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Trip Planning > Walt Disney World > WDW Dining > One Dozen Disney Dining Tips
One Dozen Disney Dining Tips
For Current Deals Look for the While TheMouseForLess.com tries to keep all information on this page current, information does change often. Please reference Disney's Official web site or the web sites of vendors for the most up-to-date rates and information. If you have tips to share or notice outdated links or information, you may contact us at moneysavingtips@themouseforless.com.
Breaking Dining News Seanonal pricing goes into effect for Disney Character meals and Buffets from 5/34/09 to 7/12/09. For more information, click here. Spoodles on Disney's Boardwalk will undergo several changes in the coming months as it converts to Kouzzina, Cat Cora's new restaurant due to open in the Fall. Breakfast will be discountinued from 7/1 to mid-August, and from 7/6 until 8/1, only a buffet dinner menu will be offered. Guests seeking a sitdown breakfast on the Boardwalk will be able to dine at Flying Fish Cafe from 7:30 am to 11 pm daily. Spoodles will close completely on August 2 until Kouzzina's grand opening.
The Disney Dining Plan (DDP) is Disney's Meal add-on component to vacation packages and is available only to those staying at Disney owned resorts. The Dolphin and Swan, Shades of Green, Downtown Disney and Good Neighbor hotels and resorts are excluded. It must be purchased for each person listed on the package reservation and the package must include at least one day's park admission for each person. It also must be purchased in advance. The number of days on the DDP will be equivalent to the number of nights reserved with the package. The only exceptions to the "park admission" requirement are for Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members staying on vacation points, Both groups can purchase the Dining Plan without buying park tickets . Disney offers several levels of the Disney Dining Plan including a Quick Service Plan, a Standard Plan, a Deluxe Dining Plan, and a Wine and Dine Plan. To Learn more about the various Disney Dining Plans offered and how to use them to save money on each of them, click here. Using Disney's Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) system will help to optimize the savings from your Disney's Dining Plan. Disney highly suggests that you make at least some restaurant choices in advance to ensure availability. Advance Dining Reservations can be made by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE (407 939-3463) or using a Disney-specialized travel agency. TheMouseforLess.com recommends The Magic For Less Travel. Their experienced travel counselors can make meal suggestions, and they will also do all of the calling for ADRs, all free of charge. Guests staying off Disney property can call 90 days in advance of dining dates to make reservations. Disney guests can call 90 days in advance of check-in dates to schedule dining for up to 10 days after check-in dates or use the first day of stay as the 90 day marker rather than the actual dining date. More about the current ADR rules, and when and how they apply, can be found here. In order to make the most of the Disney Dining Plan, you'll also want to have some idea of the restaurants at which you would like to dine and the prices. Like anything else, it takes a bit of footwork to make the Dining Plan work to your best advantage. TheMouseForLess has a complete list of menus available for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, although the Disney Dining Plan is currently not offered at Disneyland. You'll also find examples of how to use the various Disney Dining Plans to save money on our Disney Dining page (scroll to the example links in the middle of the page). Many Disney restaurants are more than just the food served and include unique dining experiences you won't find anywhere else. Be sure to read the restaurant reviews when available and information on special seasonal pricing. To help plan out your DDP meal credits, TheMouseForLess.com offers a handy Meal Planner Tool in Excel spreadsheet format to keep track of all of your meal credits. You can also use the ADR calculator to figure out the first date for which you can make ADRs. Lastly, watch for Disney to announce future Free Dining packages. For the past several years, Disney has offered a package that includes the Dining Plan at no additional cost. This is a terrific deal. Below is are the dates the package has been offered for the past three years. You can also check our Current Code and Discount page to locate all recent promotions offered by Disney. Previous Free Dining Dates:
Never Miss Out on Free Dining Again!
