How much is too much?

[mouschievous]

And before you say "it's never too much!" hear me out

Imagine that your hotel and tickets are already paid for. Imagine that you are staying in a condo, so there's the opportunity to cook for yourself if you'd like to. Also imagine that you are there for 5 days and don't intend to go commando style, but take things at a more leisurely pace. And finally, you know you won't be back for at least a year, probably more.

Given that information, how much would you feel was "too much" to have in Disney gift cards for a 5 day trip for 4 adults (2 in their 70s)? Right now we're thinking we'll definitely do WOC dessert party, so that's nearly $400 - can you pay for it with Disney gift cards? And at least one splurge meal (Carthay Circle? BB? Napa Rose? Steakhouse 55?). I would love to do a character breakfast but I think I'm the only one

So, again, knowing that the hotel and tickets are already paid for, how much would you want to have in Disney gift cards for splurges and everyday things like snacks for 4 adults in September?

 

[DLgal]

$1000 is what I would bring.

$2000 would be "too much."

It is VERY easy to spend $100 at Disneyland. VERY EASY.

 

[Bossy22]

200 a day should be plenty!!! That’s we do for our family of 5.

 

[Geemo]

I do not think you can use a gift card to reserve WOC dessert party.
Some of the snack carts also do not accept gift cards.

 

[DLgal]

I do not think you can use a gift card to reserve WOC dessert party.
Some of the snack carts also do not accept gift cards.

True. You cannot use gift cards for ANY prepaid dining or special events. Credit cards only. You also cannot use GC at many locations in Downtown Disney as well as *some* snack carts, although we have been able to use them at most snack carts. I can't think of one that doesn't take them offhand, but I think that the ones that pop up before parades don't take them.

 

[mouschievous]

Ah. I wondered about WOC - I wasn't sure if it was prepaid, or just reserved like a BB reservation. That definitely tips the scale toward taking less, then.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Also, you cannot use gift cards when using mobile ordering. That may not be an important consideration for you, but it is definitely a helpful option during busy park times, so I'm just mentioning it in case it might be a factor.

 

[Indiana Scott]

You have the cash and spending it wont impact your life - fine.
You have to put it on CC's and pay over time - too much.

 

[mouschievous]

Also, you cannot use gift cards when using mobile ordering. That may not be an important consideration for you, but it is definitely a helpful option during busy park times, so I'm just mentioning it in case it might be a factor.

We were just discussing that last night. While we will more leisurely, no one considers standing in line for 30 minutes for a Dole Whip to be fun!

You guys have confirmed what I was thinking - $1000 should be plenty, maybe even too much depending on how much we do in the way of prepaid and mobile ordering. Oh well, forced souvenir buying, right?!

 

[mouschievous]

You have the cash and spending it wont impact your life - fine.
You have to put it on CC's and pay over time - too much.

Yes, agreed, but we're talking about how much is too much in terms of free gift cards? I can start exchanging those points for cash or other kinds of gift cards instead. Don't want the gift cards to go to waste!

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

We used to budget $750 for our family of 3 for a 4-5 day trip to cover meals, snacks, and souvenirs. We eat at table service restaurants 1-2 meals/day and that adds up. Also, we usually ran out of $ on our gift card near the end of our trip so probably could have had more! This was also before mobile order, which we do now when we can do can’t use GCs for that. So, if you’re not going to eat a ton of table service meals and buy a lot of souvenirs, I would think $750 for 4 would be a good amount. But you could probably manage to spend $1000! Just throw a D&B purse in there if you’re looking for ways to spend $.

 

[mouschievous]

I did discover that you can use Disney gift cards for Disney Floral so that's helpful!

 

[BlueRibbon]

For a group of 4, I'd think around $200 per day if just eating quick service. The splurge meal at Carthay or Steakhouse 55 itself will be $200-$300.

 

[Blue32]

I understand people like to budget and prepay for things, but the only time I considered having money on gift cards as being a benefit is if I got them from some kind of reward or getting them for my kids to spend. The fact that they have expanded mobile ordering and will not allow GC to be used with mobile orders pretty much negates any benefits for us.

 

[mouschievous]

I understand people like to budget and prepay for things, but the only time I considered having money on gift cards as being a benefit is if I got them from some kind of reward or getting them for my kids to spend. The fact that they have expanded mobile ordering and will not allow GC to be used with mobile orders pretty much negates any benefits for us.

