Per-day Budget

[GabAlexJake]

I know this can vary TREMENDOUSLY, but what should I look to budget per day for a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 five-year-olds) for meals/activities at Disney? For meals, we'll probably go out to one nice dinner...maybe two, but otherwise, pizza and hot dogs will probably be standard fare, and breakfast will be bagels in our hotel room.

Thanks for any input!

 

[crisi]

Check out the menus at www.allearsnet.com. They will give you a good idea on menu planning.

Our 4 and 5 year old can split a burger and fries - or we get them their own kids meal. Portions tend to be ample, unless you are a big eater.

Activities - we don't tend to spend much on other stuff. Most activities are included. We do spend a ton on stroller rental.

 

[stacy6552]

We ttracked our spending the last trip. Our family of 4 consistantly spent about $60 per sit down meal and 20 per counterservice meal.

Snack can run you big time, so bring your own.

You can get around the park gimmies by keeping a notebook and when someone wants something say ok well put that on your list. Most things can be bought at DTD, or ordered from your room.

Ok at 5 they are probably old enough for you to let them earn their own spending money before you go. We did this when our son was 6 and boy did I milk that puppy! If you go to the mall, offer a dollar for every store you go into that they are good in. Offer a quarter for getting you something upstairs. Our son usually earns about 40 Disney dollars to spend any way he wants and it lasts him just fine.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

One word of advice is to not order more food than you need. Two kids meals or one adult meal might be enough if the kids are not big eaters. Order one drink and ask for three cups. Meals at sit downs are big too. You might can feed them all off your two plates if they will eat what you eat. Do your big meals at lunch and take snacks for the kids into the parks. We are a family of three DS11,, and we budget about 100.00 a day. One sitdown and one counter service.


Jordan's mom

 

[djm99]

I'm a pre-planner myself so I would preplan my meals to a tee. It strongly depends on rather or not your staying on or off site and if you will have a car.

First, I would buy meal vouchers from hotwire savings club (both the Q & C Vouchers for your "fast food like meals", and the Kingdom Lunch (more upscale meal voucher) for Later that evening or just the opposite. Also, disney dollars are good at all disney restaurants too.

Secondly, if your staying off campus i'd buy gift certificates/Gift Cards at Walmart (they have 24 hour Supercenters in Orlando) for "Groceries" if you have staying with kitchenette area.

Third, I'd buy restuarant gift cards at different places that I plan to eat. Look up info for restuarants in Orlando.

For restuarants that you would like to go to and they don't have a gift card, go to your local bank and get a visa/mastercard gift card that is good everywhere. American Express now has gift cards that are reloadable too.

Be realistic with your amount that you'd usually spend at restuarants and stay in your budget. (Ex: if you plan to eat at Outback and you have a family of five plan for $20 per adult/teen and $11 per child.) Almost all of the major restuarant names have their own gift cards. This is creating your own budget and not letting Disney create a budget for you!!!!

Hope this helps and have a Wonderful Disney Day!!!

 

[Pembo]

Another vote for not ordering too much food. Disney food is expensive but they tend to give large portions. Split meals!
Also I carried snacks with us.

 

[sdamico71]

Initially, I was ordering each of us a meal, but soon realized that I was being wasteful. I have 4 kids and found ordering 3 kids meals was more than enough, and it was like a buffet to the kids because they got to share with one another. I typically ordered an appetizer and was plenty.
Are you staying onsite or off? That will help you, too, with budget. Typically meals in Disney are costly!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Another vote for sharing. My hubby and I often share a meal and then get DD (2 years old) a kids meal. We either get an appitiser or dessert to share also if we are really hungery. We then eat what she doesn't. I have noticed that waiters at WDW don't even bate an eye when you tell them you are going to share (they are very used to it. )

I know your kids are older, but the all you can eat meals can be a deal with a 2 year old because it is free for them. (just make sure they know they are under 3.)

Make sure you bring or buy some of your own food for breakfest, snacks ect... (and bottled water.) this can knock a couple hundred dollars of the food costs for a family. The parks do let you take soft coolers into them now.

 

[topgumm]

Originally posted by djm99
I'm a pre-planner myself so I would preplan my meals to a tee. It strongly depends on rather or not your staying on or off site and if you will have a car.

First, I would buy meal vouchers from hotwire savings club (both the Q & C Vouchers for your "fast food like meals", and the Kingdom Lunch (more upscale meal voucher) for Later that evening or just the opposite. Also, disney dollars are good at all disney restaurants too. ]

I am very interested about the vouchers you mention. We are taking our first family trip in Feb. to WDW and I was wondering what these are and how they work. Also how to get them?

Thanks

 

[disneyjunkie]

Originally posted by topgumm

Originally posted by djm99

I am very interested about the vouchers you mention. We are taking our first family trip in Feb. to WDW and I was wondering what these are and how they work. Also how to get them?

Thanks

Start with the thread at the top of the budget board. There are also tons of other threads there that deal with the vouchers. I think they're a great way to prepay your meals without booking a package.