With the lack of free Dining being offered at Disney World for 2023 other than the Disney Dining Credit offer, you need to plan your food budget more than you would before. We used the Disney Dining Credit this year, and you need to plan how to spend that $850.00 to $1300. How much is food at Disney World and what do you need to budget for in 2023. Using my DIsney Dining Calculator you can find out how far your Disney Dining Credit will go?
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It might be your first time at Disney World, and you don’t know what to budget for food. In this post I will guide you through how I budget for food and drink for a Disney World vacation.
You will also find my Disney Dining Calculator at the bottom of the post to calculate how much your food will cost at Disney World and what to budget based on my calculations from this post.
Table of Contents
Disney World Food Costs
What I am looking to do is break down costs (conservatively) for what a Quick Service Meal and a Table Service Meal will realistically cost in 2022. I will also look at snacks, treats and drinks based on how my family have consumed food and drink at Disney World on previous Disney World vacations.
To do this we need to break down two typical types of days at Disney World. One day where we have a table service meal during the day and a second option of where we only eat quick service meals. These options look like this:
Option 1 Daily Breakdown for Food and Drink at Disney World
3 snacks/treats
3 Drinks
1 Table Service Meal +Tip
1 Quick Service Meal
Option 2 Daily Breakdown for Food and Drink at Disney World
3 Snacks/Treats
3 Drinks
2 Quick Service Meals
Calculating the Cost of Food and Drink at Disney World
I need to calculate a realistic cost for each items listed above in options 1 and 2. To do this I am going to look at present costs on the Disney World Website and base costs on what we have consumed on past vacations over and over again. At the end of this food budget exercise this hopefully this will allow me to budget for our 2022 Disney World vacation. I would rather allow for too much money for food and drink rather than not enough so a lot of my choices will be based on the more expensive food and drink options at Disney World.
Budget Costs for Food and Drink at Disney World in 2023
Below is what I have allowed for each item and what I have based my choices on.
Snack/Treat: $6.49
I am going to allow $6.49 for a snack or treat. I am basing this on the cost of a Mickey Cinnamon Roll. This is one of our favorite snacks that can you share first thing in the morning instead of a full breakfast. Most snacks cost less than this but as I wrote above it is better to allow too much rather than too little. On all of our past vacations we have found that 2 meals a day and then snacks and drinks are more than enough to keep us going.
Find out more about some Disney World Snacks I think you should try here.
Tip: Consider buying some snacks for your room. We normally take a trip to Walmart and stock up on some snacks, juice and bottled water that we can enjoy at the end of a long day in the parks or in the morning before the Disney fun starts.
Drink: $8.00
Now you may think I am going high with my budget allowance for the cost of a drink at Disney World. I have allowed $8.00 because most of the time the cost will be easily under $8 but I am allowing for the adults to enjoy a beer or a wine now and again in this cost. If you decide to enjoy a Margarita at Epcot this could cost up to $15. Allowing $8 per drink should cover the cost of the more expensive choices now and again.
You can find our Favorite Disney World Drinks here.
Table Service Meal:
Table services prices can vary so I am going to budget based on what I would eat if I was using the Dining Plan. This mostly means getting the most value by picking expensive dishes. On more than one vacation we have dined at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italia (Hollywood Studios) more than once during our stay at Disney World. Therefore, I am going to choose: 1 x Entrée, 1 x Dessert and 2 x drinks.
Entrée: Charred Strip Steak $33.00
Dessert: Tiramisu $8.00
Drink: Blue Moon $8.00 x 2 = $16.00
Meal Total: $57.00
Full Total Plus Tip at 20% ($11.40): £68.40
Quick Service Meal:
Having looked around the costs of various quick service meals I have decided to base my budget cost on the offerings at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café located in Magic Kingdom. The cost of the Fajita Platter at $14.99 will cover the cost of most quick service entrees across Disney World. As well as an entrée, I have allowed for 1 x Dessert and a Fountain Beverage for our 1 x drink. Let’s take a look at the costs.
