Disney is synonymous with a lot of money spent on food. But would it be possible to eat in Disney parks spending little?
On this post
Yes, it is possible and in this post we will give you a series of suggestions and tips so you know what eat at Disney and where to eat to get good food without having to spend a lot of money.
Walt Disney World is huge and offers several locations and theme parks.
Therefore, to make it easier to read and search this post, we will divide the tips by park: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal kingdom.
In this post we will focus on the Disney parks, if you want tips on how to save on food in other Orlando parks such as Universal Studios or SeaWorld, let us know in the comments!
Remembering, if you need a more specialized consultancy for you and your group, make your request for Custom script with us.
Saving on Food at the Magic Kingdom
eat cheap in Magic Kingdom It's not easy, but it's something that is possible to do.
The Magic Kingdom It is a giant arch and offers several food options.
Of course, inside the Disney parks, the value of food is always higher than almost anywhere outside the parks.
But there are still good options at a good cost for you and your group.
Let's check.
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
Have you ever imagined eating in a saloon in the Old West?
This could be your big opportunity!
Pecos Bill Talle Tale Inn and Cafe is all decorated in the Wild West theme and offers some really cool dishes on its menu.
The cuisine at this restaurant is more Mexican-American in style.
However, an interesting option here is the cheeseburger made from angus beef.
The burger is grilled on the grill, bacon and American cheese melted on top, accompanied by a portion of tortilla chips. That's for just over $$12.
An interesting option for vegetarians is the Southwest Salad: mix of green leaves, with bean salsa, tomato and tortilla. The value is just over $10 dollars.
Good options for kids are: the vegetarian rice bowl ($7.19 USD) and the cheeseburger ($7.69 USD).
Tomorrowland terrace
One of my favorite places in the Magic Kingdom is the Tomorrowland.
Over there, there is a really cool restaurant called Tomorrowland terrace, with tasty options for your lunch.
For example the salad with chicken wings, which costs $10.99 dollars.
There are also vegetarian options like the vegetarian cheeseburger with vegan barbecue aioli, vegan cheddar cheese and onion strips for just over $$12.
Columbia Harbor House
Located in Liberty Square, this restaurant is, perhaps, the most suitable for those who go to the Magic Kingdom and want to eat good and cheap food for lunch or dinner.
Most of the time we go to the Magic Kingdom we try to fit in a lunch or dinner there.
The variety of dishes is huge, serving everything from chicken to seafood, with sandwich options as well.
Excellent options like grilled salmon ($$14.29), served with rice and vegetables.
Another excellent option is the Lobster Roll with French Fries for $16.99.
There are also good options on the children's menu, such as: Shrimp skewers, Grilled Salmon, Fried Shrimp or Chicken Strips. All for $8.50 each.
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café
The Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café it is the largest Quick Service restaurant in the park.
Therefore, it is a restaurant where you will find everything.
Lots of hamburger options, nuggets and even salads for those people who don't want to go off the diet.
Speaking more specifically, some of the options found there are:
Chili Cheese Beef Hot Dog for $14.29, Bacon Angus Burger for $12.79 or a Greek Salad for $9.29
The menu is quite extensive and you can check out all the items on the official website of the restaurant.
Pinocchio Village Haus
Pinocchio Village Haus is a Fantasyland restaurant with a Pinocchio theme and is a great place to order FlatBreads (Pizza).
In fact, nothing more appropriate, given that the story takes place in Italy.
Some examples of their menu are:
All-Meat Flatbread (sausage, pepperoni, ham and bacon) for $12.29, Pepperoni Flatbread for $12.29 and Ceaser Salad with Chicken for $11.59, among others.
Here you can see the full menu.
Cheap Desserts at the Magic Kingdom
The options above are those for those who want to eat cheaply at the Magic Kingdom.
But what if you want to complement the meal with an inexpensive dessert? Don't worry, we'll list excellent options here in some of the restaurants already mentioned above!
