Cost projections - 4 adults

[The_Duchess]

My family consists of myself, husband, and two daughters, ages 22 and 24. I’m having a hard time making, not so much a food budget, as a cost projection. I *think* we will be renting a villa (probably Beach Club), so I *think* we would not purchase the dining plan, assuming that we can eat either a breakfast or lunch at our resort, and a counter service meal or snack, at the times we don’t. We are a well-traveled bunch however, and we do enjoy nice dining. We’ll have a sit down dinner each evening. Which brings me to my next point. This is our first trip back to Disney where my girls can drink. I’m guessing we’ll all have a glass of wine at dinner, probably a drink at the pool as well.

Anyway, rather than continue on, I was wondering if I can hear from anyone *specifically* with a similar family dynamic and dining style. What did you spend per day on food and drink?

 

[Haygar2]

So, I don't have a similar family dynamic, but I thought I would throw my 2 cents in. We are a family of 4. My children aren't old enough to drink (yet. my daughter is close). We are pro dining plan. I will give you my reasons for why I *think* it might be a good idea. I'm skipping the quick serve plan since you said that you will have a sit down dinner each night. So..the regular dining plan (1 quick serve and 1 sit down meal per person per day. As well as 2 snacks per person per day). You could have breakfast in your room and then hit a quick serve place for lunch. Or you could do a quick serve breakfast and do a snack for lunch. Sit down dinners for both of those. A drink is included with your dining plan. So, your wine at dinner would be covered. I'm of the mind that I don't want to cook anything when I'm on vacation. So, we would typically get a snack in the morning or sometimes pay out of pocket for breakfast. Kona was my favorite until they changed the menu. Now, I don't feel the need to go. Or we would do a quick serve for breakfast (Be Our Guest pre-park opening is a great use of a quick serve dining credit. Wolfgang Puck Express is an awesome use of a quick serve for breakfast also.) I believe Sanaa has a quick serve breakfast now. There are so many quick serve places that are incredible that I believe that you would use them. And you wouldn't have to go back to your room for lunch. You could even save a quick serve and use it for dinner, freeing up a second table service for you to use at a Signature restaurant. Flying Fish is wonderful! And it's right on the Boardwalk so it's very close. Yachtsman is good. And Cali Grill. So many different options. Look at menus. See if you think you would enjoy eating at certain places. Price it out. See if it makes sense for you. Remember to add in snacks and drinks. It might just save you money.

 

[B-Ride]

If you are renting a villa it sounds like cost is not a major concern. Unless you are blowing your whole budget on accommodations it which case I suggest you wear tight clothes so eating too much becomes uncomfortable. If this isn't the case then I find trying to plan a per diem amount means skipping that snack or choosing an entrée you don't really want to stay within the per diem you have set. I would rather just save up money before I go and relax and enjoy myself.

 

[DISNEY1975]

What did you spend per day on food and drink?

Too much!

Our daily for lunch was around $70 for 4 - Quick Service
Our daily for lunch was around $250 for 4 - TS with one alcoholic beverage per person, including a dessert for each and 2 shared apps. Tip also included
Our daily for dinner was around $340 for 4 - TS with one alcoholic beverage per person, including a dessert for each and 2 shared apps Tip also included
Dinner shows (Tip and alcohol included) - $300 for 4
Specialty dining - $400+ including tip, alcoholic beverage dessert and a couple of shared apps.
Alcoholic Beverages around $10 each
Snacks + water around $5 ea.

Averaged out to about $625 per day for a 10 days trip eating mostly TS, an ice cream here and there and a few cocktails by the pool/in the water parks. I suppose around $500 per day if you did mostly QS for one meal.

 

[YawningDodo]

Something I've found really useful:

Google "Disney dining plan calculator." You can plug in the number of days, number of guests, where you plan to eat each meal (you can put in "average QS," etc. if you're not set on anything, and you can leave meals blank to signify that you're not buying those meals in the park), whether you'd normally buy a refillable mug, how many snacks per person per day, whether you typically order appetizers and desserts.....

