Disney meal budgeting tip

Cheapest (and Healthiest) Food Item in the Parks - Fresh Fruit!

Each park has at least one fruit stand. Apples, pears, bananas, and oranges are usually around $1, which is very inexpensive compared with other snacks at the parks. Some stands also sell baby carrots for around $1. At the larger stands you may find watermelon or cantaloupe slices, grapes, strawberries, cut-up pineapple, yogurt, fruit salad, corn on the cob or baked potatoes at varying prices, with nothing over $4.

There are three fruit stands in the Magic Kingdom: on Main Street, at Liberty Square Market and in Mickey's Toontown Fair. Disney-MGM Studios has Anaheim Produce on Sunset Blvd. At Epcot, fruit is available at the Refreshment Outpost between China and Germany in World Showcase. Animal Kingdom offers fruit at Harambe Market in Africa, just outside Kilimanjaro Safaris.

Maximizing Value at Character Breakfasts

Disney's character breakfasts can be a lot of fun, and if you are traveling with kids, I strongly advise trying to budget for one. However, they are expensive!

The least expensive character breakfasts are at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort or 'Ohana at The Polynesian Resort (either of which is a quick monorail ride from the Magic Kingdom), Donald's Breakfastosaurus in Animal Kingdom or Cape May Cafe at Beach Club Resort (quick walk or boat ride from Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios). Any of these breakfasts will cost you $19.99 for adults and $10.99 for kids.

Here's a way to maximize your dollar when paying for character breakfasts, shared by Lisa C:

"One money saving tip we have discovered is to eat breakfast at Chef Mickey's at the latest possible time (usually a reservation around 11:15 AM) on a day when the Magic Kingdom has early entry and so everyone will be ready for lunch by then. The buffet is very substantial, and all drinks -- coffee, milk, juice, etc. -- are included, so we drink a bunch and the kids get their character breakfast at a pretty reasonable price, considering that it is really lunch. This also allows us to take advantage of the lighter crowds in the morning at the Magic Kingdom. Also, because the restaurant is not open for lunch it starts to get quiet as people with earlier seating times leave, and ALL of the characters gather together in the waiting area for group photos of just your family, which the servers will gladly take with your camera. This has happened both times we have eaten there, and so I have photos of just my family with Goofy, Minnie, Mickey, Chip and Dale!"

Clearly you could apply a similar strategy to other character breakfast locations (not just Chef Mickey's) and regardless of whether you have access to early entry. As Lisa points out, since the crowds are lightest first thing in the morning, this strategy has the added advantage of allowing you to enjoy the attractions without long lines -- instead of spending prime time eating breakfast!

You'll probably want to eat something light to keep you going in the morning (for instance, all of the parks have pastry shops offering bagels, sweet rolls, milk and juice; or you can eat a light breakfast in your room). Then book the latest possible reservation for "breakfast" -- but consider it lunch!

Best Bargain "All You Care to Eat" Buffet on Disney Property

Without a doubt, the best buffet deal is Trail's End Buffeteria at Ft. Wilderness. Dinner is $17.99 for adults and $9.99 for kids, plus tax and beverage. (Compare this with many of the other buffets at Walt Disney World, which charge around $24.99 for adults.) At dinner Trail's End offers fried chicken, barbeque pork ribs, peel and eat shrimp, a carved meat, soup, salad, side dishes and desserts. There is also a "soup and salad bar only" option at dinner for $11.50.

Breakfast (also "all you care to eat") is $11.99 for adults and $7.99 for kids. There is a "continental breakfast" option that includes all the cold items, oatmeal, coffee and tea for a lower price. All-you-care-to-eat lunch buffet costs $12.99 for adults and $8.99 for kids. At lunch there is a "soup and salad bar only" option that is less expensive than the regular buffet.

You can also get takeout food from Trail's End. A fried chicken dinner for 4 people is $19.99-$24.99.

The only tricky thing about Trail's End is getting there. The easiest way is to take a boat to Ft. Wilderness from the Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary Resort, or the Wilderness Lodge. From the Ft. Wilderness dock, it's just a short walk to Pioneer Hall, which is where the restaurant is located.

Super Cheap Kids' Meal

Sometimes my peoples cleverness just astounds me. Consider this discovery by Lisa C: "In the [resort] food courts... you can buy two slices of bread (white or wheat) for $.69 plus tax." Peanut butter is about .50, and in some food courts it's free because there are packets of it with the condiments. Jelly can be obtained for free because it's a condiment. So for around a dollar or less, you can make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Lisa notes, "We have a five-year-old, so this was a godsend and really saved us money over having to buy combo meals all the time."