Food is probably the most difficult thing to plan for when going on vacation. Something as small as an impulse snack or dinner out can completely blow your budget. The amount in your budget is going to differ significantly based on the choices you make. The trouble with Disney is they make every meal an experience at their parks!
How Much Should I Budget For Food at Disney Parks?
Here are some things to consider:
Cooking “at home”
If you’re staying at a resort or hotel with a kitchen or renting a house this is by far the cheapest option. By taking advantage of a grocery store trip or delivery service you can pack your lunches and snacks for the park and cook bigger meals in your room. Although this is cheaper, definitely consider how this dinning option will affect things.
To figure out how much you might spend in this area look up local grocery store flyers or, if you just want to estimate, look at your family’s weekly grocery budget and maybe add a 25% buffer to that cost.
Pros:
Way cheaper, and usually healthier, than park food
Best choice if you have special dietary needs
Flexibility when travelling with children or large groups
Cons:
Having to carry food with you in the parks
Might feel like you’re “missing out” on popular park food choices
Extra work while you’re on holidays
Disneyland does not allow large amounts of food inside the park (there is a picnic area)
Inexpensive or “fast” park food
These meal options are a great choice for lunch or no-fuss dinners. Averaging less than $15 per person you can get a decent sized meal for a lot less than the restaurants. Something to note is there are different dining options around the park so make sure you plan your day around that if you want a specific thing to eat.
Pros:
Mid-tier pricing while still being convenient
Lots of different food options that accommodate kids
You get to sample some of the fantastic Disney specific cuisine
Cons:
Can get pretty expensive and is often unhealthy
Line ups can be quite long especially at peak times
Seating is sometimes limited
Sit-down restaurants
If you’re planning a sit down meal you can expect to pay anywhere from $15 to over $60 per person depending on where you choose. These are the only places where character dining is available, though, so that’s a great reason to try out a Disney restaurant. Just make sure you book early because most places are impossible to get in without a reservation.
Pros:
All-inclusive experience so you can have a nice, relaxing meal
Character dining and some unique themes you can’t get anywhere else
Really good quality food
Cons:
For certain places reservations must be made weeks in advance
Very costly especially for a big family
Dining out with small kids isn’t always the best choice
Don’t forget the snacks
Snacks in the park can run you up to $15 but expect to pay around $5 on average. There are snack stands everywhere and plenty of temptation. If you’re trying to save money make sure you pack some tasty treats to fight off the temptation of a Mickey ice cream cone or churro at every booth.
A mix of everything
This is probably the best, and most reasonable, choice for food on your Disney vacation. Even if you don’t have a kitchen in your hotel room you can still make things like sandwiches and pack snacks to take into the park with you. Try and pick one or two sit down meals you really want to experience and plan for a couple lunches out at the kiosks. It’s almost impossible to completely avoid the overpriced snacks so make sure you work those into your budget too.
The thing about food is it’s sometimes hard to anticipate what everyone will want at each restaurant. In those cases use the highest number possible and (hopefully) come under budget rather than spending more than you anticipated.
A mixed dining plan for 2 adults and 2 kids might break down like this:
Day 1, 3, and 5
Breakfast: Fruit and yogurt for 4 people ($5) Lunch: Packed sandwiches for 4 people ($7) Dinner: Fast food at the park $15 per person ($60) Snacks and drinks: Fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, cookies, granola bars, bottled water ($8)
Day 2 and 4
Breakfast: Fruit and yogurt for 4 people ($5) Lunch: Packed sandwiches for 4 people ($7) Dinner: Fancy character dinner $60 per adult, $30 per kid ($180) Snacks and drinks: Fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, cookies, granola bars, bottled water ($8)
Total: $620
Of course when you have 5 kids like we do you would probably opt for just one character dining experience and only a couple fast food meals out, but you get the idea. Don’t forget to include any meals you might eat while travelling in your food budget too!
If you just want to ballpark your budget
It’s probably safe to budget $30 per day for each child and $40 per day per adult that you’ll be feeding during your trip if you’re mixing take out and store bought.
When you’re working on your Disney vacation budget don’t forget that you’d already be spending some money on groceries if you were at home. The number can seem staggering at first but try deducting your weekly grocery spending from that number (if not on the actual budget then in your own head) and see if that’s a little more reasonable.