2. Annual Passholder Dining Discounts Annual Passholders are entitled to discounts at select Walt Disney World restaurants. Most discounts are 10%, but there are a few of up to 20% at Downtown Disney restaurants. Check here for a complete listing of Annual Pass Discounts at WDW restaurants. Disney has added the ability for Annual Passholders to purchase special packages that include the Disney Dining Plan but do not include tickets. Only one Annual Pass is needed to book an AP package with dining. Packages must be purchased for a minumum 3-day stay and the dining plan must be purchased for each person on the reservation for the length of the stay. Packages will also be subject to Walt Disney Travel Company advance deposit and cancellation rules. You must have a valid Annual Pass to book these packages. For more information or to book a package contact a Disney Specialized Travel Agency or call Disney at 407-W-Disney. To learn how to get GREAT Walt Disney great deals from Undercover Tourist on Walt Disney World tickets for those on your reservation that don't have an AP, visit our Disney Ticket page.
3. Tables in Wonderland Dining Discounts Tables in Wonderland (formerly Disney Dinning Experience) is a Disney restaurant discount plan for Florida residents and Annual Passholders. The plan offers a 20% discount on all food and beverages at over 70 participating Resort hotel and Theme Park restaurants. The discount is valid for parties of up to 10 Guests. Annual Passholders get a $25 discount off the regular Florida resident price of $100 on the Tables in Wonderland Membership. Click here to see a complete list of Tables in Wonderland discounts or to download a membership application. Cost-wise, Florida Residents and Annual Passholders may do slightly better to purchase the Tables at Wonderland dining membership rather than Disney's Regular Dining Plan. The membership is good for an entire year, and the discount applies to acholic beverages and appetizers that aren't offered on the standard dining plan.
4. Cooking Meals and Ordering Groceries for Delivery Disney's Deluxe Villa accommodations can add to your vacation dollar if you're willing to spend at least part of your vacation in the kitchen. Other than the Fort Wilderness Cabins (considered a Moderate resort), these are also classified as the Disney Vacation Club resorts. Disney does allow the general public to reserve these units when available, but they are very limited and should be booked as far as possible in advance. The Walt Disney World resorts that offer full kitchens include:
All 1 Bedroom and larger villas at these resorts include a complete equipped kitchen with eating area, full-size fridge, microwave, stove, oven, toaster, dishwasher, coffee maker and a complete set of cookware, dishes, silverware, and assorted other kitchen utensils. Studios include a kitchenette that contains an undercounter fridge, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, a few cabinets and a small sink. There should be glasses and mugs but Studios are only supplied with paper bowls and plates and plastic cutlery, and no cookware of any kind. There is a small table in the studio, but no real eating area such as those found in the 1BR and larger villas. The kitchenette in the Studios is probably best utilized for preparing breakfasts, snacks and possibly reheating leftovers and is not really suited to full meal preparation. For other less elaborate cooking facilities, Disney has recently added Family Suites to it's All Star Music Resort. Family Suites can accommodate up to six people and come equipped with a kitchenette with microwave, small refrigerator (4.3 cu. ft), and coffee pot for simple in-room food preparation. For photos of the All Star Music Family Suites, click here. The biggest drawback to cooking at these resorts is that convenient shopping options for purchasing reasonably priced groceries is limited. Disney veterans have used a number of strategies to overcome the shopping problem while sticking to their meal budgets. The obvious solution for those with a car is to drive to a local Publix or Super Walmart to shop (see Shopping Locally below). Since Disney has made it convenient for vacationers to visit without the need for a car, many don't have this luxury. In this situation there are at least a few approaches to consider. One option is to shop before leaving home and ship supplies to your resort. Disney resorts will accept packages if a reservation can be confirmed. Food goods to consider shipping are cold and hot cereals, poptarts, pasta, dry sauces and gravies that can be reconstituted, instant mashed potatoes, bread, powdered drink mix, and snacks. Use this list of resort phone numbers to call for specific resort shipping information. There have also been reports of vacationers purchasing cases of bottled water online at Staples at some great prices (shipping is $9.95 on orders $50 and under) and and having it delivered. Be sure to include your reservation number and arrival date with your address. Don't forget to hunt down free shipping codes. Two web sites, FreeShipping.org and FreeShippingOn.com, offer exclusive free shipping promotions and codes from more than 700 retailers Another shipping option is to use Amazon.com's Grocery Department. Shipping is free on orders over $25 and items are often discounted. Cases of bottled water are available. Aseptically sealed milk is available - it does not require refrigeration until after it's opened. Many DVC members report using Owner's Locker to store non perishable items between trips to WDW. On the surface this may not seem like a money saver - but between not having to pack so much and throwing supplies out that aren't used up during your trip, it's a wonderful option for those traveling to Walt Disney World often. It can even be used to store non-food items such a toiletries, diapers, rain ponchos, misting fans and other items one might routinely bring along. This storage service runs $99 for a year, after a one-time sign-up fee of $75. Owner's Locker allows you to keep an online inventory, and schedule free delivery and pickups of your locker to and from your resort. Just be sure to keep a list of stored items and check it before you go.
