Do you think we'll have enough cash?

[SDFgirl]

We are headed to WDW in 2 weeks!

We are staying 7 nights and we have the Dining Plan.

We have budgeted $650 cash for the trip. This includes;

-tips on TS meals

-alcohol (probably 4ish drinks a day, total, between DH and I)

-a few souvenirs for each of our older 2 kids (nothing over-the-top - a pair of mouse ears, a plush, one of those light-up things they sell at the parades, etc).

-At least one airport meal on the trip down and trip back (kids will share a meal)

Does $650 sound about right? Or am I kidding myself?

Thanks you all!!

 

[Eureka]

It's going to depend on where you're eating in terms of how much you need to tip. Last trip we took (2011), we have the deluxe dining and ate at 4 signatures during the week. Our tips were probably between $60 and $80 each for those meals alone.

My kids are like yours in terms of souvenirs...the experience is enough for them, usually we buy them a t shirt and ears if they've wanted them but then they are on their own with any more spending, and they don't usually buy much else.

So, sorry to not be of more help, but look at menus for your meals to estimate tips and it will help you determine if $650 is enough or not.

 

[sweetdana]

Being on the DP, you'll get pop n coffee this is a HUGEEE saver.

I'd say watch it and you can

Drinks 150$, * see below
souv if you are a vet I think 100$ is more than enough (but pin crazy you can do more.)
Tips ** 100
air port *** 70


so I think you can do 650, but you have to watch your souv and your drink prices.


*wine/beer can run about 13$ for 2 drinks and a tip this 26$ a day is alot on your budget, if you bought say 1 6 pack from a market store you might be able to get this down below to 15$ a day I think this could work better. .
**tips, doing CRT/ MBBQ would bring this down.. doing Le Cec or Chef Mickey would make it higher.. you can figure this out east with allears.net.
I put 70 on airport meal, 25 -30$ + incase you need gum/water/ect..
Add.. pack in your suit case before you go, snacks. goldfish, chips, granola bars, gum, anything you might want, that is 1000% cheaper at home.



**** DH and I have gone with nearly nothing on a on the spot trip, without DP, only buying mugs ( for COOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFEEEEEE), bought no souv, very few snacks packed them in lugg before we left, and ate at QS. we were well under 50$ a day, if you want to budget you can.

 

[ceecee]

You don't say how many kids but your tips could be pretty big especially when you add in the alcohol. We usually have a $25-35 tip for the 3 of us at most table serves. This is 20% of the bill with no extras, like drinks. DD usually spends $50-75 on souvies, she is older and we've been a lot so it's not as much as it was when she was younger.

 

[comicguy]

I usually plan for a minimum of 25 tip per sit down meal for the 3 adults.
175

Drinks can be 7 each minimum!!
200

Airport meals
minimum 40 each way (call it 100)

Souvies
Plush are usually 20
Light up spinny things are about 10
Mouse ears 20?? (been a long time since we bought a pair)
T-Shirts 20

Incedentials:
Extra drinks (water, soda) 3 each
Extra snacks (dole whip!!) 5 each

I think it can be done w/ 650 but it might be tight.

 

[davedmaine]

We are headed to WDW in 2 weeks!

We are staying 7 nights and we have the Dining Plan.

We have budgeted $650 cash for the trip. This includes;

-tips on TS meals

-alcohol (probably 4ish drinks a day, total, between DH and I)

-a few souvenirs for each of our older 2 kids (nothing over-the-top - a pair of mouse ears, a plush, one of those light-up things they sell at the parades, etc).

-At least one airport meal on the trip down and trip back (kids will share a meal)

Does $650 sound about right? Or am I kidding myself?

Thanks you all!!

Double it just to be safe

 

[SDFgirl]

Thanks for the ideas. Our ADRs are:

CRT (we don't pay tip on that, right?)
T-REX
Rose and Crown
Liberty Tree Tavern
Sci-Fi Drive In (I know the food sucks, but our kids will love it)
San Angel Inn
Kona Cafe (breakfast)

Forgot to mention the Kona Cafe - this will be OOP because CRT is 2 credits.

Just looked up beer prices. In restaurants looks like they run between 4.50 and 6.00. Here are my thoughts...

$20 tip on 5 restaurants = $100
Bfast at Kona for 4 = $60
4 drinks x 7 days @ $6 each = 168, round up to $200 for tips
Airport meals, 2 @ $25 each = $50

That comes up to $410, which leaves $240-ish for souvenirs, incidentals, etc.

