How Much Cash Do You Bring?

[AaronInWI]

On our first trip as a married couple 10 years ago for our honeymoom, we brought about $500 in travelers checks. Our trip last year (our fifth together) we brought maybe $100 in cash, and spent about $20 of it at the random vendor carts, as others have mentioned. Because we only go every 2-3 years, we'll have at least $500 in Disney Visa rewards points; and because we drive we can bring our own breakfast items and water, and we rarely eat at a TS restaurant, so we normally don't have to pay for anything out of pocket until maybe our last day in the parks. And then we'll just use our magic bands or our Disney Visa (giving us a head start on our next trip!).

 

[RustManFan]

I used to take very little cash to travel when it was possible to get and use Travelers' Checks everywhere. Now I bring a couple hundred and always have my ATM card if I need more.

 

[thr33boys]

I'd really like to not have to carry cash around but because of the state of the Cdn dollar, we converted most of what we'll need months ago. We're at Disney for 8 nights followed by 3 nights at Universal. We'll take between $1700-$2000 for the 5 of us. All meals and snacks will be paid with cash.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Usually around 300.00 or 400.00. I drive and like to pay cash when I stop to eat plus I've encountered times when the magic band system failed and the carts only took cash.

I also bring one credit card into the parks for the same reason. I went to pay for dinner at the Hollywood Brown Derby with the magic band and the system was down so I used my credit card to pay instead.

 

[Jewel3k]

I put money in envelopes for expected tips throughout the stay, so I don't really consider this as part of the cash I carry. I carry $40. Its really backup taxi money in case of a bus that takes to long and an ADR or magic express bus that needs to be met.

 

[Farps]

I bring a few hundred with me on our trip. I charge everything with our MB, but carry 40-50 to tip with

 

[cjparker0110]

This is a little off topic, but some of the responses here have made me ponder this: When you tie your debit/credit card to MB, how does that work exactly? I know when you shop in a store and pay with a card, there is a cost for simply swiping your card. You don't pay it directly, but indirectly through the prices of goods. As an example, I worked in a grocery store in a small town. Every month our store paid out $8000 to banks for swiping cards (bigger cities/stores would obviously pay more per month). So I guess I am wondering if every time you pay with your MB if there is a swipe fee or do they just kind of charge everything at once at the end of the day?

I guess my thought is if there is a swipe fee involved for MBs then pay cash for all small transactions. I cringe when I see someone use a card for a $1.00 transaction knowing the swipe fee is as much and maybe even more (depends on the card).

 

[DisneyHardin]

This is a little off topic, but some of the responses here have made me ponder this: When you tie your debit/credit card to MB, how does that work exactly? I know when you shop in a store and pay with a card, there is a cost for simply swiping your card. You don't pay it directly, but indirectly through the prices of goods. As an example, I worked in a grocery store in a small town. Every month our store paid out $8000 to banks for swiping cards (bigger cities/stores would obviously pay more per month). So I guess I am wondering if every time you pay with your MB if there is a swipe fee or do they just kind of charge everything at once at the end of the day?

I guess my thought is if there is a swipe fee involved for MBs then pay cash for all small transactions. I cringe when I see someone use a card for a $1.00 transaction knowing the swipe fee is as much and maybe even more (depends on the card).

When you use your Magic Band, you are just "charging to the room". Your CC doesn't get charged until you reach your charging limit, or the end of your trip, so Disney would only be paying the swipe fee for that one charge to your CC.

 

[ruthies12]

I plan on bringing $100 a day in cash for souvenirs and food. We will be bringing drinks and snacks with us everyday (we are driving down) and will use the credit card for our few table service meals and any souvenirs over $50 because then the Disney visa gets 10% off.

 

[maxiesmom]

I bring enough for tips, and enough so that if one of the kiosks in the parks has a computer glitch (which I have seen more than once) I can still buy what I want.

 

[melana]

It varies. This trip I am taking gift cards that I have bought over the past several months. I plan to use those to pay off any MB charges to the room. I will have about 500 in total with those. As for cash I do take a good amount. I limit CC to gas and hotel stays. My cash this trip will be used for my day at universal. I'm trying to pay off my credit card so I am limiting it also. I always have cash. I have become a pro at hiding it in various places in my luggage.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Our 8 day trip in September, our room charges reached $132. We leave all tips in cash, totaled $324. We also spent another $125 on misc. items in the parks, cash. Dining Plan covered meals.

 

[nooneshome]

We drive so I bring a couple hundred in cash. For the parks I generally bring about $40 in cash but I will have money on a gift card or our Disney rewards thingie.

 

[Princess candy]

I was at MK last Feb and Disney computer system was down for a bit during lunch time--couldn't use magic bands. I was very happy to have cash on hand with a toddler who was hungry

My recommendation--always carry a little cash--computer system for magic bands can go down.

 

[SA mom]

We charge everything because we like getting that cash back or points on purchases. We stay at the Swan on points so every purchase possible goes on the Starwood AmEx. We do carry tip money.

I can see how some could over spend. My advice would be to purchase gift cards on a credit card. That way you can budget, but still get those point or cash back bonuses.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We plan to bring $100 in small bills for tipping and emergencies

 

[tinkerbella16]

I'm the odd one out, I don't like using my CC unless I have to, and if I want cash I hate paying the fee to use the ATM machine. I usually pay for all my QS meals and any little things in the parks with cash. I usually take anywhere from $100 to $200 with me, but only carry around $20 or $30 to the parks, the rest goes in the safe in the room. I also carry and ID, my AP card, my TIW card and either a CC or my debit card. I never charge anything to my MB, every time I've tried the machine couldn't do it so I don't even bother any more.

You aren't the only odd one! I always bring cash - sometimes more than I need and I always come home with most of it. I do bring my debit card just in case and my disney visa for certain things like the meet and greet at Epcot. So mostly cash and for this trip I have $350 on a Disney giftcard for spending. I also do not do the charging to my magic band- I would rather just pay for things with my giftcard/cash.

 

[skuttle]

$20 per day of the trip.

 

[MrsHull]

Like a couple others, I add up what my expenses will be, plus what spending money I can afford, and take it in cash. Most goes in the room safe. What I need each day hoes with me to the park. However, DH wants to consider pulling what we need out of the ATM each day. I'm assuming there is one at the hotels?

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Into the parks we bring $20. We get money from the ATM as needed for tips. Our bank reimburses us for all ATM fees so that's not a consideration of ours.