Few basic costs

[Nimbus]

$30 for a quick service meal at Universal sounds a bit high. I can’t actually remember how much Universal charges, but a quick service burger meal with a soft drink at Disney would cost about $19. I would expect Universal to charge a similar amount.

It’s still expensive though. But that’s food in theme parks for you.

[Shooby doo]

So just to add for anyone interested in what we are finding. Shocked at a Dennys breakfast for 2 costing $40! Most sit down meals have been in the $80 range(just entrees & 2 lemonades) you could at at least $10/$20 for Disney. Had a couple of Olive Garden to go & both have been $50 but plenty of food. Starbucks is more expensive than UK so expect to.push $12 for 2 lattes. We budgeted £60/person/day & we are on that easily.
SD

[scooby99]

I think this shows just how out of control the theme park and some of the chain prices are.

We’ve been on the Gulf Coast for 3 weeks and tend to eat in non-chain places.

Some of our sit downs have been as follows:

4 adults; 2 x fish & chips, 1 burger & fries, 1 hot dog & fries. 2 beers, 1 margarita & 2 sodas $85

2 adults; chips & queso, 2 shrimp tacos, 3 chicken flautas, side of rice, margarita & soda $35

2 adults; 2 roast turkey dinners (turkey, mash & gravy, stuffing & veg) which also included soup or salad & 2 sodas $42

2 adults; grilled cheese & bacon sandwich, club sandwich, fries & onion rings & 2 sodas $27

2 adults; roast pork lo mein, beef fried rice & 2 sodas; enough to take home for another dinner for 2 the next night $34

2 adults; chips & salsa, beef enchilada with rice & beans, chicken fajitas, margarita & a soda $45

2 adults; 2 cheesesteaks, large cheese fries & 2 sodas $22

All non-chains in the St Petersburg, Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Dunedin & Seminole areas.

We just won’t pay the equivalent of £65 for dinners that aren’t as good as we can get at home.
Even more so, at our local cafe at home, we pay £12 for 2 full English breakfasts which includes toast & tea/coffee; no way am I paying the equivalent of £30 for breakfast here

[thefergies]

Whilst not doubting that these prices are being paid in places as website menus will confirm (and I agree breakfast and coffees are expensive), I can't help thinking evening meal prices quoted are representing above the average prices rather than average and that a bit more context around where and what people are eating would help. We go as 4 Adults and, based on our food likes and dislikes (I am only steak/rib/shrimp eater), a range of places visited from Chili's to Cheesecake Factory, an entree and unlimited softs each and including tax and tips, I would not be paying over $35pp for entree and soft at any restaurant we usually go to. The exception would be C Factory but only because we'll all have dessert! We'll eat at Chili's on 3 for Me (entree, drinks and either starter or dessert) for less than $20pp and then likes of Cracker Barrel/Uno/Rock&Brews/Downtown Diner for $25, Millers/Fords Garage/Outback a tad under $30 and then Olive Garden/C Factory/Texas Roadhouse up to $35. That's all incl tip and tax and that is not by selecting cheapest menu item either. Where we have a free starter or dessert coupon like Millers, we'll buy a second and share 2 between 4 so that is included in my budget as well. If I was there now and spending more than $120 per night on evening meal average for the 4 of us, I'd be disappointed. I totally get though that you absolutely can spend more if you are steak, combo, shrimp eaters but it can be done cheaper.

[Kraken]

Just to add a few of our experiences from last month. Panda Express at CityWalk was cheaper than the equivalent (but highly similar) Chinese places in both Premium Outlets food courts - even before 10% annual pass discount at CityWalk. Sure, parking is free at Premium Outlets - it's not at CityWalk unless you have an annual pass.

As with the UK, food costs have risen notably in the USA. Where as we always used to use the local Publix near we stay, we now make a point of going to Wal-Mart on Turkey Lake Road. It's a bit like comparing Sainsburys & Asda over here - exact same branded products in a lot of cases, different shopping environment and prices.

Whilst I agree tipping is getting out of hand - certainly in Orlando, with the bill or card machine being loaded with 18/20/22% tip suggestions. We did find the staff at the food & drink stands (all run by Sundial at Premium Outlets Vineland) to be very good. If you just tapped to do a contactless payment they would ask if you wanted a receipt and when you said no thanks, they hit the "No tip" button on their screen / the card machine.

Universal on the other hand took the wotsit. If you bought a drink at a walk-up bar like The Watering Hole in Jurassic Park and paid by contactless card, the bar server would print an "open" paper receipt for you to sign. We asked him why and the reply was "so you can leave me a tip". He didn't get one! Tipping someone for taking two bottles of beer out of a fridge and unscrewing the tops, nope.

[Shooby doo]

Not sure that you can class Longhorns, Sonny's BBQ as expensive but that's our price range most entrees that we've seen are in the $25-$35 range then factor in a lemonades at $4 then add tax & tip & you are easily pushing $80. If we'd actually sat in at Olive Garden then it's likely the bill would have been the same as the rest.
SD

[Tillyfloss]

I’ve just paid £33.34 equivalent in Louies for 2 minestrone soups with garlic knot, a large slice of veg pizza and Caesar salad, a large cookie and 2 fountain drinks. Includes AP discount.
Good, fresh food. Think it would be equivalent in U.K.

[thefergies]

Again, though, that is for Steaks or similar. So, yes, if that is your meal of choice more often than not then you will have to pay $40 or thereabouts as you say. But that's not the only option out there and even Longhorn offer a number of <$20 entrees and the most you will pay for an entree sitting in at the Olive Gardens I go to (Clermont or Rolling Oaks) is $23.49 incl breadsticks and salad. Not sure there is any price difference with OG between Sit-in and Pick-Up/Delivery (except the expected tip!)