How much money to bring to WDW

[yenanh00]

So we are going to WDW on Sept 22nd - 29th. My question is how much money should I bring to WDW? (expenses, tips, souvenir, ect ect.) I'm trying to stick to a budget and try to use all cash at Disney without putting ourself in debt.

there will be 6 of use 2 adults, and 4 kids (13, 7, 2 and 2) We have a Disney Package with DDP. so we shouldnt worry bout foods. Since this is my first time there, I have no clue about anything at Disney.

Here a list of restaurant I have reservation for:
CRT
Akershus
Coral Reef
Crystal Palace
Cape May Cafe
Yak & Yeti
Hollywood and Vine
1900 Park Fare

We are also planning to go to Universal and Sea World and already brought the park ticket.

Much opinions appreciated. Thank you..

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

So we are going to WDW on Sept 22nd - 29th. My question is how much money should I bring to WDW? (expenses, tips, souvenir, ect ect.) I'm trying to stick to a budget and try to use all cash at Disney without putting ourself in debt.

there will be 6 of use 2 adults, and 4 kids (13, 7, 2 and 2) We have a Disney Package with DDP. so we shouldnt worry bout foods. Since this is my first time there, I have no clue about anything at Disney.

Here a list of restaurant I have reservation for:
CRT
Akershus
Coral Reef
Crystal Palace
Cape May Cafe
Yak & Yeti
Hollywood and Vine
1900 Park Fare

We are also planning to go to Universal and Sea World and already brought the park ticket.

Much opinions appreciated. Thank you..

With 6, first you need to budget for the automatic tip, (see tip thread where this is discussed if you have any questions about it). I would guesstimate around $25.00 per meal. You have 7 meals that do not include the tip in the price, only CRT. So that would be a start of $175.00. Then you will most likely spend some money on food. Not a lot, but a little here or there, so you may want to round up to $200.00.

Next you mentioned souveniers. We limit ours, but to get an actual souvenier to take home and appreciate (not a throw-away like a balloon and such) you should estimate at least $25.00 per person. So that adds another $150.00. Now you are up to $350.00. If you do incidental like mousekeeping, bags at the airport etc, you need to add a little on for that.

I always bring $500.00 and we are a family of 4, but I always bring home a good amount. I think that this would work for your family and you still may bring home some. I use the money I bring home for take out a couple days after getting home. It really comes in handy, since you have already budgeted it in and the after-vacation blahs hit suddenly.

Enjoy your trip! I am sure it will be wonderful.

 

[beansmom]

my head response is always 'all you have and then some!'...

 

[comicguy]

Misc expenses that you may find:

Dining Tips about 25-30 per sit down meal (maybe more as you are a party of 6)
Mousekeeping 1 dollar per person per day
If not using DME or using the airport check-in service at the hotel 1 dollar per piece of luggage

Misc snacks and drinks not on the DDP give about 10 per day per person (just to be on the safe side, better too much than not enough)

Souvies: almost any amount you could want , we usually spend about 100 per person (we have been enough that we usually only get certain items, me it is Disney polo shirts) HINT: small kids put on a budget like then can have 10/day to spend anyway they want or save it up for a bigger item.

That is all I can think of at this time. Hope that helps

 

[beansmom]

Misc expenses that you may find:

If not using DME or using the airport check-in service at the hotel 1 dollar per piece of luggage

You mean we don't have to tip the DME driver?? We always slip 'em a buck or two. Hmmmm...and we also tip at curbside check-in at the airport. I'm throwing lotsa money away!

 

[jbcheerchick93]

my family takes $200 for souveniers, but we save up all that money for a LONG time before we go. its our extra change when we pay cash at say, the gas station for a snack or something like that. that gives each person in my family $50, and most of the time my parents "donate" some of the money to my and my brother. this year i am using some of my money to but a shirt beforehand, so that i can wear it in the park.

 

[SunnieRN]

I tip: airport curbside check in
magical express driver
Mouse keeping on trash/towel day and if I request anything
For all sit down meals and buffets
bus drivers while traveling to the parks

Adds up quickly!

If you have one TS, 1 CS and 1 snack daily, you may need to add in food for your 2 year olds, dependant upon what type of eaters they are. Could be a significant amount of money ($20-40 daily for two TS kids meals and/or CS meals). This of course would not be an issue at buffets. I would also allow for an extra snack and possibly a drink each per day.

I would give each child a set amount to spend for the vacation. For my grandsons, I put the cash in an envelope (that I kept) and their purchases came out of that. I also bought them "extra" things, but they had $75 to spend on what they wanted. They didn't ask for a lot, but everything is pretty pricey.

Hope that helped. If you want to forego buying extra snacks, I have found that packing some of my grandsons favorites to bring, saves $$$ and gives me added packing space for bringing their "stuff" home.

 

[yenanh00]

Thank you for everyone response and input. I already pre buy a lot of sovenir for the kids.. Autograph, pen, glowstick, toys, t-shirt, mouse ear, preloaded gift card for them.

On side note have anyone gone to Sea World or Harry potter Castle? I heard everything is expensive there. Let me know. from what I read online everything seem expensive.. I was a los planning to buy some gift for xmas for other fmaily member that are not going..

Have anyone try to buy photopass? is it worth it?

 

[comicguy]

You mean we don't have to tip the DME driver?? We always slip 'em a buck or two. Hmmmm...and we also tip at curbside check-in at the airport. I'm throwing lotsa money away!

I only tip the DME driver if he has to handle my luggage but with the Disney luggage service I do not tip the driver usually.

I tip airport check-in guys at the hotel that deal with my luggage or I tip the airport curbside guys if I have luggage with me instead

Hope that clears things up