Non dining plan people. What is your food budget?

[WDmommyof4]

We are 5 Disney adults, myself and four boys. We budget $200 a day. This allows for two counter service meals and a snack per day. We usually end up spending a little less because some of my boys will still get kid's meals. It is still about $200-$300 cheaper than even the quick service dining plan would be per trip.

 

[caroline1851]

My 13 year old son and I spent $500-600 over 5 days. This included water, fruit, muffins and a few snacks delivered by Garden Grocers, 2 table service and the rest counter or snacking.

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I'm budgeting 1500 for 4 of us for 10 nights/ 9 days. We're planning on about 5 table service onsite (not character or buffets), two offsite, almost all breakfasts and some lunches back at resort on our down days or breaks, and the rest counter service and snacks. Will be making a grocery run when we get there, get refillable mugs and bring water bottles into the parks.

My daughter is a picky vegetarian and my son will order chicken fingers any chance he gets, so looking at menus I don't anticipate our TS being too bad. We had the dining plan last two times and it was too much food. Dh and I eat a lot healthier than our last trip and I know with the portion sizes there's no way I can eat like that and feel good walking around a park. Will be happy with my fruit and nuts and a snack to get me through til dinner, rather than a counter service, or we will share often.

Since we're at AKV my kids will want to spend more time at the resort doing stuff, rather than sitting waiting for an ADR, plus travel time. They will be happier eating a pizza by the pool, or playing in the games room while dh grills something up, rather than being dragged to a restaurant.

 

[kittyab]

2 adults and 1 child, we budgeted about $150 per day. Many days we went way under, on a few we did go over. We used this to help:

http://www.distripplanner.com

We prefer to have breakfast in the room, that does help quite a bit. Often if thought a plate was too big for one of us to eat, we split it. We really tried to save money on the food budget so we would have more money to do different experiences.

 

[kittyab]

My 13 year old son and I spent $500-600 over 5 days. This included water, fruit, muffins and a few snacks delivered by Garden Grocers, 2 table service and the rest counter or snacking.

We used Garden Grocer on our last trip, loved it! We ordered coffee supplies, stuff for a quick breakfast. I highly recommend.

 

[WhoDatDisney]

We used to get the DDP especially when it was offered as free dining however we quickly realized it was too much food and we weren't that hungry towards end of day. Last trip we didn't get it and paid out of pocket and spent $1700 for family of 6 (2 adults and 4 kids 11,9,5,infant) eating breakfast in room and 1 QS and 1 TS daily over 7 days. We brought in snacks but still got some during the day. We were going to get the DDP this upcoming trip however realized that we would be spending more for the DDP than we would if we just paid OOP. Also now with the extended AP discount we will get 20% off almost half of our meals during the trip.

We will be staying in WL DVC where both Roaring Forks and Whispering canyon qualify. Will probably get around $100 of food delivered to our room from garden grocery of which most is snacks

I think what's making the DDP not feasible for us is that our 11 year old counts as an adult but he still eats off the kids menu Which is going to be worse once my 9 year old turns ten

 

[texasroni75]

Our last trip I averaged $90 a day (total) for myself and 2 sons. We ate mainly CS meals, two BOG meals (one lunch, one breakfast), one TS meal at Yak & Yeti, and lots of treats (cupcakes, pastries, and vanilla soft serve).

We kept costs down by getting water, gatorades, juice boxes and some snacks like chips via Prime Pantry with a free shipping credit I had , and packed my sons' favorite fruit snacks and small candy items(total cost: $40 ). If we consumed those same drinks and snacks by purchasing them in the park, it would have cost us an extra $40 PER DAY.

 

[dkrauss]

I'm right at $1388 for 2 adults one 3 year old doing 7 days. Where are you budget wise?

My wife and I will be doing an 8 day/7 night trip in 2 weeks. This is by far our longest trip. I was able to save $900 using the Disney vacation account. Since we also became AP members for this trip we are also purchasing Tables in Wonderland. We're doing this trip with my brother and his family (first time visit for them). We've planned only 1 TS meal per day, with the exception of 1 day where my wife and I will do the 4 parks in 1 day challenge.

