How much money to bring

[disneylove16]

I know it's been asked a bajillion times, and it's impossible to give an accurate answer, but I'm curious how much others bring for food. This is my first time going as an adult that I won't be on DDP. I don't know why, but I have major anxiety about it. Even if it wasn't the economically better choice, I always got the DDP b/c I love the peace of mind. But the package we booked didn't offer a DDP, so we will be paying as we go. I did a search, but the most recent thread I could find was feom 2015. Surely the prices have gone up since then. If anyone cares to give us a guess, it'll be 2 adults, 1 TS (not signature) and 1 QS meal per day for 9 days. I'll include the list of our TS meals at the end in case that helps. We get an appetizer usually, but not dessert. And probably 2 alcoholic beverages each at the TS. We usually get about 3 snacks each/day, and DH gets a few beers per day at kiosks. Any ideas? I tried looking at menus, and just adding it up on a calculator to get an idea, but me being me, I crazy-overestimate and end up getting a ridiculously high # that I know isn't accurate. ie.. ok a cookie is 3.95, better round up to 10 for tax and whatnot. I'd love any feedback please!

Our TS meals are:
BOG
Coral Reef
Cape May Cafe
Tusker House
Raglan Road
Boma
Via Napoli
Kona Cafe
'Ohana

Thank you in advance!

 

[sharonabe]

Our TS meals are:
BOG
Coral Reef
Cape May Cafe
Tusker House
Raglan Road
Boma
Via Napoli
Kona Cafe
'Ohana

Are these breakfast, lunch or dinner?

 

[FelisLachesis]

I use this site to give me a ballpark on how much I need:

https://www.distripplanner.com

I know it won't be accurate, as it averages the cost of individual meals, but it helps. From there, I think about how much my family snacks, and add a bit of money to the end.

If it turns out my family isn't eating as much, then more souvenir money!

 

[Chrelaine]

This is a tough one because everyone is so different. I can't spend a ton of time on menus and math and guessing what we might order so I budget $200 per day for DH and I. For us, some days it is a high estimate and some days it's a little low. It depends on where we eat dinner and how many adult beverages we have. I find that we come out pretty close to budget in the end, usually a little under because we tend to only eat 2 meals ( breakfast OR lunch and then a sit down dinner) and then a snack here and there. I personally would rather over budget than panic about overspending or having to penny pinch on vacation. Good luck! I'm curious to read how others figure their budgets.

 

[trouttigger]

I would look at each menu and guess out what you're likely to order, add tax and tip. Then estimate snacks & drinks for each day.

We went for just one day in June, and I did this so I could get Disney gift cards at Sam's at a slight discount. My estimate was very close.

 

[Corbie]

We've budgeted in the cost off the DDP for us, knowing full well we won't eat as much. I'd rather save up plenty of money than not have it when we need it.

I also went through the menus for our ADRs to get a feel for what I think we'll spend each meal, then factored in 20% tip. CS was a bit tougher.

 

[Disney_Cindy]

I look at the price range in MDE, where it says what the meals range cost $15-$34.99, then take the the highest amount, and multiply by the number in our party, so for you it would be 2. Because you probably won't eat the most expensive thing each place you'll have money to cover the alcohol by using the highest amount to establish an estimated budget. I did a quick estimate and came up with about $1710. That's an average of $150 a day for meals at restaurants and $40 a day for snacks and beer for 9 days. I figured the beers are about $10 so that's why I went with $40.

 

[disneylove16]

Are these breakfast, lunch or dinner?

Sorry! They're all dinner.

 

[disneylove16]

I use this site to give me a ballpark on how much I need:

https://www.distripplanner.com

I know it won't be accurate, as it averages the cost of individual meals, but it helps. From there, I think about how much my family snacks, and add a bit of money to the end.

If it turns out my family isn't eating as much, then more souvenir money!

Thank you! I will be sure to check that out. And exactly, whatever we don't spend will go to more souveneirs!

