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Character Meals at Disney World are notoriously expensive. At the time of publication, the most expensive character meal in Walt Disney World costs $84 for adults and $49 for dinner (at Cinderella’s Royal Table, if you’re curious). Including tax and tip that’s $335 for just one meal for a family of four. 🤯

However, there are some more affordable options for dining with characters at Disney World. No character meal is a bargain, since you are paying mostly for the privilege of meeting these beloved characters. But you can get more bang for your buck if you know where to go.

Since I write about saving money at Disney World, I would be remiss if I didn’t share the cheapest way to dine with characters. So let’s dive in!

What Are The Cheapest Character Meals at Disney World?Mickey at Garden Grill, Epcot

It’s probably not a surprise that the cheapest character meals are all breakfasts. The food is less expensive and people tend to eat less, so it makes sense.

There are a few Character Breakfasts that are priced at $47 for adults ($30 for kids under 10) at the time of publication, making them the cheapest at Disney World. They are:

Cape May Cafe, Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Garden Grill, Epcot
Hollywood & Vine, Hollywood Studios
Tusker House, Animal Kingdom

Of these, only one is located outside of the theme parks, meaning you could visit it on a day you don’t have a park ticket. In fact, I strongly recommend that if you want to do character dining, you do it on a day you aren’t going to the theme parks in order to maximize your valuable time inside the parks.

Also, only one of these these character meals offers a discount for Chase Disney Visa cardholders! While dining locations that offer discounts change frequently, you might also be able to get a 10% discount with your Chase Disney Visa like we did (click here to learn all about this card and find the current discounts).

Since it offers a discount, the breakfast at Cape May Cafe at Disney’s Beach Club wins the prize as the cheapest character meal in all of Walt Disney World. We ate there recently and were pleasantly surprised at the experience, so read on for our full review.

Cheapest Character Breakfast at Disney World: Cape May CafeDisney’s Beach Club Resort

You’ll have to travel over to Disney’s Beach Club Resort for this character meal. This is made easier by the fact that the Beach Club can be reached by boat from Hollywood Studios, or via the Skyliner.

An alternative is to drive yourslef or take an Uber of Lyft to the Beach Club, which should only cost about $8 from most places on Disney World property. Since you have a dining reservation, the gate attendant will let you park or be dropped off.

The entrance to Cape May Cafe is right off the lobby so it is pretty easy to find.

Now on to what to expect from the character meal.

Cape May Cafe Minnie’s Beach Bash BreakfastThe theme of Cape May Cafe is (as far as I can gather) a New-England old timey beach vibe. Think wooden folding chairs with pastel canvas and murals of kids in early 20th century beach attire and you’ll be spot on.

The characters that are currently appearing are Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Daisy (always subject to change). Their attire has been updated in the last few years to better match the theme and pastel colors of the restaurant. I especially like Minnie’s new dress and hat!

Here I am meeting Daisy, my favorite character. She was fabulous and sassy, as always.

Goofy was adorable in his rashguard and board shorts along with my too-cool-for-school daughter.

And here we are with Donald who needed to take a load off during his busy breakfast.

The character interaction we experienced was excellent – they all spent lots of time with us and a few even stopped by twice since we were some of the last people there for breakfast.

A tip is to get the last possible seating for “breakfast” which is usually around 11:30 am. That way you can eat a big meal around lunch time and get more bang for your buck while still only paying for what is technically breakfast.

Cape May Cafe Character Breakfast FoodYou’ll have lots of options for breakfast at Cape May Cafe. There is one large buffet station with four sides, all offering something different.

First our servers brought us drinks (which are included as long as they are non-alcoholic) and these sticky buns.

They were essentially Parker Rolls with crumb topping and drizzled with caramel. I didn’t think they were anything special so I’d suggest just taking a bite and saving room for some of the better options.

I had the breakast basics of fruit, eggs, meat, and a delicious biscuit. I also tried some vegan options such as this tofu and veggie saute which was very good.

I also had a delidcious crepe with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. I never pass up a crepe!

The bread pudding with vanilla sauce was excellent, as were all of the baked goods I tried.

Overall the food was above average for a character meal. I know I’m not there for the food, but I like to find some inspired options and Minnie’s Beach Bash Breakfast did not disappoint.

We had an overall incredible time at the cheapest character meal at Disney World. We loved the characters, the food exceeded my expectations, and the price was below what you’ll pay anywhere else for character dining at Disney World.

Get the current menu and prices straight from Disney World here.

Here is our receipt showing the 10% Disney Reward Visa discount. This card offers incredible benefits for a no-annual-fee card, so I definitely encourage you to check it out here.

If you are on the Disney Dining Plan (get the lowdown on the plans here) then I definitely sugegst trying to get into Akershus Royal Banquet Hall. It represents crazy good value on the plans and offers a chance to dine with the princesses.

I hope you enjoyed this review of the cheapest character meal at Disney World. Any questions? leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you.

The post We Ate At The Cheapest Character Meal at Disney World And It Was Surprisingly Good appeared first on The Budget Mouse.

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Here’s my Akershus Royal Banquet Hall review with the princesses in Epcot’s Norway pavilion! So get ready for lots of cuteness and some tips to have the best experience.

Akershus is the only table service restaurant in the Norway pavilion in Disney World’s Epcot.

It is also one of the only places to dine with the princesses in Disney World, the other locations being Cinderella’s Royal Table in the Magic Kingdom, Storybook Dining at Artisit Point With Snow White, and 1900 Park Fare in the Grand Floridian Resort (Cinderella and Tiana only).

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served here. It is a very popular location so reservations are definitely recommended – I would suggest getting one as soon as the 60-day window opens if at all possible.

Breakfast is particularly popular because it only requires one table service credit on the Disney Dining Plan, while lunch and dinner require two credits!

Now on to the review of this excellent character meal.

Akershus Princess Dining BasicsAkershus Royal Banquet Hall is located inside this lovely building in the Norway pavillion. It is on your right as soon as you turn into the main section of the pavillion.

First, you will have to check in at this podium and you may be given a buzzer. We were right on time for our fairly early 5 pm dinner reservation and we were escorted right in.

Next, you will have a chance to have a group picture taken with a princess – ours was with Belle, which I think is the norm here. I was fumbling with my camera and getting my Magic Band scanned so, unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture.

The restaurant isn’t huge and definitely has a royal feel thanks to the chandeliers, banners and wall decorations. We were seated quickly and greeted by our server soon thereafter.

All of the servers are from Norway and it is so much fun to ask them questions about the food and their culture.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Review: The PrincessesWhile the food is great, without a doubt the princesses are the main attraction here.

This was the first time my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter had met them (with the exception of Cinderella) and she was familiar with all of them from books and movies before we went. She was completely amazed that they were all here in one place!

The princesses started visiting our table about 30 minutes after we were seated. There were four circulating around the restaurant: Aurora, Snow White, Ariel, and Cinderella. These change often and may also include Jasmine, Mulan, or Mary Poppins.

They were all SO sweet with my little one and I loved that they got down to her level to talk with her and hug her.

At one point later in the meal, music sounded and it was announced that the “princess processional” would be starting shortly. All of the little ones gathered around the nearest princess who led them around the entire restaurant in a little parade.

Gathering for the princess processional

When my little one disappeared around the corner with Ariel, I wasn’t sure how this would go (she was only two after all!). But she reappeared a few minutes later, all smiles and practically floating on air. 🙂

While she pranced around the table a few minutes later, my server asked if I was enjoying myself and I said I would never forget this and started getting all weepy. I was feeling so grateful that I got to share this time with my daughter while she was so little and sweet! This is Disney magic at it’s best.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall Review: The FoodThe approach at Akershus is unique – the first course is an appetizer buffet, then you select an entree off of the menu, and dessert is served family style at the table.

This clearly aims to please everyone, and I loved all of the options. After our server took our drink orders we were invited to visit the appetizer buffet.

I started with salad and my daughter had some bread and fresh fruit (which I didn’t get a picture of).

Then I tried some of the Scandinavian seafood on the buffet, including delicious smoked salmon and seafood salads.

There was also a selection of meats, cheeses, and some other cold salads. Everything I tried was excellent.

I especially like a Norwegian specialty called Gjetost, which is a brownish cheese that is slightly sweet. I loved being able to try some different food without having to commit to an entire meal!

All of the entrees on the menu sounded tasty which made it really hard to choose. I am a seafood lover so I went with the Oven-baked Cod with Fingerling Potatoes and Garden Vegetables in a White Wine-Garlic Butter Broth. The menu changes often, so check here for the most up-to-date menu.

My fish was outstanding. It wasn’t overcooked and the sauce was delish. I was glad I didn’t get too full from the appetizers so I could eat it all! I enjoyed a glass of Savignon Blanc with it, which complemented the dish perfectly.

Many folks don’t know that you can get another entree if you don’t like your first one or want to try something different since this is an all-you-care-to-enjoy restaurant. So don’t be afraid to be adventurous here!

My daughter chose the beef with rice and veggies from the kid’s menu. Other options were meatballs, pizza, macaroni and cheese, chicken and salmon. I tried some of her beef and it was tender and flavorful – I highly recommend it.

She was so in awe of the visiting princesses that she didn’t eat much.

Our server brought us this lovely plate of desserts to finish up our meal. It included traditional Norwegian rice cream topped with strawberry sauce, apple cake with cardamom whipped cream, and chocolate mousse.

They were all excellent and offered nice variety. I especially like the mousse and my daughter loved the rice cream. I had a cup of coffee with dessert since a non-alcoholic beverage is included with the meal.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall CostDinner at Akershus isn’t a cheap affair. Breakfast runs around $55 + tax and lunch/dinner $67 + tax. Since my daughter was under three, her meal was completely free. This was part of my plan – to visit before she truned three and I would have to pay for her food!

If you can get a breakfast reservation at Akershus, it will only cost one credit on the Disney Dining Plan.

This represents an incredible value of a table service credit on the Dining Plan (get all of my advice on using the Disney Dining Plan here) hence makign this reservation extremely popular!

There are not many dining experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life, even at Disney World. But the memories I have of our dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall are so precious that I hope to have them for a lifetime.

I hope this Akershus Royal Banquet Hall review helped you know what to expect and answered your questions. Have you dined at Akershus or do you want to? Please leave a comment below!

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A complete guide to using Resort Refillable Mugs at Disney World and how the Rapid Fill program works.

One of my favorite things about staying at a Disney World hotel is getting a resort refillable mug. I get one on most trips because I love the option of unlimited drink refills during my vacation!

In this post I’ll cover everything you need to know about Disney refillable mugs including how they work with the “Rapid Fill” program.

How Do Disney Refillable Mugs Work? Disney Resort refillable mugs are hard plastic 16-oz travel mugs with a handle and lid that can be purchased by anyone at Walt Disney World.

They have an RFID-enabled chip in their base that allows unlimited drink refills at any Disney World resort hotel for up to 14 days. Plus they are a fun souvenir to take home and use later as a reminder of your trip.

