How much cash?

[sconnell]

We leave on Sat. for our week at WDW. It's DH, me, DD4, & DS2. We will be staying onsite and have DDP. We plan to use our room charge for what we can. (Putting it on reward card and paying off when we get home.) Our kids aren't really into smashed pennies yet, though we may do some.
With all of that in mind, how much would you bring in cash and in what denominations?
I'm just trying to get a feel for what people do.
ETA: We are driving. (It's only a 4.5 hour drive.)

 

[rie'smom]

We usually bring about $2,000.00.

 

[sconnell]

ok, I just spit my coke.

ETA: I'm mostly interested in the denominations.

 

[Mrs Grumpy]

We leave Saturday also. We are also on the DDP and are using our room key to pay for stuff (paying it off with our Disney Reward $ and Disney Dollars). We are taking $400.00 cash (mostly all $20.00 bills).

 

[Red Wings Fan]

We leave next Friday....1 week...DDP as well... and I agree with Mrs. Grumpy. I was thinking about $400 as well mostly $20's a maybe 1 or 2 $50's.

 

[VAN]

I would think you would only need $200 MAX if you plan to use your CC /room key for most purchases.

I'd bring nothing bigger than a $20 ... 10-$1, 4-$5, 4-$10.

I'd be surprised if you spent even half of it given your plans.

 

[ajleone]

With DDP and Room Charge I think $200 is more than eneough. I would recommend that however much you choose, bring travelers cheques instead of cash.

 

[kaw1218]

I recommend having some cash on you in the parks. When we were at Epcot, we were hot and thirsty, the nearest drink options could only take cash. The machines were down. Other than that, we only used cash for the arcade, and mousekeeping tips. Oh, and you need cash if you go to a water park. Most of the snack carts there only take cash.

 

[MPierce]

You really will not need much cash at all. Just about everybody onsite will take the room card or a credit card. About the only thing you need cash for is to tip Mousekeeping and maybe Bell service, and anything you feel might be appropriate above the 18% that comes with the DDP. I don't know about the vendors at the F&WF, but i bet they will take credit cards or room card. Anyway, I would take $200.00, ( I just like to have cash in my pocket ) mostly in 20 dollar bills, you can always get change at the gift shop at your resort for tipping.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

$200 to $400 sounds good. I would bring smaller denominations, because the only thing you absolutetly need cash for are tips for mousekeeping, valet, bellhops, concierge, etc. Even the snack carts take credit now. The only places that you will need cash for is the balloon vendors and the stuff they sell from carts before Fantasmic and the night parades. So you can use the room key for basically almost everything.

 

[MPierce]

We usually bring about $2,000.00.

That's how much we take, but that includes a stop in Biloxi Mississippi!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Wow, looks like I was beat to the punch with the tips.

Since you are driving you will not need tips for skycaps or car service but for others who fly keep that in mind.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I get a bunch of singles for tipping the valet guys. Some 5s and 10s for tipping skycaps, housekeeping, bellmen, and servers.

I bring a few 20s to carry around the park in case the popcorn stand's card machine isn't working...rarely happens.

I charge almost everything that isn't a tip to the room. The only places I go that don't take the room key are the crepe stand in France (cash only) and the funnel cake stand in America (cash or credit - no room key.)

ETA: Gas! The gas stations don't take the room key! Need cash or credit.

 

[lyzziesmom]

For my recent 10-day trip I took $20.00 in cash. Yep, twenty bucks. And I came home with twelve. If it weren't for the smashed pennies, I probably wouldn't have spent anything. I think most of it went to Burger King in the airport.

I used my room charge a little bit and had DDP, but I had saved up spending money on a Disney gift card. You can buy these at the Disney Store and I noticed they sell them at almost every cash register in the parks - even at Blizzard Beach and at many snack carts. I had $500.00 on it and couldn't spend it all.

 

[sconnell]

I was thinking $100-$200. We'll probably only use $100. We've been a few times before and we don't need much cash. I'm thinking on the DDP we'll use very little. Most of which will be tips. I'm doing mousekeeping enves early. And we'll be back in our room mid-day, so we'll grab a juice or coke from the fridge or refill my mug on the way. Most of our TS are Character Meals, so they are buffets and most likely not needing much extra tip. But possibly some.

 

[AdventureGuru]

I'm glad someone posted this...my problem is trying to figure out how much cash vs travelers checks I need to bring...

 

[pepe of ohio]

We just came back from 9 nights at the Wilderness Lodge and I,took 400.00, wife about 200.00. I came back with 450.00, wife about 150.00. We put everything on room charge, Discover for cash back bucks and the only real money was for tips and groceries before arriving in WDW. With out the tips, you could spend no money in WDW by just using your charge card entered on your room key. We know about what our trip should run and have no worries about charging everything and paying once credit card bill comes, very convenient for us.

 

[iluvpiglet]

sconnell, we are from Savannah, GA too!

We are taking $400 - $500 with us and we are staying for 4 nights, 5 days. I like bring bigger bills so I don't spend them so quickly. We'll probably take mostly $50's and some $20's.

I hope this helps!

 

[sconnell]

We just came back from 9 nights at the Wilderness Lodge and I,took 400.00, wife about 200.00. I came back with 450.00, wife about 150.00. We put everything on room charge, Discover for cash back bucks and the only real money was for tips and groceries before arriving in WDW. With out the tips, you could spend no money in WDW by just using your charge card entered on your room key. We know about what our trip should run and have no worries about charging everything and paying once credit card bill comes, very convenient for us.

How did you come back with more than you took? I need some lessons! Or did you get $50 from wife? lol.

sconnell, we are from Savannah, GA too

Hi! When's your trip? I don't think there are too many of us from SAV on here. lol. I only know 2 others.

 

[orljustin]

Bring a couple of twenties, a credit card, and an ATM card for more cash if you need it. I don't get this "bring $2000". That's nuts.