How much money should I bring?

[carrierael77]

This is our first vaca in 11 years, and first since kiddo was born. My plan is to do my best not to be the super stressed out about finances person I usually am. I am planning to just say okay fine, I am shooting for $4000 for our 8 day trip.

I know there is no flipping way we will spend that much, but that's what I am going to shoot for. That way anything under that is a win.

It may be crazy, but being the kind of girl who always worries about money this seems like a good method for me to not be all stressed out for our vacation.

 

[Tyggress]

I would budget what you can afford for souvenirs, per person...the GC idea for the kids is a great one....I might steal it!

Breakfast at the hotels is a great idea, too! For a family of 4, that will save you a ton of money each day on that meal. Eat everything else CS or snacks, and then budget/set aside money for one special TS meal and one character meal. There are websites out there that list the full menus of every eating/dining option, with pricing...so you can look ahead and budget for what you know you'll want to eat...and it will give you a good idea what prices look like.

 

[Imdboss]

One thing I've found that helped with the "mom can I get this" all the time is pin trading. Both my kids do it and they trade all throughout the day so it's like they are constantly getting something new. You can start by buying a lanyard and trading set before you go then they have some to start trading right away. It's been a lot of fun for my kids plus they are a great souvenir. We always buy the kids a special one with the year on it to keep and never trade, that way they'll always know each year they went. They also save their money before we go and I take them to the Disney store to get gift cards so they aren't tempted to spend it before the trip. Since you are going in Feb you can tell family and friends to give them gift cards for Xmas or birthdays.

Have fun planning!

 

[tzeitel]

We packed some granola bars, Pop Tarts and some other easy breakfast stuff to have in the room. There is also a supermarket and a Target close by if you have a car.

Say it isn't so! I just bought my first GC for my upcoming trip and got the discount. Is there news this won't last?

Can't test it on Disney cards since they are out of stock. But today I got some cards that I've gotten previously with the discount, when I did not see the discount applied I asked in the Budget boards and many people had the same experience. Someone did mention that they went to Target and they gave them the discount in person - of course you have to actually use your Red Card instead of a Target gift card.

You can still buy discounted Target cards (or get them from reward sites) and use them to get Disney cards so there is at least that discount. I am just glad I got our Southwest cards before the change.

 

[Ofred]

I love staybridge suites free parking, free internet n free breakfast. They always have 2 hit items like eggs n bacon, make your own waffles fruit, yogurt, cold n hot cereal n several types of juice n milk. If u have a Safeway buy a gift card or two every time u go get groceries n u get the gas coupons. I would bring lots of snacks n water bottles then just fill them at any other restaurants. Plan on 50 to 100 dollars a day for food. Give kids gift cards

 

[Amommy21]

Read the menu choices and prices at allears.net and take a look through the disney online store to get a feel for prices. Giving each kid $20 won't go far at all.

This trip DS 13 years old has bought a tshirt for $25, a hat for $25, a sword for $25 and wants a couple pins. And had his silhouette cut for $40 with frame. So he'll spend about $140. But we come all the time so he doesn't feel like he has to buy stuff.

I bought my DH a tshirt for $25 and am gettig a small Dooney foe $170.

I always buying photopass. That's $70ish.

There are some years we spend a ton. And other times just spend a minimum like this trip.

Food will get you. So if you are concerned about that price things out and pack snacks. We don't like to leave the park because we paid to be there. But we don't mind paying for a nice meal a day. Then one counter service and one snack.

Today we at breakfast at Flo's like $8 a person, then snacks for lunch, then Storytellers Buffet $100 for the family of 3. That's pretty typical for us.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Take snacks, Plan a few nice meals. The one Chr meal I would do is Plaza inns breakfast. best chr interaction.

Stay at a hotel on the harbor with breakfast. I have heard a lot of good about Best western park place inn so we are staying there this time. Book early and sign up for the free best western card rewards and I got a rate for 125 a night. (you can book a two week window so you can always play with the dates if you have an idea when you want to go.

25 a day for cs meals a person
50-100 fun stuff per person the whole trip.
Don't over eat and don't over plan. Get 5 day hopper and take your time.

