What are the Cheapest Sit-Down Restaurants???

[TheCapellsMom]

Hi! I am heading to WDW with my Daughter (6yrs) for Mother's Day Weekend in May and we are having a dining dilemma so we need your help!

On our big family vacations we usually get the Deluxe Dining Plan so we are spoiled. This time we are on the Regular Dining Plan (1TS, 1CS, 1SNK) because we are trying not to over-spend. We are both big foodies so I am worried that we will be disappointed/still hungry too much of the time.

I was thinking perhaps I would pay for a couple of Table Service meals out of pocket to supplement the dining plan. So I was wondering... which are the cheapest sit-down restaurants on property???

THANKS!!!!

 

[aubriee]

Lunch is usually cheaper than dinner, so you might want to consider paying OOP for some lunches.

As far as specific restaurants, off the top of my head 50's Prime Time, Sci Fi, the Plaza, LTT, Trails End, and Beaches & Cream come to mind.

 

[Paradise18]

The Plaza at MK is one of the cheaper TS restaurants from what I have seen.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

You're kidding, right?
You really think you are going to be TOO HUNGRY TOO MUCH OF THE TIME?
Man, you must really be big eaters!!!!
They already mentioned the cheapest TS.
I just think you must be kidding.

 

[pdxJolene]

You're kidding, right?
You really think you are going to be TOO HUNGRY TOO MUCH OF THE TIME?
Man, you must really be big eaters!!!!
They already mentioned the cheapest TS.
I just think you must be kidding.

How is that not a valid question? Dbf and I are going through the same thing right now. You get 2 meals per day on the dining plan... Everyone I know eats 3 meals a day typically. And a snack isn't a meal to me, a snack is a snack. We'll be awake for 17 hours running around a theme park, definitely working up an appetite.

OP- I would look at some menus and see if there are any places you might want to just enjoy a few apps split, especially since you may miss those from the dxdp!

 

[smiths02]

Lunch is usually cheaper than dinner, so you might want to consider paying OOP for some lunches.

As far as specific restaurants, off the top of my head 50's Prime Time, Sci Fi, the Plaza, LTT. Trails End, and Beaches & Cream come to mind.

But breakfast is cheaper than lunch. To get the most value out of the plan, I would pay for breakfast OOP (counter service or sit down), eat a CS lunch and a one credit TS dinner

To address the hunger issue...we were never hungry on DDP. We generally split CS, so we got 3 meals most days. We also ate at odd time sometimes (like have a snack in room, eat buffet breakfast for brunch, snack in park, then CS dinner-you don't need 3 meals a day)

You may also consider supplementing by paying OOP for something not on DDP (T-Rex is not cheap,but portions are huge). The MYW package also includes a coupon at Planet Hollywood or something, right?

Another way to supplement is to bring groceries or have them delivered. We brought water bottles, cliff bars, juice boxes, milk boxes, and some snacks (though we didn't eat much of this)

 

[smiths02]

How is that not a valid question? Dbf and I are going through the same thing right now. You get 2 meals per day on the dining plan... Everyone I know eats 3 meals a day typically. And a snack isn't a meal to me, a snack is a snack. We'll be awake for 17 hours running around a theme park, definitely working up an appetite.

OP- I would look at some menus and see if there are any places you might want to just enjoy a few apps split, especially since you may miss those from the dxdp!

Jolene-most people eat three meals a day, but most people don't have two of their meals with a soda/milkshake/smoothie, entree AND dessert for two meals a day. Plus the snack isn't just a snack...some of them are very filling. While it may be 2 meals and a snack...you can order so that those EASILY are enough calories for a day.

And you can split many CS meals easily (just buy a drink OOP or one person drink water), especially OP who has a 6 year old-it would be very easy to split an adult CS meal.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I did the regular plan with myself and 3 grown men and we had credits leftover at the end and were stuffed all the time. It started becoming a joke about it being time to eat again. Like the other person said. If you are having an entree (and QS entrees at Disney can be HUGE: half chicken and slab of ribs with side) and dessert and drink, it's tough to sit down in a couple hours and get another heavy entree and milkshake and dessert. This is not your typical...cereal for breakfast, small sandwich for lunch, and a piece of chicken and some brocc and mac and cheese for dinner. This is several thousand calories a day food potentially.

However if you are concerned about having extra meals I really recommend looking at the snack credit list sticky here for all that you can get with snack credits. I often use them as my lunch. Some of my meals I use snack credits for things such as:

EPCOT: HUGE hand twisted pretzel in Sommerfest in Germany
Ham and Cheese Croissant in France pastry shop
Soup of the Day at Sunshine Seasons in the Land Pavilion.

Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge Soup of the Day.

Wolfgang Puck Express Marketplace. bowl of soup (several options of gourmet soups) with a slice of fresh bread or a side of very filling gourmet mac and cheese.

Disney Quest: Big serving of Nachos and cheese.

Any of these items is hearty enough for lunch...sometimes dinner.

 

[dansyr2514]

I am the opposite of most of the other posters. I can't understand how people can share meals....lol ..must be my Italian upbringing. We always do the deluxe plan also but usually do a signature and 1 credit and just use a couple of snack if we get a little hungry during the day. To supplement the regular dining plan you may want to try a couple of counter services out of pocket. We like flame tree in AK. Columbia Harbour House in MK
Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck's at DD. In Epcot Morocco and Mexico are a couple favorites and unfortunately nothing in HS. Also, the pepper market over at CSR has a wide variety in their food court. From one foodie to another ignore the comments that you're eating too much. You're on vacation ...enjoy!