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How Much Food $$$ Per Person Per Day?

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Mon, 04/08/2013 - 15:59
Kristen K.'s picture
Kristen K.
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How Much Food $$$ Per Person Per Day?

We're heading down in June and will be splitting off from the kids quite a bit during this vacation. Because of this I'm having trouble trying to figure out what our food budget needs to be because I don't know where people will be eating other than "quick service." I'm wondering what the best way to make sure everyone has enough money for food/drinks/snacks when we may not be together. Should I give everyone Gift Cards to use? Should I enable them to charge back to the room? and manage things that way? Are there benefits of one over the other?

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Mon, 04/08/2013 - 17:47
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I would give the kids gift cards with a set amount on. This will give them the opportunity to budget and make choices. The problem with charging back to the room is that they could overspend or feel unsure of what they are allowed to charge and end up not eating properly.

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Mon, 04/08/2013 - 18:13
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Miss Mikki wrote:
or feel unsure of what they are allowed to charge and end up not eating properly.

Oohhh... I hadn't even considered that. With my kids that would be more the case, they would be so unsure about if it was ok or not that they would do without.

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 18:25
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I don't have kids, but I was thinking about my sister and I when we were young teens. I would have starved and she would have been ordering lobster and champagne in Fultons! LOL!

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Mon, 04/08/2013 - 19:13
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Maybe a combination of the two? When they are with you, charge back to the room on your card, or however you want to pay. When they are "free range", gift cards so they don't have to worry about being hungry. They're teenagers - they're going to be hungry! laugh

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Mon, 04/08/2013 - 19:59
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Miss Mikki wrote:
she would have been ordering lobster and champagne in Fultons! LOL!

LoL... Katie is very excited about going off on her own. She knows that I do a "drink" post every Friday on the main page and so she has given herself to job to try as many of the fun "specialty" non-alcoholic drinks as she can while at Disney. She even asked for a camera to take pictures of them. I can totally see that adding up fast.

I can hear it now "But Mom.. I NEEDED to find out about that Milk Shake ... You didn't have a picture of the Doofenslupper ... Frozen Coke is iconic... there were two different flavors of virgin daiquiri don't your readers need to know about both?"

rolling

Gift cards are sounding like a really good idea for her!

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 21:15
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I usually allowed my teenage daughters to charge to the room. Amazingly, they usually were very realistic in the use of these charge cards for meal and souvenirs. They did not charged anything that we would not have allowed if we were there with them.

Set a realistic cash limit per day (and discuss any desired sit down meal at the park on their own (or have them call you)), evaluate each day how they are managing that privilege (they'll love the freedom and responsibility). crossfingers

Hope for the best, good luck. LOL. cool

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 21:15
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Lovely that Katie has an interest in your work and wants to contribute. A very good choice of topic too as I don't think too much has been written on non-alcoholic beverages.

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Mon, 04/08/2013 - 21:57
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Food is such a huge variable. Some of our trips we spent a fortune on food. Others we were miserly tight. So to answer your question is kinda tough, must take into account what your budget is for the trip and what approach you are wanting them to take with regards to food.

If you don't care how much they spend, then let them charge to the room. But if your wanting them to be frugal, perhaps consider putting them on a food budget and letting them use the left over for shopping.

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 22:04
nikamel
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The gift card idea is great!! In fact as adults my husband and I trying it as we are embarking on using Tables in Wonderland this trip. We want to see how much we spend compared to buying the dining plan. If my kids were coming this trip I was planning on giving them gift cards to use. It just seems easier to dedicate a gift card just for food and to budget accordingly.

Mon, 04/08/2013 - 22:51
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Kristen K. wrote:
Miss Mikki wrote:
she would have been ordering lobster and champagne in Fultons! LOL!

LoL... Katie is very excited about going off on her own. She knows that I do a "drink" post every Friday on the main page and so she has given herself to job to try as many of the fun "specialty" non-alcoholic drinks as she can while at Disney. She even asked for a camera to take pictures of them. I can totally see that adding up fast.

I can hear it now "But Mom.. I NEEDED to find out about that Milk Shake ... You didn't have a picture of the Doofenslupper ... Frozen Coke is iconic... there were two different flavors of virgin daiquiri don't your readers need to know about both?"

rolling

Gift cards are sounding like a really good idea for her!

Well I think Katie should be given charging rights then Wink I love a good non alcoholic cocktail Wink

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Tue, 04/09/2013 - 02:34
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I love gift cards. LOVE them. I love that I can just give them money at the start of the trip and know I never have to hear the "can I have that?" because if I do, I respond with, "Do you want to spend your $ on that? No? Okay."

I think it would be awesome for their food. A total lesson in the true cost of something that usually magically appears on their table, ya know? Smile

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