When thinking about food choices really focus on the actual experience rather than the food itself. You’ll get many opportunities to eat great (or cheap) food in your lifetime but your Disney vacation will only last a short while.
Right now I’m in the middle of planning a trip to Disneyland with my Cars obsessed toddler twins (I know, I am insane). Last time we travelled the (now) middle child had just turned two and we made so many toddler travel mistakes. So here you go, learn from my failures and master taking your toddler (or toddlers) on a successful Disney vacation.
Bring your stroller
This is one area I actually didn’t mess up, but it could have been disastrous. I flip flopped on the idea of actually bringing the stroller at all since we typically wore our toddler at the time. She was tiny and effortless to carry in the Ergo so it seemed like a great way to avoid the burden of a stroller. In the end we did end up wearing the toddler in the airport, but not necessarily out of choice. A family member that travelled with us didn’t bring her stroller (opting instead to rent in the park) and found there was no easy way to contain her heavy 18 month old. The stroller was a huge lifesaver not just as a way to contain the toddler and lighten the physical load of carrying her, but it was also super useful to carry all the toddler crap. Win-win. Click here for more reasons why you should bring your stroller.
Pack snacks
With the exception of candy and ice cream, my toddler didn’t much care for the food options in the Disney park. In fact, all of my kids struggled to find something that was a decent balance of healthy and tastey while we were there. Plus snacks at the parks are ridiciously, budget blowingly expensive.
Toddlers need to eat more often than adults do and when they they’re hungry, watch out. Ward off a few meltdowns by packing toddler-friendly snacks each morning. You should aim to bring about double what you think you’ll need for to recover from an inevitable spill or you needing a snack too. Don’t forget to stay hydrated too.
Dress for the weather
Toddlers are especially prone to temperatures and sunlight so make sure to keep them in mind when you’re spending all day in the park. Something we weren’t prepared for was how chilly it got in the evenings when the sun went down since we travelled in the winter time. We ended up needing to pick up a fleece oneise from the gift shop for the littlest one to stay warm. Make sure you bring everything you need for the varied weather when you head to the park or be ready to return to your hotel to retrieve needed items. Some lightweight and verstile ideas for toddlers are legwarmers and small blankets for cool weather and a portable fan when it’s warm. If you’re using a stroller take special consideration of how it’s being affected by the weather. In the heat use a light weight sun shade but never drape a heavier blanket over top because it can get dangerously warm. Be careful not to park it in direct sunlight when you’re taking a break and stick to shady areas during the hotter parts of the day. When it’s cool don’t forget that the toddler’s going to be cooler than you in the stroller because they’re not moving around.
Cater to the toddler’s nap schedule
This one is going to vary a lot depending on your toddler’s personality. My kids adapted well to being dragged around during naps and past bedtime because they were so excited to be at the park. The toddler napped well in the stroller and it worked out great. Not all toddlers are going to be that way, though! If you think your toddler’s going to need some extra quiet time to nap (and will be a monster if they skip) seriously consider either staying on site or at a place that’s only a very short distance away. Walking distance or somewhere with free transportation is ideal or else you’ll need to budget for those extra travel costs. Also consider how long you’re willing to wait going back and forth and how much time will be lost due to naps. When booking airfare, consider how your toddler naps. If you think they’ll sleep on the plane try and schedule a flight during naptime but if they won’t aim for first thing in the morning.
Go with the flow
Toddlers are unpredicatable and no amount of forward planning can possible prepare you for all the things these tots can throw your way. At some points during your Disney trip you’re going to need to just go with the flow and follow your toddler’s lead. That might mean adapting your schedule a bit to suit their needs or spending a bit of time at the pool instead of in the park. Something to keep in mind when you’re toddler is doing one of those classic toddler meltdowns is that even if you feel judged no one at the park is going to see you again. You and your toddler are part of the everyone that’s welcome at the Disney parks and it’s just as much the toddler’s vacation as it is someone else’s. Do what you can but don’t let a few bad moments ruin your day or trip.
