A Walt Disney World vacation isn’t complete without eating. But how much is food at Disney World going to set you back when you go?
The cost of food at Disney World may be on your mind.
A family of four to five will spend between $150 and $250 per day on food at Disney World.
Our estimate depends on how much you eat, what you eat, and where you eat.
In the parks and resorts, there are lots of dining options like Quick Service and Table Service.
A wide range of prices means you can easily spend less or a whole lot more than $150 – $250 a day.
Here’s what you should expect to pay when you factor in Walt Disney World’s quick service and table service restaurants.
What’s the difference between quick service and table service?
Walt Disney World has two kinds of restaurants: Quick Service and Table Service.
Is a Quick Service Restaurant a Fast Food Place?
- Atmosphere is casual
- Self-service
- It’s cheaper than table service
- There’s no need to make reservations in advance
At Walt Disney World, you’ll find over 100 quick service restaurants which serve standard American fare like hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, pizza and salads. You can also expect to find at least one vegetarian/vegan option as well as some with an international theme and international cuisine. The average price of a hamburger with fries is $11 – $13 while a pizza can cost around $10 – $11. A Pork Carnitas Rice Bowl will set you back about $12 on average.
On average, an adult’s main dish (not including a drink) at Quick Service will cost $12, and for a child it will be around $7. If you would like a drink with your meal, remember that it costs extra: anywhere from $3 – 4 dollars for something like fountain soda or water bottle. The average side dish is another expense of$4 – 5 , and if you want to finish your meal with dessert, expect to spend an additional $4 – 6 .
The total cost of quick service meals
If you’re feeding a family of four at a Disney Quick Service restaurant, expect to spend around $50-$60 on two adult entrees, two kids’ meals, and four fountain drinks. If you add desserts for two people, that’s another $10. For families who want to save money or are always on the go, Quick Service restaurants are going to be your best bet. However, if you don’t mind spending more or want some high-quality and memorable meals during your trip, Table Service restaurants might be a better option for you.
Table Service Restaurants: What Are They?
There are several restaurants to choose from, ranging from informal to formal. The atmosphere at a restaurant may be described as casual, elegant, or fancy. It’s not self-serve service; it’s more expensive than Quick Service. Make reservations ahead of time if possible.
Disney World’s Average Cost of Table Service
Disneyland’s table service restaurants are usually themed and full-service.
Among them are family-friendly Disney restaurants, fun, kitschy, exotic, and upscale.
Disney’s Table Service restaurants have great customer service and delicious food.
Table Service restaurants also come in a wide range of prices, but they always cost more than Quick Service restaurants.
When you’re on a Disney vacation, it’s worth it to splurge, but you don’t need Table Service for every meal.
Average cost of a regular table service restaurant
Here’s an example of a casual, table-service restaurant: 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
There’s fried chicken, pot roast, salmon, meatloaf, and other classic American dishes on the menu here.
Lunch and dinner at 50’s Prime Time Cafe and other Table Service restaurants range from $15 – $30.
Children’s menu items range from $10-$13 and include grilled chicken and mac ‘n cheese.
Restaurants with family style table service: The cost
You may try a number of dishes for one fixed price using the family-style meal option. The Patriot’s Platter at Liberty Tree Tavern in Disney’s Magic Kingdom, for example, costs $39 (adults)/$21 (kids 3-9). This platter includes roasted turkey, pot roast, and oven-roasted pork with mashed potatoes, seasonal veggies, herb stuffing – and it doesn’t end there! For dessert you get Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake made from scratch.
Dining with Disney characters: how much does it cost
Disney Character Dining experiences usually charge a flat fee.
Kids ages 3-9 can dine for $27, plus tax and gratuity.
Adults pay $40 – $45 a person.
Signature Dining Costs
A Signature Dining restaurant is Disney’s top-of-the-line dining experience…and it’s a destination by itself.
In a fine dining environment, they offer creative cuisine and memorable experiences.
Most Disney Deluxe Resorts offer Signature Dining, and each of the Disney theme parks has at least one spot.
Located in Disney’s Grand Floridian, Victoria & Albert’s is a five-diamond award-winning restaurant.
