How Much Does Food Cost at Disney World? A Guide to Dining Expenses for Your Vacation

One Walt Disney World vacation expense often overlooked involves food and beverages. How much does food cost at Walt Disney World?

At Walt Disney World, guests have hundreds of dining choices. These choices range from a Michelin-starred restaurant to other signature dining, table service, quick service, bars, lounges, and snack kiosks. Those of us who focus on the food at theme parks feel the pain of the cost of food at Walt Disney World.

Still, we also find issues with the price of theme park food at SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and Universal Orlando Resort. Everything in our world regarding food costs more these days.

With all these options, guests often find themselves facing unexpected sticker shock in terms of food costs. Then again, most regional theme or amusement parks are not known for budget-friendly food options either. Still, the food and beverage expenses at Walt Disney World should be factored into your vacation budget. Still, all is not lost. Guests can plan for the cost of food at Walt Disney World Resort.

Walt Disney World Food Cost

Though there are many dining strategies and styles for those visiting Walt Disney World, you still need to eat. One way or the other, guests will need to spend money on food.

Guests dining at Walt Disney World should expect to spend between $50 and $60 per day on food. Of course, this does not include enjoying one of the many table service (sit-down with a server) restaurants within the theme park, Disney Springs, or Disney-owned hotels.

Now, to be fair, have you priced a meal at your local fast-food restaurant lately? Like the prices at your grocery store, food costs more, so the food at Walt Disney World has increased over the years.

Nevertheless, at only $50 daily, that would be $200 for the typical family of four. For groups that neglect to plan for Walt Disney World dining, the unexpected hole in the bank account or increase in credit card balance will be noticeable after the Walt Disney World vacation. Still, those who dine at Walt Disney World at least once a week understand the pain of the budget process.

Your Walt Disney World food cost will vary based on your dining style. It also will be influenced by the number of kids in your group since their meals should cost less.

Quick Service or Table Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World?

The two main types of restaurants at Walt Disney World are quick service (also known as counter service) and table service. Guests should expect better service and food quality at table service restaurants. However, that comes with a higher cost, which should be planned for when selecting that level of dining.

Disney World Food Cost: Quick Service Restaurants

Quick service dining options at Walt Disney World provide a setting like many fast casual or quick service options commonly found in the United States of America. The main difference is that many Disney ones feel far busier, especially in the theme parks, and seating can be hard to find. Still, the basic concept remains the same.

For these restaurants, guests order at a counter and then seat themselves. Many quick service restaurants offer mobile ordering using the My Disney Experience mobile application, making the process potentially easier. Walt Disney World has over 200 quick service dining restaurants. These can be found in the four theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, and resort hotels.

In contrast to table service restaurants, quick service restaurants cost less and do not require advanced dining reservations. This allows more freedom in planning your vacation day but perhaps more stress when dining.

Expected Cost of Walt Disney World Quick Service Meals

The prices for quick service dining will vary since quick service at Walt Disney World includes standard burgers, chicken tenders, pizza, and fries, as well as rice bowls and salmon. Guests should expect standard-style fast food (burgers and pizza) to cost less than rice bowls or fish. Each quick service location has at least one plant-based option. Also, they will have various choices for other dietary needs, like gluten-free.

In broad terms, the price for common quick service items looks something like this:

• A burger with fries will cost around $13
• Personal pizza will cost around $10
• Chicken tenders and fries will cost around $11
• Entrée size salads vary in price from $10-$14
• Hot Dogs with fries cost around $11
• Kids’ meals cost around $8-$11

More upscale quick service items like rice bowls, salmon, lobster rolls, and fish and chips will cost slightly more. In addition, a fountain beverage will cost at least $5. Milk or juice costs around $4. Desserts and additional sides will cost around $5-$6 each.

Adults should expect to pay at least $16 for a quick service entree with a beverage. For budget purposes, it is wise to plan on spending around $18 per meal.

Breakfast Quick Service Meals at Walt Disney World

Guests should expect to pay slightly less for quick service breakfast than the lunch and dinner options described above. Many guests buy breakfast sandwiches and coffee for their breakfast. This will cost around $12. However, a more extensive quick service breakfast runs between $15 and-$18.

Snacks

During their Walt Disney World vacation, Guests often find themselves wanting a snack. Walt Disney World offers some excellent snacks. These range from Dole soft serve to Mickey pretzels, ice cream, popcorn, and more. Snacks of all sorts can be found in the four theme parks, two waterparks, Disney Springs, and Disney resort hotels. Regarding price, guests should expect to spend between five and nine dollars for a snack at Walt Disney World.

Disney World Food Cost: Table Service Restaurants

Over a hundred options exist on the property for Walt Disney World guests wishing for a more relaxing table service dining experience with wait staff. These range from casual dining to buffets, family-style dining, and upscale signature dining.

