How to Find the Best Theme Park Food on a Budget: 10 Tips
How to Find the Best Theme Park Food on a Budget
Good food is part of an epic theme park experience! In fact, most of the top theme parks in the world serve foods that are just as famous as their rides!
If you’re anything like me, you’ve found yourself researching, “How much does it cost to go to Disney?” While it can be expensive, there are plenty of ways to go the extra mile and save wherever you can!
But does visiting Disney on a budget (or any other theme park) mean cutting back on the fun? Heck no!
With these 10 tips for finding food at theme parks on a budget, you can keep your wallet and your tummy happy so you can still enjoy the tasty bites these parks are known for.
Where to find the Best Food in Theme Parks
Food at theme parks can be divided into two categories – restaurant meals and food stand fare.
I personally opt for stalls and stands whenever I can, since the prices are cheaper and the service is a lot quicker than sitting in a restaurant.
These tips will teach you how to get the most food for your money at theme parks, so you can eat, drink, and be merry without breaking the bank.
1 | Look for Meal Deals | Research theme park food deals and discounts to help you save money. Many parks offer exclusive dining plans and special offers that can help you save cash.
I highly suggest researching plans before booking your tickets. In some cases, there are travel packages that can combine theme park entry with your accommodations or give you meal deals that help you enjoy more food during your stay.
Pro Tip: Check out this guide on secret places to buy cheap Disney tickets to score even more sweet discounts.
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2 | Try Food Carts Over Restaurants | Food carts have some of the top cheap theme park snacks, like corn dogs, pretzels, and popcorn.
If you’re anything like me, you want to try all the theme park food you see on Instagram. The good news is that most of it comes from stands rather than sit-down restaurants.
Think the iconic Mickey-shaped pretzel, Mickey Mouse chocolate-covered ice cream bar, and popcorn in collectible buckets.
While it may seem like some of the best places to eat at Universal Orlando are the famously themed restaurants, the food stands at any park can make an excellent light lunch or snack if you’re planning to have a bigger meal later.
For example, the Central Park Crepes stand at Universal Studios Orlando is the perfect place to grab a sweet treat without spending a fortune.
3 | Order Appetizers Instead of Entrees | Appetizers offer smaller portions, but they are usually 40-60% cheaper than entrees.
Try ordering several appetizers for your table and enjoy sharing! Or have each person order an appetizer instead of a full meal. This way, you can also try multiple dishes in one visit!
And when it comes to drinks, opt for water instead of soda, unless it’s a signature beverage you’re excited to try like Butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron. That’s a must!
4 | See What Snacks You Can Bring with You | Many theme parks allow you to bring light snacks, like granola bars, chips, or water bottles. I always bring a small bag of snacks with me so I can eat if I get hungry without spending food.
Every theme park has its own rules for what you can bring inside, so just be sure to check in advance, and avoid anything that needs to be heated or refrigerated.
5 | Visit During Off-Season | To make up for fewer guests, theme parks often drop prices during the off-season or offer special deals like happy hour.
Check out the theme park you’re planning to visit to see when the off-season is. You can also check online forums to learn more about what kind of discounts you can expect.
I personally like visiting during the off-season of any theme park because they’re less crowded, the wait times for rides are shorter, and hotels are typically cheaper.
Pro Tip: Walt Disney World’s off-season is weekdays during most of September, late January, and early February. Universal Orlando follows the same off-season calendar.
6 | Check Menus in Advance | Checking prices ahead of time is one of the easiest ways to find budget-friendly food options at theme parks.
Most restaurants have menus online, along with prices to help you decide where you want to eat and where you’ll skip.
Pro Tip: I always check out restaurant reviews and explore the menus before going somewhere. It helps my family and I save money and avoid feeling locked into a pricey meal.
7 | Consider Eating Outside the Park if it Allows Re-Entry | If your ticket or theme park allows re-entry, then you could look for places to eat nearby.
For example, Disney World and Universal Orlando both allow you to enter the theme park on a standard ticket multiple times per day. This means you can dine at some of the best places to eat near Disney, save money, then head back to the park to pack in more fun.
Pro Tip: If you want to eat at Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, but don’t want to wander too far, check out the best restaurants at City Walk!
8 | Choose Shareable Food | Shareable foods are a great idea for budget-friendly theme park meals. It lets you taste multiple dishes and feel full even if you don’t order a lot
Keep in mind that every restaurant has its own policy on sharing food. There may be a charge for doing so, but it could still help you save on your bill.
Pro Tip: I ask in advance or do a Google search to see if you can share food at the eatery. That way, I’m not surprised if there’s a fee tacked on at the end.
9 | Look Online | Of course, you can’t go wrong checking out online reviews and recommendations from seasoned theme park visitors. Learn from their experiences, consider their recommendations, and have fun along the way!
I love to watch YouTube videos that do theme park food reviews. They help me decide which restaurants I really want to try, what I want to eat, and what I could live without.
Plus, online reviews can often offer inside tips on the best things to order based on price.
10 | Pack Sandwiches in a Cooler Bag | Similar to snacks, you can also pack sandwiches to bring to many parks. If you fill up on a hearty sandwich, you can then use your money to enjoy some sweet treats or tasty snacks later on.
Rather than pay $50 to over $100 at a theme park restaurant, pack your own lunch and enjoy smaller snacks and dessert items instead.
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Meal deals, discounts, food carts/stands, and sharing appetizers are all great ways to enjoy theme park food for less money.
I also suggest eating a big breakfast before you go. The fuller you are, the less tempted you’ll be to wander into one of the restaurants when the smell of food hits your nose!
Snacks are also a must, especially if you’re going to theme parks with kids. Bring along some pre-packaged fruit, veggies, granola bars, dry cereal, and other items that will keep children and teens satisfied when hunger strikes!
From surviving long wait times to finding the best places to stay, get more theme park tips and guides on the Westgate Resorts Travel Blog!
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* Westgate Resorts is in no way affiliated with the attractions featured in this article. Items or places listed are current as of the publishing date of this article. Please call or visit the respective website for the most up-to-date offerings and details.
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