how much spending money?

[ihavedisneylandFEVER]

is $1000 enough for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 toddlers 3&1) for 3 days spending money in disneyland? any and all input is welcome

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Depends on what you want to spend on and does that include your food? Any "special" things you want included in that money? Things like character meals or BBB etc? did you prepay any ground transport? How big a tipper are you?

When we went at Christmas 2 adults one 6 year old for 4 days we spent a little over $500 on food and about $300 on souvineers & other incidentals like photos, tips for maid service etc.With that amount we did 4 character meals and Blue Bayou as our splurges.

So our family could def get by with $1000 budget. Good Luck

Hope that helps

 

[mama2dutchies]

We could easily get by on that but again it depends on how big of a spender you are.

 

[smile4stamps]

That would be more than enough for me (if I had a family of 4) but then I am a a light spender generally...

 

[Briarrose1306]

That's approximately what I'm budgeting for a 4day trip for myself, DH (who likes to eat) and DB15 (who likes to eat). I figured $150 (roughly) a day for food for the three of us and then $400 for souveniers and whatever.

 

[Mama Who]

Assuming that you are not going to be doing dinner at the Trattoria with kids this age or lots and lots of margaritas, your budget is probably fine.

 

[disneychrista]

Really depends on what that $1,000 is to cover. Assuming it does not include hotel, transportation and park tickets it should be more than enought.

 

[ihavedisneylandFEVER]

Hotel, tickets and transportation are payed for. We want to have the best time with what we have. We wont be dining at any expensive restaurants though. We planned on eating at The Blue Bayou, but the plans were changed when my car was broken into and they stole my purse which contained $1000 saved for this trip. So now being -$1000 we're gonna do counter service restaurants mostly. We do have one meal voucher for Ariels Grotto for breakfast.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Hotel, tickets and transportation are payed for. We want to have the best time with what we have. We wont be dining at any expensive restaurants though. We planned on eating at The Blue Bayou, but the plans were changed when my car was broken into and they stole my purse which contained $1000 saved for this trip. So now being -$1000 we're gonna do counter service restaurants mostly. We do have one meal voucher for Ariels Grotto for breakfast.

If you have never eaten at BB then make a reservation and just get dessert. The ambiance is most of the experience and maybe that way you can still enjoy it on a budget.

You should do fine with 1000 esp with little ones that don't eat as much as us larger folks do.

 

[mama2dutchies]

Then I would think $1000 would be more then enough.. esp since the 1 year old will either eat free or share yours I would think..

I mean $1000 over 4 days is $150/day food and $100/day for other costs..
we're a family of 5.. my kids are 7,3,2.. oten times the the two little guys and I will split a large meal.. or at least me and the little guy will..

$150/day isn't going to give a lot of character dinning but especially if you are willing to wander over to DTD and split a pizza or into some of the other places (like the white water, I think it's called that, in the Grand California) has kids meals for 5-6..

i would goto the menu's here http://allears.net/dlr/din/dining.htm and look at some prices..

here is the kids meal from the grand california:

Kid's Meals
All Kid's meals served with seasonal fruit and choice of
Low-fat milk, small Low-fat chocolate milk, juice box or small bottled water
French fries and sodas available upon request

Chicken Breast Nuggets - $5.99

Hamburger - $6.49

Turkey Dog - $5.99

Grilled Cheese Sandwich - $5.99

 

[erikua]

Wow $1000 seems like alot.

We (my self and the kids mother) are taking her 2 1/2 year old to Disneyland this Friday - Monday. The trip is paid for already, Hotel, tickets, etc.

Our only expenses will be for food, shuttle ($4/day from hotel to Disneyland) and gas from Arizona which is quite high. Not counting the gas, what could we expect to spend on food while there?

We are not planning on doing any character meals mainly due to price but also the child probably wouldn't sit still long enough to enjoy it. We most likely will be doing the World of Color Picnic. From other family outings, we would generally do quick service walk up type meals. Are there any sit down places that are a must for the experience or will we be ok doing the walk up meals at the park? Our breakfast is covered at the hotel, we just have to contend with lunch and dinner which we may be doing dinner outside the park as the kid will be needing a nap.

How much snacks could we bring in?

