Can you eat at Disney for $40 a day?

[vettechick99]

On the DVC Community Board, Kerlynn started a thread about the Rachel Ray show "$40 a Day". If you haven't seen the show, RR from FoodTV goes on vacation and sees if she can eat for less than $40 a day.

So I thought, can you eat well at Disney for less than $40 a day? Why don't we see how far $40 can get us at WDW, so here are the rules:

1. You can't go over $40 for the day and that must include tax (6.5%) and 15% tip when applicable. Let's assume tax on counter service and sit-down, no tax on food cart and kiosk items.

2. You must do a reasonable breakfast, lunch & dinner for one person. Extra points if you can squeeze a snack, dessert or alcoholic drink in there.

3. You need at least one sit-down whether it's buffet, entree or just a filling appetizer. No counter service all day!

4. Make the eating schedule doable. No major park or resort hopping.

5. Give good descriptions, we like knowing what's on the menu!!

Just to show you it can be done, I'll go first...

All-You-Can-Eat Buffet at Trail's End Buffet at Fort Wildreness
coffee and hot tea, scrambled eggs, Mickey Waffles, sausage, bacon, hash browns & omelet of the day, fresh seasonal fruit, hot cinnamon spice apples, donuts and pastries - $10.99

$10.99 food/drink + $.72 tax + $1.75 tip = $13.46

$26.54 left!

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe at MK
Chicken Salad - freshly tossed seasoned chicken, jicama slaw, lettuce, vegetables and cheese in a lime vinaigrette - $6.39
Lemonade - $1.99

$8.38 food/drink + $.55 tax = $8.93

$17.61 left!

Aloha Isle at MK
Dole Whip Soft Serve -pineapple (but comes in vanilla, chocolate, or swirl) - with rainbow sprinkles - $2.79

$2.79

$14.82 left!

Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station at MK
Chicken Noodle Bowl - $7.29
Fried Egg Roll - $2.39
Asian Inspired Mango Black Hot Tea (or Green Tea, Ginger, Ginseng) - $2.19
Ginger Creme Brulee - $1.99

$13.86 food/drink + $.90 tax = $14.76

$.08 left!

WOWEE, I barely made it, but I think I had a good day. Anyone else want to try?

 

[jkmmah]

I'm going to give this a shot...

Breakfast at Electric Umbrella in Future World Epcot--Kellogg's Cereal Combo - served with a fruit cup $4.29 plus .28 tax for $4.57

Late Morning Snack at bakery in Norway--School Bread $2.29 plus .15 tax for 2.44

Late Lunch at Biergarten buffet for $15.99, plus 1.04 tax and 2.40 tip =$19.43

Dinner counter service from UK--Fish & Chips (snack size) - 2 strips of fish served with chips $6.49, a soft drink for $1.99 plus .55 tax, cheesecake from bakery in France $3.50 plus .28 tax for a total of 12.81

Grand total of 39.25!!! Whoo-hoo!

 

[kandmwedding]

I'm game! Here's my plan for our Epcot day!!

Fountainview Cafe
Fresh Fruit Croissant - yummy! yummy! yummy! - $3.29
Orange Juice - $1.49
$4.78 food/drink + $.31 tax = $5.09

Kringla og Bakeri
Kringle - sweet pretzel with raisins and almonds - $2.99
Water - $2.50
$5.49 food/drink + $.36 tax = $5.85

Biergarten
All You Can Eat Buffet - rotisserie chicken, roasted pork, pretzel bread, apple streudel - $15.99
Soda - $2.00 (I think)
$17.99 food/drink + $1.17 tax + $2.87 tip = $22.03

Cantina de San Angel
Plato del Nino - beef burrito, tortilla chips and drink - $3.49
$3.49 food/drink + $.23 tax = $3.72

Kaki Gori
Kaki Gori - shaved ice mmmmm... - $2.25
$2.25 food/drink = $2.25

My grand total is $38.94

 

[mrp4352]

Breakfast: Intermission food court at All-Star Music
Pancakes with Bacon or sausage - $4.99
Coffee - $1.79
$4.99+$1.79+$.44(tax) = $7.22 ($32.78 left)


Lunch: Le Cellier in Epcot
Beer Cheese Soup - $4.99
Cappaccino Freeze smoothie - $3.99
$4.99+$3.99+$.58(tax)+$1.34(tip) = $10.90 ($21.88 left)


Snack: Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom
Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie $1.59
$1.59+$.10(tax) = $1.69 ($20.19 left)


Dinner: Toy Story Pizza Planet in Disney-MGM
Woody's Meal Deal (pepperoni pizza and salad) - $7.49
small coke - $1.99
$7.49+$1.99+$.61(tax) = $10.09 ($10.10 left)


After dinner drink: Barefoot Pool Bar at Poly
Lava Flow - $7.00
$7.00+$.45(tax)+$.1.05(tip) = $8.50 ($1.60 left)

I did it!!!

