What the cheapest most fun meal option...

[Mic]

At MK, we always eat lunch at Tony's. It is not counter service, and it's about the same price as most counter service meals. Kids meals are $5 and include a drink, and at least 3 of your kids can order from the kids menu. The 14-year-olds can either share a pasta dish or pizza, and add a salad for a few $$. My kids love salads; my youngest sometimes gets only a salad for lunch at Tony's. And 2 of my 4 kids drink only water, so that saves money, too. My husband never concerns himself with the cost of anything, so we don't really try to save money here, but I am always pleasantly surprised when I get the bill. We tried Cosmic Ray's for the first time for dinner on our last trip, and found the prices to be quite good. Ordering here can be a little tricky if you are a single parent with young kids because there are several "stations" that sell different things. With the ages of your kids, though, you could easily put 2 other kids in a different line. At AK, the meal deal certificates are a good deal, and you can use them at several restaurants. At Epcot, we used to eat lunch at Teppanyaki every trip, but the prices have gone up recently,and it is now well over $100 for the 6 of us. I would suggest counter service at any of the countries: our favorites are Mexico and Morrocco. We found Liberty Inn(in America) to be reasonably priced, but we rarely eat there because we can get a hamburger anytime at home. Not everyone will agree with me on this one, but we like going to the Rainforest cafe on every trip, and it doesn't always cost a fortune to eat there. I think they have the most extensive menu on property, so you're sure to find something for everyone. And the portions are huge, so we always share. Kids meals are a little pricey($6-8),but the rest of the menu is not outrageous. The lunch and dinner menu is the same, so you could have a special dinner here one night. My 16 and 14-year-old daughters always share an adult entree,and my son orders a pizza. My youngest will sometimes get a kids meal, but usually orders the quesadillas(appetizer) as her meal. Most of their appetizers are big enough to be a meal.

 

[mum of two pirates]

Somewhere here, on these boards is spot about Ghiradelli's. If you go to there web sight you can sign up and they will send you a coupon for buy 1 get 1 free coupon. but it is only good for 30 days someone said. but You could sign up 4 people and all have ice cream for 1/2 the price.

 

[frannn]

for decent prices. I would suggest checking the menus from the links one of the above posters supplied, to see what you might like. I would stay away from most of the counter service in MGM, though, unless you were going for just basic burgers and fries. You could always make that your Beaches and Cream day. What I am planning on doing for 2 adults & DD11 & DD2 in Oct is ordering 2 double burgers and fries, to be shared between the 4 of us. Then I will order two large sundaes to share. I think the double burgers & fries are about 8-9/each, and the sundaes (huge) are about 7-8/each. You can ask them to split it in the kitchen, or order an extra bun or two to split into regular sandwiches. Definetly enough to split!

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

You can also get a huge sundae in the ice cream parlor at the Dolphin that is very similar to the Kitchen Sink @ Beaches but about 1/2 of the cost. It could easily serve at least six people.

Another thing that has been pointed out several times on this board is that any restaurant that serves burgers will sell you a bun ala-carte for just a few cents. You can order the doube cheeseburger with an extra bun and two eat for the price of one! This is an especially good deal @ Pecos Bills due to the condiment bar.

 

[Soupermom]

Just wanted to add a little...we DH, DD10, DS7 and myself went to WDW last summer and ate on about $50/day--for the WHOLE family (breakfast in hotel, brought granola bars, "fruities" in for snacks while waiting in lines). No problem. We did the Ice Cream Social and loved it, not sure if it's open now though.
Also had great luck at Peco's Bills and the Tusker House. The meal deals at the AK are awesome! You get your meal and a drink, plus a coupon for another drink AND popcorn tub or Mickey bar later. Turkey Legs can be found at MGM and Epcot, maybe other places. I easily shared one of these with my two kids. Mmmmm. (This thread has gotten me SO hungry!!!) I really found if we shared meals we had no problems and were always full!