And then it gives you your projected costs based on everything you put in, as well as a comparison to the cost of different dining plan tiers so you know whether the dining plan is likely to save you money.

 

[eva]

DH and I are DVC members and always stay in a 1 bedroom. So we always eat a light breakfast in the room. Then CS or snacks and an alcoholic drink or two around the pool. Every night we like to eat at TS with A couple of signatures per week. Of course we like a couple glasses of wine or a mixed drink with dinner too. We normally average $250 a day for food and drinks. That’s for two people.

 

[cmwade77]

Honestly, if you drink and just with your meals, the dining plan will most likely save you money, even if you eat one meal in your room each day.

 

[cmwade77]

Something I've found really useful:

Google "Disney dining plan calculator." You can plug in the number of days, number of guests, where you plan to eat each meal (you can put in "average QS," etc. if you're not set on anything, and you can leave meals blank to signify that you're not buying those meals in the park), whether you'd normally buy a refillable mug, how many snacks per person per day, whether you typically order appetizers and desserts.....

And then it gives you your projected costs based on everything you put in, as well as a comparison to the cost of different dining plan tiers so you know whether the dining plan is likely to save you money.

Just a word of caution, most of these calculators haven't accounted for the most recent price increase on food, which for many items can be as much as a 40% increase.

 

[Nancyg56]

Something I've found really useful:

Google "Disney dining plan calculator." You can plug in the number of days, number of guests, where you plan to eat each meal (you can put in "average QS," etc. if you're not set on anything, and you can leave meals blank to signify that you're not buying those meals in the park), whether you'd normally buy a refillable mug, how many snacks per person per day, whether you typically order appetizers and desserts.....

And then it gives you your projected costs based on everything you put in, as well as a comparison to the cost of different dining plan tiers so you know whether the dining plan is likely to save you money.

These calculators have not been updated in a very long time. They are wildly inaccurate.

Honestly, if you drink and just with your meals, the dining plan will most likely save you money, even if you eat one meal in your room each day.

I agree. Your dining preferences are in line with how the regular dining plan works. I would look at the cost of a plan for your family. Then do a rough plan without the plan. Add tax to all you would order. BOG lunch with a glass of wine pays for almost half the plan for that day, and you still have dinner and two snacks left. My family uses the plan because our preferences are in sync with it, and we like a beverage with meals. If anyoen wants to pass on their wine, well, pass it right over to me! LOL!

 

[sharonabe]

Anyway, rather than continue on, I was wondering if I can hear from anyone *specifically* with a similar family dynamic and dining style. What did you spend per day on food and drink?

The best way to make a guesstimate on what you will spend is to first decide where you want to eat. Then look at your family. Do you have vegetarians? light eaters? want apps? dessert eaters? prefer buffets or character meals? Look at the menus of your chosen restaurants and see what you might order and do the math.

Yes, this will take some time, but you will get a much more realistic estimate for your spending. You can then have a better idea of whether one of the dining plans will work for you or not, and you can set your budget.

 

[eva]

The best way to make a guesstimate on what you will spend is to first decide where you want to eat. Then look at your family. Do you have vegetarians? light eaters? want apps? dessert eaters? prefer buffets or character meals? Look at the menus of your chosen restaurants and see what you might order and do the math.

Yes, this will take some time, but you will get a much more realistic estimate for your spending. You can then have a better idea of whether one of the dining plans will work for you or not, and you can set your budget.

This is a good idea. You can find the lastest menus online. We eat light and drink a bit more at WDW. So our numbers may be skewed. Alcohol is what raises the cost for us.

 

[The_Duchess]

Thank you all. Good advice, no easy answer and I have more homework to do! There's a pert of me that longs for the old days when there were only two parks, a few hotels and no dining plans or fast passes!