Do u spend less $'s on food since joining?

[Cinderella]

Trying to work out a budget for our trip. We plan to eat some meals in and some out, always having breakfast in the villa. Our first DVC stay was unexpected, as it was when we purchased so we just ate out all the time.

Do u all spend less on food since joining DVC, or does it work out about the same as before? What is a realistic amount of dollars per day for 2 adults and 2 children (ages 8 and 5) if we are going to be eating some meals in and some nice meals out? Thanks.

 

[Richyams]

I don't really budget, so I can't help you there. We find ourselves eating around 1/2 our breakfasts in the room. We could never cut out breakfasts at CP or 1900 PF.

We only eat one or two dinners out of twelve nights in the room. We eat very few lunches in the room. We are out doing stuff at that time.

The one time we do eat in the room is late night snacks. Nachos, clams, calamari, pig's feet, etc. We probably have some night time thing two out of three nights.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

The money savings on breakfast alone is substantial. On days that we get an early start, we don't mind heading back to the room for a sandwich or something quick for dinner. On our last trip, we drove and I took a Stouffers lasagne that was popped into the oven as soon as we got there. We were only unpacking and settling in that night anyway, so dinner in the room was easier than heading out again. Once we unpacked and then had dinner, we headed to Ghiradelli's for dessert.

 

[Muushka]

Yes, I would say we spend roughly 50 to 75% less than we used to. THere are a couple of reasons.

1. I am pretty frugal, and it is so much easier to eat in with DVC
2. I really don't want to give Disney any more of my money
3. I actually feel better when I don't eat out a lot. (tummy )

 

[Eck45]

We have found we spend much less.

We also eat breakfast in the rooms, except for 1 character breakfast each trip. Mostly yogurt, granola bars, etc.

We also stop at a grocery store before hand (publix) to get soda, water, snacks, and food.

If we are in a 1-bdrm or bigger, frozen pizzas, hot-pockets, and things like that we have found are great for an easy lunch or dinner. It has really helped us to keep the eating out costs down.

Also, if you or anyone in your family drinks alcohol, BRING YOUR OWN, it is much cheaper. Alcoholic drinks are very expensive.

 

[RLevy29]

We never eat breakfast out. We like to have cereal, muffins,fruit and coffee We do buy some things for lunch but most of the time we eat out. We keep snacks and wine in the room so we don't use the pool bar. Dinner is always out. We do save money and time.

 

[Kelly&John]

We have saved plenty of money on food since joining DVC. We always eat breakfast in the room. We also stop at Publix on the way into DVC. We pick up our breakfast fixings as well as water and various snack items.

We always eat out at lunch. Dinner is a toss up - depends on how we are feeling. Of course we've found other fun ways to spend the "extra" money we've saved from meals - dolphins in depth, fireworks cruises, etc.

Kelly

 

[robinb]

We spend less than we used to, but I think that's more of a function of us going to WDW more often. The first few times eating out at all the nice, expensive restaunts was fun! Even the lousy counter food was OK since we were at WDW . Now, the "blush" is off the eating options at WDW and we find that we eat in our room more or we go off-site.

Our family of 3, 2 adults and 1 2 year old, averages $80 per day in food. Last year, I tracked our food expendatures for 2 vacations in a row. I didn't eat a thing without writing the cost down, including ice cream bars and bottles of soda! I also added in our grocery run which included beer and wine. We would eat some counter food. We would eat one or two dinners at a "nice" place (Boma's, GC, Flying Fish, etc) and the rest was in our room or off-site.

 

[llp479]

We spend less by having breakfast in the room. I'm a light, if at all, breakfast person so for me to pay $10 for cereal and a Coke is a killer!

We also saved a TON on bottled water last trip. I had small bottles for the 3dds and bigger bottles for the adults with character stickers on them for identification. We bought a gallons of water at BWV for $1.99 and refilled them every morning.

We also keep the souvenir pop-corn bucket and make microwave pop-corn and take that with us to the park.

 

[wdwnut]

hi: we make a grocery stop at albertson's on the way in and spend about $100, mostly for breakfast items, some lunches, fruit, snacks, and drinks as well as some items we don't feel like packing. last trip it was me, dh, and 30,15, and 14yo boys. we usually do a big lunch and some lighter dinners out. just by having breakfast in for 6 of the 7 days, it saves us several hundred dollars, not to mention drinks and snacks.

