Budget Planning on Site Stay

[BOTL76]

Hello Disney Fans,

My family is going to be staying on property at Pop Century. It has been quite a few years since we stayed on site, so we are starting to plan our budget for our late April trip.

Curious if there are any websites or online resources for helping plan food costs? We know we can search the menus of each options for quick service and dining options at Disney World, but was wondering if any tools could help save us (me) some time to plan our all of our meals (and the costs associated with them).
We won't be going offsite so our entire trip will be staying within Disney.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Aladora]

Hello Disney Fans,

My family is going to be staying on property at Pop Century. It has been quite a few years since we stayed on site, so we are starting to plan our budget for our late April trip.

Curious if there are any websites or online resources for helping plan food costs? We know we can search the menus of each options for quick service and dining options at Disney World, but was wondering if any tools could help save us (me) some time to plan our all of our meals (and the costs associated with them).
We won't be going offsite so our entire trip will be staying within Disney.

Thanks for any help!

This calculator might be designed for seeing if the DDP is worth it, but if you take the time to put in your meals it will tell you approximately how much it would cost you OOP.

DDP Calculator

 

[DavidL]

@BOTL76 - Are you flying to Orlando or driving? We drive to Disney and bring breakfast items with us to the room. (Muffins, fruit, cereals) We stop at a grocery store when we get to Orlando and get our fruit and muffin type items. We buy our first 1/2 gallon jug of milk at the grocery store and when we need refills, we buy the 1/2 gallon jugs of milk at the resort. (not in the food court, but in the merchandise store area). By eating breakfast in our room, we are able to save a bunch of money and buy the other 2 meals at the resort or at the parks.

 

[ottawamom]

BOTL76 If you are budgeting you will need to do some research. How much and what kind of food your family eats is such a personal decision that I don't think anyone can give you a quick easy answer.

I can tell you what I'm doing with my family of 5 DH and DS's 25,23,21 and me. We will eat a quick breakfast in the room. We tend to eat QS as food is just fuel for us. I don't like to spend time eating when I could be touring. We aren't big eaters (well DS23 is) so I have budgeted $25/day for each of us. DH and I often eat kids meals or split an adult meal for lunch and sometimes dinners. We drink water in the parks (save the pop for when we are back at the room). I have told DS's they don't have to eat just $25/day but that the extra is on their dime.

That's what I've budgeted the last few trips to the World but what works for us likely won't work for many others.

 

[alohamom]

@Aladora This is the best tool! Thanks for posting it...

This calculator might be designed for seeing if the DDP is worth it, but if you take the time to put in your meals it will tell you approximately how much it would cost you OOP.

DDP Calculator

 

[mort1331]

Hello Disney Fans,

My family is going to be staying on property at Pop Century. It has been quite a few years since we stayed on site, so we are starting to plan our budget for our late April trip.

Curious if there are any websites or online resources for helping plan food costs? We know we can search the menus of each options for quick service and dining options at Disney World, but was wondering if any tools could help save us (me) some time to plan our all of our meals (and the costs associated with them).
We won't be going offsite so our entire trip will be staying within Disney.

Thanks for any help!

Down here now at Pop. It depends on what room you get. The new renovated rooms have a small cooling fridge. The old do not. So can't always plan on storing milk or other things.
The big thing is age of kids and number of adults. If more kids to adults or almost equal the reg dining plan might work. Especially if you plan on table meals and buffets each day.
This time we did not do the plan
But have in the past. There is convience with it. No one will feel like they are going without. But it is a lot of food.
As Ottawa mom says she can do 25 per person per day. I'm closer to 40-50. But with just me and dd7 I can adjust.
If you give us more info. We can help a little better

 

[isabellea]

Down here now at Pop. It depends on what room you get. The new renovated rooms have a small cooling fridge. The old do not. So can't always plan on storing milk or other things.
The big thing is age of kids and number of adults. If more kids to adults or almost equal the reg dining plan might work. Especially if you plan on table meals and buffets each day.
This time we did not do the plan
But have in the past. There is convience with it. No one will feel like they are going without. But it is a lot of food.
As Ottawa mom says she can do 25 per person per day. I'm closer to 40-50. But with just me and dd7 I can adjust.
If you give us more info. We can help a little better

I believe all the rooms at Pop have a small fridge. They all had one in 2016 anyway...

 

[mort1331]

I believe all the rooms at Pop have a small fridge. They all had one in 2016 anyway...

I can confirm we did not have a fridge. Not sure about others but not in the 50s

 

[isabellea]

I can confirm we did not have a fridge. Not sure about others but not in the 50s

That's really surprising since all Disney resort rooms should have one to my knowledge. I just checked the Pop thread (resort board) and they include a mini fridge in their room description. Maybe you were unlucky and got a room without one for some reason!?!

