How much do you take for spending money?

[ChristineOH]

We averaged a little more than $100 a day for a family of 5 for tips, souvenirs and misc. food for a 7 night stay. We were on the regular dining plan, which covered all of our meals except one, particularly because we were out of the parks one day. (We went to Universal.) We did two meals that required two table service credits, but those included tips, so we only had to tip on three table service meals. (A bonus I didn't consider.)
Also, I didn't really consider that when we were at Disney, we wouldn't be spending any money on gas, groceries, and other misc. stuff that I would have been spending when we were at home, so my credit card bill was not nearly as painful as I expected when we returned home.

 

[GoofyVette]

I've always had an issue with tipping. I think ones wages should make your pay, not how well you do your job as well as being on dependent on customers like me who don't believe in tipping. Pay increases should be your incentive for your performance. Don't like your job/pay, find another.

As for spending onsite, we charge all to our room which is paid using our Disney Visa of course. We spend about $40-60, we have DP, a day while onsite and that's really stretching it. I just can't see spending what some here are reporting. Sorry to rant.

 

[204charity]

So here's a question, and I don't mean it to sound snarky. What are you all buying with all this money?

We aren't souvenier people. I hate having clutter. I hate having something that will just accumulate dust, that I need to find a place for in my house, that is just "stuff." We do breakfast on our own, take in our own water bottle, and then it's usually CS meals. We have done TS meals in the past (usually a little less than 1 per night we're there), so obviously we need to tip that. We don't drink, so no alcohol. Here and there we'll get a snack I guess, but that's not even one per person per day. Pretty much our vacation is our trip itself, not stuff that we buy. I guess we're not the norm?

Doesn't seem snarky at all! It's a fair question. I'll tell you some of the things I know FOR SURE I will be spending $$ on next week.

-Pick a pearl in Japan (we already bought a necklace on ebay, but still need the pearl) approx $20 I think

-Characters in Flight in DTD - My treat for my dad, dd and I - approx $70 I think

-Lanyard and pin starter set for DD and myself (at least $50 total two sets)

-Souveniers for DS, DH, and DD's closest cousins

- I also plan on buying some alcoholic beverages for my Mom and I while laying by the pool at the Poly

-Little MissMatched socks at DTD for DD


My DS is a HUGE Star Wars fan, so I know I will throw down a pretty hefty chunk of change down on their merch, and I certainly love my Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc, if I can find beach towels and coffee mugs for both I'd love it! I also collect magnets from everywhere we go and everywhere our loved ones go, so I'll be buying a few of those too. This is a once in lifetime trip for us, and we are all huge shopaholics, so I know we will shop til we drop!

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I've always had an issue with tipping. I think ones wages should make your pay, not how well you do your job as well as being on dependent on customers like me who don't believe in tipping. Pay increases should be your incentive for your performance. Don't like your job/pay, find another.

As for spending onsite, we charge all to our room which is paid using our Disney Visa of course. We spend about $40-60, we have DP, a day while onsite and that's really stretching it. I just can't see spending what some here are reporting. Sorry to rant.

I am not going to get into the tipping issue, however, for dining, their wages are reduced bc tipping is usual and customary. 'Nuff said.

As for the rest, u seem happy doing things your way, and I enjoy doing things my way, so we are going to have to agree to disagree. I like to let my hair down at Disney, so I will continue to do so.

 

[ARAITHEL]

I find myself spending most of my money on pins. We are pin collectors. I also pick up a skirt in the Yak And Yeti store every year at AK.

Here's a tip: buy your trader pins on eBay for $1 ea instead of the inflated prices at the parks.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I just bring my credit card because sometimes I spend more than 500.00 in souveniers/tips/alcohol/snacks and other times I spend less.

It just depends on what I see that I like and how much I feel like treating myself. Some trips I feel more cheap than others.

The year I went the first week of December, I went crazy buying stuff. Christmas gifts, stuff for my house, a new snowglobe, several vinylmations, souveniers for the kids and lots of pins. Plus I was having a blast trying different drinks. That was an expensive trip for sure.