Depending on the table service restaurant, the dining atmosphere will vary from fairly casual to upscale fancy. In all cases, guests will be greeted by staff as they enter and then seated by the staff. A server will take your order and bring your food and beverages (unless you are dining at a buffet). Guests will be expected to leave a gratuity.

In almost all cases, table service dining will cost more than quick service. In addition, advance dining reservations are usually required to dine at Walt Disney World table service restaurants. The most popular Walt Disney World table service restaurants book up near the 60-day mark.

Table Service Dining Cost

Since there is so much variety regarding table service options at Walt Disney World, the price varies significantly as well. However, most pricing fits a pattern.

At casual-style table service restaurants like Raglan Road, 50’s Prime Time Café, and Kona Café, appetizers cost $12-$25. Entrees range from $18 to $40. Kids’ meals should cost between $12 and $18.

Walt Disney World has several fabulous family-style or buffet restaurants. Many of these function as character dining meals.

Liberty Tree Tavern at Magic Kingdom makes a good example of family-style dining. At this place, a server brings the food to your table. This all-you-care-to-enjoy dining option costs $44 for adults and $24 for children. Guests receive salad and bread for starters. The main entrée platter with turkey, pot roast, and potatoes follows this. The meal ends with a dessert of Oooey Gooey Toffee Cake. Plant-based options are available.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios serves as another example of family-style dining. Though this place is highly themed, it is not character dining, so it costs less than a Walt Disney World character meal. The barbecue restaurant provides unlimited servings for $49 per adult. Like at Liberty Tree, this price includes non-alcoholic beverages. Kids (ages three to nine) cost $27 at Roundup Rodeo BBQ.

Disney World Food Cost: Character Meals

Depending on your group’s objectives during your Walt Disney World vacation, meeting classic Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse may serve as a high priority. Walt Disney World offers plenty of opportunities to meet the various Disney characters. However, those interactions often involve longer queue wait times than many groups desire.

An excellent way to dine and see characters involves booking a character dining experience. Walt Disney World offers these in the four theme parks and some Disney-owned resorts. These table service dining options allow guests to eat (which they would do anyway) and have the characters come to their table for photos, avoiding waiting longer to meet characters.

Walt Disney World character dining involves a set fee for dining with a price for adults and one for kids ages three to nine. Children under three eat free. These can be buffet, family-style, or a prix fixe menu. Character dining prices are around $50 to $70 for adults. Kids ages three to nine cost between $25 to $43.

Cinderella’s Royal Table

The premier Walt Disney World character dining meal happens at Cinderella’s Royal Table. This prix fixe dining experience occurs within the castle at Magic Kingdom. As you might expect, guests meet several Disney princesses at Cinderella’s Royal Table during their meal.

Advance dining reservations can be a challenge to acquire. Based on data from MouseDining, Cinderella’s Royal Table is one of the most searched-for dining reservations at Walt Disney World.

In addition, guests will pay top dollar to dine here. Breakfast costs $75 for adults and $45 for a child. For lunch and dinner, adults cost $88, and kids cost $52. This character meal qualifies as signature dining at Walt Disney World.

What is Signature Dining at Walt Disney World?

Signature dining is a distinction given to the highest level of table service dining at Walt Disney World. Though Walt Disney World food & beverage leaders might not like this explanation, signature dining costs the most and usually provides the best food and beverage experience on Disney property.

Each of the four Walt Disney World theme parks has at least one signature dining table service restaurant. Signature dining locations can also be found at the Disney-owned resort hotels and Disney Springs. The cuisine ranges from Spanish, Japanese, French, and Canadian to traditional United States of America cuisine. Guests should expect to pay at least $35 for an entrée with appetizers costing at least $15. Signature dining at places at Epcot like Takumi-Tei and Monsieur Paul will cost guests at least $200 per adult for a meal at those upscale dining options. The quality of cuisine will be high, but so will the price for signature dining.

Ultimate Signature Dining: Victoria & Albert’s

The Michelin-starred award-winning top signature dining restaurant at Walt Disney World is at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This dining experience features an incredible number of courses with perfectly prepared items. Of course, the dining experience at Victoria & Albert’s will cost guests at least $300 per adult, and young children may not attend.

Walt Disney World Food Cost: Ideal to Plan Ahead

The pricing for food cost at Walt Disney World varies depending on the style and quality desired. We suggest that your groups look at the Walt Disney World menus during the vacation planning process. Guests do not need to plan every meal, but planning some meals in advance helps guests gain a realistic look at their food costs for the Walt Disney World vacation.

If your group plans to eat only quick service meals each day at Walt Disney World, adults can spend about $55 per day on food. This will involve no extras or alcoholic beverages. Obviously, adding extra and table service dining will increase the price per day. Nonetheless, there are a few ways to save money on Walt Disney World food costs or at least make it easier to budget.

