How Much $$$ Do I REALLY need to bring?

[caselaw3]

Hi all - Just trying to figure out how much money we actually need to bring with us so can the experts give me an idea if I have got this right?

Mousekeeping - $5/night - 9 nights - $45
Meal Tips - approx $25/meal - 5 meals - $125
OOP Meals - approximate $100/meal - 3 meals - $300 (overestingmating here)
souvenirs - $100/pp - 4 pp - $400
unexpected - $500

total = $1370 but if I round up that is $1500

is that enough, not enough, too much?

I don't want to bring all my money, lol - but I don't want to fall short either

 

[chimilady]

No one can answer that for you, because we don't know your habits. I think what you have budgeted (and what many people budget) for souvineers is insanely high, but I'm not a big spender on stuff. I'd rather spend it on meals. What you spend on OOP will be a huge difference depending on where you eat, so I would check allears.net for the latest prices to get a more accurate estimate. I can't imagine needing $500 for unexpected things, because I don't do that.

For me, a budget is a plan, and it doesn't sound to me like you really have done your research. For budgeting meals, I would budget for the highest priced meals and then add 20% for tip, then if you don't order the most expensive thing, you're good to go.

 

[caselaw3]

No one can answer that for you, because we don't know your habits. I think what you have budgeted (and what many people budget) for souvineers is insanely high, but I'm not a big spender on stuff. I'd rather spend it on meals. What you spend on OOP will be a huge difference depending on where you eat, so I would check allears.net for the latest prices to get a more accurate estimate. I can't imagine needing $500 for unexpected things, because I don't do that.

For me, a budget is a plan, and it doesn't sound to me like you really have done your research. For budgeting meals, I would budget for the highest priced meals and then add 20% for tip, then if you don't order the most expensive thing, you're good to go.

Thanks Chimilady
I budget that amount for souvenirs because I figured the average t-shirt is $30 and if we wanted sweatshirts they might be as much as $50 - so that was enough for one tshirt/sweatshirt for each of us....
Restaurant tips - I took all our restaurants and chose the highest priced meals at each of them and added a 20% tip -
for OOP I took the four top choices of restaurants, figured the highest priced meal at each added in a 20% tip and then took an average of those four prices and mulitplied it by 3 because we may have three out of pocket meals...
for unexpected things - I was considering something going wrong with the rental car, someone getting sick, a problem with our flights, etc. - I figured $500 would be enough to cover any unexpected emergency that might arise

I thought I had done very good research and my final act of research was putting it out here for the experts because I am a newbie but I like to be prepared for any situation...

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I think you've made very good estimates and I think you'll have plenty.

Have a magical vacation!

 

[jennylyn_b]

I'm not sure if this applies but I didn't see if you had budgeted for alcoholic beverages. Thru can range from $5-$15 per drink. Wine $40 and up for each bottle.

 

[caselaw3]

I think you've made very good estimates and I think you'll have plenty.

Have a magical vacation!

Thanks

 

[caselaw3]

I'm not sure if this applies but I didn't see if you had budgeted for alcoholic beverages. Thru can range from $5-$15 per drink. Wine $40 and up for each bottle.

I didn't budget for drinks I figured I wouldn't drink in the parks but would pick up a bottle pff site and have it for night caps in the room before bed

 

[Gracie09]

I didn't budget for drinks I figured I wouldn't drink in the parks but would pick up a bottle pff site and have it for night caps in the room before bed

I would budget for a few drinks. For those situations when you are walking by France and want that frozen thing they sell or you had a tough day and a drink with dinner would be welcome. If you don't spend it great. But you might want it in there so you don't feel guilty/

 

[Nurse_Mommy4]

It sounds to me like you have a plan and budget that works for your family and that's all that matters.

Budgets are individualized because no two families are the same. I would also add to my "budget" a couple of spontaneous adult drinks, but other than that it sounds like your right on track.

Have an awesome 1st trip!

 

[MSSANDRA]

I think you have more than enough. Your OP meals may be more than 100.00 each depending on what you choose, but everything else is way above so you will be fine. Plenty of money to have a great trip!!!!

 

[caselaw3]

I would budget for a few drinks. For those situations when you are walking by France and want that frozen thing they sell or you had a tough day and a drink with dinner would be welcome. If you don't spend it great. But you might want it in there so you don't feel guilty/

Thanks...will add another $50 for that

 

[caselaw3]

It sounds to me like you have a plan and budget that works for your family and that's all that matters.

Budgets are individualized because no two families are the same. I would also add to my "budget" a couple of spontaneous adult drinks, but other than that it sounds like your right on track.

Have an awesome 1st trip!