They are a simple concept but there’s a LOT to know about them, such as where you can buy them, where you can refill them, and what types of drinks you can get. So read on for answers to all of these questions and more!

Where Can I Buy Disney Refillable Mugs?To start, Refillable Mugs can be purchased at any Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, usually in the food court and/or the gift shop. They are only available at Disney-owned resort hotels, not at the Swan and Dolphin or Disney Springs hotels. They can only be purchased at resorts owned and operated by Disney.

Anyone can buy them out of pocket, or they also come as part of every Disney Dining Plan.

With any plan, whether the quick service or the regular Disney dining plan, every person who is on the reservation linked to the plan gets a resort refillable mug. Regardless of whether you have it for one night or 10 nights, you get one refillable mug each.

When you buy a mug or redeem your mug credit on the Dining Plan, the cashier will activiate the RFID-enabled chip in your mug. You can then start using your mug for beverages right away at the “Rapid Fill” stations – more on these soon!

The Disney World water parks (Typhoon Lagoon an Blizzard Beach) also have a refillable mug program, but these mugs can ONLY be used at the water parks and only for the day or purchase. They are completely separate from the Resort Refillable Mugs that you can buy and use at Disney World Resort Hotels.

How Much Are The Refillable Mugs At Disney? As of June 2024, Resort Refillable Mugs at Disney World cost $21.99 plus tax each. There are no Passholder or DVC discounts available on the mugs.

However, if your total purchase is over $50 and you pay with your Chase Disney Visa, you will get 10% off your purchase. This includes getting the discounts on the mugs! Learn more about the discounts and other perks of the Chase Disney Visa here.

Where Can I Refill My Mug? Many people wonder if they can use their refillable mugs in the theme parks at Disney World, and unfortunately the answer is no. The mugs can only be refilled at the Disney World resort hotels.

There are often several places to refill your mug at each Disney resort. First, there is always a beverage station at the Quick Service restaurant at your resort. This is oftentimes a food court style restaurant, with a beverage station located in a prominent place.

At some Disney resorts, such as Animal Kingdom Lodge Kidani Village, there is a soda refill station at the pool bar.

Even if there is no refill station, in my experience bartenders will fill your mug for you at the bar.

Since Kidani Village doesn’t have a dedicated Quick Service restaurant, there is also a Beverage Station in the gift shop.

My advice is to ask when you buy your mug all of the places you can refill it at your resort.

Disney’s Riviera Resort

While you can’t refill your mug in the parks, you CAN refill it at resorts other than where you are staying!

One of my favorite things to do at Disney World is resort-hopping, to dine and shop at other Disney World resorts. When I do this, I always throw my refillable mug into my backpack to get free refills while I am at the other resorts.

Disney’s Riviera Resort is one of my favorite to visit since it is on the Skyliner Line and easily accessible from the Hollywood Studios parking lot. There is excellent quick service food available at Primo Piatto and you can use your mug for a free drink.

Disney’s Boardwalk

My other favorite area for resort-hopping is the Boardwalk. You can pop into the Boardwalk Bakery for a drink refill while you take in the sights.

What Drinks Can I Get With My Mug?You can get a variety of hot and cold beverages with your resort refillable mugs at Disney World.

First hot beverages – you can get Joffrey’s coffee and decaf coffee with your mugs. You can also get hot chocolate (sometimes out of a machine and sometimes packets to mix yourself) as well as an assortment of hot teas. There is no RFID chip reader for getting hot beverages.

As for cold beverages, all machine with have standard Coke products such as Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Fanta Orange. Some machines have other options such as Minute Maid Light Lemonade, Barqs Roots Beer, Cherry Coke, Vitamin Water, and Powerade.

The soda drink dispensers have the RFID chip readers, so you just place your mug on the plastic base, and the machine should dispense your drink after reading the chip in your mug.

Most locations also have Gold Peak Iced Tea with Sweet Tea, Unsweetened Tea, and Green Tea options.

There are Coke Freestyle machines at Caribbean Beach resort and Riveria resort which give you even more options for fountain drinks. Caribbean Beach has Freestyle Machines at some of the far-flung buildings which means you won’t have to hike all of the way to the main food court for a drink.

Disney Resort Refillable Mugs TipsNow for some helpful tips for having he best experience with the Resort Refillable Mugs at Disney World.

First, Disney sometimes releases limited-edition mugs for holidays or special occasions. These are especially fun to collect and use again at home! I love my Halloween mug (pictured above) that makes an appearance at my house each fall.

Next, there is a “Mug Wash” station at most food courts where you can give your mugs a rinse with warm water before refilling. This is a great feature when you are switching from coffee to a fountain drink and your mugs are a little funky.

It’s important to know that there is a timer associated with the RFID chips in the mugs. If you get a drink that you don’t like and dump it out, you may have to wait a few minutes until you are able to refill it again. This is to discourage people from filling multiple cups with the same mug.

Disney sometimes offers only a few different mug designs, which can make keeping track of mugs tricky. I have brought a Sharpie along to mark the mugs OR made my own mug stickers with my Cricut machine to keep our mugs straight.

Since your mug is good for 14 days and can be used at any Disney World resort hotel, you can continue to use it even if you switch resorts during your stay. I often get my mug as part of a Dining Plan for the first part of my stay, then continue to use it at the second resort. You can easily add a Dining Plan to a short stay when you rent DVC points through Dave’s DVC Rental, my recommended points broker.

Are The Resort Refillable Mugs At Disney World Worth It? The last question you may be asking is if the refillable mugs at Disney World are worth the cost.

If you are getting even one drink a day, the mugs will pay for themselves in less than five days. If you are using your mug for two drinks per day, it will only take three days for your mug to pay for itself.

If I am staying at a Disney resort for three or more nights, I always buy a resort refillable mug or get one with a Dining Plan. I love the freedom to get as many refills as I want during my stay and not have to worry about the cost! It gives my vacation more of an “all-inclusive” feel which I love.

I hoped I answered all of your questions about using Resort Refillable Mugs at Disney World. Anything else you want to know? Just leave a comment below and I will get back to you ASAP!

The post Resort Refillable Mugs at Disney World Ultimate Guide appeared first on The Budget Mouse.

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Welcome to episode 96 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is all about Resort Refillable mugs.

Here are some resources related to this episode:

Disney Dining Plan Ultimate Guide
13 Disney World Park Bag Essentials
How To Rent Disney Vacation Club Points at Disney World

The post All About Disney World Resort Refillable Mugs appeared first on The Budget Mouse.

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Answers to all of your questions for 2024, including is the Disney Dining Plan worth it and prices for the Disney meal plan!

Have you heard about the Dining Plan at Disney World and are wondering how it works?

The Disney meal plan is basically a way to “pre-pay” for dining before your vacation starts and is returning in 2024 after a three-year hiatus.

In this post, I will share everything you need to know about the Disney Dining Plan 2024 including the cost, how the credits work, and how to decide is the Disney Dining plan worth it for you!

Keep in mind that the plans are certainly not for everyone on every trip, and while they seem complicated at first, are actually pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it.

What is The Disney Dining Plan? Flame Tree Barbeque

The Disney Dining Plan has been around since 2005 and is a way to make your Disney World vacation more inclusive.

You can add the Dining Plan to a hotel reservation that you book with Disney, through your travel agent, or with DVC points.

For each night of your stay, you’ll get a set number of dining plan “credits” you can use to eat almost anywhere at Walt Disney World, as well as a refillable mug to use at your resort during your stay.

Read on to learn how the credits work and the two different meal plans available for 2024!

Who Can Use The Disney Dining Plan?Contempo Cafe

The Disney Meal Plan can be used by guests staying at any Walt Disney World resort hotel.

They can’t be purchased by visitors staying at any hotels that are not owned by Disney (“off-property” hotels) or locals visiting for the day.

The plan also must be purchased for every night of your stay and for everyone staying in your room. However, there are ways around this that I will explain below.

Disney Dining Plan 2024 CostSanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

There are currently two different meal plans: the Quick Service Dining Plan and the Disney Dining Plan.

The cost (including tax) of the Disney Dining Plan 2024 for each night of your stay is:

Quick Service Dining Plan: $57.01/adult and $23.83/child
Disney Dining Plan: $94.28/adult and $29.69/child

Here is a chart that shows the credits you’ll get with each plan and the cost per night of your stay in 2024:

Disney Dining Plan 2024 Prices

Note: Though tax is included in the cost of the plan, tips for your server at Table Service meals are not included.

Each plan includes a Resort Refillable Mug (more on those soon). The children’s prices are for kids ages 3 to 9. Kids 10 and over are charged the adult price.

How Does The Disney Dining Plan Work?Veggie Bowl at Pecos Bill’s, Magic Kingdom

Everyone’s first question about the plan is “How does the Disney Dining Plan work?”

Each of the dining plans includes credits that you can use all over Walt Disney World.

These credits are loaded on the Magic Bands (or MagicMobile pass on your phone) of everyone in your party as soon as you check-in.

You can use the credits at any point during your stay, from 6 am on check-in day until midnight on the day you check out.

You can use them in any combination at any time, such as using three snack credits on the first day, or two table service credits on one day and two quick service credits on the next day.

The types of Disney Meal Plan credits are:

Snack Credits (most items that aren’t a meal unto themselves fall into this category)
Quick Service Meal Credits (i.e. meals at locations where you order at a counter as opposed to having a server)
Table Service Meal Credits (“Sit-down” meals – includes buffets, character meals, and signature dining)

Resort Refillable Mug

In addition to snack and meal credits, the meal plans at Disney include a Resort Refillable Mug with unlimited free refills for the next 14 days.

The mugs can be used at any Disney resort hotel for soda, coffee, tea, lemonade, and hot chocolate, but are not good for refills in the theme parks.

Soda machines are equipped with a chip reader that only dispenses the drink into a cup that is activated for that date.

What’s Included in the Quick Service Dining Plan?Quick service meal in Epcot

With the Quick Service Dining Plan, you’ll get two quick service credits per night of your trip, one snack credit per night, and a resort refillable mug.

Quick Service credits can be used to dine at any Quick Service (aka counter service) restaurant at Disney World.

Get my picks for the best quick service dining in each of the four theme parks in these posts!

La Cantina de San Angel

A Quick Service credit includes an entree and a beverage.

You can get almost any beverage on the menu, including alcoholic drinks.

With any quick service or table service meal, those over 21 can select a single-serving mixed drink, wine, or beer as their beverage with the plan.

You could choose a specialty drink (such as a smoothie or milkshake) as your beverage as well.

Mixed drinks are included!

And I am happy to report that you are not limited to certain alcoholic drinks with the Dining Plan… anything is fair game as long as it doesn’t come in a souvenir cup or serve more than one person.

If you don’t want a beverage (or just want to drink water) you can usually substitute anything that qualifies as a snack credit on the menu for your drink. Most quick-service dining locations allow this substitution but your mileage may vary.

You’ll also get one snack credit per person per night and a refillable mug on the Quick Service Dining Plan.

Update: In years past you could at times use one Quick Service credit to buy three snacks. Disney has officially stated that this is no longer permitted on the plan.

