I am one of those who looks forward to cooking during camping, and see it as part of the grand experience. Yet, I too, enjoy going out to eat for at least one meal a day. While Disney’s Fort Wilderness food options have gotten more expensive with less quality, there are a few ways to hack and save serious money.

1. Eat a large late breakfast at Trails’ End. Long ago, the rustic Trail’s End restaurant at Disney’s Fort Wilderness was the top secret spot to get a very affordable breakfast that tasted like your Tennessee great-grandma made it. There was a time when it was not a buffet, but rather made-to-order. Today, Trail’s End is exclusively a buffet and requires dining reservations. While prices vary by season, the breakfast buffet starts around $22, and  the dinner buffet is typically closer to $30-35+.

There is a more expensive brunch offered on the weekends (instead of breakfast). It mainly adds shrimp (rather bleh), mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, salads and some dinner food to the breakfast items. While the selection of food is quite extensive, the quality of the breakfast foods well exceeds those of the things added for brunch. Thus a late breakfast that takes the place of breakfast and lunch is ideal.

With this said, for some there may be a reason to splurge for the weekend brunch. There is a carving station that includes brown sugar-glazed Applewood smoked bacon – freshly cut. Either  you will hate it or you will love it. Some people claim that it’s too fatty, but DH Captain Bacon says it is the best thing he has eaten in his life (and he’s no spring chicken).

You will likely want to eat here on a day that you are not visiting a park. Even with reservations, it’s not unusual to wait 30 minutes for a table. Once seated, you’ll find the pace very casual and relaxed. This is a place where you want to take your time and have nowhere in the whole world that you need to be.

2. Get breakfast to-go if you have light eaters. While DH Captain Bacon fills up his plate repeatedly at brunch, my son is likely to eat a bowl of cereal and one-third of a piece of bacon. For under $9, we can order Mickey waffles with sausage and bacon at P&J’s Takeout. P&J’s is also in Pioneer Hall, shares a kitchen with Trail’s End, and is pretty much the same food. Some examples of breakfast items around $4 include oatmeal, muffins, and Cinnamon Rolls. There are also several breakfast sandwiches for under $10. There are plenty of places to eat the take-out food nearby, including the rocking chairs on the Pioneer Hall porch, or picnic tables overlooking the beach.

3. PIck up the 8-piece Fried Chicken Meal at P&J’s Southern Takeout for under $24. The fried chicken at Fort Wilderness is very good – it’s the same that you would get at the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue. This is not as magical of a deal as it once was when it included 10 pieces, but you can still feed 3-4. The meal includes two sides for 2-4. Sides are mashed potatoes, Cowboy beans, slaw, and macaroni & cheese. Take it back to your camper, or enjoy it at the nearby picnic tables.

4. Walk or boat ride over to Wilderness Lodge for the best dish on this side of Bay Lake. By far, one of the best menu items at either Fort Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge is Cheesy Barbecue Brisket with Homemade Potato Chips. It’s insanely delicious, and served almost as dip (to be shared) on the Rustic Fare menu. It just about makes a meal for one, and is only $11. Geyser Point is absolutely gorgeous, has huge comfy chairs overlooking Bay Lake, and the level of relaxation can nearly leave you in a trance. Be forewarned that one cocktail will cost more than the Brisket.

5. Make a DIY picnic with groceries from the Settlement or Meadow Trading Post. These stores are part souvenir and part convenience stores. For under $25, you can pick up a loaf of bread ($4.29), a pack of bologna, ham or turkey ($4+), mayonnaise, paper plates, and some fresh apples. This equates to about $4 per person, and will easily yield six servings.  There are lovely places to sit, eat and relax near either trading post.  If you are staying on site, there are actually quite a few more substantial meals that you can make with food from the trading posts.