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Mom And Daughter Magic Kingdom Cinderella's Castle
  • On Jan 31, 2012
    Sherri from IN Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    My family and I are going to Disney for the first time in April, Not staying at the resort, so we can not do the dining plan. I need help to know how much money for food to save for. I have 3 kids and my husband. The kids do not eat a whole lot.

    Hi Sherri,

    You must be getting so excited for your first trip to Walt Disney World! 

    Food can get quite expensive in the parks, but there are ways to save.  The price your family will need to budget depends on the type of restaurants where you plan to eat.  I can give you some average prices, and hopefully that will help you plan how much to bring.  A buffet style character meal will cost around $30 per adult and $16 per child.  That's a splurge, but I recommend doing at least one of these if you have the opportunity.  Breakfast meals are generally less expensive than lunch or dinner.  If you eat a late breakfast, you can generally skip lunch or get by on a snack.

    At a counter service restaurant, adults can usually plan on spending around $10 for an entree, not including drinks or dessert.  Kid's meals are fairly reasonable at around $6, including drink and a dessert. 

    My guess is that if you budget $60/day adult and $30/day for each child, you should be able to eat fairly well, including snacks.  You can cut this down a bit, especially if you have a car, by stopping at a grocery store on the way to your resort and purchasing a case of water (water is expensive in the parks) and some snacks to bring into the parks.  If you have a refrigerator in your room, get some milk, paper bowls and cereal for a quick breakfast each morning.

    Hope this helps.  Have a magical vacation!
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Meet the Panelist: Diane, Rhode Island

I am Diane from RI.  My husband and I have 3 children. I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was 11 and I have traveled many times since then with all different party sizes.   Every aspect of planning a vacation is pure joy to me. Learn More About Diane

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