Minimum amount of spending money?

[la79al]

Trying to figure out how much money I will need for our trip. I'm a SAHM so I'm kind of struggling to come up with money. My mom has paid for transportation down and home (I plan to pay for gas, though she will offer to do that too since we are all using my minivan). The condo is paid for. I have enough for our tickets for both DW and SeaWorld. We are planning on eating most meals in the condo, packing lunches, snacks and waters for the parks. I know if allowed, my mom will pay for absolutely everything for us. I don't want that to happen. I know I will need money for gas and parking, money for groceries and any food we end up getting in the parks. What expenses am I missing and what would you think the minimum would be for money? I am not really a big souvenir person and my girls (4,2) will have their own money (and Grandma. Any ideas on how much money I should let them take?).

 

[Marionnette]

Trying to figure out how much money I will need for our trip. I'm a SAHM so I'm kind of struggling to come up with money. My mom has paid for transportation down and home (I plan to pay for gas, though she will offer to do that too since we are all using my minivan). The condo is paid for. I have enough for our tickets for both DW and SeaWorld. We are planning on eating most meals in the condo, packing lunches, snacks and waters for the parks. I know if allowed, my mom will pay for absolutely everything for us. I don't want that to happen. I know I will need money for gas and parking, money for groceries and any food we end up getting in the parks. What expenses am I missing and what would you think the minimum would be for money? I am not really a big souvenir person and my girls (4,2) will have their own money (and Grandma. Any ideas on how much money I should let them take?).

I suggest that you take all of the little expenses and list them line by line along with an estimated price for each. Then add them all up. You have so many variables in there that it would be hard to say how much you need. And it looks as if you and you mother are unclear4 as to what she will pay for and what you will be responsible for. You don't say how far you're driving, what kind of mileage you get, tolls, how long you are staying or if you plan to do any onsite meals. Since you've been to Disney many times, you should have a feeling for what things cost and how much you've spent in the past. Don't assume that your mother will pay for anything other than what she has already said she will cover and bring enough to cover more than you think you will need just in case you have car trouble or one of you needs to get medicine for an illness.

 

[ZoeBell]

Take what you think you need and add a bunch more. Money flies fast on vacation. Well at least most times. But it's always nice to come home with "extra" money.
I've had to spend money on the oddest things and stuff I didn't plan for. Motrin because one of my kids needed it in the park and my supply was in the hotel room. Sweatshirt or clothes I wasn't planning on buying because I didn't plan on the down pour or kid throwing up. Sandals because a strap broke. Or a souvenir I wasn't planning because I never buy but I seen it and had to have it.

 

[brertoad]

You are allowed to bring a small cooler into WDW theme parks, you can pack juice boxes and canned sodas or bottled water, that would save a lot on drinks if you end up needing it in the parks. Each soda costs about $3 and most places don't give refills anyways, so packing some drinks and snacks could save you a lot.

 

[auralia]

14$ per day for parking. For what it's worth we did sea world for the first time this time with a 5 and 2 year old and they were board to tears and we were dissapointed. I would wait until the kiddos are older for sea world and put that money somewhere else.

 

[stsomewhere]

14$ per day for parking. For what it's worth we did sea world for the first time this time with a 5 and 2 year old and they were board to tears and we were dissapointed. I would wait until the kiddos are older for sea world and put that money somewhere else.

I agree with this.
Either add an extra day at WDW or spend a day at the condo swimming.

 

[minushka72]

14$ per day for parking. For what it's worth we did sea world for the first time this time with a 5 and 2 year old and they were board to tears and we were dissapointed. I would wait until the kiddos are older for sea world and put that money somewhere else.

We have had the opposite experience. Took DS when he was 4 and DD when she was 1. DD of course does not remember it but DS loved it and keeps asking when we are going back! He loved the shows and feeding the dolphins and the rides in the Kiddie area. DD really enjoyed the shows and watching the baby dolphin tank. We love Seaworld!

 

[kirstenb1]

Trying to figure out how much money I will need for our trip. I'm a SAHM so I'm kind of struggling to come up with money. My mom has paid for transportation down and home (I plan to pay for gas, though she will offer to do that too since we are all using my minivan). The condo is paid for. I have enough for our tickets for both DW and SeaWorld. We are planning on eating most meals in the condo, packing lunches, snacks and waters for the parks. I know if allowed, my mom will pay for absolutely everything for us. I don't want that to happen. I know I will need money for gas and parking, money for groceries and any food we end up getting in the parks. What expenses am I missing and what would you think the minimum would be for money? I am not really a big souvenir person and my girls (4,2) will have their own money (and Grandma. Any ideas on how much money I should let them take?).

For a 4 and 2 yr old, I'd just let them choose whatever your budget allows, ie, one toy each, or one toy per day. For the older kids, I'd say something like $50, give them the money and let them decide how to spend it. WE eat breakfast at our villa, have a quick c/s lunch, then make dinner back at the villa. When we first arrive, dh takes the kids to the pool, and I hit Publix for groceries for the week.

There's always stuff like an afternoon Coke break in the parks. But we travel in the summer, so it's hot, and crowded.

 

[disneymayz]

Family of 4 here = I walk into the park with $100/day. C/S meals can be on the bigger side so they can be shared. Even if you got 2 adult meals (kids splitting one)it would run you around $25 which makes it $50/day to eat lunch and dinner in the park. Definitely eat breakfast at the condo.

Now for souvenirs = we have the kids "make a list". When they see something and say "Can I have that?" or "I want that!" We add it to the list. At the end of the trip we do a shopping day. We walk through the store and most of what they wanted "on the list" they had no interest. This has saved us ALOT of money. Also we don't end up with toys, etc that get played with for 5 mins and then done. Total for all of us we spend around $200-300 on stuff. That includes some kind of collectable / art work.

Driving = Think I saw PA. We also from PA. We are south central so we have no tolls and it's about 1000 miles. Minivan gets about 20 mpg (easier math) so you will need to get 50 gallons each way at $3.5/gallon. You need $350 for gas round trip. Remember if you are not driving straight through then you will also need money to pay for the hotel during the stop.