Some bonus tips:
Pack a few treats alongside snacks to help pacify a toddler who saw something they want or needs a small bribe
Bring small toys or activities to play with while waiting in line
Let your toddler have periods of unstructured time to recharge
Make sure if you’re using a stroller that your toddler gets time to run around too
Avoid gift shops when possible
From personal experience adorable toddlers, especially in costume, get special treatment from the cast
The park is loud and overwhelming, keep that in mind and manage your expectations
If your toddler is a runner a baby carrier, stroller, or even backpack harness is a great option
Heading to a Disney park with your school aged child probably seems like the perfect choice. Toddlers and preschoolers are still pretty difficult and needy but school aged kids offer a lot more freedom. Plus they’ll gain lifelong memories of their adventures at Disneyland (or Disney World). It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though. Here’s how you can make your Disney trip go a lot more smoothly.
Understand they can’t walk like you
School aged kids, especially middle grade ones, are pretty emotionally mature. You can enjoy things like late nights and won’t have (as many) tantrums to deal with as younger kids. There’s one thing you have to be careful of though and that’s how much walking. Most people end up walking 5-10 miles or more per day while visiting a Disney Park depending on their schedule. Make sure your school aged kid has a lot of opportunities for breaks and you work that into your planning.
Be Food-Conscious
This is especially important if you have a picky eater but it holds true for all families. Make sure you check out the park food information ahead of time and decide if you’re going to eat there or pack your own. There are pros and cons either way but whatever you decide, you don’t want to be stuck with a hungry kid or food that’s gross.
Regardless make sure you pack something you know they’ll eat as a back up. Emergency snacks are great when the lines are long (and they can be very long for food) or you’re quite far away from somewhere decent to eat. Since they’re older a snack might be enough to hold them off but don’t forget that kids need to eat more often than adults do.
Be prepared before souvenir shopping
Chances are your kid is going to have a bit of cash to bring with them on their trip. Souvenir shopping should be a positive (if not overpriced) experience for your school aged kid. Discourage souvenir shopping early in the day, instead saving it for the end (unless you take advantage of the send to your room service). Chances are you don’t have a stroller or anything to carry that stuff in and it’s very tricky to lug too much stuff around. The other thing to remember about shopping is that different items appear in different stores. Make sure your kid has a chance to go in a few before spending their hard-saved cash.
Involve them in the planning
Unless the trip is a surprise it’s a great idea to involve older kids in the planning process, including the budget. Not only is it a fantastic learning opportunity it can also help with the excitement and their cooperation on the actual trip. Settle disagreements ahead of time about what’s important to you and them on the trip and make your compromises. Start with the most important things to everyone and add those to the itinerary. Next, fill it in with less important stuff. Balance the two with practicality (like where they’re located and wait times) and value (how much will this affect your family’s experience). If the trip was a surprise you can still do some mini planning at the start of each day to make sure everyone knows what to expect.
Remember they’re a person with their own personality
Maybe you’re go go go and super excited for your Disney trip but your kid isn’t, or the other way around. Keep in mind their little personality matters as much as yours does and work (as best you can) to strike a balance between conflicting personalities. If possible, try and travel with at least one other adult that shares the kid’s views so everyone’s needs can be met. For example, my son is very low key and needed a break but everyone else didn’t want to waste a day in the hotel.
Thankfully my mom travelled with us and was happy to hang by the pool for the day with him so everyone won. Another day of our trip to Disney World my mom went back to Epcot alone and says it was one of the best days she had there. If it’s not possible to separate then just accept that your kid’s personality is what it is and you’ll have to compromise a bit. Take breaks when you need to or push yourself harder than you’d like. Whatever it is that you’re doing, though, always try your best to enjoy it and have fun. Sometimes those unexpected moments turn into the best memories.
Some more tips:
If you’re flying try and book a window seat
Big kids need their own comfy beds in hotel rooms, bonus points for separate bedrooms
Make sure your school aged kid has their own comfy backpack to hold snacks and other belongings in the park (but make sure it’s not too heavy)
Older kids still get bored easily in line, make sure they have ways to keep occupied
Liquid bandaid over marker makes a great “tattoo” of your phone number in case you get separated
Carry a map and make sure to take note of food or bathroom locations
Most school aged kids should be tall enough to ride every ride in the park
Don’t forgo the kiddie rides just because your kid thinks they’re “too old”, those are some of the best experiences
Try and do at least one fancy meal to really enjoy Disney with a big kid
Even if your school aged kid is already starting to lose their magic (during the age of not believing) a Disney trip can still be a lot of fun. Share your enthusiasm and keep encouraging (but not pressuring) them into having fun.
