It's all about the money...

[lugnut33]

I would plan $25/pp per day, providing that you're not buying expensive souvenirs (like Dooney & Bourke handbags, Pandora/Chamilia bracelets/beads, original artwork, etc.). You'd be surprised how fast money flies out of your wallet at WDW.

That number seems awfully low for souvineers and food. Even at a quick service a family of 4 will easily ding up a $60 bill. I'd say you need to be at $50 per person per day. I always used to figure $200 per day for our family of 4.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I could never advise anyone to be carrying enough cash to get them through the week anyplace...not at home, and not on vacation. If it is lost or stolen, you're completely out of luck. I'm pretty sure you can use your debit card to charge at Disney, like you can most other places. That's what I'd do. You could get gift cards, but if you overestimate your budget, you'll end up with money on a gift card that you may or may not use.

Does the other adult in your party have a credit card? If so, could you link that person's card to the room? I'm not sure how your traveling party is made up or what your relationship is like.

Personally, I can't imagine being without a credit card. Responsible use of one helps your credit score, which in turn helps with things like insurance prices and approval for home loans. I never charge more than I can pay in a month, and my credit card has rewards too. They basically pay me to use their card. (They probably hate people like me.) And they're very good about fraud protection - they caught a fraudulent charge on my card before I did and were very helpful to me in getting that card closed and getting a new one.

 

[Klayfish]

If you must carry cash, we spend about $70-100 per day on food per person and that covers a QS breakfast and lunch and a TS dinner.

Wow! Does it really cost that much? Guess I never thought that much about it. We stay off property and bring all of our own food, only occasionally buy a snack for the kids or something. Geez, we complain when we're spending $250 at the grocery store. But that will feed our family of 5 for a week or more. I guess it all adds up at the restaurants, especially the TS ones.

 

[AngiTN]

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.

Wow! Does it really cost that much? Guess I never thought that much about it. We stay off property and bring all of our own food, only occasionally buy a snack for the kids or something. Geez, we complain when we're spending $250 at the grocery store. But that will feed our family of 5 for a week or more. I guess it all adds up at the restaurants, especially the TS ones.

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.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Do NOT carry more cash than you can afford to lose. I once met a family at the airport in Paris. Sometime between taking off and getting out of the airport they lost a wallet with ALL of their cash. No funds at all, no credit card and no way to really get money. Plus they couldn't afford to lose the money and stay. They were throwing themselves on the mercy of the airline to just fly them back home. It was so sad!

 

[VillainFavs]

You've got 6 people and are going for 2 weeks. Using what I think is a conservative estimate of $25 per person per day, you're talking over $2,000!!!! Do you really want to carry all that in cash?

Can you open up a credit card to use for the trip and then cut it up after if you really don't want to have one? Is your credit good enough to get one with a decent limit?

Debit card?

That just seems like such a setup for disaster!

 

[AshleyLovesDisney]

I want to echo what others are saying here: PLEASE do not take that much cash.

Last week, we were in Animal Kingdom and my friend left his wallet/cell phone case (he has one of those combo-cases) in a bathroom. By the time he got back there it was gone. Now luckily, whoever found it turned it in to Guest Services and everything was fine, but that could have just as easily gone the other way. At least if you lose a credit card, you have options to recoup your money. With cash, that's it, you're done.

Like I'm assuming OP is, I don't love credit cards, but even I realize that in today's world, we need to have at least an emergency/excess card. I have a debit card and a Disney Chase which I only ever use at Disney parks. It's really no that bad, trust me.

 

[Roxyfire]

I know there are certain writers and experts who dislike credit cards and for good reason. But right here is the reason one should have a credit card, if only for travel/emergencies. Even a debit card on vacation is a risky thing. That's tied to your actual bank account which is incredibly scary. I've been the victim of identify theft and it took a very long time to get everything straightened out. I will never use only a debit card again. Being left high and dry while your bank "figures it out" is incredibly stressful.

Chargebacks to a debit account can take a very long time. When you have a bill coming up, you'd have to make a hard choice, not to mention buying necessities. If you're only going to WDW, then taking a small amount of money ($20 per adult perhaps) for incidentals at the airport and some small bills for tips would be alright. Putting the rest on a disney gift card would be safer. Especially since you can view and manage the balance online.