 

[katiekoester]

I've always had an issue with tipping. I think ones wages should make your pay, not how well you do your job as well as being on dependent on customers like me who don't believe in tipping. Pay increases should be your incentive for your performance. Don't like your job/pay, find another.

this cracks me up because you OBVIOUSLY have never worked/ran/owned a restaurant, but in your signature you proudly proclaim "Buy American". Now I started my working career as a server, went into management while paying for my own college, and married the owners son who is now the owner so if you want to support Americans you should probably start at your neighborhood restaurant. Trust me if you do your job well as a server you can make decent, if not good, money where as if it was all a "straight pay for hours" situation the good ones would make the same as the crappy ones. we proudly buy American,shop at local small businesses AND tip our servers because in our mind it is the right thing to do. Please don't brag about not believing in tipping your server but then suggest others "Buy American" to help save your job or a family members job (I am assuming you are in manufacturing) because it's kind of hypocritical IMO. Sorry for MY rant

 

[saffron1000]

this cracks me up because you OBVIOUSLY have never worked/ran/owned a restaurant, but in your signature you proudly proclaim "Buy American". Now I started my working career as a server, went into management while paying for my own college, and married the owners son who is now the owner so if you want to support Americans you should probably start at your neighborhood restaurant. Trust me if you do your job well as a server you can make decent, if not good, money where as if it was all a "straight pay for hours" situation the good ones would make the same as the crappy ones. we proudly buy American,shop at local small businesses AND tip our servers because in our mind it is the right thing to do. Please don't brag about not believing in tipping your server but then suggest others "Buy American" to help save your job or a family members job (I am assuming you are in manufacturing) because it's kind of hypocritical IMO. Sorry for MY rant

Well said!!!!!!! I worked as a server while I was in college to become a nurse. My pay was $2.13/hr. I worked my tail off to provide good customer service and earn my tips!

 

[CatNipRules]

I've always had an issue with tipping. I think ones wages should make your pay, not how well you do your job as well as being on dependent on customers like me who don't believe in tipping. Pay increases should be your incentive for your performance. Don't like your job/pay, find another.

As for spending onsite, we charge all to our room which is paid using our Disney Visa of course. We spend about $40-60, we have DP, a day while onsite and that's really stretching it. I just can't see spending what some here are reporting. Sorry to rant.

Do you realize that waiters and waitresses only get paid about $2.25 an hour? Those positions have historically always been a tipped position. Every single one of the waiters and waitresses in Disney is a tipped position. they live off of their tips.

It's for people like you that the mandatory tipping works wonders for. Seriously, how hard is it to tip your server for a job well done? Like you're going to miss a few extra dollars.

We always tip for a job well done. It common courtesy.

Also, I do spend a bit on my vacation because I'm on vacation and I love bringing back souvies from said vacation.

And before you ask, no, I'm not nor have I ever been a waitress. My mom was however. I work in accounting and do payroll for various small companies. One of which is a restaurant. As for them getting another job, if every person on a wait staff were to do that, then you would have no one willing to do their job. It's a vicious cycle.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

I find myself spending most of my money on pins. We are pin collectors. I also pick up a skirt in the Yak And Yeti store every year at AK.

Here's a tip: buy your trader pins on eBay for $1 ea instead of the inflated prices at the parks.

That's how we buy our pins! I just got 200 pins for I think $120!

this cracks me up because you OBVIOUSLY have never worked/ran/owned a restaurant, but in your signature you proudly proclaim "Buy American". Now I started my working career as a server, went into management while paying for my own college, and married the owners son who is now the owner so if you want to support Americans you should probably start at your neighborhood restaurant. Trust me if you do your job well as a server you can make decent, if not good, money where as if it was all a "straight pay for hours" situation the good ones would make the same as the crappy ones. we proudly buy American,shop at local small businesses AND tip our servers because in our mind it is the right thing to do. Please don't brag about not believing in tipping your server but then suggest others "Buy American" to help save your job or a family members job (I am assuming you are in manufacturing) because it's kind of hypocritical IMO. Sorry for MY rant

I am suspecting a troll here guys. Maybe not, but it is a fairly obvious and easy topic to start a fight in. I did it accidentally last year when someone misread what I wrote about tipping, and I had to quote myself to clear up what I had actually written. They beat me up pretty badly, and the error was theirs! Anyway, I agree with what you wrote even though I have never been a server. I make friends with my servers in restaurants b/c they treat me well, and I in turn make it worth their efforts. So...we have three options here. A.) Assume the poster is a troll, and avoid feeding it, B.)assume they are ignorant and try to change their minds of said ignorance, or C.)assume they are ignorant and just ignore said ignorance.

Personally, I say we assume everything and ignore them. What's the point in ruining a perfectly good thread due to ignorance on one person's part?

Look everyone! It's a dancing banana!!!

