Meals at Walt Disney World can blow holes in your budget. Full service restaurants within the parks average $25 per person for dinner and $15 for lunch including taxes and tip, but not alcoholic beverages. Fast food options average $7-10 per person including taxes. Dining at Disney is part of the adventure. You can eat dinner in Morocco and lunch in an aquarium, have breakfast in Cinderella’s Castle and dinner at Hollywood’s Brown Derby. You can even have breakfast with Mickey Mouse. All this ambiance adds to the cost, however.
To save money on meals, especially when traveling with young children, consider taking bottled water, sodas, and light snacks with you to the parks. Spend your money on memorable meals, not just because everyone is tired and thirsty. When dining at a Disney restaurant, take advantage of the priority seating option offers Disney hotel guests. This option gives you a dinner time slot and allows you to be seated ahead of those without priority seating. Not quite a reservation, but better than standing in line.
Booking one of Disney’s condominium properties, such as Wilderness Lodge Villas or the Old Key West villas, can also save you money on meals. These larger accommodations are designed for families and offer kitchenettes in studio units and full kitchens in the larger one and two-bedroom units. While these accommodations are, generally, more expensive, you can save considerably by preparing your own meals.
Family Secrets
Families are what Walt Disney World is all about. What about having your next family reunion at Walt Disney World? Group airfares and off-season hotel discounts, plus the fun of Disney can make your family event memorable.