DVC members can use DVC's grocery service to purchase heavier, delicate, or fresh items that don't ship well, such as milk, eggs, fresh fruit, bottled water and soda. Each DVC resort has it's own shopping list on the DVC website. Print it, check the items to be purchased and fax it several days before arrival at Walt Disney World. There is a $5 service fee, which is less than independent shopping services, but the selection is limited and often over-priced. DVC delivers after 5 pm and owners need not be present for groceries to be delivered. The service will also put away items that need refrigerated. DVC's shopping service does not carry bulk items. If purchasing a case of bottled water rather than paying the $2.00 price in the park seems attractive, other options will need to be considered. Anyone can shop in the DVC grab 'n' go stores or marketplaces. While not as cheap as some independent grocery delivery services, it is a convenient way to buy a few staples such as milk, cereal, soda, frozen foods, etc. There are several independent grocery services that will also deliver to the Disney resorts. A few will leave deliveries with bell services if customers are not present, but items that need refrigerated may or may not be stored properly. Some delivery services will leave items that can spoil in a cooler. It's also been reported that bell services at some (if not all) resorts have a refrigerator/freezer unit for storing perishable items. It's best to inquire at the time of purchase as to how perisables will be stored. Some recommended grocery services are listed and described below: GardenGrocer.com: This service is often mentioned by Disney veterans as being reliable and reasonable. Shopping is done online and payment can be made in advance by credit card or PayPal. There is also an option to call in your credit card info and a cash-on-delivery option. To order COD, contact GardenGrocer by phone (toll free) within 24 hours to schedule a delivery & discuss payment details. Deliveries are made from 8:00 am till 9:00 pm, 7 days a week and can be scheduled days in advance. As this service gains in popularity, it is suggested that placing orders several weeks in advance can ensure that delivery for your arrival date is available--especially for busy times like Christmas, President's Week, MLK, Thanksgiving, etc. GG leaves groceries with Bell Services, carefully packaged, with the perishable items packaged separately and ensures that Bell Services holds perishables in cold storage. Delivery is free for orders over $200 and is $12 for those under $200. The minimum order amount for Garden Grocer is $40. NetGrocer.com: This is a national online grocery service that delivers by Fedex. Netgrocer gives a two hour window to cancel or change orders placed online. Since, items are shipped, customers will be charged the shipping fee after the grace period. Shipping rates are by the dollar amount purchased and run $5.99 for the first $24.99 spent and increase by approximately $5 for every additional $25 spent. Except for orders placed on weekends, groceries can be delivered to Walt Disney World resorts in approximately 7 days. Net Grocer does not accept COD payments. WeGoShop.com: More and more this site is being mentioned in Disney circles. What makes this shopping service different is that the store from which groceries are purchased can be specified, making extremely reasonable and all-purpose stores like Walmart accessible. The drawback is customers will not have sizes, brands, or prices conveniently online when ordering and won't know the bill until it's delivered. Wegoshop will even make purchases at warehouse stores like Sam's Club and Costco as long as it is a local store and listed on the individual WeGoShop.com branch location's online order form. Since these are membership stores, it will be at the discretion of each individual branch location as to whether there will be an additional fee for non-member shopping. If the service is granted the ability to make substitutions, they will pick a comparable item if the designated brand or specified size is unavailable. WeGoShop charges a $17 service/delivery fee on the first $100 worth of groceries, and increases the charge by approximately $5 for each additional $100. Customers must call 877-934-6746 ext. 15 (WDW service) for a shopping appointment or place an order online. Delivery is either same day or next day depending on the time of call and the schedules of shoppers. WeGoShop prefers that customers are present to receive orders, but will leave orders with bell services by special arrangement. A gratuity of 10% of the grocery total will be added to all orders that are left at bell services. Payment is by COD with cash, check or credit card. Minimus.com: This is another helpful website where you can order lots of things in smaller sizes - individual packets of laundry detergent and pharmacy items, travel size toiletries or kits and also snack items and travel toys. Prices are very reasonable with free shipping for orders over $20. If you'll be doing laundry doing your trip, try the new Purex all in one sheets, rather than carrying detergent, softener and dryer sheets or purchasing them doing your trip. A coupon is available on the Purex web site A few other online shopping services you may want to explore are:
For even more suggestions, read our Gathering Goodies page.
