Looking for inexpensive TS options...

[korie99]

Hoping someone here can help me out - we are headed to WDW 1/14-1/21 and are staying off property this time - I am super bummed we can't do the dining plan like we did last time! We are definitely looking to cut costs for this trip and will do many meals in the room, but having said that, I want to try and include 2 or 3 fun, table service meals either in a park or at a resort. I would like them to be:

1.) Affordable (I'm figuring breakfasts would be better then, right?)
2.) 1 or 2 of them to involve characters (I have twin 6 year olds)
and
3.) At least one be an early morning breakfast so we can be there for park opening (any park will do). We did that in 2010 with CRT and had the BEST morning ever at MK!!

Also does anyone know offhand if they are offering free dining in January? I'm guessing that could make a difference when making ADR's, even if it IS typically a slower time of year.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

Yes, they are offering free dining for checkin dates of Jan 8-12 and Jan 21- Feb 2.

There are a couple of character buffets that you could check out: Crystal Palace for Pooh and Friends, you can do that before park opening or you have Cape May Cafe at BC that has Minnie, Goofy etc. Both of these buffets run about $16 for each child and about $29 per adult.

For non character options, my favorite inexpensive TS restaurant is The Plaza in MK. They have all sorts of sandwiches and ice cream specialties for dessert. Each entree costs around $10-$11 and the kids could probably split a sandwich.

 

[ncc1701]

You can find menu prices at WDWInfo.com or Allears.net. I believe in most cases breakfast is the least expensive and it goes up from there.

We always like CP for an early pre-openning ADR.

 

[pixarmom]

Hi OP!

For character meals, I'd agree that breakfast will be the most reasonably priced. Ohana and Cape May are among the most reasonably priced - I don't even like breakfast and I love breakfast at Ohana! (Breakfast at Ohana is $20.99 for adults and $11.99 for kids!) Other than Chef Mickey's, it seems character breakfasts at the resorts are less expensive than in the parks. With a 7:30am ADR at Ohana, you can easily make a 9am MK rope drop. And with a 7:30am ADR at Cape May, you can easily make a 9am Epcot rope drop - DHS rope drop might be more difficult, but still possible!

I think the non-character TS depends on how/what your family orders. Lunch is less expensive than dinner, for example. If you share entrees or not everyone orders a full entree each time, it's less expensive. In our family, two of us often order appetizers instead of entrees - just because that's what we prefer - but it's also less expensive and results in less wasted food. So TS doesn't cost as much, based on our eating styles and preferences. (We usually make two ADRs per day - and only 2 or 3 character meals per trip.)

As for specific low-cost TS, I'd recommend lunch at Via Napoli, Chefs de France, or La Hacienda in Epcot. In DHS, I'd suggest lunch at Sci-Fi or 50's. At MK, I'd suggest lunch at Liberty Tree or the Plaza. And at AK, I'd suggest lunch at Yak and Yeti. And as a previous poster mentioned, the allears menus are a great resource for pricing information!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

If you are interested in an inexpensive TS in a resort, I would recommend Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge. It's definitely fun, too. For breakfast, you can get an all-you-can-eat skillet for $15.99 for adults and $7.89 for kids. For lunch, the skillet is $18.99 for adults and $10.99 (I think) for kids.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Not a character buffet, but Trail's End at Fort Wilderness has good food & prices are cheaper than other locations - breakfast & dinner buffet. The dinner buffet has the same ribs & chicken & some of the other food that is served at the Hoop Dee Doo. And, it's just across the lake from the MK for making the rope drop if you take in the breakfast buffet. Or if you do dinner when rope drop is not an issue, your family may consider it fun to walk thru the petting zoo, horse barn, take a walk on the nature trail that leads to Wilderness Lodge (usually see deer on the path), rent some bikes, sit on the rockers on the Trail's End porch - it's a beautiful wooded setting.

For offsite, look up Miller's Ale House - now that is some good cheap food if you plan for their daily specials (call since changes weekly). DH got a meat loaf special for $6 & the meat loaf was bigger than the plate!

Steak & Shake on Apopka/Vineland by Safari Hotel has 1/2 priced shakes from 2-4pm M-F. Have a "snack pack" for $2.89 that has a single burger, small fry, & small drink; the adult meals for $4 are more than enough food for a reasonable lunch.

Since you've been to WDW & on the DDP, I'm sure you know about all of the cheap deals for QS - create pasta (POR & CSR) big enough for 2-3 people!, 3 dip sundae at Pop for about $4, Peco's Bill's works bar that makes a split burger a full meal, & the taco salad that just keeps growing as long as you don't eat the shell!

Enjoy.

 

[cbg1027]

In general, the earlier in the day you dine, the cheaper it will be.

For a character meal, breakfast will be the cheapest. I prefer Crystal Palace.
$28.75 adults; Children $15.97
Tusker House Breakfast is the same price if you'd rather do your character meal at AK.

Via Napoli in Epcot might be a good option. They have wonderful pizza and the largest size is about $40. Add in one or two appetizers to share and you could have that meal for less than $20 a person (assuming there are 4 people), and that's during dinner time.

50's PT Cafe entree portions are huge. You could do some sharing there to keep costs down. For example, the Fried Chicken comes with a breast, wing, leg and thigh, mashed potatoes, and greens for $16. I think it's plenty to split between two people, especially if you have a milkshake too.
So half a Fried Chicken Plate (or whatever) and a $5 milkshake = $13-15 bucks a person. Not bad for Disney.

I find the portions at Yak n Yeti to be quite large as well.

 

[Karlzmom]

I dinner option that was surprisingly inexpensive on our last trip was Sanaa. We loved the food, and the fun of watching the animals out the windows could't be beaten We are going back this trip......

 

[JerseyJanice]

Paying out of pocket, the cheapest TS meals we've had were at the ESPN restaurant and Sci-Fi Dine-In.

Because it's so cool and dark, Sci-Fi is a soothing break in the middle of a hot, sunny day at the Studios. I find that park so hot when the sun is bouncing off all the concrete.

Cosmic Ray's in the MK is a great value CS. The chicken and rib combo can easily be shared by two people.

 

[It'sOffToDisneyWeGo]

The Plaza at MK
WCC at WL
Via Napoli at Epcot
Sci-Fi at HS