Maximizing your meal plan at Disney World

I get asked a lot about how to maximize your meal plan while at Disney.  There are quite a few ways that I've seen to make the most out of your 2 meals...assuming you aren't doing the Deluxe Dining.

One way is to manage your reservations.  Routinely, I've made breakfast reservations late at various restaurants so that your two meals can bridge the entire day with just supplements from snacks.  Truth be told, this is the spirit in which the meal plan was formed.  For example, make a late morning reservation at Chef Mickey's or Akershaus...say 11:00 or so...and you'll be good until your quick service dinner.

One of the best things about Disney...well all of central Florida's main attractions, really...is the affordability of the food.  Even if you did have to purchase a meal here and there to supplement, you won't be spending an arm and a leg to do it.  One way that my family takes advantage of this is the purchase the big breakfast plate at breakfast time.  It usually comes with 2 eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, 2 pancakes, and a drink.  We will share one or two of those for the whole family, and it will only cost us about $20.  Keep in mind we don't do that often...but when we do, it helps us slide through the day just fine.

Snacks are also quite useful.  I don't know anyone who gets to the end of their trip and doesn't have leftover snacks.  Use those snacks up getting fruit, or other carry-along type foods at the food court/resort shop before hitting the parks.  Then manage your reservations appropriately, and you'll be fine.

If none of those options appeals to you, you can always bring your own food.  If you are driving, there is a Sam's Club near the resorts, as well as various big box stores like Target and Walmart.  The best thing for Sam's is that if you are a member, you can Click-And-Pull an order and it'll be ready as you pass by.  That makes for a stress free arrival at the resort.

The Garden Grocer (www.gardengrocer.com) is an online service that will deliver certain groceries directly to the resorts.  You can even purchase a Styrofoam cooler to keep the perishables cool.  They'll deliver and the resort will bring it to your room.  You can also order non-perishables direct from Amazon.com or any other online retailer and have them shipped direct to your resort.  The resort will keep packages for you for 2 weeks prior to your arrival.  I mention Amazon directly because if, like us, you are an Amazon Prime member, you can take advantage of that free shipping and have the items you need already at your

resort!  Save money, time, and ......  your sanity!!

**(I would also like to point out that I am not getting compensated by any company I list.  This is merely an informational blog that provides travelers with ways to help their trip be fantastic.  I'm sure there are many other businesses, online entities, and other options that I've not listed here that will be great for your trip.  I use these, so I list these.  If you have any other ideas, please comment or message me.  I will be more than happy to use them as well.)

There are many ways to maximize your meal plan.  We so often think of 3 meals a day being the amount we need when, with just a little planning, you can make the two magical meals that Disney gives you last through your entire day!

Have a Magical Week!!