To help keep costs manageable while visiting Walt Disney World, some families choose to eat some, or even all meals off Disney property. It makes sense. Central Florida is home to a few thousand restaurants, from well-known name-brand fast food to privately owned eateries, at just about every price point. On the whole, their prices are generally lower than at the theme parks, and you don’t have to make reservations 6 months in advance, either. Here are a bunch of our favorites.
To make their respective restaurants more appealing, some establishments offer certain specials. Since so many families come to Central FL, many of these specials are “kids eat free” or “kids eat cheap.” Here are a bunch of them…
Note: not all of these restaurants are right next door to the theme parks. Some are. But others may be 5, 10, 15 or even 20+ miles from WDW. If you have a rental car, you’ll be fine and will only be “spending” your time getting there and back. But if you’re using an Uber, Lyft or taxi, the money you save by eating at this far-off place might be negated by the charge for your ride back and forth. So check your map app before visiting.
I recommend calling or asking to confirm any offer before ordering. Offers are, of course, subject to change and may not be available at all locations where multiple locations are available.
- 4 Rivers Smokehouse – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal (Mondays only)
- Andiamo Italian Bistro – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal (Thursday through Sundays only)
- Applebee’s – Kids (under age 12) eat free with a full priced adult meal (Tuesdays only)
- Backyard Burgers – Kids eat free with a paid adult combo meal (Tuesdays only)
- Beef O’Brady’s – Kids meals are just $1.99 (Tuesdays only)
- Belfry Restaurant at Eagle Creek – Kids eat free with paid adult meal (Tuesdays only, unless closed for private event)
- Bikes, Beans & Bordeaux – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal (Tuesdays only)
- Bob Evans – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal from 4pm to closing (Tuesday)
- Bruster’s – Kids under 40 inches tall get a free ice cream cone
- BurgerFi – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Tuesdays only)
- Captain D’s – 2 free kid’s meals with the purchase of one adult entree at regular price (Thursdays only)
- Cariera’s Fresh Italian – Kid’s meals are only $5, 4pm to 10pm (Tuesdays only)
- Chevy’s Fresh Mex – Kid’s meals (12 and under) are only $1 with a paid adult meal from 3pm to closing (Wednesdays only)
- Chili’s – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult entree
- Cici’s– Kids (age 3 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal
- The Coop – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal (Mondays only)
- Denny’s – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal from 4pm to 10pm
- Dickey’s Barbecue Pit – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a minimum $10 purchase (Sundays only)
- Donut Central – Kids get one free doughnut (Saturdays only)
- Duffy’s Sports Grill – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Wednesdays only)
- Firehouse Subs – Kids eat free with a paid adult combo meal after 4pm (Wednesdays only)
- Fuddrucker’s – Kids eat for $1.99 with paid adult meal from 4pm to closing (Mondays only)
- Gator’s Dockside – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal from 5:30pm to 8:30pm (Tuesdays only)
- Golden Corral – Kids (age 3 and under) eat free
- Graffiti Junktion – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal from 5pm to 8pm (Tuesdays only)
- Hard Rock Cafe – Kids (under age 10) eat free with a paid adult entree
- Holiday Inn – Kids eat free at Holiday Inns’ restaurants
- Huey Magoo’s – One free kids meal with each adult entree purchase from 5pm to closing (Mondays only)
- Hurricane Grill & Wings – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Thursdays only)
- IHOP – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal
- IKEA – Get free baby food for every adult meal at the food court (Tuesdays only)
- Luna Bar & Grill – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal (Mondays only)
- Main Event – Kids (Under age 12) eat free when you buy a menu item for $8.99 or more (Tuesdays only)
- Manny’s Chophouse – Kids (under age 10) eat free with a paid adult meal (Mondays & Tuesdays only)
- Miller’s Ale House – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal (Tuesdays only)
- Moe’s Southwest Grill – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Sundays only)
- NYPD Pizza – Kids (12 and under) get their own personal 10″ pizza with an adult purchase (Wednesdays only)
- Pizza Hut – Kids (age 10 and under) gets a free kids’ buffet with a paid adult meal (Tuesdays only)
- Ponderosa Steakhouse – kids (under age 5) eat free from the buffet with each adult meal purchase.
- Pig Floyd’s – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Wednesdays only)
- The Porch – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Wednesdays only)
- Publix – Not a restaurant, but if you bring your kids to the bakery department of this supermarket, they can get a free cookie upon request 😉
- Qdoba Mexican Grill – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal
- Red Lobster – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Tuesdays only)
- Rise Pies – Kids (10 and under) get a free cheese pizza with a purchase of large pizza or large salad (Wednesdays only)
- Romano’s Macaroni Grill – Kids (age 12 and under) eat free with a paid adult meal (Mondays & Tuesdays only)
- Rosen Inn – Kids (age 5 and under) eat a free kids’ buffet meal with each paying adult
- Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista – Kids (age 5 and under) eat a free kids’ buffet meal with each paying adult
- Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando – Kids (age 5 and under) eat a free kids’ buffet meal with each paying adult
- Rosen Inn International – Kids (age 5 and under) eat a free kids’ buffet meal with each paying adult
(Yeah, that was 4 Rosen hotels in a row. The whole Rosen hotel saga in Orlando is pretty fascinating – check it out!) - Ruby Tuesday – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal from 5pm to closing (Mondays only)
- Smashburger– Kids eat free with a paid adult meal from 4pm to closing (Mondays only)
- Steak & Shake – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Saturdays & Sundays only)
- Texas de Brazil – When purchased with a full-price meal children 2 years and under are complimentary, 3-5 years are $5.00 and 6-12 years are half price.
- Texas Roadhouse – Kids eat for $1.99 with paid adult meal (Mondays only, not valid on holidays)
- TGI Friday’s – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Mondays and Tuesdays only)
- TJ’s Seafood Shack – One free kids item with each adult entree purchase (Mondays only)
- The Town House Restaurant – Kids eat free with a paid adult meal (Monday & Tuesdays only)
- Uno Pizzaria & Grill – Free kids meal with each adult entree (Tuesday only)
- Village Inn – Kids’ Menu item from the Kids’ Menu for one child 10 and under with the purchase of an adult entrée (Mondays and Tuesdays only).
- Winter Garden Pizza Company – Kids eat free with any large pie or pasta entrée from 5pm to 9pm (Wednesdays only)
And don’t forget to get a KIDS EAT FREE card! Over 100 restaurants offer free and cheap meals for kids with a Kids Eat Free card – click here for more info.
Feature image (cropped): Tetra Pak/flickr
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