We did it again! Family of 4 eats for $75 a day. Read all about it, plus reviews!

[westjones]

Thank you to the OP for posting your budget. I am sure that took a lot of time to write that all out and please know that many people appreciated you sharing your experience with us.

We are going in 2 weeks and planning an all 'counter service' dining experience. We are going with family who didn't want to do any sit down meals and we decided to join them and give some new counter service places a try.

I am hoping to do a $75 a day for the four of us budget too, but I did allow $25 a person ($100 a day) when I planned the trip (hoping to return home finding we only used the $75 a day).

You gave me some great ideas of places to eat and things to order.
Thanks again!
DJ

 

[mom2my3kids]

I'm not trying to stir the pot, I swear. BUT I've heard one of Rachel Ray's shows on the Food Network is about eating cheap while traveling. I don't have cable so I've never seen it. And when people talk about that show, they routinely say she's "cheating" because in order to stay within her set budget, she will tip 10% or less.

Now, I'm not trying to attack the OP. But I am trying to point out that when it comes to food budgeting, it is common to address the tip included in that budget. It is the one part of the equation that is within our control and people do it differently. I went to a conference with a co-worker and not only was she overly demanding and a bit condescending to service people, but she tipped horribly if at all. I thought he behavior was out of order, I told her so, and now we don't talk as much anymore.

I watch 40 dollars a day alot, and Rachael always tips 15 % of the bill no matter if the bill is 4.00 or 20.00..

 

[kgkmom]

On our trip last summer, DD and I used the Disney Dining Plan. She was 12 at the time, so qualified for the adult meals. Last year I believe the cost was 34.99 per adult, so it was $70/day for the two of us. We at like we *never* would normally eat. It was a lot of food! We chose our TS options carefully-Le Cellier, Rose and Crown, Narcoosees, etc. and had steak, lobster, desserts to die for, etc. We took full advantage of all the options available to us for counter service, saving the CS desserts as snacks or next day breakfast. We maxed out the plan, and we're going to do the same thing for our trip this summer. Why?

Because for our family, eating out is a rarity. As several posters have said, when we eat out, I like to have the full experience. I want to be served, I want the option of a decadent, not-on-my-diet-plan-ever dessert, and yes, I definitely expect to tip accordingly. It's just part of the deal, so it's part of the budget.

This being said, I will absolutely tip according to the level of service received. I waitressed my way through college, and I definitely knew when I gave below par service (yup, it happened). On those occasions, I didn't expect a stellar tip. Unfortunately, there is no law that states when or how much to tip. 15-20% is the norm in the US, and can be higher depending on the city.

So, just to add another dose of fuel to the fire, while on the DDP last year, even though the plan included tips, I tipped a small amount in addition. I had read that the included tip was around 12% or so, and I was determined to bring it up to at least 15% for good service and 20-25% for stellar service. Does anyone know what the tip percentage is on the DDP?

I want to thank the OP for starting the thread. She may not be so happy about it, but I do think this has been a very interesting discussion.

 

[thelionqueen]

and just couldn't read anymore

I just wanted to add to the OP congrats on making the $75 work (sort of). It seems to me that there was a lot of sharing, a lot of eating in the room and etc. I wanted to ask, did you account the food eaten in the room into your budget?

I think realistically (without getting sucked into the tipping debate) if you added a proper tip and counted foods eaten in your room, your budget would probably be closer to $90 per day or more. Just my .02

 

[Catrin]

Just wanted to THANK the OP for a great review!

When we first went to WDW, we were on a very strict budget. We had to do what we could to save on dining - from getting water, to sharing meals where we could.

I think that is the main point of this discussion! Many families out there save and save and save, just to get into the parks! Once there, they have to do whatever they can to stay within thier own budgets.

Things are different for us now, with the DDP >> but if I ever had to budget like this again, I would consider the Original Post and Review very helpful.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VALUEABLE EXPERIENCE!!!
Catrin

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

So, just to add another dose of fuel to the fire, while on the DDP last year, even though the plan included tips, I tipped a small amount in addition. I had read that the included tip was around 12% or so, and I was determined to bring it up to at least 15% for good service and 20-25% for stellar service. Does anyone know what the tip percentage is on the DDP?