Entrée: Fajita Platter $14.99
Dessert: Churros with Chocolate Dip $5.89
Drink: Fountain Beverage $3.99
Meal Total: $24.87
Our Disney World Food Budget Costs Per Day
Totalling up the costs above gives us the following costs for our two daily options. Let’s look at how these now total up:
Option 1 Daily Breakdown for Food and Drink at Disney World
3 snacks/treats: $19.47
3 Drinks : $24.00
1 Table Service Meal +Tip: $68.40
1 Quick Service Meal: $24.87
Option 1 Total Per Person: $136.74
Option 2 Daily Breakdown for Food and Drink at Disney World
3 Snacks/Treats: $19.47
3 Drinks: $24.00
2 Quick Service Meals: $49.74
Option 2 Total Person: £93.21
How Much is Kids Food at Disney World?
If you have younger children these costs will be lower for them. However, kids that are 9 and over are classed as adults but you can still order from the kid’s menu. Below are examples of the above costs but based on kids’ meal prices at Disney World. I have also lowered the cost of the drinks as you will not need to factor in for alcoholic drinks.
For a kids Table Service Meal, I have allowed for an Entrée at $11.00, a Dessert at $6.00 and a Fountain Drink at $3.99 plus tip. These again are based on prices at Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italia in Hollywood Studios.
Option 1 Kids with Table Service
3 snacks/treats: $19.47
3 Drinks: $18.00
1 Table Service Kids Meal +Tip: $25.19
1 Quick Service Kids Meal: $7.49
Option 1 Total Per Person: $70.15
Option 12 Kids with Just Quick Service
3 Snacks/Treats: $19.47
3 Drinks: $18.00
2 Quick Service Meals: $14.98
Option 2 Total Person: £52.45
Calculating My Budget for How Much Food Is Going to Cost at Disney World
We now have a costs for a day with a table service meal and a cost for just eating at Quick Service Restaurants. We have decided thatduring our next vacation we will have a table service meal every other day. This equates to 7 days with a Table Service Meal and 7 days just with Quick Service Dining. There is just the two of us going so we have to budget for:
7 Days with Option 1 Costs: 7 x $136.74 = $957.18 per person. For two this will total: $1,914.36.
7 Days with Option 2 Costs: 7 x $93.21 = $652.47 per person. For two this will total: $1,304.94.
This means for 14 days at Disney World in 2022 I need to allow a total budget of: $3,219.30.
My Disney World Food Budget and the Disney Dining Credit Offer
As part of our Disney World Vacation package, we had $850 dining credit included which we can use for food and drink. We also had a $200 gift card included which we can also use towards food and drink. This totals $1050 so we will still have budget $2,169.30 to make up the difference of what I have calculated for our budget of $3,219.30.
Clearly the Disney Dining Credit offer helps but it only covers 32.6% of my food and drink budget for our Disney World vacation.
This is why I have always been an advocate for the Disney Dining Plan when it has been offered in the past for free as part of a Disney World vacation package. Hopefully, the free Dining Plan offers will make a comeback in 2023.
You can read our full guide to Disney Dining Credit Here.
Do you know about the rules on taking food and drink into Disney World?
Disney World Dining Budget Calculator
To estimate your own Disney World Food and Drinks Budget using my daily costs simply input the number of days you require for each option into the Disney Dining calculator below.
Remember that if you have more than one adult or child that you need to multiply the days as required (for example 2 adults for 7 days will be 14 days and so on).
I hope you have found this article on how much food costs at Disney World helpful along with my Disney Dining calculator. If you have, please do share this article so other who are planning a Disney World vacation can make use of the information and calculator.
To keep up to date with my latest articles, the latest Disney World news and get my free 10-page Disney World Parks Guide you can sign up my Newsletter Here.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Darren
FAQs
How much should I budget for dining at Disney World? ›
When you consider all of the various ways you can eat at Disney World, a family of four should expect to spend roughly $200 – $250 per day on dining. This estimate is based on one Quick Service meal, one Table Service meal, and one purchase of snacks and drinks for all four people.
What should I budget for food at Disney? ›In more general terms, you can probably expect to budget $12 per adult and a little under $8 per kid — so this family would probably want to budget about $120 per day for meals.
How do you beat the Disney Dining Plan? ›- Don't waste snack credits. ...
