Much like fuddle a bar mitzvah or walk out your front door in New York , a trip-up to the Disney Rosa Parks means leave office yourself to spending an repulsive amount of money . A one - day pass is hurdling towards $ 100 per person ; procreate that by a home of four and you ’re out a grand for a three - daylight weekend before you ’ve even booked a plane slate . But not everything at Disney has to give your bank account an irreversible hemorrhage . Like , for example , the intellectual nourishment .
feeding and drinking in the parks can be a circumstances if you do n’t know what you ’re doing . But we speak to Ian Ford , a Fatherhood of two and CEO ofUndercover Tourist , as well as travelling agentMelissa Guttingof Travel Leaders , and they put up up some serious Disney dining political hack that ’ll salvage you minute and dollars .
Eat breakfast early, in your room
" We wake up like 5 or 6 am and have protein ginmill and shakes in our elbow room , " Ford says of his family ’s pre - park world power - up . It not only slice the toll of the repast dramatically , it also gets everyone to the park right when it open , fire up and quick to jam till tiffin . " you could twit short rides , with inadequate duration , and ride 20 of those before the park fills up , " he says . " It ’s like a double win . "
Split up the portions
Americans are internationally bemock for our dowery sizes , and there ’s no pauperization to buy a 3/4 pound hamburger for an 8 - yr - old . " A tidy sum of the portions are adult - sized , " says Ford . " So if your fry want a cheeseburger and fries , you may require them to rive it among two buns . A lot of the burgers have two patty and they ’ll give you an extra roll since they know kids do n’t eat the whole meal . " This can be peculiarly utile if you have two small fry , saving you money and teach them to partake – or at least ration .
Use drink powders
Sometimes you want a drink with a minuscule more flavor than the costless tap water you may get at concession stand . But that does n’t think you need to shell out $ 7 for a sodium carbonate . Ford suggests bringing in drink powders like Crystal Light or other drinks , and fuse those with the H2O and ice the stands will give you .
Go to the character breakfast
Though it ’s absolutely not a money saver , fail to the daily " character breakfast " – where Mickey , Minnie , and othersworking 20 - hour switching for minimum wagemingle with the crowd at a private morning repast – can save you some serious prison term . It runs anywhere from $ 35 to $ 60 , but avoids countless stopover inside the Mungo Park for your kids to get pictures with the characters . " It ’s melody - check , for one thing , " says Ford . " If you do n’t take your kidskin , every time you see a theatrical role inside the park they ’ll want to contain . And you ’ll have to hold back for all the other tyke to get their word-painting first . "
Eat at these quick-service restaurants
When you finally do have to stop and feed , Ford insist you get the most charge for your buck at quick - service eating house . They also make unnecessary you prison term , allowing for more rides and fewer kids getting nervous about overlook out . His suggestion for the places where you ’ll get the most value in each park :
Epcot : Tangierine Café . " It ’s a fun experience for the minor , with a net ton of baklava and really full-blooded meals that fill you up . "
Hollywood Studios : Backlot Express . " Just a really good commixture of food with hearty poppycock . "
Disney
Animal Kingdom : Flame Tree Barbecue . " It ’s the typical ribs , sandwiches , and dud branch . But you’re able to add on a mass of stuff and condiments , and practically make your own salad on the side . "
Magic Kingdom : Columbia Harbor House . " It has expectant salad and lobster rolls , and the upstairs discussion section is just nice and quiet . That ’s probably my favorite lunch point . "
Use the Disney Dining Plan
Though you might think the dining program offered toDisney hotelguests is just a gravid - scale stratagem to ensure you ’re spending money on theme - park food , Ford insists it will save you money in the long test . The plan has different layer depending on how many meal you want , and can be purchase upfront to fend off impulse food spending . " The programme gets you so many meals and so many snacks , and enable you to know what your budget is upfront so you do n’t go overboard , " Ford says . " Kind of like buying chips in a gambling casino . "
And use those points wisely
You do n’t need to drop all those points on a burger and a pizza pie , either . If you expend your dining credit strategically you may turn one " meal " into several . " In the right food court , snack point can be used for plenty of nutrient choices to make a meal , stretch that repast design even more , " Gutting says . " utilise one point for a yield loving cup and another point in time for a yogurt parfait and perfecto ! A light breakfast on the go . "
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