 

[bubba]

We always travel with the regular dining plan. There are 4 of us, including a 9 and a 14 year old boy who eat more than my husband and I combined!! We always take around $1200 for tips, souvenirs and snacks (man, those skinny kids can eat!!) We have never spent it all, and usually bring about $500 home. I just get really anxious at the thought of running out of money and needing to access my bank account and not being able to (Ummm ... I worry a lot! )

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

We always travel with the regular dining plan. There are 4 of us, including a 9 and a 14 year old boy who eat more than my husband and I combined!! We always take around $1200 for tips, souvenirs and snacks (man, those skinny kids can eat!!) We have never spent it all, and usually bring about $500 home. I just get really anxious at the thought of running out of money and needing to access my bank account and not being able to (Ummm ... I worry a lot! )

I know! My husband and I are pooh sized, yet the skinny kids eat more than we do! We share our counter service credits, but my son uses one at every meal all by himself! I never spend the whole amount either, but I want to have the OPTION to do so! I think it goes back to high school when I was on a missions trip and ran out of spending money. It was embarassing and hard. I thought I had more, but when I looked in my hiding spot it wasn't there. I never want to feel that way again. I prefer to charge everything to my room and pay it down with gift cards so it never has to touch my account. Just makes me feel better. You aren't the only one with anxiety!

 

[danielle79]

I've always had an issue with tipping. I think ones wages should make your pay, not how well you do your job as well as being on dependent on customers like me who don't believe in tipping. Pay increases should be your incentive for your performance. Don't like your job/pay, find another.

As for spending onsite, we charge all to our room which is paid using our Disney Visa of course. We spend about $40-60, we have DP, a day while onsite and that's really stretching it. I just can't see spending what some here are reporting. Sorry to rant.

Ok do you realize that servers make $5 an hour from their employers! I don't know what Disney servers make, but in general this is what we make. Now your not believing in tipping upsets me because I am a server and can't believe people like you leave your home and expect people to serve and leave them nothing, do us a favor and stay home! Thankfully I don't serve many people like you and usually bring home about $20 an hour.

 

[danielle79]

That's how we buy our pins! I just got 200 pins for I think $120!



I am suspecting a troll here guys. Maybe not, but it is a fairly obvious and easy topic to start a fight in. I did it accidentally last year when someone misread what I wrote about tipping, and I had to quote myself to clear up what I had actually written. They beat me up pretty badly, and the error was theirs! Anyway, I agree with what you wrote even though I have never been a server. I make friends with my servers in restaurants b/c they treat me well, and I in turn make it worth their efforts. So...we have three options here. A.) Assume the poster is a troll, and avoid feeding it, B.)assume they are ignorant and try to change their minds of said ignorance, or C.)assume they are ignorant and just ignore said ignorance.

Personally, I say we assume everything and ignore them. What's the point in ruining a perfectly good thread due to ignorance on one person's part?

Look everyone! It's a dancing banana!!!

Really sorry blackbeltdisneygirl if you think i am ruining the thread, I think people that don't tip should be told what every server and server's family in AMERICA think of them!

And on the spending money, we bring about $100 a day for a family of 5 of course the kids make out better than my husband and I! We also love the huge mugs and t-shirts and I let the kids pick out an ornament and a toy of some sort!

 

[jdcri]

We are going in July - It will be super hot so we do not anticipate being terribly hungry. Just thirsty!!! We decided not to do any dining plan for that reason. There are also certain places that are fairly cheap I know I will want to eat at - like the main st bakery etc. Ham and cheese crossiants - nuff said!!

I am going with a large group - my family of four plus another 5 family members. My children are young and don't eat very much -unles it is ice cream . I do not eat that much either so we decided to pay as we go - plus we will probably be buying the items that come in a souvenier cup, etc.

We are bringing $1500 and I really do not anticipate spending it all. We are going for 7 days. I do have a disney visa I will bring to attach to the room as well. This is my kids first trip to disney and we are having one character meal - as breakfast - and the rest will be quick service as we do not want to be tied to a schedule and reservations.

My husbands family also lives in florida and on the first day they are coming to visit with us - we will be borrowing their car and heading to a grocery store to buy a few cases of water for inside the park. I also plan on packing some snacks and stuff and buying bananas etc. We will be buying the resort mug for at the resort for each family member as well.

I cannot imagine spending 800 for the week on a dining plan when we just would not eat that much. Also as far as souveneirs go - we actually got them pjs, swim wear, and towels from the disney store - just had their 25% off sale - and they were less than $20 with personalization so my kids will most likely go home with some mugs and a couple toys.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

Really sorry blackbeltdisneygirl if you think i am ruining the thread, I think people that don't tip should be told what every server and server's family in AMERICA think of them!