5. Shopping For Groceries Locally If staying in a Disney vacation unit or off-property rental home with cooking facilities and a car is available, nearby shopping opportunities are numerous beyond Walt Disney World borders. Publix Supermarkets and Wal-Mart stores are numerous both in Orlando and Kissimmee and can be gotten to from almost any location. Click on the store links for maps. Those staying on Walt Disney World property have several nearby shopping options. Goodings Besides Goodings, three other grocery stores are located nearby, on or adjacent to Apopka/Vineland Road, Winn-Dixie, Publix and Albertsons. To get to the Apopka-Vineland stores, go east on Hotel Plaza Blvd. It dead ends into Apopka-Vineland Road (SR 535). Turn north on Apopka-Vineland Road (535) and continue traveling north. Stay on Apopka-Vineland Road, as 535 will make a sharp turn to the west and Apopka-Vineland Road continues north. Heading south on Apopka-Vineland Road (535) will run motorist into the I-4 Lake Buena Vista Exit 68. This exit can also be used coming from the airport for those needing a grocery stop. From Downtown Disney, the grocery stores (listed below) are no more than a 5 to 15 minute drive. For a road map of Walt Disney World resort click here. Locate Hotel Plaza Blvd. on the map near Downtown Disney. It's a smaller road running off Buena Vista Drive, which loops around Downtown Disney. The stores below are listed from nearest to farthest from Walt Disney World going north on Apopka-Vineland Rd.
Winn-Dixie Publix Albertsons Albertsons accepts fax orders and will have grocery items ready for pickup when customers arrive. Not having to waste valuable park time finding the cookies in an unfamiliar store makes this an attractive vacation shopping option. Each of the stores discussed above are just due north of Crossroads Plaza on Apopka-Vineland. Along the same road are several Walgreens Stores, one to the north and one to the south of Cross Roads. The nearest is located between the Winn-Dixie store and Publix going north on Apopka-Vineland Rd. There are also many other grocery stores located in Kissimmee, as well as a Super Wal-Mart. Directions to these stores can often be confusing since Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Vine St, and US 192 are all the same road, bordering the southern portion of Walt Disney World. The Super Wal-Mart in Kissimmee is located off US 192, east of the Walt Disney World, as are many other stores. There are also a Publix, Target, and Walgreens located along this route. Another Wal-Mart SuperCenter is located at 1471 East Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee. This location is accessible coming from the Orlando International Airport via the Greeneway (417). From 417, take exit 14 south to Osceola Parkway. On Osceola Parkway turn right. Wal-Mart will be located on the left. Returning to Walt Disney World from Wal-Mart, head west on Osceola Parkway and continue to Walt Disney World exits. Click here for great route maps of US Hwy 192, Hwy 535 Downtown Disney, and International Drive. Clicking any of the links will show you the restaurants, shopping and attractions in the area.
