Disney World Dining is a massive and ever-changing aspect of Disney World. It’s also an area that’s often overlooked by first time or infrequent visitors.
A lot of people think most of the food in Disney World is the standard pizza, burgers, fries, etc, that you find in most theme parks.
And while you can find those options, Disney World has A LOT more to offer than just your standard park fare. In fact, there’s more to consider in Disney Dining that you might think.
With that in mind, here are my top ten tips to consider for Disney World Dining.
You can view menus before you go
Remember how I said there’s a lot more to Disney World dining than your standard theme park food? Well, you can look at every menu for every counter service, table service, and snack kiosk before you go on your trip.
They’re subject to change from time to time, so you may have slightly different options when you get to Disney World, but it’ll give you a good idea of what you can expect.
You can find restaurants and menus here on Disney’s website.
Use Mobile Order for counter service
Counter service or quick service is essentially Disney’s version of fast food, where you place your order at a kiosk, then pick up your food and seat yourself.
But again, the food options and quality far exceed traditional fast food so don’t let the term “fast food” scare you away.
Sometimes those lines can get a little long. One way to beat the line is to use mobile order in the My Disney Experience app.
In the app, you can view the menus of any location, then order and pay for your food. Then you simply have to pick your food up at the designated window.
This can save you time and keep you out of lines.
Make your reservations for table service ASAP
You can make dining reservations at table service (or sit down) restaurants 180 days before your trip.
You can absolutely get reservations at good restaurants at almost any point before your trip, however the earlier you make them, the better.
And if you’ve been doing your research and have your heart set on eating at someplace popular, you’ll likely want to make that reservation as close to the 180-day mark as possible.
Don’t overlook the resorts
There’s are plenty of fabulous dining options at Disney World’s resorts! And you can eat there even if you are not a guest at that resort.
This is true for both table service and counter service restaurants.
This is also a really good option to consider if you’re looking to get a last minute reservation–especially for lunch.
Most people are in the parks during the day, so it’s usually possible and easy to get a table for lunch at a resort. Even if you’re in the parks for the day, you might want to think about ducking out, avoiding the mid-day heat, and having a relaxing resort lunch.
Always mention food allergies and special diets
Disney is ridiculously accommodating to food allergies and special diets, so always tell your host and server if you fall into this category.
In some cases, you’ll get a special menu to choose from. In other cases, the chef will come out to talk to you and discuss your options directly.
For more on this, check out this post about eating in Disney World with a food allergy.
Weigh the pros and cons of the Disney Dining Plan
The Disney Dining Plan allows you to pre-pay for your meals in exchange for credits that you can use at most counter service, table service, and snack locations (depending on the plan you choose).
This means it’s possible to do a Disney World vacation where the only money you spend during your trip is on souvenirs.
It’s very possible to eat more than what you pay for. However, it’s also very possible to pay less on food overall if you buy food in the parks while you’re there.
Personally, I’m a big fan of the dining plan, but it may not be for everyone, depending on what your goals and priorities are.
I think it’s worth considering, but take the time to do some estimated math and see if it would be worth it for you and your family or group.
You can read all about the pros and cons of the Disney Dining Plan here.
Be on the look out for free dining
You should also be on the lookout for free dining offers! Disney typically offers free dining plans to select Disney World packages once or twice a year.
Typically, free dining is offered during periods where Disney expects there to be lower crowds as a way to entice guests to the park. You’ll have to run the numbers to see if this would be worth it for you, but in most cases, it is.
You can keep an eye on Disney’s Special Offers page for the free dining deal.
Use your snack credits wisely!
If you do decide to go with a Dining Plan, be sure to use your snack credits wisely! This is easily the aspect of the dining plan that people seem to waste the most.
You can use your snack credits for so much more than a bag of chips. You can use your snack credit on any item that has the Disney Dining Plan logo next to it.
This can include cheesy fries, shrimp mac and cheese, funnel cake, ice cream, and SO much more!
When it doubt, ask a cast member if something is eligible.
You can often split meals
Disney portion sizes are huge. Depending on how much you eat, you’ll likely be able to split meals between a couple people if you’d like to.
This is very easy to at counter service location. Simply order one meal, and share it.
It isn’t always possible at table service locations, but many will be willing to do this for you if you ask. They’ll typically even bring you an extra plate.
Some table-service restaurants may charge a plate sharing fee, but that’s still going to be cheaper than buying a whole other entree.
You can use a breakfast reservation to get in the parks early
There are several restaurants inside the parks that serve breakfast, such as Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom, Akershus in Epcot, and Tusker House in Animal Kingdom.
Often times, these locations are open and taking reservations before the parks open. And if you have a reservation, you can get into the parks early.
So if you have an 8 AM reservation and the park opens at 9, you can get in, eat, then put yourself in a position to be the first on your favorite ride after breakfast.
Be sure to check park and reservation times when you’re booking. Also consider extra magic hours and transportation options to make sure you can get to your reservation in time.
For more Disney World tips and tricks, check out the other Disney World Posts!
Sound off: What are your favorite Disney World dining tips? Tell us about it in the comments!