Help Please! Not on disney dining plan

[Krysha-Shea]

Hey guys - wanted to budget some money for the trip we weren't able to get on the disney dining plan - we've made plans now for 4 dinners - Ohana I'm budgeting 100.00 for that one - The Plaza Rest - 100.00 - Donalds Breakastosaurus 90.00 - and 1900 Park Fare 100.00 - this is for a party of 5 -2 adults - 3 kids.
On the counter service meals - how much do you guys think I should budget each day for each person? I mean for snacks and maybe light breakfasts - it will be end of July - early August so I'm sure we won't be eating a whole lot other than one full meal. Thanks!!!

 

[REL1203]

$100 at O'hana for 2A and 3K seems a little low, with tax and a 15% tip (which is low), it comes to like $110

 

[Disney8704]

Your best bet is to look at the menus and go from there. Pick out the most expensive item what everyone would order at each CS place and tally up the total. I would say $10 per meal, per person.

 

[antree]

What you should do is go to dinig on the home page and check out all the places to eat. I usually do this when I am on a budget. I can figure out what my family members would eat and about how much it would cost.
100.00 for The Plaza is high to me. So check out the dining page. It's better to budget over then under.

 

[nbodyhome]

$100 at O'hana for 2A and 3K seems a little low, with tax and a 15% tip (which is low), it comes to like $110

It depends on the ages of the kids also. The more over 9, the higher the price would be.

As far as counter service - you don't have to spend a lot, it depends what you want to eat. If the kids can have kids meals (which I enjoy myself), then you'll save a fair bit of money that way.

 

[allyphoe]

Ohana I'm budgeting 100.00 for that one - Donalds Breakastosaurus 90.00 - and 1900 Park Fare 100.00

Assuming the kids are 3-9, and you tip 15%:
'Ohana = 106.86
1900PF = 121.44
Donald's = 86.20 (you said 4 dinners, but I'm assuming this is the breakfast)

So you're about $25 over what you had budgetted. OTOH, the most-expensive meal you'd be likely to get at the Plaza is $22.46 per adult and $7.49 per child, for a total of $81.88. So at that point, you're only about $5 over - it's just the allocations that are off.

 

[Disney8704]

Just wanna point out that everyone shouldnt include 15% tip in their calculations. The OP might tip less or more then 15% or may not tip at all.

 

[nbodyhome]

Just wanna point out that everyone shouldnt include 15% tip in their calculations. The OP might tip less or more then 15% or may not tip at all.

15% is what I'd consider a minimum tip for good service (I tend to tip between 15% - 20%). IMHO, if you aren't tipping, you shouldn't be eating at a sit-down restaurant. I've waited tables, and it's hard work. I think 15% is a good average to add so the OP knows what they are looking at.

We are also assuming the OP's kids are young. If they were 10, 11 and 12, they'd be in a completely different bracket pricewise.

 

[princess jackie]

Unless you eat a lot, you should try the kids meals for everyone. There is usually plenty of food for DH and I. Depending on how hungry our kids are we can sometimes get away with them splitting a kids meal. Plus it will save you some money. We bring small snacky stuff with us to the parks (raisins, fruit snacks, we love the small 100 calorie packs) Plus we ask for the free ice water when we are thirsty instead of buying soda or juice.

If you don't want to pack your own food with you try gardengrocer.com. They will deliver the food directly to your hotel for you. I haven't tried this yet but I've heard a lot of good things about it from other Dissers.

 

[rcraw45425]

Unless you eat a lot, you should try the kids meals for everyone. There is usually plenty of food for DH and I. Depending on how hungry our kids are we can sometimes get away with them splitting a kids meal. Plus it will save you some money. We bring small snacky stuff with us to the parks (raisins, fruit snacks, we love the small 100 calorie packs) Plus we ask for the free ice water when we are thirsty instead of buying soda or juice.

If you don't want to pack your own food with you try gardengrocer.com. They will deliver the food directly to your hotel for you. I haven't tried this yet but I've heard a lot of good things about it from other Dissers.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Table service restaurants will not allow adults to order the kids meals unless they pay a serious upcharge, so 'Ohana, the breakfastasaurus and 1900 Park Faire will be at full price for adults, plus the childrens meal options at the CS would leave most adults with a yucky face. Most don't offer a burger, I know my two girls will order an adult burger meal and split it, or split with one of us.

For us, a family of four, we had a bill at 'Ohana of around $100 with tip, and that was with three adults and one child under 9. OP, remember as others hav mentioned, Disney adult age for tickets and dining is 10 and up, which is a real bummer if you have kids taht don't eat a whole lot.

