Few basic costs

[hardly]

Very rounded Pricing from my recent experience. Maybe helpful.
Eating at somewhere like Applebee’s (eat the daily specials if you can will save you money) however if not a typical main meal, with a drink and tip is going to cost you $35each.

If eating in universal expect a burger meal, drink, fries to come close to $30 counter service.
Better off coming out to Panda Express in city walk and pay $15\16 for a meal.

All the meals in premium outlets in the food hall will cost around $15 from any of the eateries, prices all v similar.

McDonald’s typical meal around $11
Good value $5meal deal

A lager at Disney springs (in a glass but not a pint) is around $13\14 dollar plus tip.
I have noticed everywhere it’s no longer a dollar per drink tip expected, they put the 18/20/22 on the bill.

Tipping is out of control.
Prices are getting a bit stupid. I can only imagine annual salaries in the USA are high for most jobs. Otherwise they would all be starving, and trust me, they are not.

[Shooby doo]

OP the only one I'm not sure of is your Universal one? Seems high, a burger combo at eg Richter's is $21.99 which includes fries & drink.
Said before maybe it's always been like this & never noticed but it's scary how much you need just to eat these days!
SD

[Shani]

Read something the other day that said the average wage in the US was $80k (with many servers on $100k inc tips). More like £37k in the UK, so I guess there's your price difference.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by hardly

Prices are getting a bit stupid. I can only imagine annual salaries in the USA are high for most jobs. Otherwise they would all be starving, and trust me, they are not.

See more...

Well, you have to remember that the vast majority of people in the USA (and especially those on a low wage) aren't going to theme parks or eating out all the time, if at all. People who don't have much money aren't eating at Universal, Applebees, McDonalds, etc and aren't drinking beers at Disney Springs. I don't eat out at equivalent places here in the UK very often. I wouldn't have much money if I ate out every day here in the UK.

But, yes, the cost of food at those places is fairly high. People can choose not to eat there. But lots of people, including Brits, still eat at them.

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Shani

Read something the other day that said the average wage in the US was $80k (with many servers on $100k inc tips). More like £37k in the UK, so I guess there's your price difference.

See more...

This states that the average salary in the USA is around $59.5K. Which is around £46.8K in GBP:

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/busin...lary-by-state/

In Florida, it's just under $56K (=£44K).

That also ties up with what this states ($1165 a week = $60.5K a year):

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf

Admittedly, a quick Google search shows a variety of different numbers. Wikipedia says $80K for 2023, somewhere else said $66K, Statista said $77K. So who knows!

Meanwhile, for the UK, the following has a variety of numbers from £29K to £42K depending on whether we're talking about the mean or the median, and whether we're talking about all workers or only full-time workers:

https://www.avtrinity.com/uk-average-salary

(£37K isn't a bad number to pick as it's in the middle).

[Gryff]

Remember the average cost for health insurance for a family of 4 in Florida is just shy of $2000 a month for a decent plan

[thefergies]

Originally Posted by hardly

Very rounded Pricing from my recent experience. Maybe helpful.
Eating at somewhere like Applebee’s (eat the daily specials if you can will save you money) however if not a typical main meal, with a drink and tip is going to cost you $35each.

If eating in universal expect a burger meal, drink, fries to come close to $30 counter service.
Better off coming out to Panda Express in city walk and pay $15\16 for a meal.

All the meals in premium outlets in the food hall will cost around $15 from any of the eateries, prices all v similar.

McDonald’s typical meal around $11
Good value $5meal deal

A lager at Disney springs (in a glass but not a pint) is around $13\14 dollar plus tip.
I have noticed everywhere it’s no longer a dollar per drink tip expected, they put the 18/20/22 on the bill.

Tipping is out of control.
Prices are getting a bit stupid. I can only imagine annual salaries in the USA are high for most jobs. Otherwise they would all be starving, and trust me, they are not.

See more...

Assume you are drinking alcoholic rather than soft drinks and/or meals at upper end of menu at Applebees? I wouldn't expect to pay more than $25 there for decent pasta or chicken meal, unlimited softs, tax and 15% tip. Ribs and a beer then yes, $35 more likely. Their 2 for $25 deal is a good one.

[hardly]

They do have daily meals at around $11 dollar, and yes a beer with meal.
Bahama breeze was closer to $40 for Ribs, beer and tip.

Panda Express large 3 item was $16, this was great as I enjoy this. Advert in Panda for staff, $107k general manager, $72k deputy, I guess huge competition for good people.

Just touch on a bit further, if I had a McDonald’s, go to a nicer area than 192.
Opposite highlands reserve was nice and clean, and newish.
Where it looks a bit nicer, it usually continues inside.

I tried to avoid cheese.

[Mr Andy]

Applebees $35 seems high unless it’s a steak maybe?

I find the food meh in Applebees but the drinks deals are usually good. Last year it was 2 for 1 on beers most nights and a lot of cocktails were $5.

[spenners]

Originally Posted by Mr Andy

Applebees $35 seems high unless it’s a steak maybe?

I find the food meh in Applebees but the drinks deals are usually good. Last year it was 2 for 1 on beers most nights and a lot of cocktails were $5.

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I also find the service poor in Applebees but I love the quesadilla burger with the lovely seasoned fries