Spending Money Help

[inediblefairy]

Hi all

Me, my partner and daughter who will be 16 are going to Disney next year in July for 2 weeks we are coming from the UK. We are staying at All Star Music so we don't need to worry about transport to get to all the parks but we are also going to universal for 2 days also. How much spending money would you say we will need and also any saving tips

 

[LynnTH]

You are going to get a lot of different answers on this. Everyone can probably help you more if you give us more information:

What all is the Spending Money to include?
Meals/Souvenir's/Any Extras

Also, there are Counter Service Meals and Table Service Meals. Do you know what you will mostly be doing. This will greatly impact your costs.

 

[MaddieB223]

I'm a Target Red Card holder, so I get a 5% discount on every Target purchase. I've been getting one $50 Disney gift card from Target every month starting in January so that by the time my June trip comes around, I'll have $300 in spending money to use anywhere in WDW! I'd recommend getting the Target Red Card (debit) so that way you can save too!

You're going to need to factor in the costs of flights, park tickets, hotel, dining, and transportation. They can vary greatly depending on a lot of factors (time of year, discounts, if you choose a DDP, etc.). I always check out the Special Offers page (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/special-offers/) to see if there are any offers that apply to me. My travel agent got me the Save, Stay & Play offer that saved me 20% off of my stay at CBR!

 

[Jimsig]

I'm a Target Red Card holder, so I get a 5% discount on every Target purchase. I've been getting one $50 Disney gift card from Target every month starting in January so that by the time my June trip comes around, I'll have $300 in spending money to use anywhere in WDW! I'd recommend getting the Target Red Card (debit) so that way you can save too!

OP is from the UK so the Target route may not work. They would need to look into that to see if it excludes foreign countries.

 

[MaddieB223]

OP is from the UK so the Target route may not work. They would need to look into that to see if it excludes foreign countries.

Thanks for clarifying!

 

[MICKIMINI]

Here are some average numbers. You will have to do the math and your mileage may vary LOL!

Quick Serve Meals $25 each
Sit Down Meal $50-125 each (can go way higher with aps, drinks, etc)
Water $4
Coffee $5-8
Snack $5-10
Tips (plan to cash in $100 for $1's, $5's and $10's)

There are no coffee makers or toasters at value resorts. If you are taking a car service from the airport, have the driver stop at Walmart so you can pick up one. Divide and conquer if you make this stop with all three of you getting a "list" to shop in different departments to make it quicker! We haven't ordered for delivery, but many others do...

You need case(s) of water (you can ask for them at the store at your resort), peanut butter crackers and/or granola bars, coffee creamer, coffee, filters, fruit, cheese, yogurt, cream cheese, jam, pastries etc. It is best to eat something before you head out and make sure everyone has a snack in their pocket and a bottle of water. (Savings at least $20 per person per day). If you can pick this stuff up or have delivered, you will save a bundle rather than buying at the resort store.

Kid's meals are an option, but I think it is better to order a couple entrees and split them. Some snacks are large (funnel cakes at US EPCOT) and you can all enjoy one to split three ways! I often have an ap rather than an entree at a sit down meal. Allears.net is my go to for menus. Much better to have a few options that you know everyone likes rather than staring at menus a few times a day - time waster!

I don't know how you plan to handle "extras" for your daughter, but I would recommend buying a Disney gift card when you arrive for a reasonable amount of money so she can have a bit of independence in buying a treat if she wishes. Perhaps she has a part time job where she can stash a bit of cash for the trip?

Plan on spending more than you expect and you won't be disappointed.

If you plan on one or more ADR's I would recommend Boma (dinner) and go early to enjoy the lobby and animals, Topolino's (character breakfast and/or dinner), Steakhouse71 (any meal) easy to get to on the Resort Monorail.

Plan a pool/lazy afternoon or day and recover and maybe do laundry. Disney Springs is good for that evening. We love Chicken Guy yum!

You can't do it all so don't stress out trying. Have loose plans and a backup plan each day. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[focusondisney]

Hi all

Me, my partner and daughter who will be 16 are going to Disney next year in July for 2 weeks we are coming from the UK. We are staying at All Star Music so we don't need to worry about transport to get to all the parks but we are also going to universal for 2 days also. How much spending money would you say we will need and also any saving tips

Are you on any kind of dining plan? That will affect how much spending money you need. I know UK often has promotions we don’t have here. There is a UK planning forum, you might post there. Since it is a different currency & folks there vacation for weeks at a time when folks in the US usually don’t, so you might get better info there.

https://www.disboards.com/forums/uk-trip-planning-forum.47/

 

[LuvOrlando]

Dining in theme parks like Universal or IOA can be crowded, expensive and disappointing experiences so when we were there a few months ago we discovered The Chocolate Emporium was a fantastic choice for burgers and sandwiches at around the $20 mark per person.

Best savings for us especially in the summer is to pick up a few cases of water and snacks from The Walmart at 8990 Turkey Lake Road, you can order the items to pickup with a time early on the morning of arrival.

While at Universal I really enjoyed the Surfside, they have a second bedroom for your young adult and operate their own busses with their own perks.

 

[LuvBulldogs]

Hi all

Me, my partner and daughter who will be 16 are going to Disney next year in July for 2 weeks we are coming from the UK. We are staying at All Star Music so we don't need to worry about transport to get to all the parks but we are also going to universal for 2 days also. How much spending money would you say we will need and also any saving tips

Thoughts:
- Onsite transportation is very good, and it allows you to skip parking. You don't need a car if you're staying onsite.
- Uber and Lyft are American ride share sites, and they're probably the cheapest way for you to get to Universal.
- Does your spending money need to include food purchases? If so, I suggest you peruse All Ears Network for menus -- it'll give you an idea of what your meals will cost.
- For two weeks, definitely place a grocery order /have your ground transportation stop so you can pick it up.
- Every fast food place is located near Disney, and you can order meals delivered to your room.

There are no coffee makers or toasters at value resorts. If you are taking a car service from the airport, have the driver stop at Walmart so you can pick up one. Divide and conquer if you make this stop with all three of you getting a "list" to shop in different departments to make it quicker! We haven't ordered for delivery, but many others do...

I just checked Walmart prices: You can order a toaster for $10 or a toaster oven for $20. If it'd save you money on breakfast, it'd be a worthwhile purchase, even if you abandon it after two weeks.