How to Save Money on Food at Disney World

A trip to Walt Disney World is expensive. Between the theme park tickets, hotel stays and of course the souvenirs that’ll be purchased, the vacation budget can quickly swell. There are several ways that you can save here and there to bring down the cost of your trip. For tips on how to save money on merchandise click here. For tips on how to save on theme park tickets click here. Today, we’re looking at how you can save money on food during your Disney World vacation. We’ve come up with 9 ways you can save money on food during your Disney World vacation.

1. Brunch and Lupper

One way you can save money on food at Walt Disney World is to skip dining out for three meals a day and condense your meals into brunch and lupper. This also helps with getting popular dining reservations. When eating out for these odd times of day you may even find yourself not as hungry so you’ll order less and therefore spend less.

2. Bring Your Own Snacks

Bring snacks from home. For every Disney World vacation we bring lots of our favourite snacks from home. Snacks that are non-perishable and are sure to sit well in our stomachs. This saves tons of money and time. We eat our snacks while waiting in line for attractions. By having your favourite snacks from home on hand, you’ll curb knee jerk food spending.

3. Skip Buffet Restaurants

Buffet restaurants are some of the most popular restaurants at Walt Disney World. These restaurants are also some of the most expensive. When dining at a buffet restaurant you can’t adjust the cost of your meal. The bill will be the same no matter what you order. At other restaurants you can make choices to bring down the cost of your meal. At a buffet restaurant you’re stuck with the cost.

4. Skip Character Meals

Character meals are some of the most expensive meals at Walt Disney World. Hollywood & Vine, the character restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the most expensive at that park. Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, a character restaurant at Disney’s Epcot is the most expensive at that park. Cinderella’s Royal Table, a character restaurant at Disney’s Magic Kingdom is not only the most expensive restaurant at the park but one of the most expensive restaurants on Walt Disney World property. By avoiding character meals you’re decreasing your chances of spending too much money on meals.

5. Eat Breakfast in your Room

Grab breakfast before you even leave your hotel. This will cut major dining costs. We typically buy some cereal, milk and bread when we arrive. Using these items to create breakfast right in our room.

6. Skip the Booze

Even though you’re on vacation, skipping the alcoholic beverages will really bring down the food spending. Alcoholic beverages are double, sometimes triple what a non-alcoholic beverage is. Or even better, order water and then you’ll have no cost for beverages.

7. Bring Refillable Mugs

Bring your own water bottle or bring one of the popular refillable mugs everywhere. There are water fountains found everywhere on Disney World property. And with how hot it gets there, you know you’re going to need beverages throughout the day. By having a drinking container handy, you can easily fill these up with water and resist purchasing drinks.

8. Do Your Research

Before heading to Walt Disney World, research where you want to eat. If you’re concerned about spending, choose some of the cheaper restaurants. Most of the restaurants at Disney World are amazing. The most expensive restaurants doesn’t always mean the best. So choose restaurants that are within your budget, instead of on other people’s wish list.

9. Buy a Dining Plan

While writing this post, the dining plans at Disney World are on a hiatus. But when they return, purchasing a dining plan is one of the best ways to save on dining at Walt Disney World. When you purchase a dining plan you pay a flat fee for meal credits to be used throughout your vacation. Then when you dine at restaurants you can choose from anything on the menu. We’ve always ended up saving money by purchasing a dining plan, and spending more when not on the dining plan. For more on that click here.

There you have it. 9 ways to save money on food when visiting Walt Disney World. Following even a couple of these tips will have your walking away from your vacation with a few more dollars in your pocket. For more tips on spending money on your Disney World vacation, take a look at these previous posts:

How to Get the Best Deal for your Disney World Vacation

Create a Disney World Vacation Budget

The Cheapest Restaurant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney World Value Resorts Ranked Cheapest to Most Expensive