Yes, Disney World food is expensive, but have you ever eaten at the AIRPORT?!

Our team here at DFB does quite a bit of traveling, and we’ve had our fair share of experiences with airport pricing. Particularly with the ridiculously high cost of food when you get past security. Today, we’re breaking down some of the priciest airport breakfasts we’ve had and sharing some of our recommendations if you find yourself trapped and hungry!

Some of the Pricey Meals We’ve Had

I reached out to our team to see what their experiences were with pricey airport food. One of our editors said she and her husband had a delayed flight at Chicago Midway International Airport once where they sat down at a table-service restaurant to grab a meal, and there were no prices on the menu. MISTAKE. The mimosa her husband ordered? It was a whopping $28! That almost brings tears to my eyes (and not the good tears).

Another coworker shared that she recently went to Starbucks at the Detroit Metro Airport and had a startling bill. She picked up a Venti iced drink, a Rice Krispie treat, and a slice of lemon loaf, and her total was nearly $25! That’s a shocking price for a breakfast/snack order for one person. Another person on our team seconded this by saying she paid over $9 for a Grande shaken espresso at their airport Starbucks.

One of our writers shared that she ordered pizza for brunch the last time she was in the San Francisco International Airport, and for one single large slice, she paid $15. No sides, no drinks, just a slice of pizza. That’s wild!

Some of Our Go-To Breakfasts at the Orlando Airport

Most of the time, our team’s home airport is MCO, the Orlando International Airport. We fly in and out of here quite a bit going to and from Disney World, and a decent portion of our team lives in the Orlando area. So here are our recommendations for breakfast in MCO! These are either going to be your budget-friendly options or the food that we think is truly worth the price.

If you’re in the area near the Hyatt Regency, you can stop by McCoy’s Bar and Grill. It’s located on the lobby level of MCO and offers an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet for $23.95 per person. It includes coffee, juice, and cage-free eggs made to order. There are also a variety of individually priced entrees on the menu that give those Starbucks prices a run for their money.

And if you missed checking out Summer House on the Lake during your visit to Disney World, you can try out the Summer House location in Terminal C on your way out of town! They don’t list their breakfast menu online, but when we last visited, they were offering breakfast until 10 AM daily. The prices were shockingly affordable for airport food, particularly in a sit-down space.

See Our Visit to Summer House at the Airport Here!

Speaking of restaurants we know and love, Chef Art Smith (of Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’ in Disney Springs) has a restaurant at Terminal C in MCO! Sunshine Diner serves all-day breakfast in a bright and charming atmosphere. Now, the prices here aren’t as low, but since it’s an Art Smith restaurant, you can be assured that the food quality is top-tier.

Peek Inside the Restaurant Here!

In a similar vein, Wine Bar George has an Orlando Airport location that offers a menu of three breakfast items. The Breakfast Sandwich is fairly affordable for airport eats ($12.50), or you could go a little pricier and get the panini ($15.50) or the Smoked Salmon Bagel ($17.50). Wine Bar George is another spot where we feel confident the food will be delicious.

Besides these locations, there are some popular chain restaurants that serve breakfast in the airport, including McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A. One thing our team has noticed on repeat airport visits is that you can sometimes find cheaper food BEFORE you go through security, so make sure to check out the main MCO food court and grab breakfast there if budget is a factor.

You should be prepared to spend a bit more on food at the airport, but that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. We recommend traveling with snacks, avoiding the overpriced mini-shops, and checking out the options ahead of time on MCO’s website.

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Stay tuned to DFB for more!

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What’s the most you’ve spent on food in an airport? Tell us in the comments!