How much do you spend on average at WDW

[LJSquishy]

$0 for us! We hate clutter so nothing for sale really appeals to us at Disney World. I will say that the new Starbucks park mugs are mildly intriguing but I would only consider purchasing them if they are the 14oz stackable mugs. I've never seen them in person so I don't know if they are or not. We have two stackable Starbucks mugs that we love (even though Starbucks coffee is poor quality) and I'd love to donate some of our other less frequently used mugs and make room for more stackable ones. They seem a little steep in price for what they are, though, so I probably wouldn't actually buy them. LOL

 

[*pixie*dust*]

Since we go fairly often, I don't buy a lot, unless I find something I really love, otherwise usually a Christmas ornament and key chain. DS gets $10 per day to spend any way he wants. The last few times he bought Legos that he hadn't seen in stores at home. I usually buy him a shirt, too. So maybe $200 ?

 

[knkmom]

When we went in 2009 (family of 4 and it was our very first trip to WDW) we spent $800 extra for our 7 days! I think I had budgeted $1000 extra for the trip so we did better than I thought we would. Just dh and I are going in May and I'm budgeting $500 and hoping that covers everything extra we end up doing!

 

[EMILAYLAY93]

We go quite often, but manage to spend about $500 each time for the 4 of us. We are all adults so we want nicer things to bring home from WDW. Souvenirs have gotten so expensive that it's not hard to do. Normally, we will look in the gift shops for a few days to decide what we want as our souvenirs and buy them all at the same time. There are certain things I buy every time like a couple of inexpensive charms to add to my charm bracelet.

 

[hsmamato2]

Its really easy to spend and spend.....there are so many goodies everywhere.... I spent about 250.00 my last trip, for 3 of us,plus ds got some stuff on his own.... But i splurged on a really great hat..... I LOVE housewares and mugs..... Its my way of getting something unique,yet still usable. ( no they don't sell what i like at walmart,the specific designs are interesting to me, things that you can only get in park,etc) but warning it would have been so easy to keep spending......

 

[MikeTex1]

We have a basic rule, $100 per day for extras for 2 people. This could be for everything outside of hotel, tickets and meals (generally one site down meal a day). We do like to splurge when traveling so usually we get at least one pricy item each trip. Our last trip included items from the Art of Disney and 3 Alex & Ani bracelets. Our best friends are a family of 4 and they budget the same amount per day.

 

[artemis4]

We are not tchotchhke people. The kids each get $20-30 for souvenirs on any vacation we take, and Disney is no different. Last trip to Disney, my FIL also gave the kids $20 each. None of them spent more than $25 on their souvenirs, and the rest went into their savings. My husband and I rarely purchase souvenirs. We didn't get anything at Disney last time other than photos, and I'd be shocked if this time was different.

 

[1buckeyegirl]

Usually a couple hundred if that. We purchase a christmas ornament every trip and then the kids get about $50 to spend on a few things. Anything above $50 and the kids spend their own money.

 

[DisneyHoover]

It just depends what our budget is for the trip; on our trip in 2013, DF's mother paid for the entire trip so the $500 we saved up all went to souvenirs (we have a ridiculous amount of Disney shot-glasses & vinylmations now lol); during our weekend trip paid for by us, though, the only thing I bought was a Disney Vera Bradley hipster (after much begging toward my budget-conscious fiance).

 

[Original Amber]

What is a real son?

LOL, I kinda wondered when someone was going to ask that. Jeramey is the son to whom I gave birth. Jon is a guy who became a part of our family in middle school. Jon provides muscles and height which none of us have; I'm short, Molly , a cousin, is in a wheelchair, Jeramey's a little person, and Ambia , my granddaughter, also is short.

 

[North of Mouse]

on gifts, souvenirs, knick knacks or shopping altogether?

I budgeted 500.00 for our family of 3, but I'm not sure if it's enough.
I want to buy mugs, gifts for only a few people and teacher, and probably just shop here and there.

Suggestions?

At most, usually a mug, we're not into souvenirs that much - just enjoy experiencing and 'being' at Disney. From what most people I talk to say - once they're home - the T shirts and souvies are usually history.

