Working on the Disney Budget..

[HHSTigerFan]

Doing this because in the past we just spent and worried about the credit card bill when we got home and spent the next 3 months paying it off..

We are going for 12 nights in June, AKV rental with the Deluxe Dining plan and 10 day hoppers with water park option.. Thats all paid for, hotels on the way down and 2 nights at the beach are paid for.. $200 in gas cards paid for..

Now, we need to save for the fun money... Family of 4, how much should we plan the extras??? Need food money on the non-Disney days, need tip money and then souvineirs(sp???).... How much for those??? And what else???

 

[rockundergirl]

Wow looks like you have a great trip planned! Based on what you have already spent, Looks like most of your trip is paid for. I would say another 200 a day for spending money.

 

[ceecee]

Probably the biggest expense you haven't already paid for will be the tips with the deluxe dining plan you probably won't feel much like eating heavy on the off days. So the tips (20% and mousekeeping) will be the most. Depending on your shopping habits....

 

[HHSTigerFan]

On what type of things are you thinking??? I guessed $300 for tips, $300 for souviniers, $200 for non-Disney food... what else do I need to account for???

 

[Justsyd2]

I would carry $200 per day. You may not need all of it, but then again, you just may need it!

 

[chocovrdmicears]

On what type of things are you thinking??? I guessed $300 for tips, $300 for souviniers, $200 for non-Disney food... what else do I need to account for???

10 days on Deluxe Dining... actually you are there for 12 nights on Deluxe Dining? Not sure what your specific meal plans are using the DDXP but I think you may want to relook at the tips estimate.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

10 days on Deluxe Dining... actually you are there for 12 nights on Deluxe Dining? Not sure what your specific meal plans are using the DDXP but I think you may want to relook at the tips estimate.

We are there for 11 nights on the DDP, the first night is off site... Got my figure from the cost of the dining plan, $2046.. We are doing several buffets, 4 or 5 CS and my wife doesn't eat meat, so her meals tend to be less... Figured 15% of $2046 would be a fair estimate..

 

[ohanaMAMA]

I have always budgeted $250 a day for food, shopping, emergencies ect.

however. this time we are on the dde. so im planning

$50 a day for tips ( some days we wont need that much as we are eating buffets)
$100 for shopping ect

that should cover us.. If I have DXDP Id probably figure another $20 or so a day for tips since you'll have another sit down meal.

 

[Donaldswife]

We are there for 11 nights on the DDP, the first night is off site... Got my figure from the cost of the dining plan, $2046.. We are doing several buffets, 4 or 5 CS and my wife doesn't eat meat, so her meals tend to be less... Figured 15% of $2046 would be a fair estimate..

If you are eating at TS restaurants for 3 meals a day, 15% of the cost of the meal plan is not a good estimate, you will have to tip 15% of what your actual bill comes to, which in most cases for a family of 4 for lunch or dinner is over $100. Looking at probably closer to $15/meal, so $45/day, over 10 days would be closer to $450. We went as a family of 3 for 8 nights on deluxe dining last year and spent @500 on tips (we were with another party and had the automatic 18% gratuity, plus we tipped exta a few times when we had phenomenal service). We also had about 4 or 5 CS meals where we did not tip in there, so tips will probably be more than you are planning.

 

[ceecee]

I think you should budget more than $300 for tips. 20% at a sit down nicer restaurant is the standard for dinner 15% for breakfast and lunch or maybe more. We had 7 days on the DDP (not deluxe so 1 table a day) for 3 people and we tipped $280.00 (we did tip some counter serves as well since we stayed at CS and ate at Pepper Market).

 

[chocovrdmicears]

We are there for 11 nights on the DDP, the first night is off site... Got my figure from the cost of the dining plan, $2046.. We are doing several buffets, 4 or 5 CS and my wife doesn't eat meat, so her meals tend to be less... Figured 15% of $2046 would be a fair estimate..