Last year servers were tipped 15%. Sometime in the Fall or Winter it went up to 18%. When I ordered something in addition to the DDP last year, I received a separate bill with the 18% tip included. I suppose it reminds people that they need to tip beyond what was covered by the DDP tab.

 

[mjmcca]

Last year servers were tipped 15%. Sometime in the Fall or Winter it went up to 18%. When I ordered something in addition to the DDP last year, I received a separate bill with the 18% tip included. I suppose it reminds people that they need to tip beyond what was covered by the DDP tab.

That must have changed inthe past few months beause I ws just at WDW and on 2 occasions I had to pay OOP for something while usinghte dinning plan. Once for the light up drinks at Hollywood & Vine and once for a meal at CP since i had no credits left and at no time was the tip added in.

 

[Dicecatt]

I want to say thanks to the OP for posting, our last trip to WDW was a very strict budgeted trip. We drove, and brought two coolers, we stayed off property, and ate almost all breakfasts in our room, as well as some lunches! This time, luckily we aren't on such a budget, but got free dining anyway so yay.

I wish I would have taken the time to figure out the actual cost, but because of the food we brought with us, I didn't!

Just mentioning the tip part...I am not passing judgement whatsoever to the OP, because I think there is some misunderstanding... and I am mainly saying this to address the poster that mentioned her grandmother who could only afford to take her children out once a year, and she said that in justifying a low tip now...here's the thing...her grandmother busted her a$! working, and so do the servers (most of them) that are waiting on the person using her grandmother as an example. I went on about the most cheaply, budget minded WDW trip 2 years ago you can do, and I STILL tipped at least 15%, because that is what you DO, unless service sucks. I am willing to bet some of my hard earned money that the poster that discussed that probably spends a couple of bucks on sodas here and there, or something, so for anyone to say that they can't afford a decent tip but can afford to eat out is ridiculous and cheap. We probably could have done one or two more table service meals in our cheap trip 2 years ago, but didn't, we would not have been able to do that and tip properly so we didn't go. I have no idea what that poster does for a living, but I"m sure she/he wouldn't appreciate not being paid for that work entirely, because the consumer just couldn't afford a couple dollars more.

 

[byoung]

Thanks but we prefare sit down meals for dinner. No food courts for us.

 

[wilderness01]

When my daughter and I went we spent at least $75 a day. We do enjoy 2 sitdowns a day since she loves the characters.

If this family can do it on $75 a day then more power to them. However, with that said, there is no way that we would share all our meals. It just wouldn't work for our family. Maybe some people that aren't as savy about dining in Disney will open the thread to see how to spend that amount for $75 per day for a family of four "adults" in the Disney world. However after reading just a few days of how they ate, in regards to sharing, not what you ate, it becomes clear that there was alot of compromise to their methods. Hey whatever works for you is fine with me. As long as the bill was paid, the waiter tipped appropriately for their time (as she said she did in a later post) than to each their own. Her methods just would never work for our family.

Sorry to say though that the one post of how much was spent $$$wise to go to Disney has really nothing to do with the amount the servers get paid at the end of the day. That post confused me just a bit.

 

[kcrew]

You only left a $4 tip at Planet Hollywood?!? Ouch! That's less than 10% of your bill. I would have left at least $8 -- waitstaff work hard and deserve 20% IMHO.

Wow, you posted before I got a chance. Less than 10%? That's shocking.

 

[lillygator]

Kudo's to the OP for saving $$...us as a family could never survive on CS for a week....and my 6'4" growing boy of a DH would never be sharing anything!

 

[mrsltg]

Congrats to the OP for making this work. I share meals, too, when at WDW and other places. A lot of times there is just too much food for one person. Also, I don't want to be stuffed an unable to feel well. Plus, I like to snack and eat lots of different things so I need to share a lot or I'd be gigantic by the time I came home!

My only concern with the counter service eating - FOR MY FAMILY - is the lack of choices. After two days of bugers/chicken fingers/pizza I wouldn't be able to do it. I need vegetables or ...ahem... things don't go well for me ! I do agree with your review of Flame Tree BBQ. I love their ribs and beans!!! DD and I share those and love it! I'll have to give the Key Lime Pie a try next time.

