daily spending???

[essmom]

How much does it cost a day with meals and etc. i know it depends on where you eat but just a ballpark figure -no fancy restaurants with a few drinks and snacks at the parks. there will be 1 adult and 2 kids-one is a very picky eater.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I just did it yesterday with my 2 kids and spent $40 for lunch (burgers, fries and soda) and popcorn. I usually do breakfast at McDonalds. The Christmas presents for Mom is what killed me.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

We averaged about $100 a day. This included: a quick breakfast (coffee, pastries), a quick lunch and a sit down dinner at HRC or NBA and places of the like. If you are budgeting and eating at counterservice only, I think you could do it for about $70.

 

[essmom]

Thanks, I was budgeting about $100 so that's good to hear!!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

You can save yourself a bunch of money using the following techniques:

-show your AP/AAA card. AAA members get 10-15% off most food/merchandise locations. AP holders get approx 25% off merchandise. I'm not sure what the food discount is, though.

-use/buy a souviner sipper. Sure, they're expensive, but they can be refilled over and over again for a low cost.

-if you have bottled water, save the bottle, then refill it around the parks at the water fountains. You can also do this with a souviner sipper.

 

[essmom]

Thanks DM-I don't have an AP or AAA card but i do have a fan club card. Does it help with discounts in the parks? I know it helps with restaurants on Citywalk. Thanks for all these great tips!!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I forgot how much we actually spent on food for our family of 6, but it was a lot less than I had thought we'd spend. You didn't ask for tips, but I'll give them anyway.

We went to the grocery store and bought breakfast and snack food (muffins, little cereal boxes, fruit, etc) and ate in the room most mornings. That worked out well--while some were getting dressed and ready others would be eating. We had a plug-in cooler that we brought since we drove. Some people buy a styrofoam ice chest. I've also used a soft-sided cooler in the room when I've flown.

We brought some snacks into the parks.

We used insulated water cooler jugs (not the big ones, maybe 1Qt), filled with ice and bottled water (I'm not crazy about the tap water) and brought extra bottles of water in with us. We had a stroller to carry everything--I don't know that I'd do this without the stroller, to this degree at least.

We got a couple refillable soda cups. Like DM said, they are expensive, but can be used the entire stay for reduced price drinks. Again, we had the stroller to carry everything on and in, which helped.

We weren't fancy eaters and ate counter service most of the time. My kids are big eaters, though (I have a 13yo boy who seems to never fill up), so the snacks really helped keep the food bill down.

T&B

 

[essmom]

How much are the refillable cups?

 

[highlander447]

Last year the refillable cups ranged from $7-$10 but remember u only need one cup as u do get reduced refills to share out also the price of the refills can vary from the time of season as last year we got free refills on day cup was bought at both parks not just park cup was bought in

 

[essmom]

Thanks I know we'll get that for sure.

 

[SpideyHulk24]

The cups are a great investment!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by essmom
Thanks DM-I don't have an AP or AAA card but i do have a fan club card. Does it help with discounts in the parks? I know it helps with restaurants on Citywalk. Thanks for all these great tips!!

Not sure, but be sure to ask when you get to the parks. If they say yes, you do get a discount (even if it's only 10%) then that's great. If they say no, well, at least you asked. And the cart locations do not give discounts. Just the main stores/restaurants.

 

[Aptor]

I am thinking about $100 per day for two adults but I know we will blow it and spend more on a couple of days. I do try to refill water rather than buying 27 bottles of water a day!