Am I naive to think

[ttintagel]

As long as you've got the whole family on board with the plan, and barring emergencies, you should be good to go!

 

[larryz]

Just for planning purposes, I'd allocate about $100 per day for incidentals.

Doesn't mean you has to spend it, but that'll give you a hard ceiling. Enjoy!!!

 

[disnut8]

My husband and I don't do too much more than the resort since we have annual passes. Our food is usually limited to counter service because we don't want to make plans to be somewhere at a certain time so the dining plan has never been in the mix for us.

When we went with our son and his family, he had already bought his admission (one day short on my recommendation just in case he didn't make it to the parks on his arrival or departure date - he later upgraded by one day), he had his plane tickets (excellent deal on round trip, non-stop from Detroit for $178), and the resort reservation was paid for (thanks mother-in-law!). So all he needed was food money (which is not a problem for the OP), and souvenir money. We took care of the souvenir money with $100 gift cards for the two kids. That was it. If they spent over $500 on the actual trip, I would be extremely surprised.

And we went the same week the OP is going, just last year.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

It's not naive, its about knowing boundries and sticking to them. You can spend as little or as much as you want. Our kids rarely have more than $100 to spend even on a 10 day trip. When thier money is out, its out. No more no matter how much they have to have it. That works well with DH and I was well. We have went before on a 5 day trip and spent $8 only outside of what we prepaid for (DDP, Tickets, room). It's very possible.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

You are in total control of what you spend. If you know on vacation you want some fine dining and good wine and some clothes shopping then whatever you budget yourself to spend is what you will spend.

But if you don't want to spend any more money, DON'T!

On our family trips we give each of the kids $75 and we, the parents, don't usually spend anything.

Last family trip I ended up getting 2 different hoodies bought for me by DH but that is not the norm. We usually don't buy stuff.

If you are on the dining plan and eat 3 meals a day instead of the 2 they give you on the dining plan then you can plan on paying OOP for one meal a day. But if you do a CS breakfast as your OOP meal it should be pretty cheap. $7-$8 per person.

You seem to have all the main big expenses already paid for so any spending you do from here on out will be totally optional spending.

 

[sarahlovesmickey]

I don't think that is naive thinking at all. Seems like most expenses are already taken care of! We don't spend a ton on souveniers either. I think they are over priced and we just don't need any more toys or stuffed animals. Once in awhile I will pick up some scrapbooking stuff or a mug or two, but that's it. The kids are usually okay with this as well. We just explain that the trip is a lot of $ and if we don't spend a ton of $ on souvies, then that is $ we can put towards the next trip!

 

[scoutie]

Thank you for the input! I appreciate it! these boards have been so helpful.

 

[auprincess]

I agree, not naive at all! We aren't overly frugal on vacation, BUT we don't go overboard either. For a weeks trip we usaully only spend a couple hundred dollars out of pocket (we have always had the dining plan) and we come home with plenty of souvineers (TOO many)!

 

[AuroraRosesMom]

Honestly, if your goal is to not spend much, it's easier to stick to that plan than you may think. There are times I've gone with a fair amount of money to spend and end up barely spending any of it, as well as sticking to the budget on days we go with very limited spending $$. I find that we are so wrapped up in rides, we end up not shopping much at all. Plus, giving the kid(s) x amount of money and sticking to that really does help a lot. I've also noticed, I tend to want to spend more $$ money at Epcot! So I have to make more of an effort to control myself there. Lol It can definitely be done though. Good luck and have fun!

 

[mrsR123]

That it's possible not to spend a ton of money on our six day trip to Disney? We've already bought plane tickets, park tickets, hotel at Port Orleans, and the dining plan. Character meals, autograph books, glow sticks for the parades have already been purchased. Each of my three kids will have a $50 Disney gift card to use in the parks. I know a few things will probably come up (Dole Whips!) but is it possible to not spend much more than has already been spent? Give it to me straight. If I'm being naive, let me know. I'd really rather not dip into my savings, though.

With a dining plan and souvenir money for the kids done, I think you could get out of there pretty cheaply. Use your snack credits for the Dole Whips. It just depends on how much stuff you see that you just can't live without...

 

[disneydreamkate]

We spend very little money (provided we have the DDP) OOP once we get to WDW. As PPs have mentioned, you will most likely spend more money on tips than anything else. I put my Mousekeeping $ in envelopes before we leave, so even that is taken care of ahead of time. Our kids really don't ask for anything while we are there, and my tradition is to purchase one mug for myself to bring home. I probably spend about $20 on each of them as souvenirs (if that).

 

[Jannephotog]

D
They don't need the glow sticks.

Target, dollar bin. Stick in bag. Hand out at parade time.

 

[princessallegra]

That's reassuring! I'm not big on souvenirs at all, and my kids are good at knowing once their money is spent, it's gone. They won't be whining or begging for more. Since we're doing the dining plan, I shouldn't have to spend much on food, right?

