Food Budget and dining plans

[heatherleigh]

I just thought it would be helpful for me to see what others have budgeted for food. We have two adults and three kids travelling (under the age of 7) so I still haven't quite figured it out. We do plan on bringing box juices and waters on the trip, so it will probably help. I'm even going to get snacks for the room. Originally I thought $100 per day would be enough, but now I'm having second thoughts. We will probably have one sit down a day, but mainly eat in the park (or room service.) How many people do you have, and what do your budgets look like?

 

[fairykin]

I'm working on our Feb trip now.

When I get my numbers I will post them.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Try $100 per meal for a family of 5! Especially if one of those meals is a sit down or room service!

 

[Jenn1116]

On my last trip I budgetted about $100/day for just me and DD 4. I managed to have money left over from each day's food budget which of course all went to souvs on the last day! I think it will depend a lot of which sit downs you choose and some are far more expensive than others. A character meal for 3 adults and 1 child is about $100. I'm guess it will be about the same for 2 adults and 3 kids. It'll make a difference though if you have a 2 and under as I believe they don't charge under 3yrs.

Don't forget to pack snacks and water bottles to take with you into the park. I believe it's formally "discouraged" but in reality it's no problem at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

Check out the menus at allears.net (http://allears.net/dlr/din/dining.htm should get you there, then click on the links with menus in the titles, not "restaurants"). It'll give you a good idea (knowing that the menus and prices aren't always perfect, since it's just regular humans visiting, getting info, and updating) of what you'll find there and what the prices might be.

The 3 of us budget about 100 per day for food AND souvenirs, but hubby and I tend to share meals, and our snack purchases are smaller than other families, b/c their fun snack food is loaded with things my "boys" can't have (corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and corn syrup solids). We bring in granola bars and water, though I'm moving us towards just getting ice water from food places (it's free) b/c the water bottles are annoying to schlep around or even push around in a stroller.

Hope that helps!

 

[dizneekrazee]

We are kinda in the same boat, we are 2 adults, 3 kids (3,5, and 9). I am trying to average ours out as well. We used to do about $100/day on food, not including snacks. I was just looking at one of our menu options and decided it was actually cheaper for me to order and adult meal (chicken tenders) and have 2 boys split it, rather than getting 3 kids meals. More likely the younger 2 would do that. I think I am still going to plan on that amount, knowing that some days will cost more than others. We will have drinks and snacks in the room, as well as some breakfast stuff for while waiting in line. We will do 1 breakfast however at Carnation Cafe, non-negotiable!!!!
So like you, we are planning on 1 sit-down meal a day. We also plan for 1 character breakfast the day we check out. This trip, Storytellers.

 

[chrissiecutie]

We are leaving in 4 days, woohoo!

I've budgeted $65/day for my family of 3, 2 adults and 1 child. This was after realistically using the menus from allears.net and themouseforless.com. I figured my son and I would share on several occasions but DH is a big eater! We plan on bringing in lots of food for my son, he's a very picky eater and most likely will eat very little of what's offered in the parks. We have free breakfast at our hotel and will buy muffins or something, so don't plan on buying any breakfasts inside the parks.

So realistically, this is for 2 adult priced counter service meals daily. With the exception of our 1 character breakfast. I also included an extra $15/day for snacks & drinks. Yes, we will be bringing in water bottles but I just know I'll break down and buy a DoleWhip or smoothie or something...

Honestly, I would say $100 is a bit low but I always like to overestimate so I'm not caught unprepared. It's the girl scout in me! Also, don't forget to include money for snacks, those TiggerTails and Tinkerbell drink thingys are pricey!! However, with 3 kids, maybe they could share? Wait! What am I thinking! I could never share with my brother's and sisters!!

 

[Gisele]

Chrissie,

Sounds like a good plan! how cute, you have a bit of a lad, that is all but three, and sounds like he knows what he likes and does not care for to eat.
My 2 year old niece, is like a Hoover, she sees it, and eats it, (normally)Oreos she and her brother eat, my homemade chocolate chip cookies, OMG! of course not, because they are made with all natural ingredients, no artificial flavors or sweeteners, they don't come in a roll back the opening sticky thing kind of a package. Sometimes, kids don't know what is good for them, seriously.
One day, they will come to appreciate my cookies, (little brats) seriously!

 

[Gisele]

Heather,


You sound like you have really very nice plans, and hope that you completely enjoy your vacation, especially in this day and age of, (don't get me started )we all need a nice break from it all. (sigh)
and wow, your youngest is but all of 3 months, how cute is that!