how much money?

[scojos]

i know there has already been a thread but cant find it
how much do you budget per day?
we have already our tickets, car etc so this is only for food and souvenirs and car parking.
also how much do you give your kids per day? or do you just pay for their stuff?
my kids have got some dollars of their own, but know im panicing we wont have enough...
thanks
tracy

 

[gilld]

That's almost impossible to say, it depends where, and how much you like to eat - counter service, table service, off site etc. As a VERY rough guide, last year DH and I spent about £1500-£1700 between us for 16 days. We didn't eat a lot but we did eat at some nice places. You could probably eat for around £100 a day for a family of 4, we don't pay for parking since we stay at our DVC.

When our children were young enough to come with us, last time was in 1999, they would each take around £200.

Take what you have and divide it by the number of days you're there and work to that, but ALWAYS take a CC for emergencies. Remember you can always spend the money if you have it with you!

 

[AndRu]

Car parking is (I think) around $8-$10 per park.
Remember that onside food is a lot dearer than off-site, especially if you go for table-service. Counter service is cheaper but not much. I remember paying over $50 for mini pizzas, hot-dogs and chips for 4 at Blizzard Beach.

Restaurants like Golden Corral, Sizzler & Ponderosa do big "all you can eat" deals throughout the day and if you're on a budget are great to either start or finish your day. If you feel up to it, make up some butties in a cool bag and leave them in a park locker. It's cheaper (and better) than burgers and chips ad infinitum.

With regards to souveniers and shopping - everyone is different. We go out with virtually empty suitcases and come back full. On the last trip I think we took about $3500 in TC's / cash and credit cards (which we hardly used) .... but the cash / TC's virtually all went. I spent my last couple in the Harley Davidson shop at Orlando Airport. We gave our kids $100 each to spend on whatever they wanted - on the understanding this was for when they wanted to treat themselves, each other or their friends. Of course we bought them stuff but the $100 was theres alone.

Just take what you can afford and have a credit card for emergencies / or the bargain that you can't resist.

 

[wayneg]

Our average spend for 2 adults and a teen.
Breakfast $20
Lunch $25
Dinner $35
Snacks $10

Not into shopping and souveniers so I am expecting around $2,500 for our 25 night stay.

Son taking $100 to spend over the 25 nights.

We have annual passes for most parks so no parking otherwise you have to budget another $10/park.

We don't take cash anymore just use credit card, compared last Oct and we were £50 better off over the 3 weeks with the card compared to the exchange rate I could have got just before we left home. Only cash I take is for tolls and tips on the RCCL cruise.

Wish it was Thursday morning, will be in the air now at this time.

 

[Goofyish]

When we stay on site we tend to skip breakfast or have some snack bars in the room. We then have an early lunch (this is great becasue you miss all the lunch time lines ). Counter service for 2 adults + 2 teens will set you back around $35-$40. $20 a day should cover snacks and extra drinks. Then for dinner you can go counter service again or go for table service. For table service the buffet or family style restaurants are good because they are a set price - around $25 plus tip for adults, which helps you to budget.

So if you skip breakfast and eat counter service all day budget would be around $100-120 per day for 2 adults/2teens

If you want to eat at a buffet/family style restaurant for dinner then this would go upto $160/$180.

Eating at table servide restaurants for lunch is usually cheaper than dinner and the menus are almost the same

 

[scojos]

the kids have $200.00 each for ice creams
we have budgeted $3.500 for 21 nights, which is about 170.00 per day. without shopping spree i think i might put another £500.00 on the amex tc card at the airport, i can always cash it back in if we dont use it.
tracy

 

[Shooby doo]

Tracy we normally budget for about £100 a day for food,some days will be less & others more.If you are going to TL,BB or WnW then buy a cheap $5 cool box & make up your own sandwiches & drinks but no glass allowed.I notice someone else mentioning to do this for the parks but officially you are not allowed to bring your own food in- I believe the Official reason is that there are no picnic areas but if we could all take in our own food what would all those restaurants do!!
Another saving is getting the CM's to take photographs with your camera,on our last trip I think the standard pics were about $12 plus tax & it all adds up!
And lastly don't buy lot's of junk!! We always buy something that was a good idea at the time but get home & think "WHY?"
HTh SD

 

[Miffy2003]

I think what you have will be plenty Tracy

We have done trips on a very tight budget (2 adults and 2 children) of $100 per day. This included some souviners, a couple of character meals but mostly eating offsite. I always find (in August) we end up spending an absolute fortune on drinking water

The last few trips we have spent more, say $200 per day.

 

[paulh]

we usaly plan on £100 a day for food and drink.We dont factor in car or tickets as we have usaly paid for them in advance.We always get the never expire option tickets so they last a few years
For our forthcoming august trip on the free dinning package so food free we are only paying for 3 evening meals offsite(outback,chilies and smokie bones)so ur budjet for trip is £300 plus a £200 beer allowance as going with inlaws (big drinkers )
Paulh

 

[mushumadness]

I am in the same boat I do not know how much to take either

Chris and I take our own money each, no arguments then

I have an annual pass, so parkings sorted for both wdw and universal, all I need to do is buy food and souvenirs yet I havnt got a clue what to take, I am trying to do a budget so I dont spend too much, as if I have it I WILL spend it. Plus I have next years holiday to think about lol

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You always spend more than you think, take currency dollars have small ones or coins on arrival for tips and tolls, and take two/ three credit cards from well known international banks such as Am ex or HSBC, then if you overspend or have an emgerency hospital etc you can pay for it.

 

[wayneg]

Our average spend for 2 adults and a teen.
Breakfast $20
Lunch $25
Dinner $35
Snacks $10

Not into shopping and souveniers so I am expecting around $2,500 for our 25 night stay.

Son taking $100 to spend over the 25 nights.

We have annual passes for most parks so no parking otherwise you have to budget another $10/park.

I know its an old thread but just got my credit card statement so know exactly what we spent. Spot on with my prediction. spent $2,775 but that included a teddy at $218.
$100/day for 3 of us.
Countdown to DLR Cali now, Just over 3 weeks to go

 

[flortlebap]

We are taking $200 a day for myself and DH, and our one year old daughter. We don't have to pay parking charges though as we're using Disney transport and don't drive. We are paying for cabs to Universal, IOA, and Sea World, though. Everything else we buy at the malls will be put onto credit card.

Per person, budget around $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, and $30 evening, plus say $10 for snacks. Chances are you won't spend that much, but it's better to take too much than too little...

 

[ariel75]

We are taking $200 a day for myself and DH, and our one year old daughter. We don't have to pay parking charges though as we're using Disney transport and don't drive. We are paying for cabs to Universal, IOA, and Sea World, though. Everything else we buy at the malls will be put onto credit card.

Per person, budget around $10 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, and $30 evening, plus say $10 for snacks. Chances are you won't spend that much, but it's better to take too much than too little...

how much are the cabs roughly to sea world and universal???

 

[Goofyish]

A cab from Epcot area to Universal would be around $30 plus tip and to Seaworld it would be around $21 plus tip - each way.

From the MK Area, prices would be $38 plus tip and $30 plus tip - eachway.

 

[ariel75]

A cab from Epcot area to Universal would be around $30 plus tip and to Seaworld it would be around $21 plus tip - each way.

From the MK Area, prices would be $38 plus tip and $30 plus tip - eachway.

thankyou for your help