How would you eat at Disney for about $25 a day.

[OasterP]

I could definitely do this. I ate cereal and milk in the room every morning for breakfast. I also bought bottles of water and then got water in the parks. We were on the dining plan last time so I DIDN'T do it, but I know I could. I'd eat a counter service lunch in the park, and most of the time I'd be fine with a kids meal - I hate to walk around full.

Then on some days I'd spend more on dinner, so maybe not that PER day but I could definitely average it out. The meals at the resort food court are large, and I could easily have it last two nights.

I think it just depends how you like to eat. Definitely not many/any sit down meals, and if you are a big eater it would probably be difficult. I'm thinking I'd have to skip a meal just to get caramel corn from Epcot though.....

 

[jennasmommyinMS]

I can definitely do this, since it's pretty much what I do without even thinking about it! I always bring things for the room, like quick breakfast items and various beverages, so in the parks I just get the free ice water. I generally always have just coffee for breakfast, and vacation time is no different for me.

Magic Kingdom:
Sleepy Hollow--Ham, prosciutto, & Swiss waffle, $7.99
Aloha Isle--Dole Whip float, $4.99
Columbia Harbour House--Fried shrimp plate, 9.99
Total with tax: 24.47

 

[jennasmommyinMS]

Here are my other parks.

Epcot:
Taste Track--Fontina & tomato basil grilled cheese with side salad, $8.49
Box of popcorn, $3.50
Liberty Inn--New York strip steak with fries & broccoli, $11.49
Total with tax: 25.01

Hollywood Studios:
Studio Catering Company--Greek salad, $7.19
KRNR--smoothie, $4.49
Fairfax Fare--Barbecue pork & cole slaw hot dog, $8.99
Total with tax: 21.17

Animal Kingdom/Downtown Disney:
Restaurantosaurus--Chicken BLT salad, $9.99
Harambe Fruit Market--Pineapple spears, $3.29
Cookes of Dublin--Battered burger & chips, $10.99
Total with tax: 25.85

My total for 4 park days plus an evening meal at DTD with tax: $96.50

 

[manning]

Fresh Mediterranean Market -Dolphin - Resort

Breakfast is 23.99 for buffet. If you are DVC or Table in Wonderland you get 20% discount.

 

[momimouse27]

I think if we spent that much time at Disney, I may not want to do all those sit down meals either. I still wouldn't trek in with a cooler(just me) but for us, its been since 2013 that we've had a full Disney vacation. If someone else wants to, I say go for it! Three years ago, my daughter went with her best friend during Thanksgiving week. They were on a bare bones budget, so they all went to the grocery store and got everything they needed to take in and eat for a week. If it were the only way I was getting to go, I might do it. But it takes part of the fun away for me, because I enjoy eating at some of my favorites as much as the other stuff we do.

I think if you're single and only paying for yourself, you could make $25 a day work, but it would be dicey. You could eat sides or just the entree without the sides and bring a water bottle in. You could always bring a few snack in your backpack.

 

[hsmamato2]

You can take it as rude opinion. But I am just being realistic. $25-$30 won't get you filled up, at least not in the WDW.
However, I am being serious about the coffee idea and late lunch/dinner.

However as noted in many other posts here it can be done,and pretty easily..... and not by filling up on free coffee and soda (which obviously here from here I can see,many of us don't drink that stuff anyway-I know I don't) And I know for sure and it seems others here know it too, it can be done, it's not difficult,and no one feels hungry while doing this! (heck,as I noted, we routinely average about 33 pp per day,and that's without any actual planning or looking for pricing, we buy the food we want to eat,and we eat it all-that's without any real thought about it!)

 

[goofy4prez]

However as noted in many other posts here it can be done,and pretty easily..... and not by filling up on free coffee and soda (which obviously here from here I can see,many of us don't drink that stuff anyway-I know I don't) And I know for sure and it seems others here know it too, it can be done, it's not difficult,and no one feels hungry while doing this! (heck,as I noted, we routinely average about 33 pp per day,and that's without any actual planning or looking for pricing, we buy the food we want to eat,and we eat it all-that's without any real thought about it!)

