Question about paying for meals

[chrissy92972]

We are a family of 6 with three year old triplets and a 7 year old. Will 1000 dollars be enough for 6 nights 7 days for all counter service meals except for one meal at Rainforest? The triplets will share one child's meal and we will be ordering water the majority of the time.

Also do all counter service restaurants at the parks and resorts take credit cards or do I need cash? How about the snack carts for ice cream, popcorn etc. I will register our credit card on a room key for charging privleges.

Can I use travelers checks to pay off the room charge when we check out?

Thanks for answering my questions. We cannot get the meal plan paid or free because we won the Jif contest.

Chrissy

 

[ZerasPride]

Chrissy - I can't answer all your questions but I do know places that are counter service like Peco Bills at the and Cosmic Rays at the MK and Electric Umbrella at Epcot take debit/credit cards. I do not believe the carts that sell soda, ice cream and popcorn take them. I don't recall ever seeing machines at the cart.

To see what prices are like at the different restaurants, check out www.allearsnet.com - this site lists prices for most restaurants (including counter service places) and I find it invaluable when figuring out my food budget. I hope this helps you out. Enjoy your trip!

 

[mrsltg]

I'm not sure which carts take plastic and which don't. For this reason we always have cash (usually $50-100 per day). What we don't spend we just bring again the next day! All of the counter service places accept plastic. We found it to be a great way to not have to carry too much cash with us.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[patsal]

Most carts take a cc, just ask before you order. With a family of four--I usually only take about $20.00 in cash with me each day--usually we don't even touch it, but I have it just in case. Because of DDP, the equiptment for charging to the room key is the same as the DDP to "debit" a snack, so I'm pretty sure most have them.

 

[chrissy92972]

Thanks for the help! I really appreciate it.

Chrissy

 

[aubriee]

You got some good answers so I won't add to them. I just wanted to say congratulations on winning the Jif contest. That's cool!

 

[chrissy92972]

Thanks! It is drivng me crazy because I am such a planner and I still have no idea when we are going or where we are staying. I did submit my requests for October though.

Chrissy

 

[mrzrich]

how old are your triplets? I ask because 1 kids meal may be tough for 3 kids to share.

 

[chrissy92972]

They are three. They can probably share and my older son will have to get his own. Or maybe one adult counter service meal for all to share?

Chrissy

 

[n2mm]

The triplets will share one child's meal

Sorry to laugh, but have you seen the children's meals?? We just returned and we bought kids meals at every counter and every sit down restraurant for my granddaughter and she ate the entire meal each time...OK she is only 13 months old and a tiny thing. Your 3 little ones will not be happy getting 3 bites of mac and cheese each or 1 1/2 chicken nugget each. I'm not even sure sharing an adult meal between them would work. You'll have to gauge this yourself and maybe carry some fruit cups or fresh fruit and juice boxes to supplement their meals.

 

[mrzrich]

Chrissy we always do our trips on a budget (By the way have you been to the budget board? They have some great ideas and money saving ideas!!)

You proposed budget gives you about $145 a day to spend on food. It will be tight, but do able.

I suggest eating most breakfasts in the room (you can ship a package to yourself ahead of time to your hotel) Pop-tarts, muffins, granola bars and cereal are often suggested

I do think 1 CS kids meal for 3 kids is pushing it, but you can supplement those meals I guess. You can brink snacks into the parks with you, as well as drinks (Water, juice boxes) not in glass containers
Many guests bring small softsided coolers for this purpose.

If you combine these ideas with counter service meals you may be able to splurge on a table service character meal or two!!!!

 

[chrissy92972]

Thanks for the great advice. I was expecting the kid's meals to be a little larger. I am going to pack in our carryon bags breakfast things like cheese crackers, pop tarts, granola bars etc. I am thrilled to have won this trip, but whatever we spend has to go on the credit card. We have no savings and this week just found out we have to get a new furnace. This trip is a huge blessing and shock, but pays for 4 people. We are a family of 6. I wish we could buy the dining plan. So far I have $600 saved for the trip from yeardsale and borthday money, but I cannot see being able to save anymore.

Chrissy

 

[mrzrich]

Here's a picture of a typical kids meal...will they be satisfied with one nugget a piece?

Photo courtesy of Mister Disney's Gastronomical Adventure at Rosie's All American

 

[chrissy92972]

Wow! That is small. So glad I asked. Thanks for all of the GREAT advice!

Chrissy

 

[MOMOFMNM]

chrissy with that many little ones have you considered the dining plan?

pay for it oop if you have to I am betting it will save you $$$$ and you get to have fun character meals and not worry about OOP meals!!!

it is worth it for large families the kids are about 11 dollars a piece a day!!!



it saves our family of five a lot of $$

we can eat LOTS of food for about 100 a day for all five of us!!!!

(we have bkfst in room or a snack as bkfst, CS lunch maybe, snack then a TS dinner!!)

 

[chrissy92972]

Because we won the trip, we cannot buy the dining plan or get it for free. I do not understand why. I will ask more questions, when I finally get to book. The person I am assigned to for booking is out of the office until after May 22nd.

Chrissy

 

[n2mm]

Because we won the trip, we cannot buy the dining plan or get it for free. I do not understand why. I will ask more questions, when I finally get to book. The person I am assigned to for booking is out of the office until after May 22nd.

Chrissy

Does your free trip include staying onsite? With a family of 6 I would wonder what they will offer you, as most of the onsite resorts only hold 4 or 5 to a room. The family suites at A/S Music would be prefect for your group if they allow you to book it. That way you would get the frig, microwave and would help with the food issues.

 

[chrissy92972]

Still waiting to hear back what we can have. It is killing me waiting. I am such a planner. I was able to request three choices of dates and I did ask for the suites if they are available, if not we have to pay for a 2nd room since we won a trip for 4. I also have two frequent flyer tickets I want to use for the two children who are not included.

Chrissy