 

[Jamesbyr]

Quoting:

"WOWEE, I barely made it, but I think I had a good day. Anyone else want to try?"

Just curious. Did you actually do this, or just work it out in theory?

I have read the original classic "grubbin' and boozin'" posts, and you seem to have an admirably small appetite. I wish well anyone who takes up your challenge.

 

[Texian@WDW]

Great question! I was just discussing this with DH this past weekend. He said with the difference we save by going to WL instead of GF or other deluxe, we could spend on food - less than $1,000.00 for four of us. I said no way because Rachel Ray does $40.00/day and $40 x 4 = $160 x 8 days = $1280, so we will be spending $1,000 or more on meals for the four of us.

It really is surprising how much you spend on meals and snacks at Disney. But I'm up to the challenge. Apparently, it can be done, but with four different tastes, I don't know.

 

[vettechick99]

Just curious. Did you actually do this, or just work it out in theory?

I have read the original classic "grubbin' and boozin'" posts, and you seem to have an admirably small appetite. I wish well anyone who takes up your challenge.

Jamesbyr, this is all in theory. No way in normal life could $40 work for me...I like the boozin' part of grubbin' & boozin' part too much.

But alcohol aside, this menu is definitely something I would do, I just couldn't eat it all. But I tried to pick choices that would fill up the average person.

Why don't you take the challenge....what would suit your appetite for $40 a day?

 

[agotta]

Ok, I will give it a try!! Disney Studios

Breakfast - ABC Commissary

Buttermilk Pancakes with bacon and sausage $5.79 + .35 = $6.13
Orange Juice $1.49 + .08 = 1.57 TOTAL $7.70

$32.30 left!

Lunch -
Back Lot Express
Grilled Vegetable Sandwich - toasted turkish bread, portobello mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, tomato, watercress and mozzarella cheese $6.99 + .41 = $7.40

Dasani Bottled Water - 24 oz. $2.00 + .12 = $2.12
Total $7.52

$24.78 left

Dinner-
Mama Melroses

Four Cheese with Asiago, Mozzarella, Provolone, and Gorgonzola Cheese $11.79 + .70 = $12.49

Sangria - Quench your thirst with a taste from the Italian Riviera.
Glass $3.75 + .22 = 3.97 + 2.50 (tip)

Total $18.96

$5.82 left!!

Ice cream from Dinosaur Gerties!!

Sugar Cone $2.79 (w/sprinkles!!!) + .16 = $2.95

$2.87 left!!!

 

[Belle5]

The good news is, most of us eat one meal a day in our rooms--usually breakfast, so in theory, we can reduce the $40 amount. My family has a food budget of $300 a day for the 6 "adults", 1 child and a 1 year old. That works out to be close to $40 per day per person. I am taking notes...Very fun thread!

 

[Noah122898]

Isn't MYW Dining option $35.00 per day? That would do it..

 

[agotta]

I love to eat and looking back at my day, I think everyone else is doing much better than I did. I think I would still be starving.

Amanda

 

[Belle5]

jovidan,
Looks yummy--but you don't have a sit-down meal in your plan.

 

[kandeebunny]

I'll give this a shot

Breakfast: SoG Garden Gallery Breakfast Buffet $8.95 + $0.59tax + $1.50 tip = $11.04

$28.96 left

Lunch: Casey's Corner Hot Dog (bunless cuz I'm allergic) $3.89 and fries $1.89 and drink $1.99 so Food= 7.77 + $0.50 tax = $8.27

$20.69 left

Snack during 3pm parade: Popcorn and a soda $5.50

$15.19 left

Dinner: Pinnochio's Village Haus Gideon's 1/4 Pound Cheeseburger with Fries $5.79 and drink $1.99= $7.78 + $0.50 tax= $8.28

$6.91 left

Snack during Wishes: Main Street Ice Cream Parlor Double Cone of Tofutti $3.49 + $0.22 tax = $3.71

$3.20 left


Yes we HAVE done this with no problems! So it is possible!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Okay, here's mine:

Breakfast: POFQ Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
French Toast with Sausage 4.99
Diet Coke $1.99

