how much cash do you bring?

[Figment Mom]

With just 17 days until our trip I'm getting down to the detailed preparation and will be going to the bank soon.


We're staying on-site and I plan on charging just about everything to the room. I figure I need cash for some tips (magical express, bell services, possibly mousekeeping) and I want to bring pennies and quarters for the penny presses and also quarters for laundry.

I don't want to turn this into a tipping discussion but what else might I need cash for?

 

[WDWdreamer99]

You may want to carry around some cash for snacks and drinks at the stands. Last time I went not all stands accepted cards (but then again this was before the intro to magic bands). The best thing to do is carry around about $50 per day as an emergency in case the band doesn't work. You don't have to do this, but it has helped my family once or twice.

 

[Figment Mom]

You may want to carry around some cash for snacks and drinks at the stands. Last time I went not all stands accepted cards (but then again this was before the intro to magic bands). The best thing to do is carry around about $50 per day as an emergency in case the band doesn't work. You don't have to do this, but it has helped my family once or twice.

Good thought. Thanks.
I should probably have cash for snacks in case our bands don't work for some reason.

 

[MagentaMulan]

Besides tips, i think i would probably have at least $30 in cash per day. (I also will charge most things with my MB) I like to pay in cash for items like food and drinks that are under or close to $5. And for things at carts that may not accept cards and MBs.

 

[boltfan]

I'm always a little obsessive about how much cash I take and I plan accordingly. I mainly take cash for the airport snacks and tips. I actually look at all of the menus for our TS meals and plan out how much we most likely will spend and set aside tip money to cover the meal and then place in an envelope to take to the meal when we're there. I know, I know. My family laughs at me too, but it's worked every time and leaves me free to enjoy other things.

 

[lylone]

Everytime we use a $20 bill the rest goes in our bankroll which is all the ones and fives left over.
Then we usually have enough of a wad for tips and etc. We both carry about $20 worth a day and take the rest in a sneaky locked up place in a piece of luggage. Usually we take about 200.00 for a week but there is just the two of us. The rest gets charged to room or credit cards. Any bankroll $$ goes towards the room bill. We do the same for any vacations we take..disney, cruise or otherwise.

 

[marialexus35]

We normally take a lot of $1's along with envelopes for housekeeping each day so we don't have to waste time getting change if we don't have them and leave them in the safe so they don't get spent in the parks.

 

[brennicksmom]

Our last trip was 2 adults, 15 year old and 12 year old sons for 15 nights, with 10 day PH and WPM. We took $2800 in Disney gift cards (our food estimate), and $1000 cash. We charged everything to the room on our MB, and went to Cirque on the GC's and we came home with about $700. The cash we spent was partially bc we didn't plan on Cirque, went to an extra TS meal than planned, souvenirs (Not many bc we have been there 10 times and we don't typically buy a lot anymore), and 3 days at Daytona Beach.

We each carried about $50 per day for any just in case scenarios.

 

[Figment Mom]

Thank you.

I got my cash but once I got home decided I'd feel more comfortable with a bit more. I'll just have one cc with me and I started thinking that if something happened to it (not that it ever has) that I'd be stuck with no money.

I never use a debit card but I think I'll bring that as insurance, too.

Then there was the matter of deciding how many pennies and quarters to bring! I figure those penny press machines are the least expensive souvenirs out there (ds already has a collection from other places). I don't know how many are in the parks but I got a roll of pennies. If he presses all of them, he'd need $25 in quarters, so I got 3 rolls of quarters, too.

 

[disneyAndi14]

My DD 14 and I when we go will take around 800$. If you are on the dining plan you would probably need less money.

 

[Figment Mom]

I'm not on the dining plan but will charge the meals to my room using the magic band.

I rarely carry or pay with cash in my everyday life so I don't think I will much on vacation.

 

[JoeA]

Last two times I went I took my MB, about $40 cash, my DL, and one credit card into the park. Figured I was good for almost every situation.

I put everything, regardless of $ amount, on my MB and not sure I had a cash transaction at all.

Well, except for tips and a beer at the airport. They wouldn't take my MB!

 

[iLoveMickey87]

I have little under 2 months before my surprise trip. I'm getting so excited but omg... it's coming so fast and I've been slackin. Time to get it all ready to go ;]

But was unsure on how much money I should really bring.

 

[scrhsa]

I dont do credit cards so Im stuck with cash.I did budget out about $100 a day for food( I know..its a bit much for 2) what we dont use on food will be spent on souvenirs on the last day. I put it all on a gift card so Im not lugging around the cash. But for all the other little stuff I am bringing cash. I really dont want to be using my debit card....could get dangerous dipping into "normal" life money I have my budget and am gonna stick too it!!! I tend to over budget since I will be using cash. I would rather have too much than not enough. I may go ahead and get some of my cash in more gift cards once I am there though.