 

[kathy884]

I don't buy souvenirs, but DS (19) does with his own money. I think on our last trip he spent about $80 on an IPhone 6 classic mickey phone case (very cute) and a Mickey camera strap -- He's studying photography. If we spend all day at the parks too, we just eat counter service and have some snacks and I usually budget $30 pp if two meals and snacks are involved.

DS spent less at Universal -- just a wand. But more at SeaWorld -- several shirts, bumper sticker, water/juice bottle, and CD. Again for me the total was $0, but probably in total for the week for him was about $300 in souvenirs for himself. He also did buy a wand for a friend who is a huge Harry Potter fan too.

 

[ML_LovesDisney]

If I'm only talking about souvenirs and not food, we probably spend a MAX of $300. This last trip we did buy some Christmas ornaments, so that pushed us closer to around $300 for 7 nights, but usually less. Our kids don't ask for as much now luckily. I usually like to get a coffee mug and maybe our girls a swimsuit each.

 

[eliza61]

I budget $350 bucks a day. that is for food and gifts. So we always get 1 shirt/sweatshirt each every trip. lol sort of our "thing". usually it's some thing from the resort we are staying at. I like to get a Christmas ornament and some thing for my kitchen.
Actually my kids never did a lot of "toys" as I have all sons and Disney we find is "princess" specific so when they were smaller they really didn't find much that they wanted.
Some times if I find a real nice watch I'll pick that up.

This year I got a Pandora bracelet for Christmas so I know I'll be looking for charms when I go in August

I totally admit, one of the things I like to do in Disney is go through the shops. they are sooo cool IMO. for a while Disney was making every thing "generic". all the shirts had the "gang" with the year. Uggg that was horrible. thankfully they seemed to have abandoned that concept, last year I thought there was some really neat things.

 

[hsmamato2]

I totally admit, one of the things I like to do in Disney is go through the shops. they are sooo cool IMO. for a while Disney was making every thing "generic". all the shirts had the "gang" with the year. Uggg that was horrible. thankfully they seemed to have abandoned that concept, last year I thought there was some really neat things.

This. This is what happens to me.... for a few years it was generic stuff you could buy at any walgreens basically...then they got smart and started creating souvies that are more 'old style' specific to parks,hotels,memories,themes. VERY smart. I tend to buy things that I can use,and easily store, and that have just a smidge of memory attached to it that makes me smile while using the item. I have a 'desperate housewife' potholder from a couple of years ago with Minnie on it, I love it,and I don't see it anymore.... my last trip we brought home 4 mugs...between our whole family we are always using one of them,usually multiples daily.... I paid anywhere from 5.95(clearance) to 14.95 each for them, in fact for todays morning tea I chose the Monorail mug...why? I don't know, but it makes me smile and think of sunshine sparkling on the lake water rather than the 4 feet of snow in my backyard right now.....(I would have bought 5 mugs, but the Beach Club mug that I liked was oos when I went to get it) ....

 

[DisneyHardin]

DH and I are fairly big spenders on our trips. Last fall I think we spent about $1200 for 6 days. That was tips and non DDP covered food, alcoholic drinks, and souvenirs.

 

[Disneyluv111]

Thanks everyone! This will be our first time at WDW! Do you guys carry cash or use your debit/credit card attached to the magic band for purchases including food?

 

[LJSquishy]

When we went in 2012 we carried cash for tips & used our Key to the World card (Magicband now) for meals and everything else. For our upcoming trip in October, we will pay for everything with our Magicbands including tips. We'll still carry $20 or so in cash I'm sure but just for backup. Make sure you do bring about $20-$30 in $1 bills for various tipped services you may/may not use: Magical Express if they handle your luggage, bell services, housekeeping, etc. It's nice having the $1 bills on hand at all times. We also kept our driver's license & an additional credit card with us at all times in case our KTTW card (Magic and) didn't work. We didn't have any problems but I'm sure it happens occasionally!

 

[JohnDaleswife]

Hoping gas doesn't go up to much before we go. I have it priced around $2.25 a gallon right now even though its not that high in Georgia at the moment.

 

[mickeyfanachey1999]

We tend to splurge on vacation. Last year was our first year with the quick service dining plan and we spent right around $900 on "others". I remember one trip a few years ago when there was only 3 of us that we spent right around $2k with no dining plan. With these vague figures it's pretty ovbious I'm not a big "budgeter"