It's all about the money...

[pampam]

We, too, budget $25.00 pp/pd. But we are frugal people, and have been enough to know where to save, and where to splurge. We use traveler's cheques. Yes, some banks still sell them. One trip we lost the TCs the day we arrived, and it was just like the commercial. They were replaced the following day. All I lost was a nights sleep. I usually carry about $50, cashing TCs as I need them at the front desk. If we are going off property for a day of shopping, I might carry more cash. I like to be aware of how much I have spent and how much I have left, so perhaps we will splurge toward the end of the trip if budget allows it.

 

[AngiTN]

I do tip Uber drivers, in cash. But the OP was talking about not using a card at all. You must have a card linked to your account to use Uber.

Actually, you can use Paypal with Uber
But, if someone is planning to use Uber or Lyft they'll have the app and it will be all set up so that part of the payment wouldn't be an issue anyway.
You would need cash to tip if you wanted to tip with Uber

 

[Jennasis]

I thought one of the points of Uber was that there was no tipping? Maybe I imagined that.

 

[AngiTN]

I thought one of the points of Uber was that there was no tipping? Maybe I imagined that.

They (the owners of the service coordination system) want you to think that for whatever reason. Tipping is not required, never is, even in a restaurant. But as we all are well aware, it's become the norm and few would eat without a tip. So, yeah, it's your choice in the end. We tip. And since we don't always have a few dollars on us we usually opt for Lyft where they have the option built in to the app

 

[bumbershoot]

I thought one of the points of Uber was that there was no tipping? Maybe I imagined that.

The drivers don't really agree with that concept.

 

[richkaryn]

We bought several Disney gift cards from Sam's Club. They have a $500 card for about $476 (must order online) and used those to pay for parking, food and tips, souvenirs, Valet parking, pretty well everything we did on site. Not only was it more convenient than carrying cash, it also saved us some money.

I ordered some of those online but one of the 2 sam's closest to me (45 mins either direction) has the $500 cards in store as well. In store also has packs of 3 $50 cards for around $143. I stocked up over a couple of months period to pay the balance on our room only reservation. Saved a couple hundred dollars this way.

 

[richkaryn]

You can indeed put a debit card down as the card for MB charges. Of course, that means someone has to have the money in the account but if someone is getting cash out then obviously the money would be there.


Yes, food at Disney, and any theme park in the world, is expensive. We spend more at QS at Disney than we do a nice sit down restaurant at home. It's all part of vacation though. Cooking meals or preparing them in any way is not vacation to me. I do that at home every day. Vacation means getting away from doing things done at home.

Most of our QS meals we ate this past week (2 adults and 1 child) ran us $35-40/meal. To give you an idea, we went to Casey's Corner and just my son and I got food- 2 regular hotdogs with fries and 2 drinks--$26 and change. Then we went to Earl of Sandwich another evening and all 3 of us ate. DH and I each upgraded to combos (add chips and drink). DS got a kids sandwich, no chips, and he shared my drink. It cost the same as the 2 meals at Casey's did. It helps to look at menus in advance and plan out even your QS meals if you are trying to budget.

 

[DisneyBelle27]

Just chiming in to add this, since I don't think I saw it mentioned in other posts. Don't forget about the tips for Mousekeeping (housekeeping in your hotel room) as well. I saw bellhops, luggage handlers, and DME drivers mentioned, but don't think I saw this.

 

[lroger01]

One option for using a debit card is to open an account at another bank. Put your vacation money in that account and use the debit card from it on your vacation. It will protect your main account but still give you credit card-like convenience for your trip.

 

[Patricksp]

You can combine gift cards up to 1000 dollars via Disneygiftcard.com, let's say you lose your card ot it's stolen just buy another card log on to Disneygiftcard and transfer the balance to a card in your possession. We use Gift Cards because it earns us Free gasoline from our SuperMarket and after doing this we haven't paid for gas in like over 4 years.

If you haven't check out the DVC rent and Trade Board here and you can get a one bedroom with a full kitchen and you can make all your meals in the room and save a TON of money, or at least breakfast. By renting points from a member you can usually save money on the room too. You get all the same benefits as if you are a paying cash for your room.

