Disney World in 2025 is going to cost you, but if you do your due diligence, you can still avoid spending more money than you have to. Food is one of many extra expenses that can add up to a shocking post-vacation receipt.
But, did you know there are plenty of dining options at the Most Magical Place on Earth where you can enjoy exciting cuisine on your trip without racking up a massive bill? At Mickey Visit, we bring you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including news about Disney’s comments on phone usage at the parks and a look at the fastest Disney World rides.
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Disney World Restaurants That Deliver Value
When it comes to food, there is a plethora of options at Disney World, and we won’t lie to you — many of them can be quite expensive! While it may be worth the cost to indulge in a splurge or two, there is also a variety of Disney dining experiences that provide exciting cuisine at an unexpectedly affordable price point.
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Disney World quick-service/counter-service restaurants are the most accessible in terms of cost and efficiency. Many of these locations serve up typical grab-and-go theme park fare, like burgers, fries, chicken tenders, corn dogs, and snack items. However, this restaurant category also includes some hidden gems, where you can find unique and delicious menu items at counter service prices. Not all the table service (or full service) restaurants at Disney World require extravagant spending, though. Just don’t forget to factor in gratuity.
While it can be fairly easy to find inexpensive snacks at Disney World, finding a substantial meal that won’t break the bank can often be a challenge. Over the years, we’ve eaten at dozens of Disney World restaurants all over the property, and we’ve rounded up ten surprisingly affordable offerings. We’re including both counter service and table service locations, so whether you want a quick and satisfying lunch option or a relaxing sit-down dinner, we’ve got you covered with one of the following.
Captain Cook’s
Situated on the ground floor of the Grand Ceremonial House at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the atmosphere at Captain Cook’s matches the island vibes throughout the rest of the building. The dining area features amber lighting, warm woods, and retro travel posters for various islands in the South Seas. There’s also seating outside by the Lava Pool, where the Magic Kingdom icons are visible beyond the lush greenery and volcano water slide. A visit to this unassuming counter-service restaurant is worth it, if only to immerse yourself in the fabulous theming at this iconic deluxe resort.
Fortunately, the food at Captain Cook’s is worth the trip as well, and we often begin our vacation by grabbing lunch here before making our way to our resort room, no matter where we’re staying. In addition to the ubiquitous cheeseburger, the menu features Polynesian-inspired favorites like the “Aloha Pork Sandwich” for $11.99 and Thai Coconut Meatballs for $10.49. A selection of flatbreads and a few plant-based menu items, like the Pan-Asian Noodles and Vegetables and the Roasted Red Pepper and Arugula Burger, round out the mains at lunch and dinner.
At breakfast time, Captain Cook’s offers the standard Disney quick service items, like eggs, bacon, sausage, and Mickey waffles, in addition to a Polynesian fan-favorite. You can get Tonga Toast here for just $10.99! This banana-stuffed, cinnamon-sugar-dusted special typically costs $17.50 upstairs at Kona Cafe, and although it won’t come with Kona’s signature strawberry compote, Captain Cook’s still serves it with your choice of bacon or sausage. You can also find an impressive array of snacks, desserts, and baked goods at this location.
Sunshine Seasons
EPCOT is the Disney World park most well-known for its vast offerings of amazing food, and with good reason. Next to some of the more iconic World Showcase counter service restaurants here, Sunshine Seasons can fly under the radar a bit, but its prime World Nature location and variety of better-for-you menu items at affordable prices make it a regular stop for us.
Housed inside The Land pavilion, you’ll find this cafeteria-style restaurant on the ground level near the attraction entrances for Soarin’ and Living With the Land. The dining area offers abundant seating in four expansive sections that each represent a season. It can definitely have a busy food court feel, but the glass-paneled ceiling and sunshine-hued ribbons give the space an uplifting vibe. Since the gardens inside Living with the Land are right around the corner, it also smells amazing! An assortment of booths with padded benches, round tables, and chairs make this a great place to relax and take a mid-day break.
The food quality, diverse offerings, and generous portion sizes make Sunshine Seasons an incredible value for lunchtime. Menu highlights include a delectable Oak-grilled Salmon with mashed potatoes and ratatouille for $14.79, and Oak-grilled Rotisserie Chicken with black beans and yellow rice for $12.99. Other options, like stir-fried chicken, shrimp, and Mongolian beef, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, and more, are available for under $14. For kids, you can get hot dogs, mac and cheese, and chicken drumsticks here, as well as kid-sized salmon and flatbread entrees. If nothing else, your picky eaters can get the standard PB&J Uncrustable kids’ meal here, too.
Yorkshire County Fish Shop
There is a handful of dining locations at Disney World that serve fish and chips, and they’re all worth a visit. However, if you’re looking for tasty pub-style, beer-battered fish with an authentic, thick “chip” at the best possible price point, Yorkshire County Fish Shop in the UK Pavilion at Epcot has you covered. Rose and Crown Dining Room next door serves a comparably light and flaky fish, covered in crisp, flavorful batter, as does Raglan Road (and its sister counter-service restaurant, Cookes of Dublin) in Disney Springs, but only at Yorkshire can you get it for $14.49.
