What does your food budget look like?

[aprincessatlast]

What is your budgeted amount per person adult/kid?
What type of restaurants and snacks do you include in that total?

Looking for $ amounts from the foodies to the budget queens/kings. We are traveling with a "disney" adult this time instead of 3 kids so looking for general ideas. I am debating the amount of sit downs (its a big list) vs quick service. Off site is not off the table either as long as it is within walking distance.

 

[Jenasweetemotion]

What is your budgeted amount per person adult/kid?
What type of restaurants and snacks do you include in that total?

Looking for $ amounts from the foodies to the budget queens/kings. We are traveling with a "disney" adult this time instead of 3 kids so looking for general ideas. I am debating the amount of sit downs (its a big list) vs quick service. Off site is not off the table either as long as it is within walking distance.

We budget for our family which is all adults $50.00 per person per day. We then roll over the amount that is not used each day and then it goes towards bigger meals during the week. We usually plan as our expensive meals two character meals and two expensive sit downs which are usually (Steakhouse 55 and Blue Bayou). The rest of the meals we eat at counter service because we don't like to have a chunk of time sitting down in a restaurant.

We have gone as low as $30.00 per person per day and ate at quick and counter service for are meals. When we did that we drove to Costco for a pizza the first night and got muffins for breakfast and grabbed a case of soda for us to share.

With either budget whatever money is left at the end we split for extra gift money or take home treats.

 

[Escape2Disney]

It can vary depending on the type of restaurant you visit. I'd suggest doing what I do - look up the menus and estimate based on where you'd like to eat. You can start here on the DIS http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/dining/menus.cfm. Another resource is here: http://www.allears.net

 

[5forMickey]

$75.00 per person. Now that is for 3 growing men and 2 women for two meals a day and a few snacks......breakfast is in the hotel concierge lounge and most snacks. Now that I did the math though, I think DH is holding out on me and keeping some of that money cause I don't think the girls come close to spending that a day.

 

[keltiesmom]

Our last trip we had 2 adults and 2 children. We budgeted $100/ day for the family. We did really well, shared most meals because the portions were so big. Some days we spent more, like when we had surfs up for breakfast, our whole days budget went to that meal. We did it though by cutting elsewhere. Next trip we plan to do more character meals so we will probably up our budget to $250/day, we also have 2 more kids now though too.

 

[lalasmama]

For our 3-day trips, we budget 2 days of $50 per person, and 1 day of $90 per person. This is a HUGE over-budget, but I'd rather over budget than not have enough Dole Whip money! Usually, our meal breakdown is something like this:

Day 1:
Breakfast: free at the hotel. $5pp for Starbucks in the park.
Lunch: Corndog or hotdog meal. $10pp.
Dinner: Counter service $15pp.
Snack: Dole Whip, churro, etc. $5.
Total: $35pp. ($15 under budget!)

Day 2:
Breakfast: free at the hotel. $5pp for Starbucks. We like our Starbucks, LOL.
Lunch, done near the end of lunch service: Carthay Circle, Blue Bayou, or something else "swanky". $60pp.
Dinner: Late evening snack or two. $10pp.
Total: $75pp. ($15 under budget!)

Day 3:
Breakfast: Starbucks in the park. $10pp.
Lunch: Counter Service. $15pp.
Dinner: Counter Service. $15pp.
Snacks: Must-do last-day gourging. $15pp.
Total: $55pp. ($5 over budget. We were under budget the previous 2 days, so we're still $25 under budget overall!)

Realistically, that $25 that we had budgeted would likely go towards adult drinks if DD wasn't with us.

When it's just adults on the trip, I often try to budget for a little more food, since there's a good chance BFF and I will enjoy Trader Sam's, or DH and I will go to the Hearthside Lounge a few nights. For adult drinks, be ready to spend around $10--sometimes less, sometimes more. If it's just me and DD, I will budget less, because her Starbucks is less, she's not going to be drinking a Margarita on the wharf, and she's pleased as pleased can be with corndogs every meal if I let her!

