Eating on the Cheap

Walt Disney World Dining
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I am traveling to WDW with someone who is very tight on money. Thier main cost for this trip is food, so I want to keep it really cheap as possible, but with some variety and healthy foods.

There will be three women in the travel party, and splitting meals is an option. I have an AP, so discounts can be applied to TS meals. Dining at the pool is definitely an option.

Would love to see your plans for the whole trip! Pool bar food is allowed.

  1. Arrival early afternoon - Park: EPCOT, Resort: BWI
  2. Rope drop HS, take a break at resort, return to HD.
  3. Transfer to GF, rope drop MK, take a break, return to MK.
  4. Rope drop AK, leave afyer lunch.

Seperately- where are the cheapest decent drinks? We won’t be going to Enchanted Rose!

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What would be the per person “budget” estimated? It’s a fun puzzle!

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Here are my first thoughts:

  • Day 1: split Jersey Mikes from the airport; split 2 Tutto Italia new Pre-fixe menu.
  • Day 2: breakfatst in room, early snack at Woody’s; lunch at Docking Bay 7; dinner (?)
  • Day 3: breakfast in room, early snack wherever is closest in Mk, lunch - split things at Steakhouse 71, early dinner at Gasparilla Island Grill or one of the pools, late night snack.
  • Day 4: breakfast at Satuli (my favorite) lunch at Harambe Market.

But I tend to think the same way, so I need someone to jolt me outside of the box!

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Let’s say $150 not counting groceries or an ocassional alcoholic beverage.

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Cheapest TS will always be breakfast.

Personally, I order off of QS kids’ menus. Quite a few places have some decent options: Satuli, Flame Tree, ABC Commissary, DB7, Regal Eagle, Katsura Grill, Pecos Bill, Harbor House.

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So this doesn’t have to be all QS?

  1. A&C lunch might be a good start. Great value, and then you’re on full tummies and could do with just a snack in the evening

  2. HS - Breakfast - something light/pastry. Lunch - stop off at Bar Riva on the way back to resort. Dinner

  3. GF/rope drop MK - skip breakfast to begin the day (too early!). Early lunch at SH71. Snacks for dinner at MK

  4. AK - I enjoy breaking for a quick breakfast at Kusafiri or at Y&Y Local Cafes. Push through and have lunch back at GF (Gasparilla’s gets high marks). Otherwise if you’re leaving leaving - like straight to airport - maybe enjoy a nice lunch at Tusker to thank Mickey for a nice time?

Drinks question: that margarita stand at BWI is amazing! Otherwise I don’t really pay attention to pricing on drinks - I personally would rather pay more and get a nice cocktail than get a cheap one that I don’t care for (that’s me, it doesn’t work for this plan I know)

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Interesting. I wonder if they will let you split this, since most places everyone who eats that menu must pay. But this is offered in addition to the regular menu items. :thinking:

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Prix fixe you generally cannot split in my experience

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I often forget to do this but have gotten better at it recently

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Well, I’m not Jeff, so it has to be better than chicken fingers and fries for me to do it.

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My frugal sisters LOOOOVE to mobile order kids’ meals at QS places. It can be decent, and normally includes a drink–often for under $10.

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Thank you for this!

Sometimes, with an AP discount, I find there are some table service locations that are not much more than QS. Especially if your are splitting. Plus AC is nice. So those are ones I am.thinking about.

Bar Riva looks amazing.

This is what I was looking for! It is either good drinks or no drinks. Semi-cheap bad drinks is not an option. Bell Vue lounge may allow for one drink. They are good pours and not Enchanted Rose prices!

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It is. Which is why I thought it might be different? But, I know, “no splitting” is often the case. Hoenstly, we could probably just split things off the regular menu and come out close to the same!

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You’re not?

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I forget about the drink! I will definitely have to normalize the kids menu, I frequently order off of there too. But sometimes people need permission.

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Meant to add this as a lunch possibility. Love the egg rolls and fried rice

Departure is up in the air. One sister is headed to the Gaylord for her conference. Me and the other will either go with her, hang out at GF or stay in the park depending on weather and flight times.

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If flying I always like to have a nice, substantial, sit-down meal before heading to the airport. I hate having to eat at the airport

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Agree that kids menus are great value, especially when sharing! And breakfast in room is an excellent money saver.

For MK quick eats, the new menu at Pecos Bill is really tasty - you create your own bowl (with chicken, pork or beef) for $12.99.

For drinks, keep in mind that you can find nice wines and beers at around half of the price of cocktails, especially at Epcot at HS. For even more savings, consider bringing your own supermarket-bought snacks (chips, nuts, charcuterie) to have with the drinks. We did this one year with my sisters’ family and I was amazed at how much we ended up saving on snacks at the park.

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Primo Piatto is also a tasty nearby QS option that is more upscale, but yet won’t break the bank.

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And the food is good.

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