Hi,
I've just read your posting and might not be able to offer much help but thought I'd try.
I've stayed in Disney hotels with children twice(both all stars) and found that most of our spending money went on food. The prices at the hotels and within the theme park are far higher than you would pay for food outwith Disney(and much less choice but if you especially like fried chicken and turkey dinners you should be okay). We didn't hire a car so had little choice but to dine Disney.
We were in Florida last year again(although didn't stay at Disney) but did hire a car to allow us to take advantage of the cheap buffet deals that so money restaurants in Orlando offer.
What a difference-not only did we have a huge variety of food to choose from but spent about half the money we has spent previously when restricted to Disney.
To cut a long story short-if you don't have a car, I'm not sure if the disney dining will be cheaper but at the very least you will be able to budget in advance for your food costs. If you've got a car, my advice would be to not even consider it.
Don't know if this helps.

Hi

We stayed in Disney 2 weeks over Christmas 2005. We considered the plan but as our kids are 11 and 13 (adult prices) it would have cost us £80 a day.
These are a few examples of the costs that we did pay :-
The first thing we bought was the refillable mugs for just over $12 each. This got us all free soft drinks,tea,coffee and hot chocolate while in the hotel (Pop).
Breakfast cost us approx. $25 at the food court in the Hotel.
Lunch was no more than $45 and sometimes alot less if we had a late breakfast.
The cost of dinner varied and the dearest was Chef Mickey's.A buffet in which we had to pay as adults and the kids eat next to nothing total cost approx. $110.
It is difficult to get some of the more popular resturants booked over the Christmas week so these would need to be booked well in advance (180-90 days).
Whispering Canyons is a favourite of our kids and it costs about $24 per adult. When we went to this resturant I realised that I had done the right thing by not buying the Disney Dining Plan. My kids ordered off the kids meal because that was the type of food they like and we were charged as 2 adults and 2 kids which meant the bill was alot cheaper and this then formed the pattern fot the rest of the holiday.Total cost $65
For us the plan would have meant a timetable to be kept to and more money spent - so it was not for us.
Like Chiara we had a car and eat cheaply off site on occasions.

I hope this is helpful,

Jack

Good explanation Jack, exactly lots of things I needed to know because we are going in summer to the Movies but cant take the dining plan. The refillable mugs? You buy the mug and can fill up for free with soft drinks, tea, etc. all during your holiday? Sounds great if thats the case. Thanks for all the great info!

coininban-We stayed at the movies a couple of years ago,it was brilliant for the kids.Reference the refillable mugs-yes you buy the mugs(make sure you buy at the very beginning of your holiday to get the most value)then you get free refills of cold fizzy drinks,tea and hot chocolate etc for the whole duration of your holiday.You just help your self from the self service machines in the food court.You are only allowed to use them at your hotel,not in the theme parks etc but they still save you a pretty penny and make a great keepsake at the end of your holiday.We are going back to Florida in August ,staying at Port Orleans this time for 3 weeks so will be buying the mugs as soon as we check in.Have a great holiday.

Great thanks, thats one good way to save a few dollars!! We will get them as soon as we arrive!!

I`ve read the other comments which have been a great help to me finding out how much food cost. Do you have to purchase an adult meal or can the whole family just have something off the kids menu?
I dont want to sound like a scrooge but my youngest who is 2 hardly eats anything so would just pick off my plate and my eldest is more interested in stuffing his face with ice-cream. Myself the thought of eating rubbish for 2 weeks makes me feel sick as it is.

Also is there anywhere in either Disney/Universal what would sell fruit,I`m not talking about anything exotic just a simple banana or apple.

Dont worry you won't be eating rubbish for a fortnight. The quality of food can be very good, often with main courses you get complimentary salads, and there is loads of fish (red lobster is a good chain restaurant) and chicken around.
Also plenty of fruit. Around the theme parks they sometimes have fruit stalls with chilled fruit on them and mini fruit salads, and you can
get fruit and smoothie type drinks, and lite ice creams like sorbets. Its not all Mcdonalds and dunkin donuts. You just have to look for what you like, it will be there somewhere.

Hazell

Each time I've been to Disney I see people eating picnic type meals that they have brought with them. So if you can get to a supermarket you should be able to get food that your kids would eat. When my kids were toddlers I would bring food into the parks for them. There are excellent Baby Centres which are great for a rest out of the heat. The have microwaves etc for parents to prepare food for their little ones. I have to say that I did this 10 years ago but the Centres are still there.

Jack

This week we have eaten at Boma buffet AKL and Kona cafe -Polynesian and for two adults including tip we haven't seen much change out of $60. At he kona I had water, she had lemonade-we both had a chicken dish and she had dessert.

Tonight we ate at Denny's-just round the corner from the villa on the 192
I had tea and tilapia(fish) and daughter had hot chocolate, pot roast and we shared a huge fudge brownie and ice cream-cost $31 incl tip. All fresh and delicious. Plus it was lovely and quiet.

No contest really.

Plus -2 mins later I was back at the villa.

Many thanks for the advice folks,hopefully I wont put on a stone while out there.

This a great website which tells you all the menus for all the restaurants in disney and has the prices in $.
It gives you a list of each park and the menus for either lunch or dinner.
The list is about half way down the page.

The link may not work as I am a bit useless with doing links,I`m sure one of the Mods could edit it properly so it will work?

http://www.themeparks.com/wdw/menu/

Try this link http://www.themeparks.com/wdw/menus/index.htm

Thanks silverka,link works great.

Just booked for Disney All Star Movies over the New Year 2006-7. We're going for 14 days from 29 Dec and would welcome anyones thoughts about the Disney Dining Package. We're undecided whether it would be good value or if it would be better (cost & choice) to mix with meals outside Disney. There will be 2 adults and 2 children (7y.o. & 4y.o.).

I am looking into Disney Dining plan, has anyone done it yet?
In your opionion was it worth it?
Thanks for any replies.

we have booked a 2week holiday staying at the sports resort at disney-we have also boked a disney dinning plan for the duration-does anyone have any information about what are the best restaurants etc and any tips or usefull information-thanks

Try this link.....

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/dining.htm

i have been looking at some menus from disney restaurants-can anyone tell me ifyou are resticted to what you can have off the menu i.e do have to pay supplements for certain dishes

Hi Russell,
I don't believe you are restricted, you eat off the normal menu.

More details can be found at....

http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/packages07a.htm