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

[MommyPoppins]

Thanks for sharing! Awesome that you fed your family of 4 for $75 a day! Geesh, when I was planning for our 10 day trip(Sept.) I was figuring a budget of $150 a day. I KNOW, shocking....I don't know where I went wrong. LOL. But thankfully once again WDW pulled out the free dining just at the right time, so now it's not a problem. But for future, I'll remember it CAN be done.

BTW, how did you get ice water for free at CS???????

 

[hentob]

Sometimes you are only able to leave what you can. If i dont have lots of money and can only leave like 4-5 dollars i think thats better than leaving noting at all.

No. Not really. If you can't afford to eat at a restaurant and leave a proper tip, you should save until you can afford to eat out where tipping is appropriate.

This has nothing to do with the OP, though. She did leave an appropriate tip. She mentioned that she split the tip with friends.

OP--I am enjoying your posts. We could never get away with $75 a day (we are cocktail, appetizer, entree and wine people while on vacation), but your meals aren't bread and water either

One thing we do is eat breakfast in our room. DH & I just drink tons of coffee and eat Slim Fast bars and the kids eat cereal. That saves us $$$ to blow at luch and dinner and for snacks

Good job to the OP

 

[eliza61]

Great job,
It was fun reading your post. I have 3 teenage boys, and my lovely (always hungry )DH so sharing is absolutely not possible. We're a family of foodies so our budget reads more like $250/day. Usually I'm the one who can't finish my meal and they eat my left overs but I alway enjoy how other folks experience Disney. No flame from me

 

[Tiger926]

I'm not sure if people are referring to my posts, but I am not flaming the OP at all. I am just simple pointing out that there are a lot of variables in her daily eating plans that may not work out for families when considering whether or not to do the DP or not. When people post in big letters that they fed their family of 4 for less than $75.00 per day, you bet tons of people are going to be reading that, especially since people are grappling with the DP decision. Her dining plan would absolutely not work for my hubby, daughter and I, but I am not judging her on that at all. Just pointing out some not so obvious things in her plans that may affect people's decisions when they are planning out their dining habits while in WDW.

Tiger

 

[Kaycee]

Thanks for the reviews, and the details on what you ate and what you spent.

I know that the dining plan is a great deal for many families, but it sounds like your family's eating habits are very similar to ours. We aren't big eaters, we never have appetizers, we rarely order dessert, we often split meals, and we eat quite a few counter service meals with a few fun table service meals thrown in. We don't qualify for the dining plan, but we decided it wouldn't be a good deal for us even if we did.

 

[missmun52]

No. Not really. If you can't afford to eat at a restaurant and leave a proper tip, you should save until you can afford to eat out where tipping is appropriate.

If you want to eat out and can only leave a 10 percent tip then thats all you can leave. You cant tell someone they should not eat out then.

I do believe in tipping a person for their service because they work hard and everything but when you dont have a lot i am not going to tell someone they should not take their family out, or in the case of disney (because you have to eat out) not to go or if you do go just eat at counter service.

Some people are really on a tight budget, but still want to take their kids to disney and out to eat every once in a while and feel bad as it is because they cannot leave a 15-20 percent tip. And on top of all that you cant share anything without people coming on these boards critisizing everything.

I am not speaking for the OP but i know there are some in this situation.

My mother God bless her, did not have much but worked 3 jobs to support 4 kids and was not able to really take us out anywhere but when she did she really had to cut corners and we had to share meals ect. She didnt always have to give but took us out maybe not even once a year ( i remember it being on special occasions like graduation). Are you telling me she should not have done this because she just could not afford to leave 5 dollars more.
For you 5 dollars may not be alot but for her it was. when its hard to find 1.50 to get a bus its alot.
You maybe saying why go out then. Now as an adult with my own child i realize she did it for us. And as mothers know you would take your kids out say your not hungry and watch them eat just so they could have that experience.