Good luck and have lots of fun!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

SHARE meals and snacks!!! This is one of the easiest ways to save big! Often the portions are very big (Especially for the little ones) The less food you throw away, the less money you waste. Plus, this gives you the chance to sample more things. More often than not, even as adults, we find that while we really want item X (popcorn for example) when we see it, we really only want a taste it. Disney has great food options in the quick service price range. Plus, if you share a meal, and it isn't quite enough, and you don't want to wait in the same line again, food is everywhere - walk about 100 feet in any direction, and you are sure to find another place to buy food.

Instead of drinks, any drink vender will give you free ice/water if you request it. It is wise to drink plain water frequently anyhow while you are at WDW. With all the walking, you can dehydrate quickly, even in the winter months. Florida tap water isn't the best, but chilled, it isn't too bad. We like having bottled water on hand at all times though, so we get a case of bottles and bring a few with us each day. When the bottle gets empty, you can refill it with water fountain water or ice water. OR, if you order a large soda, you can put the remainder in one of the empty bottles.

Another option that many people like are the smoked turkey legs. For teenage boys, especially, they are a great deal. They are huge, and inexpensive. They are available at various places (MK comes to mind)

For AKL - we like the Tusker House. Two people can easily share the meal deal. Also, though meals are priced as full meals, you can order items al a carte. For two people, you could order one complete meal and one sandwich, and share the side orders. They have a veggie roll-up that is very good. Outside, you can order adult beverages, if you so desire (though not esp. inexpensive).

For Epcot - we like to sample around the world - we share items from various places around the World Showcase. Morrocco, if i recall, has a mezze type sampler platter. Japan has great chicken terriaki. I also like Japan's edamame (steamed soy beans -very nutritious - and delicious).

For MK - The burger toppings bars are great. You buy one burger and you can load it with all sorts of things - lettuce, fried mushrooms, tomato. I think they even had chili! So two people could easily share a loaded burger.

All the parks also have fresh fruit stands, so you can have more than just burgers and fries. Disney pizza isn't bad, either. Not the best pizza, but edible.

Last, most of the resorts also have inexpensive places to eat, too. Some of the food courts are really neat. Better than what you'd find in a mall (quality-wise), and each person can get exactly what they want.

 

[dvcmomdeh]

We have liked Cosmic Rays in the MK. It's your typical burgers and fries with it's own fix-it bar.

It is also a nice air conditions place to sit with a 5 yo or younger to take a little cat nap. Only bad thing is they don't give refills on you drinks. Many a day did I sit here with a child in a stroller taking a nap while dad and the others when out and about the world.

 

[TDERadulski]

I have never tried it myslef, but my sister and her family did on their last trip. They loved Trails End buffet at Fort Wilderness for both a big breakfast and a dinner. They said the food was great and the price was right. Both breakfast and lunch are only $10.99 per adult and $6.99 for kids....much cheaper than the other buffets on property!

 

[Madi100]

The meal deals at the AK are awesome! You get your meal and a drink, plus a coupon for another drink AND popcorn tub or Mickey bar later. Turkey Legs can be found at MGM and Epcot, maybe other places. I easily shared one of these with my two kids. Mmmmm. (This thread has gotten me SO hungry!!!) I really found if we shared meals we had no problems and were always full!

Good luck and have lots of fun!

What are the meal deals?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I know Tusker House in AK offers the meal deal. They are advertised at the quick service restaurants that offer them. I think the meal deal was also offered elsewhere in AK, but I'm not sure about other locations.

 

[SuzyQue]

"Meal Plus" Program

The Animal Kingdom "Meal Plus" Program allows you to purchase a special voucher at any Animal Kingdom counter service restaurant (Restaurantosaurus, Flame Tree Barbecue, Pizzafari, or Tusker House) that entitles you to the following:

counter service meal with small drink (non-alcoholic)
coupon for a box of popcorn or an ice cream
coupon for a bottle of water

The cost is $11.99 for adults and $5.99 for kids, which is quite a good deal considering that the higher-priced counter service meals alone can set you back that much, once you add the drink. The vouchers are only good the day you purchase them.

 

[KristiKelly]

I've never done this, but heard this could be a fun thing to do. Go to Beaches and Cream and order the kitchen sink. It is a huge sundae with every flavor ice cream they have with all the toppings on it. It is enough for your whole family .

