best dining deals off dining plan About This Page:

[disney_girl125]

This is going to be my first time going to wdw without the dining plan. We're not looking to share meals or take food in, but i'm looking to come out better then if we got a plan. I did make one adr for ohana because that's our favorite. I'm looking for table service or quick service. For the table service though it would have to be a place that takes walk ups or even maybe a last minute adr. I'm looking forward to no adr's (besides the one). We ususally eat our table service at buffets, so the kids aren't stuck with the same meal everywhere. So, this time we can eat at non buffets..lol. Any suggestions?

[Straitlover]

Well, it's a buffet, but Trail's End at the campground is one of the best deals onsite. They do take ADRs, but you can usually get in w/o them no problem.

If you were interested in sharing, the sandwiches at The Plaza at MK are big enough for 2. I haven't been, but I know someone who went to the ESPN Club and said it was good and the portions were big.

Big River Grilling Works on the Boardwalk is a TS that does not do ADRs, so that's an option. Heard the food was really good, too.

I personally think the La Cantina quick seve at Epcot in Mexico is a good value. My nacho plate was huge!

[Boardwalk Inn Fan 4 Ever]

Another location at the Boardwalk I would highly recommend is the ESPN Club and they also don't accept ADR's. Now the only issue is finding out if there is a major sporting event happening on the day you might want to go there, because people will line up hours before it starts and I have seen that happen. However assuming it's a regular day then you shouldn't have a problem getting a table.

[Ceara's mawmaw]

Beaches & Cream at the Beach Club it is considered TS but they do not do ADRs and we love going there.

[Boardwalk Inn Fan 4 Ever]

Originally Posted by Ceara's mawmaw

Beaches & Cream at the Beach Club it is considered TS but they do not do ADRs and we love going there.

The one thing you forgot is that they are a very small restaurant with a limited number of tables. Plus when busy the wait can be very long.

Also some of their items like the Cheeseburgers are also sold at Hurricane Hanna's Grill. So for the same price and with the exception of leaving a tip, you can eat the exact same food for a lot less.

[Carousel96]

schwarma platter at Tangerine Cafe is easily shared, and lots of food

[shnewell]

Originally Posted by Ceara's mawmaw

Beaches & Cream at the Beach Club it is considered TS but they do not do ADRs and we love going there.

This was my first thought, too. The restaurant is small, so don't show up at high noon expecting to waltz right in. But if you adjust your eating times a bit so you're not eating at peak times, you can get a table without much of a wait.

Another one you might try is Mama Melrose. For a TS restaurant, I think it is a decent value and the food is pretty good. Again, you will probably have best luck for a walk-up if you eat at off-peak times.

[mechurchlady]

Raglan Road and Bongo's in DTD have good sized meals and are very tasty.
Restaurantasaurus in AK has good portions and indoor seating.
Pecos Bill and Cosmic Ray's have toppings bars. Ray serves great rotisserie chicken dinners.
Liberty Tavern Inn makes gluten free gravy, OMG. Love the place.
CRT is a must see.

At the studios skip Sci Fi because they sling the food as fast as they can where as the great food is at 50's Prime Time Diner where they have chicken, meatloaf, shakes, and a delicious wedge salad.

EPCOT
La Cantina de San Angel - see my recent review where I paid $27 for 3 empanadas, lots of beans and rice instead of chips, 3 beef soft tacos, and soda pop. Great price but not enough seating.

Biergarten is another hash slinger where managers are talking just feet from your table. Breaker 19, we got a slow moving table. The quality of the food is akin to cafeteria food that is made in bulk with little care for quality.

Sunshine Seasons is downstairs at the land. OMG huge pork chop with rice, beans, taters and or other options which I think i have reviewed, check out this section for my posts on restaurants. Electric Umbrella also has great food.

I LOVE GARDEN GRILLE and it is all you can eat character meal. Great food and cute characters.

[mattnkatsmum]

Nothing new here but our budget dining of choice includes splitting a cheeseburger and sharing a No Way Jose at Beaches and Cream or sharing appetisers (the wings are to die for) at ESPN. Both have us full to busting with great food at a reasonable price in fun surroundings.

[yalibrarian]

Sunshine Seasons food court in the Land in Epcot is outstanding, featuring food that is table service quality in most cases. You can easily get a nice meal for $10-12 per person, and drinks are refillable. Choices include dinners with salmon, turkey, pork chops, or chicken as a main course; meal salads; soups; Asian dishes; sandwiches; desserts; and a wonderful grab-and-go case. We like the goat cheese and roasted beet salad for a light lunch.

Children's meals are particularly good here, as although you will find mac and cheese, you won't be stuck with chicken nuggets, pizza or burgers.

[mechurchlady]

I am back and planning a report on Belch Club dining.
I enjoyed what food I could eat at Cape May and while a bit pricy it is a buffet where you are getting crab legs, delicious beef and an array of good food.

[Caldercup]

Originally Posted by yalibrarian

Sunshine Seasons food court in the Land in Epcot is outstanding,

I wholeheartedly agree!

Using the excellent chart Jennifer & Dave have in the PassPorter (looking at my 2011 PP, it's on page 221, in the Dining Plan section), a counter service lunch/dinner credit is "valued" at $13.25. So, if you get a meal that would cost more than that amount, you're doing well.

With Sunshine Seasons, many of the enrees range in price from $8-11. Add in a $2.50 soda, plus a $2.50-4 dessert (and they're VERY good here), you can easily exceed that $13.25 value.

[chezp]

I was going to suggest Beaches and Cream, as that's excellent out of pocket value.

[Sue M.]

We went without the DDP last Jan, and did TS- but we made ADRs. I picked TS that I never thought was a good value on DDP-
SciFi Dinner, Via napoli, Ragglan Road, then we had the less expensive entrees at Kona, Saana, and WCC
Some CS that are excellent value are Sunshine Seasons, Cosmic Rays, Flametree, Y&Y cs, wolfgang Puck express, Mexico cs, Columbia harbour House has a new item- Salmon entree which was very good. POR Food court has a carving station, and a to die for make your own Pasta Bar.

I think you will need to make ADRs for any TS you are planning for, or you won't get in or have a very long wait.

We did come out ahead, because we didn't have a dessert after every meal- esp after lunch. We aren't pop drinkers, so just had water with meals. We shared a dessert after dinner. We also didn't order the most expensive thing on the menu, which is what we do when on DDP. We actually got to try things we wanted to eat, but weren't necessarily a good value on DDP. It was somewhat liberating, lol!

[Boardwalk Inn Fan 4 Ever]

If you eat at any of the Quick Service locations I would recommend Earl of Sandwich and the Contempo Cafe, which in my opinion are two great places when paying out of pocket.