Disney World Dining Tips – Finding the best Bargain

I love a good deal!  I mean there is just something about doubling up a coupon, catching a discount code, getting a BOGO, or getting a little more for the price! I can’t help it!  I am all about value!  That doesn’t go away when I’m at Disney World!  In fact, I’m always on the hunt for the most magical bang for my buck!

Today I’m keeping this in mind and sharing with you some of my favorite Disney World Dining Tips including restaurant picks and money saving tips.  Let’s get going!

1.  Find a Bargain in the Buffet

Utilizing one of the many buffet offerings at Disney World is a great way to save money.  Buffet restaurants can be found throughout the parks and resorts and offer the bargain hunter a wide variety of eats!  Since buffet restaurants allow you to eat to your heart’s content, selecting a buffet restaurant as a late lunch will allow you to stretch your dollar.  I recommend a quick breakfast in the room or something light in the parks a mid day snack and the late lunch.  If your crowd is particularly hungry, you can always snack later in the night.

Here are a few of my favorite buffet restaurants

Hollywood and Vine

Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Type of Dining:  Table Service with characters at lunch/no characters at dinner

Price: Moderate $$-$$$

Trails End

Location:  Fort Wilderness Resort

Type of Dining:  Table Service with characters

Price:  Moderate $$-$$$

Biergarten

Location:  EPCOT World Showcase Germany Pavilion

Type of Dining:  Table Service with entertainment

Price:  Moderate $$-$$$

Liberty Tree Tavern

Location:  Magic Kingdom Liberty Square

Type of Dining:  Table Service without characters

Price:  Moderate $$-$$$

Chef Mickeys 

Location:  Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Type of Dining:  Table Service with characters

Price:  Moderate $$-$$$

2.  Scale  Back on Quick-Service Meals

Another way to save is to share a meal!  I find splitting a meal especially helpful when I plan on doing a lot of snacking.  I look for quick-service restaurants that serve large portions or let you customize your meal.  For example, restaurants with a topping bar for your burgers and sandwiches.  I find that splitting a burger and then fancying it up a bit hits the spot.  Another idea for scaling back is to eat off of the kids meal at quick-service restaurants.  The portions are enough to fill you and the price difference is nice on the wallet.

Here are a few of my favorite quick service restaurants that make for easy sharing!

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe 

Location:  Magic Kingdom Tomorrowland

Type of Dining:  Quick-service

Price:  Value $

Scale back pick:  because of the build your burger topping bar and wide variety of hearty meal options and kids meal options

Everything Pop! 

Location:  Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Type of Dining:  Quick-service

Price:  Value $

Scale back pick:  Wide variety of choices in one convenient food court!  Portions are great for sharing!

Sunshine Seasons

Location:  EPCOT

Type of Dining:  Quick-service

Price:  Value $

Scale back pick:  Wide variety of choices in one convenient food court!  You get to eat loads here, plus if you go for dessert, you can select a HUGE dessert item from the bakery case!   Splitting is the way to go here!

3.  FREEfill

I am going for a copyright on this word.  Okay, not really, but it is a Disney term of endearment for me and my crew!  A FREEfill is defined as a quick-service restaurant that allows for free refills.  At Disney World, this is a rarity.  I don’t know about you, but I typically want more than the typical cup of drink when I’m at Disney World, especially when it is hot out.  So today, I’m sharing with you my top quick-service spots with self serve drink stations.  Save on your sips and bargain up!

My picks:

Resort Food Courts (to an extent now thanks to Rapid Fill)

Magic Kingdom:  Be our Guest (lunch)

EPCOT:  Sunshine Seasons, Electric Umbrella

Animal Kingdom:  Restaurantosaurus

 

I hope that all you bargain finders will enjoy these tips and suggestions.  What is your best bargain saving tip or suggestion for eating in the parks?  Do you have any especially cheap eating tips?  Share them in the comment section below!

As always, thanks for reading and commenting!

See ya real soon,

Ashley

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