Budget for food

[Andipandi]

I had a question about how much to budget for food for our December Disney vacation. We will eat breakfast at our villa in the morning. We will probably eat at CS for lunch and TS for dinner and maybe a snack during the day but we're not big snackers so probably not everyday. We love the restaurants around Epcot and DTD. So how much should I budget for a family of four for meals? Is $200 a day enough or should it be more? And since we haven't been to Disney since 2005 are there any new restaurants we should try that weren't there before?

 

[smiths02]

You sound like you will usually eat like the Dining Plan. I am not saying that you should get the dining plan, I am saying that is where I would start from a budget perspective.

So how many adults (people who will order adult meals and/or be charged as adults) and how many children (9 and under)?

Currently DDP Price is $60.04 per night for adult and $19.23 per night for child

Depending on the make-up of your party, $200 sounds about right to include tips

 

[Andipandi]

You sound like you will usually eat like the Dining Plan. I am not saying that you should get the dining plan, I am saying that is where I would start from a budget perspective.

So how many adults (people who will order adult meals and/or be charged as adults) and how many children (9 and under)?

Currently DDP Price is $60.04 per night for adult and $19.23 per night for child

Depending on the make-up of your party, $200 sounds about right to include tips

Our sons are 14 yrs old and 11 yrs old. So they would be considered adults on the dining plan? So I look up Disney dining plan and see how much it would be for 4 adults and that should give me an idea of cost? I want to make sure I plan enough money for the trip and I'm starting early. LOL Is the dining plan a good idea for our family?

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Our sons are 14 yrs old and 11 yrs old. So they would be considered adults on the dining plan? So I look up Disney dining plan and see how much it would be for 4 adults and that should give me an idea of cost? I want to make sure I plan enough money for the trip and I'm starting early. LOL Is the dining plan a good idea for our family?

You will want to take a look at the costs of the different types of meals you will most likely eat as well. If you will be eating the high end entrees then the DDP could benefit you. IF you mostly eat lower end food such as pasta and chicken then the DDP might not be your best bet. I would budget $10 per person for lunch and $35 per person for dinner. If you are an appetizer or dessert family then factor that in as well. You will all get a dessert and drink if you choose the DDP.

 

[smiths02]

Our sons are 14 yrs old and 11 yrs old. So they would be considered adults on the dining plan? So I look up Disney dining plan and see how much it would be for 4 adults and that should give me an idea of cost? I want to make sure I plan enough money for the trip and I'm starting early. LOL Is the dining plan a good idea for our family?

Will your sons eat like adults? Will you eat a lot of pre-fixed price meals (where they would be charged as adults anyhow).

You can probably eat cheaper than the dining plan especially if you avoid pre-fixed price meals (buffets, etc), go for cheaper entrees (burger vs. steak), don't need soda and dessert with every meal. I would bet you can eat for the $200/day depending on appetites.

For instance:
If you go to Raglan Road and each order soda ($3 each, I'm not sure, just guessing), serious steak ($29 each) and bread pudding ($8.50 each)....that's about $173 with tax. That day you each got a snack that would be about $17 give or take. So if you spend $50 on the 4 counter service meals, then you will have broken even with the dining plan.

However, if you go to Raglan Road, only two want a soda ($6), one gets steak ($29), one gets fish and chips ($20), one burger ($16), and risotto ($18), you spilt two desserts ($17)...about $113 with taxes. It was a day you didn't feel like snacking. Then you would have to spend $126 on counter service food., which would be impossible for 4 counter service meals.

 

[Skullcrusher]

I always budget $100 per person per day. That leaves room for little snacks throught the day, additional drinks and tips.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

I always budget $100 per person per day. That leaves room for little snacks throught the day, additional drinks and tips.

That seems like a lot to me, though maybe right. Let's say maybe $25 per person (max) for a QS meal and $50 for a table service, plus $10 for 2 snacks, and that only gets you to $85 (plus tax/tip). Depending on where you eat, you can have a QS meal for no more than $10, and a TS meal for around $20, so you can get by for less than $50 a day, even with snacks.

 

[madcore]

I always budget $100 per person per day. That leaves room for little snacks throught the day, additional drinks and tips.

That sounds like a lot to me but then if your teenagers are like mine, they eat like ogres...$100 seems a bit too much if you ask me. That being said, you are probably better off to plan more than you will need. You will come back with some spare money

 

[CarolynFH]

Check out the menus here on the DIS and on All Ears to get an idea of what your family might eat and how much it would cost. Look for details re the dining plan on the WDW website - there are several levels at various costs. Be aware that the dining plan covers entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage but does not cover appetizer or salad (except entree-size salad). So if you prefer to have appetizer/salad with your dinner and don't usually eat dessert, the dining plan is probably not for you.

 

[FelisLachesis]

I budgeted like I was going to buy the dining plan, but then stopped short of actually buying it (I couldn't purchase the plan, anyway, because I bought my tickets through a discount site).

