Looking at menus and having sticker shock!

[Nancyg56]

We're taking four granddaughters (17, 11, 8, and 6) to WDW in January and, being the compulsive over-planner that I am, I've started looking at menus trying to find places where all the girls will be able to choose something they like. So anyway, it's been five years since our last trip and I can't believe how expensive some of the meals have gotten, even counter service meals. $14 for a freaking bowl of corn flakes at Be Our Guest for breakfast, and $24 for an open face ham and egg sandwich. And this is a COUNTER SERVICE BREAKFAST! Yikes! I'm looking at $130 just for breakfast lol. I guess I'd better re-think my decision to skip the DDP.

In addition, I know none of the girls are ever going to actually finish a meal, and one meal at WDW can easily feed at least two of them, but will they ever be able to agree on what to order? Or should I just pay up, even though it may cost more, and avoid the whole argument? Traveling with four is going to be a whole lot harder than when I took one at a time. I'm rambling. . .

The first thing I would do is decide what kind of touring you will do with the girls. WIll you be making a TS meal daily part of your plan? Character meals? Sticking to mainly Counter service? Once you decide that, you can think about if the DDP would work for your needs or not. You have 2 under 10, so that makes a big difference IMO because the cost of the plan for them would be much less, and depending on where you chose to eat, might make it average out as a better value. If you are looking at buffets, and character meals, they add up quick, so that's when the DDP comes in handy, es[ecially given the ages of two of your group.

If your girls are not into TS meals daily, do not want a character meal, the DDP will be a waste, so then you go OOP. As others pointed out,BOG is an anomoly in your price planning.

Have a great time! You may be suprised at how willing the kids may be to sharing meals. My DGD is almost 15, and she will often share with her Mom. WE don't do this anywhere else but Disney, but we like having three meals a day, but holy food! We split CS meals for breakfast and lunch, never leave over full, but we are able to enjoy a variety of meals and choices and still have energy and no need for that food coma nap.

 

[mrzrich]

If you are unsure about the DDP, consider buying Disney Gift Cards to get that "prepaid feeling" without be restricted the rules of the DDP. There are ways to save on these gift cards like buying them at BJ's or Sam's Club. Also some people buy them with their Target Red Cards for 5% off. Check the budget board for more details.

I buy at least one Disney gift card a month, usually two. (one per pay check). It takes a lot of the sting away when the bill comes.

 

[Aliceacc]

We're big DDP people; the one time we didn't get it we regretted it.

But either way, one thing you can do to save money is order through Garden Grocer. They'll deliver to your resort, and you can get all sorts of treats for the girls without paying top dollar for them. So stock up on Chocolate Chip muffins and croissants and juice boxes for breakfast. Order a case or two of water so you're not paying Disney prices for it. Stock up on park snacks they'll enjoy-- individual sized servings of cookies and chips if you want-- so you can offer them some treats at reasonable prices.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

honestly BOG is a rip off for breakfast IMHO...We ALWAYS get the deluxe dining plan and never worry about the cost of the meals, but even with the dining plan we will never do BOG breakfast lol...I refused to pay $24 for an egg sandwich even with the dining plan lol

 

[mrzrich]

One more bonus to the gift cards. I frequently see people here on these boards stating that they had so many snack credits left at the end of their trip that they go home with 17 Mickey rice crispy treats in their suitcase.

If I have money left on my gift cards, I can buy a souvenir I really like, or I can put the gift card away for my next trip.

 

[aretha30]

We don't do the DDP because it is a waste of money for us. We do still prepay though by buying Disney gift cards at Target (with our debit red card which gives us 5% off). This way we don't feel like we are restricted and can eat when and where we want and not worry about money. Our boys can and will split meals or I will split a meal with one of them. We go in August so we drink water all day to stay hydrated. All of these things can help save you money.

 

[LovesTimone]

We're taking four granddaughters (17, 11, 8, and 6) to WDW in January and, being the compulsive over-planner that I am, I've started looking at menus trying to find places where all the girls will be able to choose something they like. So anyway, it's been five years since our last trip and I can't believe how expensive some of the meals have gotten, even counter service meals. $14 for a freaking bowl of corn flakes at Be Our Guest for breakfast, and $24 for an open face ham and egg sandwich. And this is a COUNTER SERVICE BREAKFAST! Yikes! I'm looking at $130 just for breakfast lol. I guess I'd better re-think my decision to skip the DDP.

In addition, I know none of the girls are ever going to actually finish a meal, and one meal at WDW can easily feed at least two of them, but will they ever be able to agree on what to order? Or should I just pay up, even though it may cost more, and avoid the whole argument? Traveling with four is going to be a whole lot harder than when I took one at a time. I'm rambling. . .

Your very very brave 4 girls ... For this I would go the dinning plan route to save your sanity and you won't have to worry about who is getting what and so on and so on, this is one less thing that they can fight about. I would worry about how many bathrooms you have instead, and outlets for all the equipment, phones, iPads, ipods. Bring a multiple outlet cord to save your sanity. Good Luck and lots of Pixie Dust.. I had 2 girls and all their friends... no wonder I have to color my hair...

