What is the best way to estimate meal cost?

[disneyjr77]

I'm trying to budget for a few OOP TS meals and for the buffets it's easy how do you guys realistically budget for a meal like 50's PT or Sci-fi?

So far, I've just looked at the menus and picked the most expensive stuff i knew we would eat.

 

[GillianP1301]

I'm trying to budget for a few OOP TS meals and for the buffets it's easy how do you guys realistically budget for a meal like 50's PT or Sci-fi?

So far, I've just looked at the menus and picked the most expensive stuff i knew we would eat.

What you're doing is the safest way to do it to ensure you have enough money to cover all your costs. You could also just look at the menu and pick what you would most typically order and use that number, especially if you wouldn't typically order the most expensive item on the menu.

 

[MainMom]

I'm trying to budget for a few OOP TS meals and for the buffets it's easy how do you guys realistically budget for a meal like 50's PT or Sci-fi?

So far, I've just looked at the menus and picked the most expensive stuff i knew we would eat.

What you're doing is the safest way to do it to ensure you have enough money to cover all your costs. You could also just look at the menu and pick what you would most typically order and use that number, especially if you wouldn't typically order the most expensive item on the menu.

I do a combination of both of these. Sometimes I just look at what the average entree costs and go with that. Then a add a couple hundred to the total of all meals for a cushion. Don’t forget tips!

 

[disneyjr77]

What you're doing is the safest way to do it to ensure you have enough money to cover all your costs. You could also just look at the menu and pick what you would most typically order and use that number, especially if you wouldn't typically order the most expensive item on the menu.

Ok, i figured that would be the best way to go. For the 3 of us i estimated approx $100, but that includes tip and i rounded up in case we got an adult beverage, or an appetizer. Worst case, we have extra money at he end

 

[disneyjr77]

I do a combination of both of these. Sometimes I just look at what the average entree costs and go with that. Then a add a couple hundred to the total of all meals for a cushion. Don’t forget tips!

I don't forget tips anymore...i did that one year when we had the DDP and it screwed up my whole budget for the week! My brain was thinking yay we don't have to worry about meals and when i got the check from our first meal, my bubble was busted lol

 

[monorailsilver]

I usually look at the menu and figure out what we are going to eat. We are eating at 50s prime time and I am sure myself and my oldest dd will get the chicken Caesar salad. I like some of the other options but do I want to risk it? I mean I like meatloaf but I have had not so good store made meat loaf. I like fried chicken but do I really want to eat that?

 

[Lisa F]

I figure out what I am likely to eat and if it's between a few things I pick the highest. add 6.5% for tax, 20% for tips, add it all up.

 

[married2mm]

I figure out what I am likely to eat and if it's between a few things I pick the highest. add 6.5% for tax, 20% for tips, add it all up.

Oh my gosh!!!!

I'm from the uk and totally forgot about adding on the tax afterwards

That really increases my estimations & seals the deal for our upcoming trip to be d ddp.

 

[AngiTN]

I don't forget tips anymore...i did that one year when we had the DDP and it screwed up my whole budget for the week! My brain was thinking yay we don't have to worry about meals and when i got the check from our first meal, my bubble was busted lol

You wouldn't believe the people that do consider tips but forget to consider them when determining if the DDP saves money, or not.
As you likely figured out, tips on a meal at Disney are considerable and can indeed burst your budget. I have had a few meals where our tip alone equaled what we'd spend on a night out at home.
When you dine on the dining plan so many want to maximize their credits by focusing on the most expensive items on the menu, even if that isn't what they most want to order. Well, the most expensive items on the menu, x4 (or however many in your party) can quickly ramp that tip amount up, higher than you'd tip if you'd just order what you truly want the most vs. the most expensive item. With the margin on DP saving money being so slim it's entirely possible for the minimal savings you see using the dining plan to be "eaten up" with added tip costs.

 

[CraigInPA]

Oh my gosh!!!!
I'm from the uk and totally forgot about adding on the tax afterwards
That really increases my estimations & seals the deal for our upcoming trip to be d ddp.

While tax is included in Disney dining plans, I hope you realize that tips are not included. Unlike the UK, where you tip for exceptional service, here in the US tipping is done for all table service meals, no matter how minimal or mediocre the service.

 

[married2mm]

While tax is included in Disney dining plans, I hope you realize that tips are not included. Unlike the UK, where you tip for exceptional service, here in the US tipping is done for all table service meals, no matter how minimal or mediocre the service.

I'm aware of your different tipping rules to ours.

 

[disneyjr77]

You wouldn't believe the people that do consider tips but forget to consider them when determining if the DDP saves money, or not.
As you likely figured out, tips on a meal at Disney are considerable and can indeed burst your budget. I have had a few meals where our tip alone equaled what we'd spend on a night out at home.
When you dine on the dining plan so many want to maximize their credits by focusing on the most expensive items on the menu, even if that isn't what they most want to order. Well, the most expensive items on the menu, x4 (or however many in your party) can quickly ramp that tip amount up, higher than you'd tip if you'd just order what you truly want the most vs. the most expensive item. With the margin on DP saving money being so slim it's entirely possible for the minimal savings you see using the dining plan to be "eaten up" with added tip costs.

