How much cash?

[Bigbluebear]

How much cash does everybody recommend for a fortnight, for just me. The better half already has her "shopping" budget arranged!

Staying at Pop Century, we will be visiting Universal and IOA, Florida mall, premium outlets, and possibly sea world.

We will not be hiring a car.

Ive never been bothered about this sort of thing before. my parents have always covered te transportation costs, and also the food costs.

Im planning $40 per day for food, and $500 dollars for transport for the full fortnight. Is that about right?

How much more does everybody think is required.

6 weeks on monday and im beginning to panic im not going to have enough cash!

 

[wayneg]

Totally depends where you eat. We are a family of 3 adults, always average the same $100/day covers food, snacks, shopping(not much) gas. just about everything. But we eat lunch in parks and eve meals offsite.
$500 for transport no idea but it seems a lot , 2 weeks car hire costs us less than that.

 

[Bigbluebear]

Totally depends where you eat. We are a family of 3 adults, always average the same $100/day covers food, snacks, shopping(not much) gas. just about everything. But we eat lunch in parks and eve meals offsite.
$500 for transport no idea but it seems a lot , 2 weeks car hire costs us less than that.

It does, but im 23, so i would need to pay $400 dollars extra insurance costs, plus i dont have a credit card so would have to leave a substantial cash deposit. Ive paid for car hire, so its still there if i decide to take it i suppose.

Eating will mostly just be counter service places when in any parks. The occasional table service restaurant for evening meals.

 

[wayneg]

It does, but im 23, so i would need to pay $400 dollars extra insurance costs, plus i dont have a credit card so would have to leave a substantial cash deposit. Ive paid for car hire, so its still there if i decide to take it i suppose.

Eating will mostly just be counter service places when in any parks. The occasional table service restaurant for evening meals.

Who is the rental with, can you cancel and get anything back? $400 just for insurance is crazy!! USrentacar do a policy for £100 for you with Budget. 21-25 year olds. Must buy the gold cover which includes tank of gas. Just done a quick cost for intermediate car (pay for compact but free upgrade) would probably still mean getting a credit card though.
Vehicle Cost 204.00(GBP)
Optional Extra's:Optional Extra: Young Drivers Policy : 100.00 (GBP) (Prepayable)
Total Price:
304.00(GBP)

 

[Graeme]

The occasional table service restaurant for evening meals.

Places like Golden Corral offer a good meal for not much cash. Have you looked on the budget board on the main boards?

 

[Bigbluebear]

Who is the rental with, can you cancel and get anything back? $400 just for insurance is crazy!! USrentacar do a policy for £100 for you with Budget. 21-25 year olds. Must buy the gold cover which includes tank of gas. Just done a quick cost for intermediate car (pay for compact but free upgrade) would probably still mean getting a credit card though.
Vehicle Cost 204.00(GBP)
Optional Extra's:Optional Extra: Young Drivers Policy : 100.00 (GBP) (Prepayable)
Total Price:
304.00(GBP)

I booked a package with travel city. If you dont take the car hire they just bump up the rest of the cost.

Getting a credit card isnt really an option at the moment unfortunately. Im not too bothered about having no car since im staying onsite. If i wasnt it would be a different story!

 

[Booknut]

I think $40 a day is ok for food if its just for you. Most counter service meals are under $10, breakfast even cheaper.

If you do eat at a sit down restaurant at Disney do it at lunch if possible, its usually cheaper. Some of the buffets are really good for lunch, the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom is fab and has the Winnie the Pooh characters which makes it even better!

If you have a couple of restaurants you want to eat at you must make reservations before you go as its very hard sometimes to get in due to the popularity of the dining plan. If you go to this website (www.allearsnet.com/dining) you can see the restaurant menus with prices and see which ones have character meals or offer something special like Sci-Fi at Hollywood Studios (you eat in 'cars' and watch old horror movies on a big screen - also not that expensive) or the Coral Reef which has a huge aquarium at Epcot.

