Budget Help

[shoppie]

I need budget help. I have never been to Disney.

We have already paid for our passes and our airfare.

We got a good deal on a room on Hotel BLVD.

How much for food:

How much for spending$$: (note the nickname - it's not just a hobby it's a lifestyle)

Any help would be greatly appreciated....

 

[dandave]

The best way to figure out a food budget is to look at the menus:

http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

As for souvenirs, I don't have a clue. Other than a T-shirt here or there, we don't buy them. I'm a "less is more" kind of person.

Have a great trip!!

 

[shoppie]

Thanks for the link - lots of useful info

 

[DisneyBrat]

Congrats on your first trip YOU'RE GONNA LOVE all the SHOPPING!!!!!! Don't forget to go to the Disney warehouse for bargains. It is in one of the outlet malls. Belz I believe.


Lew

 

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by shoppie
How much for spending$$: (note the nickname - it's not just a hobby it's a lifestyle)

Right there with you on that one! I think it's always better to over-budget than under, just in case. I see in your profile you live in NY state - what I would do is estimate how much you'd spend on a similar length trip to NYC, and plan on that much. There is SO MUCH shopping at Disney, and bargains are possible but not terribly frequent.

 

[shoppie]

Looks like I better up that budget!!!!! Thanks for the help!!!

 

[catwho]

Being a budget shopper myself (although I did go a bit crazy my first trip as an adult with kids LOL!) I have found that I keep in mind things that I would use. I try to steer clear of things that are "just too cute" and would collect dust and I would end up loathing after a while. I have a few memorable souveniors that have become my favorites:

1. A Mickey Ears shaped "view master" key chain. Has 4 cartriges on it that I can see pictures of the 4 parks year round whenever I want.

2. My Tink ceramic figurine. She's just too pouty and cute and finally convinced me that she's my favorite character.

3. My Mickey ears tea ball that gets used every morning.

4. All the Japanese things that I have purchased at Epcot to enhance my Japanese themed bedroom.

5. Our AK mugs with our names on them from the first year they were opened (they have different mugs now and we don't care for them as much)

I leave in a few weeks and I've already made my shopping list out:

1. Tink slippers (mine are almost rags)

2. A Tink pin for my collection.

3. Mickey salt and pepper shakers (My kitchen is Mickey & Minnie)

4. The MK soundtrack (I have the AK and Epcot soundtracks and play them quite often!)

It's hard to limit yourself, but try to think of things that you would use or really enjoy. Plus keep in mind things that you can buy elsewhere like plushies and bean bag characters. If a Mickey teapot would seem completely out of place in your kitchen or would be something you would only get out for fun parties, consider a tea cup or mug instead. (My friends all know I'm a Disney nut, so they don't even bat an eye at my collection of red, black and yellow kitchen items) How often would you wear a Pooh sweatshirt? And as cute as the dwarves are, do you want them parading in your living room? Things to think about. When you pick something up, ask yourself if you would use it or enjoy it in your home. If the answer is no, then put it back down. (easier said than done LOL!)

Enjoy your vacation and take lots of pictures. My kids enjoy those more than most of the stuff that we have dragged home anyway!

 

[vhoffman]

Well, this suggestion probably isn't going to be very popular, but here goes--don't buy souveniers. I've read that some people who post here budget $1000 more for souveniers. To my idea, that's ridiculous!! You wind up with a bunch of "cute" junk when you could have spent the money on a nicer hotel or dining, etc. Actually, we budget $50 per person for souveniers. One way to stay within that budget is to buy Disney Dollars. When they're gone, you're through. Of course, you do want something to remember the trip by, but one nice thing for $50 is better than hundreds of dollars of junk. Also, I don't buy trinkets for everyone I know, such as coworkers, etc. Afterall, its my trip, not theirs, why do they need a souvenier? And last but not least, I stay away from the outlet stores. There again you're just buying dust catchers that will probably land in next year's Goodwill bag. Plus, you waste vacation time wandering around outlet stores. I'm amazed at some who post here (on the budget forum) who look for the cheapest hotel room, eat tuna, poptarts, etc. in their rooms, then blow hundreds on souveniers. Well, I know this suggestion won't make me very popular here, but its my suggestion.

 

[Deafmedic]

On our last trip, we got a stuffed Pooh and Minnie and some t-shirts for our daughters. DW got a sweatshirt. I got a t-shirt and collected magnets of all the resorts we visited and rides we rode. Our fridge is an advertisement for Disney! All in all, we spent about $250 on souviniers.

 

[shoppie]

Originally posted by vhoffman
You wind up with a bunch of "cute" junk when you could have spent the money on a nicer hotel or dining, etc. I'm amazed at some who post here (on the budget forum) who look for the cheapest hotel room, eat tuna, poptarts, etc. in their rooms, then blow hundreds on souveniers. Well, I know this suggestion won't make me very popular here, but its my suggestion.

I am alreay budgeting for Emeril's - Plus I am not one to skimp on anything - save money yes - get a discount definately!!! but not skimp. I don't plan on one meal in my room - Maybe some juice/pop and snacks for my DH but that's it. No cooking or hot plating for me!!!

