$40 a Day for Dining at Disney

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

stayhomemom77, when are you going?

 

[stayhomemom77]

stayhomemom77, when are you going?

Ahhh! That's an excellent question. It's also one I can't answer. What I mean is...I don't KNOW when our next trip is going to be, but I'm still holding out hope that we can take advantage of free dining and go from August 28th to Sept 3rd. In that case, this thread and all I've learned from it won't help me.

However, at the moment that trip doesn't look good. If we can't go then we'd be looking at end of April 2012 in which case we'd not be likely to get free dining and then we WOULD be able to put one of these plans into action. If I had my way, I'd do BOTH trips but DH would never go for that.

I too, wish I could go more often. HE wishes I wasn't a Disney addict.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Okay, I worked on a plan that averaged out to be just under $90 a day for us. There is a tiny bit of cheating in that there is a bit of sharing and I think I have a kid's meal once and I also didn't add in much in the way of snacks. There ARE a couple of desserts though!

When coming up with this plan I looked at the Room Discount offer that's on and we talked about doing only two parks during a summer trip so you'll see that AK and Epcot don't exist on this plan.

I have 12 meals...8 TS and 4 CS and I think this looks just about right!!

So, here it is!!
Grand Total for 6 days: $533.55
Averages out to just under $90 per day

MK
LTT
Dad Freedom Pasta/soda
Mom Pilgrim's Feast
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal

Plaza
Dad Cheese steak/soda
Mom Plaza Club
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal
Daily Total: $118.52

HS
Sci Fi
Dad Burger and Shake
Mom Burger and Shake
DD Share with MOM
DS Share with DAD

Mama Melrose
Dad Carne Flatbread/soda
Mom Chicken Flatbread
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal
Daily Total: $103.60

Day One
Beaches and Cream
Dad Hot Dog/soda
Mom Hot Dog
DD Hot Dog
DS share with DD

Snack Fudge Mud Slide to share

Captain Cook's
Dad Stir Fry Noodles/soda
Mom Grilled Cheese
DD Kid's Meal
DS Uncrustable
Daily Total: $70.78

Day Two
Raglan Road
Dad Fish and Chips/soda
Mom BELT
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal

food court
Large Cheese Pizza/drinks to share

Daily Total: $78.57

Day Three
Turf Club
Dad BBQ Pork Tend/soda
Mom Fish and Chips
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal

Earl of Sandwich
Dad sandwich/soda
Mom sandwich/brownie
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal
Daily Total: $81.80

Day Four
ESPN Club
Dad Pulled Pork/soda
Mom ESPN Dinger
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal

POR food court
Dad BYO Pasta/soda
Mom Kid's Turkey, Magic Cookie Bar
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal
Daily Total: $80.29

 

[Stinky_Pete]

?..I determined I would find out if I could create a dining plan specifically tailored for my family.

We always eat breakfast in our room (cereal and bagels, juice) that we bring from home. We also always bring drinks with us into the park with or without the dining plan. So we need lunch, dinner and snacks while we are out and about which is why the DDP usually worked well for us....

...Of course, this is different from the dining plan in that we don't always get drinks (I get ice water because that's what I prefer to drink) and NEVER dessert but the $100 total does include tax and tip and more importantly...it's nearly EXACTLY what we would eat!!

Back when the ddp included appetizers and gratuity, it was a no-brainer that it was usually a good value. Now that it doesn't, I agree that you really need to think about how your group really eats in order to determine if the ddp is right for you.

I usually don't order a dessert. I prefer an appetizer. Unless I can get a cheese plate as my dessert. So on ddp I can't get an appetizer, but can get a dessert I usually don't want. No bargain for me.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Back with more because apparently, this is my go-to stress reliever!

This plan is a spin on Sharonabe's other thread dealing with 2 adults sharing appetizers and making a meal out of that.

I wanted to keep the budget to $100 a day (averaged out) and eat at mostly TS places by sharing an appetizer and an entree between DH and myself. Sometimes it worked out better to each get our own but here's what I've got!

