Dining On A Budget

[zKatze]

Hi Everyone,

I'm travelling with my 7yr old son in January for 4.5 Days at WDW. We'll be staying with family before and after our visit. This is our first time staying more than one night and we are renting DVC points instead (staying two nights SSR, 1 night AKV, 1 night BLT - a lot of moving I know, but it's only two of us and I wanted him to have the experience of AKV)

Our trip IS fairly budget conscious. The whole thing is a big splurge, but I'm trying to keep it managable. I am only saving for our food and spending budget at this point. The whole rest of the trip is paid off. How much would you budget for the trip outlined below (thinking mostly QS meals and probably packing our own snacks into the park):

In Summary, 1 adult + 1 child...fairly light eaters, but keeping the boy well fed is paramount to maternal sanity. We're paying out of pocket for all meals and we have dietary restrictions (think lacto-ovo-vegetarian).

$30 - Day 1: 1/2 day afternoon MK (Breakfast: Home/Lunch: Be Our Guest/Dinner Undecided (maybe packed)
$50($120) - Day 2: 1/2 day Morning HS (Breakfast:In Room vs Hollywood & Vine Character Breakfast/Lunch Wilderness Lodge or HS/Dinner Downtown Disney)
$70 - Day 3: 1/2 day Morning AK to AKV (Breakfast: In room/Lunch: Undecided, maybe packed/Dinner Sanaa)
$50 - Day 4: Long Full Day MK (with move to BLT) (Breakfast: QS or in room/Lunch: Pinocchio House/Dinner: Contempo Cafe)
$35 - Day 5: 1/2 day enjoying free activities (Breakfast: Contemp Cafe/Lunch: Cap't Cooks)

in room/packed = brought from home

My current "plan" takes into account about $235 - $305

I know I'm not splurging too much on food, but I'm not sure where I fall on the frugal/reasonable scale...am I being unrealistically frugal, considering 1 TS and one possible character breakfast?

Would love some thoughts...

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I think you're probably shooting ok on your quick service meals but quite low on your table service ones. I'm not sure you can even do a character breakfast for 1A/1C for $50, before tip. There's also no cushion for snacks and drinks, unless you are planning on bringing your own snacks and drinking water the whole time?

 

[zKatze]

Touring plans says the breakfast is $32 for adults and $20 for children, and I allowed $70. For Sanaa, I think my son will probably just eat the bread service and split the Potjie Inspired with me...if we don't get dessert that's $40 and I allowed $70.

I do plan on bring things like granola bars and cut veggies/fruit into the parks with us...and we do mostly drink just water and tea. I'm sure we will buy some snacks like a Mickey Pretzel or a Dole Whip.

I guess I'm looking at that as the bare minimum to cover our meals...I don't want to be caught there with just enough to scrape by...so add maybe another $20 a day? I'm not a big snacker, but I do intend to have a cupcake and a cup of tea...

 

[kymom99]

I would cushion it a little then if you have extra, great! Also you may spend on forgotten items. Seems like every time I go on vacation I get caught without "ladies'" stuff if you know what I mean. Or you forget sunglasses, etc.

 

[kymom99]

Hi Everyone,

I'm travelling with my 7yr old son in January for 4.5 Days at WDW. We'll be staying with family before and after our visit. This is our first time staying more than one night and we are renting DVC points instead (staying two nights SSR, 1 night AKV, 1 night BLT - a lot of moving I know, but it's only two of us and I wanted him to have the experience of AKV)

Our trip IS fairly budget conscious. The whole thing is a big splurge, but I'm trying to keep it managable. I am only saving for our food and spending budget at this point. The whole rest of the trip is paid off. How much would you budget for the trip outlined below (thinking mostly QS meals and probably packing our own snacks into the park):

In Summary, 1 adult + 1 child...fairly light eaters, but keeping the boy well fed is paramount to maternal sanity. We're paying out of pocket for all meals and we have dietary restrictions (think lacto-ovo-vegetarian).

