Dining on a budget

[mynamewastaken2]

We leave in two weeks for our first trip to WDW (yay!!!!!). We have a 7 year old and a 4 year old--both rather picky eaters. DH has a ridiculous appetite and is big on quantity rather than quality of food.

We are on a budget and trying to make the most of our meals. We opted to not do a Disney dining plan, since our girls don't eat a lot and again, they are super picky eaters (as am I).

We only booked one character meal (Cinderella's Royal Table) because we simply can't afford to spend that much per person per meal for every meal.

This may be a dumb question (forgive me, I've just never experienced WDW before), but where are some inexpensive places we can eat while at the parks? Are all the restaurants super expensive? Or will we be able to eat lunch on the fly (I'm hoping we can find chicken nuggets and fries for the kids?) and maybe a few dinners at nicer (but not break-the-bank restaurants) at the parks/on the way back to our hotel (AofA).

Any suggestions will help! We already plan to do breakfast in our rooms.

 

[The Hendies]

Counter service will be your best bet for meals. The girls may even be able to share meals. There really isn't anything between the parks and A of A resort, it's all Disney property! There is a McDonalds between Animal Kingdom and A of A. Have you considered picking up a few groceries, or bringing some with you? Granola bars travel well and fill the gap between meals. We managed quite, well on food budget on our early visits, but we stayed in a condo that had a full kitchen. Good luck, and have fun.

 

[happymommy]

You'll find some great ideas on www.mousesavers.com for good inexpensive options (sharing meals, adults ordering kids meals, which I do a lot, and having breakfast in the room).

I have ordered breakfast items from garden grocer for the room. I don't care to go out to breakfast (I don't eat much in the morning anyway), so some simple things and Pamalat Milk (doesn't need to be refrigerated till opened, but of course chill it first!), and also snacks for the room too (or to bring along in your bag, like granola bars). I used to bring a little hot pot along and make ramen in the room at night for a snack for the kids, or the macaroni & cheese that you can just add boiling water to. Matter of fact, once I shipped a box ahead of time of snacks for the room!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We leave in two weeks for our first trip to WDW (yay!!!!!). We have a 7 year old and a 4 year old--both rather picky eaters. DH has a ridiculous appetite and is big on quantity rather than quality of food.

We are on a budget and trying to make the most of our meals. We opted to not do a Disney dining plan, since our girls don't eat a lot and again, they are super picky eaters (as am I).

We only booked one character meal (Cinderella's Royal Table) because we simply can't afford to spend that much per person per meal for every meal.

This may be a dumb question (forgive me, I've just never experienced WDW before), but where are some inexpensive places we can eat while at the parks? Are all the restaurants super expensive? Or will we be able to eat lunch on the fly (I'm hoping we can find chicken nuggets and fries for the kids?) and maybe a few dinners at nicer (but not break-the-bank restaurants) at the parks/on the way back to our hotel (AofA).

Any suggestions will help! We already plan to do breakfast in our rooms.

There are lots of quick-service restaurants in the parks, and many of them have options besides chicken nuggets and pizza. There are less-expensive table-service meals, but you may have a hard time just stopping in to eat, as reservations do fill up.

Magic Kingdom: our favorite quick-service restaurants are Cosmic Ray's (does have nuggets) and Pecos Bill's (does not). Cosmic Ray's has a variety of adult choices from barbeque to burgers to wraps; Pecos Bill's is mostly burgers. Columbia Harbor House has nuggets and also some fish baskets you and your husband might enjoy. Liberty Tree Tavern is a good TS lunch spot, if you can get in, as is The Plaza at any time of day.

Epcot: our favorite quick-service is Sunshine Seasons in The Land (near Soarin'). No nuggets, but they have rotisserie chicken, Asian food, sandwiches and more. Better than average QS options.

Studios: we like Backlot Express probably the most of the QS here. They do have nuggets. (We have a nugget-lover, too, so I know where to find them!) Sci-Fi Dine-in is a TS restaurant, but you might find availability here short-notice for lunch or dinner. Also, 50's Prime Time Café is good.

Animal Kingdom: we like Flame Tree BBQ here - no nuggets, but they do have chicken legs, which my chicken-eater likes.

Disney property is not filled with chain-type restaurants like you see outside the property. Restaurants are only found in the parks, resorts and Downtown Disney. There is one free-standing McDonalds near the All-Stars. AoA has a big food court but I understand it's a little different style than most. But, you'll be across the bridge from Pop, which has a typical food court with many different options from chicken nuggets to pizza to fried chicken or pot roast -- you should not have any trouble finding stuff to eat.

Hope you have a fabulous first trip!

 

[jennylyn_b]

In addition to the great advice you've already been given, check out allears.net they have all menus posted with prices. It's a great resource for planning.

 

[Monorail Al]

We always found that the QS meals have enough food to split with another person. We love Flame Tree BBQ at AK and the Backlot Express at HS.

 

[MSSANDRA]

If budget is a huge issue, and you have not told the girls about it yet, you might want to reconsider CRT. It is mega expensive and while very special, you could do another character meals plus a bunch of CS in the place of it.