What’s Included on the Disney Dining Plan? Satuli Canteen

With the standard Disney Meal Plan, you’ll get one quick service credit and one table service credit per person per night of your trip.

Each table service meal credit includes an entree, beverage, and dessert.

This credit was made more flexible in 2017 by allowing guests to choose a salad or soup (if available at the restaurant) in place of a dessert.

And as in the case with quick service meals, any single-serving drink on the menu that doesn’t come in a souvenir cup is fair game – so go ahead and order that $17 glass of wine!

California Grill

You are of course always allowed to order anything else from the menu that is not included in the dining plan and pay for the items out-of-pocket. This can include appetizers or add-ons to your entree.

With the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll also get one snack per person per day and a refillable mug.

What about the Deluxe Disney Dining Plan?Sadly, the Deluxe Dining Plan at Disney World did not return for 2024.

How Do I Get a Dining Plan for Free?Free tacos? Yes, please

You may have heard of Disney’s wildly popular “Free Dining” promotion. For this offer, guests pay the regular, non-discounted rate for their hotel stay and park tickets, but get one of the dining plans at no additional cost.

A free dining package usually requires booking a minimum three-night stay and purchasing a minimum of 4-day “Park Hopper” tickets for everyone in your travel party.

You can learn everything you need to know about Disney free dining in this post.

While the traditional “Free Dining” package isn’t available right now, there is something similar, which you can find on my page with all of the current Disney World Discounts here.

Determining if Free Dining is an option will definitely help answer the question is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?

Disney Dining Plan 2024 RestaurantsZebra domes at Boma

The answer to “What restaurants take the Disney Dining Plan?” is almost every restaurant at Disney World.

Each year when the Dining Plan is released, restaurants are slowly added to the of those that accept the plan. Almost all dining establishments at Disney World take the Dining Plan.

Here are the exceptions I know of that don’t take the Disney Meal Plan:

Victoria & Albert’s, a fine dining restaurant at the Grand Floridian resort
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Epcot’s Italy pavilion
La Cava de Tequila in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion
Haagen-Dazs kiosk at Disney Springs
Jock Lindsay’s Hangar Bar at Disney Springs
Pizza Ponte at Disney Springs
AMC Fork & Screen in Disney Springs
Pepe in Disney Springs

Everywhere else in the theme parks, at Disney Springs, and at Disney-owned resorts will accept your Disney Dining Plan credits.

Disney Dining Plan Two Table Service Credit RestaurantsCinderella’s Royal Table

Some dining locations at Disney World require two table service credits on the Disney Meal Plan.

Here is a master list of restaurants that require two table service credits and where they are located:

Cinderella’s Royal Table – Magic Kingdom
Be Our Guest – Magic Kingdom
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue – For Wilderness
The Hollywood Brown Derby – Hollywood Studios
Tiffins – Animal Kingdom
Le Cellier – Epcot
Monsieur Paul – Epcot
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall – Epcot (lunch and dinner only)
Jiko – Animal Kingdom Lodge
Flying Fish – Boardwalk Resort
California Grill – Contemporary Resort
Citricos – Grand Floridian Resort
Narcoossee’s – Grand Floridian Resort
Yachtsman Steakhouse – Yacht Club Resort
Storybook Dining With Snow White – Wilderness Lodge (new for 2024)
Morimoto Asia – Disney Springs
Paddlefish – Disney Springs
STK Orlando – Disney Springs
The Boathouse – Disney Springs

Is The Disney Dining Plan worth it?Disney’s Riviera Resort

If you are like most folks visiting Walt Disney World, you have a budget that you need to stick to for your vacation.

Having a pre-paid dining plan included in a package is one way to help you stay within your budget at Disney World.

Answering the question “Is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?” requires looking at how you would typically eat on vacation.

Grapefruit beer in Epcot

As an example, here is a comparison of what it would cost out-of-pocket vs. on the dining plan for a sample day at Animal Kingdom:

With this sample day, you would save $28 in one day for one person on the dining plan.

Keep in mind that alcoholic beverages drive the out-of-pocket cost up. But if you want an alcoholic drink with your meals and this is the type and quantity of food you would likely eat on vacation, then the dining plan might be a good fit for you!

What made this day a good value on the plan was eating a character meal for dinner and alcoholic drinks at lunch and dinner.

Here’s an example of another day at Epcot that wouldn’t be such a good deal on the Disney Meal Plan:

Today you’d lose $35.82 with the dining plan.

The main reason is eating at some of the most affordable restaurants out-of-pocket and choosing soft drinks as opposed to pricey alcoholic beverages.

Pizza at Primo Piatto

The dining plans tend to work out better for some folks than others, depending on their style of vacationing and where they prefer to eat.

Here are some factors that will help you answer the question is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?

You should consider using the Dining Plan if you:

Want to eat at several Character Meals or buffets (These tend to be the most expensive out-of-pocket and represent the best value of dining plan credits)
Would enjoy an alcoholic drink with lunch and dinner most days
Are visiting Epcot during a festival to maximize snack credits (more on this next)

You might want to avoid the Dining Plan if you:

Are a light eater (e.g. like to order an appetizer as your entrée)
Want to eat at one or more Signature Restaurants
Are vegetarian or vegan (Though if you want to experience several buffets/character meals or eat some fish the Dining Plan still makes lots of sense)
You don’t drink alcohol at all

Disney Dining Plan Tips & TricksHere are my best Disney Dining Plan tips and tricks for making the most of the plans at Walt Disney World.

Tip #1: Share Credits & Use Them However You WantContempo Cafe

The second of my Disney Dining Plan tips is you do not actually have to use a credit for every member of your party every time you dine.

For example, one Table Service credit includes:

One entree
One dessert
One beverage

However, if your spouse wants a beverage and entree and you want an appetizer and dessert, you two can essentially “share” one Table Service credit and just pay for your appetizer out-of-pocket.

This can really help you get the full value of the plan, save your credits for a Signature restaurant, and avoid wasting food (a common complaint about the plan).

To do this, just tell your server that you’d like to use one table service credit from your dining plan and charge the appetizer to our room. You can then scan your Magic Band for both purposes and be on your way!

Tip #2 – Get the Disney Meal Plan Without Buying Park TicketsPecos Bill’s Beef Nachos

The official line from Disney is that the Dining Plan must be purchased as part of a package that includes a minimum of two-day park tickets. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule.

The one we have used most frequently is that anyone staying in a room booked with Disney Vacation Club points can add a Disney Dining Plan to their reservation without also adding park tickets.

Anyone can stay in a DVC room by “renting” points from a DVC owner (check out my post about how to rent DVC points to save money on deluxe accommodations here).

Members of the military can also add a dining plan to their resort stay without having to buy park tickets (which can be bought at a steep discount at a military base or Shades of Green – thanks for this info, Peg!).

Columbia Harbor House

I have also been able to call Disney and have them add a Dining Plan to a room-only reservation without tickets, as long as the reservation was made directly with Disney.

If you booked a room-only reservation with a travel agent (get a free quote from my travel agent Siera here), you can have them add the Dining Plan without having to purchase park tickets.

Just keep in mind this will turn your room-only reservation into a package, which has more strict cancellation policies.

Here is a great resource from Mousesavers on the different cancellation policies.

Tip #3: Get the Dining Plan for Only Part of Your VacationNarcoossee’s

A split stay is when you break your vacation up between two different resorts on two separate reservations.

Any Disney Meal Plan has to be purchased for every night of your stay and for everyone in your room.

But this only means you must have it for the entire reservation – you can have it for the first part of a split stay and not the second.

If you don’t mind switching resorts once during your stay, you can rent DVC points for part of your vacation and add the dining plan for that part of your stay.

If you are changing Disney resorts (what is called a “split stay”) and get a refillable mug during the first part of your vacation, it will continue to work for the second part. The mugs aren’t connected to a particular resort and will work for 14 days once activated.

Note: You can add the dining Plan to a one-night reservation booked with DVC points, but you can no longer add a dining plan to a one-night reservation booked through Disney (unless it is booked with a Passholder discount). The minimum for adding the dining plan when you book with Disney is a two-night reservation.

Tip #4: Choose Restaurants That Maximize Your CreditsMy next Disney Meal Plan tip is to eat at the locations that give you the best value for your credits.

There are definitely certain dining locations that give you the best value on the Disney Dining Plan. That said, I would suggest that you don’t let this fact drive your decisions about where to eat on vacation.

If you want to eat somewhere but it isn’t necessarily the best value on the plan because the entrees are less expensive than other places, then, by all means, eat there!

Overall, you will get your money’s worth out of the Disney Dining Plan almost anywhere you eat, so try to dine as if you weren’t bound by the plan.

You’ll get incredible value if you are able to get the dining plan for free with Disney’s popular “Free Dining” promotion, which you can read all about in this post.

Sushi at California Grill

Locations in which the total cost of your Quick Service Meal is above $18 and Table Service is above $55 give you the best return on your investment on the Dining Plan.

Here are some of the best locations for getting the full value out of the plan:

Quick Service

Flame Tree Barbecue (Animal Kindgom)
Sunshine Seasons (Epcot)
Tangierine Cafe (Epcot)
La Cantine de San Angel (Epcot)
Columbia Harbor House (Magic Kingdom)
Peco’s Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe (Magic Kingdom)
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe (Magic Kindgom)
Landscape of Flavors – Lunch/Dinner (Art of Animation Resort)
Pepper Market – Lunch/Dinner (Coronado Springs Resort)
Wolfgang Puck Express (Disney Springs)
The Polite Pig (Disney Springs)

Table Service

Fantasmic Dining Package (Hollywood Studios)
Chefs de France – Dinner (Epcot)
Tutto Italia -Dinner (Epcot)
Crystal Palace – Dinner (Magic Kingdom)
Boma – Dinner (Animal Kingdom Lodge)
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall (1 credit at breakfast only)
Chef Mickey’s – Dinner (Contemporary Resort)
‘Ohana – Dinner (Polynesian Resort)
Whispering Canyon Cafe – Dinner (Wilderness Lodge)

Signature Restaurants

California Grill (Contemporary Resort)
Narcoossee’s (Grand Floridian Resort)
Yachtsman Steakhouse (Yacht Club Resort)
Cinderella’s Royal Table – Dinner (Magic Kingdom)
The Boathouse (Disney Springs)

Steak at Cinderella’s Royal Table Breakfast

The best use of Quick Service and Table Service credits on the Disney Dining Plan tend to be for lunch and dinner.

It is very hard to get good value out of your credits for breakfast.

I would suggest eating a light breakfast in your room (check out how to get groceries delivered to resort for free in this post) or paying for breakfast out of pocket at your resort.

Tip #5: Use Snack Credits WiselySnack credits may seem like a throwaway addition, but if used wisely, they really can increase the value of your Dining Plan.

Each member of your party will get one snack credit per day as part of every Disney Meal Plan!

I estimate the value of a snack credit to be around $5. If I want a snack and it is less than $5, I usually pay out of pocket for it, even if I’m on the Dining Plan.

