Walt Disney World is known to have some amazing restaurants and food options across the resort. Our food budget at Walt Disney World guide is going to break it all down and give you a sense of how much you should budget for your meals on your next Walt Disney World vacation.
Plus, we'll even share some of our favorite money-saving tips to maximize your budget! With great options for kids and adults alike, you might be wondering how to budget for all this great food.
Whether you're looking to just grab quick bites and get to the rides or looking for fancy dinner, we've got it all covered. Let's jump in and see how to create the best food budget for your ultimate Walt Disney World vacation!
In this article:
Walt Disney World Food Budget: The Basics
Before we get into our guide, it'll be important to understand a few basics about dining at Walt Disney World. This will help us better understand the different types of dining available at Walt Disney World and the budget for the different options. Let's dig in!
Dining Options at Walt Disney World
Disney World dining options can be divided into four categories: counter service, casual dining, and fine/signature dining, and special character dining experiences. Each of these options delivers great food and gives you lots of options to choose from. Let's get a sense of what these options look like!
Counter Service
Counter-service restaurants are going to be your most affordable options for dining at Walt Disney World. Think of these locations as food-court-style dining with no frills. Counter-service restaurants are located in all of the parks as well as throughout the resorts. Just because these are the most affordable, doesn't mean you'll be skipping out on the flavor! There are delicious options to be found among the counter-service restaurants that'll please all ages! Counter-service restaurants do not require reservations.
Casual Dining
Casual dining restaurants take it up a level and offer sit-down meals with waiter service. These meals go up in price but offer more themed experiences, as well as higher-end food options. Similar to counter-service, casual dining options are found across the Walt Disney World resort. Some casual-dining restaurants will require reservations.
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Fine/Signature Dining
Cinderella's Royal Table Inside Magic Kingdom Park
If you're looking for an unforgettable meal that'll have you transported to another world, then you'll enjoy all of the fine dining options available at Walt Disney World. These options are considered some of the best meals, not only in Walt Disney World but even in Florida! These meals come with a hefty price tag but make for amazing nights out or the perfect celebration meal for special events. Reservations are required.
Character Dining
Character Dining at Artist Point
Character dining at Walt Disney World is a fun experience that'll have you dining right alongside your favorite Disney pals. These meals are in their own category because the pricing on them is separate from regular meal options and often includes pre-fixe meals or buffets. Character dining is not cheap, but does provide a memorable experience that all members of the family will enjoy. Reservations are required.
Tip: Character dining is a great way to pair great food with character meet and greets. You can easily meet a handful of your must-see characters and the best part of it all is that you won't have to wait in any lines! The characters will come directly to your table and offer the perfect photo op!
Walt Disney World Food Budget: Overview
Now that we've covered the basics, let's start looking at some sample budgeting scenarios! For our guide, we're going to give you ideas of how much it would cost to eat at a Walt Disney World Theme Park and at a non-park resort day on a budget, balanced, and splurge level. We'll share restaurants that we'd recommend in each scenario and even give you some tips on how to make the most of each dining experience! Though our numbers will only be estimates, they will give you a good idea of what you can expect, and more importantly, what you should be budgeting for!
Our guide will assume that we have a family of four with two adults and two children.
Walt Disney World Food Budget: The Magic Kingdom
We're going to assume the family is spending their first day at The Magic Kingdom! This park has lots of great food options that'll have your bellies full and happy. Let's take a look and see what a Magic Kingdom food budget looks like!
Option 1: Magic Kingdom on a Budget
If you're looking to save those dollars for more Mickey ears, you can still have a great day with lots of affordable and delicious meals.
Breakfast – Main Street Bakery – $28
Main Street Bakery
If you're looking for something quick and on the go then there's no better place than the Main Street Bakery. Conveniently located upon entering the park, this quick service spot serves yummy on-the-go breakfast sandwiches and Starbucks Coffee option. It's the perfect quick breakfast option that'll have you on your way to rides in no time!
Our family of four is going to have:
- 4 breakfast sandwiches – $22
- Two coffees for the adults – $8
This comes out to an estimated total price of $30.
Tip: If you're looking to save even more money, skip breakfast at the park and bring granola bars and snacks from home! This is an easy way to save money and not worry about breakfast when entering the parks.
