Shoestring Dining at Walt Disney World, Part II
Have fun while staying on a food budget
Friday, July 19, 2002
by Mike Scopa, staff writer
For our second session on shoestring dining at Walt Disney World, let's
turn to Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island, then go resort hopping. As
in our first session our objective here is to get the biggest and best
bite for our Walt Disney World food budget. Although our primary objective
is to keep our costs low, we will also focus on quality and variety.
In this article, we focus on meals between $10 and $20 per person. Beakfasts
fall around the $10/person mark, lunch at around $15, and for dinner,
$20. I will provide a thumbs-up label on any establishment that offers
exceptional quality and value.
Our first stop is Bongo's Cuban Cafe' on Disney's West Side. This
place is easy to find; just look for the huge pineapples. This restaurant
offers guests a great opportunity to sample Cuban cuisine at a reasonable
price. Our budget may get stretched a bit here but if you are careful
you can sample some Cuban food while staying close to our budget. This
restaurant also has a take-out window.
Bongo's Cuban Cafe sits on the shore of Buena
Vista Lagoon
If you happen to be in DisneyQuest while on the West Side, check out
Cheesecake Factory Express. There is more in their offering besides
cheesecake at this dining establishment, and the prices will make you
smile. If you want to spend some time at DisneyQuest, this is the place
to get refueled. Oh, and the cheesecake is good too.
Also on the West Side is the House of Blues, the place to go for
Cajun cuisine. To keep within our budget and still get a taste of that
Cajun cooking, avoid the specials — their prices aren't that special.
Still you can have a salad and a sandwich at a reasonable price. Their
Gospel Brunch may be a bit steep for our budget.
Planet Hollywood does offer some decent meals at a decent price.
Allocate some extra time to check out all the "stuff" on the
walls. You could go here for either lunch or dinner and keep within our
range.
If you are looking to grab a quick eat, then stop by Wolfgang Puck
Express. What is exceptional here is not just the relatively inexpensive
fare but also the variety of choices that await you. I think it's a great
place to grab a quick, inexpensive bite. If you don't want to invest too
much time and money to eat while in Downtown Disney, this is the place
to go.
In the Marketplace, Cap'n Jack's Restaurant offers seafood fare
at a reasonable price. However, try this place only for lunch: For some
reason greed takes over for dinner, with entrees prices doing a Jekyll-and-Hyde
switch. Stick to lunch and you should be OK.
Captain Jack's Restaurant is right next to
the village Marketplace marina.
I'm actually giving a "thumbs up" to a relatively unknown eating
spot in Downtown Disney. The shop is called Gourmet Pantry. Right
in the middle of this shop is a deli-like counter where you can get nicely
priced salads and sandwiches. Let's keep this secret between us...shhhh.
I can't forget McDonald's. Mr. Mouse, meet Mr. Clown. Mr. Clown,
Mr. Mouse.
The golden arches at the Village Marketplace.
Every once in a while I get asked where to go in Walt Disney World for
a nice hot dog. One of, if not the best place to get your hot dog or sausage
fix is at Missing Link Sausage Co. in Pleasure Island. Not only
can you find for a great choice of sausages and hot dogs there, but also
another favorite - cheese steaks.
Disney's All-Star Resorts - You really can't miss with any of
the three food courts. These are the End Zone Food Court in Stadium
Hall at All-Star Sports, the Intermission Food Court at Melody
Hall at All-Star Music, and the World Premier Food Court at Cinema
Hall at All-Star Movies.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Head towards the pool and stop
by the Mara. The Mara is a sizable fast food restaurant with great
salads and platters. I also hear that service is fast.
The Mara serves up some great salads and platters
at very reasonable prices.
Boardwalk - I suggest going to the Big River Grille & Brewing
Works for your basic sandwich-and-salad meals. I also suggest the
ESPN Club, which may be noisy for some people, but has a decent
selection of sandwiches, burgers, and salads.
Caribbean Beach Resort - I must give a "thumbs up" to
the Old Port Royale Food Court. There are a variety of stands to
choose from, the area is bright and cheery, and the prices are very good.
My favorite stand is the Bridgetown Broiler.
Contemporary - For families a great place to visit is the Food
and Fun Center where mom and dad can relax and have an inexpensive
snack while they let the kids play.
Coronado Springs Resort - The food court at this resort is called
Pepper Market. In this food court you go around choosing your meal
components and your ticket is stamped for each component. You pay for
your meal on your way out. This is quite a place because there are just
endless combinations you can put together for your meal.
Pepper Market has a very festive atmosphere.
Disney's Old Key West - For a quick bite, check out Good's
Food to Go. You will find sandwiches and stuff but I'm sold on the
grilled chicken sandwiches. Olivia's Cafe' offers food from the
South. You may want to check out their Character Breakfast, offered three
days a week on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Mondays.
Fort Wilderness - I give a triple "thumbs up" to the
Trail's End Buffet. It is the best. If I stayed in FW I would eat
here at least once per day. This may be the best deal in the entire resort
regardless of what meal you have be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Grand Floridian - Try Gasparilla Grill & Games. That's
right at the Grand Floridian. Located near the Marina, this restaurant
is open 24 hours a day. You can get everything from hamburgers to pizza.
Polynesian - A cozy place to try is Captain Cook's Snack Company.
This eatery does not offer a large selection but is great for a quick
snack. The Kona Cafe', around the corner from ÔOhana, offers some
interesting items. Be careful not to go over your budget here.
Port Orleans French Quarter - Is there a better
name for a restaurant than the Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory?
I doubt it. I love the name, almost as much as I love the gumbo they offer.
The Sassagoula Floatworks has a Mardi Gras theme.
Port Orleans Riverside - If you want some decent Cajun fare, then
trek over to Boatwright's Dining Hall. Can't decide what you want?
Then try the Riverside Mill, which offers several stands that serve you
such treats as calzone, pizza, and ribs.
Swan - I have to be honest and say that this hotel does not offer
any establishments that meet our objectives for this session. Some may
argue that the stands around the pool may be worth a try but I cannot
support that suggestion.
Dolphin - My first stop would be the Coral Cafe', especially
for lunch. They offer some interesting sandwiches. How many people have
tried Tubbi's Buffeteria? If you are a guest at the Dolphin hotel
I suggest you give Tubbi's a try you may find yourself visiting quite
often especially for one of Tubbi's hoagies.
Wilderness Lodge - On one of my stays at this hotel, I tried the
Roaring Fork Snacks and found it a great place for a quick and
inexpensive meal. There are a lot of things to choose from, too. I'm glad
they took the Buffalo Burger off the menu; it was as if I was eating lint
in a bun.
Roaring Fork Snacks is the price leader at Wilderness Lodge.
Beach Club - I must give Beaches and Cream my "thumbs
up" for the best burgers in Walt Disney World. That's why they call
it "burger heaven." If you go to Stormalong Bay, stop by Hurricane
Hanna's Grill for a snack. Be advised that although the prices may
be right and the food quality good the variety may not be enough for some
people.
Yacht Club - You can enjoy a quiet meal at the Crew's Cup Lounge.
I hesitate a bit to mention the Yacht Club Galley as you may go
overboard a bit with our budget. It's so close to call however that I
still think we should include this establishment on our list.
Well we've covered quite a bit regarding shoestring meals. We've talked
about breakfast, lunch, and dinner but we haven't discussed desserts,
treats, and snacks. In order to complete our shoestring dining discussion
next time, let's look at those places in Walt Disney World that offer
you the best variety, quality, and value to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Class dismissed.
Thoughts, questions, or comments? Contact Mike here.
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