We are a family of 5 and at least 4 of us jump at every chance to visit Walt Disney World. (Still working on my husband) Feeding a family of 5 can get expensive. So, I’m always looking for ways to eat cheap at Disney.
I recently read an article about feeding a family of 5 on $150 for 5 days. I was intrigued.
But their family of 5 had 2 children under the age of 5. My “children” are Disney Adults – all over the age of 10. And two teenage boys are not going to be sustained on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches alone.
I read articles all the time about how to eat on the cheap at Walt Disney World. But the tips are a lot of “pack your own food” or “eat only counter service and split entrees.” And bringing a lot of food from home? That’s all I do at home – prepare food. On vacation, I want someone else to prepare my food. Plus, I have a son who is a bit of a gourmand. His favorite part of vacation is trying new foods.
While we actually pack our own food/water and sometimes split entrees, it isn’t the ONLY way to save money on food at Disney.
So, what to do? What to do?
I’ve compiled a list of ways to eat “on the cheap” at Walt Disney World, but not too cheaply. You can utilize all or just a few, depending on your budget. Employ all of the tips and make a huge dent in your food bill. Or pick the ones that get you just below the mark to make the trip happen. It’s all up to you!
Skip the traditional “sit-down” dinner. Have lunch at a sit-down location instead. Lunch menus are almost identical to dinner menus. You’ll pay less and reservations are sometimes easier to get. Yes, portion sizes are smaller but who can eat that much food? Your wallet and waistline will thank you.
Take advantage of “Free Dining” — or not. Sometimes “Free Dining” is a deal, sometimes it’s not. And I put it in quotes because depending on the time of year, how long you’re staying, etc. free dining is not always “free.” Rates for your room may be higher, tickets prices can be affected. Sometimes, it’s a toss up. But if you have big eaters in your group and don’t want the stress of counting every nickel and dime, “Free Dining” can save a lot of the guesswork. When my teenage boys are in tow, “Free Dining” always saves us money. But for a girl’s trip with my daughter, we pass it up and look for savings elsewhere.
“Pre-pay” your meals by bringing your discounted Disney gift cards. This is how I pay for the majority of our trips. And my husband likes it because if we’re not taking advantage of a promotional “Free Dining” deal, all of our meals are paid for up front. For more discounted Disney gift card tips and tricks, click here.
Buffet your way to a character meet and greet – at breakfast or lunch. Dinner is always the more expensive route. So if meeting Winnie the Pooh (Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom) is on your bucket list, go for breakfast or lunch. Click here for a list of Disney World character dining options.
Split counter-service meals. Counter service meals can be very filling. If someone in your party is willing to split a meal, there will be more than enough food. And you can supplement with an extra side. My son and I will often split an entree but get an extra side salad. And speaking of sides….
You don’t have to order an entree with all the trimmings. Just order sides, if that’s all you have room for. Especially in the heat of the day, a side salad and a steamed corn cob is all I need to keep me going. When it’s a little chilly (for Florida, anyway) my husband loves to grab a bowl of clam chowder at Columbia Harbour House in Magic Kingdom for about $6.50 and he’s satisfied. At EPCOT, we grab a snack here and then a snack there while we tour the countries of World Showcase.
And yes, bring your own….
BYOwater. Whether you drive or fly, you can save a lot of money by bringing your own water or water filtration system. Water is free in the parks, but some people are sensitive to Florida water’s bouquet. Driving? Pack your own. If you fly, have water delivered by a your favorite grocery delivery service. This is the number one must do for our family.
BYOSnacks. It’s a time-saver trick I use at home that carries over to our trips. When we open a bag of chips or pretzels, I split the bag into single serving ziploc bags. That way, in the morning while everyone is making their lunches, we can just grab and go. For our Disney trips, I bring a canvas bag with an assortment of “grab and go” snacks to pop in our backpacks at the start of each day. Easy, small portion sizes that tide us over until our next meal.
Eat breakfast in your room. We don’t like to waste time in the morning anyway, so eating in the room is a no-brainer. I pack a loaf of bread, peanut butter, apples, yogurt, granola, cheese and crackers. We’ll make coffee in the room or grab a quick cup at the quick service location on the way out to the parks. Once in a while we’ll slow down and take in a character meal or eat quick service. But most mornings, it’s eating in for our family.
What are some of YOUR eat cheap Disney tricks? Please share in the comments below!