And on the spending money, we bring about $100 a day for a family of 5 of course the kids make out better than my husband and I! We also love the huge mugs and t-shirts and I let the kids pick out an ornament and a toy of some sort!

I do not think you are ruining the thread, because I agree with what you are saying. However, USUALLY when someone has that low of a thread count and says such awful things, we find that they are someone who just wants to start a fight and sit back and watch the drama unfold. Usually (and that seems to be what is happening here) they don't respond again b/c they just wanted to stir the pot, so to speak. It is really sad to me that people can be that way, but we see it a lot here on the Dis. As long as you can learn to recognize it, then you can ignore it. This may not be a troll. It may be someone who just is really arrogant and rude. Either way, I don't want to get into it with them. It is not worth my time b/c they won't change. I'd rather talk with someone who gives a care about other people and their families. Someone who would take issue with tipping someone whose wages are reduced b/c tipping is customary is not someone I want to waste my time on. That's all. They are not worth the effort.

What was this thread about again? Heehee.

 

[Blackbeltdisneygirl]

We are going in July - It will be super hot so we do not anticipate being terribly hungry. Just thirsty!!! We decided not to do any dining plan for that reason. There are also certain places that are fairly cheap I know I will want to eat at - like the main st bakery etc. Ham and cheese crossiants - nuff said!!

I am going with a large group - my family of four plus another 5 family members. My children are young and don't eat very much -unles it is ice cream . I do not eat that much either so we decided to pay as we go - plus we will probably be buying the items that come in a souvenier cup, etc.

We are bringing $1500 and I really do not anticipate spending it all. We are going for 7 days. I do have a disney visa I will bring to attach to the room as well. This is my kids first trip to disney and we are having one character meal - as breakfast - and the rest will be quick service as we do not want to be tied to a schedule and reservations.

My husbands family also lives in florida and on the first day they are coming to visit with us - we will be borrowing their car and heading to a grocery store to buy a few cases of water for inside the park. I also plan on packing some snacks and stuff and buying bananas etc. We will be buying the resort mug for at the resort for each family member as well.

I cannot imagine spending 800 for the week on a dining plan when we just would not eat that much. Also as far as souveneirs go - we actually got them pjs, swim wear, and towels from the disney store - just had their 25% off sale - and they were less than $20 with personalization so my kids will most likely go home with some mugs and a couple toys.

That's why we love to go during FREE dining! FREE is for me! We take 12 people, so free dining is a significant savings for us. We love it.

 

[pigletto]

So here's a question, and I don't mean it to sound snarky. What are you all buying with all this money?

We aren't souvenier people. I hate having clutter. I hate having something that will just accumulate dust, that I need to find a place for in my house, that is just "stuff." We do breakfast on our own, take in our own water bottle, and then it's usually CS meals. We have done TS meals in the past (usually a little less than 1 per night we're there), so obviously we need to tip that. We don't drink, so no alcohol. Here and there we'll get a snack I guess, but that's not even one per person per day. Pretty much our vacation is our trip itself, not stuff that we buy. I guess we're not the norm?

I've done both kinds of trips. But I am a little more like you now simply because we get to go often enough that we don't really want much when we're there. The trip is exciting enough.
I like to have enough to pay our tips, be able to grab a t-shirt or something if I fall in love with it, and buy presents for the cat sitters, and we always buy a Christmas ornament each.
It's not that we couldn't spend more, we just find we don't need to.
When trips were fewer and farther between we bought a little more I guess.
We give the kids some money but they bring money they've saved as well. DD has saved probably 75% of her babysitting money for a year now. She's just not a spender. She might bring it all, but I guarantee most of it will come back with her and what she buys will be for friends. That's just what she likes.

Overall I would say I like to have 100 a day on me for tips or if DH wants to have a beer, and if we see something cute. But we never spend it all anymore.

 

[Stupeo]

$100 a day plus credit card for extra's lol

 

[annieb727]

We have $100 gift cards for both of the boys and the hubs.
$250 GC for me (I scrapbook, and so it's kind of a family benefit...so I get more to spend on scrapbooking stuff ).
And we have $250 GC for tips (did a spreadsheet to calculate what we'll need for tips).
We are staying for 16 nights. I still need to get about $300 more for the last night's hotel stay and food for our last two days.