$30 - Day 1: 1/2 day afternoon MK (Breakfast: Home/Lunch: Be Our Guest/Dinner Undecided (maybe packed)
$50($120) - Day 2: 1/2 day Morning HS (Breakfast:In Room vs Hollywood & Vine Character Breakfast/Lunch Wilderness Lodge or HS/Dinner Downtown Disney)
$70 - Day 3: 1/2 day Morning AK to AKV (Breakfast: In room/Lunch: Undecided, maybe packed/Dinner Sanaa)
$50 - Day 4: Long Full Day MK (with move to BLT) (Breakfast: QS or in room/Lunch: Pinocchio House/Dinner: Contempo Cafe)
$35 - Day 5: 1/2 day enjoying free activities (Breakfast: Contemp Cafe/Lunch: Cap't Cooks)

in room/packed = brought from home

My current "plan" takes into account about $235 - $305

I know I'm not splurging too much on food, but I'm not sure where I fall on the frugal/reasonable scale...am I being unrealistically frugal, considering 1 TS and one possible character breakfast?

Would love some thoughts...

Be careful, day 2 could be a budget buster.
I personally like to have breakfast things in the room more for convenience and saving time than saving money. In your case, with dietary restrictions, it would seem like it would be even more of a good choice.

 

[zKatze]

Be careful, day 2 could be a budget buster.
I personally like to have breakfast things in the room more for convenience and saving time than saving money. In your case, with dietary restrictions, it would seem like it would be even more of a good choice.

Yes, Day 2 is the one that's not sitting entirely well with me. Really the only reason to go for breakfast there, is the possibility of the advance registering for the Jedi Training Academy. It's the only thing in all the parks that he has his heart set on. I booked it tentatively for that reason only. It would be a huge splurge for us...but if we don't get a spot he will be crushed...(we're going on a day with anticipated crowd level of 3).

 

[kymom99]

Yes, Day 2 is the one that's not sitting entirely well with me. Really the only reason to go for breakfast there, is the possibility of the advance registering for the Jedi Training Academy. It's the only thing in all the parks that he has his heart set on. I booked it tentatively for that reason only. It would be a huge splurge for us...but if we don't get a spot he will be crushed...(we're going on a day with anticipated crowd level of 3).

Check on that. I read in another thread where they stopped letting people sign up early for that with an early dining reservation.
When my son was the age for that attraction they picked kids out of the audience. He never got picked. It was sad.

 

[zKatze]

Check on that. I read in another thread where they stopped letting people sign up early for that with an early dining reservation.
When my son was the age for that attraction they picked kids out of the audience. He never got picked. It was sad.

Yeah, I was planning to ask on the boards in early January to see what the status was. If it's not looking good, I will definitely cancel that reservation. I'm holding on to it as an option for right now, just in case (though it's really way more than I want to spend for breakfast!)...

My parents are getting him a jedi costume for Christmas. So he'll be going to the park all dressed up. His big plan is to fight Darth Vader and make his own Light Saber...anything after that is icing on the cake...fingers crossed one way or another that we get a spot.

Thanks for your input. =)

 

[BigredNole]

For QS meals, they are usually large and you can share one. Some places have a complete fixing bar where there is enough addon stuff for a second meal (think of it like a salad). We save money by having breakfast in the room, bringing snacks to the park, and eating off site for dinners. If there is a kitchen in the room, we make our own dinner which saves even more.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

Yeah, I was planning to ask on the boards in early January to see what the status was. If it's not looking good, I will definitely cancel that reservation. I'm holding on to it as an option for right now, just in case (though it's really way more than I want to spend for breakfast!)...

My parents are getting him a jedi costume for Christmas. So he'll be going to the park all dressed up. His big plan is to fight Darth Vader and make his own Light Saber...anything after that is icing on the cake...fingers crossed one way or another that we get a spot.

Thanks for your input. =)

Be aware also that he might not get Vader. There are 2 villains to fight each show and they don't usually take requests. The line up is random.

 

[zKatze]

Be aware also that he might not get Vader. There are 2 villains to fight each show and they don't usually take requests. The line up is random.

Yep! We've started talking about it already. So at least it won't be a surprise. Fingers crossed.