This “chippy” is true to its name and doesn’t offer much else in the way of food, although it does occasionally have fruit or cookies on the menu. You can typically get a couple of British or Irish brews on tap, and they also serve coffee, tea, bottled water, and fountain drinks. The line can get long here, so plan ahead and take advantage of mobile order.
Outdoor seating is available nearby at umbrella-topped tables, and if you’re lucky enough to find one down by the World Showcase Lagoon, it can be quite picturesque. If the tables in the immediate vicinity are full, which happens often, take a stroll back to the UK gardens. Find a decent bench, or perch on some steps to enjoy your hot and crispy treasure while you watch Command Performance play a set of British Invasion rock tunes in the gazebo.
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
At this Hollywood Studios restaurant, you can enjoy Star Wars-themed eats while immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of a working hangar bay in Galaxy’s Edge. There’s a wealth of detail to observe while you dine, and the atmosphere definitely makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into one of the films or television series. It does get crowded, but if you can’t snag a table indoors, there’s also outdoor seating amid the otherworldly ruins of the old Black Spire marketplace.
Docking Bay 7’s menu features inventive offerings and unusual flavors that evoke the sense of a galaxy far, far away. A tangy and spicy staple, the Smoked Kaadu Pork Ribs are a tremendous value for the portion size at $16.99. You can also get the famous Ronto Wrap — served with fries smothered in an aioli sauce — at this location after 3 pm for $15.99. Braised beef and crispy chicken entrees, vegetarian options, and kids’ meals are on the menu, too.
While this isn’t the cheapest counter service option at Disney World, it provides an elevated fast-casual experience that rivals many table service restaurants, and the entrees are all under $20. I do recommend using mobile order well in advance of your arrival here to score a reasonable pick-up time and avoid an extraordinarily long wait.
Satu’li Canteen
Comparable to Star Wars’ Docking Bay 7, in both theming and price, is Pandora’s Satu’li Canteen at Animal Kingdom. This fabled RDA mess hall turned ACE dining facility is housed inside a Quonset hut strewn with Na’vi art and cultural artifacts. Seating extends from the cozy interior through a wide automatic industrial doorway to an airy outdoor space that shares the restaurant’s elongated arched covering. The peaceful vibe and consistently exceptional food here make it a must-do for us on every trip.
Satu’li serves customizable bowls and steamed pods with an international influence, as well as unique drinks and desserts (save some room for the Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse!). Like Docking Bay 7, its lunch and dinner prices for adults range from $13.49-$18.99.
The basic protein bowls, which allow you to customize your base and sauce, are some of the most affordable dishes here besides the kids’ meals. These include Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken, Chimichurri Beef, Chili-Garlic Shrimp, and Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu. Protein combos are also available for $17.49-$18.79. All bowls come with a crunchy vegetable slaw and some boba balls, but you can customize your bowl without them if you choose. Another fan favorite and a bargain at $13.99, the Cheeseburger Steamed Pods are bao buns stuffed with ground beef and cheeseburger toppings.
Grand Floridian Cafe
You’ll find the first surprisingly affordable table service restaurant on our list at the luxurious Grand Floridan Resort and Spa. There is a staggering number of dining options at Walt Disney World’s elegant flagship resort, which is why the underrated Grand Floridian Cafe remains lesser-known. However, many Disney regulars hail it as the best spot for brunch on property!
From the bright and airy dining room, guests have a lovely view of the pristine rose gardens in the courtyard through the wrap-around windows. Because it’s a bit of a hidden gem, last-minute reservations are often available, and the small, quiet crowds only heighten the relaxed, upscale feel. The food here is exceptionally tasty, with a variety of menu items offered at brunch and dinner.
At brunch, you can’t go wrong with the Buttermilk-fried Chicken and Waffle with Sriracha-Honey Drizzle for $27.00. It’s a generous helping of hand-breaded chicken served on a malted Mickey waffle with the perfect sweet and spicy flavor combo. Another brunch entree that makes quite an impression is the Floridian-style Eggs Benedict for $19.00. A twist on the traditional dish, two poached eggs pair with pulled pork over corn cakes topped with a polano hollandaise that is… chef’s kiss.
For dinner, the sweet and salty Miso-glazed Salmon, which is also available at brunch, is a popular favorite, with lemon-scented sticky rice, french beans, and ginger-soy vinaigrette for $31.00. We usually have good experiences with steak at Disney, and the New York Strip with garlic parmesan fingerlings is also a solid choice for dinner here, cooked medium to medium-well with a deliciously seasoned rub for just under $40.
