8-$9 each

Studios:
Turkey Leg $7.50

Pizza Planet Pepporoni Pizza w/salad $8.30

Magic Kingdom:
Casey's Hot Dog Meal [Hot dog and applesauce or fries] $6.50
Aloha Isle Dole Whip $3.19
Cosmic Rays Burgers or Sandwiches with apples or fries $6.50-$8.50

Animal Kingdom
Yak & Yeti Counter Service
Pork Egg Rolls [$4] + Chicken Fried Rice [$4] = $8

DTD

Earl of Sandwich
Hot Sandwiches $6
Soup $3
Salad or Wrap $6

you could easily do 5 meals for <$20 each if you wanted...

Souveniers...
I find the shops after rides seem reasonable. There's also the shop in DTD that has wide range of pricing. Our kids usually spend $20-40 on souvies and feel content with purchases! You should be able to eat 5 meals for $100 and spend $100 on souvies or more food. :O)

Have a great trip!

Thanks and also, thanks for all these marvelous suggestions, i definitely planned on trying to spend <$20 per meal lol.

also, @Bimmy56, thanks lol i'll have to remember that too