Saving Money on Food and Drinks

(Short Excerpts From the Book)

There has been much debate on whether or not outside food is allowed into the parks. I received the response below from Disney World Guest Relations and the answer is yes, yes you can bring food in!
From Disney Guest Relations:

Dear Chris,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort.
Small coolers (that one person can carry) that will fit into 
theme park lockers are allowed.  Coolers will be inspected 
for glass and alcoholic beverages, which are not permitted.  
Please be advised that this is a general policy only.  
Security personnel will evaluate each cooler individually, 
and there may be instances when even a small cooler will be
denied.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
WDW Online Communications
PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice 
and should be confirmed just prior to your visit.

Hungry?

Free Breakfast- If you plan to stay in a hotel outside of Disney, try to find one that serves a free breakfast. That would be one free meal each day of your vacation! We can’t stress this enough. Demand the free meal and you can save.

Have Breakfast in Your Room- If you stay in a hotel or resort that does not offer a free breakfast, then bring your own breakfast food to enjoy as you get ready in your room each morning. For breakfast, buy bagels, donuts and other breakfast pastries, fruit, dry cereal, granola, or bread and jam ahead of time. By having a refrigerator or a cooler, you can broaden your options to include yogurt, milk, and juice.

Have a Hot Breakfast in Your Room- If you have a microwave or a coffee maker, you can also have warm breakfast items such as oatmeal. Warm the water in the coffee maker for oatmeal, hot chocolate, and soup.

Bring Snacks Into the Parks- For snacks throughout the day, bring in your own trail mixture, snack crackers, fruit, or granola bars in a backpack to snack on while standing in line or strolling around the parks. Especially if you have small children in your family, this is a must. Happy children are fed children! Don't be shy about bringing in food. Security will actually applaud you for doing so.

Silly Rabbit, Kid's Meals Aren't Just For Kids- Adults can order kids’ meals for themselves (only at counter-service restaurants) and fill up for a cheaper price. Less food will be wasted and you get more for your buck. The portions are good enough for a meal and cost, on average, two dollars less than an adult’s meal that does not come with a drink.

Use Those Annual Passholder Discounts- Get Annual Passholder discounts at some table service restaurants on Disney property. Check the complete list of participating restaurants. Generally it is during lunch hours and is usually 10% off for the Passholder and for three additional guests’ meals.

Disney Dining Experience- 20% off of most meals can add up. This could be a great deal for those that plan on eating out often during their stay.

Special Deals From our Sponsored Links:

Thirsty?

Pack in Your Own Water- Everybody needs water during a day of walking around the parks. This is the biggest trick to make sure you don’t spend a fortune on quenching your thirst. Bottles of water and drinks in the park are $2.50 per bottle. This is probably OK for an occasional drink, but most people need 3 to 4 per day. Do the math and you could spend a fortune unnecessarily ($2.50 X 4= $10 a day per person, $10 X 4= $40 a day per family of 4, $40 X 7= $280 for a week!).

Buy a Camelbak Backpack- Bring backpacks that have a built-in water holding device called a “bladder” that can hold around a liter and a half (or more) of liquid. Camelbak is one manufacturer that makes these devices. The backpacks have a drinking tube that comes out of the top and that can be put in your mouth while you are walking, just like a straw. Most discount stores such as Target carry these products.

Club Cool- Check out the Club Cool (sponsored by Coca-Cola) in Epcot to sample different drinks from around the world. Little paper cups are provided at various help-yourself fountains around the room. If you aren’t up for possibly swallowing an odd-tasting cola, then don’t try this. Some of the drinks are delicious; while others are quite, well, different. This is a free chance to quench your thirst, though, with the yummy sodas.

Super Size and Share- Buy one large cup of soda and ask for an extra cup with or without ice. Then, you can share the soda with a friend or family member.

Want More Tips and Secrets?
Disney on a Dime, The Book-Available Now!!

Look to Disney on a Dime for the latest and greatest ways to Save money on your Disney World Vacation.
Look in the Book for more Food and Drink tips on:

Grocery Store Stops	Cheapest Character Dining
Off-site Restaurants	Storing Food in the Parks
Meal Vouchers	Snacks
Meal Plans	Counter Restaurant Tricks
Kids and Food	Sit-Down Restaurant Tips