ROOMS CLASSIC YEARS 1950s TO 1990s

Rooms were refurbished in 2010, with the same décor with the exception of the artwork which depicts the decade of the room.

General Room Description: Rooms contain either a king bed (2 nightstands) or two double beds (1 nightstand); table & two chairs, entertainment dresser/center, small refrigerator in unit, flat screen TV, privacy curtain between the sink area/bedroom, one sink (outside the bathroom), luggage rack, iron, ironing board and hair dryer.

 

[ottawamom]

We were in a room over by the Bowling pin pool and we had a fridge last May (2017)

 

[MommyinHonduras]

BOTL76 If you are budgeting you will need to do some research. How much and what kind of food your family eats is such a personal decision that I don't think anyone can give you a quick easy answer.

I can tell you what I'm doing with my family of 5 DH and DS's 25,23,21 and me. We will eat a quick breakfast in the room. We tend to eat QS as food is just fuel for us. I don't like to spend time eating when I could be touring. We aren't big eaters (well DS23 is) so I have budgeted $25/day for each of us. DH and I often eat kids meals or split an adult meal for lunch and sometimes dinners. We drink water in the parks (save the pop for when we are back at the room). I have told DS's they don't have to eat just $25/day but that the extra is on their dime.

That's what I've budgeted the last few trips to the World but what works for us likely won't work for many others.

This is similar to us. I have $2000 planned for 10 days 7 people at POP, so that is $28 a day per person. DH and I, my mom, 4 kids 13,11,9 and 7. They like to eat but want to be touring not eating. do have a few planned sit downs on non park days but the above quote included tips and we will order groceries for breakfasts and in room snacks for munching. Plan to order pizza from Flippers arrival night too.

 

[robinb]

BOTL76 If you are budgeting you will need to do some research. How much and what kind of food your family eats is such a personal decision that I don't think anyone can give you a quick easy answer.

I can tell you what I'm doing with my family of 5 DH and DS's 25,23,21 and me. We will eat a quick breakfast in the room. We tend to eat QS as food is just fuel for us. I don't like to spend time eating when I could be touring. We aren't big eaters (well DS23 is) so I have budgeted $25/day for each of us. DH and I often eat kids meals or split an adult meal for lunch and sometimes dinners. We drink water in the parks (save the pop for when we are back at the room). I have told DS's they don't have to eat just $25/day but that the extra is on their dime.

That's what I've budgeted the last few trips to the World but what works for us likely won't work for many others.

I'm glad it works for your family but I think $25 per person per day (even if eating breakfast in your resort and QS elsewhere) is really, really low. Burgers at WDW are now $13 so to get that low you are required to share meals and/or purchase kids meals. Since you do that anyway, no harm no foul . I don't say any of this to criticize you, but to just point out to the OP that your budget is on the very low end of the budget spectrum.

We budget about $50-60 per person per day. We eat breakfast in the room (usually a DVC studio) and we primarily eat QS. We eat maybe 1 TS every 2-3 days and we almost never eat buffets or character meals.

OP, you can still bring stuff for breakfast in your luggage. There is a toaster and a microwave in the POP food court that you can use if you need to for english muffins, bagels, instant oatmeal, etc.

 

[ottawamom]

Which is why I told OP that they would have to do research to see what will work for their family and their situation. The information is all available online to tailor their budget to their wants and needs. There is no easy answer to the question as we all eat different amounts of food in different types of restaurants.

 

[robinb]

Which is why I told OP that they would have to do research to see what will work for their family and their situation. The information is all available online to tailor their budget to their wants and needs. There is no easy answer to the question as we all eat different amounts of food in different types of restaurants.

Right ... but there is room in this thread for people's opinions and experiences too.

 

[ottawamom]

Yes but you questioned my choice/preference. You could have mentioned your preference without challenging mine.

 

[robinb]

Yes but you questioned my choice/preference. You could have mentioned your preference without challenging mine.

I did NOT "question" your choice and preference. I made it perfectly clear that your experience is perfectly fine FOR YOU.

 

[BOTL76]

Thanks for all the responses all, this is greatly appreciated.

The trip will be DW and DD7. I am going to remove myself in the dining equation as I am surprising them for this trip as I have a work conference in Orlando. I will be able to do one park day and possibly one "down" day around my conference schedule. The best is my DW is all over me saying wouldn't it be nice if I brought them along for my conference and they could visit Disney while I am "working". I think I will be in the "GREAT BOOKS" for this surprise for them! Will then be much easier for my 2nd big conference in Vegas in the Fall (that one will be solo and I am bringing the golf clubs LOL)

I totally forgot you could order pizza in and also order groceries to be brought to your room, as well as packing breakfast items in the luggage. DW and DD don't like to eat much so probably going to avoid the Dining Plan but will still do the calculations just in case!

Thank you all!

 

[Donald - my hero]

Thanks for all the responses all, this is greatly appreciated.