If you happen to be visiting Disney World during one of the Epcot festivals, you can get incredible value out of your snack credits.

Most non-alcoholic drinks and food items available at the Marketplace Booths are “snack credit eligible”.

Some of these items are in the $7-$10 range which can double the value of your snack credit.

Last visit we had eight snack credits that we used to make a meal of eating our way around Food & Wine Festival.

It was so much fun and we got an incredible value out of the snack credits (get all of my Food and Wine Festival tips in this post).

Beef Tenderloin at Food & Wine Fest

If you want someone to help you pick the best restaurants AND make all of your dining reservations for you (at no cost to you), then I strongly suggest that you get a free quote from my expert Disney travel agent Siera at Destinations in Florida!

Disney Dining Plan Tip #6: Get Alcohol, Appetizers, and MoreBoma

Even though Table Service credits include only an entree, dessert, and a beverage, there are instances where you can get much more using the Disney Dining Plan.

And you can now get a specialty drink OR single-serving alcoholic beverage with every meal on the Disney Dining Plans!

I’m happy to report that pretty much ANY alcoholic drink is included in the Dining Plan.

For example, you can get a top-shelf Patron Lime Margarita from La Cantina de San Angel in Epcot that would cost $16 out-of-pocket as your drink with a Quick Service credit!

If you are going to get an adult beverage with lunch and dinner anyway, the Dining Plan makes it very affordable to do so.

Here are other ways to get more with the Dining Plan:

Get an Appetizer with the Prix Fixe Dinner Menu at Chefs de France Another great use of one Table Service credit is the Prix Fixe menu at Chefs de France in Epcot’s France Pavillion.

You get to choose an appetizer, entree, and dessert from a set menu and all are included with your one table service credit.

Though this restaurant sometimes gets spotty reviews, I think the food is excellent (though not very adventurous), the atmosphere lively, and the servers helpful and eager to talk about their country and cuisine.

Get a Cheese Plate as An Appetizer at Several Signature RestaurantsSignature Restaurants are the high-end dining establishments at Disney and all require two Table Service credits.

However, several restaurants include their Cheese Plate as one of their options for dessert, which means you can order it as part of the dining plan.

The cheese plate is usually fantastic and pricey (some upwards of $20) and you can have it served before your meal as an appetizer.

One member of your party will have to give up their dessert entitlement, but most folks share desserts anyway so that likely won’t cramp your style too much.

Get Preferred Seating with the Fantasmic Dining PackageOne of the best uses of one Table Service credit is the Fantasmic Dining Package at Mama Melrose’s in Hollywood Studios.

Not only do you get preferred seating to the Fantasmic show for the evening (the not-to-be-missed nighttime show at the Studios), but you’ll also get your choice of an entree, dessert, and beverage.

The trade-off is that you’ll eat at an off-peak time (lunch or an early dinner). You can also get a Fantasmic Package at Hollywood & Vine (for 1 credit) and The Hollywood Brown Derby (for 2 credits).

Tip #7: Kids Under Three Eat for Free at Certain RestaurantsAkershus Royal Banquet Hall

You may have noticed that the children’s dining plan is for kids ages 3 to 9. What about one and two-year-olds who seem to eat their weight in food each day, you say?

Well, you will either have to purchase food for them out of pocket or dine at restaurants where they can eat for free.

Disney’s policy is that kids under three can eat off of their parents’ plates at any buffet.

This includes all of the character meals and any other buffet such as Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge) and Biergarten (Epcot). And they don’t physically have to eat off of your plate, you can get them their own plate of food at no charge.

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Even better, at any all-you-care-to-enjoy table service meal (such as the Garden Grill, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Topplino’s Terrace, and Akershus Royal Banquet Hall), kids under three can get a kids’ meal off of the menu totally for free.

I was really surprised when I learned about this about a year ago and it influenced where we decided to eat with our daughter when she was still in the under-three crowd.

Tip #8: Take Advantage of the Dining Plan’s FlexibilityPolite Pig at Disney Springs is the disney dining plan worth it

The first of my Disney Dining Plan tips is that the plans are much more flexible than they sound.

The credits you receive for each member of your party are actually pooled together and can be used in any combination on any day of your trip.

For example, you can eat only Quick Service meals on one day and the next day use two Table Service credits to enjoy dinner at one of Disney’s fantastic Signature restaurants.

Plus your credits are good from the time you check into your resort (which we often do as soon as we arrive, as early as 8 am) until midnight on the day you check out.

This means you can stretch your 5 nights of the dining plan into 6 days if you use your credits wisely.

My Experiences with the Disney Dining PlanIn my opinion, the dining plans are not for everyone on every trip.

They make the most sense for guests who plan on eating several Character Meals or buffets, have big eaters in their party (think teenage boys), and those who don’t mind being nailed down to a schedule.

On the other hand, it doesn’t work as well for light eaters, those who prefer Signature restaurants, or those who like to be spontaneous and not be held to hard-and-fast plans for their dining.

My husband and I have taken advantage of a Disney Dining Plan on many occasions and I think it is really fun.

I like the freedom to choose any entree on the menu without worrying about how expensive it is (otherwise I can’t shake the inner cheapskate, even on vacation).

Epcot Food & Wine Fest

Disney Meal Plan Tips & Tricks SummaryTo summarize, the Disney Dining Plan is just one way to experience the amazing dining options at Walt Disney World.

And if you’re able to get it for free (read my post about the popular free dining offer), it is an especially inexpensive way to try out different restaurants.

If want help planning a vacation with or without the dining plan, I suggest getting a from my expert Disney travel agent, Siera with Destinations in Florida.

She can help you find the right resort, book your dining reservations, and more, all at no additional cost to you!

I hope this post helped you understand the basics of the Disney Meal Plan and how it works during a Disney World vacation.

Any questions? Join the discussion in my free private Facebook group for my Disney-only site, The Budget Mouse!

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Welcome to episode 95 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is all about Typhoon Lagoon!

Here are links that I mentioned in the show:

Typhoon Lagoon Discount Tickets
Free Intro to Points & Miles Course

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The key to enjoying your stay at the Disney Value Resorts is knowing what to expect! Here’s a detailed guide with what to expect from the rooms, pools, dining, and transportation.

I’ve stayed at all five of the Disney Value Resorts MANY times. I think they offer a fantastic (and affordable) vacation experience for most people, but they certainly aren’t for everyone!

In this post, I’ll share what you should expect at the Value Resorts in Walt Disney World and what you WON’T find there.

What To Expect: Standard RoomsDisney World resorts are divided into three main categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. The resorts in the “Value” category at Walt Disney World are:

All-Star Music Resort
All-Star Movies Resort
All-Star Sports Resort
Pop Century Resort
Art of Animation Resort

While most rooms at the first four Value resorts sleep four people in a standard hotel room, Art of Animation consists mainly of “family suites” that sleep six people. More on those soon!

The Value resorts offer basic but comfortable standard hotel rooms with two queen beds (a few accessible rooms have one king bed) that sleep four people.

One bed transforms from a table and chairs into a queen bed, making the room more spacious and functional.

All standard rooms at the Value Resorts are around 260 square feet and have a mini-fridge, coffee maker, table with two chairs, and drawers for storage.

You’ll also find cute Disney touches such as hidden Mickeys in the carpeting and bedding.

There’s a large TV with drawers for storage underneath it. You can also store items under the queen bed, which is a great place to stash suitcases.

You’ll find lots of places to charge your devices next to the beds and on the drawer unit.

There’s a door you can pull closed to separate the bathroom area from the rest of the room, which comes in handy when you need to have the light on in the bathroom area while the kiddos are still sleeping.

There is a small room with the toilet and bathtub/shower and the one sink is outside of that room.

Do Value Resorts at Disney Have Microwaves?Here’s a look at the amenties in standard rooms at most Value resorts.

There is a small mini fridge, a coffee maker, ice bucket, and lots of cups.

However there is no microwave in the Value resort standard rooms at Disney World.

However if you stay in a family suite at Art of Animation or All Star Music, there is a microwave as part of the kitchenette. There is also a microwave for use in the food court of every Value resort.

Do Disney Value Resorts Have Toiletries?Yes, the Disney Value resorts have toiletries such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

A feature of the remodeled rooms is bath products in a dispenser on the wall. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it, but I actually love not having to worry about running out.

I also like saving waste from all of those thousands of tiny plastic bottles.

On my most recent stay there was NOT a small bottle of lotion in my room as there has been in the past.

Disney Value Resorts Family SuitesDisney’s Art of Animation Resort

All-Star Music and Art of Animation also offer “Family Suites” that have a bedroom separate from the main living area and kitchenette.

These rooms sleep up to six though I think they would feel crowded with more than three adults in them. I think they are ideal for groups of five with two adults/three kids or a family of four plus a grandparent, for example.

Art of Animation Family Suite Murphy Bed

The bedroom has a queen bed and there is a queen size murphy bed and a full-size pullout bed in the living room.

The suites at Art of Animation also have a second bathroom and full-size Murphy bed (you can check out my detailed review of the suites here).

While the rooms at Disney Value Resort aren’t fancy, they are designed to be functional and fun.

What to Expect: CostThe cost of staying at a Value Resort varies depending on when you travel. In general, expect rates in the $130 – $200 range per night for a standard Value resort room.

The most affordable times of year to visit are when kids are in school, such as late August, early September, January, and February.

My #1 source for the best rates on Disney Value Resorts is Priceline. Learn why I prefer to book Disney resort rooms on Priceline in this post.

Also note that the cost of a Family Suite is sometimes more than the cost of two connecting rooms. Be sure to compare prices!

Transportation at the Disney World Value ResortsPhoto Credit: Disney Parks

All of the Value resorts offer free transportation to all of the Disney theme parks, Disney Springs, and the Disney water parks.

Pop Century and Art of Animation are also on the Skyliner line, which gives access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot (though you might be faster taking a bus to Epcot). The Skyliner is a gondola system that offers a fun way to get to the parks and other resorts.

All of the Value Resorts offer bus transportation. Buses come frequently and drop you off right at the Magic Kingdom gates. This is a huge benefit compared to off-property hotels that offer bus service that drops you off at the Transportation and Ticket Center (requiring a ferry or monorail ride to get to the park entrance.

I also need to mention that most of the time buses from the Value Resorts will take you directly to/from the theme parks.

At the Moderate resorts (and some Deluxe resorts) you have to ride the bus around the resort itself while it stops up to six times to pick up guests.

This adds significant travel time to and from the parks and is one reason why I’ve leaned towards the Value resorts over the Moderates on many occasions!

If you are interested in how I rank the Disney Value Resorts and my pick for families and first-timers, check out this post on the Best and Worst of the Disney Value Resorts.

What to Expect: Pools and AmenitiesPop Century Resort

First, you should expect excellent customer service at any Disney World Resort hotel, include the Value Resorts.

You won’t get treated like a second-class visitor because you are staying at the lowest-cost resorts, and you’ll be treated like a VIP by all of the Cast Members.

