| Vacationing at Walt Disney World takes lots of | | | | dine with the Disney princesses or other |
| energy! To paraphrase the famous saying, a | | | | characters, you may prefer a character meal, |
| vacationing family moves on its stomach. To | | | | which costs about $15-25 per person. |
| nourish and refresh guests, Disney World has 300 | | | | - If you are comfortable following a few rules, |
| dining locations, plus portable food carts, offering a | | | | consider the Disney Dining Package. Keep reading |
| grand total of 6,000 menu choices. | | | | for more details. |
| Even so, the question of what's for breakfast and | | | | Option 3: We want hassle-free dining and are not |
| lunch and dinner and snacks can be daunting. Is it | | | | too worried about cost. |
| in our budget? Is the line too long? Can we be | | | | If you want worry-free dining, most Disney World |
| seated? Will everyone like it? Can we eat with the | | | | dining options are open to you. Some table-service |
| princesses or other Disney characters? | | | | restaurants are very crowded, so be sure to |
| Here is a four-step guide to finding the food and | | | | make advance dining reservations beginning 180 |
| dining source that is right for your family. Find the | | | | days before arrival. |
| sentence that best describes your group, then | | | | Suggestions: |
| read suggestions to plan your food and dining. | | | | - Add the Disney Dining Plan to your vacation |
| Option 1: We want to save as much as possible, | | | | package. In fact, this program was designed just |
| including quick meals in our room. | | | | for guests like you who want the greatest |
| If your family is on a tight budget, you will need | | | | convenience. It includes one table-service meal, |
| to plan your meals carefully. Plan to brown-bag a | | | | one counter-service meal and one snack for each |
| few meals, such as eating cereal in your room | | | | day of your vacation. You have to go by the |
| and carrying your own snacks. You can still enjoy | | | | rules to use your dining credits, but you will find |
| a wide variety of fun and interesting foods. | | | | many options and an overabundance of food |
| Suggestions: | | | | offered. The cost per day is $35 per person age |
| - Buy packaged food at the resort shop and food | | | | 10 and older and $10 for each child age 3-9. |
| court. A package of muffins costs about $3, | | | | - If you haven't made advance dining reservations |
| compared to $1.50 for one muffin in the theme | | | | before arrival, contact Guest Services at each |
| park. | | | | park or your resort for assistance. |
| - Eat at counter-service restaurants at your | | | | Option 4: Fine dining is most important. |
| resort and in the parks. Most adult meals are | | | | If you prefer unique and special dining, you will find |
| around $5-7, with children's meals around $4-5. | | | | a wide variety at Walt Disney World. Make your |
| You will find traditional fast food like burgers and | | | | advance dining reservations up to 180 days in |
| pizza, as well as an appealing variety of ethnic | | | | advance to be sure that you can be seated at |
| foods. | | | | your choice of restaurants. |
| - Bring food from home or stop at an Orlando | | | | Suggestions: |
| grocery. You will find many stores within 20 | | | | - Choose restaurants from the restaurants that |
| minutes of Disney World. | | | | Disney classifies at Signature Dining and Special |
| Bonus: Look for special packages that offer the | | | | and Unique Dining. |
| Disney Dining Plan for free. Disney offered the | | | | - If you want all meals included in your vacation |
| free dining plan special in fall 2005, and it's available | | | | package, consider getting the Magic Your Way |
| again for visits between August 20 and | | | | Premium Package. This package includes |
| September 30, 2006. Keep reading for more | | | | breakfast, lunch and dinner at the 100 participating |
| about the Dining Plan. | | | | restaurants plus other recreation and |
| Option 2: We are willing to splurge on a few | | | | entertainment benefits. |
| meals, but want to save money when possible. | | | | Whatever your budget and dining preferences, |
| If your family is cost-conscious but would like a | | | | take time to learn about the restaurants and |
| few splurges, plan to eat at counter-service | | | | other dining options at the Disney theme parks |
| restaurants and use the tips under "Eating on a | | | | and resort hotels. Get a travel guidebook or two, |
| Budget." Select one or two table-service | | | | and check Internet resources for more |
| restaurants or perhaps a character dining | | | | information. Make notes on restaurants that seem |
| experience for a special treat. | | | | interesting. Call for reservations for table-service |
| Suggestions: | | | | restaurants in advance; Disney accepts |
| - Eat most meals at counter-service restaurants | | | | reservations beginning 180 days before your |
| at your resort and in the parks. | | | | arrival. Being prepared will make your Disney |
| - Decide together what special restaurant will be | | | | World vacation less stressful and more fun. |
| most appreciated by your group. If you want to | | | | |