AA Family at Disney's California Adventure; eating; coaster; Farris Wheel
  • On Nov 4, 2025
    Mahina from HI Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    Aloha, how much should I budget on food and drinks for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children [5y,2y]) for 2 days at disney california? I plan on getting some disney gift cards to cut down on some expenses. thank you!

    Hey there, hi there, Mahina! Welcome to planDisney. We are thrilled to have you stop by with a planning question for us.

    I hope your family is getting excited for your visit. You'll be walking down Main Street, U.S.A., so soon! You've brought us a great question about budgeting for meals; however, it's so hard to really nail down an estimate because everyone does meals differently. Instead, I would suggest that you take some time to go through the Disneyland website or Disneyland App and check out different menus for yourself, where you can get an idea of costs. A budget for reservation-based sit down meals will be different than if you plan to just stick with quick service.

    When my family wants to stick to a budget, we are sure to bring refillable water bottles to use at the refill stations and pack some snacks to hold us over between meals. If you can't bring the snacks with you in your luggage, you can always have a grocery delivery made to your hotel. We also usually stick to quick service since there are so many great options. However, sometimes we will pick just one table service reservation because we really love enjoying a meal at Lamplight Lounge. 

    If you plan on using Disney Gift Cards, I highly recommend adding the card numbers to your notes app on your phone. This will make it quick and easy to copy and paste the card info during check out if you want to use mobile food ordering in the Disneyland App. It's one of my favorite features!

    Mahina, the countdown is on! I hope your family has the most magical time!

    Carrie
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Meet the Panelist: Carrie, California

Well hello there, friend! I'm Carrie, a work-from-home mom and military wife who currently calls sunny San Diego home. You'll find my family in the parks braving drops and coasters to work up our appetite to take as many snack breaks as we can. While Disneyland is our home away from home, we love trying to make a Walt Disney World Resort vacation happen at least once a year now too. All my friends know I'm the go-to for Disney advice, so I'm here to help you plan and experience the magic on your visit! Learn More About Carrie

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