Dining Budget - Discounts, Other ideas?

[STLDisney_Freak]

I don't know if this is the board for this question, but I'll ask. I priced the dining plan for a family for our visit of 7 days which would come to $1700/$1800. Now I know from previous visits food isn't cheap at WDW. I used to not mind getting the dining plan when my youngest daughter could purchase the kids plan. Now she is at the age were we have to pay adult prices and she only eats kid portions.

So I was throwing the idea around of not getting the dining plan. I don't know if we should get the tables in wonderland card or if there is something other discount we should utilize. My husband and I will be getting annual passes for our visit since we will be returning without the kids for another trip.

Our family consists of our oldest daughter age 13 (she is an eater), youngest daughter age 11 (she eats like a bird), husband (bird eater), and me (I'm a good eater ). So where do you start when you come up with the amount that you should save for your trip for food? We plan on doing breakfast in the room so at the most we will be purchasing is lunch and/or dinner?

 

[TsLoveMickey]

We did not buy the dining plan when we went in April. I budgeted about $100 less than the dp would have cost. We came in about $25 under budget, so I saved at least $125 HOWEVER we did not eat the same way as if we'd been on the dp. We had more TS (just some more inexpensive ones, like The Plaza) and we did character meals at breakfast when they're less expensive. If we at breakfast out, we packed a lunch. (Just simple, cheese, crackers, fruit, pb & j ... even my eats-a-lot hubby was fine with this since we were eating large breakfast and dinner.) Sometimes we ate brunch and dinner to cut out a meal. We drank coffee in the room, and water while dining out unless we were at a buffet. We were stuffed! Take a look at the menus to see where you can get the most bang for your buck. Some of the better ones I've heard of include The Plaza, Via Napoli (split a pizza), Beaches & Cream, BOG for lunch is a good value, etc.

 

[TsLoveMickey]

Another thing to consider is if your two children could split an adult entree and just add an extra side to it for the bigger eater.

 

[Nancyg56]

There are ways to conserve money and still eat well. You have been before so you already know which restaurants serve meals that can be split or which ones are reasonably priced, so I would start with there. I also would probably skip the buffet and AYCTE dinners because I think that they are pretty expensive.

I am planning a trip in December with my DDIL....eats like a bird, and me...lets just say healthy appetite. WE are using the DDP, but we plan on splitting a CS breakfast or lunch so that neither one of us over eats at either one of these meals. You could do the same, even though you are paying OOP.

You can split TS meals as well, and if you tell the server when you order, the Chef will do that for you in the kitchen so you have two beautifully platted meals. At home you can take leftovers back to your house, but when on vacation they are often tossed in the trash. I would rather split a meal and not see that food thrown away.

You can also pack a few things to keep in the room. WE had to do this for my DGD when she was younger becasue she had a food allergy, and even though we knew there would be safe food for her, my DD was worried that at CS restaurants she may not have a choice she liked. We packed a jar of Peanut Butter and one of Jelly, bought a loaf of bread in the market, and had a little inexpensive insurance in the room. Turned out that Kady never touched her insurance plan, but her hollow legged uncle enjoyed a quick snack throughout the week. LOL!

I thin that unless you all would always include the beverage and the dessert that is included, you can save money by simply planning ahead, checking the menus, and agreeing before you enter the restaurant what entrees you all might enjoy sharing so that you do not go off the rails once you see the menu.

 

[dancin Disney style]

If you plan to eat TS every day then a TiW card might be a good idea. If you only plan to have a few TS meals but mainly CS then I say just pay OOP. Your younger child can still order from the kids menu if the portion size is better.

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

All great information. I didn't even think about splitting meals. Thank you.

 

[Nancyg56]

All great information. I didn't even think about splitting meals. Thank you.

Disney makes that very easy, and we took advantage several times in the past. WE have shared CS meals many times because we tend to snack during the day. You cannot do that if you eat too much at lunch. Sharing TS meals is nice because we then can enjoy an appetizer, which teh kitchen will split as well. WE do nto usually bother but they will if they know you are sharing.

There are several threads that discuss the restaurants whose portions are large and that are realistically able to be shared.