I think that is do-able. The girls also each have a $30 gift card that they got for Christmas.

Am I overlooking anything?

 

[SDFgirl]

You don't say how many kids but your tips could be pretty big especially when you add in the alcohol. We usually have a $25-35 tip for the 3 of us at most table serves. This is 20% of the bill with no extras, like drinks. DD usually spends $50-75 on souvies, she is older and we've been a lot so it's not as much as it was when she was younger.

Thanks for responding!

Just to make it easier on myself, I'm thinking only of food (I totaled alcohol in a separate "budget" even though it will all be combined on the bill).

If I budget $20 tip per meal, that is a $100 meal for 4 people. (2 adults, 2 kids aged 3 and 5). We don't order appetizers usually so I can't imagine that we'd spend more than $100 on food and tax...? Unless I'm totally off base?

 

[pigletto]

Sounds a little low to me. We always over estimate on tips. It never ends up being the 200 we bring though (and we do tip the recommended 18 or 20 percent).

You've calculated the drink prices accurately with tipping.
I think you are fine for souvenirs.
The only thing that I think you are underestimating is the airport meals. A drink and a sandwich and fries at our outgoing airport is 10-15 per person. So I would say closer to $50 for each of those meals unless you plan on making sure you order the cheaper things (like a slice of pizza for example.)

Also if you plan to tip mousekeeping, Magical Express Driver, and anyone that handles your bags you may want to add that into the tip total if you haven't already.

 

[SDFgirl]

I usually plan for a minimum of 25 tip per sit down meal for the 3 adults.
175

Drinks can be 7 each minimum!!
200

Airport meals
minimum 40 each way (call it 100)

Souvies
Plush are usually 20
Light up spinny things are about 10
Mouse ears 20?? (been a long time since we bought a pair)
T-Shirts 20

Incedentials:
Extra drinks (water, soda) 3 each
Extra snacks (dole whip!!) 5 each

I think it can be done w/ 650 but it might be tight.

That is helpful, thank you!

I doubt we will buy extra snacks...last time we were on the DP we had about 10 snacks left on the last day, so that takes care of that.

Also as far as airport food, my kids are 3 and 5 and always split a kids' meal - and hardly ever even finish it. I'm planning on doing fast food in the airport - so I'm thinking $9 each for 2 adult combo meals, $7 for a kids meal for them to share...

Of course I know this is all an estimate...just trying to make sure I'm being realistic.

Thanks for the souvenir prices!!

Also - the girls are going to the Bippiti Boppiti Boutique (already paid for with gift cards) but should I plan on a tip? Not sure if gratuities are allowed there. Anyone know?

Thanks you all!!

 

[SDFgirl]

Sounds a little low to me. We always over estimate on tips. It never ends up being the 200 we bring though (and we do tip the recommended 18 or 20 percent).

You've calculated the drink prices accurately with tipping.
I think you are fine for souvenirs.
The only thing that I think you are underestimating is the airport meals. A drink and a sandwich and fries at our outgoing airport is 10-15 per person. So I would say closer to $50 for each of those meals unless you plan on making sure you order the cheaper things (like a slice of pizza for example.)

Also if you plan to tip mousekeeping, Magical Express Driver, and anyone that handles your bags you may want to add that into the tip total if you haven't already.

Ah! Forgot about Mousekeeping. Thank you. What is standard?

Maybe I will need to increase our tip budget by $100. I'd rather have more money leftover than unexpected expenses.

I think I can do the airport for $25 each way. I'm talking Subway here, not a sit down restaurant.

I appreciate your help!

 

[MinnieForMe]

If you're budgeting for fast food at the airport, you'll be fine with your figures. I believe our McDonalds/Burger King (can't remember what was at MCO) was $20.00 for four people (I refused to eat there so my meal was higher, LOL).

 

[eliza61]

I'd probably up it by 200 bucks to be safe.
Not sure about the tip at CRT.

My kids get their own spending money but tee shirts can easily run 20-35 bucks. I was on the disney store website and they had a really pretty cinderalla tee from the parks collection. 39 bucks. a plain Ariel tee was 30 bucks.

 

[sheilanne]

We are headed to WDW in 2 weeks!

We are staying 7 nights and we have the Dining Plan.