When all was said and done, I checked the numbers over what my family bought vs. what would have happened under the dining plan. We would have left 2 TS, and 7 QS credits on the table. On the flip side, we would have overspent 12 snack credits. Yes, our eating habits probably would have changed a bit if the DDP had been actually bought. I probably would have held off some snacks to find a burger.

All in all though, and my family eats like a mouse (sorry Mickey), I spent $150 less after tips than I would have by purchasing the DDP before tips (and not counting the 12 too many snacks). We also opted not to buy the refillable mugs, instead going with a few purchased 2 liter sodas and use of the mini-fridge.

So, if nothing else, seeing how much the DDP would cost is a good base to start for a budget, even if you're not planning on purchasing it. Then add a little more money for incidentals and eating habits.

 

[Andipandi]

Thank you for all the information. After reading all your posts and doing what you said (checking the prices of meals we would actually eat) we have decided not to buy the DDP. We like appetizers sometimes instead of a big meal. We hardly ever eat dessert. My husband and I don't drink soda. However, we do like a glass of wine or a good beer with dinner. So with that being said, I really appreciate all the help in making this decision. When you are a newbie to Disney again after so many years it can be overwhelming trying to make the best decision for your family. If money was no object than it wouldn't be a big deal but since we are like so many other families we are trying to find the best deals and have a great experience. Thank you all again!!

 

[tb1972]

We have a DD12 who could not eat an adult entree even though she's considered a Disney adult. By not buying the dining plan, we have the ability to order her a child's meal if that's what she wants.

 

[misscmac]

Thank you for all the information. After reading all your posts and doing what you said (checking the prices of meals we would actually eat) we have decided not to buy the DDP. We like appetizers sometimes instead of a big meal. We hardly ever eat dessert. My husband and I don't drink soda. However, we do like a glass of wine or a good beer with dinner. So with that being said, I really appreciate all the help in making this decision. When you are a newbie to Disney again after so many years it can be overwhelming trying to make the best decision for your family. If money was no object than it wouldn't be a big deal but since we are like so many other families we are trying to find the best deals and have a great experience. Thank you all again!!

If you will be having breakfast in the villa, I may also consider purchasing a case of bottled water and snacks to keep in the room and bring to the park. I had a grocery service deliver items (breakfast, water, soda, snacks) on our arrival day for our last trip and this definitely saved us money over the course of the trip!

 

[Andipandi]

If you will be having breakfast in the villa, I may also consider purchasing a case of bottled water and snacks to keep in the room and bring to the park. I had a grocery service deliver items (breakfast, water, soda, snacks) on our arrival day for our last trip and this definitely saved us money over the course of the trip!

I've never heard about a grocery service. How did you find it? Did Disney give you the number? Sounds interesting.

 

[Amirah95]

I plan our budget by looking at menus and prices...looking through them to try to figure out what each person may order and go from there. I know my family well so I go through menus to make sure they will even eat from that restaurant. I had to change my plans last night so I have to go over again. Also, we are heavy cold water drinkers so that goes into our snack budget, we don't carry water around.

 

[misscmac]

I've never heard about a grocery service. How did you find it? Did Disney give you the number? Sounds interesting.

I used Garden Grocer: https://www.gardengrocer.com/

I placed the order online a few weeks before our trip and all items were delivered the morning we arrived. I was able to get a bunch of fruit, yogurt, cream cheese, a case of bottled water, bottled soda, and milk. There are usually coupon codes available to save a small amount on your order as well!

We also brought some bagels and other prepackaged snacks from home (Goldfish, raisins, granola bars, cereal, etc.). This was especially important traveling with a toddler, but we all appreciated being able to pack a bag with our favorite snacks in the AM and have them whenever we want throughout the day!

 

[Groomer Gal]

We always have Garden Grocer deliver breakfast items, milk, some juice boxes, healthy snacks, fresh fruit and water.
We have breakfast in our villa. (I'm not a breakfast person but the rest of my family is)
We generally carry a few waters and a couple snacks in the parks for our daughters.

The last couple years we did the dining plan because it was actually cost effective considering how many Charecter meals my daughters wanted to do.
However, now they are considered Disney Adults now and have sort of outgrown the Charecter meals so this year we are paying OOP.

For us...we were SO full all the time on the dining plan. That is not the way my family normally eats...it's really too much !

We are only doing 4 TS meals....the rest counyer service during our 10 day trip. (We also have learned that we don't want to be tied to sooooo many ADR's because it limits our freedom)
I've gone through all the menus and even including a snack every day it averages out to a little over $150 a day for us. The dining plan would be $240.
Now of course that would be a counter service and a TS every day during our trip but again...we don't generally eat that way so it's not smart to spend the extra $90 per day. ( OMG....we were sooooo stuffed every day....got incredibly uncomfortable TBH)
OH! we are also getting the Tables in Wonderland card which will discount our TS meals by 20%. (This will be for 2 trips for this year...and possibly a third before the TIW card expires so it will more than pay for itself )

Anyway...I would really go through the menus and see how your family will eat. It really might save you a lot of $$.