How Much Spending Money Do You Bring?

[lovinwdw]

DH & I are going to WDW on 10/1 to 10/8. We purchased the dining plan. So...we were thinking of bringing about $1500 with us for spending money (from my Christmas bonus). Of course, we will come home with some money left over. But, I like to buy Christmas ornaments (too many according to DH) and other odds and ends and I like to not have to worry about money while we are there and pretty much if i see something i like, buy it. How much do you bring with you?

 

[Robo]

DH & I are going to WDW on 10/1 to 10/8. We purchased the dining plan. So...we were thinking of bringing about $1500 with us for spending money (from my Christmas bonus). Of course, we will come home with some money left over. But, I like to buy Christmas ornaments (too many according to DH) and other odds and ends and I like to not have to worry about money while we are there and pretty much if i see something i like, buy it. How much do you bring with you?

If I buy a couple of "antenna toppers"
I need about $15.

If I buy an $8000.00 carved wooden Mickey,
I need about $8015 (what, I shouldn't buy the toppers, too?)

 

[golden1]

Ya know, as much as I love Disney, I've never been a really big fan of shopping there. I figure I'll need maybe $50-100 per day for snacks and souveniers, mostly for the kids. I'm figuring they will want a few snacks while we are at the parks, maybe a t-shirt for each of them, the obligatory autograph book, some mickey ears etc. I'll probably pick up a shirt and a few small gifts for relatives.

 

[d4est]

We only brought about $150 in cash. Didn't want to carry too much & risk losing it. We used our room key (charging priv.) quite a bit & hit the ATM a few times. We ended up spending a little over $800 on incidentals (souvies., beers/cocktails, tips etc.) That # doesn't include DS's spending money. He spent about $100. We are a family of 2a, 1c & we were on the dining plan.

 

[abe_bb]

Last year we had 1200, 200 in cash and a little less then a thousand on our bank card (for room charge).

We didn't spend it all, but this year... this year we are taking close to 2500. And we are going to spoil ourselves and our daughter

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

when we go i want to have at least $1,000 on us. mostly travellers cheques. this will cover unexpected purchases, snacks, hats for everyone (my mom sister inlaw, the two kids, us and my brother if we can convince him) t shirts for the 4
of us (me dh and 2 kids) and whatever else. souveniers for inlaws, my dad, some christmas gifts.... hence why at least a grand. and we intend on spoiling our kids and ourselves there (i want a new watch, some mickey earrings...lol)

 

[Tegra89]

DH & I are going to WDW on 10/1 to 10/8. We purchased the dining plan. So...we were thinking of bringing about $1500 with us for spending money (from my Christmas bonus). Of course, we will come home with some money left over. But, I like to buy Christmas ornaments (too many according to DH) and other odds and ends and I like to not have to worry about money while we are there and pretty much if i see something i like, buy it. How much do you bring with you?

Wow! I wasn't planning on spending that much. mmm. Maybe I should rethink my amount.

 

[numbersman]

We don't go with a set "limit" per se, just look around and if something looks neat, we get it. We generally don't do a lot of shopping throughout the week, but do most of it near the end, after we've looked all week. I always buy a watch, either from the Emporium at the MK or Uptown Jewelers at the MK. I try to get something to commemorate the trip and show the year (I got a 2003 limited edition watch that year, but '04 and '05 they didn't have anything; I thought they'd have something in '05 for the Celebration, but nothing!!). I usually get some clothes too; a polo shirt, sweatshirt, t-shirts, etc... Kids save their money throughout the year and spend that themselves, but we always let them have a certain amount from us, too (say, $50 or $100 each) that we'll let them use. They have fun with that. Last year, DS9 got a Stitch football jersey, and DD6 got some princess stuff. We try not to go overboard, but don't try to limit it, either.

 

[Maude4Disney]

We also have the DP and have an extra $1000 to spend, more if I don't do too much pre-trip shopping. $100 each to both kiddos and the remaining to DH and I. Don't know that we'll actually spend that much, but it's nice to know it's there if we want something. It's nice going into this trip knowing that everything is taken care of (food).

 

[Jennifer48]

I usually bring about $400-$500 cash. I'm not a huge souvenier person but if I see something that I absolutely need that is a little pricey, I usually just charge it. Most of my money goes into my food since my stomach is bigger than my wallet!

 

[of the seas]

If I buy a couple of "antenna toppers"


I love those!!! I always get a couple of those! Right now on our car we have the special gold sparkly Mickey ears for the 50th anniversary! I so love to shop at Disney! I could never go with a set spending amount! I always take a mixture of cash, credit cards, and travelers cheques!

 

[noladave]

that's a tough question, since each family has their own desires - kind of what ROBO was hinting at. There's a wide variety of souvenirs out there, from the cheap pen, all the way to the $15,000 (or was it $25,000) glass Cinderella's castle in the glass shop.

Those are the extremes - for us, we usually spend between $500 and $1000 on non-restaurant items. What usually happens is that DW finds something that is an absolute must for XX (neice, nephew, mother, etc..), and then of course, has to find something for XX's sister, brother, husband, wife, etc... That turns the $15-25 item into $150 worth of related purchases.

$1500 should be fine, since you have already purchased the majority of your meals.

 

[theycallmered]

Back in October when we were there I think that we might have only spent about $200 on 'others' (we were on the dining plan too). But you have to realize that Hubby is ingrad school and I am a corporate slave so money is kind of tight. I think that the whole trip, plane tickets included cost about $2500.

But that's just us...

 

[shelleyz]

Myself and DS5 and DS7 are going Aug 12-18. We will be on the dining plan. I am bringing $500 for souvies and extra snacks and drinks. I think I will have money left over because I only by myself a t-shirt and a magnet. The boys will have there own money, probably between $100-$120 each.

 

[JennyMominRI]

This is going to be an expensive trip..DS is getting 250$ but most of that isbirthday money.He's celebrating his birthday there.. I hope to have about 1000$ after that.I like to shop in the WS and there is a ton of stuff I want to buy

 

[BraveMom3]

On my 2 week trip with my three children, I budget about $150-$175 per day for food,snacks, drinks (adult-variety included!! ). The kids each get $100 to spend as they wish and I may purchase a couple of items - about $100 worth. Out of that budget I will buy them a drink and/or popcorn or ice cream, but if they want some of the other "junk food" they sell, they buy it with their money. I make sure I have a clear credit card for any overages.

 

[pooch]

on Dining plan. Kids are getting $50 worth of Disney $ in their Easter baskets and then whatever they save (ok and whatever else they want I'll buy!!) Have $500+ on our Disney Rewards Card. Probably bringing another $500 in cash/tc's to spend on our 2 off-site days. Will have the credit card with us but don't think we'll need it for too much. Hubby will buy something at the DTD Harley store, I get new X-mas ornaments, ref magnets and a resort mug. The rest will be for the kids. Not bringing presents home except for my 2 darling great-nephews (Mickey Ears w/their names on them? and everything else cute I can find. LOVE those 2!!!)

Pooch