Best way to save money on food at Disney World and the other Disney Parks/Resorts?

Question

We will be spending 8 days(7 nights) in WDW in Orlando. Leaving Early in the AM on the last day.

We plan on bringing breakfast stuff, and snacks. Other than this, what is the best way to save money eating at WDW and the other Disney parks?

We will not be able to get off Disney property, we wont be renting a car.

Thanks!

Answer 1

TO be honest, the easiest way is to buy the dining plan from Disney. If you can't go offsite it is an easy way to have good meals but not spend as much. You get enough food that you really don't need to worry about snacks and things to bring along.


The dining plan is a great deal and saves most people 40% or more on their dining. I'm not sure of your children's ages, if they are 10 and up the price of the dining may be a little high for you, but you should still save money. If your kids are under 10 they are only paying $11 a day.

On the dining plan, if you use it properly, you will be able to eat at some of the nicest restuarants at Disney and get a ton of food at each place. The only thing that isn't included is alcohol. When I use the plan I usually spend more than the cost of my plan just on my table-service meal, meaning my counter-service and snack are all free for the day, plus I save a little on my main meal and the 19% tip is included.

I could go on and on about the dining plan. It is the first plan Disney has offerred that is affordable to most everyone and is well worth it. I never go without the dining plan, I like it a lot.

You can go to Disney and spend less money on dining, but you won't be able to get nearly as nice of meals as you can on the plan. If you want to eat mainly hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken nuggets, you won't spend as much on your food (except for kids) but you will almost pay as much as you would for the dining plan and the meals aren't nearly as nice.

I've included a link to one of the best sites I have found so far in regards to the dining plan. A lot of info and it helps you plan out your meals a little better. As well as a site that offers lots of great info on dining, and Disney in general.

Please e-mail me if you have questions, I go to Disney all the time and I love to help!

Answer 2

Get the dinner plan. It is I think 30 bucks per person per day, but worth it. You get table service meal, which is anything but character dinning. Then you also get one for the nicer restaurants, which can include character dinning, but only if you use two of them. Also you can get a snack, from designated carts, water and ice cream as an example. You get one of each of these a day, and if you don't use it that day, it rolls over to the next day, so you can use two, and so on. It is well worth it.

As for staying, stay at a value resort. Pop Culture, All-Star movies, and All-Star sports. All three are priced the same, the movies and sports are basically near the other. While Pop Culture is closer to some of the parks, and downtown Disney. Also if you stay at one of the Disney resorts, you get magic park hours. Check the calender to see which parks on which days, but basically its an extra hour before or after the average ones.

That's about it, enjoy =D

Answer 3

We found bringing food really helped our budget. We packed an entire suitcase full of cereal, Pop-Tarts, snacks that travel well, even a loaf of bread (in a container so it wouldn't get squished) and peanut butter and jelly! Some of the resorts have refrigerators in the room; the others you can rent them. We even got one free more than once because our son takes a medication that requires refrigeration. We purchased milk and juice at the gift shop at our resort, and had breakfast and lunch at our resort. This saved us a ton of money. Disney also has a meal plan, and although I've personally never used it, I understand can be a good bargain. Have a wonderful time!

Answer 4

Your best bet woulb be to eat your bigger meals at lunch time, you can eat buffets at lunch for less than the dinner price and get just about the same food. ALso at the more expensive resturants if you eat there lunch menu its cheaper and you get to experince the resturant. Then you can grab fast food at dinner time. If your staying on property you should look into the dinning package! This includes two meals and a snack! Its 40$ a person and really does save considering you can spend 40 a person just in one meal! You can get this package if you do the magic your way deal with your room and tickets. It really is the best way to go!

Answer 5

Get the Disney Dining plan. You save 40% of what it would cost without it. Every person gets 1 counter meal ( fast food), 1 snack (ex. a bag of popcorn), and 1 dine in meal (ex. A dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table Restaraunt at Magic Kingdom) that works at most restaurants. Good luck!

Answer 6

Share meals whenever you can especially if you have children. The portions are big. Bring small snacks in the park with you.

I've never used the food plan but I hear it is really good and can save you big money if you plan right. Also you get to try places you normally wouldn't have eaten at due to the prices.

Answer 7

Drink lots of water. Don't buy drinks when you eat, just get water with lemon. Lots of business travelers do this, so don't let the waiter intimidate you into buying unnecessary "sodas". I like to put tea or koolaid in my water, for variety. Just not buying sodas will cut down the bill on food 20 - 25%.

Keep nuts available in the hotel room, in case anyone gets hungry. Nuts are great food, and they get rid of hunger very quickly. I would eat lightly everyday, and maybe have one regualr meal per day. That leaves more time for fun at WDW, and that's what you are going there to do.

Answer 8

I have never rented a car, Disney transport will be all you need. Did you purchase the Dinning Plan, that really makes a difference. We bring snacks to the park with us: beef sticks, cheese sticks, even those small packages of drink mix and each of us carry a small refillable container. We fill them with water at fountains and use those drinks.

Answer 9

Split meals. Buy a case of water and tote your own around the park. You can buy a bottle strap ($3.) to hang the water around your neck so you don't have to carry it. It also makes a great lanyard for Disney pins. Check the food prices and menus at www.allearsnet.com before you go and decide where it's worth eating. Buy some glow sticks at the discount store for the kids so you don't have to buy the light up toys sold before the fireworks. The sodas are large. Split them (unless you are dehydrated!).

Answer 10

i do the same thing as you every time i go, and you will really love bringing breakfast food with you because it does save you so much time and even more money. go through AAA to, when booking. the tickets are the cheapest here, and if it is your 1st time usuing here, you get another discount to your purchase. in the parks they also have special discounts for AAA members only that will save you even more money. i also reccomend you get a disney visa, because you get discounts with that all the time here, and there are also freebies if you visit special places in the park. have fun, you will love it!!