Minnie-Mickey
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2010
What should I plan for average daily cost? Five adults 8 days for sit down meals.
Thank you. I forgot what we had spent in the past. Thinking now quick service maybe the way to go. With a few table service. Thanks for the help
For me here's were you can have more control over your budget. You really can't control Park ticket prices, Airfare, Hotel, bus or Uber/Lyft, cost... you can shop around... But for me here is were you can save or splurge... or do both....save on some meals to have a splurge meal or two...
Make a list of your needs....
First your the only one that know how your Family eats... use how you eat at home, and on previous vacations as a guide. We really don't eat breakfast during the week maybe a granola bar or pop tart but nothing like scramble eggs or anything like that, but on the weekends we do, and on vacation we enjoy breakfast all together.
Are there big eaters, picky eaters, dietary restrictions in place or food allergies. Carnivore, Herbivore or Omnivore?
Then are you celebrating anything special... Splurge meals
Next are character meals important to you & your family, for us character meal are very much a part of our overall vacation experience, and we feel that they are important and we love them. Some people prefer to stay away from these types of meals and feel that they are a waste of time and/money. Only you know what your family enjoys.
Take into consideration, sharing meals both at Table service ( please tip the server as everyone ordered a entree) and quick serve restaurants, or ordering a few appetizers and dessert for sharing instead of entree's.. instead of everyone ordering a appetizers- order only 1 or 2 to share- then share a dessert, if there is a bread basket or something is an appetizer really necessary? Or maybe the family size appetizer and share a couple of entrees....
Quick service options are so varied, it not just hamburgers and hot dogs anymore... Lots and lots to choose from
You can do buffet for breakfast, snack for lunch, then quick service for dinner or Grab a breakfast bar or something in room and then a early lunch quick serve and table service later on...You can mix it up any way you want to...
Now the real work begins... its so worth the time to sit and check out menu's, prices, look at the pictures of meals here and on other sites... start writing down some options, and see if they will work with your list of needs.
Don't forget to add in adult beverages, specialty drinks smoothies, shakes and such... pool drinks, water ( order a case so much cheaper)
As a rule of thumb....DH and I budget anywhere from 100.00 per person per day to 150.00 per person per day... when we travel...Depending on where we are going... NYC and Paris on the higher end, cabin in the mountain lower end...
By doing all the work up front you will be more prepared and less stressed out about meal cost... so more vacation fun...
Geeze sounds like the man in my house. He looked all aghast when I suggested no dining plan next trip just to see how it felt. You'd of thought I told him the relationship was over but but it was really my fault not his.Exactly. I remember booking CL at the BC for a trip that included my DH. I chose not to book DxDDP because I was sure our oop would not come close to the difference between the two plans. I never considered DH would declare two days in that I was starving his poor malnourished self! lol!!! I also did not consider he would get all worked up over what was included... just order the appetizer if you want it!!!! Lol! Yikes! Truest example of know your dining audience. This trip DD keeps saying they don’t need appetizers, they are dessert people. Remember the 2012 trip???? Hmmmmm?
If you plan on counter service instead with a few table service meals for five adults I'd figure $250-300/day. We tend to choose the less expensive table service restaurants - Via Napoli, Plaza, Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch, Sci Fi, Beaches and Cream, etc.., plus one splurge character meal.
If you have breakfast in your room that will save as well. It's easy to have cereal or bagels in your room before heading out for the day. That could help bring it down closer to $200-250/day.