Via Napoli
Sure enough, there’s no storage of pizza at Disney World, but only at Epcot’s Via Napoli can you get real brick-oven style pizza with a side of Italian charm. This bustling pizzeria and ristorante is full of color and verve, from the terracotta ceilings and painted murals on the walls to the open kitchen, with its three glowing wood-fired ovens. These are named for Italy’s three active volcanoes — Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius, and Stromboli.
Made with real Caputo flour, San Marzano tomatoes, and other ingredients imported straight from Southern Italy, the pizzas are the star at this casual, family-friendly restaurant. To give the crust as much authenticity as possible, the kitchen here even sources the water for the dough from a spring that shares similar qualities with that of Italy’s Campania region. Every pie is crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and suffused with a distinctive wood-fired flavor. Prices for an individual-size pie range from $21-$26, while a large, which feeds 3-4 people, runs from $36-$45, and a mezzo metro, which serves at least 4-6 adults, will cost you $48-$60.
If you’re in the mood for some cozy Italian dishes that aren’t pizza, Via Napoli has you covered there, as well. The Tortellini, with sauteed pancetta and sweet peas in a creamy parmesan sauce, is an indulgent choice for $29. Other Italian staples, like Fettuccini, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and Manicotti, are all available for less than $30.
The Plaza Restaurant
Counter service food at the Magic Kingdom is infamously hit or miss. There are definitely some iconic sweet and savory delights hiding throughout the park, if you know where to look. Overall, however, the food quality at those pick-up windows during meal times tends to be inconsistent. If you’re looking for a positive dining experience at the Magic Kingdom that won’t blow your budget, try The Plaza Restaurant on Main Street, U.S.A.
Tucked along a side street off the main thoroughfare, just past Main Street Bakery, you’ll find this quaint turn-of-the-century dining parlor. One of the first restaurants available at the Magic Kingdom when it opened in 1971, The Plaza’s decor stays true to the Victorian elegance of Main Street, with some Art Nouveau embellishments. The light fixtures and mirrors, in particular, are striking. It’s a smallish space that fills up quickly, so you’ll want to make sure to book advanced dining reservations if you plan to eat here. Along with blissful air-conditioning and comfortable seating, it offers some lovely views of the castle and sometimes the parades.
In the way of food, there’s something here for everyone. I like the delicious Crispy Chicken Sandwich with dill pickle slaw and buttermilk ranch on a potato roll for $25. The menu also features hearty salads, a turkey club, a bacon cheeseburger, and a chili Impossible burger, all for under $30. Don’t overlook the appetizers here — the soup of the day is often quite good, and the loaded fries are next level! This is a great place to indulge in a classic shake or a hot fudge sundae for dessert while resting your park-weary feet.
Yak and Yeti
It’s no secret that Animal Kingdom is home to some of the best theming at Disney World. What it lacks in attractions and nighttime entertainment, it makes up for in spades with elaborate detail. Yak and Yeti Restaurant fits right in with the rest of the Anandapur area, with two stories of beautiful Southeast Asian artifacts and decor to drink in while you dine. It’s truly one of the best themed restaurants on property.
Like Rainforest Cafe, and T-Rex in Disney Springs, Yak and Yeti is owned by Landry’s, and their restaurants tend to be big on atmosphere, while often lackluster in the menu department. However, Yak and Yeti seems to have turned that around lately, despite mixed reviews in the past. The cuisine here consists of a variety of affordable Pan-Asian, American, and vegetarian food options, including the Chicken Tikka Masala for $27.99, the Kobe Beef Burger for $24.99, and the Vegetable Lo Mein for $21.99.
Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar
Last on our list is this Indiana Jones-themed dive at Disney Springs, named after Indy’s erstwhile pilot from Raiders of the Lost Ark. While it is technically a bar and lounge, there are typically quite a few substantial food items available here for slightly less-than-average prices.
With relics of Jock’s globe-trotting adventures adorning the shelves and walls, and Indiana Jones references strewn throughout the establishment, the ambience here is laid back and fun. Jock also really gets into the holidays, and in recent years, the bar has gotten an incredibly festive makeover at Halloween and Christmas. It’s usually not hard to find seating, and it even makes our list of fantastic themed bars and lounges at Disney World.
While you can always get the All-Beef Sliders with tomato-bacon jam or the Jumbo Chicken Wings for $17, an array of seasonal menu items is available as well. These limited-time offerings can feature anything from al pastor style tacos topped with skull-stamped tortillas to dumplings, deviled eggs, and pastry-wrapped sausages. Another staple on the menu is the beer-cheese fondue plate for $25, which includes a large soft pretzel, prosciutto, salami, cheddar squares, pickles, and spicy mustard.
Being a bar, the libations obviously take center stage, so don’t forget to imbibe with adventurous concoctions, like the Fountain of Youth or The Scottish Professor. Non-alcoholic beverages, like the Poisonless dart, along with an extensive beer and wine list, are also available.
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