Trails in Buffet at FW is a less expensive choice that will allow you DH to fill up. CS is going to be a much cheaper option. If however, you want to do a few TS, you will want to go ahead and do some ADRS for them.

 

[lixerx]

My wife and i just came back from a 13 day trip where we had a $20/day budget for food. We were staying at Saratoga Springs so downtown disney was 15 mins away by WDW bus, hence, we pretty much ate at downtown disney every night. The very first place we go is Ghirardelli's where they give free sample chocolates. Then, we went to Earl of Sandwich where two sandwiches, mac n cheese and a soup will cost $19.78 after tax and DVC Discount (10% discount). You can also get a free brownie if you sign up for on their website so my wife and i signed up a few times using different email addresses. After dinner, we went back to Ghirardelli for round two of sample chocolates. We later found a better deal at Pollo Campero where 3 pieces of fried chicken with a side is less than $11 after tax and DVC discount (20% off). We always drank water and took leftovers for breakfest the next day. As a result, we only spent $400 on food for our entire stay. We also decided to treat ourselves one day and had the breakfest buffet at Boma's at AKV!

 

[smiths02]

If budget is a huge issue, and you have not told the girls about it yet, you might want to reconsider CRT. It is mega expensive and while very special, you could do another character meals plus a bunch of CS in the place of it.

Trails in Buffet at FW is a less expensive choice that will allow you DH to fill up. CS is going to be a much cheaper option. If however, you want to do a few TS, you will want to go ahead and do some ADRS for them.

You could swap Askershus in Epcot for CRT and breakfast would be the cheapest meal. You might aim for a late breakfast which could keep everyone full until dinner.

 

[AntFarm]

Split counterservice meals, pack your girls sandwiches and snacks to the parks since they are picky eaters, bring your own bottled water to the parks, have easy breakfasts in your room, and I would cut out the Cinderella character meal because it is overpriced and you can meet Cinderella and the other princesses in the Magic Kingdom princess meeting hall.

 

[powellrj]

If you go across from DTD to Crossroads there are lots of places to eat that are much cheaper than what you find at WDW. We love Fuddruckers! I know many people love Sweet Tomatoes, there is also a McDonalds, Taco Bell and Chevys. If you go down a couple of blocks there is a Steak and Shake and a few others I am having a memory block about!

 

[mandy14]

We ordered from Garden Grocer. I made sandwiches every morning for a snack for my husband and lunch and dinner for my girls. My husband would eat dinner at a restaurant in the parks and I would bring the sandwiches, granola bars, and bottled water for my girls. They would rather have eaten sandwiches than any restaurant food. My husband is different though--he is a big eater so he was really the only eating out expense. I ate what he didn't want and granola bars--I am not a big eater either. We got snacks for the evening in our room.

 

[SweetMissy]

We've only done 1 character breakfast before and that was a few years ago. It was a cool one time experience but we personally don't see the point in spending the money but that's just us. We do QS all the time, there are plenty of options. Fairly limited for kids though which I guess is good for your family since your kids are picky. Kids pretty much have a choice between chicken/fries, peanut butter and jelly, pizza, other sandwiches. We did do sci-fi theater at HS this year and that was nice! Very neat atmosphere. Also this year we did Rainforest Cafe in AK, that was so nice...that will become an every trip breakfast, lol. Anyway....some folks do a formal restaurant every day/night but it's just not us. We don't like wasting the money or time, lol. Check out the menus posted on this site....very helpful! Have fun!

 

[wiigirl]

In addition to the great advice you've already been given, check out allears.net they have all menus posted with prices. It's a great resource for planning.

 

[MacDalt]

Yes, allears.net. They have menus with prices.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Another alternative, if your girls are Cinderella fans, is the dinner at 1900 Park Fare. It has the characters from Cinderella (stepsisters, Prince Charming) and a much better deal than CRT. Note: If you want a variety of princesses, Akershus is the better bet. My DD9 and DS6 LOVED 1900 Park Fare--wonderful buffet, easy access from Magic Kingdom. DS6 even got to dance with Cinderella!

 

[lucyem]

Then, we went to Earl of Sandwich where two sandwiches, mac n cheese and a soup will cost $19.78 after tax and DVC Discount (10% discount). You can also get a free brownie if you sign up for on their website so my wife and i signed up a few times using different email addresses.

Thanks for the heads up on the brownie! DH and I just signed up. Staying near DTD in Nov.

 

[AJ1983]

If you go across from DTD to Crossroads there are lots of places to eat that are much cheaper than what you find at WDW. We love Fuddruckers! I know many people love Sweet Tomatoes, there is also a McDonalds, Taco Bell and Chevys. If you go down a couple of blocks there is a Steak and Shake and a few others I am having a memory block about!

This might be a really stupid question, but we are staying at Pop and not renting a car, just wondering if we could walk to these places easily from DTD?

 

[kirstenb1]

This might be a really stupid question, but we are staying at Pop and not renting a car, just wondering if we could walk to these places easily from DTD?

You could walk and cross. I'm thinking it's no more than 1/2 mile from DD. But the intersection you cross is VERY busy. When we stay at OKW, we occasionally drive over there. I do see people on foot.