Daily food budget at Disneyland in cal.

[bigam]

I have won an amazing Magical Journey to Disneyland with Virgin Australia in january 2010 - (we had to tell our kids it's in April because they're so excited they couldn't sleep thinking it was 3 months away).

The trip includes all accomodation, flights, passes, transfers and mickey mouse ears!

So my question is how much money should i budget each day for food considering we are a family of 4 with a ravenous 15 year old who can't wait to try deep fried coke and marsbars! As far as I know breakfasts aren't included but I could be wrong - I have no other details at the moment excpet what's in the terms and conditions!

Perhaps I need to put this in a different forum thread?

[ajp]

We are a family of 4, so I reckon I can offer something here. And a huuuuge congratulations by the way. I've entered a few times and still not got through so well done. Can't wait to hear about the actual flight.

How much you spend clearly depends on where you eat. If you plan to eat most of your main meals (ie brekky and dinner) outside of the parks, then you can better manage the costs. Eating in the park or at the hotels will add cost.

Outside of the park, you can do both breakfast and dinner for around US$100 easy for the 4 of you. For example, if you eat at Cocos (our favourite), main meals are around $12-$15 each (give or take), soft drinks I think from memory are bottomless. If you go to Denny's it's cheaper and of course Subway, Maccas are around, and there is plenty to eat at the Anaheim Garden Walk.

Eating in the park will be different. At the counter service (ie burgers etc), expect to pay around $40 to $50 for the 4 of you. Sit downs will be more obviously, around $70 or $80 for the 4 of you or more depending where. For example, a character meal (and don't scoff, the teeanagers will appreciate it, they just won't tell their friends ) will cost $100 a sitting because it is over US$20 something a person PLUS TAX. Having ravenous kids, you may not go far between ice creams, or churros or things like that, or even coffees for yourself and they add up. Churros are $3.50ish for example and ice creams aren't cheap. So add another $40 or so just for stuff like that each day.

I'm planning for a trip next year at the moment, and I am planning $200 per day for food on average. This is planning for the highest cost days, so hopefully most days will be cheaper, which gives more spending, but some days will get close to that. Last trip in 2005 we allowed $150 per day for food for the 4 of us and it worked out fine. We like to travel with the mindset that we don't scrimp or worry about money, so buget for the high end, which is why it may seem excessive. but with 4 of you, and teenage kids who like to eat non stop, it's best to plan for the higher side I feel.

Don't forget the tipping, and my estimates include tips. Tipping should add 10-20% eah meal in sitdowns, not counter service, so you need to allow for that. Also Tax. Your final bill will be plus tax, around 8%.

Hope this helps. Churros and sandie could also add some quality here as well.

[bigam]

Thanks for that - was wondering if $250 a day would be enough and sounds like that will be plenty.
I'd forgotten about tips!!!
And, dare I ask, what are churros?

[ajp]

$250 should be fine.

Churros are a long (about 8-10inches) sort of donoughty sort of thing that they smother is sugar. They are addictive, especially when you get a fresh warm one! I have a photo at home of my wife and young daughter in a line that is about 10m long at a churros stand because she just had to have one. You will see and eat some things you never even realised existed. Your arteries will probably hate you for this trip!

[Mel]

Mmmmm Churros....

Now I'm even more jealous!

[bigam]

My arteries hardened just thinking about it! Now on the list of must eat foods that are really bad for you!

I've already begun the diet in preparation....

[churros]

I quite like churros myself....

[KeithS]

And don't forget to grab a Pineapple Dole Whip from the little stand outside of the Tiki room!

[sandie]

And a Mickey on a stick from any ice cream cart!

Sandie

[mushu mama]

I quite like churros myself....

And don't forget to grab a Pineapple Dole Whip from the little stand outside of the Tiki room!

And a Mickey on a stick from any ice cream cart!

Sandie

Yep, all of the above. You don't want to miss any of them.


Lisa. */

[bigam]

My sons also want to try salt water taffy! What is that?

[mushu mama]

if memory serves... delicious.

the taffy I had was like soft toffee. like the home made stuff you make that doesn't set hard. My favourite was blueberry or strawberry.

Yummy !

Lisa. */