I agree, it can be done, but I don't agree that it is not difficult. It certainly requires one to really plan it out. But then again, everything about Disney requires planning. Also, if one is a CS or fast food person it is much more realistic. If someone is not a fast food type of person it becomes much more difficult. I certainly have enjoyed reading so many creative ways to spend less than $25 per day at Disney, it has been fun. But I am not a fast food eater and for me there is no way I could ever spend under $25. I just am not into hot dogs, pizza, burgers, and etc. Sure there are some really unique and good quality CS restaurants that don't offer the same old same old such as Tangerine Cafe, Harbour House and Sunshine Seasons just to name a few, but I just couldn't do it and feel like I was eating not only quality food, but healthy food as well. But hey, that's just me.

 

[marchingstar]

I average between 30-40 days/year in the Disney parks and simply do not want to eat with Mickey at every meal.

I think this is a great point--there are some meals at disney that I absolutely love, but getting to eat them is a rare event. because a disney trip is rare for me. I live far enough away that the cost of transportation is really limiting. maybe if it wasn't such an event for me I would want to pack foods too.

 

[palavra]

I can do for about $25.00 per person, but I live about an hour from Disney and go at least once or twice a month. Usually, we eat breakfast before we go and eat a late snack or two around 1:30 or so. At Epcot, we sometimes get two different snacks and share. In the evening, we eat at a CS place around 6:00 OR so. Sometimes, we get the child's portion or share a larger meal. If money is left over, we get another snack that evening. Of course, we don't buy drinks in the park. We bring our own bottled water and get more at water fountains or for free at CS restaurants.

 

[Gena001]

I could totally do $25 per person per day - but only if that did NOT include coffee in my hotel room in the morning.

1) You'd be drinking ONLY water.
2) You either need to bring breakfast items with you - or think of breakfast as just a banana or granola bar or yogurt. ($5 limit)
3) You can get two CS meals at some point during the day for around $10 a piece.

It's not a ton of food if you are on the go all day - but you wouldn't starve and unless you have great metabolisms, I don't think you'd be hungry.

...and you'd probably lose some weight! I know our first few trips (before FD) I lost about 10 lbs each trip. Then w/ FD, I actually added a couple pounds!

 

[Googilycub]

Here is my 6 day plan (my totals do not include tax or tips). I managed to do a sit down meal every day, and get a snack or desert every day. I will be drinking lots of water with my meals, since my budget didn't have room for any drinks. lol. My total for all 6 days came to 149.56, so an average of 24.93 a day.

Day 1 Magic Kingdom

Breakfast
Main Street Bakery-Bagel and Cream Cheese 2.25

Lunch
Liberty Square Market- Tomato Bisque Soup 3.29
- Baked Potato 3.39

Dinner
Plaza- Plaza Club Sandwich 12.49

Dessert
Sunshine Tree Terrace- Citrus Swirl 3.69

Total- 25.11

Day 2 Epcot

Breakfast
Sunshine Seasons- Oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins 2.79

Lunch
Nine Dragons- Hot and Sour Soup 3.98
- Veggie Spring Rolls 4.98
Dinner
Boulangerie Patisserie Les Halles- Quiche Lorraine 6.20
- Apple Turnover 3.85