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
One option is the Greek yogurt which costs $3.19 dollars, another delicious option is the Churros Nugget EARidescence served with chocolate sauce for $6.19.
Tomorrowland terrace
You'll also find Greek Yogurt for $$3.19 at Tomorrowland Terrace.
You'll also find a Minnie Cholocate Chip Cookie there for $4.49 dollars.
Columbia Harbor House
Here you'll find a delicious Blackberry Donut Milkshake with Purple Chocolate Icing and Black Sprinkles for $7.99 called Happy Haunts Milkshake.
In addition to the same Greek yogurt as the other restaurants.
Where to Eat Cheap at Animal Kingdom
Satu?li Canteen
Satu'li Canteen is the themed restaurant in Pandora, Avatar area in Animal Kingdom.
It has an amazing theme, especially for a Quick Service type restaurant.
At the Satu'li Canteen you have the option to choose your protein, accompaniment and assemble your plate.
And it is worth mentioning that the food is really very good!
Also, it's one of the few restaurants in the park where you eat with a metal knife and fork.
The food is very diverse there, there are several dishes inspired by the planet Pandora, the planet where the movie Avatar takes place.
We have listed some of the best options you can find on the Satu'li Canteen Menu:
Combo Bowl: Grilled Beef and Chicken $17.99;
Chili Garlic Shrimp Bowl $15.49;
Steam bun with cheeseburger ? Bao Buns $13.29;
By the way, there are also very interesting options for dessert: Cream cheese and blueberry mousse $5.79;
Here you can see the full menu!
Flame Tree Barbecue
After Satu'li Canteen, this is the second best Quick Service restaurant in the Park, in my opinion.
No wonder the Flame Tree Barbecue It is on this list because, in addition to being delicious, it is one of the cheapest in the park.
Including, it offers one of the best places to sit and enjoy the energy of Animal Kingdom while you eat.
It is worth mentioning that in addition to food, it offers a wide range of drinks and drinks, however they are not exactly cheap, so we will not mention them on this list.
Regarding food, some of the options we recommend are:
Baked macaroni and cheese with pulled pork roast for $12.49;
Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich for $11.79;
Rib and chicken combo for $15.69;
It is worth mentioning that the dishes here are not super big, but 2 for 2 people will definitely leave you very satisfied.
By the way, if you want a more in-depth guide, we have a post entirely dedicated to how to eat cheaply at Animal Kingdom on here!
Where to Eat at Epcot Spending Little
eat cheap in Epcot it can be quite a challenge if you are not prepared.
How is the biggest Disney parks It offers the most food options.
Therefore, there are some restaurants that are very popular which causes prices to be slightly higher.
Also, without planning it's easy to choose an expensive restaurant or one that you don't like the food so much.
It's easy to choose the wrong one, as the number of restaurants found there is huge.
Epcot stands out for having the famous World showcase, which brings together monuments and restaurants from different countries around the world.
And it is precisely there where we find the best cheap restaurant options, let’s check it out:
Tutto Gusto Winery
Adega Tutto Gusto is a restaurant located in the Italy pavilion.
The most expensive option is La Siciliana, a board with mozzarella Fior di Latte, salami and a caponata salad that costs $27 dollars.
This cold board serves two people.
An economical option found there are paninis in different flavors ranging from parma ham to Mozzarella Fior di Latte.
The paninis come with a Ceaser salad and cost around $14 each.
Katsura Grill
If you like Japanese food, then you will love Katsura Grill.
Located in japan pavilion at World Showcase, the restaurant has one of the most economical menus at Epcot.
The options we most recommend are Shrimp and Chicken Teriyaki, Chicken Cutlet with Curry or Chicken Teriyaki.
All these dishes come with rice and a mix of vegetables and cost an average of $15.
Of course, you can check out all the menu items on the official site from the restaurant.
Lotus Blossom Coffee
The Lotus Blossom Coffee is a restaurant located in Pavilhão da China and offers good economic options on its menu.
