How much spending money?????

[cra-z-4-dizney]

Ok I think we have decided to do the 7-night eastern carribean cruise then head over to WDW for 4 nights after that...not including food, how much spending money do you think I should budget for 2 adults and 2 dd's (10) & (6)???? TIA.

 

[suwoogie]

That's a tough one. It depends on what you plan on doing. Souvenirs, alchohol, excursions, taxi, Palo's, spa? I guess you'd have to think about what kinds of things you'd like to do and then add it up.

We are doing the Eastern and are planning on $1500 spending money for 2 adults. But we know we will do the Tropical Rainforest every day, one or two spa treatments, and jet skis, if there is anything left over it will be for alcohol.

 

[KensJen]

It really is hard to know. There are several threads on this, look them up and maybe they will be helpful. There are so many things that can add up quickly. I always say, take the number you are thinking and double it! Really, you will spend more than you think.

You can look at the spa menu and see if there is anything there that you would like to do, and the price.The same for excursions. You also can look up the recommended amount for tips for your cruise, as that will be a large expense. And give the kids a budget for their souveniers, video games, smoothies, whatever...and try to stick to it. Photos will be very tempting, the ship photographers really take great photos, and we usually spend $100-$200 on those. Then there is Palo, internet, phone, alchohol, bingo, etc etc etc.

And then the parks...that is a whole different budget. LOL! We usually don't spend as much there. Just the usual for food and drinks. Again, you can set a budget for souvenirs.

Being able to charge anything to the KTTW card is scary, it can really add up!! Just try to be prepared!!

HTH!

 

[kcashner]

This is a totally personal situation. We have spent $200 or $2000 depending on my mood, etc. I don't include tips in that.

Tips are $76 per person recommended. You may choose to adjust that up or down.....

Photos are $10-$20 each depending on size. In most situations, a CM will take a photo with your camera if you ask.

Spa--the sky is the limit. Rainnforest unlimited pass is $75.

Kids--smoothies in the theatres, etc. are $4 each (including the mandatory 15% tip). FUnny...when it was my $, she asked every night. When I told her she had $50 to spend on the cruise, DD had ONE smoothie the whole time.

Souveniers--again, you decide.

Excursions--cheaper to do it on your own than to book thru DCL. If you own snorkel equipment, consider bringing it.

Alcohol...again, personal

 

[brack]

...not including food, how much spending money do you think I should budget for ...

How much can you spare? Don't spend a dime more or a dime less.

I always look at my finances before each trip so I can decide how much I can spend on a trip without causing my family finances harm.

 

[webray]

That depends on a lot of things. Pictures, drinks (alcoholic, smoothies and special coffees), souveniers, adult dining, etc.

You could easily spend 2k without blinking an eye above and beyond what your cruise costs, just on the ship. When you get to WDW..that's another story altogether.

 

[tvguy]

We spend a whole lot less on the cruise per person than in the parks, simply because you don't have to pay for food on the ship.
We spent a total of $1400 for 4 on the ship on a 7 day including excursions, tips, junk to bring home and tips. that works out $50 a day a person.
We just got back from Disneyland and spent $800 for 3 days for FOOD only...that works out to almost $67 a day per person. Did I mention that was FOOD only.
I was shocked how much food prices had gone up in the park. Cheapest meal we had was 4 pastries, 2 Mochas and 2 chocolate milks.. $27 !!!!!!!
Dinner in the French Market, $65. We ended up twice at the ESPN Zone simply because we could get a nice sitdown non-cafeteria style meal there for $80 with tip.

 

[Kimmielee]

We spend a whole lot less on the cruise per person than in the parks, simply because you don't have to pay for food on the ship.
We spent a total of $1400 for 4 on the ship on a 7 day including excursions, tips, junk to bring home and tips. that works out $50 a day a person.
We just got back from Disneyland and spent $800 for 3 days for FOOD only...that works out to almost $67 a day per person. Did I mention that was FOOD only.
I was shocked how much food prices had gone up in the park. Cheapest meal we had was 4 pastries, 2 Mochas and 2 chocolate milks.. $27 !!!!!!!
Dinner in the French Market, $65. We ended up twice at the ESPN Zone simply because we could get a nice sitdown non-cafeteria style meal there for $80 with tip.

The cost of food, etc... while at the parks is the reason I decided to book a cruise! After thinking that I could spend 10 days at WDW "cheaper" than 3 days at WDW and then a 7 day cruise... I started reading some of these comments and did the math... Cruise is not that expensive in relation to what you can spend on FOOD alone at WDW!!!

 

[cra-z-4-dizney]

I already have food included. I got the package for WDW with the dining plan, and all food is included, so I am talking strictly spending money. The only thing we really want to do as far as excursions is snorkling as a family, and I myself and maybe my older DD will be doing parasailing. So not including that do you think $100.00 a day for a family of 4 for spending money will be enough or no. I am not worried about how much we can spare, whatever we need we can spend, but I rather not go down with say $5000.00 because it will all get spent. I rather just bring enough and then a couple extra hundred to be on the safe side. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[MelissaE1]

For us, we budget $100 a day "extra" spending money in the parks for a family of four (that includes food, but nothing fancy), and roughly twice that while aboard the ship. Your mileage may vary.