6. Dining "Disney Style" on a Budget: A Guide for Those Not on the Dining Plan This is a highly subjective subject, and as they say "one man's passion is another man's poison." So it is with Disney dining. To further complicate the matter, with Disney dining, the quality of food and price are not the only "value" factors to consider. So many Disney restaurants offer something extra whether it be showmanship, a bit of Disney Imagineering, a spectacular view, unique theming or a special treat not found elsewhere. While dining at Disney, aim for something a little different from what's available at home. To determine what actually makes for a good "Disney" value, we also considered whether diners returned to particular restaurants on repeat visits. With so many dining options and experiences to choose from on Disney property, this seems a fair indicator as to whether diners felt they got their money's worth. Character Dining: Kids love meeting characters, but dining with them can take a bite out of a families vacation meal allowance. If on a budget, select one character meal and meet the characters in the park for the rest of the trip. Little ones will enjoy the character meals with Pooh and friends at the Crystal Palace in the Magic Kingdom or Play 'n Dine at Disney's Hollywood Studios with characters from Playhouse Disney. Little girls will want to interact with the Princesses such as the Princess Storybook Dining in Norway at Epcot or Cinderella's Gala Feast at the Grand Floridian. Opt for breakfast meals when offered as they are usually the least expensive. If none of these seem quite right, everyone loves Mickey. If we had to recommend just one character meal it would be Chef Mickey Funtime Buffet at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Lastly, for something a little different and Donald Duck, visit Donald's Safari Breakfast at the Tusker House in Animal Kingdom. It's been compared to a mini Boma with characters. For a complete list of characters meals offered at Walt Disney World Resort, click here. Magic Kingdom: Quick Service food is abundant in this park with very few options for sit-down dining. In the quick service category, there is one restaurant that seems a favorite with Disney veterans. The Pinocchio Village Haus in Fantasyland is counter service with pretty good food. The "Figaro Fries" are a "must try," piled with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, cheese, bacon. The grilled turkey and bacon Panini is another good choice here. The inner decor is rich with carved wood and movie murals that give the interior a fairy tale feel. The restaurant also offers an enjoyable view overlooking the boat loading area of "it's a small world." Another great spot for getting your money's worth is Cosmic Ray's, located in Tomorrowland. The 1/2 Rotisserie Chicken meal for around $9 and the Chicken/Ribs combo for under $14 are large enough for those with smaller appetites to share and are really quite good. Plus, Sonny Eclipse, an animated singing alien, will entertain little ones while you dine. Those who appreciate a good hotdog will want to stop by Casey's Corner on Main Street. Epcot: This is the park for dining opportunities, and most restaurants are wonderful choices offering a multitude of ethnic cuisines. Even the counter service here is tasty and varied. Almost all of the World Showcase restaurants should be tried at least once, and picking even a few gems among the many seems an impossible task. If it's a difficult decision for us, we can imagine how hard picking just one might be for a family. Therefore, we'll opt for mass appeal and one that almost everyone in a group should be able to agree upon (we have an adventuresome suggestion later).
Le Cellier Steakhouse is often recommended. Perhaps it's popularity is because a good steak suits the taste of even the pickiest eater, the prices aren't overly inflated, or because it serves up the best darn pretzel bread and cheddar cheese soup on this side of the Canadian border. Whatever the reason, Le Cellier's seems to be on everyone's "should try" list for Epcot. Be sure to make Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) for this restaurant as soon as your 90 day booking window becomes available. It fills up quickly. Disney's Hollywood Studios: There are a few restaurants here that offer what might be termed as "Disneyfied" dining experiences--that little bit of showmanship or Imagineering that you won't find anywhere else. The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater consistently gets below par reviews for both food and service. Still, who can resist dining in a booth constructed to resemble a vintage convertible while watching trailers of popular 50's creature-features on a simulated drive-in screen? The show isn't enough to draw repeat visits, though, but most say you should dine here once. That's not the case with the 50's Prime Time Cafe, with its middle-class-American fifties decor and TV's everywhere airing the Mickey Mouse Club or Dick Van Dyke shows. Patrons of this popular DHS eatery generally hate it or love it. Those who enjoy a little playful interaction with their servers frequent this establishment often. Trading quips with Mom, Dad, sister Sally and long lost cousin Eric are included in the price of the meal. If this is your thing, you'll pay about $15 for the old fashion meatloaf, a few dollars more for the lemonade to wash it down, and the scolding you'll get from "Mom" when placing your elbows on the table will be Priceless! Animal Kingdom: None of the non-character offerings at this park "feel" very Disney. Our best budget suggestions would be to stick to counter service or begin the day with a huge, hot, sticky cinnamon roll and cappuccino from Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery and then spend your hard-earned money on a nicer meal later outside of the park for dinner. To tide you over, partake of some of the many fresh fruit offerings from Harambe Fruit Market, many can be purchased for under a dollar. Downtown Disney: There are two great lunch budget choices here, Wolfgang Puck Express and Earl of Sandwich. Both of these eateries are located in the Marketplace area of Downtown Disney. Wolfgang Puck serves up individual pizzas, sandwiches and salads for about $10 and the food is excellent. Earl of Sandwich is even more economical with a cornucopia of sandwich selections on the menu for about $6. Diners really can't go wrong at Earl of Sandwich and it definitely will not break the budget. And if you simply can't live without McDonalds, you'll find one located in DTD too. Disney Resorts: Here one will find some of the best bargains and Disney experiences on property--bountiful buffets, fantastic burgers, family-style all-you-care-to-eat dinners, and interactive silliness all await. Don't hesitate to hop on Disney's resort transportation from the parks and give some of these a try. A few are within walking distance of Epcot or a short ride away on the resort monorail departing the Magic Kingdom.