We have budgeted $650 cash for the trip. This includes;

-tips on TS meals

-alcohol (probably 4ish drinks a day, total, between DH and I)

-a few souvenirs for each of our older 2 kids (nothing over-the-top - a pair of mouse ears, a plush, one of those light-up things they sell at the parades, etc).

-At least one airport meal on the trip down and trip back (kids will share a meal)

Does $650 sound about right? Or am I kidding myself?

Thanks you all!!

We took 1500 11-27 thru 12/3/12 and had DXDP. We didn't buy any souvenirs, this was strictly for tips and my husband a few nightly drinks. We bought 2 airport meals and used a lot of cabs. We stayed at BLT and I did tip a LOT, but I came back with 400. I would be scared to death to only take 650.

 

[Darcy03231]

I think $650 for a family of four is a bit low. Personally, with four of you I would bring at least $1,000. Or bring the $650 if you have access to credit cards or a debit card for the ATM so you can access more cash if you need it.

I took my niece for her first trip when she was 4 (almost 5) and it was just the two of us and we had the DDP. I brought $800 with me and only brought home $200. It seems that at WDW you open your wallet and the money just flies out!

 

[SDFgirl]

I think $650 for a family of four is a bit low. Personally, with four of you I would bring at least $1,000. Or bring the $650 if you have access to credit cards or a debit card for the ATM so you can access more cash if you need it.

I took my niece for her first trip when she was 4 (almost 5) and it was just the two of us and we had the DDP. I brought $800 with me and only brought home $200. It seems that at WDW you open your wallet and the money just flies out!

I hear you.

We will of course have access to more money - credit cards, debit cards, etc. - and will use it if we really need it. This is just the budget that we hope to stick to.

 

[Eureka]

Thanks for the ideas. Our ADRs are:

CRT (we don't pay tip on that, right?)
T-REX
Rose and Crown
Liberty Tree Tavern
Sci-Fi Drive In (I know the food sucks, but our kids will love it)
San Angel Inn
Kona Cafe (breakfast)

Forgot to mention the Kona Cafe - this will be OOP because CRT is 2 credits.

Just looked up beer prices. In restaurants looks like they run between 4.50 and 6.00. Here are my thoughts...

$20 tip on 5 restaurants = $100
Bfast at Kona for 4 = $60
4 drinks x 7 days @ $6 each = 168, round up to $200 for tips
Airport meals, 2 @ $25 each = $50

That comes up to $410, which leaves $240-ish for souvenirs, incidentals, etc.

I think that is do-able. The girls also each have a $30 gift card that they got for Christmas.

Am I overlooking anything?

We went to several of the same restaurants. I know Rose and Crown dinner for us (at the time, it was three Disney adults and a kid) was over $100 (or would have been, anyway, since we used credits) and Sci Fi and Liberty Tree lunches were not much less than that.

 

[Darcy03231]

I hear you.

We will of course have access to more money - credit cards, debit cards, etc. - and will use it if we really need it. This is just the budget that we hope to stick to.

Then I would bring the $650 and try to stick to it.

 

[KELLY]

Thanks for the ideas. Our ADRs are:

CRT (we don't pay tip on that, right?)
T-REX
Rose and Crown
Liberty Tree Tavern
Sci-Fi Drive In (I know the food sucks, but our kids will love it)
San Angel Inn
Kona Cafe (breakfast)

Forgot to mention the Kona Cafe - this will be OOP because CRT is 2 credits.

Just looked up beer prices. In restaurants looks like they run between 4.50 and 6.00. Here are my thoughts...

$20 tip on 5 restaurants = $100
Bfast at Kona for 4 = $60
4 drinks x 7 days @ $6 each = 168, round up to $200 for tips
Airport meals, 2 @ $25 each = $50

That comes up to $410, which leaves $240-ish for souvenirs, incidentals, etc.

I think that is do-able. The girls also each have a $30 gift card that they got for Christma.

Am I overlooking anything?

For a family of 4 your tips seem low. Also airport food seems low as well. We ate all small subs from Quiznos and only got 3 subs and 3 drinks to share between the 4 of us and it was close to 35.00 . most of the time we went for drinks it was 20.00 for2 drinks and tip.

 

[Marionnette]

I hear you.

We will of course have access to more money - credit cards, debit cards, etc. - and will use it if we really need it. This is just the budget that we hope to stick to.

As long as you have access to additional funding, you should be okay. But I agree with the others who think that your estimates for tips and souvenirs is too low. You will have a hard time keeping to your present budget.