Thanks for your suggestions!!!

 

[vhoffman]

My suggestion to go easy on souveniers was not based on anyone's posts here. I was thinking about a thread several months old about how much people budget for souveniers. I was shocked at how much people actually spend on things like that. Then some people on the budget board will suggest eating baloney in their rooms to save money. Obviously, these aren't the same posters. To each their own, if skimping one way allows you to splurge another then go for it. Its just that I never have been much of a souvenier buyer. I guess I consider my photos to be my main souvenier. I allow myself one "good" item. For example, last trip I bought a beautiful silver bracelet in Epcot. It didn't have anything Disney on it, its just a nice piece of jewelry that I would have bought regardless. One does want something! And kids want stuff, stuff, stuff! Last trip I started the Disney dollar thing-I gave each of my two kids $50 in Disney Dollars. When its gone, they're through shopping. It makes them shop more wisely and get something they've really thought about, not just an impulse thing. Of course, that money's just for souveniers. When I realized my daughter had used about $10 to buy snacks, etc., we gave her another $10. We're her parents, we buy her food. That money is just for fun. But my kids quickly realized how fast money goes. Its an eye-opener. Also, I do agree that taking along food and an ice cooler can save much bucks. Just a snack or light meal can set you back a lot of money that's better spent elsewhere. Its just that I can't see sitting in a cheap hotel room eating Spam to save enough to go outside the park to shop for a bunch of junk. Well, like I said, to each their own. As long as you have a nice vacation!

 

[Teri Zolman]

Here is an example of what I just spent. We returned this morning after a wonderful Christmas trip. I didn't have much money so I tried to be careful. I spent $37 at the Character outlet. I bought a tink t-shirt, mickey t-shirt, straw disney hat, shircan from Jungle book stuffed animal. Three sew on Mickey patches, scrapbook paper kit, eight sets of stickers. I was thrilled. My other purchases where. Ornament $6,castle punch (for scrapbooking) $5, set of stickers $3. My husband spent $25 on stocking stuffers for me at outlet. The kids each had $30. So roughly $140. I was very excited $60 under budget and there wasn't anything we went without. We also did very well on food. I requested a handicaped room and didn't realize it came with a fridge. So we had soda, milk, carrots. We ate breakfast in our room and had beef jerky, gummies, cookies, crackers, and a few other snacks. I also bought the campbell's soup on the go on sale and we microed those in the food court and took them to the park when we when back in the evening. Some of the places we ate were Chef Mickey's, Pop Century three times, Cosmic Ray's , Rose and Crown counter, ABC Commisary, Pretzels at Epco, Columbia Harbour house. Our food budget came $304 for six days. I came home with $200 for after Christmas shopping. This was our best trip yet. If anyone has any questions I would love to answer.

 

[vhoffman]

To Teri,

Did you use any of the meal vouchers? Sounds like a great food budget! Also, the soup on the go sounds like a great idea. Can you heat that in a coffee maker, which is found in most rooms? Or iis it necessary to microwave it?

We always get a free fridge because I take medicine which must be refrigerated. they've never asked for proof, but they can so be prepared to show it if asked. That alone saves us about $10 per day, so over a week's stay it could add up to buy a nice souvenier or a character meal.

 

[TheRatPack]

I have to agree with the less is more and think before you buy. We went the whole week before I even found anything that I wanted to spend money on for myself. Kids of course are harder to convince of this method....they think they'll treasure everything for ever....LOL We budgeted 125-150 a day for food and souveniers, for a family of 4. We would go that morning to the bank, get out that much money and when the money was gone we were done. Suprisingly the money never ran out, and we actually had days where we carried over money from the previous day, so we came home with money. We of course took out a bit more for the gas/food on the driving trip down and back. We used Q&C Vouchers for 2 meals and then spent the rest of the time at Universal, and since we have annual passes we also got a decent discount on food and souveniers there. Everything that I saw, I asked if I'd use it....or just end up dusting it for the rest of my life. I finally ended up purchasing a Tink Pastry Pixie Apron in Downtown Disney, it is ME! I bake all the time, and so this is something that is useful but also that I can remember my trip. We try to buy a pin for our Lanyard too, but I didn't even find one there this year.

Then again, I'm budget minded and hate to have clutter in my house so my thinking may not work for everyone

 

[Teri Zolman]

No we did use vouchers. At Cosmic Ray's we split the double cheese burger combos and ordered extra buns, Rose and Crown 3 fish and chips and one kids meal, Pizza at resort, Turkey legs, 2 adult combos and two kids meals at ABC, Pretzels were very filling at Epcot. We planned to eat at the food court but we weren't hungry. The last resort meal we had lomen noodles, sloppy joe, 2 cheese burger combos. Something we never did was order drinks with our meals we either had them with us or ordered water. The soup has to be done in a microwave. This wasn't a hassle though because we just did it on the way to the bus. We bought snack size carrot packets at Wal-Mart and these were great snacks. I agree with the controlling shopping. You never seem to need the 5 coffee mugs or mickey everything. Just pick up a few special things and spend the rest on magical activities or nice meals. We also did the Family Magic Tour ( a gift from my parents) what great fun.