We aren't going on a low budget but when I saw $1000 listed, I kind of freaked out. We are not planning to spend that much overall. Just 2 adults and a toddler. Budgeting around $500 for food and expenses while in the park over 3 days. Any advice?

 

[Bungle]

For us we could do that and have some left over.

We eat breakfast at the hotel and usually lunch too. I buy disney themed things before we go so we don't have to buy a lot there.

Sorry your car was broken into that really sucks

 

[tzeitel]

How much snacks could we bring in?

We aren't going on a low budget but when I saw $1000 listed, I kind of freaked out. We are not planning to spend that much overall. Just 2 adults and a toddler. Budgeting around $500 for food and expenses while in the park over 3 days. Any advice?

Check out allears http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm They have the menus and you can see what things cost - that way you can guesstimate what you might spend.

A few places at DLR now have toddler meals - small portions of very basic meals - or her mom could share her meal. It really depends on what the little one eats. You can bring food into the parks so that could also take care of her meals. I am also budgeting $150 per day (2 adults and an 8 y.o) for food, don't think we will spend that much everyday but if we do Blue Bayou or a character meal then it will even out I am planning on bringing some snacks and even a sandwich or 2 for DD - if that is what she wants to eat that day I rather not pay for something I can bring in.

 

[ihavedisneylandFEVER]

How much snacks could we bring in?

as much as you can carry in your bags, theres no limit. i usually load the bottom of my stroller with water bottles and juices. goldfish crackers, fruit snacks, cookies, string cheese, fruit stuff like that.

We aren't going on a low budget but when I saw $1000 listed, I kind of freaked out. We are not planning to spend that much overall. Just 2 adults and a toddler. Budgeting around $500 for food and expenses while in the park over 3 days. Any advice?

$1000 just to be sure! i know we probably wont spend it all, at least i hope we dont!!

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[ihavedisneylandFEVER]

thanks for everyone's input, im so excited to go, now all i have to worry about is the weather!

 

[WDBRDWLK]

thanks for everyone's input, im so excited to go, now all i have to worry about is the weather!

To reduce your spending budget for food here's a thought...order from the kids menu. The food portion is decent for an adult. Or split a meal and side salad among two adults. Skip the soda and bring your own water and pack of kool-aid or crystal light.

Purchase the individual boxes of cereal for breakfast and get some milk and eat breakfast in your room. You can save a lot of money eating breakfast in your room.

Have a great trip!

 

[Cagirl767]

We are two adults and 2 kids just turned 6 and 4. We spend probably $125 a day on food. That's for 2 meals and a fountain drink or two, we do snack a lot and eat at least one restaurant type meal a day - usually lunch, we never buy breakfast in the park - just eat in our room. We usually get a complementary breakfast at our hotel. I drink free water all day. You can get free water at any restaurant, just ask. Bring in your own flavor packets i.e. Crystal Light.

You can bring in toddler food. I wouldn't even count the toddler's meals in the total if you buy one or two, and he can share off the parent's plate and that may be enough in addition to something you bring in. DLR does offer a toddler meal for around $3 and a Kid's Power Pack that includes a yogurt, string cheese, apple slices and Goldfish crackers for $5.99.

$500 for 3 days for 2 adults and a toddler will be enough if you stick to counter service once or twice a day, you could even throw in some restaurant meals such as Cafe Orleans. I'd say go to Blue Bayou for lunch or dessert just for the experience. Have you reviewed the online menus? They're all there and you could budget that way, plus save a lot of wasted time wandering from restaurant to restaurant in search of what you're in the mood or price for.

Have fun!

 

[CrazyDuck]

If the $1000 is just for food then that would be way more than enough! Without a sit down meal you won't go north of $500. Even if you do Blue Bayou you may not spend $500. Add in snacls (churros, dole whip, tigger tale etc..) and the occasional $2.75 soda and you'll still have plenty of $$$ left over. Now if the "spending money" is to include souveniers like shirts, sweaters, stuffed dolls, then I can't say because I don't know how you like to shop... $1000 for souveniers just won't cut it with my DW. She likes to spend time in the Disney Galleria, and Off the Page

 

[spiderdust]

If you have never eaten at BB then make a reservation and just get dessert.

You can do this??