inexpensive lunches in park

[njcarita]

hi all
since i am planning a last minute trip to disney- i really have had a lot of tip to plan and organize formally ( even though thru out the entire year my family and i are always talking about our next trip to disney)

we were originally going to go the week after thanksgiving- but after the great rates on amtrak- we decided to go in less than 2 weeks.

we were also able to use the spring code and get a great rate at the caribean beach ( even though it is considered peak season).

now finally to my question- what are the least expensive places to sit down and have lunch-in each park.

i'm planning for us to eat breakfast in our rooms, bagels ,cereal etc - have a late lunch in the park about 2- were we can sit and rest a little- and leave dinner open- to whether we are lounging at the pool- or decided to go see the fireworks at epcot.

thanks

 

[jlcbshaw]

Not sure what your idea of "inexpensive" is, but for most quick service counters in the Disney parks, I would plan on about $7-$10 per person, depending on how they eat, ie just a main meal with drink and no dessert.

If you want sit-down service the price goes up considerably.

I always plan on $7.50 for lunch and $12.50 for dinner, total of $20 per person, per day. This gets us by with no problems and even gives leeway on other days. For example if you spend $16.00 one day then you can add the $4 to another day.

CBS

 

[always quiet]

Cosmic Ray's has a great menu and not bad prices at all! Also, The Plaza Pavillion, in the same area, has good deals as well.

A fantastic deal, outside of the parks though, is Trail's End in Fort Wilderness (just a boat ride away from MK!). You can get an all you can eat buffet OR my favorite, a 16" pizza (out of this world taste!! ) for $12.99!!! There are 5 of us and we had it for dinner the night we went to MVMCP...we had enough left overs (even after we shared with the peacocks ) that 4 of us had a slice for lunch the next day.


There is also a Disney Restuarant board on this site....you can probably get lots of good ideas, and maybe a menu or 2, from that page as well.

 

[HaleyB]

I think OP was looking for a sit down full service lunch, and wanted to relax while eating... I find they all are as expensive as each other... you can order carefully anywhere. Check out the menus here-

http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

I don't like the limited sit down menues most places have at lunch time, myself.

If you don't mind spliting meals consider the VKL vouchers which are pre-paid lunch tickets around $30 check out the connections vouchers thread stuck to the top of this board for info.

 

[HaleyB]

okay I could have been reading too much into the "sit down and rest" part. The counter service places have great deals and they do have seats (where you can rest but I doubt relax).

 

[jlcbshaw]

Originally posted by HaleyB
okay I could have been reading too much into the "sit down and rest" part. The counter service places have great deals and they do have seats (where you can rest but I doubt relax).

Yes there are quick service places where you CAN sit and relax in the MK as well as other parks at WDW.

For example: Columbia Harbour House
Liberty Square - Magic Kingdom

This is a great hide away place where every time we eat there, there isn't much of a crowd. The resteraunt even has a second floor with plenty of seating which is hardly ever full. We like to sit in the section that is actually over the walk way between Liberty Square and Fantsyland. The kids enjoy watching people pass byunderneath them while they are eating their lunch.

The main fare is seafood, however they do offer items such as salads and chickenstrips for those who do not want fish. IMO this is a great place to eat and relax.

I would most certainly go to www.allearsnet.com and look through their information about eating at WDW. We have even learned of places to eat that we may have passed up had it not been for their information.

Enjoy your trip, we'll be down in March!

CBS

 

[Jordan's MOM]

There are lots of little ways to save money on food and they add up to be quite a lot. I agree that the best value on site is the Trails End buffet at FW. The food is awsome and very well priced for wDW. Breakfast there will eliminate the need for lunch!!!

For conter service, a good tip is to order a double cheeseburger and an extra bun (.69) and make two meals out of one. We like to do this at peco bills where the fixin bar is awsome. Aslo get one large drink and ask for extra cups(free) or ask for your drink with no ice and extra small cups of ice(free). The piza combs are big enough to share.

Sharing in aslo the best way to cut cost at sit downs. Places like Prime Time have huge serving and can be shared even by adults. Having the big meal at lunch is always cheeper too. Pizza for supper back at the resort is a good cheep way to go. You can even get take out from an off site place!!

Enjoy your trip and try not to stress.


Jordans' mom

 

[mearjan]

This is my favorite place to eat in MK whats really cool about it is its really 3 resturants in one depending on which counter you walk up to. It is also one of the cheapest places for what you get .