The Value resorts all have fun, kid-friendly theming. In fact, they are widely considered some of the most “kid-friendly” resorts on Disney property!

Disney characters abound and everything is bright and colorful, so these resorts have a ton of kid appeal.

The Value resorts all have pools that tie into the theme of the resort, such as the Fantasiapool at All-Star Movies and the Finding Nemo themed “Big Blue Pool” at Art of Animation.

You’ll get towels at all of the pools. There are multiple pools at each resort and a pool bar at the main “feature” pool.

There are daily poolside activities led by Disney cast members and nice playgrounds at each resort.

Every night there is a Disney movie shown poolside on a giant inflatable screen, which can be a fun way to spend an evening away from the parks.

There is also free marshmallow roasting at the Disney Value resorts! This used to just be offered at the more expensive resorts, but I love to see it now at the Values.

It’s a great free activity that we do every time we are at Disney World.

Disney World Value Resorts Dining & ShoppingThere is a large food court at every Value resort. The food courts are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, generally from 7 am to midnight (though times may change seasonally).

There’s a ton of seating for families and large groups.

The food courts do get crowded during the busiest times of day, ESPECIALLY mornings when everyone is trying to get to the parks at once.

I think the overall food quality at the food courts is great. You won’t find anything fancy, but the food is affordable and has generous portions.

There are refillable mug stations in the food courts which make it easy to grab a quick drink.

There’s also a gift shop at each Value Resort (it is Disney World after all). Each gift shop is similar with everything you’d expect – shirts, mouse ears, toys, and vacation essentials such as medicine and sunscreen.

Disney Value Resorts PerksBut the biggest pull for me of the Value resorts is that you get ALL of the perks of staying at a Disney World Resort hotel, including:

Free transportation all around Walt Disney World
The ability to book Individual Lightning Lanes at 7 am
Access to Morning Extra Magic Hours
The ability to add a Disney Dining Plan to your stay (get my tips and tricks for using the Dining Plan here)

These are just the main perks of staying at a Disney World resort hotel and you’ll get them with even a one-night reservation.

The perks are what keep me staying on Disney property, and I love getting them without a costly price tag at the Value Resorts!

Are The Disney Value Resorts Clean? This is what sets Disney Value Resorts apart from hotels close to Disney at similar price points.

In my many visits, the Value Resorts have always been spotlessly clean. The common areas such as the pool and food court are difficult to keep clean, but Disney finds a way to do it.

I think the landscaping and general maintenance of the properties are excellent, far above what you’d expect from a chain property at the same price point.

What You Won’t Find at Disney Value ResortsNow that you know what you’ll get at Value resorts, here’s what will you NOT find there.

While there are several fun pools at each resort, you won’t find water slides or hot tubs at the Value resorts. You also will not find zero-entry pools or water play areas, with the exception of Art of Animation which has both.

You will not find any table service restaurants at the Value resorts. Other Disney resorts (particularly the deluxe resorts) offer some incredible table service dining options, but you’ll just find food courts at the Disney Value resorts.

I think the food is excellent at the Value resorts, but you will have to navigate a sometimes crowded food court to get it.

One of the perks of staying at the Deluxe Resorts is the ability to get to a theme park without having to ride a bus. For example, at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort you can walk to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and you can take the monorail to the Magic Kingdom and Epcot when you stay at the Polynesian. You will have to take a bus to get anywhere on Disney property when you stay at a Value resort.

And last, you also won’t find extensive resort activities at Disney Value Resorts like you would at the Deluxe Resorts. For example, Animal Kingdom Lodge offers daily cookie decorating, restaurant tours, cultural immersion experiences with cast members from Africa, and more. Poolside entertainment, nightly movies, and marshmallows are mostly what you’ll get at the Value resorts.

I hope this post helped you know what to expect from a stay at a Disney Value resort. They are among my favorites of all Disney World resorts because of their fun atmosphere and valuable perks at an affordable price.

If you want help deciding which resort might be the best fit for your family, I highly suggest getting a free quote from an expert Disney travel agent at Destinations in Florida. They can help you plan every aspect of your Disney vacation at no charge to you!

If you have any questions about staying at a Disney Value Resort, please leave a comment below or join the discussion in the free private Facebook group for my Disney-only site, The Budget Mouse!

The post Disney Value Resorts: What To Expect At The Cheapest Resorts In Disney World appeared first on The Budget Mouse.

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A detailed guide on how to use Disney World mobile ordering plus tips for the best possible experience!

Use Mobile Order at Flame Tree Barbecue, Animal Kingdom

Waiting in line at Disney World isn’t limited to rides. It’s common to have to wait in a long line just to order food at Disney’s “quick service” restaurants.

However you can avoid waiting in line at many restaurants IF you know how to use Disney World Mobile Ordering!

It’s basically a way to pre-order your meals and skip the lines at some quick service restaurants. Think of it as FastPass for dining.

In this post I’ll walk you through how to use this time-saving tool and share my tips for having the best possible experience.

How Does Disney World Mobile Ordering Work?Yes, you can mobile order a cupcake

The only way to use Mobile Order at Disney World in is the My Disney Experience app. If you don’t already have it downloaded on your phone, it is essential for your trip.

Here is a link to download on Apple devices and here is a link to download on Android devices.

The easiest way to access Mobile Ordering is by tapping the “Plus” button at the bottom center of the home screen.

Tap the + and select “Order Food” to see your current options for Mobile Ordering.

Restaurants are orangized by location, so scroll until you find where you want to order.

A handy feature of Mobile Order is that it allows you to see what restaurants are currently open. This is particularly useful for finding breakfast in the parks, which is usually only found at a handful of locations!

At this point you can do one of two things: place an order for the next possible arrival, or schedule an order ahead for any later time that same day.

To place an order for the next arrival time, just tap “Begin Order”.

To see all possible arrival windows to schedule for later in the day, tap on the name of the restaurant. Then you can scroll through and pick a later time.

Note that this is a window of 15 minutes during which you can “arrive” and tell the restaurant it’s ok to prepare your meal. They won’t do anything until you confirm that you are on your way or in the restaurant, at which point they will begin making your order.

How To Put Together A Mobile OrderUse mobile ordering for this delicious pizza at Disney World

Once you’ve found the restaurant and picked your arrival time window, you can start putting together your mobile order!

In my experience there are sometimes specialty items available physically at the restaurant that are not available for mobile order. But all of the regular menu items will be there and can be added to your order.

You can customize your mobile order

I like that you can give clear instructions to customize your order. This is sometimes hard to do when ordering at the counter.

After you’ve added all of your items you will be taken to an Order Summary screen. If the location offers any discounts that you qualify for, you can add them there!

These include discounts for Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club members, and Disney Visa Card Members (click here to learn all about the excellent discounts available for cardholders).

Then you can pay with a variety of methods:

Disney gift card (click here to find the BEST places for discount Disney gift cards!)
Disney Rewards Redemption Card (rewards earned from the Disney Visa Card)
Credit or debit card
Apple Pay

After you pay you will see this confirmation screen. Now on to picking up your food!

How To Pick Up Your Mobile OrderUse Mobile Order at Satuli Canteen, Animal Kingdom

After you’ve placed your Mobile Order, you’ll need to take one more step to have your food prepared and be ready to pick up.

You should see any Mobile Orders on your home screen on my Disney Experience, in the “Upcoming Plans” section along with Genie Plus reservations and any dining reservations.

If it is during your arrival window you can go ahead and click on “Check Order Status” and have the restaurant prepare your food.

Now timing when to have the restaurant prepare your order depends on how busy the restaurant is!

If it’s a popular dining location at peak hours (11:30 – 1 pm for lunch, 5:30 -7 pm for dinner) I click “I’m here, Prepare My Order” at least 10 minutes before I want to pick it up.

Now if you aren’t physically close enough to the restaurant it won’t let choose this option. So you have to at least be in the vicinity.

If it isn’t peak hours then 5 minutes is usually enough time.

While your food is being prepared, you will see this notification in the app.

Note that you do have to have notifications and location service enabled for the app in order to receive updates for your order, so be sure to do that in advance.

I notified Pecos Bill’s that I was ready to have them make my order at 11:22 am.

Four minutes later, I was notified in the app that our order was ready! We were just walking up to Pecos Bill, so the timing was absolutely perfect.

There was a special area assigned for Mobile Order pickups, which was clearly labeled and easy to find in the center of the counter.

As I approached, a cast member asked “Are you Leah?” and had our order ready to hand directly to me.

I have to admit that I was pretty impressed. Another guest picking up his order told me that he had used mobile ordering a bunch of times on this trip and loved it.

There was already a line building for the lunch rush at Pecos Bill, so I loved walking right in and having our food waiting for us.

I would suggest planning to be there right when your order is ready. I can see food being served cold if there is much of a delay. But since we timed it right, our food was plenty hot.

And of course, I loaded my veggie bowl up at the toppings bar! That’s my favorite part of dining at Pecos Bill’s. Click here for my full review of Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Cafe in Magic Kingdom.

Where Can I Use Mobile Ordering at Disney World?There are now over 50 locations that accept Mobile Ordering at Disney World.

The best way to find what’s currently accepting mobile orders is by clicking here to see the official list on the Disney World site.

Get my expert picks for the BEST Quick Service restaurants (and tons of other helpful information) in my Disney World Dining Cheat Sheets!

Disney World Mobile Order Tips & TricksI often only bring my Magic Band and ID with me to the parks and forgo bringing my wallet. I was concerned that I would not be able to use Mobile Ordering because I didn’t have a credit card in hand – but luckily that wasn’t the case!

When I ordered, the app charged my meal to my credit card on file in My Disney Experience, and I did not have to enter a card number. Keep in mind this is distinct from any room charges that you may be putting on your Magic Band.

We decided to eat lunch at Pecos Bill in Frontierland, which opens at 10:30 am. You can see all of the menu items in the app, and it was easy to select and customize our order.

I was even able to add a Mickey straw to my daughter’s kid’s meal, which I had been meaning to do throughout the trip but always seemed to forget!

I love to place Mobile Orders while waiting in lines at Disney World. It’s a great way to kill time that even saves you more time later!

I placed our order while waiting in the queue for Peter Pan’s Flight. I loved being able to take my time looking at all of the menu items.

I always feel rushed when ordering at quick service restaurants, especially with those annoying screens that change just when you are about to decide on your meal!

I was very impressed with my Disney World mobile order experience. Once I figured out the ground rules and how the process worked, it was incredibly easy and convenient.

In fact, later that afternoon we stopped by Aloha Isle for my favorite snack, a Dole Whip swirl, and the line was crazy long.

I remembered seeing Aloha Isle as a mobile order location earlier that day, so I opened up the app and was able to quickly place my order. My Dole Whip was ready a few minutes later and I effectively skipped the line by using Mobile Order! I think I am hooked.

My Dole Whip was ready a few minutes later and I effectively skipped the line by using Mobile Order! I think I am hooked.