Our dining plan (our plan) mixes in mostly buffet/family style TS meals with a few ala-carte TS meals and QS meals for everything else. So we're doing Ohana (D), Boma (D) {I'm paying for this one.......and it just blows are price/per day average out of the water|, Crystal Palace (D), Tusker House (B). We're also doing 50's Primetime (L), Coral Reef(L), and T-Rex(L). All the dinner's are pay one price meal types. Now that may not be the best but its how it turned out. We lunch at more ala-carte style locations.........and sadly we only have one breakfast, but its a good one

Our plan is to do most of our breakfasts at our resorts, Boatwrights at POR and The Mara at AKV. Both of these locations have a 20% discount for AP holders because of the 45th anniversary. For QS lunches and dinners we'll again use locations that give us a 20% discount either using TIW or our AP discount. Those include: FlameTree BBQ, Peco's Bill's, Electric Umbrella. The wild card in all this is the Food & Wine festival We're planning on getting the F&W gift cards to use and budget...........we hope

Taking all that into consideration my conservative budget for food for 2 adults and buying 1 dinner for the group of 6 is: $1585 That includes a predicted total for TIW and AP discounts of: $325 .................seems like alot....right?

Doug

 

[evilqueenmindy]

I have breakfast in the room, usually TS for lunch, a TS or signature for dinner, and I have cocktails at dinner, and drink at the pool bar on the non park day. I plan on $75-100 per full day at Disney.

 

[Hezzy04]

I'm budgeting $100 a day total for my family of 4...for days we just eat at QS places. My girls don't eat a lot so between the two of them, share a kid meal with plenty leftover. I figure $15 per meal for DH and myself plus $10 for a kid meal is $40 per meal. So that is $80 (we pack breakfasts to eat on the go), then $20 for snacks (we also pack most of my kids snacks due to thei peanut allergies).

Budget is obviously higher for days we eat at a sit down restaurant. Maybe $225 or so those days?

 

[Mrs. Inc]

Newbie here, but curious why so many who spend more than the cost of the DDP dont do it? Is there some kind of limitation i dont know about?
Its 67/day per adult right for regular plan?[/QUOT

Actually, I'm shooting for $67 per day, plus tip. I'm not doing a dining plan for flexibility. We're big water drinkers, so no sodas... Plus, we usually skip dessert with our meal... Then grab one for a snack two hours later. Plus, sometimes I'm just not hungry when mealtime rolls around and soup and salad is all I want. Traveling with a twenty year old, so not much of an alcohol budget for us this year!

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

We're at about 1200 or less for 2 adults for a 10 night stay eating at 2 TS/day. This is the first time we're going without a dining plan and are looking forward to eating a little differently (maybe an app or two and no main or sharing a main and dessert). We're not big drinkers, but we'll absolutely partake in a few. Also, I will be upgrading to an AP, so I'll have several discounts on dining and snacking.

 

[brieanna13]

We don't really budget for food. If I book places that are pricey - I kind of know that meal might be about $100. But then we probably would only have a snack later that night.

Basically, we just bring a ton of money and do what we want.

Not helpful, I know.

 

[importswim]

We're getting AP's so this next trip will be a budget one (because of the initial outlay for AP's!)

We're budgeting $100/day for our family of 4 (DH, me, DS11, DD7)
Eating breakfast at the home where we're staying, bringing a meal (probably sandwiches). We're eating two TS during our 5 day visit - Sanaa and Via Napoli (because of sharing opportunities and have wanted to eat at both). Those will be at off times around 3pm to take advantage of stretching over lunch/dinner. The days we don't have a TS we'll do CS for the meal that we don't eat the sandwiches for.

I'm sure that sounds miserable to some, but it's what we'd like to keep to during this trip if we want to make AP's work. I'm excited for the two TS places that we're going!