Spending Money!

[Arielsgrotto018]

My boyfriend and I are going to Disney World for 2 weeks at the end of October and into November. We have the DDP and I have put money aside for tips, gas, and anything we are positive we are going to do. I was just wondering how much we should take for strictly spending money? I was thinking $1,000.

 

[Marionnette]

My boyfriend and I are going to Disney World for 2 weeks at the end of October and into November. We have the DDP and I have put money aside for tips, gas, and anything we are positive we are going to do. I was just wondering how much we should take for strictly spending money? I was thinking $1,000.

You can get a broad range of answers and it will totally depend on your spending habits. If you've already covered tips, gas, parking, tickets to misc. parties or events, alcohol and "anything else you think you'll do", then $1K would probably be sufficient as long as you have a credit card to cover emergencies. But there's no way for anyone here to anticipate what YOU would spend your money on, so we really cannot give you a definite answer.

 

[NC Disney Fan]

My boyfriend and I are going to Disney World for 2 weeks at the end of October and into November. We have the DDP and I have put money aside for tips, gas, and anything we are positive we are going to do. I was just wondering how much we should take for strictly spending money? I was thinking $1,000.

I would plan on $20. for tip for each meal. Now this may be over doing it but it is a general guideline depending on where you are eating. With the two of you, it may be more like $15 a day.

Having been on DDP, we have NEVER had to spend any additional money on snacks nor water. We normally bring out water bottle and fill up at water fountains. The DDP offers so much food that we never need to eat in between (we are me, a DH, and two teen DD). We even found that we don't eat breakfast because we are just so full from the day before. So I am thinking no extra money will have to go out for food.

Then there is the drinks. Now this is where it can get pricy. I won't drink because the fancy drinks (like the italian Marharita) are $10. This is crazy. My hubby likes beer there and again, I would say plan on $6+. Not knowing your tastes, this is a cost you will have to figure.

Other than tips and extra beverages, I think the only thing you will need is for souvenirs. I know that we spend about $200 for the week--especially if we wanted a shirt or sweatshirt but that includes what my girls want for friends etc. Those can run $35 to over $50. The pins for pin trading are $6.95 on up.

What gas expenses do you have? How far are you traveling? You certainly don't need any gas around Disney as you can use Disney transportation.
With all that said, I think you would be more than fine with $1000. Let me know if you have any other questions. We have gone 7 years in a row for a 9 night vacation on free DDP. We are almost pros!!

 

[Arielsgrotto018]

I would plan on $20. for tip for each meal. Now this may be over doing it but it is a general guideline depending on where you are eating. With the two of you, it may be more like $15 a day.

Having been on DDP, we have NEVER had to spend any additional money on snacks nor water. We normally bring out water bottle and fill up at water fountains. The DDP offers so much food that we never need to eat in between (we are me, a DH, and two teen DD). We even found that we don't eat breakfast because we are just so full from the day before. So I am thinking no extra money will have to go out for food.

Then there is the drinks. Now this is where it can get pricy. I won't drink because the fancy drinks (like the italian Marharita) are $10. This is crazy. My hubby likes beer there and again, I would say plan on $6+. Not knowing your tastes, this is a cost you will have to figure.

Other than tips and extra beverages, I think the only thing you will need is for souvenirs. I know that we spend about $200 for the week--especially if we wanted a shirt or sweatshirt but that includes what my girls want for friends etc. Those can run $35 to over $50. The pins for pin trading are $6.95 on up.

What gas expenses do you have? How far are you traveling? You certainly don't need any gas around Disney as you can use Disney transportation.
With all that said, I think you would be more than fine with $1000. Let me know if you have any other questions. We have gone 7 years in a row for a 9 night vacation on free DDP. We are almost pros!!

Thank you so much for your response! We are not old enough to drink yet so we will not be buying any alcohol. We are traveling from Richmond, VA so it is about an 11 1/2 hour drive. On Mapquest with my car it said about $96 to get there but I went overboard just incase anything happens and have $400 set aside for gas. We are also going to Seaworld and Discoverycove. I went through all the restraunts we have booked reservations at and looked at the avg meal amt. I did the higher avg and did the tip percentage of 20% and added them all up so I know I should have enough for tips.