The trip will be DW and DD7. I am going to remove myself in the dining equation as I am surprising them for this trip as I have a work conference in Orlando. I will be able to do one park day and possibly one "down" day around my conference schedule. The best is my DW is all over me saying wouldn't it be nice if I brought them along for my conference and they could visit Disney while I am "working". I think I will be in the "GREAT BOOKS" for this surprise for them! Will then be much easier for my 2nd big conference in Vegas in the Fall (that one will be solo and I am bringing the golf clubs LOL)

I totally forgot you could order pizza in and also order groceries to be brought to your room, as well as packing breakfast items in the luggage. DW and DD don't like to eat much so probably going to avoid the Dining Plan but will still do the calculations just in case!

Thank you all!

That information makes it easier to answer your question!!Your family will be able to eat quite well for minimal cost if they are willing to share food -- even at sit down places. All of the food portions are HUGE and if this is a surprise trip I'm sure your wife will be willing to make some concessions Take a boat over to Fort Wilderness and pick up some Chicken to eat on the beach -- or close to the playground 2 pieces of chicken, cornbread & 2 sides =$10.00

Something hubby and I do is grab something small before we leave the room to tide us over until the very end of breakfast service somewhere which then becomes lunch as well. Follow that up with dinner at the very beginning of service so it's not busy and fill in the day with snacks, cause Mickey bars, right?? The food courts at any of the resorts have great food that is also easily shared and you don't need to be staying there to go eat! If you want to do sit-down meals most have done away with separate lunch & dinner menus so it's less likely to save money by eating lunch. If you have just water to drink that cuts costs as well .. if pop is a must, buy a refillable mug that will serve as a souvenir as well and only have that drink at your resort.
There are lots of websites with menus that are kept up-to-date by regular submissions from guests that i would rely on more than the disney site.

Happy planning .. i hope you let your wife know soon so she can book her FP+s!!!!

 

[deedubb]

IMO, the dining plan is too much food and you end up getting junk (like snacks) just because you need to use up your credits. They now have alcohol included, so if you don't like to drink, you're likely not going to get value from it. We also drink mostly water, so the plan would be wasteful for us.

We have done everything from staying offsite and cooking breakfast, then bringing PB sandwiches to the park, to staying onsite with buffets most days. I must admit that we prefer the latter. Our last trip was over Xmas which meant you either book TS meals, or you wait in line for an hour at QS. We did a buffet most days and depending on the park, either QS or another TS for dinner. We had next to no snacks because we were stuffed. We didn't get appetizers or dessert at dinner. All 3 MK days were a buffet, then TS, and two of those days also included a dessert party. We were constantly stuffed, but I must admit I really enjoyed it. When on vacation, I'd like to eat some good meals and try different restaurants.

If on a strict budget, get some groceries and have breakfast in your room. Do QS at lunch and dinner with free water. Don't waste money on desserts.

 

[Alexsandra]

Thanks for all the responses all, this is greatly appreciated.

The trip will be DW and DD7. I am going to remove myself in the dining equation as I am surprising them for this trip as I have a work conference in Orlando. I will be able to do one park day and possibly one "down" day around my conference schedule. The best is my DW is all over me saying wouldn't it be nice if I brought them along for my conference and they could visit Disney while I am "working". I think I will be in the "GREAT BOOKS" for this surprise for them! Will then be much easier for my 2nd big conference in Vegas in the Fall (that one will be solo and I am bringing the golf clubs LOL)

I totally forgot you could order pizza in and also order groceries to be brought to your room, as well as packing breakfast items in the luggage. DW and DD don't like to eat much so probably going to avoid the Dining Plan but will still do the calculations just in case!

Thank you all!

That is a really cool surprise! You'll be in the "GREAT BOOKS" for sure
If they don't eat much, forget the DDP. Eating OOP will save you lots of money. We're not big eaters in my family so I often split meals with my husband or my kids when at TS restaurants. At QS locations, I often order a kids meal for myself or make a meal out of a couple of snacks (soup or waffle, etc.) .
I usually order some groceries from Garden Grocers since they deliver straight to the resort. I get milk and cereal for breakfasts and fruit and snacks to bring to the park or the pool. I only would do this if your vacation is a week long or more. If not I would stuff some snack in a suitcase instead and eat at POP'S cafeteria every morning.

To calculate how much you should budget for food depends on where you plan to eat while at WDW (QS or TS or both?) Character meals or Signature meals will cost you. If you plan on grabbing a quick bite in the park to enjoy park touring then QS will be much cheaper. We usually like to reserve at least one TS meal each day because we enjoy the restaurant experience as much as the park touring. The way I figure out my budget is look at which park I will visit each day, then I check the menus of the QS and TS restaurants I want to try and calculate approx how much it would cost us to eat at each place.

Hope that helps!

Good luck