Some of the options found there are:
Pork spring rolls for $5.25;
Chicken gyozas for $6.50;
Chicken combo in orange sauce for $14.50
These are very tasty dishes, even for those who don't usually eat Chinese food.
What are the alternatives to a cheap dessert in the park?
Of all the restaurants mentioned above, the one we think best offers dessert alternatives is Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar.
Therefore, he is the only one from the list above that enters the dessert list.
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar
All desserts at this restaurant are served in Dolci format, which are small dessert cups.
The options are amazing like Cannoli for $11, Ricotta pie for $13 or Tiramisu for also $13 dollars.
Eat on the Budget at Disney's Hollywood Studios
At Hollywood Studios we selected 3 restaurants that are excellent, good and cheap options in the park.
Dockside Diner
The Dockside Diner is a Quick Service restaurant located in Echo Lake.
One of the options I recommend there is the Shrimp Salad Roll which is composed of: Shrimp, arugula, tomato, pickled fennel and sliced radish with Rémoulade sauce on buttered brioche bread served with seasoned house fries. That's all for $13.79.
For the kids, they serve macaroni and cheese with your choice of side dishes. It costs $6.99 dollars.
ABC Commissioner
If you are vegan or vegetarian this is the best option on the list of cheap Hollywood Studios restaurants for you.
The ABC Commissioner, on Commissary Lane, is not a vegetarian restaurant, but it does have some interesting options.
The first is the California Vegetarian Hamburger, which is a fresh vegetable-based burger grilled with sriracha mustard, grilled peppers with balsamic vinegar reduction and onion with a blend of ?mayonnaise? and ketchup, lettuce and tomato, served with choice of side for $$12.79.
Another good alternative is the Mediterranean salad, which costs $10.29 dollars.
PizzeRizzo
Pizzerizzo is the restaurant that replaced the old Pizza Planet.
Its theme is what a New York pizzeria would look like if it were run by the Muppets.
The pizzas are individual and each cost approximately 10 dollars and the restaurant offers some good options.
Plus, there are options for kids beyond pizza, like a chicken sandwich for $$7 or macaroni and cheese for just $$6.49.
Cheap Dessert at Hollywood Studios
Again let's see the cheap options and in the same restaurants mentioned before
Dockside Diner
There you can find the Seaside Brownie, a delicious brownie with white chocolate ganache for $5.19.
ABC Commissary
ABC Commissary offers a good option which is the Mint Chocolate Chip Cheesecake for $5.49.
PizzeRizzo
The only dessert option currently found at PizzeRizzo is the Cannoli for $$5.29.
Cheap Food Outside of Disney
It's actually much easier!
The United States is known for the huge amount of Fast-Food.
Some are good, others not so much, anyway you can save a lot by eating at some.
taking away the classics McDonalds, Burger King, KFX among others, there are also other wonderful options like Culver's and Shake shake.
We won't go on too long on this list because it's beyond the focus of this post.
If you want a list of cheap places to eat outside the parks, let us know in the comments so we know if you're interested!
Summary on Economical Food at Walt Disney World
We tried in this post to bring some different food options out of all the traditional options.
The amount of food options inside the parks is immense.
In this way we seek to bring direct solutions to what they are looking for!
Obviously, some are well known, but it's hard not to mention them in a post like this about where to eat cheaply at Disney.
Tell us here in the comments if this post helped you choose a restaurant to eat cheaper in disney parks!
Also be sure to check out our other posts about food at Disney
– Dining with Disney Characters
– Disney Dining Plan: The Disney Dining Plan
– How to eat cheaply at Disney's water parks?
– The Best Breakfast at Disney in Value for Money
– The Best Vegetarian Food Options at Magic Kingdom
– What are the best fast food in Disney?
– Disney kids food
– How to eat cheap on your trip to Disney
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About the Author Carlos Braga:
Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.
My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.
During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!
