Saturday Savers - Saving on Meals

Dining in the Disney Parks can be an expensive proposition, especially if you are a larger family, but it doesn't HAVE to break the bank! One way to save money is to simply avoid table service restaurants altogether. Sure you might not have as large a variety or selection by only eating at counter service locations, but it doesn't mean you'll be stuck with a selection of only hot dogs or hamburgers either. One of my favorite counter service locations at Walt Disney World is inside Disney's Animal Kingdom Park - the Yak & Yeti Counter Service just to the right of the entrace of Yak & Yeti itself. The menu is nowhere near as extensive (or expensive) as the table service restaurant just next door - but the menu items at the counter service location are all based on their table service counterparts. One of my favorite counter service locations at Disneyland is inside Disney California Adventure Park - the Paradise Garden Grill near Goofy's Sky School & Silly Symphony Swings. It serves up meditteranean style skewers, and the portion is terrific - you can get quite full from a meal there.   If you check the maps, you'll see that there actually is a wide array of choices in the counter service category at both resorts. A typical counter service meal will run between $10-15 per person whereas the typical table service meal will start at around $20 per person and only go up from there. 


Something to consider too, about many of the entrees and combo meals served at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland restaurants, is that they typically include a large portion - often too large. If you aren't big eaters, you could easily share the meal between two people.  My wife and daughter have done this numerous times, and other times my wife and I, or my son and I have too.  If perhaps you think that that might not satisfy both people, order an appetizer or a side dish to share between you. You can do this at both counter service and table service locations.  If you do so at table service locations, sometimes the server will bring it out to you already split on individual plates.  If you do avoid all table service locations, but don't want to split a meal, or you're traveling alone and don't want all that food - simply order from the Kids' Menu at counter service locations.  The cost will be considerably less, and the portion will still satisfy. 


The point of your vacation is to have fun, relax and enjoy yourself. If you are fretting about the cost the entire time, you won't be able to enjoy yourself. There are many ways to enjoy the magic of it all, without spending it all on food! 


Cheers.