How much money do you need when you have a DDP?

[Bigmack]

Hi, I'm struggling wisame popular dilemma, just how much money do you need. We're traveling to wdw in June from Manchester. We've got the Disney dining plan included plus all of our transfers to and from the parks. We also fancy a day trip to seaworld, at the moment we have $2600 but not sure if I need more? What do you all think?

 

[orangetiggs]

We went last year on ddp wth two year old twins and me and hubby and took £1000 we had to buy thier meals at some places, loads of shopping, petrol etc and was fine

Ts the ow long is a piece of string question

 

[mackay_j]

I only take that much when we are not on ddp and we go out for almost every meal (expt breakfast). There are four (all on adult meals) of us and we like quite good food (ie not pondarossa fan or the such at all). We mix the venues to include a about 4 special meals - emirils chop chop, steak house/auz place at gaylords, cali gril, artists point and equiv . Then usually go to likes of Hardrock cafe, konna, sanna, rainforest, olive garden and the red lobster. Then have quick service/or magaritavilles/scifi for the other meals. To do all this and have plenty for treats and nicknaks and small gifts we usually take £1500 (£2000 max at xmas but that includes buy pressies for the girls for xmas day) - We are only planing on taking $900 for 2 weeks now that we are on the ddp. (we have card for emergency funds).
We have 9 ADRs - exp $40 on tips at these = $360.
maids in room $60
walmart for water/drinks etc=$140
drinks in hotel includ= $140 (prob not even that much usually too tired to go for a night cap )

As we have 1 snack/ treat per day and already have 2 puds with meals I am sure that no further snack treats will be wanted, infact some snacks will buy take home gifty sweets for the girls friends.
That leaves about $200 for gitfty things/sundries.

The girls will also have $150 each to spend on things(usualy surfy clothes from the water parks/ dtd)

The only other thing to add is that other than walmart for water and juices, and DTD and celebration and parks to wonder through shops- we DO NOT shop or Mall visit while we are on holiday- I can shop any time so avoid at all costs when I am on hols. So if you are a shopper than you may need more.

 

[2Tiggies]

It depends on how you spend when you are away, how many people you are, ages of children if appropriate, etc.

Assuming you are on the regular DDP you need tips for all your TS meals at 20% give or take, if you tip Mousekeeping, which we do, whatever you are leaving for them, taxi’s/parking and gas (assuming you have a car for offsite) and then nominal spends.

Based on a family of 4 with the DDP I would expect to bring home some change from the cash you’re taking, unless you’re fairly big spenders.

 

[wayneg]

How long for?
Without DDP, 3 adults, we average £100/day, thats buying all our food, drinks, snacks, clothes, gas etc. (I don't tip housekeeping)

On DDP tips at 18% come to $16-20/day. Might buy the odd starter or beer, gas for car, bottle of vodka & some Pepsi for the room, apart from shopping, if we do any, thats it. Over 16 nights last year we spent about £500.

$2600 would last us about 50 days on DDP

Do you use credit cards? far easier to use a fee free card (Post office) and not bother exchanging, you will lose about 5% to convert to $ and then more back to £.

 

[duffdo]

This is what I love about WDW. It is only as expensive as you want it to be....

I assume you have the regular DDP, i.e. the one which includes table service meals? I also assume you are a party of no more than 2 adults and 2 children....with $2600 you will have an awesome time and eat really well. As previous posters have said, budget a $18 - $20 tip for each table service meal and $35 - $40 tip for any signature dining you may have.

This leaves plenty left for souvenirs etc as well as meals not covered on the dining plan.

 

[queendisney]

I was just running this past my DH and he said we normally take about $2500 for 3 weeks and there are two of us. We have the QSDP and then pay extra for a couple of signature meals. We do tip mousekeeping, catch taxi's and Lynx bus to go off resort, buy food and drinks in Universal/IOA and Seaworld and do LOTS and LOTS of shopping..he reckons we normally come back with a few dollars! (as you can tell I leave him to all the money side when we are there as I deal with all the paying of the holiday and booking it etc)

 

[2Tiggies]

I was a bit slow this morning but you did actually say yesterday how many of you there are and the ages of your children.

Your 10 year old is classed by Disney as an "adult" so you have 3 adults and one child for the purposes of TS. Remembering that you are staying at SSR that would mean you have taken the regular DDP (i.e. not the QSDP)

I assume you have made your ADRs for your restaurants. Would you like to share where you are dining this year? There are some DISers here who love to on behalf of others to help out

I'm not sure what you have decided regarding the kids' spending but I have always found it easier to give my daughter a set amount of money and make her control her budget to make it last through the trip. It is amazing how much less they want to buy when it's their own money

 

[wayneg]

do LOTS and LOTS of shopping..

Thats the big one, well that and drinking a lot of alcohol.
Our shopping consists of a couple of shirts & a pair of trainers each trip from the outlets, I rarely pay Disney prices for anything. None of us enjoy shopping.
Shop & drink and yes you can go thru the money no problem.

 

[queendisney]

Thats the big one, well that and drinking a lot of alcohol.
Our shopping consists of a couple of shirts & a pair of trainers each trip from the outlets, I rarely pay Disney prices for anything. None of us enjoy shopping.
Shop & drink and yes you can go thru the money no problem.

yep def..without going to the outlets and Florida Mall we could prob cut our spending by half..although we do spend a far bit in the Christmas store in DTD and that really adds up...I suppose its just one of those holidays that its easy to get carried away with spending..and generally we do. Can't tell you how many items of clothing the DH has that he won't be seen dead in at home but it seemed like a good purchase at the time

 

[Bigmack]

..

 

[Bigmack]

I was a bit slow this morning but you did actually say yesterday how many of you there are and the ages of your children.

Your 10 year old is classed by Disney as an "adult" so you have 3 adults and one child for the purposes of TS. Remembering that you are staying at SSR that would mean you have taken the regular DDP (i.e. not the QSDP)

I assume you have made your ADRs for your restaurants. Would you like to share where you are dining this year? There are some DISers here who love to on behalf of others to help out

I'm not sure what you have decided regarding the kids' spending but I have always found it easier to give my daughter a set amount of money and make her control her budget to make it last through the trip. It is amazing how much less they want to buy when it's their own money

Yes we have Regular DDP and we've done our ADRs, we've booked a huge range of places to eat based on where we're hoping to be in WDW. We've booked a lot of restaurants in DTD due to our resort location. We've booked T-Rex,rainforest,planet Hollywood and bongos in DTD. We've also done cinderellas royal table in magic kingdom and the rose and crown in Epcot. Sci-fi diner and 50s prime time cafe are also on the list and ones I'm looking forward to. When we've been to Disneyland resort Paris we have always spent a small fortune due mostly I think to the exchange rate and eating out every night . We would easily end up spending 120 euros on evening meal and maybe 40 euros on lunch. So before you had bought any gifts or souvenirs you can easily go through £200 a day. We only go to DLRP for maybe 5 days and don't have much change from £1000 thus why I'm a little unsure what WDW will cost for 2 weeks. I will obviously take the old credit card just in case but with the
DDP thrown in it does cover most of the food costs and enables a huge saving. The girls will get our $150 gift we received free when booking but I'm sure they'll squeeze some more out of me during our stay. Thanks again for all your help and feedback it is very much appreciated.

 

[flortlebap]

We have $1500 for two weeks plus our CC for souvenirs, for two adults and two kids. We are on the QSDP.