How much spending $$$ to budget for Disney?

[Dotsie]

We're going for the first time to the World in 3 weeks We're on the DxDD so our meals are covered. How much money should we budget? What is the norm? We have 3 kids, 6, 2. and 9 months at travel time. We're thinking in the range of $1000-$1200 for the week for souvenirs and the like. Is that too much? Not enough?

 

[derncare]

We are a family of 4 with two kids, DS is 8 and DD is 4 and we will be on the DxDD too. We're going the week after Thanksgiving. I am OVER budgeting but my basic budget is $100 a day for spending money and then each person gets an extra $100 spending money for their store of choice. For example, my son is nuts about legos so he'll be getting that extra spending money there. I also budgeted in money for BBB, Pirate's League, an extra $100 for valet and misc, and of course you need money for all the tips for your meals. I went and picked out what I thought we would each order, figured out totals at each restaurant, and figured tips to have an idea. I budgeted that SEPARATE from the $100 a day. Then I also allowed like an extra $200 for Downtown Disney. Like I said, my budget is overboard but we are paying 100% cash and I would rather have too much than not enough. HTH!

 

[design_mom]

I think this totally depends on your vacationing style. We never spend nearly that much and never feel deprived...however, I'm sure there are lots of people who spend that much or more.

We usually give our kids $25/trip to spend on a souvenir of their choice. Then, if we see a t-shirt or something we think they'll like, we might offer it in addition to the souvenir...but we never spend more than $50-75 per person per trip on souvenirs.

I find that giving the kids a budget and letting them choose their souvenir helps cut down on the "Can I have _____? Can I have _____?" I can answer "Sure you can. Is that what you want to spend your money on?" The kids are choosy about what they bring home but are always happy with their purchases.

There are lots of places you could spend money (face painting, more expensive souvenirs like castle playsets and princess dresses) -- and if you want to go "all out" you'll need more souvenir money than we spend, but you don't *have* to spend that much to have a great trip.

 

[crisi]

Yep, it depends. We've taken trips where we've spent very little - we've eaten a lot from the grocery store in our rooms, not bought souvieniers....we've taken trips where we've had a $200 bottle of wine with dinner and dropped $400 on Cirque tickets.

 

[cassandrap83]

We went for 8 days last year, were on free (regular) dining and took $800. This covered tips, airfare baggage fees, the minimal souveniers we bought (tshirt, and 3 mickey ears hats) and the occasional treat/adult beverage. We came home with a little over $100.

 

[hsembrick]

I agree with the above, we always give our kids a set amount they can spend and it helps out a lot with the "can I get"'s. We usually budget 100 a day for the extras and that doesn't include the kids spending money.

 

[a1tinkfans]

So personal.......
but I would think only your 6 year old will be the only one really "asking" for stuff.. but YOU will/may get caught up..... in all my visits to the world, (and there have been MANY) I have to tell you, last year I bought like crazy, seriously...I do not know what happened to me...I mean I had to buy an extra suitcase (a MickeyMouse embroidered one @ POR General Store, I LOVE it ) and that was AFTER I shipped stuff home..... I did some Xmas shopping at time and funny thing is...I actually had to call Disney to get 2 of those PIN books as gifts that I did not buy while on property....so, I guess it depends on what your "buying" style is.....You may get caught up...and then again maybe you wanna just say $XX/per day and thats it??
Whatever you decide have a
MAGICAL WONDERFUL SPECTACULAR trip making memories with your family!

 

[brymolmom]

Well - when we go with the regular DP - our biggest spending $$ is tips for meals - about $175 or so for that. Then we figure about $150 or so for other tips and incidentals (grab a snack or side that is not included on the DP or a drink at the pool bar). Then each child gets $50 for souveniers and I would say that dh and I spend about another $150 (something for kids and something for ourselves). So our max total I would say is around $500 - $600 extra for a week when we already have the dining plan. We have 2 kids - ages 6 and 7.

 

[PrincessMom4]

My kids use their allowance and any birthday money they get to spend at Disney. I give them a firm lecture on when its spent, its gone. So make wise choices with your money!

 

[bearlyanne]

Something that saves me with spending onsite, is that Tinkerbell comes each night while my daughter is sleeping and leaves a gift. (kinda like Santa or the Easter Bunny). I stash trinkets that I see thru the year (target dollar bins, dollar stores, disney store sales etc.) and it saves me a ton of cash.

It also allows me to say, "maybe tink will bring it tonight" when my daughter eyes something in the Parks.

 

[StuckInKS]

Since your on the DxDDP, you will probably spend a good amount on tips. I would say $20 for each 1TS meal and $40 for a 2TS meal (based on a $100/$200 tab.) I agree with giving the kids a set amount to spend on souvies. Personally, I would do $25/kid on non-clothing and then another $25/kid for a shirt or something.

We didn't spend much on souvies last time (3 mickey ear hats, 3 autographbooks, 3 pens, 3 POTC swords/eye patches, a BLY key chain and a tote bag,) but we did unexpectantly drop $60-$70 on ponchos which we weren't planning on (silly us.)

This time we won't do many souvies again, but are planning a tea party, pirate adventure, pirates league and BBB for the kids. I think that these experiences will probably be more exciting and memorable for them than souvies that will get lost or forgotten after returning home.

 

[Dotsie]

Thank you everyone for the advice. We are setting a $$ amount for each child. We have already started lecturing about the spending of their money. I am going to take about $1200 and have a little extra, just in case