9 TS/3 QS Grand Total $591.78

Animal Kingdom Daily Total $116.43

Yak and Yeti
Appetizer Wok Fried Green Beans
Entrée Chicken Lo Mein
DD Kid's Meal with water
DS Kid's Meal with water

Kona Café
Appetizer Sticky Wings
Entrée BBQ Pork Chop
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal


Hollywood Studios Daily Total $106.47

Sci Fi
Dad Burger and shake
Mom Burger and shake
DD Share with Mom
DS Share with Dad

Mama Melrose
Appetizer Carne Flatbread
Entrée Chicken Pipette
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal


Magic Kingdom Daily Total $99.38

Liberty T Tavern
Appetizer New England Clam Chowder
Entrée Pilgrim's Feast
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal

Plaza
Dad Cheesesteak Sandwich
Mom Plaza Club
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal


Non Park Day Daily Total $78.57

Raglan Road
Dad Fish and Chips/soda
Mom BELT
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal

food court
All to share a large Cheese Pizza and drinks

Non Park Day Daily Total $81.80

Turf Club
Dad BBQ Pork Tend/soda
Mom Fish and Chips
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal

Earl of Sandwich
Dad sandwich/soda
Mom sandwich/brownie
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal


Epcot Daily Total $109.13

Beaches and Cream
Dad Hot Dog/soda
Mom Hot Dog
DD Hot Dog
DS share with DD
Fudge Mud Slide to share

Rose and Crown
Appetizer Cheese and fruit plate
Entrée Surf and Turf
DD Kid's Meal
DS Kid's Meal

 

[Diegosmom]

Love this thread...

Something that was mentioned a few pages back was getting kids meals under what the meal plan cost and that was hard pressed...

But I wanted to trow out there that if you have a younger child or a light eater they might already do a lot of sharing. DS4 is a good eater but when we go out to eat he never seems to eat much.

Example we went to chilis this weekend...DS had only eaten fruit for breakfast and this was at 1pm...

DH order soda and a meal
We order chips and salsa for an app
DS ordered a frozen drink (only .99)
I ordered tacos with fries and a salad as my sides.
We did not order DS anything and I ordered water.

DS ate a good amount of chips and had a few fries, didnt touch the taco I shared with him. Hubby ate everything, lol...I ate my salad some fries and ending up eating 1 taco (just cause it was hot lol)...and we ended up bringing home a ton of fries and 2 tacos...I later said to hubby next time I am just going to order a side salad and side of fries...

Now was this a healthy meal for DS...well nope but he did have fruit for breakfast lol...

And although I would have loved dessert...I really couldnt fit it in...

Often times when we go out we will order DS a kids meal and we usually bring home most of it (and I usually bring home half my meal). Now when we are at home this works fine but in the parks...If we had a TS dining and brought the leftovers back to our room when would we eat them...maybe if we took an afternoon break the next day but we are going in Jan and probably wont take afternoon breaks...plus DH wont have left overs (he never does) and so he will have to get some lunch or eat ours (and he is picky about what he eats)...

Now if you do a lot of buffets of course this wont work cause you have to pay for the kid anyway. But we arent big buffet people and if we do a big buffet lunch I wont want a big dinner a snack or 2 would be fine by me...

I really like the idea of sharing and then snacking ...

So if no FREE dining offer comes out for Jan wee will be doing OP and I am pretty sure we can do our family of 3 for under $100 a day (probably under $90)...

Thanks again all...

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I agree with Diegosmom. My 2 little ones usually share a kids meal and sometimes my 6 year old finishes one and sometimes she eats half. We went to dinner once and my 4 kids could've split 2 kids meals between them. I'm going back through some menus to see if there are any appetizers they may like to share.

 

[RFrank9504]

thats really clever! We live in So. Fla and visit regularly so we like to keep a tight budget. so we can come up 4-5 weekends a year. we generally pack all our own food for bfast and lunch and east a sensible QS dinner (there's 4 of us and my kids always bring a friend). I could definietly weigh it out though to see if this may be better than going to costco, loading it all up and prepping it, pack it and store it. Thanks for the post.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Back with more.

This time it's one ts meal, one cs meal and two snacks...sometimes with drinks and/or desserts and sometimes not.

This one was fun...a good plan for someone not at all worried about their waistline on vacation because there are tons of sweets.

Enjoy!!

