Spending Money Budget How Much???

[curlylocks]

Okay with Christmas shopping finally done and our Disney trip only a little over a month away my CC's are maxed out Not sure how much Ill have paid off on them before we leave but I have a little in savings for spending we are staying at Port Orleans and have the dinning plan so really how much spending money should a family of 5 bring Im talking cash ......I dont want to run out of money but I dont really want to bring to much extra to carry around to....Do you think $800 US is to much not enough????

Id need it for any extras like tips, Souvenirs one each child $20/30 each max, extra drinks or snacks......thanks for any input....Tammy

 

[alamode]

You didn't mention how long you were staying for, but I'll assume a week.

With the dining plan there's no breakfast, so plan for that, plus a couple snack each per person. I'd say $15/ person/ day or $500.

Remember with the dining plan you still need to pay for tips,alcoholic drinks etc. Add another $25/ day, or $175.

That leaves you with around $200 for everything else. It's your call whether that would be enough.

 

[CdnCarrie]

We're budgeting $300 for the week for tips, breakfast and any extra snacks. And to purchase milk and pop to put into our room fridge at the resort (mod).

Souvenirs we have $400 budgeted for a family of 4.


We are also budgeted some money for tips for housekeeping and luggage services.

 

[curlylocks]

Sorry yes were staying 7 days and will have 1 table service and 1 counter service each day for meals plus snack cant remember I think its 1 or 2.
Kids are 10, 6 and 3 plus 2 adults.

 

[irisesareblue]

I hope you don't mind this interjection but I think your kids are young enough to still do this. Go to the dollar store before leaving home and spend about $20.00 on Disney doo-dads (pencils, notepads, glowsticks, etc.) Hide the bag of doo-dads in your suitcase and DON'T TELL THE KIDS ABOUT IT!

Each day, dole out some of these "souvenirs" for the kids (little gifties on the pillows at night or in the morning on the chair - however you want to do it). It can be great to see their faces light up when they get the Disney presents and think they are left by Mickey and friends. You may want to include a book for each child to get autographs in.

In addition, tell them that they can pick their own souvenirs. Load 3 Disney gifts cards when you get to the parks with $30.00 (or more) each. This will teach them to really think about what they want the most and will help them reduce the "gimmes" making your job easier and teaching them about the value of money along the way.

I think that this should reduce your souvenir shopping budget to a minimum! Have fun!

 

[alamode]

In addition, tell them that they can pick their own souvenirs. Load 3 Disney gifts cards when you get to the parks with $30.00 (or more) each. This will teach them to really think about what they want the most and will help them reduce the "gimmes" making your job easier and teaching them about the value of money along the way.

I think that this should reduce your souvenir shopping budget to a minimum! Have fun!

I tried that last trip, telling each child they had $35 each. My twin 5 year old girls (now 6) spent it on sleep toys that weren't found at our local Disney store the first day.

My son on the other hand, spent hours, and I do mean hours, in store after store trying to decide what to get. He eventually decided on a t-shirt on the last day, after I was pleading with him to just get SOMETHING!

 

[curlylocks]

thank you for the tips I will grab some things what about getting snacks and breakfast type foods delivered to your suite is that a good way to cut costs????

I hope you don't mind this interjection but I think your kids are young enough to still do this. Go to the dollar store before leaving home and spend about $20.00 on Disney doo-dads (pencils, notepads, glowsticks, etc.) Hide the bag of doo-dads in your suitcase and DON'T TELL THE KIDS ABOUT IT!

Each day, dole out some of these "souvenirs" for the kids (little gifties on the pillows at night or in the morning on the chair - however you want to do it). It can be great to see their faces light up when they get the Disney presents and think they are left by Mickey and friends. You may want to include a book for each child to get autographs in.

In addition, tell them that they can pick their own souvenirs. Load 3 Disney gifts cards when you get to the parks with $30.00 (or more) each. This will teach them to really think about what they want the most and will help them reduce the "gimmes" making your job easier and teaching them about the value of money along the way.

I think that this should reduce your souvenir shopping budget to a minimum! Have fun!

 

[mollyseven]

We also get the regular dining with 1 cs, 1 ts and 1 snack per day and we never spend ALOT extra. Our kids are 11/15 and are not breakfast eaters so we will plan on an early-ish (noon) lunch and a sit down dinner at around 5. For breakfast I usually take some poptarts, breakfast bars and I buy the quarts of milk to keep in our fridge. We will use our mugs for hot chocolate and tea and that's enough for us. We will use our snack in the afternoon for a milkshake or something to tide us over. I have ordered from garden grocer in the past and gotten a case of water and some fruit for our room and that was always good and since we are going for 10 days this year so we will order water,fruit, yogourt and some breakfast bars. So lets assume 50 dollars for extra food and then a couple quarts of milk over the 10 days and we won't need to buy any in the parks out of pocket.
I always take our own coffee for the room also as Disney coffee is terrible.
Count on at least 25.00 for each table service gratuity, maybe more depending on the cost.
Also remember housekeeping, lets say 5.00 per night.