The final factor to be aware of when not purchasing the Disney Dining Plan is that premium pricing goes into effect during certain peak seasons of the year. To see a list of seasonal pricing for the 2008/2009 season and the restaurants impacted, click here. TheMouseForLess Tip: For a great souvenir, have a free personalized menu made for your special meal at Narcoossee's at the Grand Floridian (note: Coral Reef will no longer do personalized menus in 2009). Menus can be arranged in advance by calling Narcoossee's at 407-824-3000 sometime after 4:30 pm. Ask about emailing a special photo if you will be celebrating a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary. Menus can be personalized with photos and your own wording.
7. Dine On-Property and Off-Property with Restaurant Coupons There are loads of discounts available to the general public for Orlando restaurants, both on property and off. TheMouseForLess will point you to a few. If planning to venture off property to dine, there are also a number of restaurants in the Orlando area that feature "kids eat free" deals. OrlandoInfo.com keeps a list of the them. To help calculate the tip, take along this handy Pocket Tipping Guide. The restaurants in the Orlando area are too numerous to mention, but just about every national restaurant chain is represented. To discover some of the many dining opportunities use these maps. Clicking on any underlined area will enlarge it to show restaurants and stores in the area. We suggest that you start with some of those located close to Downtown Disney. Simply click on Hotel Plaza link on the Hwy 535 Downtown Disney map (pink) and begin exploring.
Current Magicard Offers Good Until May 31, 2010 Include:
This web site occasionally changes the coupons offered. If you notice any that are no longer offered, please drop us a quick email and let us know. The Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau has introduced a new discount Smile Card which may or may not replace the Magicard. This card can be printed online and must also be presented for discounts. Deals look to be much better than the Magicard. A few dining deals offered for the Orlando area are below:
This web site occasionally changes the coupons offered. If you notice any that are no longer offered, please drop us a quick email and let us know.
And, don't miss these coupons for Complimentary Valet Parking with Dinner at Shula's Steak House, Il Mulino New York and Todd English’s bluezoo located at the Swan and Dolphin resorts in Disney's Epcot area (Valid through 01/31/2010).
This web site occasionally changes the coupons offered. If you notice any that are no longer offered, please drop us a quick email and let us know.
Get $10 off any food or beverage purchase at Planet Hollywood with a minium $20 purchase required. Expires 12/31/09. Print Coupons.
8. Bring Snacks Disney will search backpacks, purses and anything else carried, pushed or pulled into the parks. While guests are not allowed to bring large coolers (or rolling backpacks) into the park, nor are there any picnic areas, Disney does not object to packing a few snacks. Small coolers or picnic totes with a shoulder strap should be fine, as long as they do not contain any alcoholic beverages, glass containers or metal cans. Consider bringing packets of peanut butter crackers, granola bars, candy bars, beef sticks, juice boxes and other small snacks from home. If luggage room allows, slip in a few bags of popcorn for an evening snack or Pop-Tarts for the morning. Value resort food courts have a microwave and toaster for guests' use. Reasonably priced snacks can also be purchased at the Hess gas stations on Walt Disney World property. Generally, they are cheaper than at resort grab 'n go sections. There are 3 Hess stations on property. One Hess station is located at the Car Care Center on World Drive near the exit of the Magic Kingdom parking lot, another at Downtown Disney across from Pleasure Island, and another in the area of Disney's Hollywood Studios just before the entrance to the Boardwalk Inn. TheMouseForLess hears they also have good pizza there.