- Explore quick service options. ...
- Share credits. ...
- Enjoy some signature meals. ...
- Go to character meals or buffets. ...
- Use your snack & quick service credits at Epcot festivals. ...
- Ask your server about substitutes. ...
- Use your specialty/alcoholic drinks.
Disney Dining Plan credit values
Table Service credits are worth about $42. Snack credits are worth about $5.
So, on average without purchasing souvenirs, adult beverages, or any other extra expenses, one adult guest at Walt Disney World will spend anywhere between $181 and $201 per day. This is just an estimate. Guests can easily spend much more or less than this depending on a number of factors.
How much is a hot dog at Disney World? ›Many of the changes have been applied across the theme parks and resorts, but here's a sampling of the changes: Casey's Corner Walt's Chili All-Beef Foot-Long Hot Dog: price changed from $13.99 to $14.29.
Can I bring my own food to Disney? ›A. Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverage items into the park for self-consumption, provided they are not in glass containers and do not require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration or temperature control and do not have pungent odors.
How much is a bottle of water at Disney World? ›How To Refill Water At Disney. While bottled water can cost $3.50 a pop, Crystal adds that you can get a free cup of ice water at quick-service restaurants throughout the park when you place your order. Either use this cold water to fill up your reusable bottle or gulp down with your meal.
Should I take cash to Disney World? ›While you are welcome to use cash if that is your preference, you may wish to have a Disney Gift Card on hand to use for Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering. Many Quick-Service dining locations offer the ability to place and pay for your order through the My Disney Experience mobile app.
How many snacks can you have on the Disney Dining Plan? ›Disney Dining Plan Plus
Everyone in the party ages 3 and over receives the following: 2 Meals – Any combination of Table-Service and Quick-Service (per night of stay) 2 Snacks/Nonalcoholic Drinks (per night of stay) One Resort-Refillable Drink Mug*
How much is a pretzel in Disney? ›
Mickey Pretzel: $7 – up from $6. Mickey Ice Cream: $5.75 – up from $5.
What should my Disney budget be? ›If you're looking to plan a Disney World vacation, there's a wide range of prices available to you. For a family of three or four, you'll probably want to assume you're spending at least $3500, with $5000-6000 being a comfortable amount, and $10000 being enough to make anyone's dreams come true.
What month is Disney World least crowded? ›Historically, the Disney World is least crowded around during the days of mid-November, early December, mid-January, early February, and early May. This is the time that a lot of people are focused on the upcoming yuletide season.
Can I bring a backpack to Disney World? ›Guests are welcome to carry a bag or backpack with them into the theme parks. The maximum allowable bag size is 24" by 18" by 15". All Guests and their bags will undergo a security screening process prior to entering the theme parks and Disney Springs.
Which Disney park makes the most money? ›...
| Characteristic | Revenue in billion U.S. dollars |
|---|---|
| incl. Content sales/licensing and other | 8.15 |
Most WDW theme park shops and food carts sell single-serve bottles of soda for $4.19 or $4.22, depending on the location. If you have an annual pass, you can get the 20% off if you buy the soda in a shop, but not if you buy it at a cart.
How much is Dole Whip in Disney World? ›Dole Whip. Swing by the Tiki Juice Bar in Disneyland and enjoy a Dole Whip: a frozen treat made from pineapple soft serve. Dole Whip desserts are $6.49 while a Dole Whip Float is $7.29, according to the Disneyland website.
How much is pizza in Disney World? ›Average cost of a quick-service meal at Disney
Burgers with fries at a Disney quick-service location are about $10.99-$12.99. Disney individual-sized pizza is $9.99-$10.49. More substantial and creative plates like Shrimp Tacos, Oak-grilled Salmon, or a Pork Carnitas Rice Bowl range from $10.99-$12.99.
Water bottle filling stations are a relatively new addition to Walt Disney World theme parks and are located mostly in new or newly renovated areas.
What Cannot bring into Disney? ›- Firearms, ammunition, knives and weapons of any kind.
- Self-defense or restraining devices (e.g., pepper spray, mace).
- Marijuana (including marijuana enriched products) or any illegal substance.
- Objects or toys that appear to be firearms or weapons.
