Cost of Food for family of 5

[mickeyluvs]

Ok, so I have asked a question like this before and got lots of good advice, but plans have changed a bit and need new advice. My question is how much money do I bring for food & souveniers?

My family of 5 will be stayingat the Pop for 6 nights, 7 days.
My husband..likes to eat
Myself...easy to please, plain eater...pizza, burgers..etc..
2 yr old........barely eats anything!!!
4 yr old...grazes, eats ok but not much...could definately split with his 2 yr old brother
11 yr old stepdaughter.....eats eats eats eats...tons!

We are not planning any table service meals, as we are more cs people...and my little ones are too active to sit for too long.
We do have 1 character meal brakfast planned at crystal palace...but I am thinking of cancelling?
I have looked at the menus on allears...but I really would like to know how much someone else with a similar size family spent?

I am thinking of getting kids all one souvenier...nothing extravegant, or two smaller ones.

And, I know husband would like to have a beer every now and then. So, my lomg drawn out question is how much do I plan on spending on food and drinks???

 

[mjmcca]

Why not get the dinning plan?

 

[mickeyluvs]

I guess I feel that it might not be worth it since we don't plan on any sit downs...my little one is HORRIBLE at meal time.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

If you eat all three meals counter service, as well as a few fun snacks, I think you are still looking at close to 100.00 a day for the five of you to eat. Sharring is a great way to cut cost as is drinking water and having snacks and breakfast items in your room.

 

[kidd_freeper]

I am budgeting $2000 for 13 days for 6 of us (meals and snacks).

We plan:
- To eat all breakfasts in our hotel room ($200)
- To eat about half of the lunches in our room, the other half in the parks ($400)
- Two sit down meals (San Angel Inn and 50s Prime Time Cafe) where we will treat for another three adults (5 adults, 4 kids) ($425 for both)
- Also one meal at ESPN on the Boardwalk. Other dinners will be either be counter-service or Applebees-type offsite ($675)
- In-park snacks for 6 of us for 6 days ($300)

 

[dsnymomof4]

We are a family of 6 and we never spend more than $100/day except if we do a character meal. Sharing is great, especially the small children. I would often purchase a kids meal and it was just the right size for my appetite. We've also (thanks to tips on this board) purchased a double cheeseburger and asked for the extra bun to feed 2 kids with one meal - worked out great. Also, if you bring breakfast snacks in your room, you only have to pay for 2 meals/day. Or do a late breakfast meal (like Crystal Palace if you decide to go) and that will fill you up for a while, so you maybe only need a snack in the afternoon and then dinner. We came with only $500 spending money and stayed 7 days no problem. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[weeluvdisney]

We are a family of 5 (the first time we went to disney we were a family of 4)
I am planning on $100 per day which is a little more then we spent the first time around. We love Disney and I'll pay what I have to but was shocked that 4 hot dogs, 4 fries, and 2 drinks were $40. Some of the portions are definitely big enough to share and the days that we want to get to the parks early (3 days) we are going to eat breakfast in the room this time. (poptarts, pastires, fruit) We are also taking alot of drinks and snacks because are kids like to snack and that will save big time. We are driving though so we have the room to take all this with us.

 

[mickeyluvs]

Thank you all so much!
I was so freaked out about how much it would REALLY cost. I feel alot better, and I know we will definately be doing some sharing of meals....especially with my little ones who never seem to finish ANYTHING. I was also thinking about sending down a box of snacks(poptarts, cereal, fruit snacks, raisins, etc..) before hand since we will be flying. Maybe I will stick the pullups and swim pants in there to save room in the luggage. I have read that people have done this. Still, I am paranoid that I will never get it. I know, I worry way too much.

 

[rileyroosmom]

I just checked my receipts from my May trip (pathetic that I still have them isn't it?!) Anyway, we are a family of 5, dh,me ds11(who is now 12 and 6ft! He eats like an adult) ds8 and dd4. We stayed 9 nights at the Poly and the receipts added to a little over $1340. We ate breakfast in the room - except last day was at Chef Mickeys and we ate at Whispering Canyon, Crystal Palace and Primetime Cafe. The rest was CS. There were a few cocktails, watermice rental and souveniers (sp?) I don't remember saying no to anything. Were going again in May and I've budgeted the same amount

Good Luck, have fun!!

 

[golden1]

We are only a family of 4 with small children but we are planning on $80-100/day including snacks. This also includes our groceries for the week and a few nice dinners for parents only .

We are doing several character meals. To save $$$$, one adult (me) will be going with DD and DS to some of the character breakfasts. This works out because DH is not a breakfast eater and it saves $20+ for that meal. The mornings we don't have character breakfasts we will eat in the room. We will do mostly CS for lunches and dinners. I "might" do a Crystal Palace lunch as well but I am not sure.