Trip budget

[ktglads]

Okay, I'm trying to work out a budget of a future trip to try and convince my friend's mom, who is on the fence, to join us.

How much do you normally budget for food and souveniers?

I use a formula of 10-15-20 for breakfast, lunch, and dinner since I usually use cash to pay for little purchases at stores or for snacks or whatever. I know that this is high, but I would rather err on the side of being too high than too low.

As for the souveniers, I really have no clue. I go a couple of times a year so it is spread out among those trips. How much would you budget for someone who has never been to Disney but who has 3 daughters who go at least two, if not 3 times a year, so she has many sweatshirts and t-shirts, etc?

I have my numbers for everything else, but I would consider these as important as the pass and the hotel, so could anyone help on how they plan? Just for refernce, the trip will be from the day after Thanksgiving through the Friday of the next week, with 5 days at Disney (4 in park, one to tour the hotels) and 3 at Universal.

Thanks!!

 

[Dallas_Lady]

I budget $15/pp for counter service meals and then a look at the menus on www.wdwig.com to budget for sit-down meals.

Souveneirs are the most flexible part of your trip. You don't HAVE to buy anything. I don't buy much, expect for photo album supplies and I take TONS of pictures. For me, pictures are the best souveniers. I also buy a hat or sunglasses, but thats it. I don't like to buy stuffed animals cause there is never a good place to put them

 

[frannn]

We usually do counter service/food court for meals, except for a few character meals. If she would be spending 15/pp counter service for lunch, maybe the meal vouchers would be a $ saving option. I believe they are 11.50 each (thru Hotwire, etc), and are good for counter service lunch and dinner. If she goes again with her daughters within 365 days, her best pass would be an AP, which she can use on subsequent trips in the same 365 days. I believe the cost is now 403.98 for an adult pass. I believe the AP also gives 10% off souvies at the WOD store at DD. It may also be used for a room discount if AP discounts are offered at that time. If she is not going again soon, she can get a hopper at a discount, also thru Hotwire Savings Club. I know someone posted the prices recently- you could do a search to find exact cost. If you all go to the mall outlets for souvies, you'll be able to buy a lot more for less $. You can get older park stuff at a discount, which can be substantial. We usually spend 600-1000. between DTD and the outlets (try to stay at the lower end). We bring home stuff for friends and family though, and LOTS of stuff for me and my kids. We use our $ for souveniers instead of staying at a nicer resort or eating at many sit down meals. She may only spend 100-200 if she is not a big shopper. That will get her a lot of tshirts and stuff at the outlets. On site, not so much.

 

[Chicago526]

I budget $8 breakfast, $10 lunch/dinner for counter service and $5 for a cart snack. For sit down $20 for breakfast/lunch and $25 for dinner (no alcohol). I've never spent more than $10 for a counter meal at any Disney park (or non-disney, for that matter!). So unless your friends are big eaters, I think my numbers are pretty darn close, I went last May and this formula work for me perfectly, I spent exactly what I planed on! Also, if they have small kids, they may be able to have the kids split meals and save that way. My mom and I do that a lot to save (keeps us skinny, too!).

For souviners, it's hard to say. I'd think that would be up to the individual family and what they feel they can afford, and how they feel about there kids geting stuff. My parents never let us buy ANYTHING (I'm not kidding either, not so much as a pair of mouse ears) and we still had a great time. Others spoil their kids rotten and let them buy the place out. I'd leave that one up to them.

 

[disneysteve]

We're pretty thrifty in the food department. Last trip in November, we were 3 adults and an 8-yr-old. For 9 days (including travel days) we averaged $17/person/day for all food and snacks. We ate breakfast in our condo, lunch in the parks and dinner in the parks, DTD or offsite. We shared a lot since the portion sizes at most of the restaurants are obscenely large. We also drink mostly tap water which is free.

As for souvenirs, really no way to predict that. Some people go and hardly buy anything. Others go and go insane for pins and spend hundreds. Depends on the person.

Steve

 

[hellokitty]

disneysteve,
you must know my BIL last year he spent over $200 on
disney pins, I thought he was totally crazy!!! still do!!

they go nuts with souviners, t-shirts for all five that match from every park they visit, come on, how many do you need??

just make sure you really need or will use what you are buying

when I think about most items I put them back because sure I would love to have them, but mostly is will be clutter at my house.

 

[frannn]

"how many do you need??"
I need it all! I have more WDW shirts, sweatshirts, socks, etc than I can fit in my closet. Hmmm, I need a bigger house with more closets....

"when I think about most items I put them back because sure I would love to have them, but mostly is will be clutter at my house."
Yeah, you left that stuff for me, cause now its clutter at MY house.

Do you hold meetings for this? I'm sure I could use some WDWSBA (WDW Stuff Buyers Anonymous). I keeping truckloading it in thinking it will make me feel "closer" to WDW between trips, but the truth is....IT AINT HELPING! Any suggestions? Can I pay you for the therapy with my Disney Visa?
(Then I can earn more rewards for the next trip and I can buy more stuff)
HHHEEEELLLLPPPP!

 

[dennis99ss]

125-150 per day for 4 people.


ie. Went to Fiesta Texas two weeks ago for one day. without tickets, had a couple of pretzels, number of sodas, a couple of $10 toys for the kids, lunch and dinner, -- spent around $120. With tickets, increase that to $220