Starting to panic!!!

[princess06]

My son and I leave tomorrow for our long awaited trip. Due to some car problems and other issues I'm only going to have about $400.00 to spend. Is that going to be enough for 6 nights? Everything is already paid for and dining is included. Will I have enough??

 

[MHSweb79]

When we're on the dining plan, I usually tuck a $20 in my pocket for incidentals and most days I don't even use that. Do you buy a lot of souvenirs? Don't forget you can get free cups of ice water at any CS place that has a fountain, so you won't even need to use your snack credits on that.

You've got around $60 per day to spend if you need to. Your biggest expense will probably be tips at TS restaurants. For the two of you, that shouldn't be bad.

I would advise saving up any souvenir purchases for the last day. Often, that "can't live without" item isn't so seductive any more. We usually buy either a T-shirt or beach towel for each of us and that's it for the week.

 

[Nadjalu]

You should be good.

We usually take a bit less under the same circumstances and do fine. Of course we are not eating at Signature places (thinking of gratuity).

So we just use the cash for that, souviners, snacks, water...etc. And we always have enough.

 

[mousebymarriage]

I think you should be fine especially since you are on the dining plan so food is basically covered. Depending on which dining plan you are on you may have to pay for some meals out of pocket, if you have to pay for any out of pocket I suggest breakfast because it's usually the cheapest (bagel, muffin, cereal etc.). For table service meal tips it's just the two of you so it shouldn't be much. You should definatley have enough for a few souvineers, post cards and keychains make great souvineers and they are inexpensive.

 

[threvester]

you should be fine..i went last year with my son under similar circumstances ($70 a day for 8 days)..upon arrival quickly spent $25 on refillable mugs and $25 on an arcade card and got pretty nervous...turned out i went home with over $200 left

 

[emptynestr]

My son and I leave tomorrow for our long awaited trip. Due to some car problems and other issues I'm only going to have about $400.00 to spend. Is that going to be enough for 6 nights? Everything is already paid for and dining is included. Will I have enough??

Hugs to you! Don't you hate unexpected expenses? Here's what I do at WDW. I have a certain amount of cash to spend and I divide it into envelopes for however many days I am staying. If I don't use all the money in Monday's envelope, I put it into Tuesday's...if I have anything left on Tuesday I put it into Wednesday's, etc. This is a good way to keep a lid on spending and also to ensure you still have some of that hard earned cash for your last day.

Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine.

 

[socratesjonson]

All about budget and knowing what you want. We usually have that much for a family of 6 for two full weeks. Unless you buy the castle . . . or crystal . . . you should be fine.

 

[beccaisqueen]

Meals and snacks add up, but with the Dining Plan, you should be fine.

 

[hcmommy]

Since you are on the dining plan I think you are okay. I think emptynester has a good strategy using the envelope system. Try that! I would not buy souveneirs until the last day or two either. Tips ans a drink here or there adds up.

 

[noahdove]

I too put my money in envelopes, however, if I don't use it, I put it back in the safe and keep it there Then once I get home, I count it and smile knowing I didn't scrimp on anything and came home with either Christmas money or money for my next trip

 

[Macgyver91]

We go on a budget all the time. The dining plan will help you. There are tons of places that have huge portioned meals that are shareable...allowing you to stretch out your meal plan. I don't know if there is a place here on disboards where they talk about it but you can get on mousesavers and they break all the resteraunts down. Letting you know stuff like value and portion sizes. I know some of the places we ate would serve BBQ ribs and a half a chicken in the same meal or a double meat cheeseburger meal...we bought an extra bun (.89 cents) and split it. You can also take your own snacks into the park. We pack a box of crackers, chex mix, raisins, etc. and let the kids choose every morning before we head out. They carry their own little sling packs with a bottled water and the snacks they picked out for that day. You can also get water for free at some of the vendors, if they serve fountain drinks. All you have to do is ask for a cup of water. Good luck and don't worry...you will be fine. Have a great time!!

 

[2disneyboys]

The thing I love about WDW is you can spend as much as you want or as little as you want (perspectively!) while there. we have gone and spent well over 1,000 on food, extras (Pirate/Princess Party, balloons, photos) & souviee's. and we have gone and spent less than $200 Its just about working with what you have.

I like the ideal of dividing up the $ by # of days and only taking that day's money with you.. I mean, if it REALLY came down to it, you could always go back to your room to get extra $ if you really really needed/wanted something.

Have a FABLOUS trip... we will be going down in a few weeks and I just can't STAND IT!

 

[budbeerlady]

I do the envelopes for tips. Here are the menus with costs: http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm I have each days meal tip in an envelope so I can just grab that one I need. So I know for Biergarten lunch I need $7ish in tips.

And then I have my spending cash and Dd's spending cash. That way I never run out and its all organised.You will be fine!

 

[goofykb03]

I'm sure you have perused a lot of the money saving posts, but one thing you may anticipate needing to spend money on daily is staying hydrated. Bottled water is a ripoff in WDW, so I'd suggest bringing refillable water bottles to the parks and just refilling in the water fountains. The water isn't the greatest flavor down there, but it will save you a good handful of cash that you'd otherwise be spending daily (at least, I would be...!) The refillable mugs are also great, and well worth the expense.

It's a great idea to keep tipping in mind first and saving souveniers until the end of the trip. Then you can determine what your souvenier budget really is. I don't think I could follow the envelope system... I'm not disciplined enough to avoid breaking into another day's envelope if I had to

 

[tomaszewski58]

You are an inspiration to us all. Hope you made it thru the week.

 

[nicki.momof3]

One tip - to save a ton on souviors you can hit a great sale on disney stuff and pack it away. Surprise the kids with the gift. They will not know where you got them.

Great places to hit - Disney store - shirts are always so cheap, dollar store, kohls, target and so on.

I think you will be fine.

 

[cm8]

Hugs to you! Don't you hate unexpected expenses? Here's what I do at WDW. I have a certain amount of cash to spend and I divide it into envelopes for however many days I am staying. If I don't use all the money in Monday's envelope, I put it into Tuesday's...if I have anything left on Tuesday I put it into Wednesday's, etc. This is a good way to keep a lid on spending and also to ensure you still have some of that hard earned cash for your last day.

Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine.

That's a great !

 

[tinkangell]

You can for sure make that work. We always budgeted 100 per day with 3 kids and still came home with money! You will still have a fantastic time with that!

 

[yellowshell]

I think $400.00 should be enough.

 

[dbennett3899]

When dining is included we bring about 300.00 bucks just incase but hardly even touch it. Unless you are the type that needs to buy souvenirs which I'm not, you should be golden! Have fun!