In summary, I strongly suggest giving Disney World Mobile Order a try if you plan to eat at a popular quick service dining location (such as Satu’li Canteen, Flame Tree Barbecue, Columbia Harbor House, or Pecos Bill) at a peak time.

I can’t see it saving you any time if there isn’t a line due to eating at an off-peak time or at a less-popular restaurant.

Any questions about Disney World Mobile Ordering? Leave a comment below or join the discussion in my free private Facebook group – The Budget Mouse!

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A complete guide to grocery delivery at Disney World with Instacart, Kroger, Walmart, and more.

One thing I do to save money on every trip to Walt Disney World is get groceries delivered to my hotel.

I get breakfast food, snacks, drinks, sunscreen and more delivered right to my Disney World hotel for WAY less than I’d pay for similar items at the resort!

Here’s my complete guide to Disney World grocery delivery to help you save money on your trip.

How Disney World Grocery Delivery WorksI get groceries delivered every time I stay at a Disney World Resort

The basics of grocery delivery in Disney World are that you place your order before you leave through a site or app and schedule it to arrive after you do at your Disney World resort hotel.

It may be possible to have your grocery delivery left at the “Bell Services” desk at your hotel. Note that this is different from the check-in desk – just ask a cast member if you don’t know where it is located at your resort.

You can then retrieve it later or have it brought up to your room (both of which involve tipping the person handling your bags of groceries).

Alternatively, you can meet the delivery person at the entrance to your resort and they can hand off the groceries directly to you. Read on to learn all of the rules for grocery delivery at Disney hotels!

Disney World Grocery Delivery RulesThere are definitely some rules you will want to know before using a grocery delivery service at Disney World.

First, if there is alcohol in your order you will likely have to meet the delivery person with your ID in hand so they can verify your age. I recommend doing this outside the resort’s entrance to make it as easy as possible on the driver.

Next, you can only have your groceries delivered when you aren’t present IF you are staying at a Disney-owned resort (it will have the word “Disney’s in front of the name). Disney resorts will allow delivery people to leave your order at the Bell Desk as long as it doesn’t include alcohol. They will keep cold items in the refridgerator or freezer if necessary.

If you aren’t staying at a Disney-owned resort then you will have to be present to take your order from the driver at the time of delivery.

If you want to call the Bell Desk and have your grocery order delivered to your room, Disney policy says they will charge a $6 delivery fee to your hotel folio. I have never seen this charge at checkout but know that it is a possibility.

Last, if you want the Bell Desk to hold your order for later or deliver to your room, a tip is suggested. I tip $5 unless it’s a large or heavy order in which case I will tip at least $10.

What Services Deliver Groceries to Disney World Hotels?There are many local and national options for grocery delivery in the Orlando area. I will cover the most popular services only but know that there are many more.

Many guests utilize the same grocery delivery service at home. The most popular national options are Instacart, Walmart, and Kroger. Read on for more details on using these services.

There are also local delivery services including Garden Grocer and Vacation Grocery Delivery (which employs current and former Disney World cast members). These cost more but offer a more personalized experience.

Using Instacart at Disney WorldInstacart is a website and app that allows you to order groceries (and other supplies) from local grocery stores. I use Instacart for all of my grocery deliveries at home and while traveling and I can’t recommend it enough!

You can shop the aisles of the store right from your phone. After you put your order together, an Instacart shopper goes to the store and purchases your items for you.

Then your shopper will deliver your order to you at whatever location you specify.

You can often get your items delivered in as little as one hour, or you can schedule your order to be delivered up to 6 days in advance. I plan to tip 10% of the total amount of my grocery order but will adjust down or up depending on the quality of service.

If you have never used Instacart before, you can get free delivery on your first three orders when you sign up here.

Since I use Instacart every week to get groceries delivered at home, I have an Instacart+ membership. It pays for itself with free delivery on $35+ orders, reduced service fees, and 1-hour delivery for free.

Or even better, you can get a complimentary Instacart+ membership for six months AND a $15 credit every quarter through July 2024 as a perk of my favorite travel credit card! That is in addition to this valuable offer:

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Click here to check out all of the perks of the card_name.

Instacart delivers to all Disney World hotels as well any other local resort, hotel, condo complex, or apartment.

Putting Together Your Instacart OrderYou can put together an Instacart order from the Instacart website or in the app on your mobile device.

The first thing you will need to know is the zip code in Disney World – it is 32830.

If you are staying at a hotel outside of Disney World, this may be different so have your hotel’s address handy.

You can place an order from Publix (a popular grocery store in Florida), Whole Foods, CVS, or BJ’s Wholesale.

You can order from either ABC or Publix Liquors (wine and beer can be delivered from the grocery stores.)

Keep in mind that many stores have a $35 order minimum, so try to order everything in one go.

You’ll need to update the delivery address with your hotel’s address. I like to include the hotel’s name in the second address line to help the delivery person find it.

If you already know your room number I strongly suggest putting that on the order somewhere as well! I put it as “Guest Leah Althiser – Room 5220” for example.

Instacart Disney World ItemsI have placed many orders from Publix through Instacart while at Disney World. It has a great selection and excellent sandwiches you can order from the deli. We ate some for a cheap poolside dinner on our last trip.

Some items we commonly order from Publix through Instacart are:

Fresh fruit
Breakfast food to eat in our room (oatmeal, hard-boiled eggs, protein bars, etc.)
Snacks to take into the parks
Juice boxes
Cream for our coffee
Beer and wine
Sunscreen

I’ve even ordered other random items such as medicine when my daughter caught a cold, bubble solution for her bubble wand, and swim floats to use at the pool.

In my experience, groceries are VERY reasonably priced when using Instacart to order from Publix.

Instacart Disney World Delivery ProcessWhen you are putting together your Instacart order, you will select a window of time during which your groceries will be delivered.

After you select your delivery window, you can change it up until your shopper starts putting your order together. We have been delayed before and I have changed the delivery time without any issue.

You will receive notifications throughout the process of your Instacart order. You will be notified when your shopper begins shopping and if any of the items you have ordered are out of stock.

Your shopper will sometimes find a replacement and you can choose to accept it or have them not replace the item – but this happens in real time so you have to be ready to act quickly.

If you are meeting your Instacart shopper to pick up your order, you will get a text from them asking where they can meet you.

I always opt to meet at a specific location right outside of the lobby or main entrance to the hotel.

Using Walmart+ At Disney WorldIf you happen to already be a Walmart+ member, you can use your free grocery delivery benefit at Disney World.

The minimum order is $35 for free delivery with Walmart+ and the process is very similar to using Instacart which is explained above.

You can set up your order ahead of time in the Walmart app or on the site. And if you aren’t already a member you can sign up for a free trial to get groceries delivered while you are on vacation.

Kroger Grocery DeliveryWhile there aren’t any physical Kroger stores in Orlando, you can actually still get Kroger to deliver groceries to your Disney World hotel!

Kroger will deliver groceries from a warehouse in Orlando. If you have a Boost membership you can get free delivery on $35+ orders.

Something that many people like abour Kroger grocery delivery is that there is no tip required or allowed. This can offer savings compared to other grocery delivery platforms.

Click here for more information on getting groceries delivered by Kroger while at Disney World.

As I already mentioned, there are local grocery delivery companies as well, the main two being Garden Grocer and Vacation Grocery Delivery. I have honestly never used these services since I am well versed in the national services that offer great value.

I hope this post helped you understand your options for Disney World grocery delivery. Any questions? Please leave a comment below!

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Here’s everything you need to know to plan an incredible Disney World Christmas trip!

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, especially at Walt Disney World!

In this post, I’ll show you how to take an affordable Disney World Christmas trip that captures all of the holiday magic.

I’ll answer your questions about Christmas in Disney World, such as:

When does Disney decorate for Christmas?
Is Disney World open on Christmas day?
Is Disney World crowded at Christmas?

Then I’ll share my tips and tricks for celebrating Christmas in Disney World on a budget.

When Does Disney Decorate for Christmas?The first question people usually ask about visiting Walt Disney World around the holidays is “When do Christmas decorations go up at Disney World??”

Here’s a quick summary:

• Magic Kingdom Christmas decorations are up by the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The first Christmas party is on November 9th in 2023!

• Hollywood Studios will be fully decorated for the first Disney Jollywood Nights party on November 11th.

• All Epcot decorations are usually up the day after Thanksgiving, which is November 24th in 2023. Animal Kingdom is the last to be decorated, usually after Thanksgiving.

• The resort hotel decorations don’t start going up until after Thanksgiving. I have stayed at the Beach Club Resort on November 30th and the gingerbread carousel had just been put up!

• The Disney World Christmas decorations will stay up until the first week of January – I was there on January 7th this year and they were mostly still up.

Is Disney World Open on Christmas Day?Yes! The Disney World theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios) are open every day of the year including Christmas Day.

Is Disney World crowded at Christmas?Yes and no. The week between Christmas and New Year’s is the busiest week of the year at Disney World. Magic Kingdom often closes to capacity on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

But the weeks leading up to Christmas see some more moderate crowds. Weekends will definitely be more crowded as locals visit for the Christmas decorations.

You can use this free crowd calendar from Undercover Tourist to pick the least crowded park to visit each day which will help a great deal with avoiding the crowds.

And click here to check out my picks for the best time to go to Disney World based on crowds, cost, and weather!

What special events go on during the holidays at Disney World?There are actually a lot of special events that take place during the season of Christmas at Disney World.

Here is a quick overview:

• Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom begins on select nights starting in November. Get discount tickets from Undercover Tourist here!

• Holiday projections on Cinderella Castle happen every night at dusk. You can usually catch these even if the park is closing early for a Christmas party!

This festive season, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host a brand new nighttime party, Disney Jollywood Nights, on select evenings Nov. 11-Dec. 20, 2023, inviting guests to experience a glamorous evening full of merry mashups, delicious tastes and sips, iconic throwback characters, and a holiday vibe full of glitz and sparkle. (DISNEY)

• There is a new hard-ticked party at Hollywood Studios this year – Disney Jollywood Nights! Parties are select nights from November 11th through December 20th. Get discount tickets from Undercover Tourist here.

• Epcot International Festival of the Holidays runs from after Thanksgiving through the end of December (this includes the Candlelight Processional shows which are back!)

• The Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs will be modified this year with trees spread around Disney Springs. They should be up by mid-November.

• Special holiday decorations at every Disney World resort hotel

Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party worth it?Seven Dwarves Meet and Greet at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

Whether or not Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is worth it or not depends on several factors.

First, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is a special “hard ticketed” event at the park that takes place on select nights in November and December.

That means that you can NOT get into the party with just a regular admission to Magic Kingdom. You must have a separate ticket for the party.

Most attractions are open, plus you’ll get party bonuses such as a special parade, complimentary treats, stage shows, dance parties, and more.

With party tickets, you’ll be able to enter the park at 4 pm and stay until midnight. You’ll get up to eight hours to enjoy the park with reduced crowds (though it is ridiculously crowded on Main Street during the parade).

It depends on the age of your children, but if you feel like you could hang in there late enough, you could save money and have an amazing experience at MVMCP.

