How much did you spend at Disney?

[chcoley]

We are heading to WDW in a little over 5 weeks and are trying to get our ducks in a row. We've been saving for months to pay off our flights and trip (DONE and DONE!!) and are now trying to figure out how much we need to set aside for Disney spending. I understand it's different for everyone, but thought I'd ask to get a general idea.

Some background...we have three DD's (7, 5, and 2) who each have $300 in gift cards to spend already. We are on the TS dining plan and plan to have my 2 year old share instead of buying her a meal. I know we'll be paying gratuities and tips, so I've accounted for that.

I'm pretty frugal, so while I figure I'll buy a few souvenirs (picture frame/album, Christmas ornament), I'm not going to go crazy!

 

[irishsharon]

We are planning or families first trip in May so I am curious to hear what people say.We are going for star wars weekend and I'm afraid my boys are going to go crazy

 

[Ennazus8810]

We are fairly frugal as well, and have DD's 2 & 3. We spendt less than $150 on extras for a 10 day trip. We tend to go at least once a year, so we would rather put money towards the next trip instead of spending it on souvenirs. My girls don't ask for a lot of things either, which makes it nice. We tend to bring some smaller Disney items (light up spinners and stuff) from home and hit the Disney Outlet one evening before we buy anything.

 

[kalc12345]

Other than food we probably spend around $50-60. We buy each kid a shirt and that is it. We do go to Disney a lot so we don't care for souvenirs.

 

[honeydiane1953]

I can never resist this question. I have been with two adults and two children total . I have gone with two adults and one child total. I have flown, driven you name it. We are deluxe folks. Recently staying in Cont. and more recently Wilderness Lodge. We have had DP AND OOP and it comes out to 5000.00 dollars no matter.

 

[kimnvbva]

We are leaving in 3 weeks and my husband and I were just talking about this lat night. We were going to give our kids 10 &7 a $100 gift card. We were going to budget about $100 a day for tips and incidentals. We have the dining plan so our table service meals are good o go. We will pay for a few out of pocket and that's where the $100 comes in place. I'm sure we won't use all of that money but we'd like to know that it's there. I'm hoping to come home with most of it for Christmas shopping! Hope this helps!

 

[Neesy228]

We just returned from a 9 day trip, and we also have three kids - slightly older than yours, but not by much...my kids have been to Disney a lot, so we typically let them buy one big thing or a couple smaller things and I may get something small for myself. This time around my DD did the BBB for the first time. That was close to $200 all by itself. We were on the DDP, so we had 8 TS meal gratuities to pay as well. Our total cash spending for the trip was $575. Not bad!

Hope that helps!

 

[SaraJayne]

Above and beyond the cost of the trip (airfare, hotel, tickets, food)?

We usually spend around $150 for a weeks trip.

 

[sheilanne]

I can never resist this question. I have been with two adults and two children total . I have gone with two adults and one child total. I have flown, driven you name it. We are deluxe folks. Recently staying in Cont. and more recently Wilderness Lodge. We have had DP AND OOP and it comes out to 5000.00 dollars no matter.

I am absolutely ashamed for the amount our trip is costing in November!! Four adults, 6y/o and 4 month old staying at BLT with DXDP, park Hopper with no discounts. Around 8000 then airfare another 2000!!!!! I haven't even thought about spending money. Next trip we will stay at a resort that has DP or room discount available. This is ridiculous!!!!

 

[eliza61]

I am absolutely ashamed for the amount our trip is costing in November!! Four adults, 6y/o and 4 month old staying at BLT with DXDP, park Hopper with no discounts. Around 8000 then airfare another 2000!!!!! I haven't even thought about spending money. Next trip we will stay at a resort that has DP or room discount available. This is ridiculous!!!!

LOL. It's only ridiculous if you don't enjoy yourself. If you have a ball it's worth every penny.

In my real life 50 weeks out of the year I'm a frugal franny, No way no how do I do it on my vacation. My vacations are a break from the normal.

