How much money should I take to a Disney Cruise?

[birkner]

When we take the GK's on a trip to WDW and on a cruise, we give them each a Disney gift card for a certain amount. If we doing both, we give one card for each trip with the amount split in half. If they don't spend it all at WDW, then they can spend it on the cruise.

I find the GK's are much more frugal when they spend "their" money than when they think we are buying.

Just my thoughts...

 

[tvguy]

I don't go over budget, and I prefer to earn the rewards for using my credit card. I also like to keep my money in the bank as long as possible before I have to pay the bill. Yes to credit...NO to debit!

THAT .00001 interest banks pay now does add up

Travelers checks are so 20th century!
LOL...since I read this as I am heading out the door to buy Canadian dollar travelers checks for my trip there....of course, full disclosure, I'll be in the sticks where there are no ATM's, it's all cash and carry...or barter
.

.

 

[PE_TCR]

Here is my suggestion-
Set a budget for your daughters and then buy them a Disney gift card. Give it to them and then you don't even have to worry about keeping track of the totals they have. When they are out they are out.
They CAN use the cards at the shops on the ship. I have done it to keep purchases for my wife (suprises) off the room bill.
They can use the cards for whatever they want in the parks or on the ship. It's actually fun to watch how the little items are just ignored when they might be begging for them. You can even include snacks when you budget. I have done this with bringing students to places. Fun to see which students spend $4 on a soda and the others walk 5 feet and get a free drink from the drinking fountain.

 

[tjbaggott]

When we did WDW, we packed dry cereal, granola bars and packages of oatmeal, and lots of fruit. We bought milk at our resort, and had breakfasts in our Hotel room. That cut out having to buy at least one meal during the day. And we had the bars and fruit for snacks while in the parks. We took water bottles with us and carried them with us in the parks. For lunches and dinners, the quick serve places cost much less than a sit down meal. We've done both , and I can tell you if we ever go back, I'll stick with those quick server places! Take your camera and take a LOT of your own pictures. Be sure to ask CM'S both on the ship and in WDW to use your camera for some photos. This time around, don't bother with buying photos taken by the photographers, definately use your own camera. On our trip to WDW my kids loved the gifts stores, but we only ever purchased something in one. They would try on Silly hats ect.. and instead of buying them, I'd take a photo of them, and THAT was our souvenier.
And most of all, RELAX, and let this vacation provide you with some wonderful De-stressing!

 

[lisare]

The dollar stores have lots of little disney stuff & so does target in the dollar bins. Pack them without the girls seeing & pull a couple things out everyday Then they still get something & then with what every money they can spend they will come home with lots of stuff. See you on the cruise.

 

[Mojodisney]

.

TVGUY-I was told by my banks that Travelers Check no longer exist. With the up use of debit & credit cards that our bank no longer carried Travelers check. The teller also said they were the last one in our area that had them 6 months ago!!! Let us know if you were still able to get TC.

 

[Mojodisney]

If you do Animal Kingdom, check into the park special lunch. We got so much food that it took care of us for lunch and snacks, it was affordable when you figure how much food we got. Also the counter service servings were big enough that we would share 1 meal. We also put DD7 on a budget and told her she could get 1 item at the end of the trip, that way she could see all that was available and we would be willing to go back and get it, it took the wantsies out the equation. We made our own autograph book and brougt it to WDW and on the cruise. This is a vacation for you too so enjoy yourself and relax while you are on the cruise. We did the 1 item at the end of the cruise also. We stayed at Pop and if you drink soda's I would recommend buying the refillable cup. Get one to share and bring it on the cruise. Just don't put it down and forget it

 

[birkner]

TVGUY-I was told by my banks that Travelers Check no longer exist. With the up use of debit & credit cards that our bank no longer carried Travelers check. The teller also said they were the last one in our area that had them 6 months ago!!! Let us know if you were still able to get TC.

I know CSAA had travelers checks and you can order them online.

 

[NancyIL]

LOL...since I read this as I am heading out the door to buy Canadian dollar travelers checks for my trip there....of course, full disclosure, I'll be in the sticks where there are no ATM's, it's all cash and carry...or barter

If you're going to the sticks where there are no ATM machines, are you sure there's any place to spend your Canadian money? Not every business accepts travelers checks.

 

[threebeesatdisney]

Speaking of travelers checks...
Is it hard to find stores that take them while in the ports of St. Marteen and St. Thomas? I was debating taking cash but would feel safer with travelers checks.

 

[Silverfox97]

WDW is my biggest concern, but all of you have given me very good advices!! Thank you so much!!

