Planning ahead for meal expenses

[Poohrulz]

My husband and I are taking our son and 3 nephew/nieces to WDW in June. My BIL/SIL are now coming as well. We are paying for everyone (long story, but BIL is doing a lot of work around the house for us to pay us back...refinishing our basement, planting trees in our backyard)

We are probably going to end up footing all the food as well. We are staying at a Villa in the Caribe Royale, so we will have a refrigerator and stove, which means we can make our own breakfasts. But we'd like to eat at the parks the rest of the day, if possible. Someone recommended that we buy Disney gift cards every pay period to help cover food costs. Any other ideas? I don't believe that we are eligible for the dining plans since we are buying most of our tickets using our military discount. We've got a couple of other big things going on this summer, so we want to have as much pre-paid things as possible.

Hopefully this makes sense, I'm on cold meds, so blame it on the Dayquil/Nightquil if it doesn't! Thanks in advance.

 

[Ed J]

We budget $45 a head per day for food and beverages. That includes a few nice sit down meals at the parks, some counter service lunches and some cheap pasta meals back at the condo.

This also includes a few beers for the adults and snacks for the kids.

We have purchased gift cards in the past, I don;t see the benefit of them, I'm a cash kind of person. If you tend to use an ATM card, then the gift card is a good idea.

 

[carrie1626]

Did I add right, 4 kids?

Breakfast in the resort room is a great idea! and don't forget to add snacks to that, too. My kids alway wanted 'something" late at night. ( cheese and crackers, cereal out of the box...) (yes, I packed it and put it in the suitcase!!)

I learned this after a few trips: share meals. This works great at the Quick Service places. (I did not do this at sit-down restaurants)
Sometimes I didn't order and ate what my 2 kids didn't finish.
Sometimes we'd all get a sandwich (4) but only order 2 fries and 2 drinks.
Or, if there was a meal combo then get 3 to split between 4 people.

maybe the kids are verocious eaters and this plan won't work. But throwing away food is throwing away money and I'd rather spend my little extra savings on a Mickey Ice Cream Bar

 

[Poohrulz]

Thanks! Yes, there are 4 kids and 4 adults on this trip.

I think I am going to try to get reservations for at least one sit down dinner, any recommendations? We're hitting all 4 parks this trip.

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

I think the kids would Chef Mickeys!!

 

[crabbygal902]

If I were limited to one or two sit down meals, traveling with a large party including 4 children, and staying off-site...I'd choose a place that would:

1. appeal to lots of different likes and dislikes, so probably a buffet.
2. have that extra bit of magic that you can only get at Disney, so probably a place with characters.

Our favorites:

Chef Mickey's
Crystal Palace
and since you're paying for all, you might want to consider breakfast...it will save you money!
'Ohana
Cape May Cafe