How much spending money needed? Help!!!

[2boyzmom73]

We are leaving in 15 days YIPEEEE!!!!!! We have QSDP. It is me, DH, DS13, and DS 11. We don't really do souvenirs. The trip and pictures are our memories. We don't do any extras like boat rental etc. So how much spending money do I need?
We will be gone 9 days. 2 travel days and 7 days in the parks.

 

[*Dreamin'Dad*]

I got a useful tip here years ago that has worked perfect for us. We pre-determine an amount for the kids each day and then let them budget their spending. They can get something small each day or save during the week to get something larger. Mine are pretty young still, so $10 a day for each works fine. Anything they want inside the budget, snacks or toys.
Myself and the wife probably average less than $20 a day together for additional snacks and stuff. No budget, that is just what happens as we are always on the dining plan.


Have a great trip!

 

[Lori1960]

Is this your first time going.I would bring $100 a day for each kid.They might want to buy a t-shirt

 

[Tink2Day]

Why would they need $100 per day per kid when they are on the QSDP?

That's 1400.00 for two kids for 7 days, park tickets are paid, food is paid for the most part.

You could probably budget $100 per day for the whole family and have money left over. You could give the kids $100 each to spend on whatever extras they want for the WHOLE trip. I'd say it just depends on what you want to do as far as extras above your dining and park plans.

 

[2boyzmom73]

Thanks so much for all your help. My boys really aren't interesed in souvenirs. They will each purchase 1 thing with their own money. We are paying for Kona and Whispering Canyon but have a gift card for that. So the only extras will be snacks beyond the dining plan. I guess we will take what we can afford and hope thats enough.
15 sleeps and I can see The Mouse.

 

[Tink2Day]

You can do that. That's what a lot of people do. Take what you can afford and frankly just make it enough.
As long as no one is going hungry that's the main thing.
If your kids don't want outrageously expensive souvenirs then you should do just fine.
It's about having fun. We enjoyed sharing a bucket of popcorn or a bundle of suckers and such when we were kids and went to Disneyland. We didn't NEED to scrimp but being a close family we thought it was fun.

 

[dntd]

Last time I spent $500 + tips on the ddxp but that was mainly on things like BBB.This time I am budgeting $100 a day though I know I won't use it all.

 

[mouskemomof2]

Our kids, 7 and 4, are given an allotment for the whole trip, I think it is going to be $150. The little one doesn't really know the value of money, but the big one does. We've told him that we are going to spend one afternoon at DTD and he can buy whatever he wants, as long as he can afford it. The little one is already doing BBB, so she gets $100, which will be way more than enough $ for what she will want.

 

[CathieArms]

We are leaving in 15 days YIPEEEE!!!!!! We have QSDP. It is me, DH, DS13, and DS 11. We don't really do souvenirs. The trip and pictures are our memories. We don't do any extras like boat rental etc. So how much spending money do I need?
We will be gone 9 days. 2 travel days and 7 days in the parks.

I guess it depends upon whether you think you'll be buying drinks or snacks in the parks, and what you're planning to do for meals. But, if you're talking STRICTLY spending money - i.e. "fun money" - then there really is no minimum.

My 6 year old has been saving his money all year. We'll be there 10 days, and he has $100. I'll give him $10/day of that money. He can spend the $10 each day, or he can choose to save it for one big purchase, or he may choose not to spend it at all (knowing him). For me, it's about him having options.

DD is 15 and has also been saving her money. She has about $250 saved and she'll spend it however she feels she needs to, though I hope she won't spend it all in one place.

I've been stashing away my personal spending money (mad money) for the last year and I have $500 put aside. My plan is to limit myself to a budget of $50/day.

With all of that said, we were there 2 years ago and barely spent anything on "stuff." DD had the most money with her and bought a bunch of little things but, aside from a stuffed Mickey or two, mouse ears for DS and family t-shirts, we didn't buy anything.

So the answer really lies within yourself. If you went with $25/person, then you'd be fine if you're someone who really doesn't see the need to buy "stuff" just cuz you're there.

 

[CathieArms]

Thanks so much for all your help. My boys really aren't interesed in souvenirs. They will each purchase 1 thing with their own money. We are paying for Kona and Whispering Canyon but have a gift card for that. So the only extras will be snacks beyond the dining plan. I guess we will take what we can afford and hope thats enough.
15 sleeps and I can see The Mouse.

That's really your answer right there. Take what you can afford. I love to shop, but I have to admit to being fairly frugal and don't tend to spend a lot in the parks.

 

[photofreak]

We don't really do souvenirs. The trip and pictures are our memories.

I highly suggest investing in the PhotoPass and use it. You can advance purchase it before your trip and save $$... I'm a huge photo fan and the memories are worth it...

 

[YukiPhnx]

You'll be getting 2 snacks a day on your QSDP so I really don't think you'll need anymore money for snacks. The portions in a QS place should be more than enough to satisfy your boys.

If you're not into souvenirs, I would suggest maybe $20/day for the parents if you want to buy any alcohol (or maybe $100 for drinking around Epcot) and let the kids do what they want.

 

[yarlenna]

If you do any dining at a table service restaurant, the tips will be extra. Also, many tip the mouse-keepers.