$100 p/d for Food

[nyyankees5]

Hello all I am new to this board and have enjoyed reading all of the other post.

Myself, DH, DS, DD will be arriving in the World on 9/25. Two nights at ASMo, 7 nights at Mom's timeshare off property. We have a $100 p/d food budget and was wondering if this is possible. We will be have breakfast in our room, bringing lunch and snacks for the kids, If we are hunger we will probally share something quick. so only planing on splurging for dinner. DH likes to eat in the buffets. Kids are all under 3 so we won't have to pay for them. We are not drinkers, unless we start we we get down there. SIL, BIL, niece (15months) and MIL will be joining us also.

Any sugguestion you all could share would be greatly appreciate.

Thank you
Nyyankees5



P.S. how do you get the calendar countdown on your post.

 

[HeatherC]

Hi - Sounds like you will have a wonderful time. I think you will be able to eat on $100 per day. Especially since your kids are little.

I have 3 kids and we have been able to do it for about that our last couple of trips. One nice thing about Disney World, is that they do not make an issue of you bringing in food. (I know a lot of people may not think you should do this, but we do.) We have always had a stroller and we always fill a soft cooler pack underneath with drinks and snacks for the kids. My kids also get sick of hot dogs, fries, chicken nuggets, etc.. So I have packed sandwiches, cut up a watermelon and put it in a ziploc, little fruit cups, frozen grapes, cheese sticks, grapes, raisins, yogurts, etc.

If you and dh decide to buy lunch or dinner at a counter, your kids can just help themselves to the "cooler". THis way you can also guarantee they have their favorite foods and will eat probably healthier than if you bought it for them. My dd was only 18 months last time and they actually let us feed her from our "stash" during the Crystal Palace character lunch. (We didn't make a big deal of it, I just reached in and grabbed some raisins and cheese or whatever.) Plus....I don't think the buffets charge for under 3. So just load up your plates!

Another suggestion if you are on a tight budget but want to do a character meal is to try the Ice Cream Social (3pm or so) at the Garden Grill in Epcot. I think it is $6.99 a person and the ice cream is pretty big. It is an inexpensive option.

Have a wonderful trip.

Heather

 

[primax]

You will more than likely not even spend $100 a day. When you get back give us a better estimate as to your true daily expense if you don't mind.

 

[ceecee]

We'll be arriving the same day! DH, DD (7 yrs) and myself. $100.00 is probably high, since you plan on eating in your room. We usually don't spend that much even with snacks. DD and I share a lot. We usually do breakfast at the food court and counterserve at the parks or do sit down for a late lunch and have a light snack in the evening.

 

[nyyankees5]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I will post back on what our final budget was. We were driving but we have found airfare on "Song" for 146.00 p/p rt, and a rental car from thrifty for $177(intermidate).

I have no problem with bringing in snacks & sandwiches. It's not like I have a coleman cooler strapped to my back. With the kids, they don't always eat at the same time so it is just easier this way.

We will probally stick to the character buffets or just buffets. We have Chef Mickeys set for 9/30.... DS Birthday. He has been waiting all year for this. Also considering Hollywood & Vine priority seating for fantasmic. Already did mama melrose in 9/2001 but missed the show due to rain. Hope well catch it this year.

ceecee hope you have a wonderful trip also.

Erin
Nyyankees5

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Me, DH and then 8yo DD budgeted the same amount per day in 1999. Some days we used less, and that was carried over to the next, usually towards a full-service meal rather than counter-service. Figure about $40 for three counter service meals and approximately $60 for full-serve, sit-down meals or buffets. We did save $$ on one character buffet by using the "flex feature" option on our UMP (Unlimited Magic Pass) that was included in our Resort Magic package. This has since been replaced. Does the LOS (Length of Stay) pass offer options like the UMP?

 

[Alice28]

We averaged about $100 a day with our family of 4 (2 DS's ages 5 and 2). Most counter service meals were $27-29 and most sit-downs were $60-70. We went to several All-You-Can-Eat places- Whispering Canyon (we both had the skillet), Chef Mickey's, 'Ohana, Cape May Cafe and DS2 was free at those restaurants. The only other sit down we ate at with both kids (we had 3 grandparents along with us so the boys were often split up between us or the grandparents watched them so DH and I could enjoy a couple of meals on our own) was Rose & Crown and that was about $55. I think you will do fine, esp with two under 3 years old, they can split a kid's meal, which are fairly reasonable- between $4-5. We also carried around trail mix, granola bars and goldfish crackers to ease both hungry bellies and to fight boredom while waiting in lines. One last suggestion- buy a case of bottled water at a grocery store- we got a case of 24 bottles for $7 something at Kash and Karry...a bottle of water in the parks is $2.50 a pop.

 

[yesdisneyfool]

A few tips. When you get a soda, ask for no ice. The soda's are cold coming out the machines and without ice you get more. I'm not a big soda drinker so DW and I get the large and share.

Also, some counter service meals are large enough for 2, such as the Wraps at Pecos Bills in Fontierland. Get the Wrap and fries and a large soda with no ice adn the 2 of you will be more than full. You can do the same with burgers or chicken baskets. They also come with fries and add the large soda and you're set until the next meal.

Great buffets can be found cheaply - try TrailsIn Buffeteria in Fort Wilderness. Take the boat from MK to Pioneer Hall..for about $10 per person you can fill up.

Hollywood & Vine in MGM has a great buffet for about $16 per person (Dinner only). Hope this helps and have a magical stay.

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by nyyankees5
Thanks for all your suggestions. I will post back on what our final budget was. We were driving but we have found airfare on "Song" for 146.00 p/p rt, and a rental car from thrifty for $177(intermidate).




Erin
Nyyankees5

We got the same rate on Song out of JFK for October. Let us know how it goes with them!!!

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by nyyankees5
Thanks for all your suggestions. I will post back on what our final budget was. We were driving but we have found airfare on "Song" for 146.00 p/p rt, and a rental car from thrifty for $177(intermidate).....

I was tempted by Song's fare, and then by SW's $79. I finally booked when SW went down to $59 and THEN got a credit when they went down to $49! How do you NOT go with those fares???

I'm planning on spending about $100 a day on food, too, and it's just me and my two boys this trip. We'll eat breakfast in the villa and have lunch and dinner in the parks. I like having a nice dinner so I think we're safe with $100. (I hope!)