How much a day for fam of 6?

[llggood]

Okay last time we went it was 2 adults 1 five year old. Now 5 years later it's 2 adults, two 8 year olds, a 12 year old and 11 year old. We will eat breakfast in the room. We will have chips, fruit snacks, granola bars in our fanny packs and the kids are responsible for their OWN snacks if they want to buy them. We basically will eat two meals in the parks a day. We will eat counter service and then "graze" from our fanny packs if hungry in between. We plan on one character breakfast while we are there. Cindy's or Crystal Palace. . So how much do I budget to eat two meals a day at counter service??? Any ideas?

 

[jel0511]

If you're truly going to eat only counter service (burgers and fries get old REAL quick) I'd plan between $75 and $100 per day for your family. Counterservice at WDW isn't cheap, especially inside the parks. A cheeseburger with fries and a drink will usually run you $8 per person. I assumed that all kids will order kids meals, but if your 12YO is a large eater, I'd stay on the higer end of the range I specified. If you're also planning on eating dinner at a resort food court, they offer daily dinner specials which are usually more than your usual cheeseburger and fries. Usually around $9 for the entree, and a drink is extra.

 

[ugadog99]

I use the menus and prices at allearsnet.com to figure my budget. Even though going through all the menus is time consuming, I can just about predict my food budget to the dime! I always plan for one bought snack per day and the rest we bring in. For counter services, we also use our own can drinks and just cups of ice. We bring our own water in, too.

 

[TwingleMum]

Bringing your own water in is a big $$ saver. Also if your eating breakfast in your room , you may want to consider a sit down or charactor meal a day. When you cost it out especially the buffets can only be slightly more and the kids and your Dh can get there fill of food + dessert and free refills. That way your only paying for one meal a day and fill in with snacks. Or maybe try this a couple of days during your trip and see if it works.

 

[ugadog99]

That's exactly what we do. By eating breakfast in the room, bringing in our own snacks and drinks in the park, we save enough to be able to do some nice sit down meals. I like the buffets because everyone can eat what they like and there is plenty of it. We will also eat some lunches in the room and save even more for our sit downs. The nicer meals we have planned this trip are RFC, 'Ohana, Mama Melrose's, WCC, and Chef Mickey's. I'm all for budgeting and not eating out every meal. However, this is my vacation too and since I am a single mom and in charge of all our meals at home, I do want to eat at some nice restaurants on vacation. We always budget in one breakfast which is always Kona on our last morning.