Jersey Week trip - Food spending

[disneysteve]

Prior to joining the DIS, I used to add up what our trips cost in total but never seperated out the food costs. After reading so many posts about how much everyone budgeted per person per day, I decided to track our spending last year just out of curiousity. As I've posted before, our spending was way less than many other people. In November '03, we were 3 adults and DD-8. Our total food spending for the week including all meals, snacks and beverages averaged $16.92/person/day.

We recently returned from our latest trip - 10/29-11/7 (including travel days - we drove). I finally got around to adding up all the receipts. While there, we were definitely less focused on what we were spending at meal time. We also brought in fewer outside snacks than we had previously. DD is now 9 and ate more on her own so we didn't do quite as much sharing of meals as last year. So I expected the food spending to be more than last year, and it was.

Once again, this figure includes all meals, snacks and beverages during our trip (including travel days). For 2 adults (Me and DW) and 1 DD-9, we averaged $19.32/person/day.

This is still well below what a lot of people report. What accounts for the savings? I think there are 2 main things. 1) We eat all breakfasts in our condo. 2) We mostly drink tap water with only an occasional Coke that the 3 of us share (maybe one a day).

Here's a quick breakdown of where we ate. The first place is lunch. The second is dinner.

10/30 - Wendy's; Wolfgang Puck Express
10/31 - Backlot Express; Boma
11/1 - Sunshine Food Fair; Flippers Pizza
11/2 - Crystal Palace; Cooked in condo
11/3 - Beaches and Cream; Premium Outlets food court
11/4 - Electric Umbrella; Concessions at Fantasmic
11/5 - Pizzafari; Cosmic Ray's
11/6 - Waffle House; Denny's
11/7 - Sbarro's

So it is possible to go to WDW and not spend a small fortune on food. Trust me - we never went hungry and we had some very good and enjoyable meals. We did save some money at Boma because we dined with a CM who paid with his discount so we didn't pay full price. But otherwise, we paid normal prices.

 

[CadiesMom]

Thanks for the report! The three of us (DH, DD 9, and myself) are so excited about our upcoming trip! Thought it was neat that your family mirrors ours! I think I have everything in order--hoping I have made good choices! It sounds like you had great dining experiences at a fair price!

 

[disneysteve]

Have a great trip. I've only been home a week and already can't wait to go back. We may try and figure out some way to get back before next November. I hate having to wait a year between visits.

 

[LYNSUE]

DH and I just returned from a five day trip. We spent a ridiculous amount of money on meals, however that was the plan. It was the first time in many years that it was just the two of us. Previous trips included us plus two (very hungry) teen age boys. This time we were going to eat at all the places we had longed too in the past but the budget didn't allow.

The most outstanding meals were Fulton's and the French restaurant in World Showcase.

It was fun... but would not spend that kind of $$ on food again.

As of this past trip, we are now DVC owners. The fact that we can prepare some meals in our villa will help the food budget a lot.