Disney Restaurants = $$

[Ashleybs]

How come CS and TS restaurants on Disney property are so expensive? I'm figuring because they know they can get away with charging that much. Most places even for lunch are at least $12 and that's for a hamburger or sandwich which would normally cost you $5-6. Most places for dinner are a minimum of $25 and up pp.

We're going in June and have been looking at menus and I just don't know how we can afford to eat out for lunch and dinner for 5 nts.

Any tips or suggestions? What are some good restaurants that are off the property but close?

 

[OrangeCat04]

I really like the Disney Dining Plan. It's still on the expensive side, but you get one Table service per day, one counter service and one snack. Table and counter services include entree drinks and dessert. It costs 39.99$ per person per day, but its really great because you pay for it before you get on your trip. Its nice to be able to go out to dinner and only worry about leaving money for the tip. I know how overwhelming it can be when the cheapest entree on the menu is like 25$!! i have found the DDP to help us a little.

 

[Mickey_Man]

One suggestion is to take advantage of the buffets and have either late breakfasts or later lunches and then snack for another meal. Some people call this "brunch" as they will be there early enough to have a plate of breakfast but then be there for the switch over to lunch to have lunch too! Another thing is don't be shy about splitting a meal with someone at a TS dinner. Quite a few of the places have generous servings and DW & I find that we can get away with splitting an app and a dinner, supplementing with a salad if we want that as well. It keeps costs down and you'll be plenty full. Also, we find that the heat of the summer makes us less likely to want to eat a lot and more likely to just need to drink more water. Get free water at the CS places - they will take it from the fountain station instead of having to buy a bottle. To name one place, Trails End over at Fort Wilderness is a relatively inexpensive place to eat.

 

[Ashleybs]

The Dining Plan souds great except for the fact that we are staying off property @ Bonnet Creek Resort.

Places don't mind if you share meals? I figured that would be frowned upon.

 

[BadgerBruce]

It's just the 2 of us, but we share everywhere we go, including the CS locations. All of the CS will give you an extra plate, & some of the TS even split the meal in the kitchen for you. We also ask for ice water at all locations, as neither of us drink that much soda & prefer water with a meal. The water at the eateries is nearly always better tasting than the WDW tap or drinking fountain water. We bring cereal to eat in our room nearly every morning. Although we don't do any of this for budget reasons, it certainly does save us some money--and helps keep us from over-indulging!

 

[disneyag]

You can share some meals. If you plan a buffet lunch at 1pm, maybe you can get by with snacking for breakfast and lunch. You can also plan granola bars/cereal in your hotel room in the morning. You can also bring small snacks into the parks with you. (They won't let you roll in a huge cooler, but you could pack a small lunch.)

WDW is expensive, but it isn't out of the ordinary for most theme parks. The local Six Flags parks here seem to be comparable in price. The advantage is that Disney has many more options.

 

[DisneyTinkerbell]

Like most amusement parks you are a captive audience. Nobody wants to lose all the time it would take to leave the park, go to the car, drive off property, find a restaurant, eat, drive back, find a parking spot, and go back to the park. You would at least 2 hours if not 4 and that is valuable Disney time.

 

[madalex]

How come CS and TS restaurants on Disney property are so expensive? I'm figuring because they know they can get away with charging that much. Most places even for lunch are at least $12 and that's for a hamburger or sandwich which would normally cost you $5-6. Most places for dinner are a minimum of $25 and up pp.

As the previous poster said, Disney has a captive audience in their theme parks and resorts and, as a result, can charge more than what you would "normally" pay for food. This is similar to what is done at sporting events and other theme parks or when looking at food costs in places like New York City or Las Vegas. From that perspective, Disney's prices really are reasonable.

 

[ntsammy5]

IMO, WDW is no more expensie, at least for CS, than similar parks and/or sporting events.

