No Longer Affordable JMHO

[kathie859]

If you have a food budget, it can be a challenge to stay within the budget and not break the bank. However, there are several ways to minimize food expenses at WDW.
Eat breakfast in your room--milk, cereal, fruit, bagels, pastries are all easy to keep on hand
Have your main meal of the day as a late lunch. At sit downs, lunch is usually cheaper.
Be smart if dining at a counter service--if you have younger kids, meals are easily split to feed two.
Carry snacks with you (granola/energy bars/fruit leather/apples all travel decently)

I'd rather do any of the above than waste valuable touring time going outside the park.

 

[sissy_ib]

First off I would not leave to go to a McDonalds.

I think I would be saving a lot more then $5-$10 per person when the lunch is $28.99, there are 7 of us.

They were responding to someone who did say they leave to go to McDonalds.

And as stated you can get lunch for much less than $28.99 a person. The Plaza and LTT are two places I will be going on my next trip. Both TS meals and they will be under $35 for two people. We are doing LTT for lunch and the Plaza for dinner. Take a look at the menus. WDW food does not have to be outrageous.
On our Epcot days we are doing Le Cellier and Le Chefs de France for lunch rather than dinner. Sure there are more options on the dinner menu but lunch is so much cheaper. And since I'm doing the planing DFH wont even know what he is missing.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you have a car, check out Sweet Tomatoes. Tasty goodness, a buffet, and under $10 per person. If you sign up for their emails, they send coupons. It's a Fresh Choice restaurant, same as Zoopa, so if you have either of those places near you, it's the same stuff.

But I wouldn't go "off campus" for lunch...we do that at dinner.

And of course there are no characters at Sweet Tomatoes!

 

[bicker]

I thought you only could buy a picnic lunch. I didn't know you could bring food in other than maybe some kid's snacks or something.

They don't specify "kids'" snacks - you can bring in snacks (period) and other food items, but not "lunch" per se. They do provide picnic tables outside the parks, where you can eat lunch.

Here's the policy, direct from the website:

Q. Can food be brought into Walt Disney World® Resort and Theme Parks?

A. ... Guests are allowed to bring food items, such as snacks or foods that do not require heating, into any Walt Disney World® Theme Park. Just inform a Security Cast Member.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDiningPage&bhcp=1#q11

Dollars to donuts those portion sizes are 50% or more larger than they were 35 years ago. Which is part of the obesity epidemic in America.

True, but it doesn't tell the whole story: Reasonable sized portions would cost just about the same: The cost of food ingredients is a minority of the costs of running a restaurant.

 

[sissy_ib]

They don't specify "kids'" snacks - you can bring in snacks (period). Not "lunch" per se. However, they do provide picnic tables outside the parks, where you can eat lunch.

From the WDW FAQ
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/dining/#subCategory8

Can food be brought into Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Theme Parks?

Guests are allowed to bring food items—such as snacks or foods that do not require heating—into any Walt Disney World Resort hotel. If you have food items that need to be refrigerated, please ask the front desk at your hotel to have a refrigerator placed in your room. Refrigerator may require an additional charge. Guests are allowed to bring food items—such as snacks or foods that do not require heating—into any Walt Disney World Theme Park. Inform a Security Cast Member of any food items when you enter the Theme Park. Learn more on our Special Dietary Requests page

You can bring a picnic lunch if you like. Sandwiches are always a good choice. You can bring any food that does not require cooking or heating. (well I'm sure you can bring it but there is nowhere to prepare it.) You can not bring in any glass containers. (exceptions are baby food and medications)

 

[OceanAnnie]

They don't specify "kids'" snacks - you can bring in snacks (period) and other food items, but not "lunch" per se. They do provide picnic tables outside the parks, where you can eat lunch.

Here's the policy, direct from the website:

​

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQDiningPage&bhcp=1#q11

Thanks for the clarification.

Thanks to you too, sissy_ib.

 

[JimmyV]

Lunch is not affordable? I'm going to have to disagree here. When you factor in your total vacation cost, (air, rental car, hotel, park passes, souveniers, and all meals), and then you add in what you think a "reasonable" lunch price should be, the delta between a "reasonable" lunch cost and the "actual" lunch cost is miniscule. In other words, let's say that you think a lunch buffet should cost $19.95 and instead it costs $24.95. That's $5 per person per day. For a family of 5, assuming you do two such lunches over the course of your vacation, that is $5x5x2=$50. That's $50 more than you think is reasonable. Over the course of a $3,000+ vacation, does that really move the meter?

