how much $ to take

[tcp0421]

I am just wondering how much spending money everyone takes to Disney. We are a family of 4. Two girls ages 2 and 5. We were thinking $1,500. Would that be enough? We are on the dining plan.

 

[brymolmom]

If you're on the dining plan - I personally think you don't need anywhere near that much. I've gone with the DP twice with kids about yours' ages, and we have spent MAYBE $150 - $250 total. Now I do bring a couple souveniers from home (bought cheap at Disney STore or Kmart), so we only end up getting like 1 - 2 things for that while there. Other than that - we over-tipped at some of our meals an extra $5 or $10 and we bought an occassional snack or drink in the park that did not qualify on the DP. Oh yeah - this was for one week both times.

We did bring cereal from home - so that saved us buying some breakfasts though.

What do you think you're going to spend it on? Mostly on souveniers to bring home? Just trying to get a picture of what you like to do on vacations.

 

[mkycrzy1971]

You should be more than covered...we are a family of 5 on the DDP...girls ages 14 and 9, boy age 2. We gave each of the kids $150 to spend, bought 3 meals OOP, and bought Souv. for ourselves (and even went a little overboard!!), bought drinks OOP a couple of times, bought a camera strap, bought Mother's Day gifts, bought each of the kids a T-shirt above and beyond their souv. $$, Extra tips on DDP, bellhop tips, snacks that were not covered by DDP, paid for parking at the airport, ect and spent less than $1000. We did eat breakfast in our room each AM out of the groceries I had delivered from garden grocer . com and the box I had mailed ahead of time. I think you should be just fine...it never hurts to have some extra $$ for emergencies anyway. Have fun!!

 

[TMB1203]

That should be more than enough. I always like coming home from vacation with money in my pocket so I just bring extra

There are 4 of us on the DDP and I usually bring about $1000. in spending money. I never use it all, but I like knowing that I have it and nothing is going on the credit card.

This also isn't our first visit, so while we buy souveniers, we don't buy a lot.
Generally, we each spend about $200. in souveniers. Like another said, I bring things from home that I have bought at TDS or from previous visits.

We buy an occasional drink or snack that we pay OOP for. We tip extra for our meals and we tip bell-hops.

Have fun!

 

[girlsx4]

I think that is plenty. We are a family of 6 and are only bringing about $1000-$1200(and that includes gas money from Ohio to Orlando)

 

[sunlover13]

Personally, I don't like to bring that much cash with me on vacation. I think we brought about $500 cash with us when we went for a week and brought home most of it b/c you can charge everything to your room and then just pay with a credit card. I much prefer to do that than carry around that amount of cash.

 

[winniethepoohsmom]

We usually spend under $500 while on the ddp that's for extra tips, tipping mousekeeping, a few souvies, an occasional drink, we usually pick up a few things at the store and eat breakfast in the room, an occasional food item not on the ddp, gas for the rental car. Make sure you lock up your money in the safe. Linda

 

[CEDmom]

First off, I'd never take that amount in cash. Leave most of it in the bank and use a credit card - much safer.

If your meals I covered I can't imagine needing that kind of money. Even if you grab a simple breakfast each morning that might run $20. I don't know how long you're going for but I can't imagine buying that many souvenirs. We went for a week last Nov and had about $200 in cash and then used credit cards. There's 3 of us and we weren't on the dining plan. We ate well and brought things but didn't spend anywhere near that amount.

 

[In Luv with Disney]

First off, I'd never take that amount in cash. Leave most of it in the bank and use a credit card - much safer.

If your meals I covered I can't imagine needing that kind of money. Even if you grab a simple breakfast each morning that might run $20. I don't know how long you're going for but I can't imagine buying that many souvenirs. We went for a week last Nov and had about $200 in cash and then used credit cards. There's 3 of us and we weren't on the dining plan. We ate well and brought things but didn't spend anywhere near that amount.

Totally agree! Plus you get points or airline miles if you use a Rewards credit card.

We were on the Dining Plan in December and I brought souveniers from home for the kids. I don't even think I spent $100 for the week!!!!!! The DP has A LOT of food. You will be covered there!

 

[tcp0421]

Personally, I don't like to bring that much cash with me on vacation. I think we brought about $500 cash with us when we went for a week and brought home most of it b/c you can charge everything to your room and then just pay with a credit card. I much prefer to do that than carry around that amount of cash.

Ok, I guess I will be ok then. We wouldnt have it all cash, we did get some Disney dollars and about $200 in cash the rest will be on our debit card.

 

[ndgqccmiller]

We are a family of 5 we spent a little over 500 and that was also gas from TN to FL. We were on the DDP. We did eat breakfast in the room. Next time I will probably take 750 or so. But my favorite saying at Disney World (I think I got it from a Diser) We are here to do Disney not buy Disney! I think the kids each got 4-5 things they wanted. We did Living Legacy at Epcot, T-shirts for mom and Dad, extra snacks, and a lot more!

 

[mkycrzy1971]

Personally, I don't like to bring that much cash with me on vacation. I think we brought about $500 cash with us when we went for a week and brought home most of it b/c you can charge everything to your room and then just pay with a credit card. I much prefer to do that than carry around that amount of cash.

I did not mean all actual cash....sorry for the misunderstanding....I mean available money....cash, credit &/or cards....we had about $500 cash and the rest on debit card. Carrying that much actual cash is not very smart....it can easily be lost or stolen without a quick way to replace it.

 

[Doc CW]

We take about $600 dollars for spending money.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I think you should be more than fine with that amount. The dining seems to be the priciest part of the vacation for us...so if that was taken care of, that would be more than enough for our family of 5 for a week.

 

[sallyjane]

How much you bring depends on what you will be doing. I am bringing $1000 total spending.
$200 emergency
$200 DH spending
$200 me spending
$100 DS spending
$100 DD spending
$100 bippity boppity boutique and hair wrap for DD
$100 for tips for maid for 10 nights, bell hops & shuttle drivers(high estimate)

 

[Tink3Belle]

We are a family of 5 on the dining plan last year I think we spent a few hundred and went about average with souvenirs. I love the dining plan its like an all includive trip. I bring a few hundred for energencies and my disney visa to rack up point for the next trip I tlak my husband into because after all I have point to put towards it. He He!