Saturday Savers - Same Item, Lower Price!

Dining options at Walt Disney World  Resort can be a bit expensive, as we’ve discussed previously.  Today we’ll look at ways to get the same item at a lower price!   When coupled with other suggestions highlighted in previous Saturday Savers posts, you could save some serious cash on your next Walt Disney World vacation.

Throughout the theme parks, and even the resorts, there are several expensive table-service restaurants with very popular items that can be found nearby in less expensive counter-service locations.   The same items are offered at a lower price, just without any garnishes or sides, and often served on a paper plate or carrying box.

 

Let’s take a look at a few of these situations in the theme parks.  Please know that prices can change at any time without prior notice:

• Inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, you have Yak & Yeti, serving many delicious, and pricey, Pan-Asian dishes, including Sweet & Sour Chicken just to name one example for around $16 (not including tax & gratuity) as an entree.  This same item is available right next door at the Yak & Yeti Local Foods Café, as a combo meal for about $10 plus tax.
• Inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Brown Derby serves its’ Flourless Chocolate Cake, with sorbet on the side, for around $8 (not including tax & gratuity).  Just down the sidewalk at Starring Rolls bakery you can find a slice of the exact same cake, without the sorbet on the side, for around $3 plus tax.
• Inside Epcot you’re welcome to pay around $11 (not including tax & gratuity) at Chefs de France for a plate of Quiche Lorraine with salad, that you could easily pay around $5 for without the salad at the Boulangerie Pattiserie further up in the pavilion.  You could also treat yourself to a Crème Brulee at the Boulangerie Pattiserie for around $4 plus tax, which would cost you around $7 (not including tax & gratuity) at the Chefs de France.
• Not up to French food?  You’d rather try some fish & chips instead?  Ok, you can get those in Epcot as well.  Why not try an entrée of them, including a side of peas at the Rose & Crown for around $16 (not including tax and gratuity).  But for the more frugal minded, or those who simply don’t care for the side of peas, take a few steps to the right of the Rose & Crown and you’ll find the Yorkshire County Fish Shop offering the same fish & chips, less the peas and in a smaller portion, for just about $8 plus tax.
• Inside the Magic Kingdom, a bowl of New England Clam Chowder at the Liberty Tree Tavern is around $7 (not including tax & gratuity) at lunchtime; or simply head over to the Columbia Harbor House on the other side of Liberty Square and buy the same chowder for around $4.50 a bowl.

For further examination, here are a couple of examples from the resorts as well.  Again remember that prices can change at any time without prior notice.

• At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, BOMA is a very popular buffet restaurant, with a number of highly sought after entrees and desserts - specifically the Zebra Domes.  The dinner buffet is around $28 per adult (not including tax&  gratuity).  Did you know that you could skip the buffet and just get the Zebra Domes a la carte at the resort’s quick service restaurant, The Mara, just outside and down the walkpath, for around $3 plus tax?
• Or at Disney’s Polynesian Resort, the extremely popular Tonga Toast served at the Kona Café, is served with a side of breakfast meat for around $9 (plus tax & gratuity);  but just around the bend on the lower level of the Polynesian is Captain Cook's Snack Company, which also serves the famous toast, a la carte, for around $4.50 plus tax. 

These examples really are just the tip of the iceberg.  With a bit of planning and preparation, you truly could save a good amount of money on your next Walt Disney World vacation by simply making a few dining substitutions here and there.