| Once you have purchased Disney World park tickets, | | | | from counter service restaurants. It's free! |
| hotel rooms, airfare, and maybe a rental car, your next | | | | Sodas are expensive and in the Florida heat, water will |
| biggest expense will be food. Food is also the most | | | | quench your thirst better than soda and save you |
| controllable of all your vacation expenses. In this article | | | | money. |
| I will explain how you can slash your food spending | | | | The average soda in the parks cost around $2 and |
| while still eating well. | | | | this adds up fast. If you are a family of four and drink |
| If you are serious about saving money on your Disney | | | | two sodas each a day for seven days, you will spend |
| World vacation, before leaving home you should | | | | over $100 dollars. Cost of Ice Water - Zero! |
| establish a food budget and decide how much you are | | | | Ask For A Sandwich Instead Of The Meal Package |
| prepared to spend on food every day. | | | | At counter service restaurants, the menus very often |
| Don't forget to include snacks and drinks in your plans | | | | list only a price for a meal package whichusually |
| as these small items can add up to a significant | | | | includes French fries (chips to our UK friends), or |
| amount over a seven day vacation. If you don't have | | | | potato chips (crisps in the UK) and a drink. This does |
| some kind of a budget in mind, your food spending can | | | | not mean that you have to buy the whole meal. |
| easily get out of control. | | | | Sandwiches and other items can be purchased |
| In my opinion, it is important to have some idea on | | | | separately but you have to ask. Disney does not |
| where and when you will be eating your meals. If you | | | | volunteer this information. Savings can be $2 or more |
| will be mostly eating fast food in the parks this is not | | | | per sandwich when compared to buying the whole |
| so vital, but if you plan on eating at some of Disney | | | | meal package! |
| World's fine dining restaurants, some planning in the | | | | If you buy the full meal package consider sharing. |
| form of advance reservations is advisable and often | | | | Portions at Disney World are large, one meal can |
| necessary. | | | | satisfy two light eaters and cuts the cost in half. |
| You should also decide if you plan on attending a | | | | Bringing Your Own Food Into The Parks |
| character breakfast or dinner during your stay at | | | | Bring power bars, chips, and candy that won't melt to |
| Disney World. These expensive but fun activities add | | | | the parks with you. It's amazing how thoselittle snacks |
| a treasure trove of happy memories to any Disney | | | | you buy throughout the day add up. |
| vacation. Here again, advance reservations are | | | | Disney have a policy of not allowing outside food in the |
| required. | | | | parks, but as long as you don't try to bring in large |
| If you want to take the guess work out of your food | | | | coolers, glass bottles, alcohol, etc. they seldom enforce |
| budget, consider buying a Disney vacation package | | | | it. I have never had a problem. |
| that includes the Disney dining plan. The Disney dining | | | | Eat Your Main Meal At Lunch Time |
| plan is offered as either a basic or deluxe option. | | | | If you want to enjoy a meal at one of Disney World's |
| The basic plan includes one counter service meal, one | | | | premiere restaurants but are put off by the cost, |
| snack, and a table service meal each day. | | | | consider eating your main meal at lunch time. The |
| The deluxe plan offers three meals a day at any kind | | | | portions are a little smaller though stillsubstantial and the |
| of Disney restaurant, and in any combination you | | | | cost per meal is drastically reduced, sometimes by as |
| choose. | | | | much as half the dinner price. |
| If you decide that the dining plan is for you, I | | | | Order Only Appetizers And Dessert |
| recommend that you make reservations for table | | | | Another good way to try out high price Disney |
| service restaurants in advance as the popular meal | | | | restaurants is to only order appetizers, desserts, and |
| times fill up fast. | | | | perhaps a cocktail or specialty coffee. This tactic |
| Free Ice Water | | | | allows you to sample the food and ambience without |
| Ask for ice water instead of soda when ordering food | | | | paying for the expensive entrees. |