Will my $1,000 dollar budget work?

[sanapunk]

I'm going on my first ever vacation, I'm only a wee little 18 year old. I'm using my parents timeshare at the BCV and I'm on a tight budget. I have most of my meals, days, and money figured out except one dreadful thing: TAX AND TIPS! Will my $1,000 dollar budget work?

Ticket - $245
plane ticket - $200
food budget $230* I'm spending 30 dollars on a grocery stop so I won't be eating breakfast at any restaurants or counter services.
Souviners $200
DREADED TAX N TIPS - $100

I'm only eating at 3 places that need tipping, 50s prime time, 1900 park fare, and rainforest cafe. Is a 20% tip really nesessary at a buffet where they just do drinks and take away plates?

 

[miche61]

How many days are you staying? How many days of those will you be at a park? If I was on a tight budget, I would skip one of your sit down meals and use the money elsewhere.

Good luck!

 

[Amirah95]

As for the tipping at buffets (I don't know about Disney restaurants), we always tip the person who cleans our table and refill our drinks at any buffet restaurant.

 

[disneysteve]

Assuming you are going for a week, that means your food budget not counting breakfast is about $32/day. I think that is plenty. On our last trip, we averaged $17/person/day for all meals, snacks and beverages including groceries. Of course, we did eat several meals off Disney property which you won't be able to do. But even so, $32/day should be no problem at all.

As for tipping at buffets, I don't know what everyone else does but I don't believe 20% is necessary. I usually tip a couple of dollars per person, a little more if the service is really good.

 

[sanapunk]

I completely agree, I think for the buffet I'll only tip 10% to 15% but only if the service is REALLY superb.

I originally started my buget at 50 dollars a day for meals, and it was running is about $1,200 but I figured I don't want to spend my days eating the entire time. We had a lot more sit down places, I think 2 or 3 more.

Originally posted by Amirah95
As for the tipping at buffets (I don't know about Disney restaurants), we always tip the person who cleans our table and refill our drinks at any buffet restaurant.

 

[Kevenswife2]

10% is standard for a buffet IF your service is good. And I agree with above poster, sitdown restaurants take alot out of your budget. I'd make only one or two priorty seatings, OR only go to a PS for dessert in the afternoon. I saw that suggested for The Primetime Cafe in my Unofficial Guide to Disney

What kind of ticket are you buying? Hotwire Savings Club has 4 day hoppers + 1 (a day at a waterpark) for $208. Tax and shipping is already included in the price. I just bought my DD22 one so she can come with us.

I don't see transportation from MCO to Disney and back. Do you need to add that into your budget?

There's plenty of 'free' things to do. Visit Downtown Disney, ride the monorail around the loops, check out the resorts, etc.

 

[TSirgey]

I'm not sure how many people you have to buy souvenirs for, but I would lower that budget if possible. There are plenty of fun things to buy for very little money if you look.

You could do your PS for lunch instead of dinner. It is usually half the price, but you still get the atmosphere. Also, it is less crowded and you have more time to spend in the parks.

Good luck!!!

 

[MATTERHORN]

I would lower the souvenir budget by $100, and even here in Vegas, the buffet capitol of the world, standard buffet tipping is $1 per person, $2 per person at most and that's if they cleared plates timely and kept your drinks full, which rarely seems to happen anymore! So it seems like your tipping budget could be more around $80-85 dollars! If you do just those 2 things you cut your budget by $120, that's quite a bit! Have fun!!


Andrea

 

[swilphil]

Cut your souvenir budget by at least half. If you have people you MUST buy for, go to the Disney Store before your trip and see if there are some things on clearance you can get. I've gotten adult Disney T-Shirts for $6-$7. I'd also skip your meal at Rainforest Cafe. They have restaurants all over the country, and you'll get the chance to eat in one at some point in the future. Your 1900 Park Fare meal may cost a little more. Plus you'll want to have some snacks in the park. You might even want to return to your Beach Club Villa for lunch or a light dinner on some of your days when you are in Epcot or MGM, so spend a little more on your grocery stop.

