Food tips
Eat your meal late. And I mean late.
Quick service restaurants are typically lighter anywhere within 50 minutes of closing time. That’s why if you want to eat somewhere without hitting all the crowds, you should go right before closing.
Eat your meal early.
At least when it comes to quick service restaurants, most are pretty empty when they first open up, which means shorter lines and quicker food.
Be flexible with your dining times.
Usually the best times to eat are always the ones to be booked up first. But if you’re totally fine with eating dinner at 8:30 pm or breakfast at 11:00 am, you’ll be surprised at how many places you can eat. At Disney, flexibility is key. I like going to Beaches and Cream for a really late night snack. 10pm or later and it’s sometimes pretty darn empty.
When booking a dining reservation, call instead of going online.
There’s no better way to get a hard to get dinner reservation than talking to a real human being. Sure technology is great, but sometimes calling 407-939-3462 and talking to a Disney representative can give you better luck. Plus, the representative is usually more willing to find you a reservation spot and do whatever it takes. But of course, I still recommend to always check for dining reservations during every free second you have.
Come during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival
If fresh foods, vegan eats, and veggies are your thing, then the flower & garden festival is just for you. Usually runs from early March to mid May.
If your kid doesn’t like the kid’s menu selections, ask for a kid sized portion of an adult entree.
Sometimes the options on the kid’s menu aren’t that great, so if your child prefers something on the adult menu but doesn’t need such a large portion, ask you server if you can get a kid’s sized portion of the meal.
Buy a Disney gift card.
By paying for your meals and snacks with a Disney gift card, you’ll be able to budget your money better. Plus, it’s a great way not worry about taking out your wallet every time to pay since some of these gift cards can go around your wrist. This is perfect for Epcot during the Food and Wine Festival.
Don’t miss out on free chocolate from Ghirardelli. (gone due to pandemic)
By visiting the store portion of Ghirardelli at Disney Springs, you’ll get a free sample of one of their square chocolates, usually filled with caramel.
Be bold. Try something new.
It’s time to experience the world with your tastebuds. Disney World is a place where you can be adventurous, and that applies to food too. I recommend you try new foods that you never would ever think about trying. The World Showcase at Epcot is the perfect testing ground. Who knows, you might surprise yourself.
Go to an entertaining restaurant without characters.
You don’t need to go to a restaurant with characters in order to have a great time because there are plenty of other options that are just as fun. For example, you can sit in a retro car and watch classic sci-fi flicks at Sci-Fi Dine-In, or you listen to and participate in traditional German folk songs at Biergarten, just to name a few. The options are endless.