When going to Disney… bring… all… the… money… I say this half-jokingly.
If you’d like to skip my logic on how I came up with budgeting averages, no hard feelings! There will be a summary at the bottom of this article if you want to cut to the chase.
Disney is the dopamine capital of the world! Every ride, show, snack, drink, meal, parade, character interaction, gift shop visit, lobby entrance, scent (I can literally go on and on) is designed to keep you immersed inside the Disney bubble.
I digress for one second to offer my opinion that this is a *good* thing. Disney World is the number one tourist destination in the world for good reason: escapism.
Adulting is hard. Real life is hard.
And Disney offers a place where everywhere you look, there is something right in front of you that was carefully thought out, familiar, deliberate, and curated with your happiness in mind.
With all that being said, we’ve all seen Disney Dads wearing shirts that say things like “Most Expensive Day Ever,” or “Bippity Boppity Broke.” Cute, clever, and accurate for many.
Now, I’m not saying that you *have* to spend a ton at Disney. Spend what you want; you are in total control of that.
That being said, there are going to be some things you’ll want or need to pull your wallet out for. So, let’s break down those categories.
Food and Drinks
Bring Your Own
I once heard a family of 4 talking about splitting a Casey’s Corner hotdog because it’s big.
Not sure about ya’ll, but your homegirl can tear up a Casey’s dog, chili-cheese fries, corn dog nuggets, and a Diet Coke 😂in one sitting… and still think- dang, maybe I should have added that pressed penny silk pie afterall. (Good thing the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is nearby. 😉) But that’s probably my meal for the day.
To say that each family’s dining needs are different is an understatement. So, I’ll speak in averages and give a few examples.
You can also ask for a cup of iced water at any restaurant, which is free. Many quick serve restaurants have cups of water already served and ready for guests to simply grab them with their mobile-ordered meal.
Voilà, your food and drink budget can literally be $0.
My hat’s off to those that stick to this. It can be done, and I’ve seen it first-hand.
Bring Your Own Food & Drinks-Bottom Line: $0 (Can I have your autograph?)
Snacks
Snacks are the area in which my family doesn’t really splurge. My husband is our only snacker; he is commonly found at a nearby snack cart while the rest of us thrill seekers prefer to get on rides.
If you’re all about the Disney snacks, carts, stands, and quick service locations offer things like grab-and-go chips, cookies, fruit, veggies, snack cheese, starting as low as about $3.49.
Cupcakes, candy apples, and the like from The Confectionary will run between $6.20 and $10.99. Popular snacks, like a Mickey pretzel, are going to start at around $7.19 (vs. the shareable jumbo pretzel at Sommerfest, which is $10.29).
Disney’s Refillable Popcorn Bucket people are pretty hardcore, and for good reason.
For reference, a plain, non-refillable carton of Pop Secret popcorn is $5.50. The initial current price of a standard refillable bucket is $13, and refills are $2.25 after that. Hook that sucker to your stroller, and you’ve got a very cost-effective snack for the duration of your visit.
Collectible refillable buckets will run between $18-$25.
For all intents and purposes, Joffrey’s or Starbucks coffee fall in the snack category, and will typically cost around what you spend for your cuppa joe back home- let’s say $5.99 for a grande espresso something drink; closer to $8 if you need a venti something like me.
Want to add spirits to your Joffrey’s? I’m not judging. But that boozy pick-me-up will run $12.99 for the single (yes, they offer doubles too).
Keep in mind that Disney resort rooms come equipped with coffee makers and coffee. So, coffee could very realistically be $0.
Disney Snacks Bottom Line: $3.49-$10.99 per person, per day (average)
Quick Service
If you hop on to the Disney site, every Disney Quick Service restaurant has the same pricing verbiage: $ ($14.99 and under per adult).
So, while this pricing is technically accurate, it’s a little deceiving. The *entrees* alone will run an *average* of $14.99 each. But if you’re at the Regal Eagle for example, and you’d like to add a side of fries ($4.99) to your brisket sandwich ($13.49), for example, it’s going to take you to $18.48 before taxes. Oh, you’d like a fountain beverage? Add $3.49, with a new total of $21.97.
My rule of thumb is to budget one $25 quick service meal, per person per day.
Remember my Casey’s hotdog example? I’ve spent many park days just eating one quick service meal and been quite content drinking water from my insulated reusable water bottle the rest of the day.
Quick Service Bottom Line: $25 per person, per day (average)
Table Service
Disney’s Table Service dining is what most people think of as a restaurant where you are seated, explore a menu, order a meal with and are served by a server. At Disney, it is an experience in and of itself with its immersive theming and culinary storytelling.
Experienced Disney guests will say that it’s a good idea to reserve one Table Service meal per day. It’s a chance to get off your feet, out of the Orlando elements, and a nice break to simply connect with your travel party.
Now, some people skip Table Service all together – and that’s okay. Remember, I said I can down a meal at Casey’s Corner (Quick Service) and be good the rest of the day? That’s usually when I travel to Disney alone or with friends.
