the best table service in any park for under 40 for a meal

[momofsamandeden]

The under 40 would consist of two adults and a childs meal. I have been going over the menus and would like to avoid burger options with that dollar value yet even the buffets with no characters are around 26.99 for an adult.

 

[jel0511]

I hate to say it, you probably won't find that in WDW. In that price range for that many people you're looking at counter service. Your only option would be to share with your wife.

 

[ancestry]

I agree. I don't think you can find a table service (assuming you want to eat an entree and not just a salad or just soup) for under $40 for 2 adults and a child. By the time you add in entree and drink for three people along with tax you are going to be over $40.

 

[MrsLS]

It might be a drop more but for lunch at MK I recommend Liberty Tree Tavern. The food is very good, especially the pot roast & pasta dish and it is a huge portion of both so either you can share with your child or get a kids meal for them. I've gotten the salad app & soup and they are both very good too.

 

[SAHDad]

You might be able to do it at a couple of places, by going during the lunch menu, selecting the least expensive entrees, and having water, but it's still going to be close to $40, if not just over.

(I was thinking it might be doable at Rose & Crown, 50's Prime Time, and Liberty Tree.)

 

[RMulieri]

Really not possible to do at WDW table service venues .Unless you go for a late lunch, order the cheapest entrees on the menu and drink water and even then you would go over

 

[momofsamandeden]

That is what i was thinking. I guess we will just go off site for table service and then come back to the park.

 

[java]

Think Lunch instead of dinner

While it will be more with the child's meal at $7 the Prix Fix lunch at Chef's De France is $20 - 3 courses and it was yummy! at dinner it's $37! (heartier entree choices)

The kid's meal is the issue- it's generally $7-$8 every sit down place. so that leaves you with $32 for the adults- or just $16 a person.

The Plaza in the Magic Kingdom has less expensive sandwich type meals.

 

[thej]

The closest I can think of is the Plaza Restaurant in MK. The menu is mostly sandwiches & salads which will run ~ $15 per adult with a drink, kids meals are ~$8. With a tip, that takes it over a bit. If you want dessert (phenomenal ice cream!) that will add to the cost, tho the kids meal includes a mini sundae or cookies.

FWIW, the Plaza is the best meal I've had at MK. Ever.

 

[Mrs D]

Or you could do a late breakfast and treat it as an early lunch. When paying OOP we like to do that. Get a 10:45 or 11am seating. For buffets you will get lots of variety and it is the lowest priced TS meal you buy during the day!

 

[grecorj]

Actually, there are counter service options that aren't just standard burger fare, which may work for you.

Columbia Harbour House in Magic Kingdom, for example. Open for Lunch & Dinner.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=149

I'm sure others could suggest similar non-burger counter service spots in the other parks.

But agreed, if you're looking for a place you can make a reservation for, under $40 is near impossible without sharing an entree.

Personally, I wouldn't want to waste the time leaving the park to eat outside Disney ... unless I wasn't planning on coming back to a park that day. Would rather sacrifice a sit down meal if I had budget constraints.

 

[Mrs D]

In a flash of inspiration I remembered Trails End buffet at Ft. Wilderness!

Dinner is $21 for adults and $12 for children. There is a soup/salad buffet only option as well.

 

[soonerfan2008]

I was going to suggest Trail's End, also. They have a nice lunch buffet that is $14.99 per adult. The food is really good, and the boat ride over to Fort Wilderness is a nice break from the MK, especially with a toddler. Plus, you can explore the petting zoo and see the ponies.

 

[Rylee]

I have some ideas, although they're not all located inside the parks, but still on property. (You'll still probably be cutting it close to $40, but worth a look.)

Si-Fi @ the Studios.
Plaza Restaurant @ MK.
Grand Floridian Cafe is easily doable from the MK.
The Turf Club @ Saratoga Springs Resort.
Rainforest Cafe @ AK.

Food Court with a different feel to it - Pepper Market @ Coronado Springs.
Counter Service, but good - Wolfgang Puck @ Downtown Disney.

If you are just looking to avoid Burgers, this can be done while still dining at Counter Service locations within the parks.

Check menus and prices here -
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningmain.cfm

 

[Lynne M]

I'd have to agree, you'll be hard pressed to find any table service in your price range. That's about what you'd spend on a typical counter service meal.

Be sure to check out the counter service menus, there are plenty of non-burger options. You'll find the most interesting CS food in Epcot, both in the World Showcase and Seasons in The Land pavilion. AK also has some interesting choices; I especially like Flame Tree BBQ.

Going offsite is certainly an option, but do think about what it will cost you in time. Your time has a value at WDW, considering how much tickets cost. By the time you leave MK, take the monorail or ferry to TTC, take the tram back to your car, drive offsite and find a restaurant, and get seated.....from MK to the restaurants in the Crossroads shopping center, which is probably the closest offsite place for table service....that could be about an hour. Before you even order your food.

 

[honeydiane1953]

The under 40 would consist of two adults and a childs meal. I have been going over the menus and would like to avoid burger options with that dollar value yet even the buffets with no characters are around 26.99 for an adult.

The best place for a meal under 40.00 would be offsite.

 

[Cara]

Depending on what you order, you can get close to that for lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern, the Plaza, Sci-Fi Dine-In, and 50s Prime Time Cafe.

 

[Sammy]

Wow...at first I thought you meant $40 per person!! But now that I know you mean total for 3 people, here are my suggestions to bring the prices down a bit:

1. As others have said, eat your big meal at lunch instead of dinner. Most of the TS restaurants have less expensive options at lunch.
2. Nix the drinks. Soft drinks are $2.70 or so per person....drinking water will save you a little more than $8 per meal.
2. Share an entree! For example, when DH and I go to 50's Prime TIme at DHS, we order one appetizer to share (approx. $7), and share the fried chicken dinner which comes with 3 big pieces of chicken and two sides ($14.99). So the two of us eat for about $22 before tax/tip. I find the restaurants have no problem when you tell them you are sharing.

Search around this forum a bit to find which restaurants have larger portions and just plan on splitting with your DH or your child.

Good luck! We are traveling with 8 this April and I cringe when I think of the prices of Disney meals for that many people!

Sammy

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with the majority of posters, It will be difficult, if not impossible to eat dinner in a sit down TS restaurant for 2 adults and 1 child if each is ordering their own meal.
I am not a big eater, and I would not have been satisfied sharing an appetizer and entree as my dinner with my DH. Yes some portions are larger than others, but on average, I do not think they are big enough to share and satisfy 2 average adults.
I also agree with LynnM. Leaving the parks to eat will be very time consuming and you need to factor the "cost" of that too.

Good Luck in your decision

 

[maggiew]

We've gone to Wolfgang Puck Cafe and ordered one of their flatbread pizzas. It is really good wood fired type pizza. They run about $14. One of the pizzas is enough for DH & I. You would even have money to throw in a kids meal for $7 or so.

Maggie