How much will it cost me?

[gottalovethem]

I'm trying to save for WDW -- how much should I plan on spending on food for myself and three children (ages 2, 5 and 7).

We will be going to some sit downs and some character meals. Approx. one a day.

I was thinking $120/day would be more than enough-- am I right?

Obviously DS2 will be free for buffets, but possibly I'll need to buy him CS and some sit downs depending on what the rest of us are getting.

 

[Ilovestitch]

I think it's doable. At first I thought you had two adults and I was gonna say no way, but with one adult and the ages of your kids I think you'll be fine as long as you aren't eating at the more expensive places like California Grill, Hoop de doo, etc.

 

[TexasTodds]

Isn't this one situation where it seems like it would be crazy NOT to do the DDP, assuming that she is staying at a disney resort? OP is budgeting $120 per day for food, but with the ages of her kids the DDP would be $58/day plus the gratuity for the TS meals. ($38+$10+$10)

She mentioned doing character meals, of which several are buffet, so the 2 year old could eat for free, and just the cost of one of these TS meals would more than exceed the child's DDP cost.

Am I missing something? To me, it seems like a logical choice?

 

[Aliceacc]

That's what I was going to say.

One adult and the 3 kids would be under $60 per day on the DDP. Have some breakfast items delivered from Garden Grocer and that adds maybe $10 per day. You've still saved $50 per day.

 

[Befferk]

Sorry for the question, but I can't search...

Do you have to have a package (versus room only ressies) in order to purchase the dining plan?

Thanks in advance!

 

[soonerlpn]

Sorry for the question, but I can't search...

Do you have to have a package (versus room only ressies) in order to purchase the dining plan?

Thanks in advance!

Yes you have to have a package to get the DDP!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

If you are doing a package...definately get the dining plan. If not, $120 should be enough. We typically spend about $125/day for two adults and a child. We typically eat breakfast in the room, CS for lunch, TS for dinner.

 

[chanty]

We are going for 8 days, 7 nights - 2 adults.
We are doing many sit-downs:
Chef Mickey - BK
Marrrakesh Restaurant - Dinner
Beaches & Cream - Lunch
ESPN - Dinner
Tutto Italia - Dinner
Whispering Canyon Cafe - Dinner
Planet Hollywood - Dinner
France bakery - Breakfast

And most of our lunches will be counter services which I calculated at $9 each. I also calculated muffins here & there for Breakfast. I also calculated a big breakfast on our day of departure at our resort ($9 again).

All in all, it came out to $243 (for me) with taxes. That includes drinks and desserts (desserts - here & there). That said, I figure it will cost us $300 per adult for food (counting some snacks and additional food).

Just look up the menus, plan what you'll eat and go from there.
That's what I did! We'll see if I'm on the ball or not shortly!

15 days to go!

 

[gottalovethem]

Thanks guys & gals! I knew the DIS family could help!

The first two nights our room is DVC, then the next four nights our room is booked with a friend who gets a CM discount, so I don't think I can get the dining package...

ADR's so far:

Coral Reef
Chef Mickey's
1900 Park Fare/Cindy's Gala Feast
Le Cellier (no children there)
breakfast at Hollywood & Vine
Teppan Edo
Ohana's

Guess I should assume more $$, huh?

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Definately go onto the menus and figure what your family would plan to eat. Then add in tax and tip and you'll have a pretty good estimate for your needs.

 

[brighteyes]

i went in august of last year on the DDP. I saved all my receipts and just totalled by meals or most of them anyways and I did not come out ahead.

CS - ranged between $11 -20 x 10 meals = 137.89 plus tax which i rounded to 150.00 all of these were at POP food court.

TS - that i calculated was about 300.00 or so which is not including all of them. but with tax i figure about 315.00

so i am about 450.00 right now without snacks. most snacks were spent on drinks in the park which are well under 4.00 if i were to pay cash
not included in the TS that I added was a few TS meals but those were the most expensive ones. There is probably a breakfast buffet in there and possibly the Luau

even so my best estimate I was at least out by 100.00 getting the dining plan

so with tipping i would still have been better to pay OOP. But no regrets it was convenient not having to worry about paying OOP and not carrying around cash.

It was my DS12 who was on adult plan and myself. I also added up all the drinks on the receipts that were included in the meals, b/c with breakfast meals at CS there is no dessert so we had an extra drink each breakfast.

Places we ate for TS were LeCellier, 50's Primetime, Sci-fi, Lilo and Stitch Breakfast, Donalds Breakfastsaurus, Chef Mickey's, The Luau, and Kona Cafe.

Now I understand that I really didnt get my money's worth on the plan because we had alot of breakfast meals, but we like breakfast. And at LeCellier my son barely ate anything. I knew it would be close money wise, so I got the DDP for convenience.

I wouldn't get it again now that tip is not included or appetizer. Hope this helps you out.

Steph

 

[Hopefully]

I would suggest a little more research. Take a look at the menus of the placesyou may want to eat at here on the DIS or at allearsnet.com. Estimate what you would order and the cost of the items.
This should help give you a very close approximation to your actual costs.