Good food around WDW without going broke?

[slicermdm]

We're staying at the Poly for 5 days in June then heading to a 3 night Disney cruise. We're relying on Disney to transport us between the airport, parks, and cruise.

Are there good, reasonably-priced places to eat around WDW that can be accessed without renting a car and venturing away from WDW? Any menus to various restaurants floating around the internet?

Basically, I don't want to be stuck eating 'park food' for 5 days and am hoping there's something reasonable and accessable.

 

[Lesley]

Nope, sorry, can't be done.

Polynesian, no offsite transport....your options are limited.

There are plenty of ways to eat at a reasonable cost and not only have "park food" (I assume you mean burgers and chicken strips?)

I suggest taking a look at menus all over WDW for both table and counter service places....see what your options are and prepare yourself. You can get to Downtown Disney on the busses and to other resorts...there are some good options.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't know what you mean by "park food." WDW has a wide variety of food places that can be reached by Disney transport. It might take a little longer if you're going from one resort to another.

allearsnet.com posts the restaurant menus.

 

[dzneelvr]

allearsnet.com is a wonderfully detailed website to get any information about WDW. Click on dining and then specific parks for the menus which are periodically updated. Food is expensive but you don't get shorted. I think the smartest tip is to not over-order on any meal--avoid everyone ordering a full set of courses because you just won't finish them all. Sharing is the best way and completely acceptable. The food is wonderful and you'd be foolish not to try some of the classic eateries while you had the chance. The DDE card gives you a straight 20% off your full bill (even liquor) and that may be something you'd like to check out. banana:

 

[TDC Nala]

If you are going to check out the DDE card...I believe you must be either an annual passholder or a Florida resident.

 

[mrzrich]

Cabins have kitchens, and wegoshop.com will deliver food to you. That saves you money if you only eat one meal out a day
Also , every rate I've seen for the cabins has been cheaper than the Poly.
A common misconception is that the cabins don't have mousekeeping, they do. The mousekeepers even run the dishwasher for you!

CS with more than just burgers and chicken strips include
MK:Cosmic Ray's, Columbia Harbour House
Epcot:Sunshine Seasons and Most CS in the World Showcase
AK: Tusker House and Flame Tree BBQ
MGM: Flatbread Grill

Check out menus at http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

 

[kirbsam]

i agree with the poster that said, it cant be done.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I think you'll actually be surprised by all the options. I just came back from a quick 3 night trip with 2 adult friends. We really enjoyed the Morocco counter service.

This meal was only $11.95 and enough to share:

This chicken wrap was only $8.95:

We also LOVED Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney. It was a true bargain. The child's grilled cheese was $3.95:

This salad was also $3.95:

The Florentine - grilled chicken, creamed spinach, mushrooms and parmesan cheese-served hot was $4.95:

The 3 of us split a pulled pork sandwich and grilled chicken salad at Flame Tree BBQ in AK. We were all satisfied:

 

[lovesdumbo]

Just want to add that all the counter service places will give you a free cup of ice water. I think that help us save about $6 per meal for the 3 of us.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

You will have Disney transportation availible to other resorts and DTD. Earl of Sandwich is very good. The pictures above made my mouth water!

Grand Floridian Cafe, a monorail ride from the Polynesian is also quite good and not very expensive.

You will be amazed at the wide variety of food at WDW. No one needs to be stuck eating burgers and fries unless they want to!

 

[DVCconvert]

..... 3 night trip with 2 adult friends. We really enjoyed the Morocco counter service........

The 3 of us split a pulled pork sandwich and grilled chicken salad at Flame Tree BBQ in AK. We were all satisfied:

Are you kidding? 3 adults were "satisfied" with (split between the 3):
a hamburg bun,
1/3 of a pound of meat,
2 cups of greens,
1/2 cup of beans (although you didn't say if those were consumed)
- as a meal and not just a snack?


If so, I'm evinous!

 

[Lesley]

lovesdumbo, you just showed 3 of my favorites! Tangierine Cafe, Earl of Sandwich and Flame Tree....yum! We've often split 2 entrees among 3 of us at Flame Tree, but not one.

 

[lovesdumbo]

The cole slaw was missing from the photo.

The salad had quite a bit of grilled chicken too.

We were going to Boma for dinner so we didn't want to get stuffed at lunch.

Boma was awesome but since we didn't have a car and my friends were too cheap to pay for a taxi it was a bit more of a hassle to get to. But worth it!

 

[maconMouse]

The Trail's End Buffet at Fort Wilderness is another fun place to try that is very reasonably priced.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We're staying at the Poly for 5 days in June then heading to a 3 night Disney cruise. We're relying on Disney to transport us between the airport, parks, and cruise.