Are water bottles allowed in Disney World? ›
Guests are welcome to bring water bottles into the theme parks, provided that they don't bring any glass containers or any outside alcohol into the parks. You can get more detailed information by checking out the Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules.
Are dining reservations worth it at Disney World? ›Reasons to Make Table Service Reservations for Lunch. You want a guaranteed place to rest during the day. Almost all the table service restaurants are air-conditioned and most table service meals take about an hour to eat. This provides a substantial respite from the heat and hustle in the parks.
How much is a dinner plan at Disney? ›The dining plan rates are based on the plan that you pick: Quick Service Plan $55/day per adult, $26/day per child. Regular Dining Plan $78.01/day per adult, $30.51/day per child. Disney Dining Plus Plan $94.60/day per adult, $35/day per child.
How much does it cost to have breakfast with the Disney characters? ›What costs are involved? This character dining does not require park admission since it's located at the Disneyland Hotel. The price is $39 for adults and $23 for children aged 3-9 for breakfast and for dinner it is $43 for adults and $25 for children aged 3-9.
How much does the average person spend on food at Disneyland? ›I've been to Disneyland many times with my family, (being from southern california), and you should expect to pay about $100 in food per day. This could change on if you decide to go to a sit down restaurant, or just grab a quick hot dog to-go in one of the little shops there.
How much does Disney charge for no show dining reservation? ›As noted earlier, Disney charges a per-person penalty if you fail to show up for a reservation the day of the meal. A $10 no-show fee is enforced at all Disney sit-down restaurants.
Can you have two Disney dining reservations at the same time? ›Can I book more than one reservation for the same meal period? A. No. Guests are not permitted to book dining reservations within 2 hours of another reservation.
Will Disney dining go back to 180 days? ›Disney Dining continues to allow Guests to make their advanced dining reservations 60-days prior to their vacation arrival date. At the present time, there haven't been any announcements about going back to the 180-day timeframe for advanced reservations.
How much does the average person spend at Disney? ›Cost of Going to Disney World 2023 Overview
On Average a typical Disney World vacation will cost $225.00-$240.00 per person per day for guests staying at the value resorts or moderate resorts and $245.00 – $285.00 for guests staying at a Disney World on-site deluxe resort.
A. Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverage items into the park for self-consumption, provided they are not in glass containers and do not require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration or temperature control and do not have pungent odors.
How much should I budget for spending at Disney? ›
If you're looking to plan a Disney World vacation, there's a wide range of prices available to you. For a family of three or four, you'll probably want to assume you're spending at least $3500, with $5000-6000 being a comfortable amount, and $10000 being enough to make anyone's dreams come true.
Do you tip at Disney character meals? ›Even though they are typically buffet style, we always tip 18%. The cast members who have served us have been terrific. They always make sure we see all of the characters in between trips to the buffet. Of course you can choose whether or not to tip based on the level of service.
Do you meet Cinderella at Royal table? ›In normal times, Walt Disney World considers Cinderella's Royal Table a “Fairytale Dining Experience.” which I think just refers to the fact that you can meet Cinderella and other visiting princesses here. The meal also includes a photo of your party and Cinderella taken by PhotoPass photographers.
How much is lunch with the princesses at Disney? ›Cinderella's Royal Table is a great way to interact with most of the popular Disney princess characters, but it is also one of the more expensive options. Lunch and dinner start at $67 at the time of writing, plus tax and gratuity, compared to 1900 Park Fare's dinner prices that start at $60.
Why does Disney charge so much for food? ›For some foods, Disney buys ingredients (if not the entire food) from third-party sellers. The price they pay for those items will play a big part in determining the cost, as Disney wants to turn a profit.
How much is a burger at Disney World? ›You can find practically any type of food you can imagine, from classic burgers and fried chicken to international cuisine. There's something for every taste. Burgers with fries at a Disney quick-service location are about $10.99-$12.99. Disney individual-sized pizza is $9.99-$10.49.
What size backpack can you take into Disney World? ›Suitcases, bags, coolers or backpacks, with or without wheels, larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (61 cm x 38 cm x 46 cm) are not allowed in any theme park or water park.