As I mentioned yesterday it is significantly cheaper to bring your own snacks to the park, but if you are planning to eat at the park here are a few tips.
There are essentially three types of dining options at Disney World. Concession stands, which sell everything from soda, to ice cream to turkey legs. Quick service; at these restaurants you order at the counter, receive your food, and then find your own table. Finally there are numerous full service restaurants in the parks, this the most expensive dining option at Disney.
Currently (until June 21st) Disney is running a dinner special:
If you purchase a 5-night/6-day Magic Your Way hotel and theme park ticket packages, your family will enjoy the Disney Dining Plan, Free. That’s a savings of $654 for a family of four. Valid for stays most nights 8/16/09 to 10/03/09. It’s the Disney vacation you’ve been dreaming of. Rooms fill up fast. Book through June 21, 2009.
The dining plan includes one quick service meal, one snack, and one table service meal per person per night. Click here for more information.
First, do not eat during typical dining hours. If you can hold off until after 2pm for lunch the restaurants will be less crowded, lines are shorter and it will be easier to find a table.
Table service meals usually require reservations, especially during the busy seasons. With the most popular restaurants you will want to reserve a few months in advance. Disney accepts reservations up to 90 days in advance for their table service restaurants.
If you are going to splurge for a table service meal and you have children, I highly recommend character dining or a dinner show. While they are expensive, you will be entertained.
I believe all the character dining options are priced the same, so pick the one your children (and you) would enjoy the most. They all have different menus too, so make sure you like the food!
There are also many great restaurants located in the hotels. The Animal Kingdom Lodge has and excellent buffet and the lodge itself is a work of art. Dine buffet style and enjoy the wildlife preserve right outside the restaurant windows!
My boys wanted to eat this food at the Swiss Family Robinson Tree House in the Magic Kingdom.
I know I said I would share some of our favorite dining spots, but I think I’ll save that for tomorrow’s post!
Sharing food also saves money. 3 or 4 counter service meals is plenty for my family of 6 to share.
I always think that spread at Swiss family Tree House looks good too
Thanks for the series. We are leaving for Disney in two weeks! It will be our second trip and we are only staying three days (lodging is off-site), so we want to make the best of it!
Andrea in NC
We always get the dining plan and it saves us a lot of money. We always got to the Crystal Palace. It is a character buffet with Winnie the Pooh and Friends. We also love the Sci-Fi in Hollywood Studios.
Disney has gotten really good at increasing their vegetarian options, too. Most quick service places offer veggie burgers, but they aren’t always on the menu. But we have found them to be quite flexible if you ask.
We just booked for Sept. using the free dining plan. It will be our 3rd time using it and I love it! Only problem, I am always so stuffed after our trip!
If there is not a vegetarian option or you have food allergies – please ask a manager. My DH is a Manager at a Quick Service Restaurant Manager and they do have allergy / vegetarian options that they will make to order for you. Or, they can direct you to a restaurant that will cater to your needs.
Also, please be aware that some of the more upscale Full Service Restaurants charge 2 meals for 1, so please keep that in mind when planning your meals!