As for transport you can catch the Lynx bus from places like Downtown Disney or the TTC at the Magic Kingdom and it would be probably around $5 return to Seaworld and/or Universal, that would save on your transport budget. Here is their website, they have a journey planner. www.golynx.com

Mears also do shuttles to Universal/Seaworld and the Florida Mall, round trip is $16 per person, so again you'd save a lot on your transport budget. A rount trip to the Kennedy Space Centre is $30. Here is a link to their rates: http://www.mearstransportation.com/pdf/Rates2008.pdf

Are you taking Magical Express to and from the airport? It's a free bus service by Disney, if you're staying onsite you are entitled to use it. Speak to TCD as they can probably arrange it for you.

Have a great holiday!

 

[wayneg]

I booked a package with travel city. If you dont take the car hire they just bump up the rest of the cost.

Getting a credit card isnt really an option at the moment unfortunately. Im not too bothered about having no car since im staying onsite. If i wasnt it would be a different story!

Is the booking just for you with TCD? how much have they added for the car? If you are not taking it they will remove it and only add a £40 fee(some say £50) If there are a few people then the £40/£50 fees add up but for 1 or 2 people its usually worth removing the car with them.

 

[darthtatty]

theres 3 of us and we spent about 100$ a day on meals and snacks last time.
if youre staying at a Disney resort you'll be able to use the disney transport for a lot wont you?
transport shouldnt cost that much

 

[Morgstar]

THE DREADED SPENDING BUDGET QUESTION!

I have my own very personal views on this which i know a lot of people dont share.
We are not an incredibly wealthy couple however i absolutely detest the, 'how much a day can we spend question?', while on holiday i think everyone should be able to forget about any worries and just have a great time.
BEFORE YOU ALL SHOUT....I know some people need to budget to make sure they can afford it but i think this should be a general budget for the holiday rather then, 'this is how much i can afford to spend this day!' all that happens is you are constantly counting and watching what you are spending.

The truth is so long as you dont plan on having any extreme expenses/special trips/large outgoings then 'living costs' in orlando are much cheaper than here. You will more than likely come within your overall budget without having an amount to spend each day. On average $40 a day should cover a single man for food so long as you dont want to drink loads of beer or dine at signature restuarants. Get yourself to Bennighans one evening for a $5 burger - amazing value for money!

As far as the car thing goes if at all possible i would definately go for it if at all possible even though insiurance may add £200 to your trip. A car, even onsite, will make you much more flexible. You wont have to wait for transport and ultimately will mean you have more time at the parks/shopping mall because you wont be on a slow bus or waiting for other transport. You are free to go where you want when you want

Have a greta time!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bigbluebear]

Most of the money i was going to allocate for trasportation was for a town car from sanford to the hotel and back. $200 including tip seems about the right amount.

I think i'll need to phone TCD and investigate the car hire. Its not worth my while taking it.

Thanks for the replys people.

 

[paulh]

THE DREADED SPENDING BUDGET QUESTION!

I have my own very personal views on this which i know a lot of people dont share.
We are not an incredibly wealthy couple however i absolutely detest the, 'how much a day can we spend question?', while on holiday i think everyone should be able to forget about any worries and just have a great time.
BEFORE YOU ALL SHOUT....I know some people need to budget to make sure they can afford it but i think this should be a general budget for the holiday rather then, 'this is how much i can afford to spend this day!' all that happens is you are constantly counting and watching what you are spending.

The truth is so long as you dont plan on having any extreme expenses/special trips/large outgoings then 'living costs' in orlando are much cheaper than here. You will more than likely come within your overall budget without having an amount to spend each day. On average $40 a day should cover a single man for food so long as you dont want to drink loads of beer or dine at signature restuarants. Get yourself to Bennighans one evening for a $5 burger - amazing value for money!

As far as the car thing goes if at all possible i would definately go for it if at all possible even though insiurance may add £200 to your trip. A car, even onsite, will make you much more flexible. You wont have to wait for transport and ultimately will mean you have more time at the parks/shopping mall because you wont be on a slow bus or waiting for other transport. You are free to go where you want when you want

Have a greta time!!!!!!!!!

Paulh