**All meals and snacks served with an ice water unless otherwise stated


Epcot $39.51
Snack #1 Pretzel from Sommerfest, med soda
Rose and Crown Open Faced Chicken Sandwich, Sticky Toffee Pudding
Boulangerie Patisserie Ham/Cheese Croissant, Choc Milk, Cream Puff
Snack #2 Kaki Gori

Magic Kingdom $39.79
Snack #1 Cream Cheese Pretzel from Launching Pad, Med Soda
Plaza Plaza Club with Shake
Casey's Corner Hot Dog Meal with med soda
Snack #2 Dole Whip from Aloha Isle

Hollywood Studios $39.71
Snack #1 M&M Brownie from Starring Rolls, small milk
Mama Melrose Four Cheese Flatbread and Gelato
Fairfax Fare Fairfax Salad and Bottled Water
Snack #2 Carrot Cake Cookie from Writer's Stop

Animal Kingdom $39.62
Snack #1 Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich
Tusker House Lunch Buffet
Yak and Yeti Egg Roll and Fried Rice with ice water
Snack #2 none (would be too full with a buffet TS meal anyway)

Non Park Day $39.94
Snack #1 Single Dipped Pretzel from Goofy's Candy Company
Beaches and Cream Single Cheeseburger, No Way Jose
Captain Cook's Grilled Cheese Sandwich, med soda, cheese danish
Snack #2 Magic Cookie Bar from Riverside Mill

 

[RHMH]

It is our Spring Break and I ended up catching an episode of Rachel Ray's $40 a Day television show. She was in North Carolina and seemed rather impressed with herself that she ate three meals and a snack for under $40.

I think that should be pretty easy outside of really expensive places like Rome, Paris, or New York. Then my mind turned to Disney World, so I decided to see if I could put together a menu at each park where an adult could have Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a snack for under $40.

Here are my self imposed rules:

No DDP or Tables in Wonderland.
No Kids Meals for Adults.
At least one sit down meal per day.
Leave a tip of 18% (I do not want to argue this, just used this number as it is the one Disney suggests most prominently)
Drink something besides water for at least two meals per day.
Vacation food that either myself or immediate family would actually eat.
Try to include some Disney specific foods either exclusive to Disney or very rare elsewhere.

Prices listed include tax for counter service, and tax plus tip for Table Service.
Bolded meal is the Table Service


Animal Kingdom: $39.28

Rainforest Cafe for Breakfast. Tonga Toast and a Coffee $15.04.
Pizzafari for Lunch. Ceasar Salad plus Chicken with a soda. $10.63
Dinner at Flame Tree. 1/2 slab of Ribs with Beans and Slaw and water $11.17
Snack: Churro $2.44


Disney Hollywood Studios: $39.42

Starring Rolls for Breakfast. Choc. PB Cup Cake and Milk $5.84
Fairfax Fare for Lunch. 1/2 Chicken with sides and lemonade $12.66
Momma Melrose for Dinner. Pepperoni Flatbread and soda $17.78
Writer's Shop for snack. Carrot Cake Cookie $3.14

Epcot: $39.94

Sunshine Seasons for Breakfast. Oatmeal with raisins and hot tea $5.31
Chefs de France Fixed Price three course lunch and water $24.90
Boulangerie for Dinner. Ham and Cheese Croissant with Strawberry Smoothie $7.61
Kringla for snack. School Bread $2.12


Magic Kingdom: $39.43

Breakfast at Mainstreet Bakery. Cinnamon Roll and Coffee $5.95
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern. Colony Salad and Iced tea $19.77
Dinner at Columbia Harbor House. Fried fish basket and soda $10.31
Snack at Aloha Isle: Dole Whip $3.40


So, how did I do?
What would you change?

RHMH Here- I think you did very well in planning the Park and Meals, Great Job!!!

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

RHMH,
are you saying you have 20 cats and 4 dogs, or a 20 year old cat and a 4 year old dog?

stayathomemom77,
love the new addition. I am ready to go try it right now. (Alas, if only I could.)

 

[RHMH]

RHMH,
are you saying you have 20 cats and 4 dogs, or a 20 year old cat and a 4 year old dog?

stayathomemom77,
love the new addition. I am ready to go try it right now. (Alas, if only I could.)

I guess I should correct that, it is misleading. I have a 20 year old Siamese and a 4 year old Eskimo Spitz.