I am disciplined when it comes to money, and won't buy things if its not in my budget. I enjoy splurging on vacation, but the Disney vacation is becoming much more expensive than I had thought. More than we've spent on trips internationally. I won't use credit cards if I can't pay them off the next month. I guess what I was asking if there were things that were going to pop up (extra fees, etc.)

We travel as a family quite often, but reading reviews of Magic Kingdom on TripAdvisor scared me. $$$$$$ was the title of many reviews.

There are theme park reviews on Trip Advisor?! Wow! I had no idea. I take all TA reviews with a huge grain of salt. It sounds like you are all set OP! It must feel great to have everything sorted out. My only suggestion would be to budget some amount daily for unexpected things. You don't have to use it, but that way if something unexpected comes up you are prepared Have a magical trip! How cute your little one saying it's her dream come true!

 

[Atchley]

Even though you are on the Dining Plan, don't forget that tips are not included. We usually tip 18-20% and tips usually run us anywhere from $250-$300 depending on the number of table service restaurants in which we dine. Usually you will have to tip bell services if you utilize them on your way in or out and we usually tip mousekeeping everyday if we are in a regular room. (Usually stay DVC.) All of those tips can really add up.
We always budget a bundle for souvenirs and if we come home with extra, *bonus!*

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm going to have to disagree with most everyone else. To me, $50 is not much fun money for a week long trip. Especially at a park where everything costs so much! $50 is one hoodie. Or a tee shirt and some candy. Not much.

I was at the parks earlier this month with 3 other adults, and I spent almost $500 even though we were on the dining plan. Most of it went to tips (and twice an alcoholic beverage) and other random stuff. I only purchased 2 tops for myself, and one for my sister.

When a pop costs $3, your money doesn't go very far.

 

[Murron]

Just for planning purposes, I'd allocate about $100 per day for incidentals.

Doesn't mean you has to spend it, but that'll give you a hard ceiling. Enjoy!!!

I have to agree with Larryz. I think you have it well covered. But the safety net of $100 per day is reasonable. Don't get caught up in the merchandise! You'll be fine and you'll save money.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree to at least have a budgeted amount of about 100.00 a day but we spend less and we do not really try to watch what we spend but we are not big on spending just for the sake of spending.

Our last trip was 2 adults, a teen and a five year old. We had the regular DDP, brought some items from home to help cover some breakfasts. Everything was paid before we got there. We only spent extra for tips for meals, a few times for mousekeeping, (we only tip mousekeeping for special request or service beyond the basic), a couple really cheap candy snacks we choose not to use a snack credit on (though we ended up with some left and should have used them), a few low cost food treats for family at home, and a few splurges at the Totoonie gift shop for the little guy. We really were not trying to make it a budget trip but we really did not need or want anything else and our boys really don't ask for much. I don't think I ever said no to anything that week except the face painting and that was allergy no, not money.

Don't forget travel money for the drive or even food at the airport.

 

[scoutie]

I'm going to have to disagree with most everyone else. To me, $50 is not much fun money for a week long trip. Especially at a park where everything costs so much! $50 is one hoodie. Or a tee shirt and some candy. Not much

I agree that money can go fast, but we won't be buying candy, snacks or soda. They have plenty of Disney wear, so I'd be surprised if they chose to buy clothing, although they may. I'm guessing they will spend their money on two or three small things (or one big thing) in the Magic Kingdom. Since we're on the dining plan, the kids can have their one treat/snack in the parks, and we're bringing plenty of snacks and water to the parks. I know this makes me the uncool mom, but I hope they will be happy to have all of these new experiences. I've travelled with my kids all over the place, and they're used to getting just one or two souvenirs. The trip is the treat for us this time, and with the year we've had (car repairs, flooded basement--after the trip was booked) I can't really afford to splurge too much this time. I get edgy putting things on credit cards, so we're hoping to stick to a budget. I'm also bringing a few surprises (autograph books, a new princess dress, etc.) for the kids when we get to the resort.

I really hope the kids will have a magical time.

The alcoholic beverages is an excellent point, and had not occurred to me for some reason. I will be needing those, lol!!!

Even though you are on the Dining Plan, don't forget that tips are not included

Yes! In a later post, I had expressed how I most definitely had allocated for tipping. I was a former waitress.

We'll be bringing a hundred dollars a day as suggested for incidentals. We have scheduled in one resort day, and we won't be in the parks the day we get there or the day we leave. I feel good about being able to avoid all of the merchandise, though, and if that's the biggest pitfall, I think I'm safe.

I do appreciate everyone's input and hearing the other side.

How cute your little one saying it's her dream come true!

I hope that it will be every bit as magical as she hopes it will be!

 

[HM]

We don't go for souvenirs, so yes, we can spend less than an extra $200 for that length trip with all you've prepaid.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

I would say with the dining plan, tickets purchased, a great place to stay, a the children understanding what they have to spend then you are set. As far as I'm concerned all you need is $ for the airport/travel portion. This is how we vacation. We go every year and they know they can save whatever $ throughout the year to spend if that is what they want to do. The snack credits go far for our family. We often allow them to go to the candy store because we have unused snack options.