Food budget for offsite

[cornishfrogboy]

We are a family of two, plus an 18 and a 15 year old boy. The 18 yr old eats like a Horse. Supermarket food costs a little more than in the U.K.. other than Orange Juice of which we drink a lot!

When in Orlando, we always stay in a Villa or a self catering apartment (other than our night in a Universal deluxe and at Club level).

Breakfast.
We have never after 10 USA visits purchased a restaurant breakfast. We have either had a complimentary in a Hotel or if not, made our own with Bread Rolls, Ham, Cheese, Crisps, Orange juice etc (we don’t use the oven much). That food is sourced from Walmart.

Lunch.
We very rarely eat the lousy burgers, wraps, pizzas or dogs in the parks .. or buy soda there either. We take in a backpack with two frozen juice bottles or a row of cold cans up each side and the sandwich boxes up the middle containing subs, rolls and fruit. We pack crisps and snacks on top. Again, Walmart provide.

Evening meal. We never eat this in the parks, but other than an occasional pizza, don’t eat it at the accommodation either.
We have researched happy hours thoroughly and eat between 1600 and 1800. Typical restaurants are Longhorn, Wendy’s, Golden Corral, Bahama Breeze, Yardhouse, Millers , Cheesecake Factory and similar. We generally have a starter and a main with bottomless soda or cocktails if they are happy houred at $5. The GC at $60 balances the Flo’s fillet at Longhorn Steakhouse...
We like decent food, but don’t pay over the odds, other than one evening at Rainforest Cafe per vacation.

Afterwards
It is back to a park and/or retiring to the Villa for wine.

Budget?
Breakfast $20/ day.
Lunch $20/day.
Evening meal $100 average.
150 at Rainforest.

As you can see, $140 a day is perfectly realistic and whilst eating out practically every evening.
You can then subtract the food bill for the Discovery Cove day as by the time we have left, we could not eat anything else. You can also pretty much subtract a Pizza night or two.

You can also subtract what you were likely to have spent on food, had you not gone on vacation in the first place!

As you may have noted, we are very selective as to if and when we drink alcohol and that is the key to controlling the budget!

Tips!… we only eat ‘out’ once a day.. add 18%… to just the evening meal.

[Redriva]

I am budgeting $3000 for our trip next year - 2 adults & 2 teens (!8 & 14) for 2 weeks in a hotel.. that includes a couple of fancier meals ... from what i've seen that should be about right ... means plenty left for shopping!

[tiggerl]

What about having an eat and play card ,that gives you discount at restaurants ,we use this the discounts pays for the tips.Costs about £12 can make that back easily.There are also some discounts for shops.

[vampiress88]

We spent a total on Food was $1980 for three weeks. We staying in a villa. Had snacks in the park, dinner at Cracker Barrel, Applebee’s, millers ale house, mannys chop house, Wendy’s etc. Had breakfast out twice. Did had snacks for lunch mostly.

But we are two adults and the kids were 3&4 then.

I would budget $200 per day for my family I think next time I go but we over budgeted loads last time put everything onto a travel credit card to pay off as soon as we got home and luckily had spare when we got home.

[Wobbles]

2 x adults who love a villa. We aim for an average of $125 per day

First Night "Big Shop"
We dump bags and hit Publix straight away. We buy breakfast, drinks (soft and alcohol), snacks (some cakes, fruit, meat, cheese, salad etc). We also get a rotisserie chicken for supper. We spend about $100. We may repeat this a week later.

Breakfast every day
At villa, usually cereals and fresh fruit, yogurts etc. Plenty of fresh orange juice.

Lunch
On villa days we have a snacky lunch, including salads and meat or we would have gone to Sweet Tomatoes several times. If we are out we tend to just share a couple of starters as we don't tend too eat too much in the heat.

Evenings
We will miss Sweet Tomatoes, but we love Buffalo Wild Wings, Big John's Rocking BBQ, Logans, Texas Roadhouse, Rock and Brews.

We tend to share a starter and then have our own mains. We don't really drink alcohol with our meals but will have a can later when back at the villa.