This is a tough one because everyone is so different. I can't spend a ton of time on menus and math and guessing what we might order so I budget $200 per day for DH and I. For us, some days it is a high estimate and some days it's a little low. It depends on where we eat dinner and how many adult beverages we have. I find that we come out pretty close to budget in the end, usually a little under because we tend to only eat 2 meals ( breakfast OR lunch and then a sit down dinner) and then a snack here and there. I personally would rather over budget than panic about overspending or having to penny pinch on vacation. Good luck! I'm curious to read how others figure their budgets.

Thank you! I was figuring 200/ day too, my logic was 100 for TS dinner, 40 for QS lunch, and 60 for snacks. I'll probably budget a little more just in case though.

We've budgeted in the cost off the DDP for us, knowing full well we won't eat as much. I'd rather save up plenty of money than not have it when we need it.

I also went through the menus for our ADRs to get a feel for what I think we'll spend each meal, then factored in 20% tip. CS was a bit tougher.

So you budgeted what the DDp costs to cover the cost of food? I didn't think of that, that's a good idea!

I look at the price range in MDE, where it says what the meals range cost $15-$34.99, then take the the highest amount, and multiply by the number in our party, so for you it would be 2. Because you probably won't eat the most expensive thing each place you'll have money to cover the alcohol by using the highest amount to establish an estimated budget. I did a quick estimate and came up with about $1710. That's an average of $150 a day for meals at restaurants and $40 a day for snacks and beer for 9 days. I figured the beers are about $10 so that's why I went with $40.

This is what I was trying to do, but I have such a hard time being accurate b/c I'm scared of under budgeting. The first time I did it, I overestimated by quite a bit, and ended up figuring 3000 for food The next time I tried to be more accurate, and got 1700. So now I worry about the huge difference in my amounts I figured.

I'd rather bring more than enough, but I'm scared that no matter how much I bring will not ease my mind. This is why DDP has always been worth it to me, just to not worry about this.

 

[bluezy]

We don't usually get the dining plan, but when I'm saving up for a trip I just use the current cost of the the dining plan as our ballpark food budget. Even though we don't worry about the cost of individual meals or how many snacks we eat while we're at Disney, our actual food costs still usually end up being a few hundred dollars less than the cost of the meal plan/what we budgeted. I think the price of the dining plan is a good starting point.

 

[Pennstate6411]

We are 2 adults and a 2.5 yo and we have about $1100 budgeted for food and we are only doing 4 sit downs the rest is for refill mugs and QS for 3 of us and that is with our DD being free at 2 of the TS as they are buffets

Edit: staying sat-sat

 

[kevandliz]

$200/day is more than the standard dining plan, which is less than $140/day for two adults, and includes 1 QS, 1 TS, 2 snacks and 1 refillable mug, each! Doesnt make sense to be ok with $200 a day... thats dxddp territory.

I would use that dining plan calculator and really figure it out.

 

[georgina]

Cost of alcohol adds up when dining out! (OP did say 2 drinks each with dinner) We like to have drinks with dinner too, and around Epcot.

 

[disneylove16]

We don't usually get the dining plan, but when I'm saving up for a trip I just use the current cost of the the dining plan as our ballpark food budget. Even though we don't worry about the cost of individual meals or how many snacks we eat while we're at Disney, our actual food costs still usually end up being a few hundred dollars less than the cost of the meal plan/what we budgeted. I think the price of the dining plan is a good starting point.

Thank you, I think I really needed to hear this!

$200/day is more than the standard dining plan, which is less than $140/day for two adults, and includes 1 QS, 1 TS, 2 snacks and 1 refillable mug, each! Doesnt make sense to be ok with $200 a day... thats dxddp territory.

I would use that dining plan calculator and really figure it out.

So you think 200 is more than enough to budget daily? I'd rather go with extra $ than worry about checking prices and limiting ourselves. If thats a cushion-y amount, I'll,be happy.

Cost of alcohol adds up when dining out! (OP did say 2 drinks each with dinner) We like to have drinks with dinner too, and around Epcot.

Us too! That's what gets us. DH loves trying different beers, and if I see an interesting mixed drink in Epcot I'll get it.