Snack
Kringola Bakery- Rice Cream 2.69
Total- 24.49

Day 3 Resort Touring

Breakfast- Polynesian
Captain Cooks- Mickey Waffle 4.99

Lunch- Contempoary
The Wave- Waldorf Salad 7.99

Dinner- Boardwalk
Big River Grill- Blue Ridge Pork Sanwich 9.99

Dessert
Boardwalk Bakery- Classic Cannoli- 3.39
Total 25.86

Day 4 Animal Kingdom

Breakfast
Rainforest Cafe- Breakfast of Bandits 8.99

Lunch
Yak and Yeti- Pork Egg Roll 3.29
- Chicken fried rice 3.99

Dinner
Mr Kamal's- Asian Noodle Salad 6.49

Snack
Harambe Fruit Market- Fresh Strawberries 2.49
Total 25.25

Day 5 Downtown Disney

Breakfast
Starbucks-Spinach Feta Egg White Breakfast Wrap 4.25

Lunch
Portobello Country Italian Trattoria- Egg Plant Parmesan 10.00

Dinner
Earl of Sandwich- Avacado BLT 5.99

Snack
Bongos Cuban Cafe Express- Pastelitols Guava 2.95
Total 23.19

Day 6 Hollywood Studios

Breakfast
Writers Stop- Yogurt 1.99

Lunch
ABC Commissary- Shrimp Seafood Platter 7.69

Dinner
Mama Melrose- Wild Mushroom Flatbread 12.99

Snack
Staring Rolls Cafe- Strawberry Parfait 2.99
Total 25.66

 

[lustergirl]

I was just thinking that I spend more than $25 a day on booze.

 

[jsmla]

Here is my 6 day plan (my totals do not include tax or tips). I managed to do a sit down meal every day, and get a snack or desert every day. I will be drinking lots of water with my meals, since my budget didn't have room for any drinks. lol. My total for all 6 days came to 149.56, so an average of 24.93 a day.

Day 1 Magic Kingdom

Breakfast
Main Street Bakery-Bagel and Cream Cheese 2.25

Lunch
Liberty Square Market- Tomato Bisque Soup 3.29
- Baked Potato 3.39

Dinner
Plaza- Plaza Club Sandwich 12.49

Dessert
Sunshine Tree Terrace- Citrus Swirl 3.69

Total- 25.11

Day 2 Epcot

Breakfast
Sunshine Seasons- Oatmeal with brown sugar and raisins 2.79

Lunch
Nine Dragons- Hot and Sour Soup 3.98
- Veggie Spring Rolls 4.98
Dinner
Boulangerie Patisserie Les Halles- Quiche Lorraine 6.20
- Apple Turnover 3.85

Snack
Kringola Bakery- Rice Cream 2.69
Total- 24.49

Day 3 Resort Touring

Breakfast- Polynesian
Captain Cooks- Mickey Waffle 4.99

Lunch- Contempoary
The Wave- Waldorf Salad 7.99

Dinner- Boardwalk
Big River Grill- Blue Ridge Pork Sanwich 9.99

Dessert
Boardwalk Bakery- Classic Cannoli- 3.39
Total 25.86

Day 4 Animal Kingdom

Breakfast
Rainforest Cafe- Breakfast of Bandits 8.99

Lunch
Yak and Yeti- Pork Egg Roll 3.29
- Chicken fried rice 3.99

Dinner
Mr Kamal's- Asian Noodle Salad 6.49

Snack
Harambe Fruit Market- Fresh Strawberries 2.49
Total 25.25

Day 5 Downtown Disney

Breakfast
Starbucks-Spinach Feta Egg White Breakfast Wrap 4.25

Lunch
Portobello Country Italian Trattoria- Egg Plant Parmesan 10.00

Dinner
Earl of Sandwich- Avacado BLT 5.99

Snack
Bongos Cuban Cafe Express- Pastelitols Guava 2.95
Total 23.19

Day 6 Hollywood Studios

Breakfast
Writers Stop- Yogurt 1.99

Lunch
ABC Commissary- Shrimp Seafood Platter 7.69

Dinner
Mama Melrose- Wild Mushroom Flatbread 12.99

Snack
Staring Rolls Cafe- Strawberry Parfait 2.99
Total 25.66

Love your Liberty Square Market and Mama Melrose ideas and am adding them to my mental list of go-to places!