 

[Pucka1378]

We usually stay at a hotel with breakfast and then between Snacks, Lunch and a table service dinner we are usually closer to $150-170 per day. I have two teen boys and they eat a lot. Lunch alone in the parks runs us about $50 and that is quick service. We usually bring one snack into the park and then buy one snack in the park(I usually just eat the in park snack). We bring in our own water bottles and we usually only get soda at dinner if at all. I have snacks on hand for after dinner as well that I bring. It is all about the food

 

[corinne76]

Great tips here! Last trip we didn't really budget per se, but I did limit what DD bought (she was 5, Ds just turned 2 and he didn't really ask for anything)

This time they're both deep in the "mommy I want..." stage so we'll have to be more careful about toys.

DD wants a Build A bear so bad from DTD as we don't have one in Hawaii. I'm sure she'll hit up WOD for other stuffed animals as well.

Food can get expensive. We're going to hit Target or Walmart so we can pack snacks, sandwiches for lunch, juice and water. Even with all that we bought a churro here and there and dinner, but managed to spend less than we would have if we didn't pack food each day.

 

[Amommy21]

I took my neice last year and each morning had "pixie gifts" for her Find each morning. Some things Disney or related like books or whatever with sprinkles left around. Because of that she didn't want to spend any of the money her mom sent her.

That said it's also totally ok to teach them the experience is the gift. There is a couple times you have to walk past a gift shop but there is so much to do you don't want to waste time in them standing around looking at key chains. So set the tone ahead of time for what you want for your family.

 

[YukonMommy]

On trips we have a spending rule for our 4 kids. They can buy 1 hat (ears, headband, etc) and this was bought with $ they received from great grandparents as a gift. We bought them 1 article of clothing and gave them $25, they had their own money (which they earned leading up to Disney and it was usually around $50). That was it, that was all. They knew the rules going in all 3 trips and we have never had a problem or a meltdown or the constant I wants!

Like someone else said, google the park menus as it will give you a price idea.

Have a magical time!

 

[agamble]

DD wants a Build A bear so bad from DTD as we don't have one in Hawaii. I'm sure she'll hit up WOD for other stuffed animals as well.

Do you have a Costco membership. They sell 2 $50 gift cards for Build A Bear for $80. If both of your kids wanted one, it could be a good way to pay for it. They used to sell 2 $25 gift cards for $40, which I was going to buy. But then they stopped selling them and upped to the $50 cards. I don't want to need to spend that much at the BAB store, but I know many kids do spend that much.

 

[jenng1983]

SO MANY great tips in here!

I was able to order the cutest treat coupons from the Creative DISigns board... they are FREE and personalized. You just give each child a certificate good for a special treat. You still have to pay for the treat of course, but the certificates make it fun. My kids are each getting one certificate per day. I can't stress enough, take snacks in with you! I let my kids pick several snacks from special items we bring from home (yes, I packed an entire small suitcase with just snacks...which left us room for souvenirs on the trip home), and then they carry them in their fanny packs all day and snack while in line, etc. HUGE money saver! My kids didn't ask for very many snacks, and they are usually HUGE on them.

Here's the link to the treat coupons... you ask for them with your desired names and the DISigners create them and you download them on to your computer. There are also many other cool DISigns for other tings too...So fun! http://www.disboards.com/threads/mels-coupon-corner-4.3380253/

I love this idea!! Thanks for that info!

With 4 of you, I would recommend looking at staying at a hotel that offers breakfast. When it is just the 3 of us, we stay at the Desert Inn but last year when my sister in law came with, we stayed at the Park Vue Inn. The PVI was more expensive but their included breakfast saved us more than the extra hotel cost. No matter where you stay, when it comes to the places right across the street, the earlier you can book the better a rate you will get. If you book right now, the rates for Feb 2016 are really great.

As for spending money for souvenirs, my best recommendation is to give them a gift card with a certain amount loaded onto it. Then (and this is more for the 4 year old) when your child sees something in a store that they want, take a photo of it with your phone. The night before your last day, go through the photos with your child and let them pick what item (or items) they really want. It really cuts down on the "mom, can I buy this please???"

Since you are not going for 10 months, start a savings jar and drop all your change into it. With loonies and toonies, that is going to add up nicely!

Unfortunately, you are going to have to deal with the ugly truth of our terrible exchange rate. We used to buy our park tickets through an American site but with the exchange at almost 1.26 , Flightcentre.ca is the best price for us.

I REALLY like the idea of taking pictures of things they want and choosing towards the end of the trip. That's actually where I feel I'll spend the most money - in the "Mommy, can I please get this?"

As for the exchange rate, I'm hoping to keep an eye on the exchange rate over the next ten months and exchange some of my CAD for USD at times I feel it's better than it is right now. (If it gets better, that is)

This is not at all helpful, but when I saw your headline, my first instinct was to say bring all of it. Disney takes my money freely.