Total: $7.43 with tax

Lunch: Chef's de France
The French Menu $14.95
Soupe a l' oignon gratinee - Onion soup topped with Gruyere cheese
Croque monsieur et sa salade verte - toasted ham and cheese sandwich with a green salad
Creme brulee a l'ancienne - baked vanilla cream with caramelized brown sugar
Diet Coke 2.00

Total: $20.59 with tax and 15% tip

Dinner: Earl of Sandwich
Earl's Club $4.95
Ice cream sandwich $2.45
The Earl's Grey Lemonade $1.75

Total: $9.75

Treat: Pasticceria Italiana di Alfredo di Roma
Espresso Doppio (Double Espresso) $1.89
Total: $2.01

Breakfast: $7.43
Lunch: $20.59
Dinner: $9.75
Treat: $2.01
Final Total: $39.78

 

[zoegirl]

We (DH & I) usually manage with $75 a day for both of us, but we usually eat breakfast in our room and eat our own snacks. Will have to try this out when we go next time.

Good Golly I'm hungry!!! I've eaten like a basket of starburst just reading this thread!!
Anybody else hungry from reading this?

 

[Belle5]

Ok. I figured one out that doesn't include a snack but does have dessert at the sit-down meal:

Breakfast--Main Street Bakery
breakfast quiche $3.29
orange juice $1.49
tax $.31
total $5.09

Lunch--Coral Reef
Diver's Special (includes lobster soup or mixed greens, chef's catch of the day or chicken salad sandwich on house-made bread and then cheesecake for dessert) $20.00
beverage--iced water $0
tip $3.00
tax $$1.30
total $24.30

Dinner--Electric Umbrella
Freshly Tossed Island Chicken Salad (chicken, romaine, mango, pineapple, raisins, coconut in a honey mustard dressing) $6.69
Diet Coke $1.99
tax $.56
total $9.24

Grand total $38.63

(I was assuming a 6.5% tax)
Again, I would probably have breakfast in the room and take that money for another treat)

 

[kkana]

this sounds like fun - I'll have to work on it later though

 

[gw_lit]

OK... here's my attempt at a Magic Kingdom $40 day:

Breakfast - Captain Cooks, Poly
Big Kahuna Breakfast Platter - scrambled eggs, potatoes, biscuit and bacon or sausage $5.59
Soft drink $1.99
TOTAL: $7.58 + .50 (tax) = $8.07 ($31.93 left)

(I was going to cheat and say I was staying in Poly Concierge and that I ate a continental breakfast in the lounge, thus my cost was $0.00. I guess that kind of misses the point of this exercise though.)

Lunch - Tony's Town Square
Grilled Chicken Panini - topped with bacon, Asiago cheese and marinated red onions pressed in warm Italian flat bread $10.49
Iced Tea $2.19
TOTAL: $12.68 + 0.82 (tax) + 2.02 (tip) = $15.52 ($16.41 left)

Dinner - Pecos Bill
Chicken Wrap - served chilled with seasoned chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese tossed with Pecos house dressing, served with your choice of fries or carrots $7.49
Soft drink $1.99
TOTAL: $9.48 + 0.61 (tax) = $10.09 ($6.32 left)

Snacks
Pineapple Dole Whip $2.79 + 0.18 (tax) = $2.97 ($3.35 left)
Frozen Coke $2.39 + 0.15 (tax) = $2.54 ($0.81 left!)

I was also trying to come up with a plan that would include a character meal, but had trouble coming up with something doable since even the most inexpensive character meal is around $24-25 with tax and tip. I'll have to keep working at this one.

 

[kelleigh1]

I'm gonna have to take notes. This is a great idea and I love the show. I can't make a plan because I havent' been to WDW in ages, but I'm going to keep this in mind for our trip next year.

I don't see why hubby and I couldn't spend less than $40 each per day. I eat 3 meals a day, but could get off fairly cheap at breakfast or lunch, and half the time I have to force hubby to eat 3 meals a day.

 

[PrincessTrisha]

You want a character meal? You want a CHARACTER MEAL? Here's your character meal....

Breakfast: POFQ food court
Oatmeal $2.49
Banana $.99
Coffee using coffee maker from the room FREE
Total with tax: $3.71

Lunch: Crystal Palace
Buffet with non alcoholic drink $19.99
Total with tax and tip: $24.28

Dinner: Cosmic Ray's
1/2 Rotisserie Chicken - with Mashed Potatoes and a seasonal vegetable $7.29
Diet Coke: $1.99
Total with tax: $9.88

Total:
Breakfast: $3.71
Lunch: $24.28
Dinner: $9.88
Total: $37.87