 

[6loversofdisney]

Really realizing how vague my op was. Sorry about that. I do have a debit card and that is what I will be using.

I also wasn't looking for advice on actual dollar amounts but rather if I was missing something or anything that I could need money for.

I think I will place an extra 1000 for complete misc on that card. That way if we have a freak emergency we will at least get home.

 

[pcstang]

Debit cards are scary as a PP pointed out. I don't even have one, CC only for everything. Lots more protection for you using a CC.

 

[SaintsManiac]

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.

I would include some tips for anyone handling your luggage. I took about $50 in ones last year just to be safe.

 

[kittyab]

We always use this:

http://www.distripplanner.com/

 

[tizzant]

Really realizing how vague my op was. Sorry about that. I do have a debit card and that is what I will be using.

I also wasn't looking for advice on actual dollar amounts but rather if I was missing something or anything that I could need money for.

I think I will place an extra 1000 for complete misc on that card. That way if we have a freak emergency we will at least get home.

Why not get one of those giftcard visas and load it? You can spend whatever excess when you get home, and it's safe for your personal accounts.

 

[crazylady]

Duplicate post

 

[crazylady]

Really realizing how vague my op was. Sorry about that. I do have a debit card and that is what I will be using.

I also wasn't looking for advice on actual dollar amounts but rather if I was missing something or anything that I could need money for.

I think I will place an extra 1000 for complete misc on that card. That way if we have a freak emergency we will at least get home.

In that case, you might want to plan some money for UBER especially if you are going to other resorts for meals. Traveling resort to resort is a pain via Disney transportation.

That number seems awfully low for souvineers and food. Even at a quick service a family of 4 will easily ding up a $60 bill. I'd say you need to be at $50 per person per day. I always used to figure $200 per day for our family of 4.

The OP has the DDP.

 

[mini22]

We always tip the ME bus driver $1.00 per bag for each bag they handle.We usually have two bags that have to go under the bus. Smaller bags and backpacks we take on bus with us.Also if your room is not ready and you need to leave bags with bell services so you can go off to the parks you would also tip.The same goes for your departure day. If you have a later flight you can leave bags with bell services and got to the parks or DS.
I always make tip envelopes for all the tips I know I will need.Nothing worse than just having large bills when all you need just a few dollars.

 

[subtchr]

In that case, you might want to plan some money for UBER especially if you are going to other resorts for meals.

Uber can only be paid through the app, with a card.

 

[AngiTN]

We always tip the ME bus driver $1.00 per bag for each bag they handle.We usually have two bags that have to go under the bus. Smaller bags and backpacks we take on bus with us.Also if your room is not ready and you need to leave bags with bell services so you can go off to the parks you would also tip.The same goes for your departure day. If you have a later flight you can leave bags with bell services and got to the parks or DS.
I always make tip envelopes for all the tips I know I will need.Nothing worse than just having large bills when all you need just a few dollars.

I go to the bank day before we leave and get singles and 5 and then put them in envelopes for the tips for our trip. Makes it super easy. And DGD has a blast decorating them

Uber can only be paid through the app, with a card.

Yes but tips are cash. Unless you use Lyft, where you can pay and tip via the app

 

[bumbershoot]

My Mama taught me to not carry more cash than I can afford to loose.

If only my mom had had a moment in between jobs to teach me this. I got my month's grocery money out on the 1st, and on the 3rd it snowed and ds and I took a walk. I had my wristlet and uses it like that for the first time. And at some point on the walk I dropped it. And we have an organic, foodie sort of food budget. It was painful. I still haven't stopped beating myself up over it and it happened in January. We are now able to absorb it and move on, but I grew up poor and still filter things through that. Sigh.

I

interesting that they are not supposed to do this. I've done it twice and called to make sure it was ok again this time and was told it was. Oh well. I'll just hope I get lucky again

When was your last trip?

Uber can only be paid through the app, with a card.

You might consider tipping. The drivers like tips. And with uber you can't tip through the app.

 

[subtchr]

Yes but tips are cash. Unless you use Lyft, where you can pay and tip via the app

You might consider tipping. The drivers like tips. And with uber you can't tip through the app.

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.