Because we travel to Walt Disney World from NC several times a year and are a single-income household, we have to maintain a strict (and cheap) budget to afford that many trips happen in one year. That means that more often than not, we’re eating quick service meals if we eat in the parks instead of a table service meal. After the first few trips we learned that you don’t have to stick with the mundane burgers and fries for every meal. Disney World actually has quite an array of quick service food options that satisfy the taste buds and wallet. One thing to note is that we usually opt for water instead of buying a soft drink, so that also cuts down on the costs, but we don’t always skimp out on a good dessert. So, here are my Top 10 Quick Service Restaurants/Meals Under $15 at Walt Disney World.
10. Captain Cook’s (Polynesian Resort) – This is a popular place, not because of lunch, but because of the Tonga Toast you can get at breakfast. But, I have to ashamedly admit that I’ve never been there to try it. I know, I know, what is wrong with me? I didn’t know about it for a while, then kept seeing it pop up on everyone’s ‘Must Eat’ lists, so we are for sure going to stop at the Polynesian before heading to Magic Kingdom one day soon to enjoy this fan favorite, especially since it’s under $6.
9. Cosmic Rays Starlight Café (Magic Kingdom) – While the food isn’t anything to write home about really (burgers, sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, etc., all under $10 for the most part), the atmosphere here in the late evenings is great. We love finding a seat near “Sonny Eclipse” who will entertain you with some songs while you eat. Another great thing about this restaurant is that you can sit out on the patio and overlook the water and Cinderella’s castle. If you’re attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party this year, be sure to stop in for a cool dance party with characters as well.
8. Sunshine Seasons (EPCOT) – While I’ve never really eaten anything other than breakfast here, this always comes up as a top place to eat from others I know. You can find rotisserie chicken, Asian entrees and sandwiches. The desserts aren’t half bad either (we like the chocolate mousse cake and often eat it for a 10AM snack…). And at about $11 for the most expensive option, you can easily get one of those desserts and keep your meal under $15.
7. Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie (EPCOT – France Pavilion) – Just hearing the name makes me think of their Chocolate Mousse, a traditional dessert for us. But they have so many great entrees as well, including hot sandwiches and quiches. This is definitely a budget friendly quick service restaurant with the most expensive entree being just over $9. Your hardest choice will probably be picking which dessert you want with your meal from the plethora of choices.
6. La Cantina de San Angel (EPCOT – Mexico Pavilion) – This isn’t always the favorite quick service counter of a lot of people, but we really enjoyed it. We grabbed a great table overlooking the water and enjoyed the Tacos de Pollo and the yummy Churritos with caramel sauce. The nachos are always plentiful and look yummy as well. We actually shared the entrée/dessert the last time we ate there, so you get quite a bit of food and dessert for the price. The entrees are just under $12 for the most expensive option, so depending on which one you get, you could hit the $16 mark for your entree and dessert.
5. Pecos Bills (Magic Kingdom) – We love Pecos Bills because of two words – Toppings Bar! We can never eat an entire adult burger meal when in the parks, so we typically opt for the $6 Kid’s Cheeseburger Meal instead, as that is enough food for us at lunch. The toppings bar is awesome and you can find typical things like lettuce and tomato, but even better are the grilled onions and the melted cheese. I tend to grab a couple extra cups of the cheese to dip my fries into. Definitely not the healthiest meal, but two adults can eat for under $15 and that’s a winner in my book! Of if you really want to eat an adult size burger, then you’re looking at $10 for the entree at most. The desserts are never really anything to write home about in these types of burger quick service restaurants, so we usually opt-out for dessert here.
4. Flame Tree Barbecue (Animal Kingdom) – If you ask anyone what the best quick service meal is in Animal Kingdom, you will probably hear it’s Flame Tree BBQ. I’m from NC, so I love my BBQ (the vinegar based Eastern NC kind) and even though this isn’t exactly the type I normally eat, this BBQ has a great smoky flavor that I love. My favorite entree is the BBQ Sandwich that costs $9, but my husband loves the ribs & chicken. which will run you about $12. Much like Pecos Bills, the dessert options here are limited to the standard dessert options.
3. Yorkshire County Fish Shop (EPCOT) – I am not a fan of seafood at all, so I tend to avoid eating it at all costs. However, I love the fish and chips here and it’s my weakness when I visit EPCOT. The beer-battered fish is so flavorful and the chips are awesome as well. You can’t go wrong here. Beware though, it is a bit greasy, so grab some extra napkins to soak up the grease. A basket of 2 fish strips with chips will cost you $9 and they keep raising the price nearly ever time we visit it seems. They only have one dessert option here, so we just skip getting dessert with our entree and instead walk over to France afterwards for an awesome dessert.
2. Earl of Sandwich (Downtown Disney) – this is the cheapest and best sandwich you will find on property. Forget those other popular sandwich shops, once you have an Earl of Sandwich meal, every other sandwich will seem mediocre. Their warm toasted bread really makes the sandwich in my opinion. And don’t let the long lines deter you away from trying it – they are really fast and efficient at moving the lines and getting your order up quickly. At only $6 for the sandwich, we can both easily eat for under $15 total.
1. Be Our Guest (Magic Kingdom) – This is by far our favorite location to grab a quick service meal, so much so that we’re eating there at least twice during our next trip. We were actually there for the official opening day back in 2012 and quickly fell in love with both the atmosphere and the food. The braised pork is the most expensive menu option at $12, but it is absolutely mouth-watering (think of it as a pot roast, only made with pork). The cupcakes are heavenly and can beat any other Disney cupcake in a heartbeat, especially with their $2.99 price. Because the food is so great at lunch, we don’t feel the need to spend the extra money for the table service dinner option…
You probably noticed that I didn’t list anything from Hollywood Studios here and there’s a reason why – we’ve yet to really find any great quick service meal there. We usually end up leaving the parks before lunch and grabbing something to eat elsewhere. This seems to be the consensus among others who have visited as well.
Did I miss another great Under $15/meal Quick Service location? What are some of your favorite Quick Service meals?
