3 Meals a Day at Disney?

[Miss Kelly]

Ack... I don't know what to budget for our food spending at Disney. There will be 5 of us, 3 adults, a 12 year old, and a 6 year old. Staying onsite for 6 nights. Will have grocery store stop (or grocery delivery).

I've been planning for 3 meals a day, but I don't know if we will actually eat that much. We like to eat (LOL!), but this is everyone's first trip and I don't know if anyone will actually want to sit down and eat.

We have Priority Seatings at Cinderella's Castle, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, 50s Primetime Cafe, Rainforest Cafe, and Boatwrights. Do you think I have too many PS's?

I also need to budget for eating lunch at the airport. Hmmmm....

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? I would really appreciate the feedback. Thanks!

 

[MUFFYCAT]

We eat one big sit down meal a day, usually late lunch or dinner. We stay concierge so we eat breakfast in the lounge. For lunch we will have a lite meal from the snack/fast food places at the parks. We're very big eaters and this usually works out fine for us.

 

[Coach Rick]

Last year I planned for 3 meals for the 5 of us. I went the food voucher route, but came home with 12 food vouchers left. We were there for 7 days, so my guess is I over estimated our food intake. From now on I am planning on 1 big meal, and a light meal, with some snacks in between. Of course on Hoop Dee Doo day it's pretty much lite snacks for the day.

 

[crisi]

We aren't normally big breakfast eaters, so we usually do breakfast in the room. Pre-DVC pop tarts or cereal bars. Now with a kitchen cereal or bagels or even eggs. Always coffee.

We eat lunch right at 11am when the lunch counters open. We schedule dinner for 5:30ish with a snack inbetween. We have taken to always doing a sit down dinner, by 5:30 I want a waitress and an adult beverage.

 

[ceecee]

We usually only make 3 PS s for a 10 day stay. We don't like to be locked into having to be somewhere and hungary at a certain time. Normally we go off season, so we can usually get it without the PS. Except for Cinderella's breakfast.

 

[Miss Kelly]

Thank you all for the insight.

I've got in my head that we will eat one sit down meal a day (minus our day at BB) and the rest will be counter service meals. We will be bringing some snacks and breakfast foods from home too.

Do you think $1200 is just right?

 

[lrjc]

Since your onsight, you may qualify for the MWW dining, $35.00 day adult, $10.00 day child, includes 1 sit down, 1 counter service, and a snack every day. That may be cheaper for you.

 

[Savin4Disney]

we are doing the dining plan. So we will have one counter and one sit down a day. I am not sure about breakfast. But I am planning on sending stuff down for quick breakfast in the morning. Sometimes we eat in the morning and sometimes we don't.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Young kids will probably need their 3 meals per day plus snacks as they do at home.

Older kids (tweens/teens) and adults don't need to be so rigid.

We have often found ourselves stuffed by one meal (sit down or counter) and just nibbling for the other. But we do breakfast (enough to satisfy us no matter the type).

On buffet days--that can be your one big meal and you can safely nibble for the others (Except the kiddos).

I would recommend not doing more than 1 PS per day and just plan your eating as you go based on the type of PS you will be having for the day.

 

[Debbie]

For our family, it's one meal a day plus snacks (and not a lot of those), breakfast in the room and everyone is satisfied. Usually, our meal is counter service, so for those days that are sit down, we are really stuffed. The one thing that I insist on, though, is the WATER....since we usually are there in August, that is the real concern. Have a great time!

 

[PolyAddict]

I am NOT a big ps fan.

On our last 7 night visit. We had 3 ps's and cancelled one.

I will only make one this trip for CRT.

It is far to expensive for a family of five with 2 kids considered adults to eat sit down meals.

We are not big eaters and can get away with a soft pretzel for lunch.

I am budgeting $850.00 for 6 days, for 2 adults and 3 kids. I based this off of previous spending.

Counter service is usually $30-40 for lunch or dinner. Sit downs anywhere from 60-120. ugh!!!!!

Good Luck

Michele

 

[marcyinPA]

Generally, when we go to DW, we eat a big breakfast (usually a buffet) and skip lunch, then have a nice dinner. We will get a snack in the middle of the day, plus I bring snacks from home, so the kids have access to fruit, crackers, juice, etc.

I am not a huge eater, and neither is my 5 y/o ds. My dh and my 9 y/o ds like to eat, but I have to say that when we are on vacation, and if it is hot, they don't eat much either.

I don't think we've EVER eaten 3 squares a day at WDW!!

 

[Greg]

It’s looks like your getting a lot of good advice. There was a suggestion about doing one of the meal plans and for your family it would run about $1250. Unless you're sure you want to eat a Disney snack in the park everyday and counter service everyday AND a sit down meal everyday. You might want to opt for eating when you want and probably not spending $1250. I think you could do it for less. Plus you would be surprised how much time you can spend eating!

Greg

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We have always planned one PS per day and will continue to do so.

I enjoy sitting down and relaxing to eat as a family. And that is with 3 kids under 6.

I don't mind spending the $$$ because we just consider it part of the vacation.

Also, the character meals are such a great way for the kiddos to see the characters without having to stand in line.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[disneymom3]

Have you looked at the menus and prices on www.allearsnet.net ? That would help you to get a real idea of what to expect to spend. Always overestimate is my motto!

 

[totalia]

How many people actually eat three large meals a day?

I rarely ever have breakfast and only a small lunch. Dinner is my main meal.

 

[sconnell]

Ok, maybe it's just me, but the dining plan seems to be the way to go. Somebody, check my math. $35 x 4 adults = $140 + $10 for child = $150/day x 6 days = $900 or $150/day x 7 days = $1050

That's less than you budgeted.

 

[disneymom3]

Ok, maybe it's just me, but the dining plan seems to be the way to go. Somebody, check my math. $35 x 4 adults = $140 + $10 for child = $150/day x 6 days = $900 or $150/day x 7 days = $1050

That's less than you budgeted.

But to get the dining package, you have to pay rack rate (book a package)and that may negate any savings.

 

[sconnell]

Man, I knew you had to book a package, but I didn't think about having to pay, dare I say it, "rack rate!" AHH! We probably won't ever get the package, because DH is about to get a gastric bypass and would never eat enough for it to benefit.