12 Dining Tips to Help Your Family Stay Within Budget at Disney
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Taking a trip to Disney World or Disneyland is a vacation the whole family will remember forever, but that shouldn't mean you have to take out a second mortgage in order to get the full experience.
One of the best parts about the parks is the incredible, one-of-a-kind restaurants, and while it's loads of fun to try to eat as much Disney food as possible, we're not oblivious to the fact that the whole thing can get quite pricey. But with a little planning, you can score food deals that will give your wallet a rest.
Look into the Disney Dining Plan.
Whether or not the Disney Dining Plan is worth the price tag remains an ongoing discussion, but the truth is, you just have to figure out if one of the packages is worth it for your family. Many people say that it helps take the stress out of planning and paying for meals, since you do that in advance, so it's worth a little research.
Eat breakfast in your room.
With all the excitement for the day ahead, you probably don't want a drawn-out breakfast anyway! Keep cereal, fruit, oatmeal, and other easy breakfasts in your room (make hot water in the room's coffee maker), and you're all set.
Check to see when restaurants let kids eat for free.
While offers can change at any time, many Disney restaurants allow children ages 12 and under to eat for free with the purchase of an adult entrée on particular days, so check ahead with the restaurant as you plan out your meal stops!
Stick with water.
A couple of dollars here and there for a soda or juice might not seem like a lot in the moment, but when everyone in your group does it for a couple of days it really adds up. Stick with the free stuff!
Pack your snacks.
Do your wallet a favor and stow some snacks in your bag like granola bars, pretzels, and protein cookies.
Actually, pack all of your meals!
No foods are banned at Disney parks (aside from alcohol). Just make sure you stick to the cooler requirement and you never have to spend money at a restaurant at all. Fill that baby with sandwiches and keep it moving.
Eat a late breakfast or early lunch buffet.
Kill two birds with one stone by indulging in a brunch buffet. Not only are buffets typically cheaper the earlier in the day you go, but snacks you pack yourself should hold you over until dinner that evening.
Take advantage of food delivery services.
You know how Amazon is your lifeline at home? Use it while you're at Disney, too. You'll be especially thankful on the days you're just too tired to sit up in a restaurant. Try Garden Grocer as another option.
Avoid buying water bottles on-site.
Disney World and Disneyland quickly get hot with the afternoon sun, and you'll kick yourself when you have to wait in line for an overpriced bottle of water. Disney pros say to drink half of the bottle the night before, lay the bottle on its side, and freeze it in your hotel room overnight. Then, in the morning, fill up the rest of the bottle and you have a cold, cheap water to keep you cool through part of the day.
Order a kids’ meal for yourself, if you’re not that hungry.
If you're not especially hungry one day, consider ordering of the kids' menu (unless the restaurant is strict about the age limit). The proportions typically aren't super small and you would save a good chunk of change.
Another money-saving tip: Order a large dish and bring half of it back to your hotel for lunch or dinner the next day.
Treat lunch like dinner.
Dinner prices are bound to be higher than lunch, so opt to treat yourself to a sit-down lunch at a nice restaurant and go on a more casual route for dinner. You'll get the experience you want without a higher bill.
Make reservations months in advance.
If you plan to look over menus in advance to find the most wallet-friendly options, book the table-service restaurants ASAP. You can reserve a table up to 180 days in advance to take the stress of vacations.