 

[floridagirrl2]

We were at the parks over the weekend, and I was surprised at how inexpensively a person could eat at the Rainforest Cafe (at the Animal Kindom). It's a sit-down restaurant with some fairly pricey meals (DH ordered a $25 steak for lunch--our weekend splurge!), but you can order a cheese pizza for 10 bucks that would easily feed 2 older kids or 3 younger kids (it was about 12-14 inches--I ordered it for myself and brought the leftovers back to my hotel room, which had a frig. and microwave).

Generally speaking, even counter service at the parks is fairly expensive. With drinks, our counter service meals (for 2 adults) averaged about 16-18 bucks. You could save by bringing in your own drinks or sharing a drink (sodas were $1.99, Dasani water was $2.50).

 

[jann1033]

if you want to really sit down and be served, I second the vkl vouchers...we felt le cellier, brown derby, RFC were all good deals with the vouchers and had a lot of food ( split one voucher between 2 adults) while sci fi isn't "cheap" it is a real break and about $30 for 2 burgers and fries and drink meal...big burgers. pop century was fairly cheap and pretty good, about 15 a piece for a full meal, including dessert( they were about $4 each so much cheaper meal if you forgo them) and drink, good deal with q/c vouchers. other wise do not really think any place at disney is really cheap but we found most meals plenty big enough to split...like whispering canyon 2 huge pork chops and mashed potatoes and corn for $18...didn't even start the second chop so add a side dish & would be plenty for 2 adults unless you hadn't eaten all day. whisp canyon breakfast skillet is $10 so you can really fill up and skip lunch, same at trail's end.

 

[scanmom]

You HAVE to try this place! The chicken is sooooo good! The waiter told me that it is the same chicken that is served at the HDD show. It is a buffet with somewhat limited choices....but it is plenty good...all of it. It is a sit down inside place and is only about $10.00 or so for an adult!!!! And it is all-you-can-eat!! My kids say that from now on, we MUST eat here...even though we will not be staying at Ft. Wilderness again. We are planning on taking the boat from the MK to FW for lunch and a mid-day break. There is a petting farm there too, so it is a nice break. Do not miss it, it is simple food, but the best chicken we have had ANYWHERE!!!

 

[westjones]

We always try to make lunch our 'special' meal because you can usually get the same thing that is served at dinner for a lower price at lunch.

So if there are restaurants you want to try at WDW, try planning for a late lunch and then for dinner just grab something from a counter service or offsite.

DJ

 

[Stepharoonie!]

At MK, I ALWAYS eat at Pinnochio's Village Haus! It's fairly inexpensive (about $6-$7 a person) and they have HUGE hot dogs. It overlooks It's A Small World and that was always the family stop for us. Now, I take my daughter there We just ate there Saturday Yum, yum!

 

[mearjan]

you gotta eat outside under the tent right next to there. Unfortunately they turned the water off on the fountains, the kids played in, outside ariels they had so much fun for over an hour there.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

Caseys in MK for hot dogs and Pinnochios Village Haus for the Figaro Fries. They are $3.50 and you get alot of fries w/cheddar, bacon, lettuce and tomato and a drizzle of sour cream!! One of our favorite things to eat at Disney!! And you can watch the boats of Its a Small World go by as you dine!

 

[shady]

Another vote for Pinnochios. We order a double cheeseburger and split it. The fixins bar has grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, saurkraut, hot cheese, tomatos, cold onions, pickles...........

Plenty of stuff to fill up on.

 

[hyzdufan]

Go for the turkey legs, especially if you are on Atkins! They're a bargain at only $5, and are fun to eat. You get a lot of akward stares, but it's well worth it.

 

[lucky_bunni]

For Magic Kingdom Columbia Harbour House is a great place to eat. As far as buffets go, the Trails End Buffet at Ft. Wilderness (as other have mentioned) has great variety and is a good value. My favorite buffet is Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, abeit a little expensive but it's well worth it!

 

[lucky_bunni]

Originally posted by hyzdufan
Go for the turkey legs, especially if you are on Atkins! They're a bargain at only $5, and are fun to eat. You get a lot of akward stares, but it's well worth it.

ick, I don't know why but the turkey/alien/dinosaur legs make me yak! I bought one once because I saw so many people eating them and I actually chucked it in the trash. Maybe it's just me!

 

[disneymom3]

lucky_bunni--we have thought the same thing. People are always talking about what a great value and how yummy, but we thought the turkey leg was quite icky. It has actually become a family joke!

I am surprised no one has mentioned the AK meal deal vouchers. For $11.99 for adults and $5.99 for kids you get a meal with a drink and then two additional coupons to use with each set, one for a bottle of pop/soda or bottled water and one for a popcorn or icecream treat. Considering that the kids meal in Pizzafari is $5.99 and my kids love the cheese pizza there, this is a great deal for us.