 

[TSirgey]

I agree with dropping the Rainforest Cafe' idea. We there at WDW and then a month or two later visited the Rainforest in Niagra Falls. We had such an enjoyable time in Niagra Falls because the place was not as crowded. You could actually hear the Rainforest sounds and the atmosphere was much better. Not to mention we were sat right away instead of waiting for 2 hours to be seated! I've been there several times in Disney and I have never waited less than 2 hours!!

 

[disneysteve]

Originally posted by TSirgey
I agree with dropping the Rainforest Cafe' idea. We there at WDW and then a month or two later visited the Rainforest in Niagra Falls. We had such an enjoyable time in Niagra Falls because the place was not as crowded. You could actually hear the Rainforest sounds and the atmosphere was much better. Not to mention we were sat right away instead of waiting for 2 hours to be seated! I've been there several times in Disney and I have never waited less than 2 hours!!

We have eaten at Rainforest at DTD several times. We've never had a long wait, though we usually go for lunch. At dinner, it is much more crowded.

I've been to the Niagra Falls location too, as well as a few others. Personally, I haven't noticed much difference between them. When we were at Niagra Falls, they were quite crowded. So I think it depends on when you go.

 

[disneyworld!]

one tip that I do concerning gifts , souvenires, I buy the smaller things like my year supply of pens & pencil etc, mugs, kitchen gadets...then if there is bigger or more expensive stuff, I write the store name down and the scan number, name etc. and then when I get home and have more money I order what I need! that way I can shop Disney year round!(I do this with candles!)

 

[sanapunk]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Here's a response to a few of the questions:

1)I won't need travel from MCO to Disney, my mom has a house down there that she's taking a vacation to, so she'll be getting the rent a car and bringing us to the hotel.
2)I've thought about dropping rainforest cafe. Can't think of anywhere else to go, I'm soft of picky . Any suggestions?
3)The souvenier budget all depends on how much I get for my birthday, which is a few days ahead of my trip. So I planned on using whatever money I get then for souveniers.
4)Getting the 5 day park hopper plus from hotwire. I'll be there for 8 days.
5)Buffet is settled:Tipping only a few dollars a person, $2 probably.

 

[Kevenswife2]

When we're at the Animal Kingdom we always eat at The FlameTree BBQ. It's not a sitdown restaurant but it's nice, the foods good, no tipping, and there's a really nice, relaxing place to sit behind their building. They have a special meal deal where you get your meal with a drink and two coupons to use later for an ice cream treat (love Simba Paws) or popcorn and a bottled drink (pop or water) from any vendors cart. It was nice to save those coupons for a snack later. Cost is $11.99.

Here's info about it. Scroll to the bottom for the Meal Deal.
http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_ftb.htm

I think you'll be able to manage on $1,000
Have a great time!

 

[VAN]

Agree that you might want to drop RFC. The ESPN Club is nice for a sit-down restaurant and would be fairly reasonable.

I really think that you should be okay and suspect you may bring home money ... We always see lots of nice things, but most of them are way overpriced and, unless we can only get it at WDW, tend to pass on them.

If you are a little bit of a thing, you might want to save money by sharing food orders with your friends or looking into the kids menus. We tend to only eat 2 meals + a couple snacks while on vacations.

When I was your age, I did the 'ole PBJ thing to stretch the budget. As long as I was in Florida, I didn't care!!!

 

[VAN]

Okay wise guys -- that's 2 meals + a couple of snacks PER DAY!!!

 

[disneyworld!]

van is right. I forgot all about this! I am 43 yo women and I do not eat to much.but I order the kids meal breakfast etc! half the money and still a ton of food!! and they have no problem with doing it!

 

[drumflower]

One budget saver would be just ordering an app, or dessert to experience RFC. Eat a burger somewhere cheaper!

 

[amwhitaker]

If you are there for 8 days and your food budget is $230, you have $28.75 per day to eat on. At Magic Kingdom you can eat at Cosmic Rays and El Pirata for under $7. You should have plenty if you eat your breakfast at your room. Here is the website you can look at to help you check prices at the parks for food:

http://www.wdwig.com./din/dining.htm

 

[peanuttrip]

One good way to save on souviners to go to the Character Corner at the Premium Outlet. They have all kinds of gifts for as much as 50% off. There is some full priced stuff there that can be found at the parks