Dining Budget Help

[CBMom01]

We have always used DDP and are going to WDW for the first time without it. Also, used to be DS and I but we are a larger group now. Hubby and I, two young adult kids, and two teen boys.

How much would you budget per person, per day? We’ll probably do one TS meal per day

 

[aubreighk]

One table service meal per day is a great way to go. If you want to save some serious dollars, I’d plan to bring snacks, sandwiches and a refillable water bottle into the parks and only spend on the drinks, snacks or meals you deem absolutely worthy. It’s safe to say you should plan around $50-75 per person per day, depending on where you choose to eat. If you’re having alcoholic beverages with your meal the price could be around $100 per person per day.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

I use the previous DDP cost as a guide and budget for USD 140 per person per day.

 

[Merlin's Magic]

I did this before. We looked at menus and broke it out by the restaurants we intended on eating at, rounding up the prices and adding an averaged tip for the TS restaurants. Our last trip was right before the pandemic, so prices have changed, but we budgeted around $110/person per day (including snacks). We came in under that. Quite a bit. On the DDP, our 9 day, 3 person trip would have cost $3213 for food. Our total costs, with a dessert party, 10 TS, 1 Signature, refillable mugs and tips, came to $1941.12.

 

[wolfawk]

We have always used DDP and are going to WDW for the first time without it. Also, used to be DS and I but we are a larger group now. Hubby and I, two young adult kids, and two teen boys.

How much would you budget per person, per day? We’ll probably do one TS meal per day

I just got done budgeting for our December trip, 4 adults, one teen, one 7 year old, and one almost 3 year old. We ended up with a TS each night, with 2 TS breakfasts, and one TS lunch. I ended up going through each of the menus and estimated cost based on higher priced items (don't forget 3.99 for drinks at dinner). I added in the 18% tip, then I deducted my 10% annual pass discount. So for our party i came up with roughly $100 per day. Our TS meals include two signature meals. I used Excel and created a spreadsheet to track everything. By estimating high you can reduce budgeting too low. You can stretch your money even further if you put that money on Disney gift cards that you can get for a discount at one of the shopping clubs. I miss the DDP, I would have only had to budget for tips

 

[rangerxenos]

If you like to have your meals prepaid, take the money and buy a Disney gift card for the amount you'd spend on the DDP, should come out close if you use the last costs of the DDP as a guide.

 

[sponica]

If you like to have your meals prepaid, take the money and buy a Disney gift card for the amount you'd spend on the DDP, should come out close if you use the last costs of the DDP as a guide.

We didn't buy the DDP but we used to use the cost as a bench mark. We're pretty much TS people so we'd price out the deluxe and use that as a guidepost.

 

[rangerxenos]

We didn't buy the DDP but we used to use the cost as a bench mark. We're pretty much TS people so we'd price out the deluxe and use that as a guidepost.

I just don't find that the DDP was a good value for me, too much food and if you can't get the reservations you want, or don't eat at the more expensive restaurants, we didn't save any money.

 

[Suzabella]

I just don't find that the DDP was a good value for me, too much food and if you can't get the reservations you want, or don't eat at the more expensive restaurants, we didn't save any money.

Same. A couple times, we were the beneficiaries of someone trying to use all their snack credits and gifting the food rather than let the points go to waste. Just too much food.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Food prices are way up at Disney. Well...every where. We ate at Casey's a couple of days ago. Ordered the 50th anniversary hot dog, the 1971 meal, a plain hot dog, and had 2 fries and 3 drinks in all. Total was $54.

 

[TwoMisfits]

6 disney adults, mostly male, 1 TS - I'd budget the old Disney Deluxe plan/person price and that probably represents 1 TS/2CS meals now...in fact, it may not be high enough for you with your party type and the large price increases the last 18 months, but it should be a good WAG...

 

[CBMom01]

We are the I only people I know for whom DDP makes sense, but it’s because we like that one nice sit down meal/day

 

[hou2009]

We have always used DDP and are going to WDW for the first time without it. Also, used to be DS and I but we are a larger group now. Hubby and I, two young adult kids, and two teen boys.

How much would you budget per person, per day? We’ll probably do one TS meal per day

Disney sells the dining plan because they make money off it. You have to order the most expensive drinks and options to break even. Like milkshakes and steak at every meal. I would use the DDP as a budget guide, and I think you'll find you actually spend less.