Cheap eats at Disney World can help you save some dollars and let you utilize them for stuff like Disney Genie and Lightning Lane. These accelerate your trip, saves time, and lets you make the most of every penny spent.
You don’t have to move mountains to save some bucks, but it is hard when you’re trying that in the most magical place on earth. While a Disney World trip is not a cost-cutting vacation, you should keep some tips handy and know about eating cheap at Disney World.
So, this article will take you through some of the tips to keep in mind if you plan to eat cheaply at Disney World. Alongside, if you are too directionless as to where to go, it will help you find that path as well.
No matter how determined you are to keep your budget in check, it always spills over. While the room and hotel rents are fixed, dining and the cost allotted for merchandise aren’t.
So, most of the cash flows out of these two sections. If you know how to manage any one of these, most of the trip’s budget is put under control.
Table of Contents
Tips to eat cheap at Disney World
So, here are some of the most fundamental eats if you want to accomplish the goal of dining at cheap eats at Disney World:
Grocery deliveries
Often while being on vacation, we tend to constantly munch something; that might cost a huge sum of money.
To avoid that, you can keep several groceries and other daily munchable items handy. You no longer need to visit the grocery store to pick and choose. You can sit in your room at the hotel and order in, and your stuff will be delivered.
Some of the best grocery delivery services are Amazon Prime Now, Walmart+, Wholefoods via Amazon, and Garden Grocer. If you do not have an Amazon Prime membership, the most profitable of the services is Walmart+. It’s wise to sign up for the 15-day free trial before the commencement of your trip.
Packing food
As I earlier said, food is the best companion to a successful trip. So, if you are a believer in that, either you require a lot of money or a lot of strategic planning.
The best way to satisfy the urge of munching while saving money is to pack some food while park hopping instead of indulging in outside eating.
Planning a little strategically might lead you to make the best out of your budget while not depriving you of the nitty-gritties of Disney World’s eateries.
So, if you keep one slot open for Disney snacks every day, and pack the food for the rest of the meals, it serves the purpose best.
Disney World parks are also pretty cool with you bringing in food. At least, they have shown a little mercy by not capitalizing even that.
You can even bring in your own coolers if that does not exceed the size measurement of 24” by 15” by 18”. Rolling coolers are also not permitted. However, if you are unwilling to carry any type of coolers at all, you can just rent a locker for that purpose.
Breakfast in room
Eating inside saves a lot of time and energy. So, before figuring out the cheap eats at Disney World, one should know how to practice eating cheap at Disney World. If you have your breakfast in the hotel room itself, that serves the purpose best!
Some of the best ways to start your day cheaply yet healthily are to have breakfast bars. Or else, you can have peanut butter and bread to kick off the day.
Cereal bowls are also available along with fresh fruits which can be a step forward in selecting cheap eats at Disney World.
So, if you have served your hunger well, from your hotel room, the chances are less of you spending loads while vacaying.
Quick Service Restaurants
Don’t underestimate the power of quick-service restaurants in determining what your budget looks like at the end of the trip. This article will also help you locate some cheap eats at Disney World.
So, as these are random food joints in the streets of Disney World, the price of the foods also doesn’t skyrocket, unlike the table-service restaurants. You can save up to $35 per person if you decide to go for quick-service meals for your lunch and dinner.
Say no to Combos
Often we tend to think combo offers are a great way to save money. But, this is not a viable option to feature in the tips for eating cheap at Disney World.
You might just be happy with one item in your dish. Don’t fall into the trap of saying hi to an additional side dish and an unwanted beverage along with the main dish.
If you are too eager to take any side dish, it is always better to split it up with anyone who’s joining you.
Grown-ups can also order from the kids’ menu
Quick-service restaurants allow adults to order from the kids’ menu. Often items have lesser prices on the kid’s menu. So, if you want to ardently eat cheaply at Disney World, this is another way you can do it.
Early reservations
Absolute restrictions lead to absolute non-adherence to restrictions. So, it should always be a mix and match between restraint and enjoyment. Thus, a Disney trip cannot only depend on packed foods and ordering groceries. At least one dining at any table-service restaurant is a necessity to be satisfied.
Have a look at the menus of your desired restaurants, book your reservations early, and you will get a meal at a cheaper price. Moreover, the lounges of some signature restaurants at Disney World also serve great food at a much lower cost.
Even though you will not get most of the items on the menu of the signature restaurants, you might rely on some small-course meals.
Cheap eats at Disney World
So, these are the how can manage eating cheap at Disney World. Let’s now find you some cheap eats at Disney World:
Magic Kingdom
Let’s start with Magic Kingdom.
Four restaurants that will feature in the list of cheap eats at Disney World. They are:
- Aloha Isle, Sleepy Hallow
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café
- Columbia Harbour House
- Casey’s Corner
If you are a fan of hot dogs, you customize them based on your choices at Casey’s Corner for $9.99.
