How much to cover "Everything Else" in Disney

[Crazy4DisFamily]

Good Morning! I am LONG time lurker of the Dis boards and so excited to start actively posting! We are going on our 3rd trip next month (30 days and counting!!!!) . We are using the Dining Plan for the first time on this trip. I love the idea that "everything" is pre-paid, but I am struggling to set a budget for "everything else". I know budgets can be highly subjective and based on personal habits, but I am hoping to get some feedback from those who have used the dining plan before...

A little info to help...
- We are staying on-site for 6 nights (3/8-3/14) and have the basic dining plan (with table service)
- We give our only child (9) a $100 souveniour budget
- We have one dinner that we will be paying OOP for dinner (Fultons Crabhouse in Downtown Dis)
- We are fairly indulgent while on vacation, but still don't go "crazy"

How much should we resonably budget for tips and extras in relation to dining? (we like to tip well) Does an additional $1000.00 seem like a fair amount for 6 nights considering transportation/room/tickets/meals are already paid for, or should I push it $1500.00? I like to be better safe than sorry.

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[angierae]

You can go to allears.net and get an idea of how much your meals will cost, and then figure out what your tips will run you. I usually do that, and then add about 10-15% onto that in my budget figures.

My budget is broken out like this for an 8 night, 9 day trip:

Room/Tickets (assuming we get free dining, if not that's a different calculation I'll do later. We're going one way or the other)
Flights
Memory Maker
Keys to the Kingdom tour
Expenses related to one day we're spending at Universal.

Extras:
Souvenir budget (this is whatever you want it to be. For me, for this trip, it's $300, even tho I've never spent that much)
Extra snacks/alcohol (both DD and I will be 21 so there will probably be some drinking) $300
Airport meals/snacks/expenses (not including parking) $100
Tips $100 (My math says I need $84.)

I've also budgeted another $200 for unexpected extras, such as if I fall in love with an expensive souvenir or we decided to do a meal we haven't planned for, etc.

So for two people, that's $1000, and it's way, way more than we're likely to spend. But I like to not have to pinch pennies.

 

[Disneyluv111]

Sounds like 1000-1500 is right! If you have leftovers at the end of the trip, hooray!

Don't forget if you have a rental car, you'll need gas.
Tip everyday for housekeeping. Leave a small tip on the table or somewhere.
And always calculate unexpected expense in there. That's what I did.

 

[Newsies]

I would even go far as to say $1800-$2000 because you never know what's going to come up on a Disney vacation. You might see something you really want to splurge on, or god forbid there's an emergency, and you need a little bit of extra cash. Bring as much as you can afford to bring and prepare for a FUN week! Welcome to the dis

 

[jen73]

I'm leaning towards the $1500 side as you never know what might come up and then heck, if you go home with money, Awesome!

We were there over thanksgiving break and I think my surprise expense were the little buys, ie candy, cokes, popcorn, candy. ..lol. Then I needed an extra shirt one day and I just had to hv that Vera Bradley Disney bag...lol.

 

[Crazy4DisFamily]

Thanks guys! I was definitely leaning toward $1500.00 cash (plus credit card for emergencies). I had forgotten about housekeeping tips! Thanks for the reminder!