Read on for my Christmas at Disney World tips!

Tour The Monorail Resorts and Disney Springs For FreeOne activity that is a must-do is to check out the Disney World Christmas decorations at the monorail resorts (Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian).

Don’t miss the gigantic Christmas tree and life-sized gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian!

While you are at the Grand Floridian you can purchase a gingerbread treat from the shop inside the house. This is a popular activity so be prepared to wait in line. We got a large gingerbread man cookie for $6 this year.

For some holiday fun check out my Disney World Christmas decorations quiz here.

I used to recommend parking at one of the monorail resorts to ride the monorail around, but we were turned away from the Contemporary this year during the second week of December due to “peak season” parking restrictions.

I would suggest one of these tactics for touring the monorail resorts:

Make a reservation at Steakhouse 71 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort or the Grand Floridian Cafe for brunch or an afternoon snack. You don’t have to eat a full meal (just get an appetizer and drinks, for example) and you WILL be allowed to park at the resort for three hours since you have a reservation.
Park for free at Disney Springs and take a bus to one of the monorail resorts and back to Disney Springs afterward.
If you are really crunched for time, pay $25 for Magic Kingdom parking and pick up the resort monorail at the TTC. If you are staying at a Disney resort you can park there for free.

There are also lots of fun (and free!) holiday happenings at Disney Springs. My favorite is the Christmas Tree Trail found at the far end of Disney Springs close to Rainforest Cafe.

The trail is free and you’ll get to experience “snow” throughout as you view trees decorated for Disney movies and Disney World attractions.

We loved the villain tree and the Haunted Mansion tree best of all.

You can meet Santa at Disney Springs for free as well. Check-in at the podium (located towards the end of the Christmas Tree Trail) and you’ll be assigned a time to return.

You can shop and eat while you wait then return for your visit.

If you have a Memory Maker package pictures with Santa are included since it is a Photo Pass photographer.

If you have Memory Maker or a Annual Pass, you can also get free holiday pics at the Photo Pass Studio at Disney Springs.

It is located in the Marketplace area behind Ghiradelli Chocolates.

And last, you can complete Stitch’s Holiday Gift Hunt activity to earn a free pin while you are at Disney Springs.

You can pick up a booklet at these locations:

Once Upon a Toy
Super Hero Headquarters
Welcome Center
World of Disney Information Desk

Then you’ll have to visit the 12 locations in the booklet to find a hidden Stitch. Match the stickers to the location then turn the completed booklet in at one of the above locations for your prize (a pin).

As you can see, there is so much free fun to be had outside of the parks at Disney World. Twice in recent years, we have made a holiday trip to Disney World and not set foot in the parks. You’ll save hundreds of dollars and still have a great visit!

Choose the Best Dates & Accommodations For Your Disney World Christmas TripDisney’s Wilderness Lodge

On a Disney World Christmas trip, you are going to spend most of your time on the go since there is so much to see and do. For these reasons, I suggest choosing a budget-friendly hotel option instead of splurging on an expensive resort.

Value ResortsMy top recommendation is a Disney World Value Resort. You’ll get all of the perks of staying at a Disney World resort (like free ground transportation, Extra Magic Hours, etc.) at a very affordable price.

Check out my post on what to expect at Disney’s Value Resorts for more details.

My suggested dates to stay at the Value resorts are weeknights November 28th through December 16th.

Rent DVC PointsAnother suggestion is to rent points for a stay in a Disney Vacation Club villa.

December 1st through 14th is “Adventure Season” for DVC, which means it is the cheapest time of year to stay with rented DVC points!

That means could stay at a Deluxe Resort for as low as $150/night during the first two weeks in December.

Off-PropertyIf you can’t travel on these dates or Disney resorts are all booked up, then I suggest staying at my recommended off-property value accommodations – Hawthorn Suites Lake Buena Vista.

We stayed there for our 2017 holiday trip and only paid $75/night (plus tax) for a spacious two-room suite! You can check out my full review here.

Eat Mostly Quick Service (With One Important Exception)Buche de Noel in Epcot

I’ve come to love eating at Quick Service locations on my many trips to Disney World. A family of four can easily eat dinner for under $30 at many Quick Service locations in Disney World.

Here are my posts on the best Quick Service dining in each of the theme parks:

Best Epcot Quick Service Dining
Best Magic Kingdom Quick Service Dining
Best Animal Kingdom Quick Service Dining

For a budget-friendly trip for Christmas at Disney World, I suggest sticking with Quick Service dining for the most part – with one important exception!

Candlelight Processional, Epcot

If you are able to fit in a visit to Epcot, you can’t miss the evening Candlelight Processional show.

A celebrity narrator tells the Christmas story (I saw Kurt Russell’s performance!) and a huge choir and live orchestra perform Christmas classic songs. My description does nothing to capture the magnificence of this show – it really has to be seen to be believed!

Because of its popularity, each show is ultra crowded and you may have a hard time getting seats – unless you get a special Candlelight Processional Dining Package.

The dining package includes a meal at one of Epcot’s table service restaurants and guaranteed seating for the show. Because of the incredible quality of the show, I suggest that your one table service meal be a Candlelight Processional Dining Package.

Visit Magic Kingdom and Epcot (Only)There are four theme parks at Disney World, and the folks at Disney want you to think you need to visit all four on every trip.

But since park tickets are the single biggest expense of a trip, if you can limit your park days you’ll save substantial amounts of money!

While all of the parks are wonderfully decorated for the holidays, two are WAY over the top and shouldn’t be missed.

If you are trying to visit on a budget, I’d suggest limiting your park visits to just Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

They both have tons of special happenings during the holidays (most of which are included in admission) and fantastic decorations.

Illuminations holiday ending, Epcot

Check out my overview of Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays here. The holiday food, Candlelight Processional, and special ending to the fireworks are fantastic.

So to save hundreds, I suggest skipping Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom on your Disney World Christmas trip.

Bonus Tip: Get a Bargain Disney Christmas PictureAnd last, here’s a trick for getting a professional family picture for your Christmas cards at a bargain price!

Disney PhotoPass photographers can be found all over the theme parks. I suggest getting a few family shots – in front of Cinderella’s Castle, at Spaceship Earth, or in front of a huge Christmas tree, for example.

You can ask the photographer to take a picture with your own device.

You’ll get a professional photo perfect for a holiday card at no additional cost!

Christmas at Disney World Tips SummaryI hope this post gave you lots of tips for a Disney World Christmas trip!

There’s no reason a quick trip to Disney to soak up the holiday mood has to cost a fortune.

Here are a few more posts with ideas for saving money on your trip:

How To Fly Your Family To Disney World For (Almost) Free
How To Get Groceries Delivered to Your Disney Resort For Free
Disney Dining Plan Tips & Tricks

Any questions about planning a Disney World Christmas visit? Please leave a comment below or join the discussion in The Budget Mouse free private Facebook group!

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Welcome to episode 94 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This is a Disney World trip report of my May 2024 visit which including TONS of money-saving strategies and visits to Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon, and the Disney All-Star Resorts.

Here are the resources I mention in the show:

FREE Intro to Reward Travel course
How To Travel To Disney World And Beyond With My Favorite Travel Card
Book Disney Hotels on Undercover Tourist
Get a free vacation quote from my travel agent partner
How I Fly to Disney World for Free
Visitor Toll Pass

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The best Disney Value resorts based on rooms, location, transportation, price, and amenities!

I have stayed at all five of the Disney Value Resorts in Walt Disney World many times and while I love the overall experience at these hotels, there are definitely some highlights and lowlights.

In this post, I’ll share my ranking of the Disney Value resorts, followed by lots of pictures, descriptions, and details for support.

Best Disney Value Resort RankingThere are five resorts in the “Value” category at Walt Disney World. Here they are listed from best to worst (in my humble opinion):

Disney’s Pop Century Resort
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

I’ll explain my ranking next – let’s start with the bottom and work up from there.

And when it’s time to book, I suggest booking on Priceline to save up to 40% off Disney’s rack rate, or booking with a travel agent for tons of free help planning your trip!

The All-Star ResortsDisney’s All Star Music Resort

The two oldest Disney Value resorts are All-Star Sports and All-Star Music, both of which opened in 1994.

It is probably no coincidence that these are the worst of the Value Resorts. However with recent updates, the rooms are very functional and comfortable.

Plus they come with the distinction of being the cheapest rooms on Walt Disney World property!

The rooms at the All-Star Resorts all look pretty much the same, though some details are different.

They are all 260 square feet and have two queen beds or one king bed (only in accessible rooms).

One of the beds is a Murphy bed with a regular queen mattress that folds up into a table during the day.

Each room has a small table with two chairs, a mini-fridge, coffee maker, and some storage around the TV.

I love that you can slide luggage under the main bed to clear up some space in the otherwise small room. There are also TONS of charging options which I really appreciate when traveling.

There is also a heavy sliding door that separates the bathroom area from the rest of the room.

This is SO helpful when everyone is trying to change and get ready in the morning. Plus I move the coffee maker into the bathroom area to make coffee in the morning without waking up the kids.

I’ve had roughly the same experience in each of the All-Stars, which is that the updated rooms are thoughtfully designed for families, with lots of storage, charging areas, and maximized space.

While the rooms, dining, and layout of the All-Star Resorts are similar, it’s the theming and details that set them apart.

Let’s take a look at what is different among the All Star Resorts and what sets one apart from the others.

All Star Sports ResortAll-Star Sports is definitely the least “Disney” of the resorts because the icons are all sports-inspired.

You’ll find a few Disney characters scattered about, but it just doesn’t have the appeal of any of the other Value Resorts (unless you or your kid is a total sports nut, in which case you might prefer it over the other All-Star Resorts).

It does boast a newly remodeled food court (as does All Star Music).

You can get a sense of what’s on the menu in the food court here – but keep in mind this menu isn’t complete and you’ll find more options than those listed.

The main “Feature” pool is surfing inspired and it very large. Even so, it can get crowded and loud.

It’s second pool is baseball-themed with Goofy winding up for a pitch in the center.

Be aware that All-Star Sports does tend to get noisy and chaotic with cheer and sports teams often staying here.

All Star Music ResortI like the theming at All-Star Music much better than Sports. It is whimsical and has more of a Disney presence.

I like the statues of Donald and friends at the feature pool and Ariel and friends at the leisure pool.

The courtyard that you walk through in the jazz section of All-Star Music is really lovely. It reminds of Port Orleans French Quarter and has more of an “adult” feel to it than other sections of the All-Star resorts.

All-Star Music has two-room family suites that can be a more affordable alternative to the suites at Art of Animation (more on those later). You can get details on the family suites at All-Star Music here.

Overall I like All-Star Music better than Sports because you’ll find better theming and fewer cheer/sports groups staying there.

It has a much more relaxed feel than Sports in my experience.

Best Disney Value Resort: All Star Movies ResortMy favorite All-Star Resort is definitely All-Star Movies, which opened five years after the original two All-Stars.

The Toy Story section of the resort is fantastic, and we will walk over there to visit it even when we are staying at another All-Star Resort (you can easily walk among them).

