Disney’s Hollywood Studios isn’t my favorite place to grab food, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know a few hacks and tips regarding dining at this park. For today, we will be focusing on the most affordable ways to dine here. I think this is important, especially since we just saw a price increase all over Walt Disney World a few weeks ago.
Ever since that increase, I have been more aware of the prices of snacks and meals on property because some items have just gone overboard in the pricing. Let’s take a look at the most affordable eats at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Splitting Food at Table Service Restaurants
Okay, this section isn’t about specific eats, but it’s more about a hack. There are two restaurants at Hollywood Studios that serve HUGE portions of food that are shareable. 50s Prime Time Cafe and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano are the two places that serve large portions of food that are perfect for sharing. I am someone who always prefers sharing a meal not only because it keeps the meal more affordable but also because it helps me save some space for future snacks.
Here are some of the plates that I think are shareable at each location.
50s Prime Time Cafe
- A Sampling of Mom’s Favorite Recipes: Golden fried chicken, fork-tender pot roast, and traditional meatloaf with all the fixings. – $30.00
- Aunt Liz’s Golden Fried Chicken: served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, chicken gravy, and seasonal vegetables. – $26.00
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
- Charred Strip Steak: four cheese macaroni with pancetta, aged balsamic-shallot butter, and chianti wine reduction. $36.00
- Grilled Bone-in Pork Chop: served with creamy polenta, roasted tomatoes, mustard vincotto, and charged broccolini. – $30.00
- Spaghetti and Meatballs: house-made marinara garnished with pecorino-romano and parsley. – $27.00
- Oven-baked Chicken alla Parmigiana: breaded chicken breast with marinara sauce topped with melted mozzarella over spaghetti. – $28.00
Affordable Quick Service Locations
Hollywood Studios is nowhere near short of quick-service restaurants, but there are a few that are more affordable than others. The few that I noticed are decently priced are Woody’s Lunch Box, Catalina Eddie’s, Backlot Express, Dockside Diner, and ABC Commissary. I want to share with you the different options that seem delicious yet affordable.
My big hack for these restaurants is to order kid meals. I know kids’ meals aren’t for everyone, but for me and many others, it’s the perfect portion of food, especially if you want to get snacks throughout the park. Even some of the options that aren’t kids’ items are affordable, so let’s jump into it!
Woody’s Lunch Box
- Breakfast Bowl: Hearty portion of potato barrels smothered in smoked brisket country gravy, scrambled eggs, and a sprinkle of green onions. – $8.79
- Smoked Turkey Sandwich: thick-sliced smoked turkey breast, lettuce, and tomato with dijonnaise spread served chilled on multigrain. – $10.29
- Grilled Three-Cheese Sandwich: melted provolone, cheddar, and American on grilled sourdough bread. – $10.29
- Totchos: potato barrels coated with beef and bean chili, shredded cheese, and signature queso with tomatoes and corn chips finished with sour cream and a sprinkle of green onions (plant-based option). – $10.49
- Tomato-basil Soup – $3.99
Kids Meals
- Turkey Sandwich: half-sandwich with smoked turkey, lettuce, and tomato with dijonnaise spread served chilled on sunflower multigrain bread served with Cuties Mandarin, potato barrels, and your choice of beverage. – $6.99
- Grilled Cheese: half-sandwich with melted provolone, cheddar, and American on grilled sourdough bread served with Cuties Mandarin, potato barrels, and your choice of beverage. – $6.99
Catalina Eddie’s
- Pepperoni Pizza – $11.79
- Cheese Pizza – $11.29
- Caesar Salad with Chicken – $11.99
- Breadsticks – $5.49
Kids Meals
- Pepperoni Pizza & Cheese Pizza: served with a choice of two sides and a choice of small low-fat milk or small bottled water. – $7.99
Backlot Express
- Cuban Sandwich: classically-pressed roasted pulled pork, sliced ham, swiss, pickles, and mustard served with plantain chips. – $12.79
- Southwest Salad with Chicken: romaine mixed with roasted corn relish and diced tomatoes topped with pickled red onion and cheese and topped with grilled chicken breast served with house-made jalapeño-lime ranch dressing. – $11.99
- Teriyaki Chicken Bowl (plant-based option available): seasoned jasmine rice, Teriyaki chicken, yuzu-pickled edamame, carrots, cucumber, and onions drizzled with house-made lemon-tahini-chipotle vinaigrette and sesame seeds. – $13.29
Kids Meals
- Chicken Strips: two chicken tenders served with strawberry-flavored yogurt smoothie, carrot sticks, and a choice of small low-fat milk or small DASANI® bottled water. – $8.49
- Macaroni & Cheese: served with strawberry-flavored yogurt smoothie, carrot sticks, and a choice of small low-fat milk or small DASANI® bottled water. – $6.99
Dockside Diner
- Bacon Macaroni & Cheese Hot Dog: all-beef quarter-pound hot dog topped with savory macaroni & cheese and crispy applewood bacon, drizzled with mustard aïoli on a brioche butter bun served with house-made chips. – $12.79
- California BLTA Dog: all-beef Quarter-pound hot dog topped with lettuce, tomato, avocado, crispy applewood bacon, house-made black pepper mayonnaise, and drizzled with mustard aïoli on a brioche butter bun served with house-made chips. – $12.79
- Bacon Macaroni & Cheese: house-made macaroni & cheese with beer cheese, bacon, and topped with bread crumbs. – $10.49
ABC Commissary
- Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich: grilled sourdough toasted with buffalo chicken, monterey, provolone, cheddar, and cream cheese served with a side of buffalo sauce and your choice of a side. – $11.99
- Shrimp Tacos: sautéed shrimp on flour tortillas topped with cabbage slaw, chipotle-mayonnaise, and mango salsa served with Mexican rice and black beans topped with pork and queso fresco. – $12.99
- Pork Carnitas Tacos: pork carnitas on flour tortillas topped with avocado salsa verde and pickled onions served with Mexican rice and black beans topped with pork and queso fresco. – $11.49
Kids Meals
- Chicken Salad Sandwich: served with a choice of two sides and a choice of small low-fat milk or small DASANI® bottled water. – $7.79
- Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich: half-sandwich with grilled ham and American cheese on sourdough served with choice of two sides and choice of small low-fat milk or small DASANI® bottled water. – $7.79
Snacks at Hollywood Studios Under $10
- Carrot Cake Whoopie Pie at The Trolley Cart Cafe – $4.99
- Jack-Jack’s Num Num Cookie at Pixar Place – $6.19
- Lunch Box Tart at Woody’s Lunch Box – $4.79
- Whole Fruit at Anaheim Produce – $2.29
- Frozen Lemonade at Anaheim Produce – $5.79
- Mickey Brownie Sundae at Hollywood Scoops – $7.79
- Spiced Almonds at Baseline Taphouse – $6.25
Hi, I'm Erica, and I write about all things Disney. Before working for The DIS, I was a theme park performer at SeaWorld, but I also performed at Disney. I have such an immense love for theme parks to the point I studied them in college.