Disney World Food Cost: Walt Disney World Dining Plans

Before 2020, Walt Disney World offered several types of dining plans for guests staying at one of the many Disney-owned resort hotels. During some slower times of the year, Walt Disney World rolled out a “Free Dining Plan,” which encouraged people to book Walt Disney World hotel rooms. While many would question if any Disney dining plan saves guests money, these plans allow guests to pay in advance for the food and beverages they plan to enjoy during their Walt Disney World vacation. They are only available for guests staying at a Walt Disney World hotel and booking a package with the dining plan. Your “Pixie” at Pixie Vacations can walk you through booking these at no charge to you. These plans must be done for the entire length of your stay and for every person in your group at Walt Disney World.

The Disney dining plans returned in 2024. There are currently two dining plan options:

Disney Quick Service Dining Plan: includes two quick service meals per day

$57.01 per night for adults (ages 10+) in 2024, or about $59.04 in 2025

$23.83 per night for kids (ages 3-9) in 2024, or about $24.89 in 2025

Disney Dining Plan with a Table Service meal: includes one table service meal per day (with dessert), plus one quick service meal per day

$94.28 per night for adults (ages 10+) in 2024, or about $97.69 in 2025

$29.69 per night for kids (ages 3-9) in 2024, or about $30.85 in 2025

Each plan includes one snack credit or additional non-alcoholic beverage per day. The plans also include a complimentary refillable beverage mug to use at your Disney hotel. These mugs are not valid in the Walt Disney World theme parks but can be used at other Disney-owned resort hotels.

Does the Disney Dining Plan Save You Money?

The cynical answer to the question of whether the “Dining Plan” saves guests money would be obvious. That answer would be no. Why would Walt Disney World offer something that costs them money? However, depending on the dining patterns of guests, the dining plan can save you a little money.

Some questions to ask if the Disney dining plans might save you money on the cost of Walt Disney World food would be:

• Are we planning to order dessert at most restaurants?
• Would we regularly order the most expensive entries at quick service locations?
• Do we drink alcoholic beverages daily?
• Would we dine at a table service restaurant at least once daily during our Disney vacation?
• Are we planning to do character meals?
• Will the kids (ages three to nine) actually eat full meals for the entire trip?
• Will the picky eaters in our group want to be more adventurous in terms of dining?
• Does your group drink lots of soft drinks?

If the answers to most of those questions are yes, then the Disney dining plans may help you save some money on dining. If not, the dining plans may only add to your expenses, not lower the cost of Walt Disney World food.

Nevertheless, the dining plans make sense for those looking to budget (or pre-pay) for their vacation food cost. With the Disney dining plans, guests do not need to worry about paying for most of their meals out of pocket during the vacation. There will be gratuities if dining at a table service restaurant and some additional snacks and beverage expenses. Still, the pressure on your bank account might be lessened with the dining plan even if you pay more overall. Many Walt Disney World guests express that the main reason they purchase the Walt Disney World dining plans involves being able to prepay for their food, even if they are overpaying in the long run.

Disney World Food Cost: Epcot Festival Factor

Epcot famously hosts four festivals each year. Each festival involves many food and beverage pop-up locations that sell sample-size entrees. During these festivals, guests can dine around the World Showcase and other areas of Epcot to experience a wide variety of cuisines.

The food from these pop-up food and beverage locations is smaller than standard portions, allowing guests to sample more items during the festivals. Depending on your dining habits, this may save your groups some money if they have a smaller appetite.

Prices for festival food vary. For a savory item, guests should expect to pay about eight dollars, while sweet treats cost about six dollars. If visiting during a festival time, guests can snack around the park, potentially saving some money depending on how they do it.

Disney World Food Cost: Closing Thoughts

How much should guests budget for food at Walt Disney World? $55 per day makes a good starting point. That means food will cost over $200 daily for a group of four. Of course, kids will cost less. Adding alcoholic beverages, extra snacks, and table service dining will increase the daily cost of Walt Disney World food.

Of course, there are additional ways to save on food and beverages during your Walt Disney World vacation. Some of these include:

• Guests can always get free cups of water at quick service restaurants or any location with a soda fountain machine.
• Buy breakfast and beverages at the Starbucks locations in the theme parks and Disney Springs. You can use Starbucks gift cards purchased in advance. In addition, you can use “Star Rewards” at the Disney Springs location, though not at the theme park locations.
• Guests can consider sharing meals, especially if one guest often does not tend to finish their entrée.
• Guests may bring a reasonable amount of food and beverage into the Walt Disney World theme parks. In other words, this can be done if your group wants to bring in some snacks to stretch out your dining budget.

Ready to Plan that Walt Disney World Vacation?

The “Pixies” at Pixie Vacation have experience guiding groups of all types in creating the best possible Walt Disney World vacation. Their services are fee-free when booking your next Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort vacation. You can receive a free, no-obligation quote from their website. We wish you happy planning for your next Disney vacation.