I wouldn't use the cost of the dining plan to calculate your actual dining costs. You might have a serious case of sticker shock when you get there!
I would go to allearsnet.com or the click on the menu options at the top of the disboards. Take a look at some of the places you will be dining..then add your % to those numbers..If you are dining at any signature meals, even the veggies are expensive.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I wouldn't use the cost of the dining plan to calculate your actual dining costs. You might have a serious case of sticker shock when you get there!
I would go to allearsnet.com or the click on the menu options at the top of the disboards. Take a look at some of the places you will be dining..then add your % to those numbers..If you are dining at any signature meals, even the veggies are expensive.

I Deb's site is great.

Op, if you haven't done so yet, take time to look over the menus. I'm using them to get a rough idea of how much I need to budget for tips. (there will be 2 of us on the deluxe plan)

Once tips are squared away, I'm looking to budget between $200-$250 per day on extras. We won't spend that much,(BF won't let me) but I tend to pad the budget a bit.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Just curious, what would you spend $250 a day on??? With the deluxe dining and the 8 snacks a day we get, our food expense better be ZERO...

 

[delmar411]

Just curious, what would you spend $250 a day on??? With the deluxe dining and the 8 snacks a day we get, our food expense better be ZERO...

shopping, tips, alcohol.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Just curious, what would you spend $250 a day on??? With the deluxe dining and the 8 snacks a day we get, our food expense better be ZERO...

Actually, if you do the Deluxe Dining your OOP will probably be even higher than if you did the Regular Dining because of the extra tips.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Just curious, what would you spend $250 a day on??? With the deluxe dining and the 8 snacks a day we get, our food expense better be ZERO...

Shopping
Ride photos
Character meal photo packages
Adult drinks
Tips for housekeeping
Snacks that aren't included in the dinIng plan
Tips for fireworks cruises
Cabs. - for when we don't feel like taking the bus or getting on a crowded bus

 

[weich1001]

We are a family of 4...2 adults and 2 kids (12 & 9)

When not eating at Disney, I usually allot $35 for Breakfast, $40 Lunch, $125 for Dinner...those numbers all include tips...and generally one kid eating off the adult menu and 1 off the kids menu.

For extra pictures, snacks and waters, nick knacks, souvenirs etc...we allot a $100 per day for Glenn and I...the kids earn money before they go doing little things around the house...we put it on gift cards for them and then they can "pay" for their own stuff...it's amazing how much stuff suddenly gets put back on the shelf again!

And while we don't take along extra cash, we always make sure to have access to another $2000 in case of an emergency...anything can happen nowadays, better to be prepared.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Also keep in mind, the entire month of June has "holiday pricing" on the buffets. That's an additional $4-5 per person that the meal will cost. Now, I know you're getting the dining plan, so you won't pay this, but you'll be expected to tip on the higher price.

 

[ibela]

Tipping on the dining plan is expected on the cost of the meal itself, not the cost of the plan. Definitely familiarize yourself with the actual costs of your anticipated meals.

For photos - you should've received a code in your e-mail for photophass. If you plan on getting several pictures, you may want to consider the CD (for 12 days, I would!), with a code the pre-order cost should be $99 and includes unlimited photopass pics.

You said AKV rental so I assume you mean the DVC portion. There's no daily mousekeeping (only on set days, I believe 2x per week) and tipping is not expected.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Shopping
Ride photos
Character meal photo packages
Adult drinks
Tips for housekeeping
Snacks that aren't included in the dinIng plan
Tips for fireworks cruises
Cabs. - for when we don't feel like taking the bus or getting on a crowded bus

Thank you...

Ride photos- This I need to include
Character meal photo packages- This I need to include
Adult drinks- I am used to $2 bottle beer, can't spend $8..
Tips for housekeeping- DVC, so much less than normal
Snacks that aren't included in the dinIng plan- better not be or I will need to walk home
Tips for fireworks cruises- N/A
Cabs -N/A