 

[SPOERLX3]

Last year was our first time to DL (WDW vets). We were a family of 5 during this trip (me53, DD36, DD25, DGS16, DGD13). I took $500 (credit card for backup) for the 4 day trip for meals and I came home with about $60 and didn't need the credit card at all. We only ate counter service and there were times that me and one of my DD's would share, then if we got hungry, we would share again or get a snack. I know that ours is not the norm but we like to share to make sure we like what we order and have no waste and then grab something else we run across later if we get hungry again. We are not soda drinkers so getting free ice water with our meal probably saved us alot. We did snack quite a bit and instead of eating a big breakfast, we normally shared the large order of beneits at Ralph Brennens Jazz Kitchen Express.

 

[GatorChris]

Last year was our first time to DL (WDW vets). We were a family of 5 during this trip (me53, DD36, DD25, DGS16, DGD13). I took $500 (credit card for backup) for the 4 day trip for meals and I came home with about $60 and didn't need the credit card at all. We only ate counter service and there were times that me and one of my DD's would share, then if we got hungry, we would share again or get a snack. I know that ours is not the norm but we like to share to make sure we like what we order and have no waste and then grab something else we run across later if we get hungry again. We are not soda drinkers so getting free ice water with our meal probably saved us alot. We did snack quite a bit and instead of eating a big breakfast, we normally shared the large order of beneits at Ralph Brennens Jazz Kitchen Express.

I was beginning to wonder if I was the cheapest person on earth after seeing all this $75pp/day. With two adults and three kids, are typical food day (which starts with breakfast at the hotel and no coffees at the park) would top out at $120, and that was for an expensive day. But we don't do table service everyday like we do on the DDP at WDW. Maybe every other day. Add that to having 3 kids under 10 and it's cheaper than most, I guess. Of course, when they're teenagers, that's when things will get expensive.

 

[cmpeter]

Our budget was pretty generous for our last trip as it was just my dd and I and we wanted some specific things. I found the online menus helpful for planning. We were there for three days:

Snacks/water = $20 per person/per day (I don't think we came close to this, but I also didn't track it.)

Not counting snacks, we were at about $80 or $90 a day per person. This includes tips and and two adult beverages (Ariel's and Jazz Cafe).

Day 1
La Brea Bakery breakfast
Ariel's Lunch
Jazz Cafe Dinner
Total $185

Day 2
La Brea Bakery Breakfast
CCR WOC Dining package Lunch
Flo's Cafe Dinner
Total $160

Day 3
No, breakfast we opted to sleep in and our lunch reservation was at 11:30
Blue Bayou Lunch
Cafe Orleans Dinner
Total: $160

 

[SPOERLX3]

I was beginning to wonder if I was the cheapest person on earth after seeing all this $75pp/day. With two adults and three kids, are typical food day (which starts with breakfast at the hotel and no coffees at the park) would top out at $120, and that was for an expensive day. But we don't do table service everyday like we do on the DDP at WDW. Maybe every other day. Add that to having 3 kids under 10 and it's cheaper than most, I guess. Of course, when they're teenagers, that's when things will get expensive.

I will gladly wear the "cheapest person on earth" button
We would just rather try lots of things and share a couple of meals than to waste. This way we get to try lots of different things and we snack on all the yummy snacks too

 

[2tinkerbell]

I budget about between $100 and $120 a day for 2 adults. Some days are less and some are more. I find checking out the menus a good place to start in my budgeting. I purchase 2 meals a day, 1 snack and all the water you need. I give my DD $20 a day for snacks and sodas and any leftover $ she adds to her spending $.

 

[5forMickey]

day. Add that to having 3 kids under 10 and it's cheaper than most, I guess. Of course, when they're teenagers, that's when things will get expensive.

GatorChris if those kids are boys prepare yourself. They warned me it would come and I thought I was prepared --- but it started around 12 and hasn't stopped yet (23 and 19)........there is no budget big enough to keep my boys fed and they are really not that big ..... 6'1 and maybe 190........but man can they eat!!!