Thanks

 

[stayhomemom77]

Can you dine for $40 a day with a buffet each day?

Yes you can!!

Animal Kingdom $39.73
Tusker House Lunch Buffet
Trilo-Bites Turkey Leg and med soda
Kusafiri Cinnamon Roll

Magic Kingdom $39.84
Ohana 11 am Breakfast Reservation as an early lunch
Casey's Hot Dog Meal and a Choc Milk
Lunching Pad Cream Cheese Pretzel

Magic Kingdom $39.93
Crystal Palace Lunch Buffet
Friar's Nook Fresh Potato Chips with cheese and chili and ice water
Main Street Bakery Crumb Cake

Magic Kingdom $39.91
Whispering Canyon Lunch Skillet--All you care to eat
Columbia H House Fried Shrimp Basket and med soda
Aloha Isle Dole Whip

Epcot $39.28
Biergarten Lunch Buffet
Boulangerie Patisserie Ham and Cheese Croissant
Treat Cart Box of Popcorn

Hollywood Studios $38.68
Trail's End Breakfast Buffet
Backlot Express Hot Dog Meal Lunch
Writer's Stop Carrot Cake Cookie snack
Rosie's Café Chicken Nugget Meal Dinner

 

[LaLaDisney]

bumping! Awesome thread. Stayhomemom77 I am impressed!

 

[cymbaldiva]

bumping! Awesome thread. Stayhomemom77 I am impressed!

Very impressive! Also many thanks to the brilliant creator of this thread Eeyore's Wife - thank you for your wonderful idea!!!

 

[Deealee]

Can you dine for $40 a day with a buffet each day?

Yes you can!!

Animal Kingdom $39.73
Tusker House Lunch Buffet
Trilo-Bites Turkey Leg and med soda
Kusafiri Cinnamon Roll

Magic Kingdom $39.84
Ohana 11 am Breakfast Reservation as an early lunch
Casey's Hot Dog Meal and a Choc Milk
Lunching Pad Cream Cheese Pretzel

Magic Kingdom $39.93
Crystal Palace Lunch Buffet
Friar's Nook Fresh Potato Chips with cheese and chili and ice water
Main Street Bakery Crumb Cake

Magic Kingdom $39.91
Whispering Canyon Lunch Skillet--All you care to eat
Columbia H House Fried Shrimp Basket and med soda
Aloha Isle Dole Whip

Epcot $39.28
Biergarten Lunch Buffet
Boulangerie Patisserie Ham and Cheese Croissant
Treat Cart Box of Popcorn

Hollywood Studios $38.68
Trail's End Breakfast Buffet
Backlot Express Hot Dog Meal Lunch
Writer's Stop Carrot Cake Cookie snack
Rosie's Café Chicken Nugget Meal Dinner

I love this!

I may have to change some of my dinner ADRs to lunch.

 

[SunnieRN]

It is our Spring Break and I ended up catching an episode of Rachel Ray's $40 a Day television show. She was in North Carolina and seemed rather impressed with herself that she ate three meals and a snack for under $40.

I think that should be pretty easy outside of really expensive places like Rome, Paris, or New York. Then my mind turned to Disney World, so I decided to see if I could put together a menu at each park where an adult could have Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a snack for under $40.

Here are my self imposed rules:

No DDP or Tables in Wonderland.
No Kids Meals for Adults.
At least one sit down meal per day.
Leave a tip of 18% (I do not want to argue this, just used this number as it is the one Disney suggests most prominently)
Drink something besides water for at least two meals per day.
Vacation food that either myself or immediate family would actually eat.
Try to include some Disney specific foods either exclusive to Disney or very rare elsewhere.

