How much cash to carry??

[scrapbool]

We are heading out this week and am curious on what others have done for cash. I know some will only accept cash (ground transportation).

I know we will plan to use our credit card as much as possible.

6 more days!

 

[goofy4tink]

Our towncar service does take a credit card. But we always tip in cash each way. Then we make sure we have cash to tip bell services at the resort. For housekeeping we put $5 in separate envelopes before we even leave home. That way we don't have to worry about that issue. And we like to use cash for those little snacks at the parks. But other than that we use our room key and it gets charged to our credit card so I can pay it off when we get home.
And we have Disney Dollars that my 9 y/o dd uses to buy a little something at the resort gift shop each night. We purchase those throughout the year and put them away for our trip.

 

[goofyernmost]

By cash, I am assuming you mean the combination of green backs and travelers checks.

I never have over $100.00 on me in the green stuff at any given time, usually a lot less. I have never found a place the doesn't take "name brand" travelers checks. American Express or Visa, for example, are treated the same as cash but much, much safer.

As a further reply, I usually take about 1/3 of my intended budget in cash or TC's. Most everything else is good on plastic. I love using someone elses money for a while.

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I'm not sure if you are referring to total amount of cash to take or a daily amount.
If you are staying at a Disney hotel you can have most things charged to your hotel room and they will send the charge to whatever credit card you want to use. We charge everything we can back to our hotel so I take maybe $50.00 with me outside to the parks on a daily basis. Most of the time I come back with it, but if you want something from an ice cream stand or something like that you will need cash.
The car services also take credit cards (call and confirm with yours) so the need for cash is really pretty small.
Of course, the sit-down restaurants all take credit cards or you can charge to your Disney hotel.
I have found that charging to the room is very easy. You can always request a print out from the from desk whenever you want to review the charges. The morning of your check-out they will leave an itemized listing of all your charges on your door. Very quick and easy.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Welcome to the Dis.. hope you have a great vacation.. I always overtake money and of course end up putting it back in the bank when I get home.. I also take traveler's checks....and a small amount of cash.. like $300.....and then use my card as well and get those points or frequent flyer miles...

 

[swilphil]

For peace of mind I take travelers' checks, plus a little bit of cash, and a credit card. When you break a traveler's check, they give you cash back. Really the only thing I had to have cash for was housekeeping tip, but I also used it for small snacks.

 

[mrsltg]

We generally carry around $50 or so in cash each day. We rarely spend all of it. It goes for valet tips, drinks and snacks purchased at various carts throughout the parks. I'm not positive, but I think that the "parade vendors" only take cash, as well. After all, what would a parade be without one of those twirly light things!!!

Have a great trip!

Erin

 

[rjordan]

We bring only cash but put most of it on deposit on our room key and charge everything to the room. That way, no credit card bill. We do, of course, carry a small amount of cash (about $50) for ice cream, snacks, etc... We estimate how much we'll spend at restaurants per person for the room key amount. This works for us.

 

[Morticia]

This is a very good question. My DH & I have the same debate every time we go. I never carry cash @ home, so I feel uncomfortable w/it @ WDW. MY DH brings about 100.00 in cash & if we need more (which we usually do) we buy 100.00 in D$. I like to carry D$, so I will buy some for myself if my DH doesn't.

 

[Simba's Girl]

Originally posted by rjordan
We bring only cash but put most of it on deposit on our room key and charge everything to the room. That way, no credit card bill.

WOW!

I didn't know you could do that with cash...I thought only CCs! If you don't mind me asking apporximatly how much per day do you budget? Also if you don't spend all of it what happens to it? And if you spend too much...Then what?

Heather

 

[sarahandhannahsmom]

We are following the general concensus.

We are leaving on a friday morning and arriving at wdw on saturday afternoon. staying there until following sunday.

we have decided to take $500 in cash (including green and travelers checks) and use it as needed.

we will charge everything we can back to the room and pay by credit card (I use my disney visa so i can get reward $$$).

in addition to the $500, i will tip $4.00 per day for mousekeeping and already have it in seperate envelopes before we leave.

hope this helps. i like the credit card for several reasons: 1. I think it's safer than carrying a lot of cash 2. i earn disney reward $$ for purchases 3. i pay the card off every month, but i still get free use of the money for at least 30 days.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Just a word of advice here... I am speaking from my experiences..... sometimes when you go to leave the World......and you think you have a final print out of everything you charged back to the room....you may not.. in other words.. I have had charges hit my credit 3 months after leaving WDW with the charging back to the room thing...I now just use my credit card.....get the slip and keep an accurate record....JMO

 

[Chicago526]

I have an ATM card with a Master Card logo, meaning anyone who takes Master Card will accept my ATM card. So even though I'm "charging" I'm really paying cash right out of my checking account. I take about $40 out at the start of the trip for small purchases, tips, cart vendors and so on, and if I need more I just hit up the ATM. Works very well, and no credit card bill!

The only thing this doesn't work for is a car rental, the car companies want a "real" credit card. Otherwise, it works for everything!