 

[csmommy]

Not that I can tell you what she ate, but my 16 year old daughter went to Disney with her lax team & only spent $160 on food, drinks & snacks for 5 1/2 days. Now, we go to WDW often, so she is pretty savvy, but she tells me she was never hungry.

 

[pooh2001]

We estimate $50 a person
Or you could rent a DVC studio with a microwave and have more options for meals (microwavable mac&cheese, pasta meals, popcorn, heat up left overs),
NEW BARILLA MICROWAVEABLE MEALS and
Hormel make lost of microwavable meals - Pack food in your suitcase:

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Chicken & Dumplings

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Beef Pot Roast

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Spaghetti & Meat Sauce

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Beef Tips & Mashed Potatoes

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Chicken & Rice

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Chili with Beans

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Chicken & Noodles

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Salisbury Steak

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Swedish Meatballs

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Chicken Breast & Dressing

HORMEL® COMPLEATS®Lasagna with Meat Sauce





But do you want to go really cheap?
Grocery store on the way to WDW - buy fruit, snacks, and water bottles

breakfast - from home granola, cereal (splurge for milk in the gift shop, less expensive than the gift store)

lunch - counter service, drink is your own water bottle

dinner - brought from home tuna, chips and fruit, again water bottle

And also have some tummy medicines with you in case you bing on too many carbs or need to do a #2.

 

[threeboysmom]

DITTO!!!

FYI (and this may help!) last year I made 3 trips with a friend on a Dr. supervised weight loss plan. We ate only CS, no alcohol, no desserts, no snacks, 1 drink (outside of meals) per day and then we would keep refilling the bottles. We spent $40-45/day per person.

I don't know how you spent so much without drinks or snacks? Just about every counter service restaurant has meals in the $10-15 range so at MOST a person would spend if they bought lunch and dinner every day is $30.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I don't know how you spent so much without drinks or snacks? Just about every counter service restaurant has meals in the $10-15 range so at MOST a person would spend if they bought lunch and dinner every day is $30.

It sounds like they did have drinks with meals, but no extra drinks. And if they were on a strict eat plan for weight loss, they likely had to choose healthier options at the counter service places. The non fried foods tend to cost more. And if they weren't snacking, they were likely eating bigger meals.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

It sounds like they did have drinks with meals, but no extra drinks. And if they were on a strict eat plan for weight loss, they likely had to choose healthier options at the counter service places. The non fried foods tend to cost more. And if they weren't snacking, they were likely eating bigger meals.

Or they may have eaten 5-6 small meals a day?? That would add up especially with it having to be healthy options.

 

[JennyDrake]

I don't know how you spent so much without drinks or snacks? Just about every counter service restaurant has meals in the $10-15 range so at MOST a person would spend if they bought lunch and dinner every day is $30.

It sounds like they did have drinks with meals, but no extra drinks. And if they were on a strict eat plan for weight loss, they likely had to choose healthier options at the counter service places. The non fried foods tend to cost more. And if they weren't snacking, they were likely eating bigger meals.

Hi again! I'm happy to respond! threeboysmom--we ate 3 meals a day, not just lunch and dinner, so the MOST we spent was $45. Even if breakfast was a protein bar and fruit in the room, we still drank milk and would need another healthy option mid morning.

Happyinwonderland--YES you are correct! We had drinks w/ meals and thank you for noting that the healthier choices cost more We did not eat any burgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, fries, etc.

Or they may have eaten 5-6 small meals a day?? That would add up especially with it having to be healthy options.

Wow! You are so observant! When we went during F&G we ate several small meals at the kiosks and those added up very, very quickly, BUT we had so many healthier offerings!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I actually eat 5-6 small meals a day. My BF likes to say I'm like an infant that has to eat every 2-3 hours. lol I started doing that a few years ago to lose some weight and I've just kept it up. It actually makes me feel better and I'm not as tired and have more energy.