Need help working out a dining budget.

[SummerIrmoma2_3]

In the past we have always done DDP, but next year we are not going to add the DDP and use the $750 gift card towards out food. In all there will be 3 adults and 4 children (9,7,5,1) going for a 7 night trip. We will have 2 rooms so we will actually have $1500 in gift cards, but 1 will be my mom's so I am only considering OUR $750 in budgeting. I am sure she will pick things up here or there, but I don't want to count on it.
Soooo how much additional money should I bring for dining? I would like to kind of eat similar to what we do on the DDP with 1 TS meal a day. I plan to send a case or 2 of water so I do not plan on buying drinks outside of our meals, but we will most likely have a few snacks in there. I am guessing when we do not do a TS breakfast we will just have a muffin or something little like that, when we do have a TS breakfast we will most likely only get some snacks between breakfast and dinner. I have looked at allears.net but I am just not sure what everyone else will be ordering/ wanting so it isn't helping me a whole bunch. I would rather just see what other do and go from there.

TIA

 

[ancestry]

"I would rather just see what other do and go from there."

To avoid having to figure out what you are trying to figure out I usually get the dining plan.

To get a fairly accurate cost I think you need to first determine where you are going to eat TS wise. Then look at their menus and figure out an average adult cost and an average child cost for each restaurant. Be sure to add in the cost for beverages and taxes for the TS meal. If possible do a similiar thing with the counter service places. Add it all up and hopefully you will have a close amount that you can budget with. Good luck.

 

[caroline1851]

I would plan on spending $100-125 per TS/day and $40-$45 per CS/day and $15 per S/day = $155-$185/day for 2 adults and the kids (didn't count your mom)

 

[TDC Nala]

Check the terms of your offer, if you are receiving the gift card as part of a distributed offer from WDW. In past offers, gift cards given as part of a room reservation offer could not be used for restaurant purchases; they were good for merchandise only.

 

[bobbie68]

I agree with the previous post check it out. I read somewhere on this board that you can't use the gift card for food, only merchandise.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!

 

[MissBritt]

If you can indeed use the GCs for food, I don't think you will go over $1500. DH and I barely ate $540 in 4 days, and nearly all was TS (app, entree, dessert, drink). The 1 y/o won't really count, and you will likely find yourselves sharing some meals because of portion sizes.

 

[saraheliz]

the current gc promo says that it includes wdw restaurants...food, alcohol, gratuities...

 

[Carrie772]

There are 5 of us. We always figure $100 a day and that has been very accurate. And we do eat more QS and just some TS with a character meal thrown in here and there.

How's that?

And I just booked the gift card offer and my TA told me that I can use it for dining.

 

[SummerIrmoma2_3]

Thank you all for your input, it is very helpful!!

"I would rather just see what other do and go from there."

To avoid having to figure out what you are trying to figure out I usually get the dining plan.

To get a fairly accurate cost I think you need to first determine where you are going to eat TS wise. Then look at their menus and figure out an average adult cost and an average child cost for each restaurant. Be sure to add in the cost for beverages and taxes for the TS meal. If possible do a similar thing with the counter service places. Add it all up and hopefully you will have a close amount that you can budget with. Good luck.

That is why I prefer DDP, but unless I happen to get a PIN between now and then we just can't afford to go if we book DDP since we will be using our income tax return to pay for a majority of it.

Check the terms of your offer, if you are receiving the gift card as part of a distributed offer from WDW. In past offers, gift cards given as part of a room reservation offer could not be used for restaurant purchases; they were good for merchandise only.

I agree with the previous post check it out. I read somewhere on this board that you can't use the gift card for food, only merchandise.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!

The current GC promo CAN be used on food, I checked on this before we decided to book.

 

[SGMCO]

Can the Gift Card be applied to pay part of the DDP?
I was wondering this.

 

[SummerIrmoma2_3]

Unfortunately no. The DDP has to be added and paid in full before you arrive on your vacation and you do not get the gift card until you check in.

 

[indimom]

I went to allears website and went over the menus/prices for the restaurants we plan to eat at and literally walked through them pricing the meals I 'thought' my family would like/enjoy. My family includes DH and I, DD 12 and DS 9.

While some days were more than others (like the day we are doing a dinner show), on average it ran about $150 for one sit-down meal, one counter service meal, 18% tips, and snacks/desserts each day.

My family can be big eaters, so I budgeted high. If I wasn't sure what someone might like at a particular restaurant, I chose the more expensive option and I included a LOT of desserts, some pricier drinks and a few appetizers, so I really expect to come in under that amount.

I know our family is a bit different in age/number than yours, but maybe that will help give you some idea where you'll fall on your budget. If you are planning any character buffets, those are easy to price out since it's one price for adults and one for kids.

Hope that helps!

 

[wdw&sonny]

From our 2005 and 2009 trips, I kept all receipts and actually calculated what my family of 5 (3 adults, 2 pre-teen boys) spent per meal:
Breakfast: $15 (quick service, muffins, cereal...)
Lunch: $50 (usually counter service, a couple of table service)
Dinner: $150 (always TS, non-signature)
Snack: $15

Also, we do not drink and rarely order appetizers or desserts. Hope that helps.

 

[JennyDrake]

I'm not sure if this will help or not, but I'll try! When hubby and I go we eat 2 CS (no dessert) and 1 buffet each day and usually a coke and/or Mickey bar. We do not consume alcohol. I budget $60 per person per day.