The main feature pool is inspired by Fantasia and it is wonderful classic Disney.

The kiddie pool is the best of the All Star Resorts. It has a splash pad area and a shallow baby pool that the little ones will love.

There are photo ops with Toy Story characters as well as the pups from 101 Dalmatians.

Overall the resort has great theming, though you have to wonder why Imagineers dedicated sections of the resort to the movies Herbie the Love Bug and The Mighty Ducks.

Because of the better theming, kiddie pool, and Toy Story area, I suggest All-Star Movies over the other All-Stars for families with little ones.

Click here to check out a detailed tour of a refurbished room at All Star Movies Resort.

In my experience, the food, cast members, and transportation have been similar at the three All-Stars.

You may read that these resorts share bus service to the parks (every bus stops at all three resorts), but I’ve found that is getting increasingly rare.

At peak times you will always go straight from your resort to the parks without any stops. Each resort has its own bus stop at the Magic Kingdom, so you will go straight back to your resort from there as well.

The only time you may experience multiple stops is if you are going to the parks at a non-peak time (such as a 3 p.m.), or coming back from Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

Before I move on, I have to point out two advantages of the All-Stars compared to the other Disney Value Resorts: price and availability.

The All-Stars are some of the last of the Disney Resorts to fill up, so you may be able to find rooms available there for a last-minute trip.
You will pay less at the All-Star resorts compared to Pop Century, in the range of $30-$60 less per night.

I’ve booked rooms at the All-Stars for as little as $99 per night when I book on Priceline to save up to 40% off Disney’s rack rates.

I’ve also been able to score a room at All-Star Sports for as low as $48/night (!!!!) by using Hotwire – get the details here.

Now on to my picks for the best of the Value resorts.

Best Disney Value ResortsThe two other Disney Value Resorts are Pop Century and Art of Animation. These are my favorites, and which resort I prefer depends on who is in my travel party.

#2: Art of AnimationMy second pick for the best Disney Value resort is Art of Animation.

Disney’s Art of Animation is the newest Value resort and opened in 2012. It is located on the other side of Hourglass Lake, across from Pop Century. It takes less than 10 minutes to walk from the main building at one resort to the main building at the other.

While all of the rooms at Pop Century are standard hotel rooms, most of the rooms at Art of Animation are two-room “Family Suites” that sleep up to six.

There are some standard hotel rooms at Art of Animation in The Little Mermaid area (read my review of these rooms here).

Because they are located the farthest from the main building and are usually excluded from Disney-released discounts, I prefer rooms at Pop Century to these rooms.

The family suites at Art of Animation feature two full bathrooms and a separate bedroom with a queen bed.

They also have a table with four chairs that converts to a full-size bed, and a full-size sleeper sofa in the living room area (see lots of pictures of these rooms in this review).

The one big downside of these rooms is their cost – the starting rate with no discounts is $400. Discounts of up to 20% are common, but the cost still comes out to be much more than two rooms at another Value resort.

These rooms are perfect for a larger family, or a family traveling with a grandparent. I think one adult could comfortably sleep on the Murphy bed, though I wouldn’t recommend putting two adults on the bed or any adults on the sleeper sofa!

The pools at Art of Animation are fantastic, especially the “Big Blue Pool” which has a zero-entry side and large splash play area.

The Cars area with these Cozy Cone cabanas is also really fun. The theming in the Cars area (and around the whole resort, really) is outstanding.

Even the playground area is themed to the movie Finding Nemo. My daughter loves playing there.

The Landscape of Flavors food court offers a great selection and affordable prices. It is by far my favorite Value dining option, and I’ll often walk over to dine at Art of Animation when I am staying at Pop Century.

Art of Animation also has covered waiting areas for the Disney buses, which no other Value resort has. I really appreciate not having to wait in the sun or rain!

Overall, the amenities at Art of Animation are far superior to those at the other Values. I prefer Pop Century if I’m traveling with a small group, thanks to the better value and room locations.

#1: Pop CenturyMy number one pick for the best Disney value resort is Pop Century because of it’s fun theme, functional rooms, price, and Skyliner transportation.

Pop Century opened in 2003 and is a huge resort with 2,880 rooms. It is themed around American pop culture from the 1950’s to 1990’s and is very “Disney” without being in-your-face.

Check out my full review of the resort here.

Rooms at Pop Century are remodeled as of 2018. The two double beds have been replaced by a queen bed and a queen-sized Murphy bed that transforms into a table.

There are coffee makers in the new rooms, as well as a huge TV and a sliding wooden door that separates the bathroom area from the main room.

You can check out my photo tour of the refurbished rooms here!

Needless to say, this renovation puts Pop Century a giant step above the rooms at the All-Stars.

If you are a family traveling with one or two small (7 and under) kids, I would suggest a room at Pop Century over all other Value Resorts and most moderates.

Pop Century has three pools and one fantastic zero-entry kiddie pool with bubbling water features.

I particularly love the flower features at the feature “Hippy Dippy” pool.

The gift shop and food court can both be found in the “Everything Pop” shopping and dining area.

In my experience, the food court is a cut above the All-Star resorts. You’ll have more options and the quality is just a bit better.

There are four different room categories you can book at Pop Century: Standard, Pool View, Preferred, and Preferred Pool View.

Pop Century is huge and spread out, so if you want to avoid long walks I suggest spending a little more and booking a Preferred room (these are closest to the main building).

Best Disney Value Resort SummaryWhen I’m trying to visit on a tight budget, the Disney Value resorts almost always come out ahead compared to staying off-property. Plus, I think you’ll have a far better vacation experience – i.e. more relaxation and time with your family and less stress!

If you are looking for somewhere to stay while visiting Disneyland, check out these Good Neighbor Hotels in Disneyland from our friends at Family Travel Folio.

If you want help choosing the right resort or with any aspect of planning your Disney World vacation, I strongly suggest getting a free quote from the expert agents at Destinations in Florida.

If you have any questions about the best Disney Value resort, please leave a comment below or join the discussion in my free private Facebook group!

And check out these related posts:

The Best Disney Moderate Resort (And The Worst)
The Best Time To Go To Disney World + Free Printable Calendar
How To Make Disney World Room Requests

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Here’s episode 89 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is all about my quick September trip to Walt Disney World.

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Here’s episode 88 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is a trip report from my April 2023 trip to Walt Disney World. I checked out TRON Lightcycle / Run, Typhoon Lagoon, a Contemporary Main Tower room, Fantasmic Dining Package, and more! Click here for info on the Chase Sapphire Preferred offer I mention in this …

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Here’s episode 87 of The Budget Mouse podcast! This episode is about all things Beauty and the Beast in the Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts. I’m joined by guest host Dave Rich of the Add More Mouse podcast!

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If you are a Disney fan then you’ve likely heard of the Chase Disney Credit Card. Here’s the lowdown on the Disney Rewards Visa Card from Chase (this is my referral link) and an honest evaluation of the pros and cons. This card is not for everyone, so in this post, I’ll break down who would …

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Here’s episode 86 of The Budget Mouse podcast! I’m excited to introduce the NEW host of the podcast, Dave Rich! In this show, we talk about how to use Walt Disney World transportation and share some general advice plus our tips and tricks.

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Here is a roundup of Black Friday Disney World travel deals for 2022! I’ve included special offers from my go-to sources for park tickets, hotel discounts, planning, and merch. Undercover Tourist Ticket & Hotel Deals My recommended Disney World ticket provider Undercover Tourist is offering a ticket sale for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. …

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Epcot celebrates the holidays as only it can with the International Festival of the Holidays! While this is technically Epcot’s newest festival, many of its elements have been around for years as part of the Epcot Holidays Around the World celebration. This festival will run from November 25th through December 30th, 2022. Read on to …

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Everything you need to know about using the Virtual Queue at Disney World! For the past few years, Disney World has been using a free Virtual Queue system for its newest attraction. It was first implemented for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and has now been used for several other attractions. The Virtual Queue …

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Your guide to the best Epcot food that doesn’t require a dining reservation! Epcot has some of the best food of any of the Disney parks. That said, there are still some restaurants to avoid and some that are outstanding! I love quick service (aka counter service) at Disney because it’s much cheaper than table …

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Here’s episode 85 of The Budget Mouse podcast which is about how to ride the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction in Epcot.

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Everything you need to know about the Disney World Halloween 2022 party at Magic Kingdom. Disney World has announced the return of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party after a few years off! Read on to get all of the details plus tips for making the most of the party. Disney World Halloween 2022 Party Hours Before …

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Here’s episode 84 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is about the Disney Swan and the Disney Dolphin resorts. Here are some resources: Disney Dolphin Resort Review Disney Genie Plus Tips Extended Evening Theme Park Hours

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Below are the current Disney World discounts available to the general public. I’ll keep this post updated when new offers are announced! You can book any Disney World package with a $200 deposit and pay the rest 30 days before check-in. Or book a room-only reservation with one night’s deposit. The balance is due when …

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Here’s everything you need to know about Disney Genie Plus and the Lightning Lanes plus a free cheat sheet to help you plan your trip! Waiting in line is probably everyone’s least favorite part of a Disney World vacation. You can avoid a lot of waiting with Disney Genie Plus and the Individual Lightning Lanes, …

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Thanks to date-based ticket pricing it’s now super easy to find the cheapest time to go to Disney World! Read on to learn how to navigate the ticket calendar on the Disney World website to find the cheapest times to visit Disney World in 2022. Conversely, you can see the most expensive times at Disney …

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FastPass at Disney World has been retired and has been replaced by Disney Genie+ and the Lightning Lanes. You can avoid a lot of waiting at Hollywood Studios with Genie Plus and the Individual Lightning Lanes, but only if you know how to use them! Read on to learn everything you need to know… Does …

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Disclosure: I was compensated for this post but all opinions are my own. I am so excited to share the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the Disney lovers in your life! Lovepop makes magical cards that combine the ancient art form of kirigami with engineering. They have lots of officially licensed Disney designs and even …

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Here’s episode 83 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is a quick update on Disney Genie+. And here’s my updated post: Disney Genie Plus Tips & Ultimate Guide

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Today only (1/27/22) get free shipping on ANY order at shopDisney.com with the promo code FREESHIP at checkout. No minimum purchase required! There is adorable merchandise in the shop right now. Plus if you pay with a Disney Visa Card at checkout and use the code DRVCMEMBER you will get 10% off most items! This …

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Here’s episode 82 of The Budget Mouse, which is a report from day three of our January trip to Walt Disney World.

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Here’s episode 81 of The Budget Mouse podcast, which is the second nightly trip report from my January 2022 trip to Walt Disney World.

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Here’s episode 80 of The Budget Mouse podcast, the first nightly trip report from my January 2022 trip to Walt Disney World. Hyatt Card

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The number one way I stretch our Disney World travel budget is by leveraging points and miles I earn through credit card use. Right now one of my favorite cards for earning free travel is offering its highest ever bonus so it’s a great time to dive in. Here’s everything you need to know about …

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Leah Althiser