Please help with REALISTIC spending expectations

[TheWog]

As others have said don't forget transportation. DCL or parking does cost money. I assume you will be flying from Michigan, but you never know.

Your list seems to be pretty close as to what to expect for you would want to do. All costs can be your decision. Shouldn't be too bad.

 

[soleglo]

Don't bother renting floats at Castaway Cay, after a couple of hours there are plenty just floating around waiting for someone 2 use them. I took my own pix of my children with the characters and therefore saved by not purchasing the expensive photos on board. I only purchased 2 photos of us together, and probably could have had someone take those.

 

[mmouse37]

I have to agree with the only 1 cabin advice...there really is no need unless you want total separation from your kids...and on the ressie 1 adult will have to listed in each cabin. Are you planning on splitting up and staying one adult in each cabin or are you comfortable enough letting a 10 year old and younger in their own cabin....chances are if you are booking last minute there won't be any connecting cabins available.

I would definately choose 1 cabin....we have stayed in one cabin with our 18 year old and 16 year old and were OK...

Save some money and only book one cabin!!

MJ

 

[tecdavidt]

Room service is free but you need to tip the person bringing the food to your stateroom.

You could book one room but if you are like my husband and myself, we like privacy so what you are thinking about booking would give you that. Don't panic though when you get charge full fare for each person in your group. Every room is charged at 2 full fares then the discounts begin. If you want to go cheaply, then book the room that sleeps 4 and your children will cruise at a lower rate. (Just keep telling yourself it is only a three day cruise.) You will be surprise at how much money you will save.

As far as other prices, skip excursions, limit your alcohol consumption and limit your photo purchases. Keep the little ones away from the arcade, it is extra and adds up fast. Have a limit on on board purchases at the gift shops.

Kathy

 

[april riddle]

I packed my water in my suitcases I did buy six packs so that I could spread them around and then just put a six pack in the cooler at a time. They are correct about they snacks from room service - I had read somewhere on these boards about the candy being expensive so when we made the water run at the super Target in Orlando before going to Port Canaveral I bought some candy there. I also packed a couple boxes of fruit snacks and skippy peanut butter bars and just put all the extras in the clothes cabinet above all the clothes and beside the life jackets. The soda is free at the drink station all day long on the 9th deck and we saw many people going up there and then we would see them either in the movie theater or in Walt disney Theater. I found it strange for some reason to see them selling snacks before the shows like Golden Mickeys etc. A lot of people would bring drinks or buy alcholic drinks or smoothies. We never asked our kids if they wanted one of those things (the smoothies that is) and they never asked. I think you could rack up a good bill just on those things! I can't believe I have been back to work for a whole week already! Our kids are 9 and 11 - I never felt like we were crowed at all in our stateroom and we would not put our kids in a separate room for a few more years. We love our privacy but I think we had enough alone time (ie they saw the Incredibles three times while on the ship lol) plus I have never slept so well in my life - must have been that rocking motion.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Don't bother renting floats at Castaway Cay, after a couple of hours there are plenty just floating around waiting for someone 2 use them. I took my own pix of my children with the characters and therefore saved by not purchasing the expensive photos on board. I only purchased 2 photos of us together, and probably could have had someone take those.

We never saw floats not being used on our cruise but isn't that taking someones float?