You will be fine on the cruise with just bringing tip money. You don't need to buy anything (alcohol, souveniers, etc.), or even do excursions. You will still have fun!!1

At WDW, eat at the Earl of Sandwich - hell, eat there often! We had frineds last year that came up and ate there everyday for lunch, sometimes dinner, too. Cheap and delicious. Also, the Trail's End buffet at the Campground is a good value. That will save you money. Take snacks, and you could even bring stuff for breakfast (oatmel, a sleeve of bagels, you get the picture). One more hint, eat your "big" meal at lunch -- cheaper!!

Hope this helps - really, I do!

 

[NancyIL]

Speaking of travelers checks...
Is it hard to find stores that take them while in the ports of St. Marteen and St. Thomas? I was debating taking cash but would feel safer with travelers checks.

I don't know about travelers checks in the Caribbean, but they'll be happy to take your plastic.

 

[steelek_29]

You will be fine on the cruise with just bringing tip money. You don't need to buy anything (alcohol, souveniers, etc.), or even do excursions. You will still have fun!!1

At WDW, eat at the Earl of Sandwich - hell, eat there often! We had frineds last year that came up and ate there everyday for lunch, sometimes dinner, too. Cheap and delicious. Also, the Trail's End buffet at the Campground is a good value. That will save you money. Take snacks, and you could even bring stuff for breakfast (oatmel, a sleeve of bagels, you get the picture). One more hint, eat your "big" meal at lunch -- cheaper!!

Hope this helps - really, I do!

Thanks. It really did. I took notes

 

[steelek_29]

Here is my suggestion-
Set a budget for your daughters and then buy them a Disney gift card. Give it to them and then you don't even have to worry about keeping track of the totals they have. When they are out they are out.
They CAN use the cards at the shops on the ship. I have done it to keep purchases for my wife (suprises) off the room bill.
They can use the cards for whatever they want in the parks or on the ship. It's actually fun to watch how the little items are just ignored when they might be begging for them. You can even include snacks when you budget. I have done this with bringing students to places. Fun to see which students spend $4 on a soda and the others walk 5 feet and get a free drink from the drinking fountain.

Where can I buy Disney gift cards?

 

[tvguy]

TVGUY-I was told by my banks that Travelers Check no longer exist. With the up use of debit & credit cards that our bank no longer carried Travelers check. The teller also said they were the last one in our area that had them 6 months ago!!! Let us know if you were still able to get TC.

American Express, Thomas Cook, and Barclays all still issue them.
The American Express Travel office in Sacramento even stocks most major foreign currency travelers checks (Canadian Dollar, Peso, Euro and Yen).
Around here some people have never seen dollar coins or $2 bills. I've had stores refuse to take dollar coins, the kid at the cash register told me the U.S. doesn't make dollar coins, but they'll take a travelers check.
Some folks on this board have said they take $2 bills for tips, tellers at my bank didn't know they even existed.

 

[tvguy]

If you're going to the sticks where there are no ATM machines, are you sure there's any place to spend your Canadian money? Not every business accepts travelers checks.

I have never run into a business that refused a travelers check. They are better than cash. If a merchant takes in a counterfeit $20 bill, he's out $20. American Express and other travelers check issuers guarantee they will pay face value, even IF someone manages to counterfeit them, so it's safer for merchants.
Where I am going, many of the merchants don't have phone service so they can't accept debit/atm cards, no way to process them. Many WILL take a credit card, but they require ID, and they make an imprint.......the way credit cards used to be handled (although some of you may be too young to remember the pre-swipe my card days). Heck, the motel I stayed at in Monterey swiped my card, and then took an imprint too....I guess it is a security procedure so if there is every a question, they can prove the actually say the card.
It is also a tourist destination, so travelers checks are an everyday way of life.

 

[karibritt01]

Yes,I know... That's way I won't cancel. All the trip is paid, the transfer to the POP is also paid. I'm worried on the little things I'm sure my daughter will want. And in WDW I have to pay for food and those little things.

My kids saved allowance and any money received as gifts for their spending money. When time to go on the trip, I divided their total money by the number of days we would be on vacation, and that was the total they had to spend each day. They would skip buying some days in rder to get a bigger purchase. They ended up with about $20 per day, which was way more than they actually needed. For general spending money, we usually budget $100 a day, and rarely need that much. If you are paying food OOP, then I would plan at least $100 a day to be on the safe side. Better to come home with money and not have to stress over every penny you spend.

 

[PE_TCR]

You can buy gift cards online or at any Disney Store. You can also find them in the parks.