Meal Budgeting?

[DisJosh]

This coming January is my first trip to the world without family. My fiance and I are paying and saving money will be a big deal and new experience for us (in WDW at least). The whole trip is paid for asside for one annual pass. So those things asside does anyone know about how much the two of us together should expect to spend a day on food? I think for the most part we'll stick the our hotel foodcourt and maybe the cheapest possible lunch while in the parks.

Thanks.

 

[Vernonpush]

This is a very helpful site for planning meals:
http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

there are menus from all the food services. With that you can see wich places you want to go to and approximate your spending.

 

[Maria]

Josh, you could try having a big breakfast at the hotel and a late lunch/early dinner with some typical burger and fries that are very fulfilling; or the big breakfast, snacks at the parks (a pretzel, nachos, fries, fruitbars, bring a sandwich, etc) and then a big dinner out of the parks - you could try DD and pick a place for dinner.
If you want to spend a bit more on a nice dinner - try Ohana´s which is all you can eat, or Bahama Breeze at International Drive (those are my favorite places hehe...)

 

[PrinceDon]

We Average $80 per day..

Last November, we (2 Adults) averaged almost $80 per day for food.
Breakfast - Usually eating at the Pepper Market Food Court - $15 per day
Lunch - Mostly counter service - $20 per day
Dinner - Somtimes Turkey Legs, sometimes buffets - $35 / day.
Snacks/Water - $6 / day
We don't have a budget for food. This is from our trip last year.
You might want to take a look at the menus at AllEars and add up a day's worth of food for the 2 of you.
http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

Enjoy your trip

5 days and 38 minutes...wow, need to go pack again

 

[The Mom]

Josh, are you flying or driving? If driving, bring bread, peanut butter, baggies, bottled water, and snacks with you. If you bring your own cereal and disposable bowls, you can get milk and juice at the food courts. (And coffee)
Pack some apples (the ones from RI are better than what you can get down here, anyways) and toss a couple, along with a bottle of water, and snacks into your day pack. If you bring a water bottle, you can fill it with ice in the morning. Just remember to bring a gallon ziploc to keep it in. Pack a peanut butter sandwich, and you're set for snacking.

An elegant, but inexpensive light lunch is to pick up a fruit and cheese platter at the French bakery, and buy an extra baguette. Add two glasses of wine, and you'll have an elegant lunch.

Don't forget the wine tastings at the different countries (along with a beer tasting in Germany) You end up getting more wine for the same price as a single glass.

Pecos Bill in Frontierland has a great toppings bar; you can really load up a burger with fried onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, etc and make a real meal of it.

 

[DisJosh]

Thanks for the tips everyone.

Thanks for the cheese platter idea Mom. Sounds romantic. Maybe we'll do that and I'll take full credit for it. (we're flying)

tigsmom we definately planned on getting the refillable mugs. Those are a plus for me because I guzzle fluids during meals like an SUV does gas.

Vernonpush/PrinceDon I've been looking at allearsnet.com quite a bit recently...I'll definately check out those links. Thanks guys!

Maria, thats pretty much what our plan was. Except I hadn't thought of the buffets/all you can eat places. Does Ohanas have an all you can eat breakfast too? If so I think I've eaten there in the past. Good stuff...yumm. :slurp:

 

[aimster]

When I went ti Epcot earlier this summer, I only spent $20-$25 on food. I don't eat breakfast so that saves me money right there. I usually stick to the counter service restaurants too. And sometimes I'll have a light snack in place of lunch and have an early dinner and then another light snack a little after my usual dinner time (if I'm hungry). Walking around the parks with a full/heavy stomach makes me feel icky and makes me drag my feet.

Oh and... stock up on bottled water at home before you come down! Or bring one or 2 bottles into the parks with you and once they're empty, fill them with water from the drinking fountains. I've done that and it saves alot of money on drinks. Also water is better for you on hot days as it keeps you hydrated.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Last November, we (2 Adults) averaged almost $80 per day for food.
Breakfast - Usually eating at the Pepper Market Food Court - $15 per day
Lunch - Mostly counter service - $20 per day
Dinner - Somtimes Turkey Legs, sometimes buffets - $35 / day.
Snacks/Water - $6 / day
We don't have a budget for food. This is from our trip last year.
You might want to take a look at the menus at AllEars and add up a day's worth of food for the 2 of you.
http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

QUOTE]

We found this to be true when we flew done and ate everything at the parks or resorts.

Once we found DVC and town cars that gave you a store stop on the way there we spent a lot less on food. (still eating some good meals out at nice restants.) Having your own snacks, drinks and water along with some breakfest and lunch food really helps. You can still eat some great meals at the many wonderful restants too. We normally only buy one big meal a day, one fast food and one we eat in the room. We get a some MUST HAVE favorite WDW snacks, but also have some to tie us over when in need.

You can do it as a couple for around 50 to 60 a day. We also used to share meals often. If we got hungry later we just got one of those great WDW snacks, or ate again.

Do check out the web site lised above, it can give you some great ideas of prices and where you want to be sure to eat.

 

[barnum42]

As others have said, check out allears.net. A good money saving thing is listed on there - in Animal Kingdom they do a meal vouchers offer for $12. They can be used at the counter restaurants (Flame Tree Barbeque and Tusker House are my favourites). $12 gets you three vouchers - one voucher gets you a main entree and large drink, the second an ice cream or box of popcorn from the carts and the third a bottled drink.

 

[DisJosh]

Thanks!

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

A money saving thing we do often is share, especially with snacks...you see the popcaorn stand, the ice cream stand, the no sugar brownies, and you want to try one - but rarely do you really need to eat the whole thing to satisfy your sweet/salt/curiosity craving...then the next thing catches your eye...We often share things, and everyone gets a taste...then you still have room for the next temptation. It also saves money, and little goes to waist..or waste.

 

[DisJosh]

A money saving thing we do often is share, especially with snacks...you see the popcaorn stand, the ice cream stand, the no sugar brownies, and you want to try one - but rarely do you really need to eat the whole thing to satisfy your sweet/salt/curiosity craving...then the next thing catches your eye...We often share things, and everyone gets a taste...then you still have room for the next temptation. It also saves money, and little goes to waist..or waste.

Too much has already gone to my waist. I'm a lost cause in that area.

But that is indeed a good idea. Thanks.