 

[Tiger926]

Wilderness01 - I hesitate to post this as I'm not the OP, and so only she can explain what her statement meant regarding how much she paid for her Disney vacation, but I'm pretty sure it was in reference to those who referenced her small tipping amounts. I think her rational is that since she spent so much on her vacation, it doesn't matter that she tipped less than average. There are several problems with this:

1) The servers don't see any of her vacation money that she paid to Disney.

2) One doesn't have anything to do with the other - tipping is a separate issue and the OP shouldn't have made this connection at all.

3) Regardless of whether she meant to or not, she actually proved the point of many posters on here who thought she was tipping less to make her $75.00 daily average - her response proves that this was her intention. The only logical connection that can be made here is that she knew that perhaps she tipped low, and therefore, wanted to justify to those who pointed this out that her tipping low was acceptable because she spent a ton on the vacation as is. Perhaps she was just frustrated, or perhaps she really knows that her tipping was lower, either way, her comment has no relevance to this discussion at all.

Many of us regular DISers see these kinds of posts on here all of the time, but the fact remains, that servers, bell hops, or anyone else who directly serves you in this capacity, should be tipped for good service by guests - the amount that any of us pay for lodging or park tickets as the OP referenced, has nothing to do with how the server at Planet Hollywood served you for dinner. Honestly, if people don't want to pay $7.00 for a hamburger, or $2.00 for a bottle of water, then they have the choice to eat elsewhere or not travel to WDW at all.

Unfortunately, this will bring up more debate, but after reading the OP's response, I really think that the tipping issue needs to be addressed as it should not be used as a way to keep a dining budget low. Understand that I am not saying that the OP has to justify her meal choices, sharing of meals, etc. as these are choices that fit her family's needs, but it's important to point out that there may be a tipping discrepancy so that families who are using this post as point of reference get a more accurate understanding of what type of dining budget they may be facing.

Tiger

 

[phillybeth]

ANYTHING FROM ANYONE. WELL, APPARENTLY FOR THE 3 SIT-DOWN MEALS WE HAD I CHEATED DISNEY OUT OF A TOTAL OF $5.90.

That's not cheating Disney, they never see the tip money. It's 'cheating' the people who served you. If you are hapy with your service and the amount you tipped, that's fine. But don't think you were sticking it to the man by undertipping.

 

[Todd&Copper]

When did servers/waitstaff give themsleves a raise from 10% for good service/15% for excellent to the current 15%/20%? Not trying to start an argument, but I found an old Tip Card thing for wallets that had the 10 and 15% amounts on it (I think from the 80's) and was wondering when the sea change occurred.

 

[MarieA]

Most servers are paid well below minimum wage ($4.35 per hour) and depend on tips for survival. I generally tip 15% for an average server and 20% for excellent service. I know that Disney adds an 18% gratuity on the DDP. Many restaurants now add 18% gratuity for parties of 6 or more. If a server is really bad, I wouldn't leave a tip of 15% (can only remember a couple of times where a server was so bad that I only left 10%). However, the minimum tip should be 15% for an average server.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

This to the OP:

Thanks for the suggestions and including the prices. We won't necessarily be eating the same things or at the same places, but it was nice to get an idea of how much things cost. This is our first trip. We didn't do any of the food plans or make any reservations because we didn't want to have to be at a certain place at a certain time. We are planning on bringing alot of unperishable things such as water, juice, cereal, fruit, oodles of noodles and other stuff.

We're not limiting ourselves on what we eat, but we plan on eating in the room alot.

We watched the "Unwrapped" show on Disney again the other night. I'm really looking forward to trying the turkey legs.

 

[westjones]

When did servers/waitstaff give themsleves a raise from 10% for good service/15% for excellent to the current 15%/20%? Not trying to start an argument, but I found an old Tip Card thing for wallets that had the 10 and 15% amounts on it (I think from the 80's) and was wondering when the sea change occurred.

DH and I were just talking about this last night (because of this thread). I don't remember when it changed either. I guess it will probably increase again in a few years. But yes, I remember the 10% for good service and 15% for excellent service as the standard. I suppose it must has changed in the 1990s? It seems like it has been awhile now that we have been doing the 20% as a standard.

DJ

 

[averill94]

Thanks for sharing-
We always seem to over do it with the food at WDW!