The number 1 biggest value hands down, is the grandfathered glass mugs. The glass mugs are lifetime .75 cent refills, for everything except Starbucks. But, you can get ice cream Floats, frozen drinks, icees, Frozen lemonade, Boba etc all .75 for life.
The next best one is the pop in lid plastic pre2012 mugs, they are locked in at 1.00 refills for everything except Starbucks.
When it comes to food, everyone has different taste preferences, and appetite sizes. So my list, is suggestions that have worked for my family. I hope they can help you too, but you might find other options work better for your family. These are just what works for us.
1. Rivertown Smokehouse
2. Wagon Works
3. Molly's Mill
4. Tasting Passport
Honorable Mention
Crossroads Pizza
1. Rivertown Smokehouse -
Our very favorite, every day, no matter the season.
1 Platter, or the 1/2 rack of ribs can easily feed 2 adults for my husband and I, or even our older teens. The brisket is my husband's favorite, the ribs are me and my kids favorite!
We find the Mac and Cheese is absolutely delicious and the most filling side to get. So we usually get Mac and Cheeses for both the sides. And all of us like it the very best.
We also usually get a few extra homemade Pickles as they are delicious! This really is enough for us.
But, if we were still a little hungry we could add on a dessert to split and be stuffed. We don't like being that stuffed, so we usually wait awhile and go back for some bread pudding later, it is soooo good!
If you have picky eaters or 2 really young kids or even a smaller appetite adult, a great option at Rivertown Smokehouse is the Mac and Cheese kids meal. It's the good Mac and cheese, not kraft boxed. It comes with Mac and cheese, a side, apple sauce, and a juice. You can get a second Mac and Cheese as a side. Which is a great option if you want to split the kids meal between 2 small kids. Or you can get Tater Tots as a side. Which Mac and Cheese and Tater Tots is also a pretty picky eater friendly meal.
2. Wagon Works -
The Smoked turkey leg is gigantic. In our opinion we like the Turkey leg better from Wagon Works, than from Buckshot's. It's large enough to usually split between 2 people especially with a side.
Another good extremely filling option that they have had at Wagon Works the last few years is the All American Meal. Comes with cheeseburger, lots of toppings, fries and apple pie! It's a go to for when I take a teen with a bigger appetite!
My daughter's also really love the Wrap Combo, it's pretty inexpensive, and giant. Easy for 2 kids to split. Or 1 large appetite adult to get plenty of food.
A lot of the restaurants have went to using lunchables for the children's menu, but Wagon Works still has other options on their children's menu.
The children's cheeseburger meal is plenty for most children. And it's even the choice I make for myself, when I want a Cheeseburger! I don't usually like burgers, but these taste like homemade, seasoned and grilled perfectly! I will admit I'm not stuffed from this children's size meal, but satisfied and leaves me room in my tummy and wallet for a delicious Silver Dollar City snack or dessert later.
3. Molly's Mill -
Is one of my husband and children's very favorite.
Breakfast, is great. Biscuits and gravy, eggs, home fries, fresh fruit, amazing bacon, sausage, and more, everything you could want in a Ozark Breakfast.
Lunch and Dinner offers excellent Fried Chicken, and Macaroni and Cheese. And much much more. So perfect for picky eaters. I don't normally like buffets, but Molly's is very good! It's not the least expensive adult meal on the park, but if you mainly have children under 12, that are either picky or have large appetites, this has the largest selection for them at the lowest price for kids. Kids are only about 7 dollars each, and 3 and under eat free. So it comes out to be a very affordable option for our family, and less expensive than most Buffets outside Silver Dollar City.
4. Tasting Passports.
A new option since 2021.
My family has found that while some choices on the Passport are smaller portions, others are full size portions. So you must do your homework ahead of time before just randomly picking items from the Passport. My family, saves close to 50 percent or more when we use the Tasting Passports.
For more specific savings follow my most current Tasting Passport post.
A few general tips that basically apply to all Tasting Passports -
We have found 1 Tasting Passport can easily feed 2 people all day and keep you very full.
And if on a extreme budget, 1 could be split by 4 people. Each person could get one full size choice for a meal, and then as the fifth choice one of the largest snacks always on the Passport is the Kettle Corn, so get 1 large bag of Kettle Corn to split between the family of 4. It's seriously enough for family of 4 as a snack, it's huge!
Keep in mind, you are getting 5 choices per a Tasting Passport. Currently a Tasting Passport cost 35.00 before any Season pass discount. You can get a Season Pass Discount on them too. But, focus on 5 choices for 35 dollars. 35 divided 5 is 7. So each of your choices should cost at least 7 dollars regular price, less than that you are losing money by using the Passport. If you use it on items that are normally more than 7 AND full size, is when you are actually saving money! So for the best value money wise with your Tasting Passport, make sure you are using it for full size items that are normally 7 dollars or more.
Almost all desserts are full size, except Funnel cakes. But, most desserts are less than 7 dollars so usually not your best value on the Tasting Passport.
ALL cones are always full size, not just ice cream, but savory ones like Fajita Cones, Mac and Cheese Cones, Cashew Chicken Cones, Bang Bang Shrimp Cones, etc. Regular Price of most the savory Cones are 12 to 14 dollars. Almost half price to completely half price by using a choice on your Tasting Passport.
All Tater Twist are always full size, and always over 7 dollars without a Tasting Passport. You will always save money with this choice.
Kettle Corn is also always full size.
Most Sandwiches have become full size, but usually no side with them. Still the grilled cheese ones are 14 to 15 dollars without a Passport, and with a Passport you are only using 1 of your 5 choices, so only paying 7 dollars.
The Pizzas have started being full size. They are regularly 12.99 and as 1 choice on your Passport you are only using 7 dollars worth of your choices.
The Skillets, Tots, Nachos, Fries, Soup etc are generally 1/2 the size, so don't always match up to the amount you are paying on the Passport. However, sometimes it may still save some people money, if their child really wants the real food selection at the places that only have lunchables as a kids meal. These can easily become a 7 dollar children's or seniors or small appetite person meal, without paying full price and having to throw the other half away.
Never use a Tasting Passport for a drink. None of the drinks are ever 7 dollars or more. And any refill mug will make any drink less than 3 dollars.
Honorable Mention
Crossroads Pizza
I put this as a Honorable Mention, because Pizza is not my husband and I's favorite food. However, our children do love it.
You can get a large pizza for around 20 dollars, depending on the ttoppings. It can usually feed at least a family of 4. Many families absolutely love it.
The only downside to Crossroads, is it is the absolute most popular restaurant inside Silver Dollar City, so inside can be incredibly packed.
The biggest bonus to Crossroads, is they have the digital Coke machines with hundreds of drinks to choose from, including tons of sugar free, zero calorie options!
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