How to Enjoy the Food at Disney When Sticking to a Budget

4. Order off the kids menu at quick service restaurants

This doesn’t work in table service restaurants, but in quick service restaurants adults are able to order off the kids menu. Whether you’re looking to save some of your appetite or some cash, ordering from the kids menu can be a huge help. Entrees are smaller, but they also tend to come with an extra side and a drink, and many quick service restaurants have kids menu items that are the same as their adult counterparts only smaller.

5. Share with another adult

Another easy way to save money on dining is to share meals. Since you likely will not have a way to take food to go and reheat it, there is no reason to order food you know you won’t be able to finish (or to pay for food that you don’t need to). Many portions are totally shareable among two adults, and your wallet will thank you the more you split meals with a friend.

6. Budget dining spending on gift cards

This may not necessarily cut down on the amount you spend during your trip, but it can help you budget better. Save money on Disney gift cards leading up to your trip, and you’ll find that spending the extra cash on dining will be much less painful since you’ve already “paid” for it in advance. While doing this, just remember to bring some extra cash along for gratuities as those would not be paid for on gift cards. (You can also charge meals to your MagicBand and use the gift cards to settle your bill at checkout.)