When visiting Disney we always stay off property and eat outside as well in surrounding outlying areas of the parks (with the exception of grabbing a quick lunch bite in the parks during day).
When eating offsite there are a lot of fast food places to take advantage of such as Taco Bell, Burger King and etc. if that is what you're in the mood for at the time.
There are also such restaurants as Bennigans, TGIF, Outback Steakhouse, and Chillis as well as others similar to these if you want a sit down meal at more moderate prices or varied menus than offered on property.
Additionally if you want restaurants that have buffet style eating as well as regular table service there are Shoneys, Golden Corrals, Ponderosas, and Sizzlers located immediately outside the park.
So, there are definitely a lot of choices that you have when wanting to eat outside of Disney that are 'literally' right up the road and less than a 5 min drive from Disney.
Hope this helps.