This is our first vaca in 11 years, and first since kiddo was born. My plan is to do my best not to be the super stressed out about finances person I usually am. I am planning to just say okay fine, I am shooting for $4000 for our 8 day trip.

I know there is no flipping way we will spend that much, but that's what I am going to shoot for. That way anything under that is a win.

It may be crazy, but being the kind of girl who always worries about money this seems like a good method for me to not be all stressed out for our vacation.

This. This is my goal for this trip. I want to go in with realistic expectations, and not have to keep saying "no" to my kids because I didn't bring/budget enough money, and I don't want to majority of my trip to be worrying about how much money we have left.




Thank you everyone for the advice and tips. I have a more realistic idea of how much everything can cost and how to cut back on spending.

I never expected this much advice so soon; this board rocks! I've been on another forum, and they seem to frown upon non-AP's...

 

[jenng1983]

Do you have a Costco membership. They sell 2 $50 gift cards for Build A Bear for $80. If both of your kids wanted one, it could be a good way to pay for it. They used to sell 2 $25 gift cards for $40, which I was going to buy. But then they stopped selling them and upped to the $50 cards. I don't want to need to spend that much at the BAB store, but I know many kids do spend that much.

I don't know if I can buy gift cards here and use them in the US?

 

[Aladora]

I don't know if I can buy gift cards here and use them in the US?

According to the Costco.ca website you can, although the $ value will be in Canadian $, so less when you are in the States.

Your Bear Bucks® gift e-card can be redeemed for merchandise at participating Build-A-Bear Workshop® locations in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada and the United Kingdom, or online at www.buildabear.ca

Costco.ca Build-a-Bear

 

[cmpeter]

We manage to spend $50+ per person on food...closer to $60 per person when we include breakfast. I agree with the idea of reviewing menus...look at things you think your family will eat and cost out each meal. That does include a table service meal each day and a quick service.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Share meals too
free ice water at all CS places.
these two can also save money. I used to plan three meals a day no I plan one nice meal, eat what ever free breakfast i can and have small meal or a few snacks for another meal. With the heat and walking three meals some times doesn't work.
Remember any one can get kids meals at CS places so if you find some you like you can get it I sometimes get two these and share it with the three of us instead of big meals.

 

[disneydreamer74]

We do breakfast in our hotel room, and one breakfast in the parks (must have mickey pancakes at each trip!) Lunch is sometimes a corn dog or pretzel, depends on how hungry we are. We eat dinner in the parks too, but stick to mostly counter service. We get one snack per day and DD8 can choose 1 souvenir each day. I have been stocking up on gc's from Target to cover her souvenirs. We also bring our own water or drinks in the parks. This saves us a lot of money. We keep them in a small soft side cooler.

 

[whoever]

So... how much do you think I should plan on saving up for spending money??

I think the kids get $20 each from their grandparents when we go, but we just put it on the Disney Visa. Don't really budget for the trip, just spend what we do and deal with it later. The last thing I'm concerned about on a Disney vacation is how much we are spending on souvenirs/food.

 

[GenGen22]

We are a family of 5 We budget $300/day. We eat breakfast at the hotel for free as it saves a lot of money feeding 5. Now the $300 is for drinks, snacks, ice cream & meals. We usually only eat 2 meals a day. Breakfast & one meal out. I look for deals to cut back on the cost of meals so we can spend more money on the fun stuff. I read a lot about restaurants on TripAdvisor.com and go restaurant websites & signed up for eclubs for email coupons. We usually eat meals out side of the parks. I read a lot about discounts on mousesavers.com under the meals section. I also went here for coupons: http://anaheimoc.org/coupons . we have gone to the pizza press with the coupon & our kids loved it. It's walking distance right across the street from DL. I also buy gift cards from Costco for restaurants in the area as well. We don't usually use the entire $300/day but I over budget so we can have fun & not say no to everything. I also give the kids each an allowance for the trip usually $100 & they can buy what ever they want but when the money is gone it's gone. So we teach them to look around for a few days before buying just anything so they get what they really want. We usually buy them each one special thing from us like a t-shirt, hat or pin & lanyard as well. We pay for all snacks etc inc. Either a trip to Ghirardelli or the sweet shop in critter county. I also buy a few pins for trading ahead of time so they can pin trade & we like to collect the pressed Penny's from all the places we visit also. I take a roll of quarters & Penny's on our trip.