I was going to suggest the same thing. I think it is around $20 maybe a little more but from what I've seen, it's really big. Beaches n'cream is at Beach Club outside of Epcot afterward you could walk around the Boardwalk. Also, I think they have a campfire & make s'mores somewhere at Fort Wilderness.

At DTD, there is Wolfgang Puck Express. Our last trip, I ordered a Lg. Pepperoni pizza & 2 different types of bread and it was $22. We are a family of 4, kids were 4 & 7, I thought this was very reasonable.

ETA: The 2 6 y/o could probably split some meals.

 

[pjlla]

Just wanted to comment.... sometimes the most casual, easiest meals are the best. We have had some excellent meals at Cosmic Rays, Tusker House, Peco's Bills. And we didn't stress about the bill! And it didn't take tons of time out of our day! But we have also had good meals at Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood at DTD...BUT... we stressed about the bills and it took way too much time out of our days, IMHO.

Our lunch at RFC during value season (mid-January, right after 9/11) took well over an hour... service was incredibly slow. I'm sure that things could have improved since then, but since AK is a "short day" park any how (close at 5pm) I am not willing to forfit that kind of time again to try it. And the food was CERTAINLY no better than the counter services I mentioned.

Similar opinion about PH at DTD..... good food but the bill was HIGH and the atmosphere was completely lost on my kids! Plus even though we literally walked in (mid-afternoon, mid-week in January) the service was still SLOW, SLOW, SLOW! Again, well over an hour just for a few sandwiches. We would have been better off at EOS or elsewhere off site! JMHO, of course, but don't assume you are cheating yourself and your family by not having lots of fancy/expensive sit-down meals planned.... ...P

 

[Liz]

BUT... we stressed about the bills

You sound exactly like me! I try not to sit there mentally adding up in my head how much the bill is going to be but I can't help it!!!

 

[pjlla]

In all fairness to DH, it probably should have read "I stress about the bill"... he doesn't tend to even think of things like that!...........P

 

[SnowWitch]

Lunch at Tusker House in the AK. They very often have performers music and dancing throughout the day and even my 15 yr old enjoys this. Its very fun and I highly recommend the food at the Tusker house, the sandwiches are more than enough for 2 adults to share so its an average of about $3.50 per sperson if you share a plate. We always bring in our own water, forget paying $2.50 a bottle.

I also recommend Sci_FI Drive In at MGM for dessert only. I can't remember the name oft he dessert but its maybe $7 and it also takes 2 people to finish. The Sci-Fi is very cool and the kids would really enjoy it.

At Epcot just taste test around the various countries fast food options. With the exception of Le Cellier which my kids insist eating at each trip they always request to eat their way around the world.

And if you haven't already go to www.allears.net, deb willis has a fabulous list of menus and prices that should help.

 

[Liz]

This is a great thread! I never even considered the Earl of Sandwich at DTD but its on my list now!

 

[Chereya]

My husband loves to eat at buffets and this is the cheapest available at Disney. The food is decent and plentiful though the selections are more "down home" fare: mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, chicken & dumplings, pot roast & turkey carving station, etc. We enjoyed ourselves and the restaurant theming is appropriate.

I think we took the ferry from MK over so it was also a nice little boat ride before dinner as well.

Chereya

 

[CheapMom]

But this was our "most fun meal"- and it was cheap.
We got burgers at the POFQ food court and ate outside at the tables and our baby sat in his stroller and we would hand him french fries or peices of sandwich... Well this crazy white bird with long legs kept coming up and stealing french fries right out of the baby's hand- but the funny thing was- the bird would always wait until the baby looked away. If the baby was looking at the bird or the french fry- the bird would just stand there still as a statue. As soon as baby would look away- SNAG. We laughed so hard. Dinner and a show- about $15 for the whole family.

 

[MinnieM3]

Trail's End Buffet. Great food at reasonable prices!

Sharing meals is a great idea, too.

We also usually have just one "big" meal per day and two smaller meals or snacks.