Lunch – Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe – $39
Time for lunch! After a few rides in the morning and some exploring, we're ready for lunch. We've chosen Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe located in Tomorrowland. This eatery has tons of different options with favorites for the entire family.
Our family is going to have:
- Two kid's meals – $14
- One Triple-B Burger – $13
- One Chopped Vegetable and Crispy Noodle Salad with Chicken – $12
In total, after taxes, we're looking at an estimated total lunch cost of $39.
Dinner – Pinocchio's Village Haus – $47
Pinocchio's Village Haus
For our final meal of the day, we've chosen to have dinner at Pinocchio's Village Haus. This restaurant is a fun location with some pretty detailed theming that'll elevate your meal a bit. Their specialty is flatbread so if that's your jam, you'll find great options. There's plenty of seating here so you'll be sure to find a spot that's perfect for your family.
Here, our family is going to have:
- One All-Meat Flatbread – $13
- One Gourmet Cheese Flatbread – $13
- One Chicken Strips Kids Meal – $9
- One PB&J Uncrustable Kids Meal – $7
- One order of Breadsticks to share – $5
This brings our dinner total, after taxes, to $47.
Tip: Skip the soft drinks and bring your refillable water bottle to the parks! All restaurants will offer complimentary water, so that's one way to save money by not purchasing drinks at every meal!
Magic Kingdom on a Budget grand total – $114
So that's our budget Magic Kingdom day. With lots of choices to pick from, you can easily switch out restaurants, but this gives you an idea of what a budget day at Magic Kingdom can look like. Up next, let's look at a balanced option that blends the best of the budget and splurge options!
Option 2: Magic Kingdom Balanced Budget
If you're ready for some nice restaurants and service options, then let's take a look at what a balanced budget could look like. Here, we're going to blend some budget options with some table-service restaurants that'll elevate your dining experience.
Breakfast – Main Street Bakery – $29
We're going to keep our same breakfast option from the budget day.
Again, our family of four is going to have:
- 4 breakfast sandwiches – $22
- Two coffees for the adults – $7
Total price – $29
Lunch – The Plaza Restaurant – $82
The Plaza Restaurant, located on Main Street USA is a popular table-service restaurant serving American classics. Since it's a table-service restaurant, you'll have a menu at your table and typically have more options than a counter-service restaurant. The Plaza Restaurant also serves alcohol to guests 21+.
Our family is going to have:
- One Chicken Sandwich – $23
- The Plaza Reuben – $20
- Two Kids' Create-Your-Own Entrées – $24
- One Original Banana Split to share – $11
In total, after taxes, we're looking at an estimated total lunch cost of $82.
Dinner – Tony's Town Square Restaurant – $158
For dinner, we're going to stick to Main Street and pop over to Tony's Town Square Restaurant. This Italian eatery serves great meals and is inspired by the location where Lady and the Tramp had their first kiss!
Here, our family is going to have:
- Tony's Garlic Bread for The Table – $11
- One Chicken Parmigiana – $30
- One Penne with Chicken Al Forno – $28
- One Kid's Grilled Chicken with Roasted Potatoes – $12
- One Whole-Wheat Spaghetti and Turkey Meatball $12
- Two glasses of Prosecco – $26
- Four orders of Gelato – $29
This brings our dinner total, after taxes, to $158.
Magic Kingdom on a Balanced Budget grand total – $269
As you can see, the price can jump up a bit once you enter the table-service category and add things like dessert and drinks. Again, dishes and restaurants can be swapped out, but this is a good general estimate for what a Balanced Budget day at Magic Kingdom could look like.
Now, let's see what an all-out splurge day can look like!
Option 3: Magic Kingdom Splurge
If you've saved those pennies and are ready for some unforgettable meal experiences, then a splurge day might be what you're looking for. In this scenario, we're going to throw in character meals and restaurant options that deliver on both the food and the experience.
Breakfast – ‘Ohana – $148
Since our family is ready to treat themselves, they're going to start their morning with a character breakfast experience at ‘Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort. This all-you-care-to-enjoy favorite experience is loads of fun and allows you to meet friends from Lilo and Stitch, as well as Mickey and some of his pals. Reservations are required.
Our family will pay the following:
- Two Adult's Pre-Fixe Breakfasts – $90
- Two Child's Pre-Fixe Breakfasts – $58
Total price for breakfast with Lilo, Mickey, and friends – $148
Tip: For table-service restaurants, be prepared to add gratuity to your meals. While the standard is 20%, we've left this part out of the budget as tipping will vary.
