How much money to take for shopping!?

[mistymouse5001]

I would really like to be able to bring good gifts back for the family and spoil Dilly while we are there.
Also all I'm sure there are lots of places for face painting and tatoos,How much are those?
Is $2000 too much too little? No one seems to answer these type questions but they are a pretty big
part of trip planning with no CC.
I don't want to run short.
Thanks for helping me plan!

 

[Erin13178]

Oh wow, now that's a great question.

Do you already have your hotels paid for?
Your food is it paid for?
The parks are they paid for?

I guess we need to know if you need to add in those costs plus souveniers.

 

[mistymouse5001]

Yes how much money to take for shopping! Sorry I ned to stop posting at night. I'm thinking I will be buying lunch.$30 a day? Snacks probaby $20. So how much do you plan for shopping? I have no credit cards! I don't want to be caught without enough $$ or having to wait for DB to send it down.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I am an over estimater so thank God I always come home with extra ( to puttowards my next trip ) anyway it depends who you are spending the $$$$ on how many people and what you think you might want.
For ex: I have 5 boys I figure $20.00 a piece to buy them boxers that's $100.00 just for that. Choc Mickey Pretzles I think they are $10 or $11 a box.
So it really depens on you. But you know the $$$$ goes quick!

 

[mistymouse5001]

I am an over estimater so thank God I always come home with extra ( to puttowards my next trip ) anyway it depends who you are spending the $$$$ on how many people and what you think you might want.
For ex: I have 5 boys I figure $20.00 a piece to buy them boxers that's $100.00 just for that. Choc Mickey Pretzles I think they are $10 or $11 a box.
So it really depens on you. But you know the $$$$ goes quick!

Great I'm shopping for 4 boys - and gifts for one couple -I'm afraid that I will go mickey crazy because we have never been! I read that ppl who go often really know what to buy and what to stay away from, I can only try to be that person...I'm not sure how well I will do. I want the stuff for Mr. Potato Head for sure. Oh, and that Goofy Cookie Place I know I will see clothes for the babies, and I dress them alike so that's 2x whatever I get for them. I don't know what we will see, but I have a friend who says they have the monorail! I never thought of that if they have trains Dilly will want them.

 

[happymommy]

I really think that if you decide on your budget, then you could stick to it.

The little light spinners with different characters are so cute, and my kids loved them! They were about maybe $12 way back when. Yes, you can get them at the Disney Store at home, but usually there are ones at Disneyworld that you can't get at home. Just saying, if you decide how much per person, you can try to stick with that. Also, if you go to the World Showcase in Epcot, there are cool things in the different countries! Christmas ornaments are neat!

Please be careful with cash. I personally try to use credit cards for almost everything, but if you don't have one try to minimize cash on you. Do you have an ATM card for your bank? I know you pay a fee, and I always seem to use one at least once on vacation, but then you could bring less. Or maybe you can cash checks at the hotel (maybe not the best option as if you can, there is usually a pretty small limit).

I don't try to buy tee shirts, since they really add up! Little things are nice - but try to remember you have to either haul the stuff home with you or ship it back. I do think the shops will send stuff home for you.

There is an outlet in a couple of malls in Orlando (we did that way back when). They have tee shirts and stuff cheaper, but it eats up part of a day. I don't do that anymore, since we don't want to drive all the way to a mall and shop on vacation.

I don't think we've ever spent quite what you are thinking of on souvenirs at Disneyworld ourselves. Yes, we do spend on food! We enjoy the food at some of the counter service places immensely - and snacks at the countries in Epcot are so fun!

I would consider talking with someone at your bank about the safest way to go about doing this - they may have a prepaid credit card you could do, that would be safer if you lose it.

Good luck!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

Great I'm shopping for 4 boys - and gifts for one couple -I'm afraid that I will go mickey crazy because we have never been! I read that ppl who go often really know what to buy and what to stay away from, I can only try to be that person...I'm not sure how well I will do. I want the stuff for Mr. Potato Head for sure. Oh, and that Goofy Cookie Place I know I will see clothes for the babies, and I dress them alike so that's 2x whatever I get for them. I don't know what we will see, but I have a friend who says they have the monorail! I never thought of that if they have trains Dilly will want them.

I feel your pain cause whatever I buy x that by 5. GFB I buy one without buying the others. I will pm you to give some better info.

