There are tons of great dining options, snacks and drinks, and desserts at Walt Disney. But all those delicious things come at a cost. Here are some tips to help you splurge on those indulgences without breaking the bank.
Choose Your Snacks Wisely – There are snack stands everywhere you look at Walt Disney World. But don’t waste your money on common snacks you can get anywhere. Save your money for those special snacks that you can’t get at home. You can always pack a bag with some light snacks to bring to the parks. My must-do park snack is a Dole Whip.
Sit in the Lounge – Some restaurants with pre-fixe dining in their main dining room, also allow reservations in their lounges. This is a great way to enjoy the restaurant’s ambiance without the pre-fix price. Tiffins at Animal Kingdom and Space 220 at Epcot are great examples of this. While the lounges have a scaled-down version of the menu, you’ll be able to order a la carte and spend a lot less. Make sure to check the My Disney Experience app on the day off for last-minute walk-up reservations.
Character Dining – Many of the character dining restaurants offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. When you have the option, pick breakfast. This will cost about half of what dinner and lunch will cost and you still get the same amount of time with the characters. Breakfast is also an easy option if you have any picky eaters in your group. There’s generally always something on the breakfast menu for the fussiest of eaters. My pick for character breakfast is Chef Mickey’s.
Save on Drinks – With the cost of soft drinks being almost $5.00 per person at Disney restaurants, it can really add up quickly, especially when ordering them at every meal. Consider ordering water instead for a meal each day. Or when you’re needing a drink in-between attractions, stop at any quick service restaurant or kiosk that services fountain drinks and they will give you a glass of ice water, free of charge.
Have a Kid’s Meal – If you’re a light eater, consider ordering a kid’s meal for yourself. They cost half the price of adult entrees and come with a drink and at least one side.
Get Some Groceries – Before you leave home, make a list of some staples that you can keep in your hotel room. All Disney Resort hotel rooms have mini-fridges. So, you can include a few perishables if needed. My family always gets some grab-and-go breakfast/granola bars. These are great for those early park hours. Another thing we ALWAYS order is a case of water. You can buy a case of water from the store for about the same price as one bottle in the park! Getting groceries is an easy task if you’re driving on vacation. But, if you are flying, you can use a delivery service to order your groceries from or book a private transfer from the airport that offers a complimentary grocery stop. If you’re someone that enjoys ending the night with a beer or glass of wine, many ordering services will deliver alcohol with your groceries. (You will need to be present for delivery if you order alcohol to show proof of age.) My favorite ordering services in Orlando are Instacart and Water Butlers
By using just one or two of these tips, you’ll be able to save some money while still being able to splurge on your favorite things!
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