 

[nbodyhome]

Unless I'm mistaken, the Table service restaurants will not allow adults to order the kids meals unless they pay a serious upcharge, so 'Ohana, the breakfastasaurus and 1900 Park Faire will be at full price for adults, plus the childrens meal options at the CS would leave most adults with a yucky face.

It is up to each restaurant (or the server) if you can get a kids meal. You cannot do that at a buffet, definitely - or any where it's an all-you can eat (like Ohana). You can get appetizers though for meals, that can make things cheaper too (like a soup and salad) at many TS restaurants.

I actually enjoy many of the CS kids meals, and I like getting the applesauce and grapes as a healthier option to fries (or carrot sticks).

 

[MickeyNicki]

DH and I never buy the dining plan and the easiest way I have found to budget is to go to allearsnet.com and look at the menus of the place we are going to, CS or TS...then we sorta decide what we will eat, add it up with tax and tip and there you go.

Usually we do a CS at the resort for breakfast, share a snack and or lunch and have a sit down for dinner. Sometimes I order off the kid menu too so that saves a bit (not at a TS just at a CS)

Breakfast is usually $15 for the 2 of us, a snack and a drink usually runs $7 or so..CS lunch is around $15-20 and dinner for the 2 of us without apps and dessert (we just dont eat that much) is around $60 or so...

 

[Krysha-Shea]

You guys have been so helpful thank you!!! This has given me a better idea for what to expect. The kids ages are 11, 8 and 5 and they will probably all get kids meals if they can thats what they prefer. We will of course tip at the least 15% I'm in cosmetology and know how living off tips can be. I really appreciate all your help! I think I'm going to worry less with this now with this info and I've checked in to some of the menu's and realize now that we will be spending less than I orignially thought. Thank you so much!

 

[nbodyhome]

Definitely check appetizers and such at restaurants! We were at the LTT the other day, and really the soup would have been enough - and a salad would have brought the total to like $10 (instead, I got the turkey and ended up stuffed! - no pun intended). I used to get the appetizer spagetti at Alfredos when I'd go, for about $10.00. I do drink water, I bring snacks with me - as well as breakfast items like oatmeal.

Splitting a meal can be good too, sometimes the portions are huge. But you won't be able to do that at Ohana, since it's all-you-can eat.

My favorite food court is the Pop Century - the sloppy joe kids meal with grapes, applesauce and drink is just enough for me! (I generally eat about 5 times a day).

 

[allyphoe]

The kids ages are 11, 8 and 5

In that case, the 3 set-price meals ('Ohana, 1900PF and Donald's) will come out to $359.46, inclusive of tax & 15% tip. $123.87, $139.66, and $95.92, respectively.

 

[dqpowell]

The kids ages are 11, 8 and 5 and they will probably all get kids meals if they can thats what they prefer.

Your 11 year-old is considered an adult and will probably not be able to order from the kids' menu. At 'Ohana, he or she will be charged the adult rate.

I think I'm going to worry less with this now with this info and I've checked in to some of the menu's and realize now that we will be spending less than I orignially thought.

You'll probably be spending more than you originally thought, because your 11 year-old will be charged the adult prices.

David

 

[bigbabyblues]

We were able to split several of the counter service meals between two of us, that may help you also.

 

[Krysha-Shea]

great ideas! I was so stressed over food - I feel much better now thank you!

 

[dbarker]

Definitely go to www.allearsnet.com and look at all the menus. Also, the portions at the CS restaurants are huge. You should be able to share some of those. I will sometimes order a kids meal for myself. Or, I will order a double hamburger and an extra bun and split w/ DS. I was really amazed at the amount of food we got.

 

[rcraw45425]

The last trip last month, at Concourse Steakhouse, older DD11 asked if she could order the child's "pick three" combo, soup or salad, entree and dessert along with beverage for something like $8. The server looked at her and said sure. She picked the tossed salad, grilled chicken with vegetables and the make your own sundae. Younger DD, who was eligable for the kids menu, chose to share with me and get an extra side and the Pirate Punch drink. We will often share meals at the table service since portion sizes are so large. Most servers are cool with that , they have even pre split our shared meals at Concourse for us. We went very economically one spring, stayed offsite (before this board, we could have stayed onsite for about the same cost), took oatmeal, cereal bars for breakfast, shared counter service meals and also table service. We had a great time too, so it is doable.