Spending money - How much?

[TCO]

I have just realised I have absolutely no idea how much we will need for our trip in September.

This is our first time on the DDP and don't plan on venturing outside of Disney on this trip.

There is just me and my wife going for ten nights at Csr, no car only Disney buses.

How much do people normally budget per day or per trip?

 

[luke]

It's all relative I guess.
Are you planning on doing much shopping etc? Any major purchases you've planned?
We're on the ddp for the first time next week, and I've got myself $16xx dollars so just over $100 a day which I'm hoping will be more than enough

 

[Rohais]

DF and I have already budgeted for our September 2011 trip.

For 18 nights, we're planning on taking $250 for tips (approx $10-$15 tip per table service for 2 people on the dining plan)

On top of that, we've budgeted two options:

$75 a day - DF likes that one
$100 a day - My choice

Spending money is down to personal preference really. I don't tend to spend much during the year, so I like to spend at WDW...but probably not as much as other people would. So, really, $1500-$1800 is enough for me (and DF, of course!) Thats pure spending money...nothing will come out of that for transport, wheelchair, tips etc.

We also will only be using Disney buses and not venturing outside of Disney...unless I convince DF to let us to go to the Skechers store!

Try working out how much you'll need for tips, and then how much spending money on top of that you'd like to have per day. If there's anything specific you'd like to buy, make a note of that too

 

[TCO]

I was thinking £100 a day but hoping for less, tipping is one thing that may throw a spanner in the works

 

[2Tiggies]

I was thinking £100 a day but hoping for less, tipping is one thing that may throw a spanner in the works

Honestly I think you will have plenty.

As already mentioned on here, work out roughly what you will need for tips.
Decide on any special purchases you want to make.
Allow for a little extra for snacks or drinks. If you have starters or alcohol with your meals this will be OOP as they are not covered by the dining plan so add in for this too. It may be that you only want to do this for a few meals.
Factor in some incidental expenses like tips for bell services, photos from attractions, etc.

Add up all of the above. Subtract this from the budget you would like to have and then divide it by the number of days you are there.

Simply put, on $100 a day (did you mean $? You said £100) for 2 people with no parking costs and eating on the DDP, you won't feel like you're watching your pennies. Don't be surprised if you have left over at the end of the trip. I do over budget, but I also know now that if we keep going back, spending money can just be kept for the next time.

 

[wideeyes]

For us, 1 adult and 1 child the minimum would be £500 which is actually plenty.

For a budget trip, I have gone with £700 for 2 weeks without dining plan, that included 1 character meal, all other meals were CS and also included taxi to Sea world, US and Wal-Mart. We spent no money on survivors that trip(we had a great time on that trip and got 2 weeks at All Stars for £350).

Last trip we spent about a £1000 however that included a lot more shopping and more TS meals.

 

[TCO]

Honestly I think you will have plenty.

As already mentioned on here, work out roughly what you will need for tips.
Decide on any special purchases you want to make.
Allow for a little extra for snacks or drinks. If you have starters or alcohol with your meals this will be OOP as they are not covered by the dining plan so add in for this too. It may be that you only want to do this for a few meals.
Factor in some incidental expenses like tips for bell services, photos from attractions, etc.

Add up all of the above. Subtract this from the budget you would like to have and then divide it by the number of days you are there.

Simply put, on $100 a day (did you mean $? You said £100) for 2 people with no parking costs and eating on the DDP, you won't feel like you're watching your pennies. Don't be surprised if you have left over at the end of the trip. I do over budget, but I also know now that if we keep going back, spending money can just be kept for the next time.

In honesty the plan was budget £1000, I have just ordered £500 worth from Crown at $1.614 and will take the rest in my account.

I would rather over budget and come home with money left in there than the other way around.

From the looks of things maybe $100 a day is more likely.

When we went on our honeymoon last year we spent quite a lot but bought quite a few souveniers.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[crabbie1]

well its got me thinking now Perhaps I take too much but I have found even on the DDP I have spent around $35 a day on food and drinks. Thats one TS /icecream and counter service a day then we have to buy another Cs or hotdog and then again if on a late night. I know somedays are different and we may only buy one cs meal between us or have a kids meal. I then budget $150 a day for the first time I visit a park-after that around $60 a day. Dont spend much on waterpark days.Anyway to cut a long story short I am aiming at $200 a day for the 14 nights but will hope to take a bit more so we can go to the premium outlets. Havent been away since 2008 and dont want ot worry about money and not being able to afford something if we want it. The only time I allow this to happen so we spoil ourselves.
With our average meal on DDP (TS) about $80 the tip will be around $12.
Its a personal thing for everyone but I think you should take what your happy with and more importantly what you can afford. We are not taking any CC as I dont have any.Obviously taking bank cards.Always managed with these in the past. Sorry for thr ramble.
After talking to people on here I am planning on going to walmart on the day we arrive to get water/drinks, cereals/milk,etc and fruit for breakfast and snacks. Also we are doing universal for 5 nights so have to pay OOP for 5 days food and drink but have some coupons and my AA card so hope that helps a bit.Bet you Wish you had never asked now

 

[disney_princess_85]

I'm staying for 15 nights with DDP and I'm planning on taking £800. That's just for me personally- DBF will take his own money.

 

[2Tiggies]

In honesty the plan was budget £1000, I have just ordered £500 worth from Crown at $1.614 and will take the rest in my account.

I would rather over budget and come home with money left in there than the other way around.

From the looks of things maybe $100 a day is more likely.

When we went on our honeymoon last year we spent quite a lot but bought quite a few souveniers.

