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Mom And Daughter; Magic Kingdom; Cinderella's Castle; AA; Mickey Balloon
  • On Sep 4, 2011
    Debbie from ON Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Hi. We are coming to WDW in Feb '12 (first visit). We are a family of 5 (twin boys age 10 and a girl age 5). My husband is attending a conference, so we aren't eligible for a meal plan. Any recommendations on dining on a budget? No idea how to start...

    Hello Debbie,

    Hooray for first visit to the happiest place on Earth! You must be so excited. I'm smiling just thinking of your trip!

    Having a wonderful dining experience on any budget is possible at Disney. Here are a few things my family likes to do when we are not a the Disney Dining Plan:
    • Consider breakfast on-the-go. Grab a cinnamon roll and coffee at the Main Street Bakery or cereal and milk at your Resort Restaurant. A quick breakfast means you can get into the Theme Parks quicker. And this tends to be less expensive as well.
    • If you would like to dine with your family at a sit down meal, consider making it lunch and not dinner. Many Restaurants will have similar menu choices for both lunch and dinner. And Guests will often times pay less for lunch. Also, consider making your reservations late morning. That way it can act more as a brunch, taking care of two meals in one.
    • Try to limit your family's snacking. A Mickey ice cream bar here and a Dole Whip there...they can add up. I'm all about these fun treats but in moderation. Know that you can bring in soft sided bags into the Theme Parks so feel free to bring snacks of your own. I like to bring granola bars, fresh fruit, and a water bottle with me into the Parks.
    Also, sit down with your children and go over the Restaurant list. See what interests them. This will help you gauge how much you may want to set aside for dining.

    Hope this helps!
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Meet the Panelist: Monina, Ohio

My family loves our Main Street in Ohio. But there's simply no comparison to Main Street U.S.A.! We don't get to Disney quite as often as I'd like, but that just means finding new ways to sprinkle Pixie Dust on our adventures! Learn More About Monina

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