 

[TravelinSouth]

I don't have the experience to tell you how much I've spent in the past, but I am leaving soon and my DH and I are determined to not put 1 dime of this trip on a credit card. A few weeks ago, I put a budget together (ie., $5/pp extra snacks a day (we're on the DDP), $20/day for extra drinks, $30/day souvenirs, etc.) My DH and I are going to put the appropriate money in daily envelopes. In each envelope we will have some Disney Dollars and some cash and/or gift cards. Whatever is left at the end of one day will be put in the next days envelope. I got this idea off the DIS and it sounded like a great way for us to really stay in our budget.

FYI, when I did this budget (not including DDP and resort that's already paid for), I came up with an additional $604. We are not huge spenders and If you're planning on doing X-mas shopping, I would make a list for that as well and include how much per person you want to spend.

I hope this helps somewhat.

 

[HappieMommie]

I am anti-credit card, too. It tough to plan without using one, but totally do-able.

We use a secured credit card so we are still maintaining good credit and have the convenience of a credit card. We have managed to remain debt-free this way, while still maintaining excellent credit.

I have budgeted $1700 for shopping on our trip. This includes eating out, groceries (for the condo - a major health plus and money saver!) and personal shopping. We don't want to skimp, so we budgeted a lot.

Let us know how your trip is!

 

[bettyann29]

I am one that also sticks with a budget when we go..

I normally budget $100-$150 for each person just for souvenirs, but its getting where DD10 is past the stuffed animal phase and although she likes the pins, she doesnt go hog wild over them as she did the first few times..

Last trip she mainly got pressed pennies and pins, but she has already informed me that she doesnt want either of those things this coming trip..

We are scaling down this trip on souvenirs because we have so many things lying around the house or that end up in garage sales..

Im only planning on buying a christmas ornament (which is a tradition for me) and a magnet (another tradition) and one pin (yep.. another tradition) and I think thats all I am getting.. I know I know.. I say that now, but Im really hoping to not want everything once Im there.. DH never buys any souvenirs ..

DS14 has already said that all he wants is a pair of crocs.. I'll probably get those before we go because he wont want Disney ones, just regular ones and I can get them cheaper here at home.. I figure he might want a few pins to go with his collection..

DD16 is wanting some items this trip, so Im budgeting a little extra for her and she also has been putting money back so she'll have extra..

DD10 is wanting a hoodie (I think last trip we got her one for around $35), a tshirt (about $20-$25).. and maybe a necklace.. also I will get her 1 or 2 pins and then maybe a few pressed pennies to add to her collection..

I am getting DGD2 a pair of Disney Crocs and maybe a pair of earrings and DGD3 months a little something..

I dont plan on getting any Precious Moments, breakables, snowglobes, etc this trip as those are budget buster items..

 

[mistymouse5001]

I am one that also sticks with a budget when we go..

I normally budget $100-$150 for each person just for souvenirs, but its getting where DD10 is past the stuffed animal phase and although she likes the pins, she doesnt go hog wild over them as she did the first few times..

Last trip she mainly got pressed pennies and pins, but she has already informed me that she doesnt want either of those things this coming trip..

We are scaling down this trip on souvenirs because we have so many things lying around the house or that end up in garage sales..

Im only planning on buying a christmas ornament (which is a tradition for me) and a magnet (another tradition) and one pin (yep.. another tradition) and I think thats all I am getting.. I know I know.. I say that now, but Im really hoping to not want everything once Im there.. DH never buys any souvenirs ..

DS14 has already said that all he wants is a pair of crocs.. I'll probably get those before we go because he wont want Disney ones, just regular ones and I can get them cheaper here at home.. I figure he might want a few pins to go with his collection..

DD16 is wanting some items this trip, so Im budgeting a little extra for her and she also has been putting money back so she'll have extra..

DD10 is wanting a hoodie (I think last trip we got her one for around $35), a tshirt (about $20-$25).. and maybe a necklace.. also I will get her 1 or 2 pins and then maybe a few pressed pennies to add to her collection..

I am getting DGD2 a pair of Disney Crocs and maybe a pair of earrings and DGD3 months a little something..

I dont plan on getting any Precious Moments, breakables, snowglobes, etc this trip as those are budget buster items..

Nice to know about the snowglobes! I buy alot of clothesfor the kids at the Disney store, I will probably buy a hoodie for Zach. I have no idea about the others yet!

I am anti-credit card, too. It tough to plan without using one, but totally do-able.

We use a secured credit card so we are still maintaining good credit and have the convenience of a credit card. We have managed to remain debt-free this way, while still maintaining excellent credit.

I have budgeted $1700 for shopping on our trip. This includes eating out, groceries (for the condo - a major health plus and money saver!) and personal shopping. We don't want to skimp, so we budgeted a lot.

Let us know how your trip is!

