Need advice-trip with 6 teenagers

[ihave4kids]

Looks like I might be taking 6 teenagers-well 5 teens and an elevn year old.Any advice anybody could give me on saving money ,especially on meals would be helpful,so I dont lose my mind before we even go.Thanks

 

[DeeDeeDis]

Pizza - they will deliver to your disney hotel and you can eat the leftovers for breakfast
Buffets - Trails End at Fort Wilderness is 16.99/adult for diner and Corando springs or Yaght club breakfast buffet with seatings as late as 11am for 15.99/adult
If you want to try a seat down diner - do a late lunch - most serve until 3pm, this will save you a few bucks/meal. Or ESPN isn't too bad price wise and our boys teenage boys always enjoy eating here each time we go.
Eat breakfast in your room even if your not in a villa that has a kitchen you can still bring a toaster for bagels, juice, milk, cereal etc...
buy a case of bottled water and have everyone bring one to the parks each morning (this will save you at least $2.00/person/day) Extra snacks, soda
I Never cook on vacation anymore (my vaca too) but this is a quick meal to do so If you do have the kitchen make grinders one nite and then go out for sundaes instead of a meal

You dont say how old the teens are (other than the 11 year old) but if they are into the arcades then assign them chores NOW, which they earn a few bucks each week for. Get a white envelop with each childs name on it, the money they earn each week goes into their envelop. When you go, thats the money they have to spend - no more then what they have earned! If they spend it on arcade games fine, on toys thats fine too or even on candy or that second snack at the park as long as you make it perfectly clear that they will get NO money from you, what they get at the start of the trip is all they are going to get so spend it wisely. This always made my kids alittle bit more aware of how much money they were spending and usually took more care in purchasing that special something to bring home. Dishing out a buck here or two bucks there for 6 teens everytime you turn around will really add up quickly

 

[RyMickey]

Definitely do late lunches. Most of the time, the menus are the same as dinner and the prices are cheaper. Plus, this way you can "cover" two meals - lunch and dinner - and then have a snack at the end of the night.

I would definitely consider running to a nearby grocery store/Walmart and getting breakfast bars, doughnuts, or some kind of pastries for breakfast on some days...or bring them with you.

And, I know you didn't ask for this kind of advice, but allow everyone to split up if they want. As long as you're comfortable with it, allow folks to go their own way. They'll want their space from each other and they'll want their space from you, too! I know I was that way with my brothers and my parents.

 

[Schmeck]

Pack breakfast bars, granola bars, etc, for the mornings and for snacks. Most of the food courts at the value and mod resorts have microwaves, so bring microwave popcorn too.

If the kids drink lots of soda, or coffee, etc, buy the refillable mugs if you are staying longer than 2 days (and are staying onsite).

A grocery run for bottled water and other nonperishables might help too!

Try to split counter service meals between two teens if they are not big eaters. My 13 and 15 yr old have been known to share a salad at lunch, especially if we have had a buffet breakfast that day.

 

[txbradybunch]

DISNEY DINING PLAN!!!!!

It truly is worth every penny.

 

[tiki23]

I have to agree, DDP is great for teenagers! My 3 eating machines never complained about being hungry, lol. What was especially nice was that they didn't have to carry cash for their lunch or a snack on the couple of times that DH and I split up with the kids for the afternoon.

However - if the DDP is a little too pricey, I'd give them a spending limit and just enough cash for the day to cover their meal/snack. You might want to have them portion out their money to be spent each day into an envelope marked for each day.

It might also help if they know what food options are available to them in each park.

I was really surprised with our teens on our 1st trip to the world - I thought that oldest DS, at 16, at least was going to be "too cool" for a lot of stuff. He joined in with gusto with only the occasional "Mom, this is lame." DS15 loved everything and wanted to share so much with me and DD13 (who's trying to be so grown up) was so sweet wanting to see the characters that it warmed my heart!