DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
It’s no secret that dining at the Walt Disney World Resort can take up a lot of room in your budget. While there really is no such thing as a “cheap” meal at the parks and resorts, there are some options that can give you a greater bang for your buck and help stretch that budget a little further.
1. Grand Floridian Cafe
The Grand Floridian Cafe is one of the most underrated restaurants in Walt Disney World, and it comes at quite the reasonable price point. Located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, this restaurant is often overshadowed by the resort’s signature and character dining locations. It’s the perfect budget table service experience though, with a menu featuring a wide variety of American fare for all three meals of the day with most entrees being around $20 or less.
2. Kona Cafe
Kona Cafe is one of the best values for table service breakfast at Walt Disney World. This restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort features classic American breakfasts mixed with Polynesian entrees and fan favorites like the sweet and sugary Tonga Toast. Most entrees are under $20 for breakfast, and the sushi menu and coffee bar are reasonably priced throughout the day.
3. The Wave… of American Flavors
Located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Wave is hugely overlooked in favor of Chef Mickey’s or California Grill. While the Wave is a solid choice for any meal, the greatest value comes with the breakfast buffet. Guests dining during breakfast may choose from a la carte options or from the buffet, and the buffet is priced at just under $30 per adult– a huge savings from most Disney breakfast buffets.
4. Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater
The Sci-Fi Dine in Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers a meal and a show for a fraction of what other table service restaurants cost. Menu prices vary, so the value will really depend on what you order, but for something more standard like a cheeseburger meal, you’ll find that you’re only spending a few dollars more per entree than you would at a quick service restaurant.
5. Satu’li Canteen
Pandora: World of Avatar, the newest land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom features one of the most unique restaurants at Walt Disney World, Satu’li Canteen. This location is far from the cheapest quick service location, but it still gives a great bang for your buck. Many of the entrees here are bowls that can be entirely customized by each guest (something that is hard to come by with quick service), and with the addition of ceramic plates and real silverware it feels like more of an “experience” than other quick service stops.
6. Flame Tree Barbecue
Flame Tree Barbecue, also located in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is still not the cheapest quick service restaurant in the park. The value here comes with the size of the entrees. For instance, two adults can easily split the $20 full rack of ribs, and while $20 for a quick service meal seems like a lot, when split $10 per adult is actually an excellent deal. Most of the entrees at Flame Tree are large enough to be split, which gives them a greater value despite the high price point.
7. Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Cafe
This Magic Kingdom quick service restaurant is already a great value with reasonable menu prices and large portions, but there is one thing here that really sets it apart: the toppings bar. Not only does the toppings bar at Pecos Bill’s feature all the toppings you like to customize nachos and burritos (like cheese, salsa, lettuce, corn, etc…) but it also features unlimited guacamole, that unlike most other non-Disney versions of this kind of restaurant does not come at an extra cost.
8. Boma – Flavors of Africa
Boma, located in Animal Kingdom Lodge, falls at the same price point as most other Disney dinner buffets however the value here comes with the variety of food offered. Even if you take just a small taste of each item in the buffet, you’re probably going to find yourself too full to finish trying everything simply because there is so much food. And all of the food, being “Flavors of Africa” includes unique dishes that you’re not likely to find in other Disney restaurants.
9. Captain Cook’s
Captain Cook’s is the quick service restaurant for Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and the biggest savings here comes in ordering the Tonga Toast. At almost half the price for a very similar dish at Kona Cafe, dining at Captain Cook’s is the cheapest way to enjoy Tonga Toast. (It does not come with a side like bacon or sausage like it does at Kona Cafe, but even with the side it is slightly less expensive).
10. Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge
The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge offers a more affordable way to sample some of the offerings at the attached signature restaurant. While full entrees are not available, you can dine at the lounge outside of the Hollywood Brown Derby and enjoy a variety of appetizers (including the famous Cobb Salad for $10), desserts, and cocktails for a fraction of what the interior restaurant would cost.