Lunch – Liberty Tree Tavern – $128
Liberty Tree Tavern is located in Liberty Square and serves classic American family-style meals. The table-service restaurant is located inside a beautifully themed Tavern that'll whisk you away to old colonial America. Reservations are required.
Similar to ‘Ohana, Liberty Tree Tavern is an all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurant with standard pricing for adults and children.
Our family will pay the following:
- Two Adult's Pre-Fixe Lunches – $78
- Two Child's Pre-Fixe Lunches – $42
In total, after taxes, we're looking at an estimated total lunch cost of $128
Dinner – Be Our Guest – $257
The Grand Ballroom inside Be Our Guest
For the ultimate dinner experience inside the Magic Kingdom, our family will be dining with Belle and The Beast at Be Our Guest. This magnificent restaurant is tucked away in Fantasyland inside of the castle from Beauty and the Beast and offers a gorgeous meal for families to enjoy. Upon entering the castle, you'll be seated in either the classic Grand Ballroom, The West Wing, or the Rose Gallery. Have your cameras ready because you'll get a visit from Belle and/or The Beast during your meal!
Be Our Guest offers package meals with pricing for adults and children. Our family will pay the following:
- Two Adult Dinners – $134
- Two Children's Dinners – $78
- Two Specialty Cocktails – $29
This brings our dinner total, after taxes, to $257.
Magic Kingdom Splurge grand total – $533 (gratuities not included)
Now that we've seen the three different scenarios at the Magic Kingdom, let's summarize it all below:
Magic Kingdom Budget day – $114
Magic Kingdom Balanced Budget day – $269
Magic Kingdom Splurge day – $533
As you can see, it's possible to eat on a budget inside of a Disney park. Likewise, you can also enjoy yourself a bit more and explore more elegant options with a balanced or splurge model. The scenarios we've given you can vary, but it's typical of what you could expect across all four of the theme parks. If you're spending multiple days at parks, you'll then just multiply our average total costs, depending on the scenario, to see what you should be budgeting for your meals. Whatever you choose, just be sure you don't forget that Mickey pretzel at the end of the night!
Walt Disney World Food Budget: The Perfect Non-Park Resort Day
After spending a long day at Magic Kingdom, our family is ready to enjoy their beautiful Disney Resort and spend the day swimming at the pool and enjoying resort dining. Here, we're going to break down how to budget for a resort day by taking advantage of the various options available on the Walt Disney World property. Similar to our park model, we'll explore a budget, balanced and splurge resort day so you can get a sense of how to budget for a day when you're not in the parks.
Walt Disney World Food Budget: Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Villas
Our family of four has chosen to stay at Disney's BoardWalk Inn. The Boardwalk Inn is located near EPCOT right on Crescent Lake. This strategic location will provide lots of great options both in and out of the resort. Grab your sunscreen and let's see what a resort fun-in-the-sun food day looks like! This resort is also a great home base if you're looking to plan your trip around EPCOT's Food and Wine Festival.
Option 1: A Budget Resort Day
Breakfast – Breakfast in the Room – $10
The nice thing about spending the day at your resort is that you're able to enjoy a light breakfast in the room that you brought from home. Since our family is planning to spend the morning by the pool, they've decided to have some granola bars in the room for breakfast before heading out. This time, they'll use the coffee maker in the room so that's an added benefit and one less cost!
Our family of four is going to enjoy:
- Granola bars and fruit from home – $10
- Free in-room coffee – $0
Total cost for a quick in-room breakfast – $10
Tip: Some families choose to have groceries delivered to their resort with easy meals that can be made with no microwave or stove. This is another great way to save money and not pay for unnecessary small meals that'll come with a higher price tag in the resorts!
Lunch – Leaping Horse Libations – $37
After a leisurely morning by the pool, our family decided to have lunch at the pool bar. Disney's BoardWalk Inn and Villas has the Leaping Horse Libation. This pool bar resembles a carousel and serves poolside snacks along with full bar service.
Our family will enjoy:
- Two Pretzel Dogs – $19
- Two Kids Meals – $16
In total, after taxes, we're looking at an estimated total lunch cost of $37
Tip: Since you're staying at the resort, it's once again easy to bring your own water bottles down to the pool and enjoy the complimentary water. You might even throw in an instant drink mix from home that'll turn your water into a fresh lemonade!
