How to Dine in Walt Disney World When on a Budget

So, your travelling on a budget and want to save money on food at Disney World. Follow these
tips to get the most out of your food dollar.

When you are in Disney World on a budget the one flexible thing you can spend on is food.
Park tickets are non negotiable and with hotels, you know more or less what you are getting into when you book. Now you have a budget for food and you need to stick to it. Here is how to save on food while vacationing on a budget.

Do Not Purchase the Dining Plan
The Disney Dining Plan is not a good for a budget. At best you will break even and that Is only after trying really hard to get your value. Even if the Dining Plan is available for free, it will most likely come at the expense of another discount that will be better. Many people don’t realize this, but the dining plan doesn’t even cover all meals, so you will still be having to pay some out of pocket anyway.

Eat at Quick Service and Lounges
The best way to stick to your budget is to eliminate extra costs like tipping your server. Im not arguing that they don’t deserve their tips, mind you. Just that at a counter service restaurant you pay the price on the menu without concerning yourself with gratuity. Lounges are different of course, but you can often get the food in the lounge for less than what it costs in the neighbouring restaurant.

Back to Quick Service– It’s a lot easier to order an entree to share at Quick Service than it is at a Table Service restaurant. An adult can even order off the Kid’s Menu and nobody bats an eye.

Bring Your Own Snacks
Snacks here and there are a budget killer. While some snacks, just can’t be duplicated, you can save yourself a few dollars here and there by packing your own go-to treats. That goes for bottled water, too. If you plan ahead you can pack a lot of water for your trip and save a lot of money in the long run.

Have your Table Service Meals at Lunch
You might have room in your budget for a splurge or two. You can get the most out of the little extra room by making your reservations for lunch instead of dinner. Lunch is customarily cheaper than Dinner. Plus, if you time it right, you will be inside enjoying a meal for an hour or two while the park is at its busiest.

Take Advantage of Freebies
Places everywhere offer samples. Ghirardelli at Disney Springs, the confectionaries often have a sample to try, Club Cool at Epcot is a great place to suck down carbonated beverage while educating yourself on popular flavors of the world. There are a lot of freebies to take advantage of, like free ice water, or campfire s’mores at your resort.

Read These Next

I’ll admit it—I’m a sucker for vintage craft books. There’s something about flipping through the words of long-gone authors who took stitching very seriously (and often a little poetically) that makes me feel like I’ve joined a timeless club of thread-wielding women. That’s exactly how I felt diving into Chats on Needlework by Emily Leigh Lowes.

Originally published in 1906, this book is part history lesson, part opinion piece, and part how-to guide—with plenty of Victorian flair. And while some parts definitely show their age (in both language and perspective), it’s a fascinating and surprisingly enjoyable read if you’re into embroidery, textiles, or the roots of decorative arts.

Lowes doesn’t just “chat” about needlework—she lectures in a charming, tea-time sort of way. You get insight into historical stitching traditions from various cultures, plus commentary on the evolution of embroidery, tapestry, lace, and even ecclesiastical needlework. It reads like a stitched-together tour of museums and manor houses, narrated by someone who’s passionate, particular, and a bit sassy at times.

If you’ve ever wondered how medieval embroidery compares to Renaissance techniques—or what 19th-century women thought about machine-made lace—this book is your jam.

What stood out to me was how much Chats on Needlework made me think about the meaning behind the stitches. Lowes reflects on craftsmanship, aesthetics, and the cultural importance of handwork with a kind of reverence that honestly made me put down my current WIP and just appreciate it for a moment.

It’s not a how-to book, so don’t expect stitch diagrams or patterns. But it will deepen your love of needlework, especially if you’re the type who likes to pair your stitching with a strong cup of tea and a deeper sense of purpose.

Fair warning: Some references feel dated (as expected from a book written over a century ago), and the writing style is formal, with long-winded passages that take their time. But if you love reading about the why behind the craft, and if historical context inspires your creativity, you’ll enjoy this as much as I did.

I especially loved how she emphasized that needlework should be both beautiful and useful—something I’ve been trying to keep in mind as I mend old clothes or embroider reusable linens.

Chats on Needlework isn’t a flashy how-to or a Pinterest-ready pattern book. It’s more like sitting down for a fireside chat with your great-great-grandmother—one who had strong opinions on silk floss and medieval tapestries.

If you love textile history, appreciate slow crafting, and want to understand how embroidery was viewed before it became a hobby, this book is a little gem. It’s also great for anyone researching historical needlework for reenactments, costume work, or just creative inspiration.

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely—for the thoughtful, curious stitcher who wants more than just pretty stitches. It’s not for everyone, but for the right reader, it’s pure gold (or at least goldwork).

4.5 out of 5 samplers.
(Minus half a point for the occasional archaic ramble—but honestly, that’s part of the charm.)

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Have you read?