9. Make Your Sit-Down Meal Lunch Disney has some fabulous restaurants and dining experiences. If you are able to purchase a Dining Plan as part of your vacation package, that's great news. You'll get to sample many of them. If vacationing on a tight budget, food is one area where cost will likely be trimmed. Don't underestimate, however, just how much "Disney Experience" is incorporated into dining at Walt Disney World. Vacationers who cook all of their meals or dine only at counter service in the parks will miss out on a lot. We've given some suggestions for "Dining 'Disney Style' on a Budget" above, but we have one other. Many of the same choices are featured on both lunch and dinner menus and in most cases guests will pay less at lunch. At the very least, the opportunity exists to sample some great theming and interactive fun. This value suggestion particularly applies to the Epcot World Showcase restaurants. If on a budget, consider dining as part of the experience and partake at lunch.
10. Share In recent years, Disney seems to have caught on to the sharing idea and has been downsizing counter service portions in many locations. At the Magic Kingdom, head for Cosmic Rays in Tomorrowland. The 1/2 Chicken and BBQ Rib Combination for about $15 is one of the few remaining park meals that is bountiful enough to share. Sharing can still be a great idea for saving money at sit-down restaurants, and is a good way to sample some of Disney's finer dining. At restaurants where entrees can be ordered ala carte purchase one to split and supplement with salads, soups or flatbreads. You'll still have a great culinary treat and the cost of a few additional sides is not likely to exceed the cost of an additional Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon meal at Artist Point or a Berbere-braised Lamb Shank at Jiko. Some Disney veterans have said they prefer to purchase kids meal at counter service restaurants rather than share. Currently, kid's meals are running $4.49 and usually include a burger, sandwich, macaroni & cheese or chicken nuggets; a choice of 2 (carrot sticks, grapes or applesauce); and a small milk, bottled water or juice box. Fries and soft drinks can be substituted upon request. Be aware that this is not an option that will work at table service restaurants where kids' meals run $7.49 and waitstaff knows who's ordering what.
11. Have Dessert and Soak up the Atmosphere On a budget, this is one of the very best ways to experience Disney's finest restaurants. With Disney heavily promoting their Dining Plan these days, seating is getting harder and harder to come by without Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs). However, with a little effort, one may still be able to make this strategy work. Try for a walk-in at odd hours like 3 pm or have an early dinner in the parks and try for availability after 8 pm. This plan will probably work best at any of the World Showcase restaurants at Epcot, or hop a resort monorail from the Magic Kingdom. Our suggestion would be to visit Narcoosees or Citricos at the Grand Floridian (you just may get a great view of MK fireworks with dessert). The California Grill at the Contemporary Resort is located on the 15th floor and has one of the most spectacular views of the Magic Kingdom fireworks anywhere. The chances of getting a walk-in table in the evening for dessert is next to nil. If you'd like to see this breathtaking show, make ADRs for the appropriate time well in advance and be prepared to order diner from the menu. Also consider dessert at Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge. These restaurants are off the beaten path and may have availability during odd or late hours. TheMouseForLess Tip: If you can't get reservations for California Grill during the firework viewing, don't worry. As long as you have dined that day, you will be allowed to return and watch the Fireworks from the restaurant's private viewing balcony on the fifteenth-floor of the Contemporary Resort. Simply show your receipt at the 2nd floor podium to be allowed access. This is a fantastic view and shouldn't be missed. The general public can use the viewing area on the 4th floor observation deck of the Contemporary resort and still get a great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