 

[tvguy]

At least $1,000. And some sort of other source of money if you are driving. Depending on your car, even a blown tire can cost $200-$300 to replace. Any other car repairs could be a lot more. Sorry, it's the dad coming out in me.

 

[NC Disney Fan]

Thank you so much for your response! We are not old enough to drink yet so we will not be buying any alcohol. We are traveling from Richmond, VA so it is about an 11 1/2 hour drive. On Mapquest with my car it said about $96 to get there but I went overboard just incase anything happens and have $400 set aside for gas. We are also going to Seaworld and Discoverycove. I went through all the restraunts we have booked reservations at and looked at the avg meal amt. I did the higher avg and did the tip percentage of 20% and added them all up so I know I should have enough for tips.

I think you are going to be fine. Are the tickets to Seaworld and discovery Cove already purchased and not part of your $1000 budget? If so, then all you have to consider is food costs there, right? Never having been to either (at least in recent years) I don't know costs there.

We travel from Asheville, NC and I bet it takes us two tanks of gas per way. I would think $200 is sufficient in your plans.. If you need gas, there is a BP station on the Disney property that is average price so they do not price gauge.

I would agree with a PP, make sure you have a back up card just in case. My hubby always brings cash but we have a back up card as you never know. If you haven't applied for a Disney Visa, it may be worth getting one as they often have deals for DV card holders like % off merchandise and early booking deals. If you decide you want to return (or maybe even marry there ), then you could benefit from having the card. What restaurants are you going to?

 

[Arielsgrotto018]

I think you are going to be fine. Are the tickets to Seaworld and discovery Cove already purchased and not part of your $1000 budget? If so, then all you have to consider is food costs there, right? Never having been to either (at least in recent years) I don't know costs there.

We travel from Asheville, NC and I bet it takes us two tanks of gas per way. I would think $200 is sufficient in your plans.. If you need gas, there is a BP station on the Disney property that is average price so they do not price gauge.

I would agree with a PP, make sure you have a back up card just in case. My hubby always brings cash but we have a back up card as you never know. If you haven't applied for a Disney Visa, it may be worth getting one as they often have deals for DV card holders like % off merchandise and early booking deals. If you decide you want to return (or maybe even marry there ), then you could benefit from having the card. What restaurants are you going to?

Discovery Cove and Seaworld are paid for. Discovery cove has food included and we already have money set aside for food at Seaworld. I do have a credit card in case of emergencies! The first restraunt we are going to when we get there is Planet hollywood since we have $10 to spend there with our package. We are paying OOP for this meal because we are going to Cinderella's Royal Table one night and that takes 2 credits. Here are the restraunts in order: Planet Hollywood, Tony's Town Square Restaurant, Rainforest Cafe at Disney's Animal Kingdom, The Garden Grill, The Crystal Palace (for breakfast), 50's Prime Time Cafe(also paying OOP because of the breakfast), Be Our Guest Restaurant, T-REX, Cinderella's Royal Table, Biergarten Restaurant, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, Coral Reef Restaurant. We have one night where we don't have a reservation because we wanted a night where we can just pick whatever we want.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I think you will be totally fine with that amount. Unless you get suckered into collecting vinylmation and pins and spend the entire budget on that stuff (hey it could easily happen)

DH & I collect vinylmation and usually end up buying about 20-25 vinylmation and maybe 20 pins during each trip. I then usually will buy one VB tote. We each usually get a t-shirt. I then buy some stuff for around the house. I'd come in right under the $1000 budget for that stuff.

 

[nanhol]

We have the DDP and I have put money aside for tips, gas, and anything we are positive we are going to do. I was just wondering how much we should take for strictly spending money? I was thinking $1,000.

PP's estimate of $20 per meal for tips is a good estimate--some may be less, but it's better to over-estimate that. From your original post it sounds like you have that covered already.

Since you're not drinking alcohol, that "strictly spending money" would go towards additional food not on your DDP and souvenirs.

By the way, do you mean DDP=Disney dining plan or Deluxe dining plan? I see it both ways on these boards...

