How much money to the World?

[happymom2one]

Hello. First let me start by saying I hope I am posting to the right board, but I am wondering how much spending money I will need, let me give you the stats. There are three of us going, husband, me and a 4 year old princess! We are on the Deluxe Dining plan. We come in Tuesday around noon and leave Saturday around 7pm. How much cash do you think I need to bring? I dont want to charge anything! I know I need money for tips and gifts but how do I figure it out? Thanks so much for any information.

Oh yea, we are doing 2 signature meals.

 

[bbangel]

Spending money is such an individual thing. For figuring out tips you can check the menus of the places you have made reservations for and price out what you would typically order - then choose your percentage to figure out the expected amount for tips. Since most if not all of your food will be covered by your dining plan you only really need to worry about how much you will spend on souveniers. Only you know how tempted you will be to buy everything you see. You could choose a limit ahead of time (one t-shirt each, one photo frame, one ornament or whatever) and estimate better. Unfortunately it is hard to determine ahead of time what you will want to buy.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Check out Allearsnet.com for the menues with prices and you can get a good idea of what your tips will be. I do that and usually come within a few pennies of the actual tip. If we have superior service, I will add in extra.

We will be there over Christmas week Dec 21-26 and the meal prices are more, so my tips will be higher.

I can't say how much spending money, because I have gone on trips and spent only $300 and other trips I have spent over $2,000. I am hoping to have about $1,000 for our Dec trip, but that will probably include gas, a meal on the way down and back, tips, and tolls. We have 1 meal we are paying out of pocket, but I have a $25 gift certificate that will cover most of that meal.

When I take my cousin's children, I tend to spend more, because I want to buy them everything, within reason of course. When it is Dh and myself, I don't spend quite as much,but I do have to watch it, because Dh loves to buy stupid junk. Me, I like to get one really nice souvenier and something for the kitchen.

Suzanne

 

[happymom2one]

Thanks for the great information. Is there anything else I am forgetting I will need money for??

 

[addiln]

i tend to think about it as about $100 per day. That always gives me plenty of money for tips and other items. My actual spending is always much less and tend to really spend less then half of that per day. This just makes sure that i am not worried about money when down there since i prefer not to use a credit card or anything like that once there. Also we try not to spend too much money on junk and will give DD a gift card with $50-$75 on so she can get whatever she wants but once it is gone it is gone.

 

[Marionnette]

Tips for the deluxe dining plan can be high b/c your at high end restaurants and you will be having appetizers through desserts each time you eat at table service. Dont forget tips for the sky caps at the airport. And for the magic express driver if he helps with your bags. And for the bell hops at the resort if you use them to store your bags before or after your visit. Some people tip the housekeepers so bring money for them. Bring money for snacks in the airport. Bring your credit card for emergency spending. Personally I prefer to bring as little cash as possible and just put it all on the room charge. Then I can go to an ATM and withdraw what I need to pay the bill before they charge my credit card. I worry too much about having my cash stolen or lost during vacation.

 

[RachelsMommie]

We did the DxDDP for 6 nights in May for 2 adults and 1 5yo child. I can give you what we spent money on. It came in pretty close to budget.

Misc Food/Drinks/OOP meals $150
This included $100 for alcoholic beverages for the 7 days/6 nights, plus 25 for our meal in the airport on arrival day, plus another 25 for our meal in the airport on departure day. I had originally budgeted an additional $50 for miscellaneous beverages in the parks, but we used our snack credits. And we had 19 snack credits left the last day...big stop at the candy store/bakery on Main Street!

Shopping/souvenirs $500
This is personal, we didn't spend that much, but it was good to have it budgeted.

Dining Tips $250
This was right on the money.

Misc. Tips $50
Let's see, this was:
$5 to the airport porter when we left our hometown
$5 to the shuttle driver from the remote parking to the airport in our hometown
$5 to the Magical Express driver on our way to our resort
$25 to Mousekeeping at the Wilderness Lodge
$5 to the Magical Express Driver on our way from the WL to MCO
$5 to the shuttle driver from the airport to remote parking in our hometown

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique: $75
$55 for the package/tax
$20 tip

Babysitting $50
Our DD spent a couple of hours at the Cub's Den at the WL while we went to a fancy-shmancy dinner.

The only other expenses I didn't list here that were in addition to our airfare and Disney package were prepaid: $100 for PhotoPass and $80 for remote parking at the airport in our hometown. Oh, and don't forget luggage fees by your airline going and coming.

HTH! Have a great time!

 

[tigger51276]

I've also always gone with the $100 a day for me and my DD. This also included food. I now have 2 kids and have raised it to $125 a day to cover all expenses and this has worked so far.