So please everyone keep your rude comments to your self

 

[zurgswife]

We are a family of 6 and 2 summers ago we did an entire week for $750. My kids are really picky eaters and they shared alot. The ages were 13, 11, 10 and 8. The dining plan would be a complete waste of money for my family.

The only comment I have still pertains to the OP's tipping habits. As a waiter for many many years....

The last post with tipping

TOTAL WITH $7 TIP! Service was great! $55.98

Great service should get this server a minmum of $11. $7 isn't even 15%. I think it is great that the family is eating and saving money but it shouldn't be at the expense of the waitstaff.

 

[BeckWhy]

I'm sorry. I am really sick of hearing all these complaints about how they tip. It was addressed before and someone commented to stop the complaints about the tipping.

Here's what I have to say: if you don't like how people tip you, then don't be a waiter/waitress. Find another job.

 

[hentob]

So please everyone keep your rude comments to your self

I wasn't being rude. Just stating my opinion

I am not up for a Tipping War, so I will leave it at that.

Again, OP--I am really enjoying this thread

 

[hentob]

I'm sorry. I am really sick of hearing all these complaints about how they tip. It was addressed before and someone commented to stop the complaints about the tipping.

Here's what I have to say: if you don't like how people tip you, then don't be a waiter/waitress. Find another job.

And if you want to eat out and don't want to tip, go to Burger King

I have never been a waitress. I am not worthy

Thank you to all of the wonderful waitresses (ahem-And waiters ) that support their families on serving other people.

Once again, I must clarify, this is not directed to the OP.

 

[Tiger926]

I guess for me, tipping is an issue not as a personal judgment against OP, but because it's usually part of most family budgets. People who read her posts are going to think that she left a minimum of 15% and that is not correct as she seemed to have left less than that on each occassion; therefore, most families budgets are going to be higher than her $75.00. This shouldn't be confused with me telling her how much to tip, as that's not my business to do so.

I believe the OP posted this for several reasons: 1) to brag about her good budgeting work, 2) to use as a point of comparison for families considering DP, and 3) to show people in similar family situations that this may be possible. This is why I brought up the tipping issue. Of course tipping is personal, and should be based on each individual dining experience, but the average tip nowadays is 15% (upwards of 20-25% depending upon the establishment and service) and so people need to factor that cost into their dining plans as well if eating table service. The fact remains though that people shouldn't lose sight that tipping is discretionary and not mandatory. I know in the US it seems to be a required part of salaries since so many servers make such little hourly wages, but it is still not a mandatory thing to do. Maybe the OP didn't have good service for all meals - although she did say that one meal was exceptional service, but the amount tipped was well below the average. I don't think it's fair for people to comment on the amounts tipped either as that isn't what this thread is about - only should be commented on like I did if trying to use the OP's budget to design one for your own family, and then you'd have to take a look at tipping amounts.

Tiger

 

[zurgswife]

If you want to eat out and can only leave a 10 percent tip then thats all you can leave. You cant tell someone they should not eat out then.

I do believe in tipping a person for their service because they work hard and everything but when you dont have a lot i am not going to tell someone they should not take their family out, or in the case of disney (because you have to eat out) not to go or if you do go just eat at counter service.

Some people are really on a tight budget, but still want to take their kids to disney and out to eat every once in a while and feel bad as it is because they cannot leave a 15-20 percent tip. And on top of all that you cant share anything without people coming on these boards critisizing everything.

I am not speaking for the OP but i know there are some in this situation.

My mother God bless her, did not have much but worked 3 jobs to support 4 kids and was not able to really take us out anywhere but when she did she really had to cut corners and we had to share meals ect. She didnt always have to give but took us out maybe not even once a year ( i remember it being on special occasions like graduation). Are you telling me she should not have done this because she just could not afford to leave 5 dollars more.
For you 5 dollars may not be alot but for her it was. when its hard to find 1.50 to get a bus its alot.
You maybe saying why go out then. Now as an adult with my own child i realize she did it for us. And as mothers know you would take your kids out say your not hungry and watch them eat just so they could have that experience.

So please everyone keep your rude comments to your self

Plain and simple NO. They aren't ment to be rude just informative.