Thanks for the advice.

On the DDP with only tips to pay for, not food, £1000 is really a good amoung of money to take. You may not even spend it all. In fact, unless you are buying a fair amount of extras a day, you will not likely use all that. At the current rate, you are looking at having around $155 a day. You won't be skimping and scraping to get by on that budget.

 

[Eliza32]

We are going in September for 14 nights. We are taking $100 per day between the 2 of us. We literally put it in the safe and take out $100 each morning, anything left over gets to stay in the purse.
We don't have DDP ( booked too early for free DDP and Travel Agent wouldn't change the booking! - thanks Virgin!!) but we have only booked 5 TS meals which I willpay for with Visa, then pay off when I get home.
When we went 3 years ago we had DDP and took $75 per day and we did fine. We like to eat off site a lot anyway and are not into big 3 course sit down meals. (Always make sure we go to Bahama Breeze though!!)

 

[dazza5931]

We went with 1400 dollars last year and was on quick service plan for 14 nights had trouble spending that much even though we spent 700 dollars at premium outlet and 200 dollars at walmart 100 dollars a day should be plenty for your trip

 

[luke]

I'm staying for 15 nights with DDP and I'm planning on taking £800. That's just for me personally- DBF will take his own money.

Ah I used to love the days when I just had to worry about my own money and DW (well, then DGF) took her own

 

[crabbie1]

You know thinking about it last time we went the dollar was $1.38 so perhaps with it going up I wont spend as much I always spend around money on tommy hillf jeans ,sketchers trainers/shoes ,perfume,and levis. I forgot to mention we havent yet paid for DDP for the 4 nights at AKLV although have TS meals booked everyday and dont know if it will be less to pay OOP but I dont think so as lecellier,teppanedo and coral reef are included .Sorry to go off thread

 

[Elise79]

You know thinking about it last time we went the dollar was $1.38 so perhaps with it going up I wont spend as much I always spend around money on tommy hillf jeans ,sketchers trainers/shoes ,perfume,and levis. I forgot to mention we havent yet paid for DDP for the 4 nights at AKLV although have TS meals booked everyday and dont know if it will be less to pay OOP but I dont think so as lecellier,teppanedo and coral reef are included .Sorry to go off thread

Have you looked at the menus and roughly costed the meals out? Also will you want dessert? We didn't at Teppen as the choice was dire so went to the bakery at Norway for dessert . It helped as we were not on the dining plan so didn't feel we had to order it.

 

[dixonsontour]

Honestly on disney with DDP you will need to spend very little except tips unless you want to. Rest is upto you - how much shopping are you going to do?

 

[2Tiggies]

Honestly on disney with DDP you will need to spend very little except tips unless you want to. Rest is upto you - how much shopping are you going to do?

That is the determining factor. I know it is difficult to know for sure in advance, but the great thing about Disney is that, once your food is paid for, you really don't have to spend anything to have a wonderful time.

 

[les2425]

i would say $100 a day, we are on the quick service dinning plan, we dont expect to spend all the money but i do love the ink and paint cells.
so all my spare money at the end of the holiday i bring back some new ones.

les & bev

 

[2Tiggies]

i would say $100 a day, we are on the quick service dinning plan, we dont expect to spend all the money but i do love the ink and paint cells.
so all my spare money at the end of the holiday i bring back some new ones.

les & bev

I think you spend less on the QSDP because you don't have all the tips. In 14 nights (we are also on QSDP again) I have 6 TS reservations. It would have cost me the same to upgrade to DDP as what I am paying for those meals, but I have less than half the tips. Also some gift certificates help with money off your meal - they don't do those for Disney restaurants.

Even so, any kind of Dining Plan is going to save you money - a lot of money.

 

[tinkerpea]

Well when i went for 2wks with then Fiance and our 3 little boys they was then twins 1and half and 3 yr old also my mum came with us we had no DDP stayed at Pop century and found that most of our money went on food as its so expensive and tips on top we did QS and table service meals plus the 3 yr old had a few presents and we payed for taxi to Universal studios 2 days.We easily spent over £1800 with not much to show but weight gain lol
Then when we went 2 yrs ago for Our wedding at Pop again ( we married at Pavillion) and purchused the DDP 1table 1 quick and snack taking cost of wedding out and wedding dinner as hubbys parents came my mum and a few friends we only got through about £1500 for 2 wks it was our sons bday and we bought 3 monorail sets at about £90 dollers each and they had light up toys teddys etc plus we payed for most of the tips for our family as anything over 6 people is automatic 18% ouch!! Hubby just had to have STARWARS Lego hahaha and i had lots of little bits plus we did shopping and bought Universal tickets for 2 days stayed at a motel for 2 nights (pre payed) but had to buy the food and we got away with spending i reckon around 100 dollers a day but we didnt spend that hence the boys Monorails and lego gifts .
When we go this yr we are budgeting 100 dollers a day again as we have DDP same as last yr i think the cost comes in when you have to pay tip for any extra drinks you want at the table service and buffet meals plus the tip for your DDP dinner seperate so we are only going to drink with 1 or 2 of our chosen table service and have the other drinks we want at the pool bars etc that way you save on the $$ when we dine at sig the kids will go to Simbas kids club then there will only be 3 adults ( nice) and the tip goes down and we get alone kid free time sorry for going off thread!!

so I think all in all if you have DDP you are sorted if you dont eat at table service every day and dont need DDP then you will be fine but we did as could not stand to eat fast food all the time hubby is in RAF and like to make the most of his holiday food in case he gets sent away ( thats his excuse) have a blast