12 Dining Tips to Help Your Family Stay Within Budget at Disney

Whether or not the Disney Dining Plan is worth the price tag remains an ongoing discussion, but the truth is, you just have to figure out if one of the packages is worth it for your family. Many people say that it helps take the stress out of planning and paying for meals, since you do that in advance, so it's worth a little research.

With all the excitement for the day ahead, you probably don't want a drawn-out breakfast anyway! Keep cereal, fruit, oatmeal, and other easy breakfasts in your room (make hot water in the room's coffee maker), and you're all set.

While offers can change at any time, many Disney restaurants allow children ages 12 and under to eat for free with the purchase of an adult entrée on particular days, so check ahead with the restaurant as you plan out your meal stops!

A couple of dollars here and there for a soda or juice might not seem like a lot in the moment, but when everyone in your group does it for a couple of days it really adds up. Stick with the free stuff!

Do your wallet a favor and stow some snacks in your bag like granola bars, pretzels, and protein cookies.

No foods are banned at Disney parks (aside from alcohol). Just make sure you stick to the cooler requirement and you never have to spend money at a restaurant at all. Fill that baby with sandwiches and keep it moving.

Kill two birds with one stone by indulging in a brunch buffet. Not only are buffets typically cheaper the earlier in the day you go, but snacks you pack yourself should hold you over until dinner that evening.

You know how Amazon is your lifeline at home? Use it while you're at Disney, too. You'll be especially thankful on the days you're just too tired to sit up in a restaurant. Try Garden Grocer as another option.

Disney World and Disneyland quickly get hot with the afternoon sun, and you'll kick yourself when you have to wait in line for an overpriced bottle of water. Disney pros say to drink half of the bottle the night before, lay the bottle on its side, and freeze it in your hotel room overnight. Then, in the morning, fill up the rest of the bottle and you have a cold, cheap water to keep you cool through part of the day.

If you're not especially hungry one day, consider ordering of the kids' menu (unless the restaurant is strict about the age limit). The proportions typically aren't super small and you would save a good chunk of change.

Another money-saving tip: Order a large dish and bring half of it back to your hotel for lunch or dinner the next day.

Dinner prices are bound to be higher than lunch, so opt to treat yourself to a sit-down lunch at a nice restaurant and go on a more casual route for dinner. You'll get the experience you want without a higher bill.

If you plan to look over menus in advance to find the most wallet-friendly options, book the table-service restaurants ASAP. You can reserve a table up to 180 days in advance to take the stress of vacations.