Yes, you can eat on a budget at Walt Disney World. Many save for years to take their family to Disney, and food can also add a big expense. Keep reading to see how I managed to stay on a fixed budget at Magic Kingdom.
My Magic Kingdom visit in April was perfection. The wait times were non existent, I got in the Tron virtual queue and of course I ate some of my favorite things at the park. I told myself that I was going to stay within $50 at Magic Kingdom, but I did go over budget, for good reason. My main meal was a table service restaurant that was all you can eat. More on that later. Here is everything I ate at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Breakfast
First, I must lead with the fact that I brought my own water into the park to save me on drinks. Pro Tip: Bring a reusable bottle and bring water with you saves you money. For breakfast we headed to Gaston’s Tavern. I heard so many things about the cinnamon roll and I ordered one with a coffee. This brought my breakfast total to $8.93, but if I had skipped the coffee it would have been $6.79. This cinnamon roll was huge. So big, it fed all three of us. If you are a family of 5, two cinnamon rolls will take care of everyone for breakfast.
Lunch
Magic Kingdom has many spots to choose from for lunch but hands down, Casey’s Corner is my favorite for that midday meal. For 12.29 you will get corn dog nuggets, fries, a cup of water and a cheese cup. Top it all off by sitting outside with a view of the castle and watch the show or parade come by. Best way to take a midday break and regroup before hitting the next round of rides. I know you’re probably wondering, can this be shared? It can, depending on your hunger level. I’m greedy when it comes to my Casey’s so I was not sharing this. Casey’s has other options like footlong chili dogs, regular hot dogs and more.
Dinner
After all the rides and before you head back to the resort, you need dinner. Ooey Gooey Cookie Cake. That’s all you need to know. Liberty Tree Tavern. Can I get a round of applause of Liberty Tree? Located in Liberty Square, Liberty Tree Tavern is a sit down table service restaurant that is $42 per person and it is all you can eat. This was perfect for me as I was fueling up for my ten miler and it was everything I needed. We asked for another round of meat (turkey, pork, and pot roast) and salad and of course when we asked, they delivered. After all of our courses came the dessert which left me begging for another bite and since it’s all you can eat, we got a second one. It’s perfection. For my drink I got a soft drink since it was included.
My grand total on food was $69.22. I tipped our server at Liberty Tree. Had I not been racing the next day, I could have easily kept my spending under $30 for the day.
Additional Spots and Snacks
There are other additional favorites of mine that are gentle on the wallet. I am a sucker for a Mickey Pretzel with cheese, popcorn, the cheeseburger spring rolls and more. If you are traveling with children who love to see characters, I highly recommend Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom. It is a buffet that is pretty pricey, $60.00 and $35 for children. This is an experience. Winnie the Poo and the gang come to your table to meet you and it is a great experience and great food. You can also check out all the dining options Magic Kingdom has to offer here.
If you really want to control your budget, bring your own food to the park. Yes, you can. Are you still thinking about heading to Disney? Reach out to Castle Coaches Travel to help you plan your trip and ask for Natalie. Tell her I sent you! PS the services are free, always! Want more Disney content or interested in runDisney? Check out my most recent runDisney post here.