Fried shimp at CHH is a pretty good bargain, and the price of CP borders on unreasonable. The point is, you have choices. I wouldn't call CP "unaffordable". Just more than you think it should be.

I think what can be said is that the old adage of "eat TS for lunch instead of dinner" to save money is becoming less of a winning strategy. The cost of TS lunches has risen to the point where I no longer want to kill time in the middle of the day for a one-hour sit down lunch and prefer to relax at the end of the day for my TS. Yes, the price is higher at dinner. But there are usually more (and better) choices at dinner. While you certainly will save money eating a TS lunch (as compared to dinner), now that the lunch bill tips into triple digits, I stick with CS at under $50 total, and do my fine dining at night.

 

[tzeitel]

We will be there at peak so it will be $28.99 for all of us. I have no little ones any longer, my youngest is 10 so we are all the adult price.

I so do not need the Pooh Characters I just like a sit down once a day with AC to regroup and then head back into the park.

There are many near by restaurants that we can try.

Ok Don't really see the point of the thread. You don't HAVE to go to lunch anywhere you don't want to. If it is just to complain about the price - yes we know how much it is. Go to a CS (at the park or nearby resort) or off property or to another less expensive TS or bring your own food, whatever.

Sorry but I did not see where you asked for advice, you just made a statement. Whatever works for you If you are asking for suggestions off property I recommend Ale House, good food and lots of it so you can share if you want.

 

[eliza61]

So after paying Disney for your tickets, you purposely leave the parks, taking 30 minutes to get to your vehicle or a 3rd party shuttle bus, another 20 minutes to get to the nearest McDonald's, 30 minutes to eat, and then 30+ minutes to get back into the parks? So basically you've wasted most of the value of that day-ticket just to save what, $5-$10 on lunch, and you did all that to eat at a McDonald's, which has 14,000 locations all over the world?

I'd say Disney is getting the better end of that transaction.

Where the heck are you driving to Condorman? Sorry this is one of the myths that gets under my collar just a little (only a little, not flaming you, every one has had their own experience). It takes exactly 15 minutes from the MK to dtd by way of the street past Fort wilderness and it has never taken me 30 minutes at lunch to get to the parking lot from MK?

I agree I wouldn't do it for a Mcdonalds but we leave the park all the time and rarely does it take us 90 minutes travel time. Jeez I know the monorail can be so but I've never waited 30 minutes for it and at most I've waited for a tram has been 7 minutes.

 

[eliza61]

First off I would not leave to go to a McDonalds.

I think I would be saving a lot more then $5-$10 per person when the lunch is $28.99, there are 7 of us.

Op I totally agree with you. 30 bucks for lunch is ridiculous. We some times leave the parks for lunch, some times we don't but imo 28-30 bucks for a buffet meal is expensive. $210 bucks??? that better be one heck of an experience.

 

[isla bonita]

And as stated you can get lunch for much less than $28.99 a person. The Plaza and LTT are two places I will be going on my next trip. Both TS meals and they will be under $35 for two people. We are doing LTT for lunch and the Plaza for dinner. Take a look at the menus. WDW food does not have to be outrageous.
On our Epcot days we are doing Le Cellier and Le Chefs de France for lunch rather than dinner. Sure there are more options on the dinner menu but lunch is so much cheaper. And since I'm doing the planing DFH wont even know what he is missing.

That is lunch price.

 

[kelldawn]

If you care to look at some of the sit down places the lunch and dinner are no cheaper or different. The servings have gone way down since our first visit in 2007. Now our hubbys rarely feel really full after eating. Especially 50's prime.. Way less. But I have to agree way to high.

Counter good choices are:

Columbia Harbor Great shrimp meal 9.69
Pecos Bills HUGE Burgers 8 something with a side
HS strring rolls big forest ham with side 9.00
Wolfgang Pucks express best best value for Counter its dinner size meals at a counter place VERY GOOD

 

[isla bonita]

Ok Don't really see the point of the thread. You don't HAVE to go to lunch anywhere you don't want to. If it is just to complain about the price - yes we know how much it is. Go to a CS (at the park or nearby resort) or off property or to another less expensive TS or bring your own food, whatever.