 

[pcstang]

When I signed up for Uber a few years ago there was a portion in the signup to add gratuity. I've used Uber a few times the last couple of years but have not really dug into the app. Therefore, I don't know if that has changed. The whole point of Uber, IMO, is to have a completely cashless transaction.

 

[AngiTN]

When I signed up for Uber a few years ago there was a portion in the signup to add gratuity. I've used Uber a few times the last couple of years but have not really dug into the app. Therefore, I don't know if that has changed. The whole point of Uber, IMO, is to have a completely cashless transaction.

There is no means to give a tip via the app with Uber. Uber has stated they will not allow tips to be included as part of the in app transactions.

http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-explains-why-it-wont-include-a-tip-button-in-its-app-2016-4
http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-should-support-tips-in-the-app-2016-4

 

[Liljo22]

You know a group of posters got all excited about title of this thread and were disappointed that it wasn't about Disney being all about the money. They we now stay clear.

 

[Liljo22]

When I signed up for Uber a few years ago there was a portion in the signup to add gratuity. I've used Uber a few times the last couple of years but have not really dug into the app. Therefore, I don't know if that has changed. The whole point of Uber, IMO, is to have a completely cashless transaction.

That is correct. I will usually throw them a few dollars. I do it because of the low rate they are usually making off the drive but there are some drivers that will rate passengers low if they don't tip which can affect who will pick you up.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Just chiming in to add this, since I don't think I saw it mentioned in other posts. Don't forget about the tips for Mousekeeping (housekeeping in your hotel room) as well. I saw bellhops, luggage handlers, and DME drivers mentioned, but don't think I saw this.

I thought about that after I posted about the luggage! I like to leave at least $5 when Mousekeeping comes in. We only have them in once or twice during our trip.

 

[Kelly Sullivan]

We don't have CC's either but linked our room to our Visa Debit Card connected to our bank account and charged tips and souvenirs to our room. For our family of five with the DP our TS dinners were in about the $200 range so we were leaving approx $40 tips for each. We gave each kid a budget of $30 for souvenirs to spend however they wanted, but we made them wait until the last day to spend it and we went back to the park they saw what they'd wanted. For six days in tips plus the souvenirs for the kids we were under $325 charged to our room account. We were very strict with out budget though because we didn't have alot to spare after paying for the trip and gas on the way down and the gas we needed for the way home

I definitely wouldn't carry cash though

 

[All about me]

I and my granddaughter are going in November for seven days, six nights and five park days. We are using half cash and half gift cards. After studying the menu prices and looking over the prices of possible souvenirs, I budgeted a hundred dollars a day for food and drinks for us (not including breakfast), a hundred dollars each for souvenirs and a hundred dollars for misc for a total of one thousand dollars. Then I ran it past my Disney-crazy sister and she said averaged out the amount is probably what I will spend over the week but drinking around Epcot will be a much more expensive day whereas the short day at Magic Kingdom with the pre-paid Cinderella's Royal Table will be much less.

So I would say the person who suggested $50 a day per person is the closest.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I need some help. I am traveling for two weeks in December. 2 adults 4 kids all ten and up.

I do not own a credit card so I need to calculate enough cash to take with us. Here is a list of what I think I will need money for. Let me know if I am missing anything.

Two oop meals
Tips for all meals (we have free ddp)
Souvenirs
We won't have a car and are staying on property and flying using magical express.

Thanks for stopping by and starting this thread! I hope you've gotten lots of tips here to help with your planning. Your thread was trending today so we picked it to be featured on today's edition of the DIS Daily Fix!

 

[6loversofdisney]

Thanks for stopping by and starting this thread! I hope you've gotten lots of tips here to help with your planning. Your thread was trending today so we picked it to be featured on today's edition of the DIS Daily Fix!

What an awesome honor! Thank you so very much!!!

 

[pcstang]

There is no means to give a tip via the app with Uber. Uber has stated they will not allow tips to be included as part of the in app transactions.

http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-explains-why-it-wont-include-a-tip-button-in-its-app-2016-4
http://www.businessinsider.com/uber-should-support-tips-in-the-app-2016-4

this it how it reads now. I guess it's different than when I signed up a few years ago.