Spending Money in the park! Help!!!

[realmindreader]

Hey everyone!

My family is off for our fourth trip to disneyland on Tuesday!!!!

Very excited despite all the "chaos" surrounding the parks as we only make it every 2 years or so.

Here is my question. I understand that prices have risen in the last two years. I'm taking my wife and 3 kids (ages 6,4,1).

The plan is to bring at least $2000 American for 6 days in disneyland ( passes are already paid for, this would just be for food and merch).

Is this enough?

Looking forward to your responses....

Jeff

 

[HappiestHaunt]

Putting aside souvenirs, To plan better at meals (since you know you families eating habits best) try going to the All Ears Menus to check out the listed meals and pricing. This might allow you to see if your budget will work. Their site is here:http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm.

It lists just about every eatery and counter service for the parks and Downtown Disney. So once you look at prices compared to the family eating habits and then add so much per person for snacks on the go. This might be modified if your selected hotel offers breakfast or other foodie things. HTH!

 

[YukonMommy]

We are a family of 6 and when we go we budget $200 a day for food. Some days we spent more (character meals and BTRBBQ) and some days we spent less (dolewhips for supper).
For Merchandise we have some rules the kids can buy a hat ($ from their great grandparents), we will buy them an article of clothing, we will also give them $50 and they take $50 of their own money they earned before the trip.

2000-1200 (food)-300 (your money for kids souveniers)=that would be about $500 left for you and your wife to spend.

So I think that's a great amount!

Have a magical time!

 

[cmrdgrs]

For food and merchandise you have basically budgeted $2000/6=approx $330 per day.

Yes, I think you can have a very nice visit for $330 per day. Costs have increased, but $330 per day is doable. Can you stretch your dollars by eating some light meals in your room? Does the hotel you're staying at offer a continental breakfast or have a small fridge in your room? If you are dining out for breakfast daily, I think you could easily spend $60 at the local IHOP or Rainforest Cafe. Just cutting that expense out daily is a big savings on your budget.

If you budget well, I think you will be fine.

Have a great time!

 

[realmindreader]

Having looked at the menus it looks like we can get away with approx $150-$200 per day.

That leaves close to $1100 at the top end and $800 at the low end for "stuff".

Considering each kid will be celebrating a birthday while there we are going to take them to the lego store and ridemakerz ($100 per).

And the wife wants a Dooney and Bourke bag, not to mention my vinylmation obsession.

So it looks like the KEY is to stretch that food budget as far as we can to take it down to $900 and free up more spending for stuff.



Thanks for the tips.

I felt like $2000 ($2500 Canadian - YUCK) was a good amount, but now I am of course, a little concerned that it is not.

 

[Diszona]

I think you should be good, it probably depends on how much self-discipline you have when buying merchandise (me=not much ). One other thing you can do, if you have a Target Red Card is to put some of your money on Disney Gift Cards. You would get 5% off the price of the gift card buying them using the Red Card and they will take them at most restaurants (except tips) in the park (I think there are a few drink carts that don't) and all the stores. They also take them at World of Disney (not sure about the Anna and Elsa Boutique), but not at the other Downtown Disney stores and restaurants.

 

[Aladora]

I felt like $2000 ($2500 Canadian - YUCK)

I hear ya! I've still got to pick up some American cash and boy, is it going to hurt when I do!

 

[Canuck16]

We are going back in March and I totally agree about the exchange rate right now.

But having said that, your budget should be plenty for your trip.

Have a great trip!!

 

[ChloroformSdxn]

You can get grocery delivery to your hotel room from VONS. I find the easiest way to stretch the budget at Disney is to bring in our own snacks or do a quick breakfast in the room. I've seen plenty of people bring in their own sandwiches for lunch.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Our family of four tends to spend about $60 for a counter service meal. That's four adult-priced entrees and four large drinks (no desserts or extra sides). It helps the budget (and saves time) to bring breakfast items and eat in the room. I always pack instant Starbuck's coffee packets, instant oatmeal cups, Pop-Tarts for the boys, and cereal. We buy juice, milk, and water at one of the mini-marts. I even bring disposable cups with lids so I can take my coffee with me for the walk to the parks.

I think your budget should be more than enough for six days.

 

[Chiomaca]

Having looked at the menus it looks like we can get away with approx $150-$200 per day.

That leaves close to $1100 at the top end and $800 at the low end for "stuff".

Considering each kid will be celebrating a birthday while there we are going to take them to the lego store and ridemakerz ($100 per).

And the wife wants a Dooney and Bourke bag, not to mention my vinylmation obsession.

So it looks like the KEY is to stretch that food budget as far as we can to take it down to $900 and free up more spending for stuff.



Thanks for the tips.

I felt like $2000 ($2500 Canadian - YUCK) was a good amount, but now I am of course, a little concerned that it is not.

A lot of the restaurants do huge portions, so if splitting meals (and especially snacks) is an option, that could save you a little money. Also, you could head out of the resort for dinners - there are plenty of less expensive options within walking distance.

 

[realmindreader]

We're huge fans of Naples. Which is a very good meal for right around $40!

 

[CassieScraps]

Honestly, I would love to have $2K to spend while at Disneyland. We went in December 2013 for 5 days and spent roughly $500 on food and "stuff" for our family of 7, not including our 2 character meals that were part of our package and gift cards that the kids had from their grandparents.

Now, we didn't eat every meal at the resort obviously. Our hotel had breakfast and we took advantage of that. And we stopped at a grocery store and bought snacks and sandwich stuff, plus a case of water. We brought lunch almost every day and put it in the lockers outside. We took water and small snacks into the park. That saved us a ton!

I would also advise looking at the menus. Unless it has drastically changed in the last year, the kid portions were enough for most adults. We ate at Flo's V8 Cafe and all ordered off the kids menu. I have 4 teenagers and there were no complaints about being hungry after dinner.

Also, there are some treasures to be found. I got a BBQ Chicken & slaw potato from the stand in front of the Haunted Mansion and with a drink, it was $10 and I had to share with my husband because it was so big.

Anyway, you should do fine if you do just a little planning ahead or even use the envelope system. Allot yourself only so much per day for food and stick to it. Then you have a definite amount for extras.

 

[tygersclaw]

This is always a big question when vacation planning, and even moreso when traveling from Canada or Australia where the greenback is worth pennies in USD terms.

I am hoping, hoping that $450 will be enough cash for my DD5 and myself.

Being practically a senior almost, and with her being only 5 neither of us eat too much, and she is very fussy as to what she eats.

 

[Gisele]

I would be more than happy to help you spend money at Disneyland or anywhere else for that matter. Just let me know when. I promise it won't hurt........... too much anyway. Lol

 

[StyledSugar]

You will be fine. We did Disney on about $500 about 4 years ago with a family of 4 for 5 days. We honestly didn't even feel like we were "cheaping" out. Just watch what you spend per day on food and then you can splurge on the souvenirs. Have a great time!