That's pretty much what happened, and even asked the waiter if he used credits for each of us, i was in such shock Ever since then i try to account for every little thing we may spend. It's a tad more stressful when I first start planning but i'd rather stress at home then while we're there. This will be the first year we won't have the regular dining plan (thank you free dining), just the QS one so i want to make sure all bases are covered as far as our TS meals go.

 

[deakam]

I usually take the most expensive thing on the menu add a drink and dessert then multiply by the number of people on the reservation times 6.5 percent for tax. I have envelopes for each day with the amount for meals and any snacks or spending money we might need. Every night I transfer any left overs to the next day. On the last trip we had about $300 left. We really didn't eat as many desserts as I had budgeted for and we decided to go with the refillable popcorn bucket so aside from Dole whip floats we didn't spend much on snacks either. As far as tips go Disney wants you to leave 18% and I have always done this up to the point that Disney meals became outrageously priced. Now I base my tip on my service and sometimes I don't even leave one because with the amount that Disney is charging me they should be able to pay their wait staff a living wage. But that is just my opinion.

 

[LiveToTravelNicely]

Touring plans has a dining cost estimator (purpose to tell you if the DDP is worth it for your trip). This would be a great option if you do not want to hassle with looking up every menu, or if you want a comparison to the calculation that you did.

 

[OhThePain]

It is just DW and I. While we don't really do the whole budgeting thing, I always figure I expect to pay $40 for a CS, $100 for a TS and $200 for a Signature (total for the 2 of us, after tax and tip). Maybe add 50% for each additional Disney adult and 30% for each kid. I know there are a few cases where we actually exceed these costs but for the most part that is around what we expect to pay for most meals. It's better to look at a bill and be relieved that it doesn't cost as much as you expected than to look at a bill and realize you really miscalculated.

 

[RangerPooh]

I'm trying to budget for a few OOP TS meals and for the buffets it's easy how do you guys realistically budget for a meal like 50's PT or Sci-fi?
So far, I've just looked at the menus and picked the most expensive stuff i knew we would eat.

We look at the menus, pick the most expensive thing someone is realistically likely to eat (I round up as wiggle room), add in a drink. Then add multiply by the number of people eating at that price point (kids are done similarly). Then add in tax and tip.

This is how I'm calculating our upcoming meal there next week.
-Drive-in BBQ Burger $20, soda $3 = $23 x 3= $69
-Kids meal $12 (drink included) =$12 x 2 = $24
----round up to $95 + tax $10, plus tip $25 (estimating so no flaming) = $130

 

[kniquy]

You could just get an average by picking the most expensive entree and least and average them out. do this for apps if you want them and desserts. Also don't forget beverages -- even soda can add up if a party of 5 is each ordering a $3 soda or even worse alcoholic beverages 5 x $10 drinks -- thats $50 right there alone.

If you are just planning for your family you might be able to come up with a mock menu that you might likely order - including a couple apps and maybe a couple desserts that people can share. You know your party best. Then add in tax (not sure what it is in FL maybe 6.5%) and also figure in 18% gratuity. This should give a good ball park idea.

 

[mommyboys3]

I usually take the most expensive thing on the menu add a drink and dessert then multiply by the number of people on the reservation times 6.5 percent for tax. I have envelopes for each day with the amount for meals and any snacks or spending money we might need. Every night I transfer any left overs to the next day. On the last trip we had about $300 left. We really didn't eat as many desserts as I had budgeted for and we decided to go with the refillable popcorn bucket so aside from Dole whip floats we didn't spend much on snacks either. As far as tips go Disney wants you to leave 18% and I have always done this up to the point that Disney meals became outrageously priced. Now I base my tip on my service and sometimes I don't even leave one because with the amount that Disney is charging me they should be able to pay their wait staff a living wage. But that is just my opinion.

It's not the servers fault that Disney prices have gone up. I could see leaving a small tip or even no tip at all if service was truly bad but if a server does a good job, they should be tipped accordingly. Servers are paid low because it's understood that they will make the bulk of their pay on tips. If you feel you are being overcharged then you should eat elsewhere...not stiff the server. If I misread that & you meant that you only not tip at all if the service is really bad then I apologize but I didn't read it that way.

 

[deakam]

It's not the servers fault that Disney prices have gone up. I could see leaving a small tip or even no tip at all if service was truly bad but if a server does a good job, they should be tipped accordingly. Servers are paid low because it's understood that they will make the bulk of their pay on tips. If you feel you are being overcharged then you should eat elsewhere...not stiff the server. If I misread that & you meant that you only not tip at all if the service is really bad then I apologize but I didn't read it that way.

I did say that I base my tip on the service received. If the service does not match the price of the meal I reflect that in the tip. Disney has made a point of telling you what you should leave as a tip without regard to service.

 

[disneyvoice]

I would look at the menus and figure out what sounds good to you and note that price, but also look at the overall average price of the restaurant. To be safe I would budget on the high side. I will say, though, that we always eat a LOT less food than we think we will. We just can't stand the feeling of being full as we tour the parks and climb in and out of rides. And it seems like as the week goes on we always have some kind of stomach/digestive issues since we are eating food that we don't normally eat (we don't eat out very much) so that decreases what we eat even more. This is one of the main reasons the dining plan just doesn't work for us. So we are always pleasantly surprised that our food bill is much lower than expected.