Dining for a family of four without sharing and all food groups :)

[HalfDozen]

Because there seems to be a lot of criticism about budget dining, balanced meals, and sharing, I thought I'd show you that you can eat healthy and still stay on a budget with a same-sized family. I realize I've missed tax on these, so there is a bit of variation.

Day 1 - MK
Breakfast - in room non-perishables (cereal bars, oatmeal packets, cereal, etc.)
Lunch - Pecos Bills
chicken wrap $7.49
chicken salad $6.39
2 kids meals with chicken, celery, carrots, applesauce, and cookies/crackers (includes applejuice or milk) $3.99ea
$21.86
Dinner - Raglan Road DTD
Pie in the sky (chicken and wild mushroom pie with salad) $15.95
Tricolor salad (warm bbq chicken on salad greens) $12.95
2 Shepherd's Pie Kids meals $7.95/ea
$44.80
$8.96 tip (20%)
53.75
75.61


Day 2 - MGM
Breakfast in room again
Lunch Backlot Express
Grilled Vegetable Sandwich $6.99
Grilled Turkey & Cheese with arugula and red peppers served with French fries or cranberry slaw $6.89
(2)Chilled Seasoned Chicken with Vegetables - chilled chicken served with carrots, celery, broccoli, and ranch dressing, applesauce and choice of child's size milk, juice $3.99
$21.86
Snack
mickey bars or ice creams from the cart
$12
Dinner 50s Prime Time Cafe
Meatloaf with potatoes and veggie $13.29
Roasted Pepper - stuffed with vegetarian rice and smoked ratatouille $12.79
2 kids Grilled Chicken Breast - green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy $5.99 (with milk)
$38.06
$7.61 tip
$45.67 - dinner
$79.53


Day 3 - Animal Kingdom
Breakfast - in room
Lunch - Tusker House
Turkey Wrap with corn chowder - $7.29
1/2 Rotisserie Chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables $7.99
2 Chicken Drumstick and mashed potatoes with applesauce and milk $3.99
$23.26
Dinner - Rainforest Cafe
Hong Kong Stir Fry - Portabello mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, peas, red and green peppers in a Hoisin ginger sauce with Jasmine rice: with chicken $16.99
China Island Chicken Salad - Crisp greens tossed with grilled chicken breast, potato sticks, rice noodles, toasted sesame seeds, and scallions. Tossed with China Island Salad Dressing $13.99
2 Python Pasta - plateful of pasta served with marinara sauce $5.99
$42.95
$8.59 tip
$51.54
$74.80

Day 4 - Epcot
Breakfast in room
Lunch Liberty Inn - America
Turkey Sandwich - smoked turkey breast, muenster cheese, lettuce and chipotle mayonnaise on a whole wheat bagel, served with salad $6.89
Southwest Chicken Salad - romaine lettuce, chicken, tomatoes, red peppers, corn, black olives and cheddar cheese, tossed with a creamy ancho dressing $6.99
2 Chilled Chicken over Romaine Lettuce, crackers, milk $3.99
$21.86
Dinner Rose & Crown
Curried Vegetables - Carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, peas and red peppers, in a curry sauce with saffron rice $12.99;
Cottage Pie - ground beef with carrots, topped with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese, served with green beans $14.99
2 Grilled Chicken - with mashed potatoes and peas $6.99
$41.96
$8.39 tip
$50.35
$72.21

Day 5 - Swimming Day at the resort (Pop) Value-minded, of course.
Breakfast in room
Lunch - Everything Pop
Vegetable Lo Mein $6.59
Grilled Vegetables Flatbread $7.19
2 Vegetable Lo Mein cheddar crackers and carrots $3.99
$17.77
Dinner - Pizza Delivery from Everything Pop
TWO 16" Pizzas with two toppings, 2-liter Soda and 1/2 dozen breadsticks $26.99 (vegetable toppings or cheese)
2 caesar salads from foodcourt - Caesar Salad $5.49
$37.97
Dessert - Ghirardelli in DTD
Golden Gate banana Split $6.95
Single Scoop Sundae with strawberries $4.95
2 kids s'more sundaes $4.50
20.90
76.64