My comments are assuming you're on the regular dining plan--if you're on Deluxe then you'll not need to spend any extra money on food!

Will you & your bf want to order appetizers at table-service meals? Will you want to eat extra snacks or get an extra QS meal some days? You'll be at Epcot during Food & Wine and may end up making some extra food purchases there--or you may save your DP snack credits for Epcot and then pay cash for other snacks at other times. I know you won't really know till you do it, but think about what's likely, based on how you guys eat in the real world. My DH & I would probably end up spending an extra $20 a day on extra or F&W snacks, as well as on the occasional appetizer.

Your souvenir budget also depends on what you guys are likely to do & want there. Personally, I buy almost nothing in terms of souvenirs--generally I get a nice photo album and one magnet. My husband gets a shirt and the kids can pick out a stuffed animal or toy and a shirt or inexpensive (ha!) sweatshirt, and they can spend their own money on whatever they want. However, my sister and her family go to Disney and spend, spend, spend on shirts and cups and pins and toys and stuffed animals and clothes for stuffed animals and figurines and swords and...well, you get the picture. My family budget for souvenirs is far less than her family budget. (To be fair, I spend my money staying at Deluxe resorts, so Disney gets our money one way or another!)

I recommend setting your daily budget for your trip and doing your best to stick to it. If you have $1000 to spend over 2 weeks, that gives you about $70 per day, which includes extra food and souvenirs. With no alcohol getting purchased and a pre-paid dining plan, I think you should be okay--you could eat some extra snacks or an occasional QS meal or appetizer and still have $50 per day to spend on Disney junk...I mean, souvenirs. (Truthfully, it's not all junk--many souvenirs are very nice--but I just don't need more stuff in my house!)

 

[Arielsgrotto018]

PP's estimate of $20 per meal for tips is a good estimate--some may be less, but it's better to over-estimate that. From your original post it sounds like you have that covered already.

Since you're not drinking alcohol, that "strictly spending money" would go towards additional food not on your DDP and souvenirs.

By the way, do you mean DDP=Disney dining plan or Deluxe dining plan? I see it both ways on these boards...

My comments are assuming you're on the regular dining plan--if you're on Deluxe then you'll not need to spend any extra money on food!

Will you & your bf want to order appetizers at table-service meals? Will you want to eat extra snacks or get an extra QS meal some days? You'll be at Epcot during Food & Wine and may end up making some extra food purchases there--or you may save your DP snack credits for Epcot and then pay cash for other snacks at other times. I know you won't really know till you do it, but think about what's likely, based on how you guys eat in the real world. My DH & I would probably end up spending an extra $20 a day on extra or F&W snacks, as well as on the occasional appetizer.

Your souvenir budget also depends on what you guys are likely to do & want there. Personally, I buy almost nothing in terms of souvenirs--generally I get a nice photo album and one magnet. My husband gets a shirt and the kids can pick out a stuffed animal or toy and a shirt or inexpensive (ha!) sweatshirt, and they can spend their own money on whatever they want. However, my sister and her family go to Disney and spend, spend, spend on shirts and cups and pins and toys and stuffed animals and clothes for stuffed animals and figurines and swords and...well, you get the picture. My family budget for souvenirs is far less than her family budget. (To be fair, I spend my money staying at Deluxe resorts, so Disney gets our money one way or another!)

I recommend setting your daily budget for your trip and doing your best to stick to it. If you have $1000 to spend over 2 weeks, that gives you about $70 per day, which includes extra food and souvenirs. With no alcohol getting purchased and a pre-paid dining plan, I think you should be okay--you could eat some extra snacks or an occasional QS meal or appetizer and still have $50 per day to spend on Disney junk...I mean, souvenirs. (Truthfully, it's not all junk--many souvenirs are very nice--but I just don't need more stuff in my house!)

Thank you for your response! My boyfriend and I do not really eat snack or appetizers. So this is strictly for just spending money on souvenirs. I know I want the Ariel tiara from Arribas Brothers which I think is $59 and the princess mugs which I think are $18. Other thank that I'm not quite sure what else we are going to get. This will only be my second time going and his 5th time. Oh and I meant Disney Dining Plan!