Cinderella’s Royal Table’s at Magic Kingdom; Le Cellier’s at EPCOT; Monsieur Paul’s at France Pavilion’s; Takumi-Tei’s at Japan Pavilion’s; Hollywood Brown Derby at Hollywood Studios; Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
An example of a Signature Dining dish is whole-fried sustainable fish. You can also find tamarind-braised short ribs. The price for a Signature Dining dish usually falls between $30 and $50. Appetizers at Table Service restaurants generally range from $11 to $15, while desserts cost from $10 to $16. If you would like a drink, expect to pay around $8 for beer and around $18 for wine or another mixed drink. Keep in mind that the price for a two-person Signature Dining experience might cost up to $200 if you have children with you.
Dining at a table service restaurant: total cost
Disney Table Service restaurants cost an average of $75 to $200 per family of four (two adults, two kids).
Depending on what you order and what type of restaurant you choose, the total cost varies.
Disney World’s cheapest and most informal way to get food is:
Food carts!
- Popcorn and frozen treats are the most popular snack items on carts
- Some of them sell meat on a stick, egg rolls, or turkey legs, but not whole meals
- There are some Disney Springs carts that only sell booze
Festival kiosks!
- These can be found at Epcot during festivals like the Epcot Food & Wine Festival
- Small portions are served at kiosks. You can sample lots of different foods and drinks at them
Cost of Beverages:
- About $4.00 is the average cost of a fountain drink
- Cans of beer cost about $8.00
- The average cost of a cocktail at a quick service restaurant is $10, while a cocktail at a table service restaurant is $12.00
- The cost of other specialty drinks (without alcohol) is about $5.
Using the Disney Dining Plan to estimate food costs
Anyone going to Disney usually has two options: Although at the moment, Disney Dining Plans are not available…Disney has confirmed that they will be back, hopefully soon!
- buying one of the Disney Dining Plans
- paying out of pocket.
Disney’s dining plans aren’t available right now because of pandemic restrictions.
Disney Dining Plan pricing can be used to get an idea of average meal and snack costs, even though that’s not an option.
If we average the costs:
- Snacks: $5 – $6
- For adults, $19, and for kids (ages 3-9), $11.00
- There’s a $42 Table Service charge for adults and $25 for kids (ages 3-9)
Those numbers aren’t exactly the same as what we mentioned before, but they’re still pretty close.
If you’re staying at Disney World for a few days, figure out how many snacks and quick service and/or table service meals you’ll eat per day.
Multiply the total of your meals by the number of days you’re staying.
Is Disney World Food Affordable?
What’s your Disney food budget?
Disney World has a lot of ways you can eat, so you can expect to spend about $200-$250 per day on food for a family of four.
This estimate is based on one Quick Service meal, one Table Service meal, and one snack and drink purchase for all four people.
At table-service locations, our estimate does not factor in breakfast, alcohol, or gratuity, as these can be significant factors or not.
For all four people, one Quick Service meal, one Table Service meal, and one snack and drink are included in this estimate.
Breakfast at Starbucks or the Kiosk could cost another $20 – $30, but a full breakfast could add another $50 – $70.
There’s a lot of variables: a family of four could easily stay under $200 per day or easily spend over $300 per day.
Disney World allows guests to bring their own food if they want to save money on some of their dining costs. We have compiled a great list of snacks to pack, in case you want to save that way.
Coolers can’t be bigger than 24 inches by 15 inches by 18 inches.
Ice packs are allowed, but coolers with loose ice aren’t.
You cannot bring alcohol or glass bottles into the parks.
You can bring food into the parks, but you cannot heat it.
Any way you slice it, Disney World food is going to cost you. Be sure to plan ahead and know what you want to do, once you’ve decided stick to your food plan. It will make your stay that much better.
Final thoughts on how much is food at Disney World
Although the cost of food at Disney World can seem high, there are ways to save money. We suggest packing snacks and drinks from home, and eating one meal off property each day. You can also take advantage of the Disney Dining Plan, if it’s offered when you go.
With a little planning, you can enjoy all the food Disney World has to offer without breaking the bank.