Dinner – BoardWalk Deli – $40
After some downtime in the hotel room, our family is refreshed and ready to enjoy dinner on the BoardWalk! The BoardWalk is a fun and family-friendly location to enjoy some nightlife with dining and shopping options along Crescent Lake. At night, you can even catch some free acrobatic performances!
Our family is going to enjoy dinner at the new BoardWalk Deli. This location serves some generously-sized deli-style sandwiches.
Here, our family is going to have:
- One Warm Pastrami Reuben – $13
- One Chicken and Walnut Salad Wrap – $11
- One Ham and Cheese Sandwich Kid's Meal – $8
- One Grilled Cheese Sandwich Kid's Meal – $7
This brings our dinner total, after taxes, to $40.
Non-park resort day on a Budget grand total – $87
So that's our budget Magic Kingdom day. With lots of choices to pick from, you can easily switch out restaurants, but this gives you an idea of what a budget day at Magic Kingdom can look like. Up next, let's look at a balanced option that blends the best of the budget and splurge options!
Option 2: A Balanced Budget Non-Park Resort Day
Now let's take a look at what a Balanced Budget resort day looks like. In this model, our family will explore more restaurants, including those outside of their resort. This scenario will blend some money-saving options with some higher-end delights.
Breakfast – Carousel Coffee – $34
Rather than enjoying some quick bites in the room, our family of four is going to explore the new Carousel Coffee shop inside Disney's Boardwalk. This new location serves on-the-go bites with specialty coffee options.
Our family has chosen:
- 4 bagels with spread – $16
- Two specialty coffees for the adults – $9
- Two chocolate milks for the kids – $9
Total price for a balanced-budget breakfast – $34
Lunch – Big River Grille & Brewing Works – $83
For lunch, our family is venturing back out into the BoardWalk and has chosen the Big River Grille & Brewing Works restaurant. This table-service restaurant serves classic American dining with a mini brewery on location!
Here's what a sample meal can look like at this location:
- One Fish Sandwich – $18
- One Cajun Pasta – $23
- One Kid's Macaroni & Cheese – $10
- One Kid's Cheeseburger – $10
- Two Beers – $18
In total, after taxes, we're looking at an estimated total lunch cost of $83.
Dinner – Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera – $167
The Terrace at Topolino's
For dinner, let's head over to Disney's Riviera Resort for a beautiful rooftop meal at the popular Topolino's Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera. This new restaurant has quickly become a fan favorite with its delicious Mediterranean options as well as the breathtaking view from the deck!
Here, our family is going to have:
- Olives Marinées for the table – $9
- One Classic Sole Meunière – $50
- One Bouillabaisse – $48
- One Kid's Rigatoni with Tomato Sauce – $11
- One Kid's Petit Beef Filet – $18
- Two Cocktails – $31
This brings our dinner total, after taxes, to $167 (before gratuities)
Balanced Budget day grand total – $284
Similar to what we saw on our park day, the price goes up significantly once you have waiter services. Now let's have some real fun and see what a splurge day can look like outside the parks!
Option 3: Resort Day Splurge
Our family has saved up and is ready to spend the day enjoying delicious meals with all the ambiance and delightful food imaginable. They will be leaving the resort for all meals and enjoying all that Walt Disney World has to offer!
Breakfast – Chef Mickey's – $148
After sleeping in a bit, our family will head over to Disney's Contemporary Resort near Magic Kingdom and enjoy a classic character breakfast at Chef Mickey's. At this fun and memorable experience, you'll get to meet Mickey and some of his friends right at your table. Plus, since it's located inside The Contemporary's Concourse, you'll get to see the Monorail fly by as you enjoy your Mickey waffles.
Similar to most Character Dining experiences, our family will pay a flat cost for both Adult and Child meals:
- Two Adult's Pre-Fixe Breakfasts – $90
- Two Child's Pre-Fixe Breakfasts – $58
Total price for breakfast with Lilo, Mickey, and friends – $148
Lunch – Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant – $104
Afterward, our family heads over to Disney Springs to enjoy some shopping. After spending time there and visiting the World of Disney, our family is ready for lunch. After a large meal at Chef Mickey's, we're going to look at what a lunch could look like at Raglan Road.
Raglan Road is a favorite among Disney fans with a free live music and dance show taking place at dinner.