 

[raddisneyfan]

I know it's been asked a bajillion times, and it's impossible to give an accurate answer, but I'm curious how much others bring for food. This is my first time going as an adult that I won't be on DDP. I don't know why, but I have major anxiety about it. Even if it wasn't the economically better choice, I always got the DDP b/c I love the peace of mind. But the package we booked didn't offer a DDP, so we will be paying as we go. I did a search, but the most recent thread I could find was feom 2015. Surely the prices have gone up since then. If anyone cares to give us a guess, it'll be 2 adults, 1 TS (not signature) and 1 QS meal per day for 9 days. I'll include the list of our TS meals at the end in case that helps. We get an appetizer usually, but not dessert. And probably 2 alcoholic beverages each at the TS. We usually get about 3 snacks each/day, and DH gets a few beers per day at kiosks. Any ideas? I tried looking at menus, and just adding it up on a calculator to get an idea, but me being me, I crazy-overestimate and end up getting a ridiculously high # that I know isn't accurate. ie.. ok a cookie is 3.95, better round up to 10 for tax and whatnot. I'd love any feedback please!

Our TS meals are:
BOG
Coral Reef
Cape May Cafe
Tusker House
Raglan Road
Boma
Via Napoli
Kona Cafe
'Ohana

Thank you in advance!

My guess with what info you're presenting would be $100 per person per day--$15-20 for the QS lunch, $40-50 for the TS dinner depending on what/how much you are going to have, but really it's those alcoholic drinks--2 each at TS that are going to add up quick IMO--then you have the snacks! I always eat breakfast in my room--something light--unless I'm staying at AKL and I want the fantastic BOMA breakfast (but then I usually skip TS at lunch and have QS), then I do my TS at lunch and then QS for dinner--still I always feel I'm spending at least $70 a day and I don't have alcoholic drinks normally (on occasion) or snacks.

 

[thepicklebee]

I would budget the cost of the dining plan for your food and snacks for ease of planning and then consider your booze separately.

When we do Disney without the kid, we spend far more on booze than we budget. Oops. I'd budget $10 per drink and plan on a few extra per day than you intend.

 

[Hopefully]

We budget $75/person/day for meals. I agree add $10/drink to that total. Don't forget you need to add tip to TS meals.

 

[disneylove16]

My guess with what info you're presenting would be $100 per person per day--$15-20 for the QS lunch, $40-50 for the TS dinner depending on what/how much you are going to have, but really it's those alcoholic drinks--2 each at TS that are going to add up quick IMO--then you have the snacks! I always eat breakfast in my room--something light--unless I'm staying at AKL and I want the fantastic BOMA breakfast (but then I usually skip TS at lunch and have QS), then I do my TS at lunch and then QS for dinner--still I always feel I'm spending at least $70 a day and I don't have alcoholic drinks normally (on occasion) or snacks.

That seems right on par with what I'm expecting, thank you! I've never tried Boma's breakfast, but I bet it's amazing. Their dinner sure is!

I would budget the cost of the dining plan for your food and snacks for ease of planning and then consider your booze separately.

When we do Disney without the kid, we spend far more on booze than we budget. Oops. I'd budget $10 per drink and plan on a few extra per day than you intend.

That's a good plan. And I know what you mean about going over budget!

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

My experience has been that we spend about the same on dining whether we get the dining plan or pay out of pocket. Even when we have the dining plan we spend additional money for alcohol, appetizers (sometimes), or at the Food & Wine booths. So for us that means spending about $70 per person per day (the cost of the dining plan) plus perhaps another $25 per person per day on alcohol, snacks, etc. So I'd plan $100 per person per day.

On edit, we usually do 1-2 signatures but make that up by using QS credits for a meal or two. For example, our trip in November we are staying 9 nights so have 9 TS credits. But we arrive late the first night and are spending a day at Universal so that frees up 2 credits. I booked 2 signatures and 5 TS meals and the rest will be QS, snacks or possibly out of pocket.

 

[lbus42]

$200/day is more than the standard dining plan, which is less than $140/day for two adults, and includes 1 QS, 1 TS, 2 snacks and 1 refillable mug, each! Doesnt make sense to be ok with $200 a day... thats dxddp territory.

I would use that dining plan calculator and really figure it out.

But the OP also said that her DH would get about 4 beers a day, that they would get a couple of alcoholic drinks at dinners, and several snacks a day. An additional $60 per day for these additional items sounds about right.