Are there good, reasonably-priced places to eat around WDW that can be accessed without renting a car and venturing away from WDW? Any menus to various restaurants floating around the internet?

Basically, I don't want to be stuck eating 'park food' for 5 days and am hoping there's something reasonable and accessable.

Welcome to the Dis!

If you're looking at your overall budget (and contemplating having to eat park food for 5 days), then perhaps another option would be to stay at a resort that costs less so you'll have more money to spend on food? (I realize you may be limited in your choice of resorts if you are doing Land/Sea).

Alternatively, if you are already staying at the Poly, maybe you could upgrade to Concierge (garden view would be the cheapest), and then you'll at least have drinks, breakfast items, snacks, pastries, some liquor and some hot items available at your convenience that you don't have to pay "extra" for. Just a thought. (When we stayed at the Poly Concierge we didn't spend a whole lot out of pocket on food; admittedly, that is not the case for everyone).

Even when we stay at Pop Century, we find ways around WDW to save on meals, it can be done. A lot depends on your food preferences and eating habits. We like LTT, it doesn't seem to be as expensive as some places. However, the food served is Stouffer's, LOL, so it may not be for everyone. We also like the food court at The Land, you can get various hot dishes not too expensively, and perhaps make that your hot meal of the day. Same with Tubbi's, at the Dolphin (now called Picabu's). The food isn't top quality, but if you want that, you probably need to go elsewhere (which of course will be more $$).

Have a good trip. Hey, even if you have to eat park food for 5 days, you can look forward to the abundance of terrific food you'll be surrounded by on the cruise. Make sure you save your appetite for the Welcome Buffet the morning of embarkation, the jumbo shrimp are fantastic!

 

[jackmac]

The whole idea of Disney having only "Park Food" is overplayed. There are many, many choices of good food at reaonable prices all around Disney. Staying at the Poly you will have less choices of moderately priced restaurants, but transportation to them is easy.
The easiest place to go for dinner would be Downtown Disney / Pleasure Island. The new Raglan Road is a great choice and not very expensive (it usually turns out to be my cheapest night). Planet Hollywood is also there, along with Wolgang Pucks cafe, Bongo's, and the House of Blues. On the other side of DTD is the Rainforest Cafe, Portobello and Fultons. All are reasonable and about the same as an off site restaurant.
The Boardwalk area has the Big River Grille, ESPN, Yacht Club Galley and Palio's. All are also reaonable.
You can look up all of the restaurants on allearsnet.com as some one suggested.
I always find that the best thing about Disney is that you don't have to go off property for anything.
You can also have pizza delivered to your room from off site places if you want.

 

[Alice Sr.]

We're staying at the Poly for 5 days in June then heading to a 3 night Disney cruise. We're relying on Disney to transport us between the airport, parks, and cruise.

Are there good, reasonably-priced places to eat around WDW that can be accessed without renting a car and venturing away from WDW? Any menus to various restaurants floating around the internet?

Basically, I don't want to be stuck eating 'park food' for 5 days and am hoping there's something reasonable and accessable.

Welcome to the DIS. I suggest (as was mentioned earlier) that you go to Deb Will's site at allearsnet.com (you can find menus on the DIS also, but I prefer Deb's site for menus) click on "Dining" and then "Menus" pretty much every menu in the WDW is there. You might also go to this thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=773269 it might help you to sort out options. Hope you have a fabulous trip.

Alice

 

[ciera321]

I agree with Earl of Sandwich...Also we love Wolfgang Puck Expredd in DTD. The food is very good and at counter service prices.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I'm also an "Earl of Sandwich" lover!!!!! DTD has a good variety of food and I agree that most portions are large enough to share. I would say 3 people can easily share 2 entres. We also find that the hotel food courts have lots of selection. On our last trip to WDW we went with a large group and one of our friend swears by "Pizzaffari" at AK. He told anyone who would listen about what they had eatten that day and how good it was. There are a ton of tips on these boards about being creative with the WDW food. Take some time to look for it.

 

[SusanDK]

I echo the Earl of Sandwhich and DTD ideas.

Another thing to keep in mind is that you may find some of the children's selections at CS restaurants to be adequate. I was very pleasantly surprised at MGM last month. We stopped for a quick lunch at Studio Catering near the Motor/Action show. We had FastPasses in half an hour and needed a quick bite.

Nothing really appealed to me on the regular adult menu, but I thought the chicken wrap from the children's menu sounded good. It was wonderful! It was grilled breast of chicken with lettuce and mayo on a pita-type bread wrap, and came with apple sauce, cheese crackers AND a drink (I took a bottled water) for $3.99.

It was quite filling and tasted great and I thought was quite a bargain, considering it also came with a drink.

Susan