Confused at predicted prices (calculating food budget)

[Kerfuffle1984]

Hi everyone.

I'm a first timer and I'm trying to work out a ball park budget for food, but I'm confused but the info on the Disney website links to eat place. Most places will say for example $35 to $59 per adult... which is it, 35 or 59?! What's the variable? Especially at the all you can eats, surely it should be a fixed price? And is it a fixed price for the character dining experiences? I feel like I'm missing something really obvious, lol! We are there for three weeks (only in the Disney parks for two though, planning two to eat at resorts the third week 2/3 times for a sit down meal), it's just myself and my 10 year old daughter. Paying out of pocket too. We pretty much work on the principle of one big meal a day and little snacks, so I'm planning a fair few sit down meals and character meals (ideally I have 9 I don't really like to do), but I want to make sure it's within my budget.

Thank you!

[kellbelle]

I've booked quite a few character meals and have gone through each restaurant trying to work out a rough price. If you just google prices for the restaurant I used the link from touring plans website I think to work out a more accurate price a single they have menus.

[RM2016]

The scale of pricing will depend whether you go for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Breakfast would be the lowest with Dinner being the top price and lunch in between. A late breakfast slot can work well as they are often bringing out the lunch options too.

[BarryandCaron]

Usually the cheapest price is for breakfast and the higher price for dinner. I use this page for more up to date prices, it's maintained by a CM.

disboards/threads/bu...icing.3108466/

[Guest]

Also I think many buffets have seasonal prices. Copied this from mouse savers.
Little known fact: Disney raises meal prices at many of its buffets and character meals during busy times of year. During these periods, a buffet or character meal will cost you about $4 more than normal (plus tax/tip) for an adult (ages 10+) and $2 more than normal (plus tax/tip) for a child under 10. (If you are on a Dining Plan, there is no upcharge at the restaurant.)

[BarryandCaron]

Originally Posted by Mrs_O

Also I think many buffets have seasonal prices. Copied this from mouse savers.
Little known fact: Disney raises meal prices at many of its buffets and character meals during busy times of year. During these periods, a buffet or character meal will cost you about $4 more than normal (plus tax/tip) for an adult (ages 10+) and $2 more than normal (plus tax/tip) for a child under 10. (If you are on a Dining Plan, there is no upcharge at the restaurant.)

See more...

I thought they had stopped doing the seasonal pricing now.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by BarryandCaron

I thought they had stopped doing the seasonal pricing now.

See more...

No idea, I just knew I had read it somewhere, so I thought I'd post it. I'd never eat at a WDW buffet without the dining plan, those prices make my eyes sting, seasonal or not!

[Kerfuffle1984]

Wow, touring plans website is really good, thank you! I've now guesstimated the sit down meals at $595 plus tips, so about $700 as a rough budget just for that element of dining. That's an average of $77 per meal, which isn't too bad I think as I've seen reports on here that aim for a 2 person low end budget of $100-150 per day. Just now wondering though if it's better to do the Dining plan, once I get more information i'll use the comparison calculator

Thanks again 😊

[Goldia]

We've had the dining plan "free" twice now and I do love it, but I wonder if for 2 people it would be better for you to get the "free" nights at the resorts offer which is available at the moment.

For us there are 4 in 1 room so the saving on hotel from the free night is not as cost effective as we would pay more for food. For you the cost of the room is the same as it is for us but it's just the 2 of you so you could save money by getting the reduced rate of room and then paying for the food.

I hope I haven't added to the confusion, good luck deciding.

[Guest]

if you can get the dining plan for free, its great

to pay for it, just doesnt add up in our eyes, we have done the sums a number of times, works out we get a snack free everyday, thats it

( though we are veggie, so will not be eating pricey steaks etc etc ( though buffets are the same price ))