When I’m with my family, we generally enjoy one Table Service meal per day (with the exception of our Epcot day(s), because we like to snack at the stands and festival booths).
Now, there are more than 100 Table Service restaurants at Disney World. That being said, if you were to dine at 100 random restaurants in New York, New Orleans, San Francisco (or any tourist destination) – those prices would vary greatly. The same applies at Disney.
Disney’s site lists Table Service Price Ranges from $15 to $34.99, $35 to $59.99, and over $60.
If you’d like to stick to a budget, you can narrow down your Table Service restaurant selections in advance by simply filtering Table Service restaurants by price range on the Disney World website.
If budget is one of the most important factors for your trip, be sure you do this well ahead of your Advanced Dining Reservation Day (currently 60 days before check-in + the duration of the stay for onsite guests, or 60 days, one day at a time for offsite guests).
An experienced Smart Moms Travel agent can help you narrow down choices from there (casual vs. fancy, character vs. non-character dining, in-park vs. resort restaurant, family style vs. buffet, etc.).
Don’t be blindsided by tips- if your group is 6 or more, 18% will automatically be added to your tab. If it has not been added to your bill, Disney’s Cast Members work very hard, and keep in mind that it is customary and a cultural norm to tip approximately 18%.
Table Service Meal Bottom Line: $35 to $60+ per person, per day (plus tip)
Alcohol
Like everything else, you can save money in this category by actually bringing your own alcohol to the Disney resorts- just not into the parks.
Most beverages will run between $7-$18 per drink. I won’t go into too much detail here, because while some people don’t consume any alcohol whatsoever (like my husband), others may choose to split adult beverages around the World Showcase at Epcot or sample a variety or pairings during the Food & Wine Festival.
With the exception of the Magic Kingdom, alcohol is accessible almost everywhere at Disney World. With that in mind, go in knowing that it’s very easy to overspend and/or overindulge in this area. A smart way set an alcohol budget it advance is to purchase a Disney gift card with whatever *you* decide to set your limit to.
Alcohol Bottom Line $0-$50 per 21+ adult, per day
Merchandise
Truth be told, it’s been many years since my family actively bought merchandise at Disney. We’re big softies in that we like to collect memories – and eat. We do love to window shop, too.
Here are the common things that I see Disney guests buying, and their average prices, in no particular order:
- Pins – $7-$30
- Ears – $15-$35 (Coach ears run as much as $295)
- Mugs – $20
- Bubble wands – $15-$20
- Spray fans – $17
- T-shirts – $25-$40
- Hats – $20-$35
- Magic Bands and Magic Bands+- $20-$40
- Spirit Jerseys – $69-$89
- Christmas ornaments – $20
- Disney Parks Loungefly bags – $80
- Disney Parks Dooney & Bourke bags – $200-275
- Disney Pandora Charms – $60-$100
- Silhouette Art – $10
- Stuffed animals – $20-$30
- Autograph books – $10-$20
- Balloons – $14-$17
- Keychains – $7-$20
- Action figures $10-40
- Lego kits – $25-300
Again, you don’t have to buy *any* of these things if you don’t want to.
If you know your kids would like these items when they see them, similar items can be purchased in advance at a discounted price.
For example, Loungefly bags can be found at Hot Topic for about $40. Bubble wands can be found at Walgreens and Target for about $8-$12.
Merchandise Bottom Line $0 – $300 per person, per trip
Transportation and Parking, Ground Transportation, Rideshare Services
Other than getting from the airport to your resort, if you are staying on Disney property, Disney’s transportation is complimentary. If you are going to bring your own transportation, you will need to park your vehicle.
If you stay offsite, you’ll need to check with the hotel for parking fees, plus pay to park at Disney.
Parking Bottom Line: $0-50 per day
Uber, Lyft, Minnie Vans: $10-$50 per ride (optional)
Ground Transportation Bottom Line: $32-$250 one-way
Remember: *you* are in control of your spending at Disney. Some things you’ll have to spend money on- ground transportation to your resort from the airport if you’re flying, for example. Almost everything else is optional!
There’s No Wrong Way to Do Disney
Is your head swimming yet? 🙃Here’s that summary I promised in the beginning of the article. ⬇️
- Bring Your Own Food & Drinks Bottom Line: $0
- Disney Snacks Bottom Line: $3.49-$10.99 per person, per day (average)
- Quick Service Bottom Line: $25 per person, per day (average)
- Table Service Meal Bottom Line: $35 to $60+ per person, per day (plus tips)
- Alcohol Bottom Line $0-$50 per 21+ adult, per day
- Merchandise Bottom Line $0 – $300 per person, per trip
- Parking Bottom Line: $0-50 per day
- Uber, Lyft, Minnie Vans: $10-$50 per ride
- Ground Transportation Bottom Line: $32-$250 one-way
Need Help Planning Your Disney Trip?
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