How Much Do We HAVE to Spend at Disney

[_auroraborealis_]

What I haven't seen mentioned: Dining Plan does not include tip. You do need to account for tipping on Table Service meals, which will eat into that spending money.

 

[Hootch]

I agree with Oswin. The simplest thing to do is to cancel the dining plan. You can throw in a couple of TS meals and still save quite a bit of money. An added benefit is that you will have more time in the parks.

Good luck with the flooding. We had a leak in a wall that we did not notice until the hardwood floors started to warp. Our first floor is almost all hardwood. Most of it had to be ripped out. It was rough but doable. On the bright side, we switched our kitchen from hardwood to tile, which we were planning to do anyway, at a much lower cost.

 

[tsme]

I agree with others, split QS meals. Get your children to bring any of their own money for things they want. Be honest with them also, make sure they understand you won't be able to buy extras, no exceptions. Kids are really understanding, even the little ones. If you can pack things like pop tarts for breakfast, do it, it'll save money for breakfast. I do understand how you're feeling. Our house flooded years back but it was while we were on vacation. We got the call on our last night & had to try & deal with it thru the phone. Then when we got home we had to stay in a hotel for a few nights because we couldn't stay in the house with the driers & dehumidifiers. Not fun. I hope all goes well for you. And try to have fun. Drop the worries at the entrance.

 

[Jake&IzzyLand]

Remember tip money at TS restaurants. Tips on large bills are not cheap. You can ball park what each tip will be by checking out the menus online.

 

[Susan Storm]

I agree with Oswin. The simplest thing to do is to cancel the dining plan. You can throw in a couple of TS meals and still save quite a bit of money. An added benefit is that you will have more time in the parks.

Good luck with the flooding. We had a leak in a wall that we did not notice until the hardwood floors started to warp. Our first floor is almost all hardwood. Most of it had to be ripped out. It was rough but doable. On the bright side, we switched our kitchen from hardwood to tile, which we were planning to do anyway, at a much lower cost.

I'm sorry you had flooding too! Yeah, we had a terrible storm (we're on the gulf coast) and everybody around us was flooded. A lot of our furniture/electronics/carpet was ruined. So we HAD money saved up for spending on the trip and a lot of that had to go to emergency repairs and things. Hopefully flood insurance will reimburse us though!

 

[Susan Storm]

Remember tip money at TS restaurants. Tips on large bills are not cheap. You can ball park what each tip will be by checking out the menus online.

Definitely! Yeah, my mom is coming with us and since we covered a lot of her trip she offered to pay tips - we're very thankful to her for that!

 

[Hikergirl]

I'm not sure how many are in your party with the DDP, but I would drop it. Order groceries for breakfasts and lunches. You can save alot by doing that. Bring refillable bottles in the park so you can get water, add koolaid packets for the kids if they aren't water drinkers.
You also don't have to do TS meals for every dinner, there are plenty of good CS restaurants for dinner options.

I'm not a big fan of buying souvenirs at home and giving them to the kids when at the parks but in your case I think it makes sense. If you have young kids, you can pre-purchase some Disney themed things to give them during your stay. It may make it easier to avoid the shops.

 

[Dreamin192]

My tip is don't ever charge to your band, don't even set it up so you can. It was so easy to do last trip and within 6 days we had charged like $1000. Only pay cash/card, that way you have a better idea of what you've spent and what you have left

 

[cmarsh31]

Have you already factored in your regular grocery & gas budget for that week? I figure when I'm on vacation, there's an extra $50 in gas for our two cars and $150 in groceries that I'd normally be spending - that $ becomes part of our vacation spending. If you haven't - that might give you a little wiggle room. As for food - I'd order groceries for the trip and use those for breakfast and snacks to avoid spending $ in the park. Any quick online garage sale stuff you can do for some extra cash (summer clothes are selling very quickly here, as well as outgrown bikes, etc).

 

[pmaurer74]

We usually average $300 in souvenirs so it is possible. What I do with my girls is I have them pick one souvenir for the trip and to be careful what they choose. They seem content with that. Know keeping me to one souvenir is tough! I am sorry to hear about the flooding.

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I saw someone mention glow bracelets. We also pick up a pack or two from Target (usually $1 for a dozen). Much cheaper than buying at WDW.