12. Refillable Mugs and Other Beverage Tips Refillable Mugs Refillable mugs can also be found at Disney's water parks and refillable sports bottles at Animal Kingdom park. At the water parks, refillable mugs sell for about $10 including tax, and can be refilled all day long with soda. On return visits, a bar code sticker can be purchased for $6.95 that will allow refills of the mug for the entire day. The water park refillable mugs can be used interchangeably at either of Disney's two water parks, Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach. Mugs must be refilled at the drink stations in that use bar code activation systems. There is downside to purchasing a refillable mug at the water parks; if you won't be returning at least few times, you probably won't get your money's worth. Animal Kingdom refillable sports bottles with animal head tops run $6.79 and refills are 93¢. They can be purchased at Harambe Popcorn, Tamu Tamu Refreshments, Anandupur Ice Cream, Pizzafari, Flame Tree Barbecue, Safari Coffee, Safari Popcorn, Safari Pretzel, and other locations throughout the park. They are dated and may be refilled only the day of your visit. Other Beverage Tips All Disney rooms except for the Value resorts come with a refrigerator. They are small, but big enough to chilled a half-a-dozen or more bottles of water each night. At the Value resorts, a mini-refrigerator can be rented for $12 plus tax per night, probably too much to off-set bringing water from home if a family is large. If guests have medication that must be refrigerated, they are eligible for a free refrigerator at the Value resorts. These are a smaller than the standard version and can chill only several bottles of water at most. There have also been reports of guests buying cases of bottled water online at Staples at some great prices and having it delivered to their resorts ($9.95 on orders $50 and under). Be sure to include your reservation number and arrival date with your address if you try this. Small packets of Kool-Aid or Crystal Light can turn bottled water in to a flavorful drink for the little ones. Don't forget to hunt down free shipping codes. Two web sites, FreeShipping.org and FreeShippingOn.com, offer exclusive free shipping promotions and codes from more than 700 retailers Also consider packing an empty bottle and refilling it at your resort or fountains in the park. Disney sells a bottle strap for about $3, making a bottle convenient to tote. A filtered refillable water bottle can convert fountain drinking water to bottled quality. A very economical filter bottle can be found at Amazon.com for under seven dollars. If you'll be making use of one of Disney's Baby Care Centers, water coolers are available as souce of free "bottle water" quality water for filling baby bottles. You can ask for and receive a free glass of ice water at any Disney Quick Service restaurant and save on the cost of bottled water. If you won't be purchasing a resort refillable mug, bring tea bags and hot chocolate from home. Hot water is available at the food courts. Food courts also have sugar, creamers, and lemon. If staying at a Moderate resort (or above), rooms have coffee pots with coffee, sugar and creamers provided and more is available by asking the housekeeping staff. Beer, wine coolers, wine, cases of bottled water and other non-alcoholic bottled beverages can be bought at the Hess Gas Stations on Disney property much cheaper than at the resort's grab 'n go market sections or pool bars. The Hess stations carry most major brands of beer such as Budweiser, Coors, Heineken, Miller, etc. Be aware that no glass containers are permitted at resort swimming pools and also buy plastic cups or use the refillable mugs. There are 3 Hess stations on property. One Hess station is located at the Car Care Center on World Drive near the exit of the Magic Kingdom parking lot, another at Downtown Disney across from Pleasure Island, and another in the area of Disney's Hollywood Studios just before the entrance to the Boardwalk Inn.
There are a couple of beverage deals at Epcot parks and one is completely free. Stop by Club Cool located near Innoventions West in Future World. This exhibit is sponsored by Coca-Cola and features Coke products distributed worldwide. Sample cups are small, about 3 oz, but you can try as many flavors as you like and as often as you like. You'll find Kinley Lemon from Israel, Mezzo Mix from Germany, Smart Watermelon from China, Vegitabeta from Japan, Lychee Mello from Thailand, Fanta Kolita from Costa Rico and the infamous Beverly from Italy (this one has an after-taste). Several counter service restaurants in Future World have begun offering self-serve beverages. They can be found at Electric Umbrella and Sunshine Season Food Fair in The Land pavilion. These stations seem strategically placed as far from the seating areas as possible and can be easily forgotten. Still, one should be able to get free refills. 
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