How much spending $ ???

[Groomer Gal]

Hello Everyone,

We ( myself, my hubby and twin 8 year old daughters) are going to WDW in December for 7 days.

Having not been there since I was in High School, I have no clue how much anything costs. ( outside of food really )

What amount of spending money is reasonable ? We will be on the dining plan and I know we will pay for some food and all the tips OOP.....but I mean more little trinkets and souvenirs and maybe a t shirt. We don't want to be on a strict budget...we want to really enjoy ourselves and get what we or the girls want but just don't know what that means.

Just a general idea would be a great help! TIA

 

[lisagirl88]

We usually give our older kids(ages 9 and 7) a $50 budget to spend on anything they would like. We buy them each a t-shirt(I think these were around $20) and a few light up things at the parade(these are anywhere from under $10 and up). Anything else they want they buy with their own money. They were happy with this amount and got almost everything that they wanted!

What worked well for us is to purchase 2 $50 gift cards and when those were done that was the end of their budget.

 

[disney*mom*82]

I agree with the PP. We usually give each of our children a $50 budget. Last time they had gift cards and they liked that idea and so did we, no having to keep track of who has how much left.

Shirts are usually 15-35 and then they usually want some kind of toy, bracellete, necklace, something. And DS14 usually finds some kind of snack he wants that isnt on the DDP.

 

[mom2travel]

We have always taken a similar approach to what PPs said. We would buy specific things, like a t-shirt, and give them each a specified amount of money to spend as they wish. I would put $50 cash in a ziploc baggie so they could see how much they have left

 

[Magic2000]

We also gave our girls a certain budget. When they were younger, we'd give them the cash so that they could easily see how much money they had and would have left after they bought the item. That really helped. Now that they are older, they bring their own money.

My girls weren't really into tshirts - but every trip, they always found a stuffed animal that they just had to have. My youngest DD loves to "pick a pearl" in Japan. And she's also made the bracelets with the beads. Oh, and every trip, she also likes to buy a dream catcher from the shop in Canada.

There's also the pressed penny machines. That's only 51 cents, so a collection of those won't cost too much!

Oh, I'm not sure if your girls will get into trading pins, but that is really big at Disney! My girls enjoyed that, especially my youngest one. We have a book with all the pins we've bought (and traded). The pins range from about $6 or $7 and up. (A lot of people will buy pins on ebay for cheaper just for the kids to be able to trade.)

Have a GREAT trip!!!!

 

[Jacks2583]

We don't spend too much when we are down there.

Last year I think we spent $250 on tips (we were on the dining plan and had 7 TS meals, tip at least 20%).

As far as "extras," we maybe spent $300 total. We gave my stepdaughter a $75 spending budget and then bought a few things for our future daughter (I was pg at the time) and ourselves.

I think the gift card is a GREAT idea.

 

[jpmom97]

My kids save their Christmas and birthday money for spending. Santa will also leave a $50 gc for each of them in their stocking so they should have enough to not bug me. I am also going to get them a check register and a little plastic envelope thingy so they can keep track of what they spend and keep their reciepts. It never fails, everytime we go they swear they have more money, they just can't find it.....yeah ok. For myself, I always buy a t shirt, an ornament and a Mickey head for my antenna, so I try to save $150. DH could care less about souveniers LOL.

 

[Groomer Gal]

Your answers have been very helpful! It actually seems a lot more reasonable than I thought!

Although it is a surprise for our girls, they do know we are "saving up" to go "someday".
I think the gift cards are a great idea! They have a Birthday and Easter between now and then so it would be fun to give them GC's to keep the dream alive. PLUS, if I give them cash....even though yes it will be easier to keep track of for them....because they don't know for sure....I'm afraid the Dollar Store or Walmart will be calling their name. LOL

The one who I think will want the most spending $ is my DH! He's so funny. He's going to literally be like a kid in a candy store!

Again, thanks to all who replied.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

We usually do 100.00 PP. We bought a lot of dust collectors our first trip and learned our lesson so now we only buy stuff we will use. I buy ornaments for the tree and coffee mugs/travel mugs and usually a hoodie. DS's wanted light up stuff from the carts and lego stuff. They did not spend much. DH likes sweatshirts (zip up). DD is 6 months so I cannot see her spending much This trip!

 

[wlwilliams9]

We've been to Disney many times, as a couple and now with 2 kids. We seem to always spend about $100/ day on average. When we're there for 8 days, our bill is about $800. We always use the DDP and charge everything to our room. This total includes tips, OOP food & expenses and souvies!

 

[Groomer Gal]

We usually do 100.00 PP. We bought a lot of dust collectors our first trip and learned our lesson so now we only buy stuff we will use. I buy ornaments for the tree and coffee mugs/travel mugs and usually a hoodie. DS's wanted light up stuff from the carts and lego stuff. They did not spend much. DH likes sweatshirts (zip up). DD is 6 months so I cannot see her spending much This trip!

That's what I'm afraid of...I want everyone to get something to remember the trip BUT don't want to just be frivolous. Ornaments are a great idea!!

 

[Groomer Gal]

We've been to Disney many times, as a couple and now with 2 kids. We seem to always spend about $100/ day on average. When we're there for 8 days, our bill is about $800. We always use the DDP and charge everything to our room. This total includes tips, OOP food & expenses and souvies!

This is a great help! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Groomer Gal]

A little side note....What are the pressed penny machines????