Next in this series on vacation budget we will head over to my favorite park, EPCOT. From at The Land in to the new and the tried and true favorite in the Morocco Pavilion in there is a myriad of opportunities in this Park. Not to mention, the seasonal festivals in this Park that offer out-of-this-world opportunities during the and , the International Festival of the Arts, The International Festival of the Holidays, and the International Food & .
Credit: Food Network
Making a plan for is a great way to reign in your budget while still enjoying some delicious restaurants and snacks while on vacation. Let’s see if we can do EPCOT for $50 a day! For those of you that are new here, we’re throwing it way back to Rachael Ray’s 2002 television show $40 A Day.
In this series, pre-Food Network Rachael Ray journeyed around the United States and the world, with the goal of budgeting her dollars and enjoying delicious meals. Like the show title suggests, Ray went on gastronomic tours of cities for $40 a day allocated for . Viewers enjoyed watching her have a taste of the culture in the city she was visiting while striving to maintain a budget.
Breakfast
If you’ve read other parks covered in this series, you know the drill: save money by skipping breakfast in the Park and enjoying coffee and breakfast in your Resort hotel room.
An easy and portable breakfast of fruit or a breakfast bar in your Resort room with a cup of complementary Joffrey’s coffee courtesy of your in-room coffee maker is my breakfast recommendation. Eating breakfast in your Resort hotel room each day as well as skipping the cost will add up quickly to budget savings. Not to mention, enjoying an in-room breakfast buys you some valuable time in the morning, allowing you to sleep a bit later instead of factoring in additional time to eat outside at a restaurant at your Resort or in the Parks. This little budget sacrifice can go a long way to putting cash back into your pocket.
Cream of Brie Cheese Galette – Morning Snack
Crepes A Emporter by La Creperie de Paris, , EPCOT
After a visit to the excellent new attraction, Remy’s in the , we recommend you stop by a new crêpe restaurant to enjoy a taste of the Brittany region of France right in . Located in the , Crêpes A Emporter by La Crêperie de Paris boasts a stunning menu of galettes (savory crêpes) or sweet crêpes.
This eatery also offers soft-serve ice cream and a selection of hard ciders, sparkling wines, and other delicious French wines on the menu. Obviously, all crêpes pair well with a nice sparkling wine. However, in the interest of protecting our budget, we are going to opt for only a savory crêpe during our visit to this restaurant and skip the bubbles for today.
Credit: Disney
You can’t go wrong with a menu filled with delicacies like cheese and ham galettes, butter and sugar crêpes, house-made hazelnut and chocolate spread crêpes or the red berries crêpes. Today we are opting for the cream of brie cheese galette.
This savory crêpe rings in at only $9.95, and it’s full of all the melted buttery, cheesy goodness that we love, situated between warm, thin layers of crêpe. After you have snagged your galette, enjoy it in the restaurant or take it to go and sit on the edge of the fountain in the French pavilion to nosh on your morning snack.
Lunch
Shrimp Udon – Katsura Grill, Japan Pavilion, EPCOT
Highlighting the best meal options in EPCOT is very difficult because there are so many delicious, diverse, and frankly unmissable items to eat and drink in this Park. However, in an effort to highlight the best dishes on a budget, we suggest the Shrimp Udon at Katsura Grill in the Japan pavilion in for lunch. Katsura Grill is one of the to enjoy sushi and other Japanese delicacies at .
Credit: Disney
Any noodle fan will love the thick yet soft udon noodles swimming in a rich broth accompanied by crunchy tempura shrimp and garnished with fresh, crunchy green parsley. At only $13.00 this shrimp udon is my go-to for a satisfying, savory meal in W. Add in the ambiance of Katsura Grill, and it’s a win-win. Sushi fans can get their fix at this restaurant. Enjoy a spicy roll with delicious tuna and salmon for $10, a classic California Roll for the same price, or a vegetable roll for only $9.
Credit: Disney Dining
If you aren’t interested in sushi and noodles, Katsura grill offers Japanese entrées like teriyaki prepared meats and vegetables with a side of steamed rice. Our favorite entrée is by far the Chicken and Beef Teriyaki Plate, served with grilled vegetables and steamed rice. The indoor area of the restaurant is perfect to relax in during the winter months, and the adjoining courtyard in the back of the restaurant is delightful on a spring or summer day.
Related: Quiet Corners of EPCOT’S World Showcase
Jumbo Turkey Leg – Afternoon Snack
Fife and Drum Tavern, America Pavilion, EPCOT
Jumbo turkey legs are among the iconic foods popular at . So it stands to reason, that we are recommending you purchase a jumbo turkey leg from Fife and Drum Tavern in the American pavilion for your afternoon snack. Talk about a substantial snack, this jumbo turkey leg is nothing short of delicious. You’ll be able to smell it long before you see it, as the smoked aroma wafts out across the pavilion.
Credit: DisneyDining.com
At $13.25, this snack is not a cheap one, but a delicious and iconic eat that you will enjoy. Set aside some time to enjoy the show before or after stopping for a snack break. We love to kick back on the benches near the gift shop in the American Pavilion or break from the heat and people-watch.
Other delicious options on the Fife and Drum Tavern menu include a Mickey Pretzel served with cheese sauce for $7.50, a hot dog with chips for $9.50, or delicious buttery popcorn for $5.50.
Dinner
Empanadas Con Queso – La Cantina de San Angel, Mexico Pavilion, EPCOT
Let’s finish our day in the Mexico pavilion. La Cantina de San Angel is a eatery that offers delicious Mexican food alongside the water with a beautiful view of and of course you overlook . You’ll find an excellent menu with classics like guacamole and tortilla chips, nachos, and an assortment of tacos at this restaurant.
Credit: Disney Dining
For Guests looking to share a meal, nachos at $14.25 are an excellent option. This entrée consists of tortilla chips topped with creamy white nacho cheese, covered in ground beef and beans, and scattered with tomatoes and jalapeños with a healthy dollop of sour cream. If you’d like to add guacamole, it’s only two extra dollars. The taco trio for $14.99 is another option that includes beef, chicken, and shrimp tacos on homemade corn tortillas served with a side of rice and white beans and queso fresco.
Credit: TripAdvisor
However, our choice on this for this budget challenge is empanadas con queso for $13.75. This entrée consists of fried flour tortillas filled with cheese, topped with sour cream, salsa verde, and queso fresco. As if it couldn’t get any better, this divine cheesy entrée is served with rice black beans, and you guessed it- even more cheese Queso Fresco. Needless to say, as a cheese lover, this is the dinner of my dreams.
We met our goal of sticking to a $50 a day budget in EPCOT.
Morning Snack – Cream of Brie Cheese Galette $9.95
Lunch – Shrimp Udon $13.00
Afternoon Snack – Jumbo Turkey Leg $13.25
Dinner – Empanadas Con Queso $13.75
Total: $49.95
We came in right under our budget at $49.95 total for lunch, dinner, and two snacks during a day in EPCOT. Your wallet is smiling – we did Disney for $50 a day! Don’t miss our other articles outlining $50 a day budget plans for , , , and Disney Springs.