dbramer
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2013
Same here....we are about 3300 with three Disney adults and a child. Glad that DxDP is only costing us 2600.
Food prices anxiety!
- Thread starter jrandall
- Start date
Same here....we are about 3300 with three Disney adults and a child. Glad that DxDP is only costing us 2600.
MPHARJ
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2007
www.distripplanner.com
Plug in all the places you want to eat and snacks etc... at the bottom it will give an OOP price
This is awesome, thanks for sharing! Never knew this existed, we usually use the DDP.
Thanks! That is great to hear!! I can't wait! I'm hoping my stress now will eliminate all stress once there haha!
ammag
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2012
I think you're doing the right thing with in room breakfast most days, bringing snacks...can you arrange water to be sent? We deduct our regular weekly food spending form the trip too it definitely helps! Last time we were there I feel like we somehow spent less on a day when we kind of snacked instead of had meals? Our own and park snacks, sharing every hour or so at one point. Maybe it just felt like less money since it was spread out LOL. I remember on our first trip which was two adults, one child and one free child we avg. $50 per person per day, this is with no alchohol and almost no sodas just free water and our own food as well. We also stayed off property so but some cheaper dinners. I think this time our food breaks down to 100 a day
clambert1273
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2014
we can't add the dining plan this trip
lord how I wish I could.... my 15yo boy eats like there is no tomorrow.. ALL. DAY. LONG
AlohaAnnie
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2006
We are spending $1700 for 4 Disney Adults, for a 7 day/6night stay. We bring water bottles, soda, vitamin water and breakfast items. Everything else we eat in the parks or at resorts. Zero anxiety here, food is a factor in our vacation.
goofy4prez
A guy can love Disney and still keep his man card!
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2008
The previous mentioned dining plan calculator is pretty good but my favorite is this one below. I think it takes it even a bit further and can even factor in discounts such as TiW. It does require a download (free) and uses a spreadsheet. For a micro planner like me, I love it.
http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0
http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0
Yes, I know I don't want to ruin the magic while there! We have the money already set aside for food & extras (need to decide how much to buy gift cards with!) but I think it's just the thought of spending that much money for food for a week which is stressing me, which is silly since it's vacation! I think I really need to change my mindset regarding this! We haven't been on vacation for 8 years (which is crazy! I can't believe it's been so long!) so the thought of spending so much for everything including food is insane to me. Of course, I am the only one who has been to Disney before so I should know better
everyone has been so helpful about this & is calming me down!Great idea! I have been looking at dining plan too & pretty much figured it's about the same as oop so I may use the same figures.
MrsHull
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 27, 2014
I had the same anxiety. Not because we couldn't afford it, but because it seemed like SO much. In fact, I'm flipping out over how much our next trip budget is, even though most of the money has already been saved. Call me crazy.
Anyway, I alleviated my anxiety by figuring out how much each TS meal would cost, plus tip, and putting that cash in an envelope to go with us the day of the ADR. Then, I took the rest of the food money and broke it down into envelopes by day and labeled them. Each day, the corresponding envelopes went into the park with us. (The others stayed in the safe). Any money left over went into the souvenir budget. Having cash in hand (or a gift card) was reassuring at we really could afford to spend what the trip was costing us.
Anyway, I alleviated my anxiety by figuring out how much each TS meal would cost, plus tip, and putting that cash in an envelope to go with us the day of the ADR. Then, I took the rest of the food money and broke it down into envelopes by day and labeled them. Each day, the corresponding envelopes went into the park with us. (The others stayed in the safe). Any money left over went into the souvenir budget. Having cash in hand (or a gift card) was reassuring at we really could afford to spend what the trip was costing us.
newestkg06
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 10, 2014
I figured out our food budget and it was almost the same amount that we spent for a whole week in South Dakota last summer, for almost everything. But, then I looked at how much each counter service meal was and compared the meal prices to our local zoo and fair food and it really isn't that much out of line. It's the character meals that kill you. We decided to just do one (crystal palace).
MomBird
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2009
You are going to have such a great time and the meals will be a nice part of that, so no vacation budget guilt if you've already planned and saved for it.