Day 6 - Going Home
Breakfast:
Ohana Character Breakfast
$59.96
$11.99 - tip
$71.95

 

[gigi1313]

looks like a lot of yummy healthful good choices... and all for approx $75/day... supplemented w/non-perishables in the room... perfect

thanks for sharing

 

[eliza61]

Hi Halfdozen,

Thanks for the great report. I am always amazed at the criticism lodged at post concerning dining. I always view dining as such a personal thing, that it just make sense that one man's potion is another man poision. While my family is a bunch of foodies, so most of our vacation expense comes from meals (I budget $75 per person, per day), I love, love , love hearing about other peoples dining experiences
Glad you found wonderful dining at Disney.

 

[HalfDozen]

yeah - we go for the food, too - and budget about the same as you.
But I wanted to make it clear for those who have to go on a budget that they can do it without "eating pizza and fried chicken tenders" for every meal - as some had stated.

We did it on a budget the first time, for sure.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Sounds like you did a good job..Sounds yummy..I know we are doing a split stay in october. 4 nights OKW(rented points) 2 nights a pop century. We are on the dining plan for 4 nights but its actually within a 5 days period so we are spacing the credits out. We will be eating in our room for breakfast and everything else at the parks. I think on our last night we are going to order pizza from pop delivery was it good pizza?? We watching our pennies and saving like crazy this summer..

 

[HalfDozen]

Oh - this was just an example of what CAN be done on a budget - that you can still have table service, a balanced meal, each get an entree, and stay around $75 a day with a bit of work

Sorry - can't help ya on the Pop pizza, but it looks like a good value for two pizzas, soda, and breadsticks.

I also wanted to add that our first trip we did a lot of counter service and still had a great time. We had two (or three?) sit down meals the entire stay and never felt that we missed a thing. We also tried to not get into the habit of eating an appetizer and dessert just because we were on vacation. Instead we ordered like we would back home, and then got a treat in the evenings during shows or fireworks (like funnel cakes, mickey bars, or dole whip floats). We also had the kids bring their own Disney Dollars - they each had $35, I think. Some were from us, some were from relatives. They weren't allowed to spend it until our last full park day - and by that time they each knew what they REALLY wanted. They would see something and say "I want to buy this" and I'd say "okay - are you SURE that's what you want to spend your money on? Because once it's gone, that's it." They'd have time to think about it, and we'd remind them of what they had picked out the day before so they could evaluate their priorities. It worked out very nicely and our kids were never souvenir crazy.

 

[mouseRD]

While my DH & I like to splurge on a couple of nice dinners while on vacation, it can be pricey to do so each day. We budget $100/day for the two of us; some days we are under/some over; it averages out; any left over can go toward souveniers! We are looking forward to trying LTT for lunch while at MK this trip!

 

[tracy51]

We also tried to not get into the habit of eating an appetizer and dessert just because we were on vacation. Instead we ordered like we would back home, and then got a treat in the evenings during shows or fireworks (like funnel cakes, mickey bars, or dole whip floats).

That's exactly how we did things for our trip last year. After reading many posts about how expensive it was to eat at Disney we were pleasantly surprised. But we found it to be not that much more than if we ate out for dinner here locally. We actually came in under budget. Of course, I tend to over budget - occasionally we enjoy an adult beverage with our meals or in the evening so I want to make sure that we can always order how we want and not worry about spending too much.

 

[mom2my3kids]

ohhh okay I am sorry I thought this was your food budget.. Looks great anyway...

 

[sschro3]

WOW!! sounds like good food and plenty of it. I'm guessing that at most meals you just had water, that right there is a money saver. Breakfast is just so easy to eat in your room then really enjoy your day at the parks. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Luv4Mickey]

I was wondering the same thing, did you guys just drink water with your meals? If so then you are a saint. I am one of those people that cannot stomach the nasty Floriday water. It has to mixed as a smoothie or something for it to go down!
Kudos to you and your family for doing such a fabulous job on selecting yummy meals at great places for great prices!!!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Awesome halfdozen!. I see by your TS meals at 50s and RFC that I may be overbudgeting for our family of three. I'll be happy to come in under budget for food, which I have planned at $100 a day for one TS/buffet and one CS meal.