In fact, once we had just eaten at Carnation Station, what I think to be a big breakfast. It hadn't been 1 hour and I turn around and they are stuffing a turkey leg down. It's kinds of nauseating to watch.

I'm lucky they don't do starbucks either or I would probably have to increase the budget that much more

 

[sweetpee_1993]

GatorChris if those kids are boys prepare yourself. They warned me it would come and I thought I was prepared --- but it started around 12 and hasn't stopped yet (23 and 19)........there is no budget big enough to keep my boys feed and they are really not that big ..... 6'1 and maybe 190........but man can they eat!!! In fact, once we had just eaten at Carnation Station, what I think to be a big breakfast. It hadn't been 1 hour and I turn around and they are stuffing a turkey leg down. It's kinds of nauseating to watch. I'm lucky they don't do starbucks either or I would probably have to increase the budget that much more

I feel ya. My boys are 16 & 18. There's no bottom to those bellies.

 

[disneychrista]

$10 - $15 per meal per person.

Should add we do not really snack much and drink water with meals.

 

[princessmocha]

For the days that we are having a sit down meal, we are thinking around $75 per person and for day that are just counter service days around $50 per person. I do think I am over budgeting, but I just want to be on the safe side. You never know when you might have to have an extra snack or two!

 

[dec2009mama]

an average for 2 adults and 1 child (5 years old) -- I budget $100 a day -- somedays we use it -- somedays we don't -- then there are other days when we over spend!

so for a 5 day park adventure I budget $500 on food and snacks!

 

[coupon cache]

For our family of 4, 2 adults and 2 teens (a boy and a girl), we budget about 80 per day total. We usually bring some snacks with us as well as water which we refill throughout the day. We really only eat one large meal in the park each day, it is a late lunch, and then usually just one snack late in the day. We eat breakfast at the hotel for free, then we usually order eat food in our room that we brought with us. We are super cheap, but it helps us to be able to vacation more often.

 

[rentayenta]

What is your budgeted amount per person adult/kid?
What type of restaurants and snacks do you include in that total?

Looking for $ amounts from the foodies to the budget queens/kings. We are traveling with a "disney" adult this time instead of 3 kids so looking for general ideas. I am debating the amount of sit downs (its a big list) vs quick service. Off site is not off the table either as long as it is within walking distance.

With five of us and all considered Disney adults (me, DH, DD17, DD15, and DS13) we figure about $60 for CS lunches/dinners and $40 for breakfasts. We do share though because we find Disney's portions to be generous. This is per meal, not per person.

Table service can be upwards of $50 per person give or take. We'd never spend $50 per person at Carnation Cafe but $50 each at Napa Rose would be easy at least for DH and I.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

I have got to be the skimpiest meal person I know. I have 5 a day for each of us set aside for sacks (may make it 7 a person)
We have 75 for flos, and one or two other meals around the parks.
We are doing rfc (paid with swag bucks 50 gift card), Mc, d's gift card already paid for, tony romas ribs gift card, pizza hut gift card, and house of blues gift card.

So we will have one simi nice-nice meal a day. Left overs a few days lunch or dinner, Ihops that will have gift card for maybe two mornings. One after the race, We also have free breakfast at the hotel.

When we eat big meals we will share some of the time. Others we will get us each a full meal.

 

[Gisele]

it looks like a bit of cheese, some cracker crumbs, have to fight off a few pigeons, maybe a raccoon or two, even a badger. A few slices of salami, Bologna and ham. a smattering of mayo, a bit of mustard, all nicely stacked together on said cracker crumbs, I like lettuce on my meat, but there isn't enough room on the crackers, so sans the lettuce. hey man you can't have everything.... then I divide the crackers, so if my visit is it for 3 days, then I have enough crackers, cheese and meat for three days. I might buy a churro as a snack, and then for 3 day trip I'll divide it 3 ways too.