EDIT: A lot of people are suggesting dropping the DDP. We're one family who I know saved money with it (after adding up maybe 75% of our receipts for the 8 days/9 nights we were there last May, we'd already saved over $300. We ordered what we wanted, and didn't feel pressure to switch to more expensive meal options to stretch the value.) However, I agree that switching to the quick service DP or dropping it altogether and maybe splitting meals, dropping TS, etc, would save money. We're usually fine with quick service meals, but chose to do the DDP and at least one TS a day last trip bc I was pregnant and needed the breaks (as did our two kids). We did several character meals and other AYCTE/buffets - I'm sure we wouldn't have saved so much if we'd chosen less expensive TS locations. The DDP is nice to have, and I totally understand wanting to keep the TS meals (especially if the kids or your mom need the air conditioned breaks).

 

[china mom]

It can be done... especially if you are bringing a car and have room for a cooler and other food.

I fly and have still managed trips for almost nothing per day. We bring a checked bag with 50 pounds of food and I use a rolling cooler full of lunch meat and such as my carry on. We buy milk at the resort, eat breakfast in the room. I have a smaller lunch cooler to tote sandwhiches into the park and we split a $16 pizza for dinner.

Also, your rapid refill cups that you will get with your meal plan are good for 14 days so you will still have those for your last 2.

 

[ellie05]

Op use this to determine if you are better off using the DDP or out of pocket. http://www.distripplanner.com

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

So, Mom is paying for the tips and you are already looking into cancelling the dining plan, if you can and if it will save you money. You plan to carry snacks.

What else????

I agree with the "don't charge to your magic bands." It is much easier to keep up with the cost if you are paying cash.

Carry a water bottle. That way you can refill it with the free water from quick service. Yes, they give you a cup, but unless you gulp it down, you end up carrying a cup around. A bottle is much easier.

 

[quagmire0]

Situation like this is where staying offsite is really handy. That way, you can do most of your meals at the condo. In terms of in-park spending, we usually bring cups/tumblers/water bottles for everyone and get free water from the concessions places/restaurants. We bring our own snacks, and if we're not going to stop by the condo for lunch, we'll pack some PB&Js, fruit and snacks for the kids and find a place to have a mini picnic. Our family never really goes crazy with souvenirs. This year, we put Disney gift cards on the kids' birthday lists, so they'll have their own souvenir money to spend.

 

[mousefan73]

1. If you are paying out of pocket for the Dining plan consider reducing to the QS, though if you have character ADRS books and your Kids are at that Age where MIckey at breakfast or princess is the hightlight then I say Keep the DP and enjoy the TS, and kiss your mom each time for coverning for the tops.
2. You say Food for 5 days and staying AoA for 2 days.. aRe you speaking days or Resort nights? remember the DP is PER Resort night... but good until midmight of your check out day. .. you can spread your Snack /Food credits to cover you for check-in day and for check.out night ( part of AoA part). 5 nights credits for 6 days.

Here are my tips on spreading your Dining out..

1. Share QS entitlements.. also those credits do not differ between kid and adult.. example get an adult meal for your Kids.. they dont check, nor care (credits are the same).. I always got in line and ordered the adult´meal and this way for us ( 2 adults and 2 Kids) would get 3 QSs.. also we would if possible, Substitute some Desserts for a side ( fries, soup) to make 3 QS more Food. This gives you an extra day of Food.
2. Don't waste any credits on breakfast.. ( unless you have a TS buffert or so booked), but spend 15 bucks on cereal and milk for the week or bagels etc.... if drinving take Food with from home ( dry goods, peanut butter).
3. use Snack credits to buy Mickey bars or better value a sundea... This makes the Kids happy and buffers some of the lack of "spending Money"

4. Ice water is free. bring bottled water with..
5. No alcoholic drink extras for you guys...


Spending Money for us at Disney was spent on:
1. Cash tips on bell Services... Avoid this by not having them touch, move your bags.
2. Tips( you got covered)

The rest Money we spent was on UNNECCESSARY sourvenours etc...

I think you can do this... IMO it's sad when some think if you dont have 100s saved for spending Money not to go.. Dont lose sight of the big Picture! You are there, all Shows, Events, parades,rides, buses, ice water, Food, Snacks is paid for!!

Dont know your kid's Age... but as I kid I was often told no when I wanted someting. they will get over it.. Just avoid the obvious, BBB if you have a Girl or the Dresses store etc....

 

[ArwenMarie]

I would keep the dining plan if it is already paid for. That will alleviate a lot of the budgeting stress for the first portion of the trip.

Since you have a car, I would move offsite and use the savings there to fund the meals for the remaining days. AoA is not inexpensive, I think you can find some good savings there.