Yup, agreed. These are all gift cards that we got with points. We're currently playing with Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is renting DVC points (which we know is a long shot, but we're trying anyway!), and we already got our tickets through LMTC. We talked about returning them if we get the Villa at DVC, but it stings to spend nearly $300 more on our tickets, even if it is through gift cards!

Plan B would have us staying in a hotel, so we could pay with Disney gift cards in that event.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Yes, agreed, but we're talking about how much is too much in terms of free gift cards? I can start exchanging those points for cash or other kinds of gift cards instead. Don't want the gift cards to go to waste!

Honestly, people ask this question a lot, but it's personal. There are plenty of people at DL on any given date who have absolutely no business being there. An extreme example: an acquaintance of mine and her family collects food stamps but have annual passes - and I guarantee you there's thousands of others like her attending the parks (collecting welfare and paying to DL, not limited to AP; do not confuse this with charity-funded trips). Closer to home for most people, there are thousands of people who visit DL and eat around the park but already stretched their budget to be there and would've been better off preparing their own meals and snacks and leaving them in the car or their hotel. There are thousands more who have slightly higher budgets, but would be better off eating at lower-cost off-site eateries, including McDonald's or Mimi's Cafe (join their e-mail list and you'll get a perpetual BOGO), depending on one's resources. And of course, there's thousands of people who attend the resort in which $100 bills are like $10 bills to most people.

My point, not only for you but also for others reading this thread for guidance, is that in 2020, it's "easy" to figure out an estimate of cost for dining, activities, etc. in and around the DL resort; one should be able to develop a budget and discuss amongst the people they're traveling with. Just because it's "magical" doesn't mean we should do it!

There's no such thing as a "free" gift card. The same concept above applies... most people wouldn't be able to accumulate enough points for $1000 in gift cards in a decade. If you're fortunate to have a high discretionary income, or the benefit of charging business expenses to a CC, to quickly accumulate points... you're in a different boat than most people here, many of who wouldn't rack up $1,000 in "free" gift cards if they charged every expense over a decade. For many others, the rewards offered by those points could go a long ways toward paying for Christmas, covering a few family meals out, etc. Again... personal!!!

 

[mouschievous]

My point, not only for you but also for others reading this thread for guidance, is that in 2020, it's "easy" to figure out an estimate of cost for dining, activities, etc. in and around the DL resort; one should be able to develop a budget and discuss amongst the people they're traveling with. Just because it's "magical" doesn't mean we should do it!

You're right, I can look (and have looked) at the menus and things. Unfortunately, some things aren't noted - for instance, I cannot find anywhere on the Disneyland.com website that it says the WOC dessert party requires advanced payment. The only way I confirmed that was by going in to make a reservation. I wish those things were clearer, it makes budgeting easier.

 

[debdreamsofdis]

Yes, agreed, but we're talking about how much is too much in terms of free gift cards? I can start exchanging those points for cash or other kinds of gift cards instead. Don't want the gift cards to go to waste!

I wouldn't think of those gift cards going to "waste." If they are Disney gift cards, the value shouldn't expire. You said you were probably coming back in a another year so whatever you have in excess, just store in a safe place and use for your next trip. It might actually be better to spend your points on Disney cards now vs. later, because sometimes credit card companies increase the amount of points required to redeem rewards, so it might not be a bad idea to stock up on Disney cards if you know you will eventually use them. You can go onto the Disneyland website and look at the menus for different restaurants and calculate how much you think you would spend on a meal. Don't forget to include taxes and tips. I feel better about having too much rather than not enough.

 

[StormyCA]

When I go to DL I budget $100.00 per day for myself for food, souvenirs, & 'incidentals'. And I usually take no more than $100.00 in 'redemption dollars' to be used for souvenirs & food. So for a 5 day trip, I'd budget $500.00 'cash' plus $100.00 on a redemption card.

As far as using a credit card, last time we went to WDW (for 9 days) I took $500.00 in cash and set aside $500.00 in a savings account linked to our checking. I did rack up about $450.00 on my Disney card (thanks to Dooney!), but the money to pay it was already 'budgeted' and right there in savings to pay it off when we got home. That way I wasn't carrying so much cash AND I didn't end up paying finance charges.

It's not USING the card, it's setting a 'limit', keeping track of your charges, and being sure you have the money to pay the balance in full.