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[mom2my3kids]

To be honest unless you eat very little I personally don't feel that splitting table service meals gives you enough food for a hungry family(may not be allowed anymore anyway). What we have decided to do is only do three table service meals and the rest counter service for our 6 day trip to Disney. After going to Debs sites and getting a rough idea of cost I have planned to eat for under 800.00 and this is including tips and taxes. My suggestion is eat breakfast in your room, bring snacks and eat at counter service meals that are reasonable price like, pizza planet, Pecos Bills etc..have a great time..

 

[kaytieeldr]

There's no need to "go to" any site for menus; they're available right HERE http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm on the DIS home site!!!

 

[DisneyBarlans]

We are one of those families that brings their lunch. You are allowed to bring in a small soft sided cooler which we put in our stroller (you can also rent a locker to put it in for $5). We usually eat breakfast in our room or in the car on the way to the parks, then eat a packed lunch and have one table service or counter service meal per day. Once or twice a week we'll do a character breakfast or eat mickey waffles at our hotel. We have done the dining plan before and it was SO much food, we usually ended up splitting meals and then we would have to use up the rest of the credits on the last day. To us, it is not worth the money.

 

[funnybear]

We went this past December and stayed at the polynesian. I brought down a lot of snacks ;cereal bars, granola bars etc. This next trip, I'll be bringing more non perishable items down with me and order from one of those grocery delivery services(Milk, sandwich meat, yogurt, fruit, water, soda, juice boxes etc..) We'll be eating breakfast in our room, packing lunch for the park and eat a nice dinner out somewhere like Kona or Ohana.

It would be too expensive for us to get the DDP as we'd have to pay adult price for our DD 11 & DS 9--and I'm not paying full price for chicken fingers and fries or a hot dog. This past trip my son was looking for fruit salad, pbj and bologna--so this next trip he'll get it!

We also gave each of our kids $15 at the beginning of their trip to purchase additional snacks with the understanding that once they spent it --NO MORE!NO WHINING, NO TANTRUMS. They put their heads together, pooled their money and ended up sharing a lot of their snacks.

 

[Chellymouse]

If you aren't big eaters, DDP is going to push your food budget way over. Also, if you aren't big into TS meals, then there really isn't any reason to do the DDP. My suggestion is to check out gardengrocer.com to see what you can have sent to your resort (there is a $7 delivery fee)then you don't have to worry about losing your food items to the baggage throwing olympics and do breakfast and lunch with your groceries then choose either CS or TS for dinner. Lupper is the best time to do TS. Lunch prices with pretty nearly the same menu for both lunch and supper. DH and I used to do this before our DDP days and it saved on ave. $20-$50 per day on meals. If you are looking to perhaps stay in a villa and it's not in the budget, you may want to check out the DVC rent/trade board to see if there are any deals that may fit your budget.

 

[queenof2princesses]

OK. I have done Disney on various budgets...We've been before with DH's bball teams, I made a big batch of chex mix from scratch and added m&m's and nuts and other faves and then divide up into several gallon size bags for each day to keep in our backpack. We always carry water bottles and refill. I bring fruit snacks, etc for the backpack. Almost always eat bfast in the room, except for cindy and storybook bfasts We also like to eat 1 bfast inside MK at the bakery? can't believe the name escapes me...We have found that taking a break in the middle of the day and eating at a chain 'saves us money'. I find it hilarious that when we go to Olive Garden for lunch (lupper) it helps our budget!!! There is also a CICI's Pizza that would be great for your budget with the growing kiddies. We make sure the kids get big salads before the pizza and dessert These are good ways for the one meal a day to stay in budget.
OK for the DDP. Hope nobody screams at me for this...but I am very frugal. If you are staying for more than 4 nights, you might consider splitting your stay. Say the day you arrive you book 2 nights, with tix, and DDP. You can use those 2 TS, 2 CS, and 2 snacks over 3 days. If you are already doing TS for sure, this may save a little. If you and DD go to 2 princess bfasts, then you will use yours up with this, then have CS and snacks for 3 days. If you use the credits for the boy's TS meals where you can get more value...Each TS credit gets an appetizer, entree, dessert, and drink. 2 TS definetly enough to feed 4, maybe 5. I know I (and my kids) sometimes order app as entree...
Splitting the stay...if you want to change resorts, or even if you want to stay in the same place, they will move your bags for you (I'd tip) while you are in the parks Then, with your 2nd ressie, do room only, use your same tix and don't add DDP.
I am staying in a DVC villa (a good friend is a member) for the first time this spring with a full kitchen..can't wait to see how I stretch my dollars on food. We can't justify the DDP for our trip. Oldest DD just turned 10. I can't justify DDP or even a character meal as little as she eats.
Enjoy your stay and whatever you do, at least look at the menus to know what your up against.
We also get a good value at Pecos Bills, Mexican counter service at Epcot.