Money~

[Jenn4615]

This may sound like a stupid question, but what do you think is a good amount of cash or travlers checks to take with you to Disney? It is only my husband and I traveling. I just don't know if I should charge everything or get travlers checks, or how much! Help if you can I leave sat morning!!
Thanks!!
Jenn

 

[Nanu57v]

My husband and I charged everything to our room on our last two trips, which was then put on our cashback bonus card. We had, however, saved some money so we could pay it off the next month. It was extremely convenient and we only spent about 100 in cash money. This way we didn't have to worry about losing the cash. Even most of the faster food places took the room key.

Depending on how you plan on eating and how much souveniers you buy will depend on how much you'll spend on your whole trip. We averaged about 12 dollars for breakfast (very light at a food court), 20 for lunch (grab and go place), but 40-60 for dinner (Nice sitdown place which you could do for less without all the courses). We spent about 50 in souveniers both times. But you should always plan for extra if you are going to do the traveler's cheque route, since you can use them as real cash when you get back.

My recommendation is the room key credit card route though, keeping in mind not to put yourself in debt for the next few years with all the cute disney stuff.

 

[Suzanne033]

My husband and I take cash with us. Even our lowest rate credit card is 12%. We don't want to have to pay interest on top of what we are spending.

We took $1,000 the last time we went. But I believe we only spent about $700. This time we are buying food vouchers ahead of time so we are only planning on taking about $600 (which includes the amount we are planning to spend on the cruise portion.)

 

[MickeyMike]

I agree with Nanu57v's food expenses. Don't ask me how I know but it you enjoy wine with your evening meal you will spend much more. We have been to WDW six times now. The first time we ended up spending quite a bit on souvenirs (the stuff is just so darn cute), but with each passing year we spend less on those types of things. We typically just spend cash when we go. There are plenty of ATMs to replenish our supply and the cost of an ATM transaction is about what you might spend on Traveler's Checks.

 

[jeancbpugh]

There are cash machines in many (possibly all) the Disney resorts and parks. You shouldn't carry all the cash you'll need for the trip. Wallets can get lost anywhere, even at the happiest place on earth.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

In part I think it depends on what kind of person you are. I have a cousin who has to have cash on her. Large amounts. That makes me so nervous. I'm the type that does not have much cash on me but uses the check cashing (atm) card for most everything. To me it is safer than carrying large amounts of money.
Now ... when going on vacation I try to cover all the bases. I bring 100 in cash on me( also 100 on my husband) then some travelers checks for each of us. Then the rest we use the credit card or check card.
There are ATM's everywhere so if you need cash you can get some easily.

 

[sconnell]

DH and I have gone alone twice. I would budget about $100 a day. You may need more or less depending on how you plan to eat and how many things you buy. We like to carry around as little cash as possible, like $50 each. We usually put all of the money that we have saved in our account and use our debit card for as much as possible.

 

[MommyBoo!]

We charged just about everything to our room key card also. It was quick and it's easier to get the card in and out than cash and change. DH did carry a $20.00 in cash for small things (he and DD are popcorn fanatics and love getting them from the stands).

We have a rewards credit card from our bank (this is the card we used for our trip). I put so much money for our trip into our a separate savings account each month. When we come back, I just do an online transfer and pay off the card. About a month later, we get our reward gift certificates for the bookstore in the mail.

The estimates by Nanu57v were good for two adults. We did spend a lot on souveniers. I bought things that I knew I could not find at stores back home or online and put them aside when we got home. I have given them as gifts for Christmas and birthdays.

We mostly just bought our meals when we were in the parks. We got almost all of our souvenirs in one big shopping trip in Downtown Disney towards the end. This helped in two ways: I had everything shipped home and one purchase meant one shipping charge and the kids had changed their minds on some of the things they wanted (that whole impulse thing). So, we actually spent less.

Sue

 

[VAN]

I usually use some of each:

Credit card at gas pump, hotel, large restaurant bills & large purchases and cash/traveler's checks for rest.

We were just at WDW for 2 weeks and spent:

$2400 on credit card
$780 cash/traveler's checks

 

[Troyfus]

Would anyone know which bank has ATMs at the parks and the resorts? It would be nice to know if i can draw money as needed without being charged for it. Do they have Bank of America ATMs there?

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I am not sure on this but I think they are all Sun bank. Does anyone else have any info on this?

 

[mc97]

Originally posted by MrsJ Henry
I am not sure on this but I think they are all Sun bank. Does anyone else have any info on this?

They are actually Bank One and Sun Trust (depending which park you're in)...here are the locations: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/guestServicesDetail?id=GuestServicesATMDetailPage

 

[mkpat]

Originally posted by Suzanne033

This time we are buying food vouchers ahead of time so we are only planning on taking about $600 (which includes the amount we are planning to spend on the cruise portion.)

How do you go about getting food vouchers? Where do you get those from? Forgive me if that sounds like a stupid question...

 

[fran99999]

I pay with my room key and have about $50 for incidentals. I have heard on the boards that even the carts have the ability to accept these now.
To stay within budget I stop at the desk daily (when the lines aren't long, usually takes 5 min ) and pay off the previous days bill with debit card or personal check. It helps to see how much I have spent and since I have 2 teens with room key charging access. It shows me where they were and when (SSHH they dont know about this part). For some reason they dont want to ride the Dumbo ride with my DS5 LOL.

I only use cash at WDW when absolutely necessary. The only time WDW sees my Debit card is to pay the bill. I notify my bank prior to my leaving that I want my daily allowance increased they do the rest. This notification of my bank also means they monitor my account so if someone gets hold of my card or double charges they notify me and stop the charge. Yes I have almost been double charged at WDW. They are magical not perfect.

PS. my bank also warned me not to show my CC when people have Cell phones around. It seems some of them take pictures of the CC and have a field day charging.

 

[lc1965]

I'd like to chime in w/ all the people who advise against cash. Of course, I'm also one of those weirdoes who pays my credit card in full each month no matter what stupidity I've done to it! If you feel you will pay in full, then charge everything you can, by all means.

But, I think you can plan on spending $50-100 per day, depending on what you do: do you eat in restaurants instead of food courts? are you big souvenir buyers? are you paying for all of your dinners hows, etc. there or are they paid for already? are you an impulse buyer? I'm not big on souvenirs, but I'm a marketer's dream when it comes to impulse buying on small stuff, like cookies, sunglasses, & so on.

HAVE A GREAT TIME!

 

[madison66]

.

 

[arminnie]

Originally posted by Troyfus
Do they have Bank of America ATMs there?

There are no BofA ATMs in the parks or resorts but if you have a car they are all over Orlando. That's my bank and I just hate to pay an ATM fee so IF I need cash I go to an offsite BofA ATM.

 

[CrazySun27]

MKPAT,

I'm with you, where do you get these infamous food vouchers..???