For my family of 4, I budget about 350 a day. Now too be honest lately I haven't spent that much because we haven't been overly impressed with the selection of disney merchandise over the last few years.

We do, do a lot of extras though. Last year we did the Segway tour at epcot. phenomenal!! The year before we did the illuminations boat ride.

My sons are a bit older and now the want to do the Richard Petty driving experience.

 

[chimilady]

Not including tips (which do add up, as our family of 4 only had one meal under $100) we spent about $100. They each got Mickey ears, got a couple tiny doo-dads, and the rest was Santa purchases.

 

[Darcy03231]

This is so subjective. I've been on trips where I've spent quite a bit (Dooney & Bourke handbag, chamilia charms, harvey seatbelt handbag, etc.) and I've been on trips where I've spent very little (a couple of pins and a christmas ornament).

If you truly plan to stick to a picture frame and an ornament it should be less than $50.

 

[sheilanne]

LOL. It's only ridiculous if you don't enjoy yourself. If you have a ball it's worth every penny.

In my real life 50 weeks out of the year I'm a frugal franny, No way no how do I do it on my vacation. My vacations are a break from the normal.

For my family of 4, I budget about 350 a day. Now too be honest lately I haven't spent that much because we haven't been overly impressed with the selection of disney merchandise over the last few years.

We do, do a lot of extras though. Last year we did the Segway tour at epcot. phenomenal!! The year before we did the illuminations boat ride.

My sons are a bit older and now the want to do the Richard Petty driving experience.

I agree, I know my family will be so excited to stay at BLT. I am usually frugal also and its tough looking @the numbers. LOL. I know BOG and CRT will be AMAZING, also we are doing Cal Grill twice, 'OHANA bkfst and dinner, Flying Fish, Citrico's, Le Cellier, Akershus, and Narcoosses. My husband and son-in-law will be THRILLED!!!! Its just hard to thing we've spent the same amount as going to Europe next year.

 

[pigletto]

I can never resist this question. I have been with two adults and two children total . I have gone with two adults and one child total. I have flown, driven you name it. We are deluxe folks. Recently staying in Cont. and more recently Wilderness Lodge. We have had DP AND OOP and it comes out to 5000.00 dollars no matter.

AH yes. The magical 5000 mark. I always joke that no matter what I do that is the price I always end up at. Mostly because if I shave a good amount off one category I somehow add it to another

OP that sounds like more than enough in spending money for the kids. Make sure you have the room to bring that back or you'll be buying another suitcase too

 

[honeydiane1953]

Sheilanne and Pigletto I feel your pain. After digesting the OP she wanted the amount for spending after everything is said and done I think. I have no dadgum idea. We don't buy dooney's etc but do let the kids get one big thing and FEW small things. LOL what an expensive trip. I don't care what anybody budget's WDW is high.

 

[LSU25]

We just came back and weren't on the DDP, so between food and extras roughly 1,200 for me my DH and 2y/o DS. We bought a ton of christmas present for DS this year and like many say we are so frugal the 50 other weeks of the year when we go to WDW we like to live and not worry. One thing that helps us not worry is that we save all the money before we even leave on the trip so we return with no bills and if we come home with extra money...great, if not than its ok.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We typically spend around $100/day outside of our package. This money goes mostly to tips and adult beverages at sit down restaurants. We each get a souvenir. It adds up fast!

 

[chcoley]

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[KELLY]

We only spent 500.00. But we were on the QSDP and paid OP for rainforest cafe. Some of that went to tips and them the girls spent around 125.00 each. I did buy a sweatshirt and a beach towel dh bought a beachtowel and a new t-shirt. We went for 11 days. We did spend 200.00 to book bounceback but that wasn't in the 500.00 total. Most years we spend way more than that. I 'm not complain.

 

[Gorechick]

I spent about $1800 on souvenirs and experiences on our first family trip in August. That was in addition to items I bought before the trip, resort, park tix, food, rental car and airfare. Our trip was $$$$$$.