 

[mrzrich]

Since there are six of you you may want to look into getting a fort wilderness cabin. There Will be plenty of room for your whole group, and the cabins have a full kitchen which can help you save on food.

 

[sarah4770]

Money isn't so much the issue as is the waste. I hate to pay for food and see it thrown out because they didn't eat it. I'd feel the same even if the DDP was free. But I took the advice of the poster above and checked out the menu at Art of Animation, which is where we will be staying. The food prices are much more reasonable there. So I guess I will look around more and then decide. Of course, I have to try to find as many places that have broccoli as possible or I will need to bring broccoli with me, as that's the only vegetable the 6 year old will eat, and she eats a lot of it. We've just never traveled with more than two at a time before and I want this trip to be as stress-free as possible. The last thing I want to do is be fighting over dinner. Maybe I will just decide and then tell them "OK, this is where we're eating today."

That is the way to do it. You are the one who should make those decisions. I mean, if they are hungry in a park, of course it is reasonable to stop at whatever is nearby. It's your money and your budget, the food can get quite expensive. Try to do in room breakfasts. Cereal bowls and the like. You can get milk from the store at animation. If you have AAA, kimonos, garden grove, fresh, and picabu at the swan/dolphin give a 20% discount Its a boat ride away from epcot and mgm.

 

[sarah4770]

Since there are six of you you may want to look into getting a fort wilderness cabin. There Will be plenty of room for your whole group, and the cabins have a full kitchen which can help you save on food.

that is a good idea.

 

[AJA]

Normally for us the dining plan is a hassle and doesn't save money (3 disney adults including an 11 year old) two of us are very light eaters.

In your situation though I would totally get the plan. That way the older teen can help with paying, standing in line, etc. She can swipe her/their magic band and be independent or help with the little ones. You don't have to worry about handing her your credit card or always being right with her to pay.

 

[sarah4770]

But the teen can have charging privileges on her band for that.

 

[ellie05]

OP you need to decide on the restaurants come out with a rough estimate and see if the dinning plan makes sense for you money wise. Remember the plan doesn't include tips and in some restaurants it is a limited menu you get to choose. It also includes dessert at every meal. Personally I think there will be a lot of wasted food in the plan with kids specially if they get to choose dessert every meal. There are many times I have chosen just to have some appetizer vs an entree which might be a good option with teenagers and a picky eater. Cost wise you can just put aside what the dinning plan is going to cost you as to pay for food.

 

[Vijoge]

When we got home we asked the kids their favorite things from the trip....DH almost collapsed when my youngest said his favorite thing was the chocolate chip pancakes at IHOP.

In 2010 we took our eldest granddaughter on a cruise to the Virgin Islands. When we returned my next door neighbor asked her if she enjoyed her vacation. Her response? "I had brownies and gelato EVERY day!"

 

[sarah4770]

so there you go! get them a couple desserts!

 

[Vijoge]

Since there are six of you you may want to look into getting a fort wilderness cabin. There Will be plenty of room for your whole group, and the cabins have a full kitchen which can help you save on food.

We're already booked in a Lion King Suite at AOA. The kitchenette is enough for me this trip. I don't have any problem with cereal or bagels in our room before we go to the park but this Grammie isn't planning to actually COOK!

 

[Vijoge]

Talked things over with DH last night and we've decided to not get the dining plan, eat primarily CS meals unless we do a character meal for the little ones, and just let them order and eat (or not eat) as they wish. None of them are big eaters and I don't expect the 17 year old will even finish a kids meal BUT I plan to make this trip as stress free as any trip with four girls can possibly be.

DH and I have already experienced every dining venue that we've wanted and I anticipate the kids are going to be more interested in the parks than the food. None of them are early risers, so showing up at rope drop just isn't going to happen this trip and the six year old usually crashes early. I don't think we are going want to spend our somewhat limited Disney time sitting in a restaurant for a couple of hours every day.

I appreciate all the input I've received on this thread. It's been a valuable help in the decision-making process. This trip is going to be a surprise for them all until we get to the airport. They love when Papa takes them on a 'prise lol.

BTW, Papa and the little one were siting on the couch last night watching tv and Perry the Platypus (Phinneas and Pherb) went down a tree slide and she said she said she wanted to do that. Papa told her he didn't know where that was and she looked at him and asked "Do you know where Disney World is? I've NEVER been to Disney World!" Papa just looked at me and smiled.

 

[Goofy G]

That G-ma rocks!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Be Our Guest is not your average counter service restaurant. A bowl of cornflakes won't cost that much anywhere else. If you're meal splitters, you don't need DDP unless your plan is to do a lot of character meals (which you'd pay for per person anyway). If the kids won't agree on what to order, that can happen anywhere. If you only want to patronize restaurants that serve broccoli, you'd have to do that research no matter where you went.

 

[Vijoge]

That G-ma rocks!

Thanks! Being a grandma is the most fun EVER!