The OP obviously isn't aware of how to tip properly. The few sit down meals she listed, she didn't tip properly. Maybe she will learn that she made a mistake and correct it next time. Servers work hard for their money and IMHO harder at Disney because more is expected of them.

I do appreciate the time she has put into her detailed account of her eating habits. Though her money spent is not an accurate account of what someone would expect to pay if they left the proper tip.. It could go up a few dollars a day in my opinon at the bare minimum.

 

[hentob]

It was addressed before and someone commented to stop the complaints about the tipping.

I just read this again and am

So, someone said to "Stop the complaints" and we should all obey?

Ummm, this is an open forum. Nobody is being nasty. If we want to discuss something, we will.

Opinions, people. It's just opinions. Agree. Disagree. But don't tell people they must agree with you and stop posting their opinions.

Sorry to disappoint those who demanded the complaints about poor tipping to stop

 

[BeckWhy]

HAHA I am really sorry I'm gonna OT some more on this tipping thing...

We are kinda debating over a family cutting costs and lightly tipping. That is one thing. But I have friends who are waiters and waitresses and some people who are knowingly wealthy tips only like $5 on a $100 check. I am not kidding you. Or better yet... what about those people who go to a restaurant.. eat their meals and then complain at the end which leads them to getting their meal free.

Edit:

And if you are a bartender you would love my boyfriend. He tips on average 75% when we're at a bar. I am not kidding you.

 

[BeckWhy]

I just read this again and am

So, someone said to "Stop the complaints" and we should all obey?

Ummm, this is an open forum. Nobody is being nasty. If we want to discuss something, we will.

Opinions, people. It's just opinions. Agree. Disagree. But don't tell people they must agree with you and stop posting their opinions.

Sorry to disappoint those who demanded the complaints about poor tipping to stop

The irony of what you just said is that in many posts I have posted something and gotten slammed for it. And in some places posted my opinion and told to shut up. If you all want to be jerks to some people and nice to others fine. But all I see is this person getting slammed for they way they choose to tip. And being in that position before I'm willing to defend them.

 

[princesstigerlilly]

To the OP--I am loving this info and I hope that you will continue to share your experience with those of us that are interested. : We are a family of 5 taking our first trip to WDW in October, and I think this is very helpful information.

 

[Cupmom]

I'm glad this worked for the OP but if I'm on vacation I want some nice TS dinners not pizza, chicken finger and burgers everyday. I rather eat food served on a plate and be served. If it cost me $25-$50 more a day so be it .

I'M ON VACATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rsbuxt]

Can I first say thank you to the OP for the fantastic posts. It was great to read about your dining experiences on a budget.

However, it is a shame that having taken the time and effort to contibute to the forum, as you have, is an excuse to critise by some. Although this is clearly an open forum, maybe some should realise that some potential contributers like myself will be put off.

That being said, I am from the UK and have a pretty thick skin so flaming doesn't tend to burn very much! So on the point of tipping I'll say this...if we as a family get good service, we'll tip well - very well. If the service is poor, we'll tip poorly. I'm not out to stiff the staff, but as far as I am concerned good service earns good tips, it's not automatic.

...and yes, I do see the irony in that I am contibuting to a discussion far removed from the OP's fantastic review.

Rich

 

[3princesses4us]

I think it is great that the family is eating and saving money but it shouldn't be at the expense of the waitstaff.

Perfectly said. I think this is our problem with the tipping situation. Her good fortune shouldn't come from the pockets of the waitstaff and their families. The OP did a fine job of budgeting for food, not for tips which is a part of eating out.

 

[blueiis99]

I give you KUDOS!!! however, there is no way I could ever eat your way. Not that i have anything against your choices....(my DH and Kids would certainly eat your way)

I am a sit down to a "meal", person. Fast food is something I save for time constraint issues. I get the whole one income thingy too..... boy do i get it!

I do love your reports, and I find wonderful that, You are all able to enjoy it to the fullest...... keep on going..