How much $ would you save for this?

[Monica D]

We've already paid for our hotel and have money set aside for our tickets. I'm trying to figure out how much we'll need for the following (four nights, five days, four people...ages in signature):

-Gas: (driving from San Jose, roughly 360 miles each way, for a total of 720 miles)

-Food/Dining: We're planning on eating breakfast in the room, and possibly taking our lunch. I'm planning on four dinners, snacks, a few drinks, and possible a couple of lunches out

-Spending: We usually give our kids a flat amount they can spend how they want, and when they run out they have to use their own money. Dh and I spend a minimal amount...I can figure this out on my own

Based on the criteria, how much would you set aside?

 

[dizneekrazee]

DBF estimated our gas to be about $200. Snacks/food for 4, depends what type of food. Roughly $100/day, can easily be more. Didn't count breakfast in that since you will eat at hotel. That what cover snacks, a QS & a TS I am sure.

Spending, well, that really is up to you on how much you want to spend. I make my kids save their own money for spending, with the exception that I told middle DS I would buy him a chef hat if we see one (he enjoys helping in the kitchen & I want to encourage that).

 

[emilym27]

Last time we spent $130 on gas driving from San Jose in a minivan and $500 for 5 days and 4 nights for everything else. We had breakfast included at the hotel. We bought lunch, snacks and sometimes dinner (if we were hungry) for DH, myself, dd 7 and ds 15. 7 year old got a few club penguin plushies.

 

[TheZue]

The gas is going to depend on what car you drive. Between our two cars dh's is double what mine uses. For us that would be around $180 in gas. I would check out http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm to figure out pricing on food. I know for us counter service ended up being around the same price every time I looked at a menu and figured out what we'd eat. The cheapest you'd get away with four adults each getting a meal and a drink is around $40/meal if you get hot dogs...Plazza Inn on the other hand you'll sit around $60. Table service restaurants will be more. Drinks are expensive. I think a bottle of pop is around $3 isn't it? Budget more than you'll think you'll need for drinks. It's hot and you get thirsty. I see a 15 year old boy in your sig...hopefully you don't hit a growth spurt I usually budget $30-40 on snacks & drinks every day. I would ballpark you'll probably be looking at $600-$700 on food if you do avoid breakfasts and some lunches and stick to counter service.

Edit: after going a few times I figured out that it is always going to be more than my estimate which is why I estimate higher now. It's better to save too much than not enough.

 

[disneychrista]

We plan $15/meal per person, including soft drinks. $10/meal for kids. Snacks I plan $5/day per person.

Gasbuddy.com has a trip calculator, including the best placesto stop for gas.

My "kids" are grown and use there own money for suvieners. When they were kids I think I gave them $25.

 

[Monica D]

Gasbuddy.com has a trip calculator, including the best placesto stop for gas.

I've heard about GasBuddy but didn't know they had a trip calculator...that is really cool!!

Thank you for the input...I was thinking somewhere in the $700-$800 range, but tend to put more aside just in case.

 

[DisneytheKid]

I would agree. Plan for anywhere from $500-700 for food.

The gas is going to depend on what car you drive. Between our two cars dh's is double what mine uses. For us that would be around $180 in gas. I would check out http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm to figure out pricing on food. I know for us counter service ended up being around the same price every time I looked at a menu and figured out what we'd eat. The cheapest you'd get away with four adults each getting a meal and a drink is around $40/meal if you get hot dogs...Plazza Inn on the other hand you'll sit around $60. Table service restaurants will be more. Drinks are expensive. I think a bottle of pop is around $3 isn't it? Budget more than you'll think you'll need for drinks. It's hot and you get thirsty. I see a 15 year old boy in your sig...hopefully you don't hit a growth spurt I usually budget $30-40 on snacks & drinks every day. I would ballpark you'll probably be looking at $600-$700 on food if you do avoid breakfasts and some lunches and stick to counter service.

Edit: after going a few times I figured out that it is always going to be more than my estimate which is why I estimate higher now. It's better to save too much than not enough.