We usually spend around $2000-$2400 a week on food at Disney and the trip there and back w 2 adults and 2 teens. It can vary, but that's a good range. When the kids were younger, of course, it was a lot less expensive. Without the dining plan, it would change which restaurants I would go to because you get such a great cash value at certain ones like Earl of Sandwich at DTD or Columbia Harbour House and MK. We always buy water and snacks for the room too.
To assuage the food budget guilt, one way to look at it is that hey, vacation is 10x the fun of a regular week...so the price tag balances out.
I will say that when my son was little and we stayed at the DTD hotels, we used the free breakfast every day at the hotel (which included made to order waffles and omelettes) which enabled us to only have lighter or shared lunches and then regular dinners. We saved A LOT that way.
Have fun!
Yes, I know I don't want to ruin the magic while there! We have the money already set aside for food & extras (need to decide how much to buy gift cards with!) but I think it's just the thought of spending that much money for food for a week which is stressing me, which is silly since it's vacation! I think I really need to change my mindset regarding this! We haven't been on vacation for 8 years (which is crazy! I can't believe it's been so long!) so the thought of spending so much for everything including food is insane to me. Of course, I am the only one who has been to Disney before so I should know better
We've been to disney a bunch of times and yet I still think "a week at disney or new carpeting in several rooms" but it comes down to the carpet isn't gonna say "But I don't want to leave grandma's house" ( 3 yr old DGD at AKV) or "sandbox sandbox" (2 yr old DGD at Stormalong bay) or "I saved us" (4 yr old DS at Mr. Toad's wild ride....many many yrs ago), or "swim poppa swim" (1 yr DGS at BLT splash pad).
Have a wonderful trip.
YES!!!! And thank you for the reminder. I cannot wait for this experience through my kid's eyes!
I used allears.net and the menus here at wdwinfo.com PLUS this sticky http://www.disboards.com/threads/buffet-character-shows-aycte-pricing-as-of-03-05-2015.3108466/ (for the pre-fixed meals)
We have a similar family situation, but no MIL coming, so two 2 adults, one 9 year old, and two 2 year olds.
We are staying 8 nights, I calculated $2108 for food and drinks, but we have a lot of TS meals planned
While T-Rex and Rainforest don't get the best reviews, we enjoy them. We are having one meal at Yak n Yeti Table Service and one meal at T-Rex, both are owned by Landry's. I am going to buy a Landry's membership for DH and one for me...these memberships cost $25, but you get a $25 credit. You also get a $25 credit in your birthday month (our birthdays are the month we go, but I've been told you can pick whatever birthday month you want). So anyhow, for $50 OOP, we will have $100 to spend at Landry's restaurants. I also got two $50 Landry's gift cards using Discover Cashback. So I will be $50 OOP for $200 worth of food. So anyhow, just another way to possibly save money. (I think places like Costco, Sam's Club, etc. also sell discounted Landry's gift cards)
Also, have you considered Cinderellas's Royal Table (breakfast is cheapest) or HDDR? While expensive, those are pre-paid (tip included!) so you can pay it now (with those Target gift cards even) and not get sticker shock when you eat. And even though they are expensive, for your family, this will be the cheapest time you will ever get to experience those since you won't have to pay for the 2 year olds and your older child will still be at child price.
We have a similar family situation, but no MIL coming, so two 2 adults, one 9 year old, and two 2 year olds.
We are staying 8 nights, I calculated $2108 for food and drinks, but we have a lot of TS meals planned
While T-Rex and Rainforest don't get the best reviews, we enjoy them. We are having one meal at Yak n Yeti Table Service and one meal at T-Rex, both are owned by Landry's. I am going to buy a Landry's membership for DH and one for me...these memberships cost $25, but you get a $25 credit. You also get a $25 credit in your birthday month (our birthdays are the month we go, but I've been told you can pick whatever birthday month you want). So anyhow, for $50 OOP, we will have $100 to spend at Landry's restaurants. I also got two $50 Landry's gift cards using Discover Cashback. So I will be $50 OOP for $200 worth of food. So anyhow, just another way to possibly save money. (I think places like Costco, Sam's Club, etc. also sell discounted Landry's gift cards)
Also, have you considered Cinderellas's Royal Table (breakfast is cheapest) or HDDR? While expensive, those are pre-paid (tip included!) so you can pay it now (with those Target gift cards even) and not get sticker shock when you eat. And even though they are expensive, for your family, this will be the cheapest time you will ever get to experience those since you won't have to pay for the 2 year olds and your older child will still be at child price.