That's what I was thinking. Maybe only taking x amount of dollars a day,and keeping the rest at GKTW

I don't have the experience to tell you how much I've spent in the past, but I am leaving soon and my DH and I are determined to not put 1 dime of this trip on a credit card. A few weeks ago, I put a budget together (ie., $5/pp extra snacks a day (we're on the DDP), $20/day for extra drinks, $30/day souvenirs, etc.) My DH and I are going to put the appropriate money in daily envelopes. In each envelope we will have some Disney Dollars and some cash and/or gift cards. Whatever is left at the end of one day will be put in the next days envelope. I got this idea off the DIS and it sounded like a great way for us to really stay in our budget.

FYI, when I did this budget (not including DDP and resort that's already paid for), I came up with an additional $604. We are not huge spenders and If you're planning on doing X-mas shopping, I would make a list for that as well and include how much per person you want to spend.

I hope this helps somewhat.

Wow! that is a great idea! I made envelopes, but for each thing not each day that is a much better idea. Thank you so much!

I feel your pain cause whatever I buy x that by 5. GFB I buy one without buying the others. I will pm you to give some better info.

That was great info. I get it now. I liked it alot too.

I really think that if you decide on your budget, then you could stick to it.

The little light spinners with different characters are so cute, and my kids loved them! They were about maybe $12 way back when. Yes, you can get them at the Disney Store at home, but usually there are ones at Disneyworld that you can't get at home. Just saying, if you decide how much per person, you can try to stick with that. Also, if you go to the World Showcase in Epcot, there are cool things in the different countries! Christmas ornaments are neat!

Please be careful with cash. I personally try to use credit cards for almost everything, but if you don't have one try to minimize cash on you. Do you have an ATM card for your bank? I know you pay a fee, and I always seem to use one at least once on vacation, but then you could bring less. Or maybe you can cash checks at the hotel (maybe not the best option as if you can, there is usually a pretty small limit).

I don't try to buy tee shirts, since they really add up! Little things are nice - but try to remember you have to either haul the stuff home with you or ship it back. I do think the shops will send stuff home for you.

There is an outlet in a couple of malls in Orlando (we did that way back when). They have tee shirts and stuff cheaper, but it eats up part of a day. I don't do that anymore, since we don't want to drive all the way to a mall and shop on vacation.

I don't think we've ever spent quite what you are thinking of on souvenirs at Disneyworld ourselves. Yes, we do spend on food! We enjoy the food at some of the counter service places immensely - and snacks at the countries in Epcot are so fun!

I would consider talking with someone at your bank about the safest way to go about doing this - they may have a prepaid credit card you could do, that would be safer if you lose it.

Good luck!

Is the problem with cash ppl stealing it? I worry about that kind of stuff when we go away from home. Making a budget for each day is a great idea but I don't think that I am responsible enough to go to Disney with a CC It's the ugly truth. Do they accept checks at Disney?
I wouldn't think so

Thank you for helping me with this. It's been stressing me out a little not knowing what to plan!

 

[happymommy]

I actually feel safer with a CC.

I don't know about checks, but maybe someone at the GKTW can help you with that question.

I also use my CC for everything since we get our hotel points with it!

I just worry about having much cash in my wallet. It's probably no big deal, but with a CC if it gets lost, I can just call the bank.

 

[pmama]

Last year the only souvenirs we purchased were light up toys from Fantasmic for the kids, and a hat for both children and both adults. We received free lanyards w/ pins from the Dream Squad. Plus my girls received a couple more free pins from our hotel. We also received three free stuffed minnies and mickeys at our hotel.

However, this year I already have several things in mind I want to look for. I'm afraid the more addicted to Disney you become the more you spend. Has anyone else noticed that when people list the places they stayed in previous years it usually starts w/ the value resorts and after a few years they are going to Deluxe?

Last year I did not purchase the photopass CD, this year I am. Last year we did not pay extra for MNSSHP. This year we will. Last year we did not do Water Parks. This year we will. Last year we went for 6 nights, this year for 10 nights! Does Disney put something in their water that makes you want to spend more?

 

[justcantwait]

Have you thought about a prepaid Visa card? We used one last trip and it worked out well. Just go to a place like AAA, give them your cash (easier said than done!), and they'll give you what looks like a Visa card. Works just like one too, except it's already paid for. Then you won't be carrying around cash. If it gets lost or stolen, you're covered. Just another option. I can't help with the budgeting part, because I never stick to mine HTH

Kathy

 

[Stephluva]

If you don't feel comfortable ruining your credit with a credit card, you can always use your bank card which doubles as a credit card. This way you don't have to carry a lot of cash around, but you are only able to spend the money that you actually have!