How much extra cash?

[candmforever]

well, we're all paid up for our WDW trip from Oct 3-7---wooo hoo, less than a month to go!

There are 6 of us (DH, me, DD (4.5) and DS (2.5) and g-parents). DH and I paid for the entire trip, and g-parents are paying for the gas down (good thing!) We live in N. Florida so it's only about 6 hours drive.

We are doing the dining plan so as we see it, we only need $ for souveniers or extra snacks and things. We are arriving afternoon of day 1, going to DTD to shop a bit, and eating at Bomas for dinner.
Then:
Day 2 - MK all day
Day 3 - MGM all day
Day 4 - AK all day.

My question is this: HOw much $ do you think we'll need to budget for 3.5 days. Everything is paid for, except for what we want on a whim, extras and such. I've put aside 500-700.00. DH thinks 500 is more like it. What do you think? We aren't spend-crazy people, but we do like to enjoy ourselves, grab up souveniers and get an extra coffee-drink or two.

What do you think?
Melissa

 

[RamseyTrio]

I think $500 is good. Since your meals are paid for that's a huge chunk of change that you don't need to worry about. We usually bring a set amount with us and then keep some extra cash home so if we do need to use our credit card while we are there we have the cash to pay it with on our return so we don't go overboard.

 

[HaleyB]

I would have to try to spend that much in 3.5 days. It just really depends on what you want to bring home.

On our last trip I got a tee shirt, my hubby got two pins and a lanyard, my son found a stich remote control toy he wanted, and my daughter wanted a CD. We also got a pressed penny book. That was about it. I think we spent about $150. I like my frozen coffee and hubby and kids like the frozen lemonaid, so we spent about $15 a day on those. But with the snacks on the dining plan I think we might end up doing icecream instead.

 

[candmforever]

That sounds like us...we dont' take it ALL w/ us b/c we always go over a tad. I guess we can leave 200 at home, and take 500. I just don't want to have to always worry, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH? We do that every time, but this time we have what we need to have a good time w/o too much worry...a different place in life I guess. AND, I'm the trip organizer, beginning to end...and I'm ususally the one who comes away w/o ONE souvenier... ...just trying to make sure the kids and DH have all THEY want..........BUT this time, I'm going to get EXACTLY what I want, whether it's 1 or 5 things......it's about time!

 

[candmforever]

Just bumping this in case any others have opinions on this tonight...thanks!

 

[cattrix]

I am also on the dining plan but have budgeted for more things to bring cash for:

Mousekeeping Tips
Resort Mugs
Snacks outside the dining plan
Bellhop
Souvenirs
Driver Tips

Hope this helps a little Can anyone think of anything I've forgotten???

 

[DiznEeyore]

I am also on the dining plan but have budgeted for more things to bring cash for:

Mousekeeping Tips
Resort Mugs
Snacks outside the dining plan
Bellhop
Souvenirs
Driver Tips

Hope this helps a little Can anyone think of anything I've forgotten???

Do you ever go in the arcade? I always bring 15-20 singles in an envelope so dh and ds can have fun. How 'bout mini golf? We usually do that one evening, too. Or boat rentals? Mostly it just depends on what extra things you think you might want to do.

 

[moretigger]

When we went, we spent cash on -
Drinks with dinner
Kids meals for 2 year old
Extra tips at meals
refillable mugs
drinks at the pool (yes, there is a theme here)
haircut at the barber shop

There were 3 of us and we spent less than 300 including souveniers for several people.

 

[3xthecharm]

My sister puts some extra expenses into envelopes before she leaves.
Like:Mousekeeping Tips, bell hop, and parking
This works very well.

I budget souvenir money based on the whole trip per person. This would be about $120. We take disney shirts/PJs that we get on sale before we go. My kids love to wear character pjs while there. DD likes this better that toys.

Snacks would be about $20/park day. Bring snacks and bottled water to have at the resort and in the car. This would total about $80.

I'm not sure if tips are included in the meal plan. If not, budget for that as well.

I plan on about $20 per day of unexpected expenses. If you don't use it, great. This totals $100.

I also budget $50 for a souvenir that I should not buy, but I do.

What do you know. If you total of this pluss the envelopes, I makes about $500.