Oh, another way maybe to squeeze in a cheaper character meal is to go for a VERY late breakfast.
You could, for instance, have a quick breakfast/cereal in the room, do rope drop in Magic Kingdom for a few hours, monorail over to Grand Floridian for 1900 PF breakfast at 11am or have a 10:30 Crystal Palace ADR right there in MK. The 2 year olds will be free, breakfast was cheap, this will count as lunch, and since it is a buffet, you can probably eat lighter that evening. (I see this was already suggested, but it is a good idea!)
You could, for instance, have a quick breakfast/cereal in the room, do rope drop in Magic Kingdom for a few hours, monorail over to Grand Floridian for 1900 PF breakfast at 11am or have a 10:30 Crystal Palace ADR right there in MK. The 2 year olds will be free, breakfast was cheap, this will count as lunch, and since it is a buffet, you can probably eat lighter that evening. (I see this was already suggested, but it is a good idea!)
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clambert1273
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2014
I view it this way... . there is no price tag when it comes to me not having to cook dinner every night or even other meals.. it is so much mentally easier to be able to show up, get fed then go LOL
Ladcassidy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2012
Another mom tip: Bring some instant oatmeal and macaroni and cheese cups with you. It's a cheap alternative to dinner out; better yet, it's an easy way to feed cranky kids (and parents) after a long day at the parks or the pool. We always end up with one evening that the idea of another hamburger is not going to cut it, and we are just too tired to search out anything else.
You could also find outside pizza delivery places. Don't call any place that leaves flyers at the hotel as those are usually scams, but there area few off-site places that will deliver that are talked about on the DIS. (Cheaper than room service at a deluxe and better than the pizza at moderate/value resorts.)
richmo
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2007
I've been there enough times and should know better, but I've always found the sticker shock of Disney to be meals. Having just returned, a typical cheeseburger, fries and drink (soda) meal runs about $14 give or take. Kids meals, of course, are less and table service considerably more.
There are several ways to save and many have already been mentioned. Have breakfast in your room, or if off-site, many establishments include free breakfast. For those, if you load up enough at breakfast, you may not need much of a lunch...often a snack will do. Even if staying onsite, depending upon length of stay, etc., it could even pay you to rent a car so you can eat at least dinner offsite. You'd have to work the numbers.
If you do all Disney table service, especially at dinner, its going to add up quickly. If your kids were a little older, one "bargain", if you want to call it that would be the Mezzo Metro pizza at Via Napoli (Epcot). Yes, $38 for a pizza is very expensive, but its big and easily serves 4 relatively hungry people. When you figure the per person cost, it comes down to a little under $10...way below almost every adult size dinner.
My main advice if dining costs are a concern would be to do your homework. The menus are all online; perhaps a dining plan would suit you. At least you would know your dining costs up front. You could also consider taking advantage of a free dining option when it pops up. The room would be full rack rate, but meal cost can rival accommodations cost, especially if you're staying in a Value.
There are several ways to save and many have already been mentioned. Have breakfast in your room, or if off-site, many establishments include free breakfast. For those, if you load up enough at breakfast, you may not need much of a lunch...often a snack will do. Even if staying onsite, depending upon length of stay, etc., it could even pay you to rent a car so you can eat at least dinner offsite. You'd have to work the numbers.
If you do all Disney table service, especially at dinner, its going to add up quickly. If your kids were a little older, one "bargain", if you want to call it that would be the Mezzo Metro pizza at Via Napoli (Epcot). Yes, $38 for a pizza is very expensive, but its big and easily serves 4 relatively hungry people. When you figure the per person cost, it comes down to a little under $10...way below almost every adult size dinner.
My main advice if dining costs are a concern would be to do your homework. The menus are all online; perhaps a dining plan would suit you. At least you would know your dining costs up front. You could also consider taking advantage of a free dining option when it pops up. The room would be full rack rate, but meal cost can rival accommodations cost, especially if you're staying in a Value.
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