I hope you have a great trip

 

[Susan Storm]

1. If you are paying out of pocket for the Dining plan consider reducing to the QS, though if you have character ADRS books and your Kids are at that Age where MIckey at breakfast or princess is the hightlight then I say Keep the DP and enjoy the TS, and kiss your mom each time for coverning for the tops.
2. You say Food for 5 days and staying AoA for 2 days.. aRe you speaking days or Resort nights? remember the DP is PER Resort night... but good until midmight of your check out day. .. you can spread your Snack /Food credits to cover you for check-in day and for check.out night ( part of AoA part). 5 nights credits for 6 days.

Here are my tips on spreading your Dining out..

1. Share QS entitlements.. also those credits do not differ between kid and adult.. example get an adult meal for your Kids.. they dont check, nor care (credits are the same).. I always got in line and ordered the adult´meal and this way for us ( 2 adults and 2 Kids) would get 3 QSs.. also we would if possible, Substitute some Desserts for a side ( fries, soup) to make 3 QS more Food. This gives you an extra day of Food.
2. Don't waste any credits on breakfast.. ( unless you have a TS buffert or so booked), but spend 15 bucks on cereal and milk for the week or bagels etc.... if drinving take Food with from home ( dry goods, peanut butter).
3. use Snack credits to buy Mickey bars or better value a sundea... This makes the Kids happy and buffers some of the lack of "spending Money"

4. Ice water is free. bring bottled water with..
5. No alcoholic drink extras for you guys...


Spending Money for us at Disney was spent on:
1. Cash tips on bell Services... Avoid this by not having them touch, move your bags.
2. Tips( you got covered)

The rest Money we spent was on UNNECCESSARY sourvenours etc...

I think you can do this... IMO it's sad when some think if you dont have 100s saved for spending Money not to go.. Dont lose sight of the big Picture! You are there, all Shows, Events, parades,rides, buses, ice water, Food, Snacks is paid for!!

Dont know your kid's Age... but as I kid I was often told no when I wanted someting. they will get over it.. Just avoid the obvious, BBB if you have a Girl or the Dresses store etc....

Thanks! These are really good tips. My kids are pretty used to hearing no - we live pretty strictly, so we don't shop much at all and we live on thrift store clothes mainly. I think we can do it! I'm trying to get some overtime hours this week and next to try to save up, and I'm searching the house/van for spare change for penny pressing machines for souvenirs for the kids. Your dining plan tips are really helpful, thank you! I think we will keep the dining plan since it's all paid for and everyone is looking forward to the meals, and we'll just try to do as you've said and stretch those quick service meals to make them last longer. I'm going to bring boxes of cereal/pop tarts/instant oatmeal packs, plus stuff for PB&J so we should be okay for extra snacks at the hotel and some breakfasts. I think this will work! Thanks again for all your help!

 

[mousefan73]

I am assuming they are five People.. Therefore offsite would bee either a Suite type place or 2 rooms.. They can do 2 cheap Motel rooms off some turnpike and save alot ,but that for me would really be a downer.. I think a nicer off-site Suite, or 2 rooms, near Disney PLUS paying for offsite parking would not be too much savings in the end...

I would keep the dining plan if it is already paid for. That will alleviate a lot of the budgeting stress for the first portion of the trip.

Since you have a car, I would move offsite and use the savings there to fund the meals for the remaining days. AoA is not inexpensive, I think you can find some good savings there.

I hope you have a great trip [/QUOTE

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think you can do it! Your mom is paying for the restaurant gratuities which is why I say this. Avoiding things like appetizers, cocktails etc means your food is all paid for. The first day at AoA your dining credits are still good. If you share some cs meals earlier in your trip, you will have credits to use that day.

We have done trips where we had the qsdp and literally spent about a hundred bucks for a ten day trip. I always buy an ornament and on those trips, that was the only souvenir we bought.

I do agree that ditching AoA for two rooms at another value could save money. In fact we did this two years ago and the savings if I recall was about $100 a night for two rooms at Pop vs. the AoA suite.

Personally I would keep the DDP simply because its paid for and your mom is helping so much by taking care of the tips.

Stretch those credits enough that you only have to pay OOP for one day of your vacation. Definitely bring snacks from home as well as drinks (it sounds like you're driving) If not, you get the mugs with the DDP, so when you eat at the resort, save your bottled drink you get with your meal for those last two days A very economical meal at WDW is a whole pizza from your food court. That with some saved drinks and snacks from your DDP portion will have you eating cheap!

I'm sorry about your flood! We had that happen a week before our October 2010 trip. I called Disney and they let me downgrade from a POR Free Dining package with the DDP to one at ASMU with free QSDP. Best of luck to you!