The Trio Platter at Columbia Harbour House at $14.29 offers battered fish, breaded chicken strips, and fried shrimp. It is enough for two people.
Can you imagine finding a meal at $10 in Disney World? Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and café’s Veffie Rice Bowl and Sun Bonnet Trio Strawberry Salad say yes! They also provide a Taco trio only for $10.99 which is again enough for two kids.
Sleepy Hallow is the best place to have some desserts at a low price. If you spend $8.49, you will get a fresh fruit waffle sandwich with a chocolate-hazelnut spread. Finally, Aloha Isle is a must-visit if you are in for Dole Whip.
EPCOT
Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie, Sommerfest, Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe, Kabuki Café, and Via Napoli are some of the best cheap eats at Disney World when it comes to EPCOT.
If you are looking for some Italian pizza cuisine in the American heartland, Via Napoli is your place. Even if the individual pizzas are a bit costly, you can split a large pizza which will cost around $12 to $13 per person.
Midday snacking can have a cheap manifestation at Kabuki Café which offers Kakigori and sushi to satisfy your soul. There are some amazing combos like Nigri Combo or a roll, or a California Roll only in the $6-$7 range.
You can find some snacks to munch or drinks to slurp at as cheap a rate as $6.29 in Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe. The Norwegian lefse at $3.29 should be your first choice.
Sommerfest, as the name obliquely suggests, is the place where you can find cheap German foods. Located in the German pavilion, you can get hold of a Bratwurst meal on a roll along with house-made paprika and sauerkraut at just $10.79.
Even though France and Germany had been rivals in the World Wars, they are compatriots when it comes to the list of cheap eats at Disney World.
Situated at the France pavilion of EPCOT, Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie is the best place to satisfy your hunger for a bakery cheaply. Jambon Beurre and Dinde BLT are some good cheap choices that are all below $10.
Animal Kingdom
Animal Kingdom is an oft-visited place to find cheap eats at Disney World. You can order a Caesar salad for only $ 8.99 at Pizzafari.
A Greens and Grains salad will cost you $9.99. A personal cheese pizza along with a small plate of Caesar salad will cost $10.99.
Eight Spoon Café at Animal Kingdom is an intimate food kiosk where you can find cheese bowls or snack-sized baked mac. You can get a serving of a small mac and cheese bowl for only $4.49.
Flame Tree Barbecue is a place where all the items are ranging between $11.99 to $16.99. You can either choose St. Louis Ribs Platter or ½ Smoked Chicken platter. Both of the combos come with coleslaw and baked beans.
Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery is a good place to stop by and have a coffee break. Cheese biscuits, eggs, and sausage are available for $6.99. Or else, you can also order a pistachio honey croissant, danishes, or assorted muffins at a cost ranging below $5.
Restaurantosaurus allows you to have some food items for $11. Among them, you can go for the eight-piece chicken breast nuggets meal served along with fries. The price of this item is $10.99. You can find one item below $10 which is Restaurantosaurus Cobb Salad at $8.99.
Hollywood Studios
At Hollywood Studios, you can spot some of the best cheap eats at Disney World. If you want to have a feeling of character dining at a lower cost, Woody’s Lunch Box and its toy world might help you. The Breakfast Bowl will cost you $8.99.
So, if you haven’t had your breakfast at the hotel, this is a good place to hop in. Otherwise Totchos and Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich is also suitable option. The Lunch Box Tart is available for $4.29.
If you are looking for some cheap eats at Disney World for your lunch and dinner, don’t overlook Backlot Express. Chicken Strips with fries will cost you $10.29.
Southwest Salad is available for $9.99. It consists of jalapeno-lime ranch dressing, cheese, red onion, diced tomatoes, and roasted corn relish. So, relishing this salad at such a low cost is an experience that you wouldn’t want to miss.
Looking for some classic American cuisine at a low cost? Dockside Dinner is there to uphold your spirits. You will get Chipotle Chicken Salad Roll only for $9.99. The Shrimp Salad Roll here costs $13.49. If you have tadpoles with you, they can also hop in and have their meal at only $6.79.
Epic Eats serves large-sized funnel cakes at $8.49 which is more than enough for one person. So, it is best that you split it between two heads.
The Cookies n Cream and Soft Serve Vanilla Ice Cream Funnel Cake are the best ones to have. Going for a waffle cone also seems like an option as it costs only $4.99.
Ronto Roasters are going to provide some of the best revolutionary cheap eats at Disney World. Ranging between $11.49 to $12.99. Overnight oats are also available at $6.99. So, if you want some lip-smacking food then Ronto Roasters is a good choice for you.
Some of the best entrees are available at ABC Commissary which serves low-cost food. Chicken Mediterranean Salad will cost you $9.99. Pork Carnitas Tacos and Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich are available at $11.49 and $11.29 respectively.
Final Thoughts
So, this should give enough details for those of you who are looking for cheap eats at Disney World. Storm these restaurants and food joints and keep the tips in mind, no one can stop you from keeping to budget!