 

[mickey7861]

We spend alot less on food now. We always eat breakfast in our room. Then if we're coming back to the room at mid-day for a cool off we eat a quick lunch there too. We usually eat out for just supper. Not only do we spend less $$, we find our vacations are so much more relaxing now.

 

[DeeP]

We usually have a light breakfast in the room and then keep snacks and drinks in our room. All other meals we eat out. There are too many excellent restaurants at WDW and I do enough cooking at home to want to cook while I am on vacation regardless whether I am in a DVC resort or not. To us eating at the restaurants are part of the whole vacation experience. This is one of the many reasons I enjoy BWV so much, there are so many wonderful restaurants right outside our door and we enjoy them tremendously!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Not sure we save so much on food, because we like to eat at the nicer restaurants, but I know with a family, you can save a LOT. We ALWAYS have breakfast in the villa and have 2-3 dinners there on a 10-12 night stay. We occationally have a light lunch or supper too. Our usual mode of operation is to have breakfast in, eat nice meal at a nice restaurant in the parks or another resort either at the middle of the day and a light snack later in the evening in the villa. That means we are really only eating one big meal a day. Keep in mind that we are empty nesters, so there are usually not little ones with us. When we have guests along with children, we tend to eat in more.

 

[eva]

I think that we still spend about the same amount. We just eat a lot better than we used to. We always eat breakfast in the room and buy some things for an occasional lunch or snack. We may eat one dinner in the room, especailly if we are tired. But now we have the extra money to try some of the really nice restaurants at WDW.

 

[BeckyV]

That's another reason we bought DVC. We also own other timeshares, and it really saves us money. We are a family of five and it can add up. My DH loves vegetables and this is a way we can get a lot of these at WDW. We drive so I fix meals ahead and freeze them so we can microwave or cook in the oven. I enjoy cooking so it is not a chore for me. With little ones, it is better to return to the room and relax. Thanksgiving 2000 my mom and I had dinner fixed and prepared ahead of time. It was wonderful to return to the villa and not fight the crowd or the expense. We find we can go more often by saving on the food.
We usually do one dinner and one character breakfast for a four night stay. Sometimes a lunch or two in the park depending on if we feel like returning to the room. We are going to my mom's beach house next week and you should see the menu we have planned. My mom and aunt also are super cooks. I cannot wait.

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by Muushka
Yes, I would say we spend roughly 50 to 75% less than we used to. THere are a couple of reasons.

1. I am pretty frugal, and it is so much easier to eat in with DVC
2. I really don't want to give Disney any more of my money
3. I actually feel better when I don't eat out a lot. (tummy )

Everything Muushka said. Exactly.

 

[gmboy95]

We are still in the "try different restaurants" faze, and trust me it is making my wallet sweat....but alas!!....this year i am determined to cut my food budget in half...I have gotten great advice on this board on where to shop, and there is definetly no reason why you cant have at least one meal every day courtesy of Wal-Mart.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

We spend less on food, and probably save ourselves some stress. Going out to eat can be tough with little kids, and not much fun, eating at home can be much more relaxing. So we mix both eating out and at home. Lots of snacks and drinks too.

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

5 night stay VWL, 4 adults, 2 kids. We spent $240.00 for the five days and ate out once (had to throw out some food at the end). Big Big Big $$$$ savings. It is one of the major reasons we purchased DVC. Our one dinner out at Artists Point cost $225.00 and that was w/o the kids. The cost of food is unreal in most WDW restaurants.

Eating with little ones at WDW is like opening you wallet on Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Eating in your room gives you more freedom to explore the parks as your not waiting for all those priorty seatings (with screaming kids) or suffering indigestion from too much counter food. Although, I will say, I had the london broil while we were saying at ASMO, and it was a good meal for $13.00.

Our next trip, I think we will go to Sams and get some foods we nomally don't buy at home (some of those ready made frozen things, or shrimp etc). You can still eat very good amd simply in your DVC.

 

[DisneyWorld fanatic]

We actually haven't changed much since joining DVC. Prior to joining, we ate every meal out and really didn't worry about the expense - we were on vacation and just enjoyed every minute of it. We also eat out alot when we are home in NJ. Being members has not changed that at all. We like to eat out, my wife hates to cook and we enjoy all the different restaurants.