budget argument between DH and I

[oogieboogie]

I need lots of DISers opinions. DH and I are having a big argument. He thinks we have enough, I say we don't.

Here's the problem. We're going 11/23-11/28, staying at POR. My cast are me, DH, DS 5, DS 2 3/4. The other group are DMIL, DFIL, DBIL and his DGF. DMIL is picking up the tab for the room and the tickets. So no worries there. She's also paying for 2 PSs. One for CP and the other for H&V and Fantasmic.

DH has gathered $600 in DisneyDollars to use for meals and spending. We'll be paying for Ohana dinner for 4 adults, 1 child, so minus about $100 out of that. Leaves us $500 for 6 days.

We'll be having breakfast in the room, getting a refillable mug for the resort, hopefully they have the same thing in the park. So most of the meal money will go towards lunch and dinner. The kids will share a kids meal, since they're very small eaters. DMIL will pay for some meals that the kids eat.

DH and I will have an adult dinner on Monday, and all of us can live on counter service.

So, between the credit cards and disney dollars, we budgeted about $1500 to spend. I say that's not going to be enough to pay for meal, souvenirs, impulse shopping and other spending. DH says its plenty, especially since the kids aren't going to need much in the way of gifts and souvenirs.

What do you guys think?

 

[jgates]

So you are budgeting $900 for souv, after the $600 in DD? I would expect that to be enough for 5 days myself, but maybe I don't spend as much as some. I think to be safe I would have him round it up to $2000.

Why?
No refillable mugs at the parks
Some places the kids meal sb enough to share-other places it will not, however you could probably share with one of the kids too.
Film, developing, sunblock, etc. Dont' let him forget that stuff!
Counter service meals - take a look at the restaurant board here and the menus. That stuff does add up fast.

If you want to keep souv. costs down for the 5 year old - try the pressed penny route. It costs (?) .51 to make each pressed penny - the book is about $5 or 6 to hold them. It will give him something to look forward to and he won't be asking for all those items in the $14.95 to $59.95 range!!! Then get one or two bigger items as special treats.

 

[disneychrista]

The general rule of thumb is $50 per day per adult, $25 per day per child for meals. For a better guess try going to wdwig.com and take a look at the menus and the prices.

Another way to plan is $10 -$15 per counter service meal $15 - $20 for sit down meals. $5 - $10 for snacks.

As for suvinuers only you can really say how much you will spend. So I would figure how much you are think you will spend then double it. I know this sounds funny but those little impulse buys are the ones that add up.

I always like to plan more then I need.

 

[oogieboogie]

So, do the parks have something like refillable mugs?

The main thing I'm planning to buy at the parks are those guest of honor badges, some mouse ears or other ears (i'm hoping they have eeyore ears) and maybe a picture or two.

I don't plan on buying any clothing items, but I would like to get some christmas items while we're there, especially for the kids.

I'm definitely doing the pressed pennies. DS 5 really loves them, and DS 3 just loves cranking the machines. I've already saved away 40 quarters and 20 pennies. We don't need the books, because we stick them on DS's dresser for decoration.

Another question? Are the AK meal vouchers worth the money?

 

[hockey mom]

I think $1500 for 6 days is plenty. The kids vouchers at AK are a great deal and the adult ones are also good if you are hungry and spending most of the day in the park to use the water and ice-cream/popcorn portion.

 

[patsal]

It sounds like you should have enough money as it stands. The AK meal vouchers are a great vlaue and will let you "spread out the food" a bit saving the snack and extra drink for later in the day. The only thing you need to rethink is the total for O'hana. For 2 adults and 2 kids it was just under $100 with tax and tip, granted one child ordered dessert, but that was not all that much extra. Check the price for O'hana per person and then calculate for tax and tip (with a 20% tip before tax your total will be about $122. for 4 adults). The pressed pennies are a great souvie, as for Christmas shopping--maybe that could be part of a different budget? Just a thought, since they are going to be Christmas gifts why not pull that money from the Christmas budget rather than the vacation budget?
oops, forgot to answer about refillable mugs. The parks do not have refillable mugs with free refills. They do sometimes sell souvineer mugs with a drink in them but they are not refilled. To keep costs down;however, you can order ice water with your meals.

 

[DeniseD]

It is definetly doable with $1500. We did a couple of character meals but mainly did counter service. I was suprised at how reasonable counter service was. Most of the portions are large so sharing is a money saver too. We packed snacks. Cereal bars, chips, fruit snacks, cookies crackers etc. We cever really bought snacks- that saves a lot! We did have one splurge day at Epcot DH and I had pickins from food and wine and did the beer around the world. Our budget was about the same as yours and we had plenty of money to spare. We also came home with a ton of souveiners.
Have a great time!

 

[blanq]

I think that $1500 is plenty, given the information you have provided regarding your trip!

 

[Susie Bee]

I agree! I think $1500.00 should be plenty & like previous poster stated--buy the Xmas gifts out of your Xmas budget, NOT your Disney budget! Have fun!!

 

[disneyterri]

I think $1500 should be plenty. My family of 4 went last December for 8 days and brought about $1600. We came home with about $400. I, too, was worried that we wouldn't have enough. We had breakfast in the room most days and brought snacks and water for the parks. Just bringing the drinks with you saves a HUGE amount of $.

We didn't scimp. If we saw something we wanted we bought it. . .within reason. We also did a little xmas shopping while there.

Go, don't worry, you'll be fine and have a great vacation.

 

[tink2dw]

The Parks DO NOT have a refillable system!!!!!

Cokes are $2.50 each and so is Water!!

You will need a Water Plan!

The water in Florida smells and tastes like sulfer!! WDW sells bottled water for $2.50 each for a small bottle!!That can be a real budget buster!! SO a Water Plan in necessary. Here are some of the solutions That have been posted

1. Buy water filtering Britta Sports bottles.

2. If you Drive bring cases of your Favorite bottled water from home

3. Flying, Buy bottled water at Walmart near All Stars.

4. Send cases of your Favorite bottled water to your WDW Resort

 

[Lisa P.]

11/23-11/28... DMIL is picking up the tab for the room and the tickets... also paying for 2 PSs. One for CP and the other for H&V and Fantasmic.

$600... for meals and spending. We'll be paying for Ohana dinner for 4 adults, 1 child...

We'll be having breakfast in the room, getting a refillable mug for the resort... most of the meal money will go towards lunch and dinner.

Ohana costs $24/adult, $10/child. You'll need ~$130 w/tax & tip. Refillable mug is ~$10 w/tax. This leaves $460 for the other meals & spending.


DH and I will have an adult dinner on Monday, and all of us can live on counter service.

I'm guessing the adult dinner will come from that $460 too?

At a generous $15/adult and $10 for the kids to share a meal on counter service, your 9 meals (6 lunches, 3 dinners) would cost ~$360. The AK vouchers would help some. So your budget seems fine, assuming that this is just a food budget.

...we budgeted about $1500 to spend. I say that's not going to be enough to pay for meal, souvenirs, impulse shopping and other spending.

What kind of souvenirs and impulse buying are you talking about? Is the other $900 for that? Or do you need the $600 to cover other spending too?

 

[oogieboogie]

That makes me feel better that you guys think that 1500 is enough.

I'm probably worrying too much over this. It's hard to think that that's enough when you keep looking at the prices WDW charges for food and other stuff.

I've bought a brita sports bottle for myself, and some juice boxes for kids. DH is the one we'll be paying thru the nose cause he only drinks soda, and must be cold! ...sigh... picky..picky..