My point was exactly what I stated that lunch has gotten expensive and just that.

Sorry but I did not see where you asked for advice, you just made a statement. Whatever works for you If you are asking for suggestions off property I recommend Ale House, good food and lots of it so you can share if you want.

I agree Ale House is a fun time.

We go 2Xs a year and we have a bit of a routine. MK we do CP, AK we do RC and so on. It has gotten expensive and that is JMHO.

I like taking a break and having a sit down meal with my family in the park. We do not spend every moment together while in the parks so its nice to catch up with each other and hear the things that are missed.

This was just an observation.

 

[goofyintoronto]

So after paying Disney for your tickets, you purposely leave the parks, taking 30 minutes to get to your vehicle or a 3rd party shuttle bus, another 20 minutes to get to the nearest McDonald's, 30 minutes to eat, and then 30+ minutes to get back into the parks? So basically you've wasted most of the value of that day-ticket just to save what, $5-$10 on lunch, and you did all that to eat at a McDonald's, which has 14,000 locations all over the world?

I'd say Disney is getting the better end of that transaction.

hahahahahahaha. Thats hilarious! ..... Honestly I was thinking the exact same thing! As OP's have said, The Plaza is affordable, delicious and has lovely atmosphere. Liberty Tree lunch is also affordable. Both are in MK!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

You can bring in a whole meal for the entire family. Just be sure it can fit in a smaller soft sided cooler or use two if needed.

The only things you will not be able to take in are alcoholic beverages and glass containers of any kind (exceptions for baby food and medication). As noted, Disney rules say no hard-sided or wheeled coolers. It's sometimes suggested that you not pack items like mayonnaise that don't hold up to being toted around on hot days.

 

[TDC Nala]

It takes exactly 15 minutes from the MK to dtd by way of the street past Fort wilderness

There's no longer a McDonalds at DTD. There is one near the Allstar resorts, so one wouldn't have to go entirely off property - but you need a car because Disney transportation won't go there.

A lot of Disney guests also take advantage of the DME transportation and don't rent cars, so they won't be going offsite unless they spring for a taxi or walk to the McDonalds (not sure how you do that because I don't see how you cross the street) or Crossroads.

 

[goofyintoronto]

There's no longer a McDonalds at DTD. There is one near the Allstar resorts, so one wouldn't have to go entirely off property - but you need a car because Disney transportation won't go there.

A lot of Disney guests also take advantage of the DME transportation and don't rent cars, so they won't be going offsite unless they spring for a taxi or walk to the McDonalds (not sure how you do that because I don't see how you cross the street) or Crossroads.

I've walked to Mcdonalds once while staying at AS Sports. Its a very short walk. If you really need to go to mcdonalds and dont have a car, just take the bus to AS Sports and walk from there. Would only take about 5-10 min. You can see it from the resort.

BTW I wanted to add one thing...there's a buffet near my house that cost anywhere from $17.99 to $25.99 for lunch & dinner. Lunch the other day cost $17.99. Eating at Crystal Palace for lunch would be $24.99. For $7 more I would gladly pay in order to dine with Pooh and friends in MK. I dont think the buffets in my hometown are any better than CP for example, in regards to food and atmosphere. I personally dont think Disney food is too expensive. There are a lot of cheaper options in Disney in all the parks.

 

[JimmyV]

For $7 more I would gladly pay in order to dine with Pooh and friends in MK. ... I personally dont think Disney food is too expensive. There are a lot of cheaper options in Disney in all the parks.

Right on! If you can't find food within your budget (given how much your total vacation is costing you), then you just aren't looking very hard. Disney's prices compare very favorably to sports stadiums, other amusement parks, ski resorts, beach resorts and virtually any other entertainment venue you can think of.

NICE new picture goofyintoronto.

 

[KrysiaG]

I am really thankful for this thread. I received a ton of good information on places to eat, how to spend (or not spend) money and what to expect.

Just wanted to say thank you!!

 

[goofyintoronto]

Right on! If you can't find food within your budget (given how much your total vacation is costing you), then you just aren't looking very hard. Disney's prices compare very favorably to sports stadiums, other amusement parks, ski resorts, beach resorts and virtually any other entertainment venue you can think of.

NICE new picture goofyintoronto.

Gosh thank you!!
And I totally agree....i've been to plenty of sporting events/stadiums, amusement parks etc, that are far more expensive than Disney.