Prices listed include tax for counter service, and tax plus tip for Table Service.
Bolded meal is the Table Service


Animal Kingdom: $39.28

Rainforest Cafe for Breakfast. Tonga Toast and a Coffee $15.04.
Pizzafari for Lunch. Ceasar Salad plus Chicken with a soda. $10.63
Dinner at Flame Tree. 1/2 slab of Ribs with Beans and Slaw and water $11.17
Snack: Churro $2.44


Disney Hollywood Studios: $39.42

Starring Rolls for Breakfast. Choc. PB Cup Cake and Milk $5.84
Fairfax Fare for Lunch. 1/2 Chicken with sides and lemonade $12.66
Momma Melrose for Dinner. Pepperoni Flatbread and soda $17.78
Writer's Shop for snack. Carrot Cake Cookie $3.14

Epcot: $39.94

Sunshine Seasons for Breakfast. Oatmeal with raisins and hot tea $5.31
Chefs de France Fixed Price three course lunch and water $24.90
Boulangerie for Dinner. Ham and Cheese Croissant with Strawberry Smoothie $7.61
Kringla for snack. School Bread $2.12


Magic Kingdom: $39.43

Breakfast at Mainstreet Bakery. Cinnamon Roll and Coffee $5.95
Lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern. Colony Salad and Iced tea $19.77
Dinner at Columbia Harbor House. Fried fish basket and soda $10.31
Snack at Aloha Isle: Dole Whip $3.40


So, how did I do?
What would you change?

This thread started out great and kept getting better!!! We usually do the QS planand add in one or two TS meals during a week. I used to love it when you got two drinks with breakfast, as well as being able to use your refillable mugs! We would buy one platter breakfast amd one oatmeal for 4 of us, 2A/2C, and it was perfect as none of us wanted to eat much, but the boys each got milk or juice and we used our mugs for coffee or ice water.

Now, we are bringing breakfast items. there are 5 of us, 3A/2C, who are VERYpicky. I am trying hard to figure out if we will be better off with the QS dining plan, or with OOP. The boys love popscicles, and bottled water, which in August they drink a LOT of. They only pick at meals when it is hot, so a lot of the time we end up sharing with them from our plates. You really have me thinking hard of what would be better. lol.

I don't like desserts with my meal, only an occassional sweet, but my daughter and son in law like them and the kids will take a bite or tw of mine. I don't mind tossing extra sweet stuff, but HATE to waste food.

Think I'll try a plan out. We are going in August, for 1 week at Saratoga Springs, with only 4 park days (we're using military tickets for the first time). I think this is a good plan with a 3 and 5 year old and a very grumpy son in law.

My trial plan is up next!

 

[SunnieRN]

I have NO idea what happened, but it showed up yet again.

 

[SunnieRN]

Woah, when I hit send, this duplicated?!

 

[SunnieRN]

My days will not be in order of what we are doing, just a daily plan, to see if we can save money.

Animal Kingdom Day:

Breakfast: in room

Lunch:
SILepperoni Pizza combo $8.69
Daughter:H. I. Sand $8.59
Me: Antipasta salad or H.I. $8.59
Grandmunchkins: Ch Pizza $8.39 (to split)
2 sodas/2ice waters to share $5.00
$41.86 with tax

Snacks at park:

Itzakadoozie x 2 $6.50
Pork egg rolls $4.49
Ice cream cookie sand. x 2 $8.38
Cold water x 4 $10.00
$31.28 with tax

Now, for my disclaimer. The kids get VERY hot, they don't eat well at all. If they get an ice cream, they only eat about a 1/3 of it, or about 1/2 a popscicle, but will drink at least 1-2 bottles of water a day. The ice water in cups from stands is good enough for me, but now you see why we like snack credits.

Dinner would most likely be after park closing at Saratoga Springs or DTD:

WGPE:
SIL: Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf $14.00
Daughter: Oven Rstd Salmon $17.00
Me: 1/2 Chicken dinner $15.00 Shared with boys/sub fries for them
Boys: Kids cheese pizza, split $ 9.00 Not positive of this price
Drinks: 3 A/2 Milks $ 9.95
Total with tax/tip $49.57

Total for the day: $122.71

This may be more than we would spend, but with a light breakfast, a popscicle and water before lunch, lunch with water and ice cream after, it sounds about right. We would have food leftover from WGPE, but I tried to make it as close as possible to QSDP, without the desserts we don't always eat.

Our dining plan cost is $129.00 per day. This would have 6 adult meals, 4 kids meals, 10 snacks and 6 omg, I don't want to look at anything else sweet, desserts every day. We would also each have had our own drink at lunch, which I wouldn't exactly miss and our refillable mugs for in the morning on the way to AK and to pour the boys drinks in to prevent spills, as well as for hot cocoa, or tea at night.

I'll be curious as to how it works out on other park days or non park days also.