For lunch, we're looking at the following:
- One Bangers and Mash – $27
- One Shepherds to Die for Pie – $28
- One Child's Gold'n Chicken – $9
- One Child's Atlantic Fish – $10
- Two cocktails – $30
In total, after taxes, we're looking at an estimated total lunch cost of $104.
Dinner – California Grill – $335
And now for the ultimate meal. We're talking about some of the best dining you can find not just at Walt Disney World, but period. Since our family of four had so much fun at Chef Mickey's they're heading back to the Contemporary Resort and having their final meal of the day at California Grill. This fine dining location is located on the roof of the Contemporary and serves American and Sushi. The best part? The restaurant offers amazing views of the Seven Seas Lagoon right from your table!
Our family will pay the following:
- Two Adult Pre-Fixe Dinners – $178
- Two Children's Dinners – $78
- A bottle of wine for the table – $59
This brings our dinner total, after taxes, to $335
Resort Day Splurge grand total – $586.48 (gratuities not included)
So, if you're keeping a tally, here is what a non-park resort day can look like depending on the different scenarios we described:
Resort Budget day – $87
Resort Balanced Budget day – $284
Resort Kingdom Splurge day – $586
The numbers above show just how diverse a non-park day can look like. All pieces of this are interchangeable but again give you a good idea of how much to budget for a day when you're not visiting the park.
Walt Disney World Food Budget: The Final Verdict
To make things even easier, we've included below what a park and non-park day look like side by side:
Budget Food Day (park/non-park) – $114/$87 (per day)
Balanced Food Day (park/non-park) – $269/$284 (per day)
Splurge Food Day (park/non-park) – $533/$586 (per day)
This should make your planning a little easier when it comes to how much you should budget for food at Walt Disney World!
Walt Disney World Food Budget: Snacks!
One final area that we did not include in the overall budget are those yummy snacks! We're talking churros, Mickey pretzels, and popcorn, to name a few. The reason for this is because these are totally considered treats, meaning nice to have, but not necessary. That said, we love our Disney snacks so we at least want to give you an idea of average prices for some of the more popular snacks. You can take a look at the list below and see how adding these different snack options might increase your overall budgets. Not every family is the same so it really varies based on your interests!
Here is what we love to munch on as we're in line for that next ride:
- Mickey Pretzels with cheese sauce – $7
- Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars – $6
- Popcorn – $5
- Popcorn in souvenir bucket – $12
- Candy Bars – $2
- Candied Bacon Skewers with chips – $10
- Spring Rolls – $8
- Turkey Leg – $13
As you can see, Disney has a lot of snacks to brag about-these are only but a few! We recommend loading a Disney gift card with a predesignated amount that you can use for your snack cravings. This way you won't have to worry about overspending on those yummy Mickey bars!
Walt Disney World Food Budget: Special Experiences
The meals we've looked at give you a general idea of what standard restaurants charge. One of the things we did not consider above are any souvenir dining options. We're talking things like souvenir sipper cups, etc. These are of course added costs, but again, not necessary ones.
The last piece to consider is whether or not you want to take advantage of special dining experiences such as dessert parties for fireworks or reserved dining seating for shows. These packages can easily add $100+ to your total budget, so it's something to consider if you're looking for these types of experiences. For reference, here are some options below to give you an idea:
- Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package at EPCOT – starting from $72 per person
- Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party – starting at $114 per person
- Celebration at the Top: 50th Flavors & Fireworks at Disney's Contemporary Resort – $129 per person
Walt Disney World Food Budget: Final Thoughts
Space 220 inside EPCOT
All families will have different eating styles and it's up to you to think about what is important when it comes to food and dining during your Walt Disney World vacation. Our models are only a sample of what's possible. You can always pick and choose, swap out, or avoid certain pieces if they are not what you and your family are looking for. Use this information to help you plan your budget and remember that there will always be options available so you don't have to worry about going hungry on your next vacation!
Plan your next Disney vacation!
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Looking for more on your next Walt Disney World vacation? Check out the following articles:
- The Cheapest Time of the Year to Visit Walt Disney World!
- Walt Disney World Extended Evening Hours- Stay After Park Closing, Deluxe Hotel Perks
- EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
- Walt Disney World Refurbishments- 2023 Refurbishment Calendar
- Walt Disney World’s Top 5 Cheapest On-Property Hotels
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