 

[Peanut&Piglet'sMom]

Definitly pack a small lunch in your bag or colapsible cooler! We do this AND stay on property just to save money. We plan one big meal for each day and then snack on small stuff.

With 2 kids - who are picky eaters anyway - it just makes it easier in the long run.

 

[kydisneyfans]

CS meals for the 3 of us usually run in the mid 20's. Drink water instead of soft drinks. That is plenty of food. I find that Disney food is no more expensive than comparable offerings at Applebee's or Denny's.

 

[Dreamfinder2]

IMO, WDW is no more expensie, at least for CS, than similar parks and/or sporting events.

It's true of most resort areas - they got ya! This weekend we saw "Star Trek" (which was terrific, btw, even if you're a nonfan), and paid $4.50 for a large diet coke, which we split. It made me think that Disney was quite the bargain.

But, OP, since you're staying somewhere that has kitchen facilities, you can save all sorts of $$ by eating in your condo and bringing into the parks non-perishable goodies in a backpack or other bag.

 

[drenalin'junkie]

I don't find the TS or signature restaurants to be any more expensive than comparably themed ones anywhere else.

Just looking at the prices for the 2TS and signatures compared to Roys,Shulas,Outback etc.. they are often inline or occasionally cheaper.

But compared to McDonald's or the Golden Trough type they are a few dollars more.In that respect we are more likely to eat at a higher class of place while on vacation as the difference between fodder and fine food is less than outside the parks.

As said often here....
Eat a big breakfast before entering the parks.
Carry in water,sandwiches and snacks.
Order multiple apps instead of entrées when paying OOP,it's cheaper and much more fun.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

I really like the Disney Dining Plan. It's still on the expensive side, but you get one Table service per day, one counter service and one snack. Table and counter services include entree drinks and dessert. It costs 39.99$ per person per day, but its really great because you pay for it before you get on your trip. Its nice to be able to go out to dinner and only worry about leaving money for the tip. I know how overwhelming it can be when the cheapest entree on the menu is like 25$!! i have found the DDP to help us a little.

i agree i love knowing what my food cost are up front.

 

[Mickey_Man]

The Dining Plan souds great except for the fact that we are staying off property @ Bonnet Creek Resort.

Places don't mind if you share meals? I figured that would be frowned upon.

Definitely not frowned upon - it is a pretty common occurance. Bonnet Creek is supposed to be lovely - have you stayed there before? I'd like to know what their facilities and rooms are like. To your original question though - most people have summed it up here. I go to see sporting events all the time where sodas cost $5 and beers are $9. Try feeding a family of four at Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park - all of a sudden the Magic Kingdom feels like a bargain! I think the strategy has been described already, but I would think breakfast in the room, snacks on the go from your room, and then eat a later lunch or split a dinner. Also, set up a budget so you don't have to stress about it as much. Sort of like going to a casino - go with what you are "willing to lose" and then paying for the meals won't seem as painful. And remember- it is vacation. it is ok to splurge a little!

 

[vcgirl925]

It's no more expensive than any other amusement parks prices. At least with Disney you can be fairly certain on the quality of service and food. We are doing free dining this time around, so it's not expensive at all for us.

 

[mwatson011]

My DH and I were surprised and thought the prices were rather reasonable at WDW. You pay $1.50 for a bottle of water in a drug store, so $2 in WDW is not stretching it. Also, like others have stated, you are getting large portions, for the most part quality food, and great atmosphere. Realize that if you go to the Yachtsman Steakhouse, you are going to pay $50 for a steak in an upscale atmosphere, just as if you go to your local upscale steak house, you will pay $50 there. Some CS locations sell a half rack of ribs with sides for $9, go to your local chili's or applebees, you will pay about $15 for the same. We really didn't notice a difference in prices between what we pay here and the cost of eating in WDW. I think the big pinch is eating out for every meal, every day. We opted for the deluxe dining plan last time, and decided it was too much food for us, so this time we are trying the regular dining plan.