Thanks!!! Budgeting the drinks!

 

[caselaw3]

I think you have more than enough. Your OP meals may be more than 100.00 each depending on what you choose, but everything else is way above so you will be fine. Plenty of money to have a great trip!!!!

Thanks!!! That means that I only have to apend about half the money ibsaved and I can put the rest toward a trip next year! Yippeee

 

[PEC]

I don't know if I would add the drinks. The reason is it is not your plan but that would be part of your $500 unexpected or even the round up to $1500.

 

[Ceryssa]

Mousekeeping - $5/night - 9 nights - $45
Meal Tips - approx $25/meal - 5 meals - $125
OOP Meals - approximate $100/meal - 3 meals - $300 (overestingmating here)
souvenirs - $100/pp - 4 pp - $400
unexpected - $500

This is about what we're budgeting for our family of four, though we will probably spend a little more and (hopefully) a little less on souvenirs. It will be our first trip so I'm no expert, but it looks good to me and you should have a comfortable amount. Have fun!

 

[caselaw3]

This is about what we're budgeting for our family of four, though we will probably spend a little more and (hopefully) a little less on souvenirs. It will be our first trip so I'm no expert, but it looks good to me and you should have a comfortable amount. Have fun!

Hey thanks! My first trip with a family so I am just trying to cover all my bases, lol - this is our first family vacation EVER so I want it to be great and am trying to budget/plan everything ahead so we have as little stress as possible while there - although I know plans don't always work out - having them makes it easier for me to relax, lol

 

[MrInfinity]

Hi all - Just trying to figure out how much money we actually need to bring with us so can the experts give me an idea if I have got this right?

Mousekeeping - $5/night - 9 nights - $45
Meal Tips - approx $25/meal - 5 meals - $125
OOP Meals - approximate $100/meal - 3 meals - $300 (overestingmating here)
souvenirs - $100/pp - 4 pp - $400
unexpected - $500

total = $1370 but if I round up that is $1500

is that enough, not enough, too much?

I don't want to bring all my money, lol - but I don't want to fall short either

I seem to be in the minority here... but I've never found a need for cash at WDW. Mousekeeping tips, ok sure. But meal tips will go on your wrist band / card (in fact we travel with 6 so 18% goes on our card whether we like it or not - ugh). OOP meals will go on your card / band. Souvenirs - you're going to want to "swipe" for these and have them delivered to your room anyways, right? Drinks at the hotel too.

I would bring $300 for incidentals and because we always go to LEGOLAND on the same trip... but while at WDW you leave normal life behind and live off your room key. This will be our first year (2014) where we get to use the bands - looking forward to that!

 

[PEC]

I seem to be in the minority here... but I've never found a need for cash at WDW. Mousekeeping tips, ok sure. But meal tips will go on your wrist band / card (in fact we travel with 6 so 18% goes on our card whether we like it or not - ugh). OOP meals will go on your card / band. Souvenirs - you're going to want to "swipe" for these and have them delivered to your room anyways, right? Drinks at the hotel too.

I would bring $300 for incidentals and because we always go to LEGOLAND on the same trip... but while at WDW you leave normal life behind and live off your room key. This will be our first year (2014) where we get to use the bands - looking forward to that!

Can't write for Caselaw3 but I was assuming they meant to put on the MB. Otherwise I don't know if I would like to keep up with $1500. It would remind me of going on vacation with my father a couple of years ago and we stop to get gas and he pulls out a big roll of 100s and says he will go in and pay. I tell him I will use my card and he needs to put that money away and not to pull it out of his pocket again until the end of the vacation and we will just settle the expenses at that time. It was like he was advertising "hit me across the head and steal this money." He is just from the pay everything with cash generation.

 

[caselaw3]

I don't know if I would add the drinks. The reason is it is not your plan but that would be part of your $500 unexpected or even the round up to $1500.

Ahh - true - Good idea!

 

[caselaw3]

Can't write for Caselaw3 but I was assuming they meant to put on the MB. Otherwise I don't know if I would like to keep up with $1500. It would remind me of going on vacation with my father a couple of years ago and we stop to get gas and he pulls out a big roll of 100s and says he will go in and pay. I tell him I will use my card and he needs to put that money away and not to pull it out of his pocket again until the end of the vacation and we will just settle the expenses at that time. It was like he was advertising "hit me across the head and steal this money." He is just from the pay everything with cash generation.

You are correct - I am not bringing cash

I am deciding how much money to put in my bank account for the debit card that will be linked to the room - the only "cash" I will be taking is what's in the envelopes for the mousekeeping tips and what's on the Disney Gift Cards - I didn't figure I would need actual cash cash for anything - will I?