Budgetting

[LoveDopey]

Like I said in my last post, 45 days, but who's counting

I'm making up a budget this morning (sorry boss). We bought a package through AMA and Fun Sun Tours so I only included meals, shopping (the dollar is at par ), souvenirs, car rental in case we want to go to the beach and miscellaneous. What am I missing?

 

[DisSarahK]

Not sure if you need them, but stroller rental is one that came to mind

 

[JadeDarkstar]

PICS
i had a surviner budget but i needed one just for the pics. 25-32 for pics on rides or at charcter meals and stuff it added up but I couldnt say no
(gas for the car rental?)
drinks? We didnt count on neeed so many drinks when in the hotle not just in the park.
Hope any of that helps lol ave fun tomrorow willbe 44 days

 

[shoppingmom]

I think budgeting for pics is a good idea; that is either the ride pictures or photopass. I am not sure what the price of the photopass cd is these days but I personally think it is well worth it. Just make sure you stop every Photopass camera person and get your picture taken and then buy the cd at the end of the trip!

When it comes to budgeting food, it may help you to know that some of the kid's portion are very large. The Main Plaze restaurant has a Penne and sauce for kids and wow, it was more then enough for me. The fruit plate at the counter service in Tomorrowland is huge we found for breakfast to order a plate of fruit and one breakfast was more then enough for me, our dd and ds!

 

[LoveDopey]

Not sure if you need them, but stroller rental is one that came to mind

No, I'm so past that -- my youngest and the only one coming on this trip is 15. Maybe for me after all that walking?

 

[LoveDopey]

PICS
i had a surviner budget but i needed one just for the pics. 25-32 for pics on rides or at charcter meals and stuff it added up but I couldnt say no
(gas for the car rental?)
drinks? We didnt count on neeed so many drinks when in the hotle not just in the park.
Hope any of that helps lol ave fun tomrorow willbe 44 days

Thanks. We are going to a character breakfast that was included in our package. I included drinks in our meal budget.

 

[jory29]

Daily tips for housekeeping?
Tips for any drivers, such as shuttle buses, etc.?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

well each the photos atcharcter meals are 32
photopass before you go is 99dollers
at the park 129 or 139 i forget.
my splash mountion was about 25 if thats what im remembering right.

 

[silence]

if you don't want the option to add frilly stuff to your photos, you can get the photopass at the park for 59 (or you could in November).

depending on when you are going, really make sure you have enough budgetted for beverages.

when we went in may, it was almost 100 degrees. we went through soooooooooo much water as tap water was not going to cut it, we needed ICE COLD water. with 5 of us, it was amazing how much we spent on water alone.

 

[Disneyluvr2]

Here's my money saving tips...
1) When you have your photo taken by the photopass CM, have them take a another photo with your own camera. When you get home, you might find the photo on your camera is just as good as the photopass photo and it's free!

2) Take your own water bottles into the park and keep filling them up. At $2.69 every time you want to buy a soda or water, it really adds up fast!

3) Share meals...some portions are huge! Or buy kids meals. Like shoppingmom said, you get quite a bit of food in some of the kids meals!

 

[bumbershoot]

Extra for clothing-type souvenirs for those times when the weather changes but whatever you brought for that circumstance just doesn't seem "cute" or whatever anymore.

Side note...man oh man I wish that ride photos were included on photopass! I don't even look at the ride photos because other than my wedding pictures I will NOT pay that much for a print! grr.

Are you from Canada? Your comment about the dollar...

Are you familiar with the local/nearby disney outlet? If you get that rental car, you might swing out there for a few hours, pick up some cheaper disney souvenirs, before being tempted by the $40 sweatshirts! Not that I know anything about $40 sweatshirts purchased despite the sweatshirt and jacket back at the hotel room or anything...

 

[kylieh]

I went through my own trip planner...

• Shuttle/taxi from home to departing airport and then on the way home
• Travel insurance? Especially for health/medical.
• Tips
• Passport renewal?
• 10-15% contingency
• Travel bag/money belt
• Activities to keep the kids occupied on the plane
• International Credit Card Fees (if applicable for your bank, for example Amex is around 3%)
• "Special" meals - character breakfasts, Princess Lunch, Medievil Times or Pirate Dinner
• Parking fees if you plan on driving to DL or ART if necessary

 

[keishashadow]

Q re photopass/pics

i can't justify the expense @ WDW

Obviously, doesn't work on the rides, yet the photogs are always happy to snap a pic with our camera after they take theirs in a scenic shot

is this acceptable @ DL?

 

[LoveDopey]

Extra for clothing-type souvenirs for those times when the weather changes but whatever you brought for that circumstance just doesn't seem "cute" or whatever anymore.

Side note...man oh man I wish that ride photos were included on photopass! I don't even look at the ride photos because other than my wedding pictures I will NOT pay that much for a print! grr.

Are you from Canada? Your comment about the dollar...

Are you familiar with the local/nearby disney outlet? If you get that rental car, you might swing out there for a few hours, pick up some cheaper disney souvenirs, before being tempted by the $40 sweatshirts! Not that I know anything about $40 sweatshirts purchased despite the sweatshirt and jacket back at the hotel room or anything...

I bought the photo of us coming down Splash Mountain at WDW last March. Don't need another picture of anyone swallowing their face

Yes, we're from northern Alberta. I'm hoping to escape to some warm weather.

My husband likes to buy ball caps whereever we go. Why, I have no idea -- he wears them the day he buys them and then they end up on a shelf in his closet. I told him no hats this year but maybe if they have one at the outlet...

 

[LoveDopey]

I went through my own trip planner...

• Shuttle/taxi from home to departing airport and then on the way home
• Travel insurance? Especially for health/medical.
• Tips
• Passport renewal?
• 10-15% contingency
• Travel bag/money belt
• Activities to keep the kids occupied on the plane
• International Credit Card Fees (if applicable for your bank, for example Amex is around 3%)
• "Special" meals - character breakfasts, Princess Lunch, Medievil Times or Pirate Dinner
• Parking fees if you plan on driving to DL or ART if necessary

Great suggestions -- thank you.

 

[LoveDopey]

Q re photopass/pics

i can't justify the expense @ WDW

Obviously, doesn't work on the rides, yet the photogs are always happy to snap a pic with our camera after they take theirs in a scenic shot

is this acceptable @ DL?

I hope so. I asked the photographer to take one picture at WDW with my camera and it actually turned out better than the ones on the photopass.