Budget question

[DisFan84]

I'm toying back and forth about making any reservations for my upcoming trip. Let's be honest, my BF and I can't make it to anything on time to save our life, and with this being our first trip to the park together, I imagine keeping track of time to get to something will be even harder. My question is, what food budget is acceptable to strive for when we will be eating outside of the park more often than inside the park. I know the range will vary for most, but has anyone set a food budget that chose not to have reservations?

We are going the first week of December so with the park closing earlier than usual, we don't mind eating dinner after we leave the park and we'd also rather take the risk of maybe getting a table some where that recommends reservations versus blocking out a time that may be beneficial to a family that would actually make it.

Thanks all!

 

[Escape2Disney]

We always make a food budget for every trip. What I usually do is go online and look at restaurant menus for establishments we might visit. Most restaurants in the DLR area have fairly comprehensive websites. From there I figure how much we'd likely spend (based on the eating habits of our group). I round up my estimates and that becomes our budget. By doing this we NEVER go over budget and I'm less stressed about money on the trip.

We'll be there right after you! Have a great time!

 

[Girimama33]

At DL, it is not as necessary to have reservations ahead of time like WDW. You can ususally walk up to any TS restaurant you want to eat at with little wait. If I was trying to do DL on a budget though, I would stay away from the TS places and I would just pick up counter service. We split a lot of meals so that helps save $ too.

 

[carandem]

Can anyone recommend any places you really enjoy the meals that are not over priced?

 

[DisFan84]

Great suggestions I've purchased a couple Groupon deals as well, I am a major planner (and couponer) so I feel like making a budget plan for dinning only makes sense . I feel like half the excitement is planning the trip, even down to the dining!

 

[disneychrista]

We do not do sit down/table service meals (there aren't that many anyway). We budget $12-$15 per meal per person.

 

[pixiewings71]

I don't agree that you will be able to walk up to any restaurant and get a seat without a reservation. BUT you will be going in the off season so it will be more possible. Places I recommend always having a reservation are Blue Bayou, Cafe Orleans, Carthay Circle Restaurant (not the lounge). All others I've been able to walk right up but at BB I've been turned away all but 1 time (and that was a pouring day in January! LOL), oh and I haven't tried to walk up to Carthay, I've only eaten there once.

 

[yaya74]

We do not do sit down/table service meals (there aren't that many anyway). We budget $12-$15 per meal per person.

I agree $12-$15 per meal per person is reasonable. There is Denny's, IHOP, and McDonald's on Harbor and you can definitely have a nice meal within that budget range.

If you book a hotel that includes complimentary breakfast, than it will take care of your breakfast throughout your stay.

If you don't have a big stomach and can survive with two meals and some snack in between, and if your hotel comes with free breakfast, you can do a dinner buffet at Goofy's Kitchen or Ariel's Grotto for a special touch. Or, you can have a Character breakfast buffet in the park and eat dinner outside of the park...

You can get snacks at Target to save yourself some $$.