Free Dining Most of Our Trip...How Much Moolah to Bring?

[dopeylover]

My husband, our infant daughter, my mother, 18 yr. old sister and myself are going to WDW at the end of May. the 1st 2 days we are there we don't have FD, and of course those are the only days I could get reservations for Character Dining (my DD is only going to be 1, so the only things she's into are Mickey and Pooh), so I know that it's going to be an expensive day.

On our 3rd day, we start FD!!! Ressies are all made and we're good to go, but I don't know how much money to bring now!

Our Character Dining is at Crystal Palace for breakfast and Chef Mickeys for dinner. 4 people each time. We usually have breakfast in room in the morning getting coffee in our hotel mugs, so I know we get 2 snacks and lunch and dinner.

We are not huge souvenir people, but I know we are getting a few. I'd like to get our family (3 of us) Christmas stockings done there, as well as a snowglobe, which we started as a tradition. We will be there during Star Wars weekend, so I am sure my husband will want something to commemorate that experience (lol), and of course a little something small for the little one. My mother and sister are on their own in terms of souvenirs, but we are footing the bill for everything else.

So far we have about $230 in Disney Gift Cards and Dollars, and we get about $25/50 worth weekly when we go grocery shopping.

All but $183 is paid in full for the trip thus far, and I still have to pay for rental when we get there.

Thoughts?

 

[dopeylover]

An additional question would be....

Is it worth me doing the character dining? OBVIOUSLY I know my DD will have no memory of them whatsoever, but she REALLY loves Pooh and Mickey, and I thought it would be fun. But (for some reason this JUST came to me NOW LOL!) we will also be seeing them in the park as well. And I am not completely sure how she will react to them (she has been Ok w. Santa and the Easter Bunny so far), but if she completely flips, it's a LOT of money to spend on a screaming baby.

Maybe I should cancel Character Dining and do it when she's old enough to appreciate it? Or am I just being cheap? Both Character Dining events are on the same day, so we're talking easily over a $200 day.

Any opinions are welcome.

 

[Lisalyn]

Just a thought...why not just do 1 of the character dining experiences vs. the 2? If she loves Pooh then the Crystal Palace is for you! :wave:

 

[me_stitch]

if you skip the character dining a few hundred bucks should cover the first two days, after that it's just tips and any extra snacks or souveniers.

 

[stratman50th]

Honestly, as much as we love to surround our kids with everything Disney, I doubt she'll get as much out of it as you. Go to the Crystal Palace and have yourself some fun, get some pictures, and drop Chef Mickey's. Save the money. My daughter was almost 2 and we could have gotten her a Mickey balloon and hung out at the slide in the resort playground for the entire trip!:lol: She really didn't get that much out of the whole experience. Not as much as we did anyway.

 

[RobnRachal]

Not a huge fan of Chef Mickey's for dinner...better at breakfast. I agree with previous posts...do Crystal Palace and skip Chef Mickey's till the next time.

 

[Did Knee]

Am I just weird, or am I doing this wrong? I just charge to the room and put whatever I spend on a credit or debit card. Is there some advantage to actually bringing cash that I am missing? Cash seems like a pain in the posterior....so twentieth century....:drevil:

 

[stratman50th]

Am I just weird, or am I doing this wrong? I just charge to the room and put whatever I spend on a credit or debit card. Is there some advantage to actually bringing cash that I am missing? Cash seems like a pain in the posterior....so twentieth century....:drevil:

There are some things that you need cash for, a couple, not many places on property don't take anything but cash. Then there's the daily tip for housekeeping..... I just wrote this? Was it in this thread or another one... I'm getting confused!
Anyway, I carry only the room card when I'm out and use that. The only time I had to have cash, and luckily I had my wallet at the time, was getting a funnel cake in front of America in World Showcase. They didn't take Room Cards or Credit cards. Cash only. That was it to the best of my recollection.

 

[ShadyLady]

Dont forget to bring money for gratuities, even with your free dining, tips are not included!

 

[DisneyJoe]

Dont forget to bring money for gratuities, even with your free dining, tips are not included!

Gratuities can be charged to your room account too.

 

[dopeylover]

wow! Thanks for all the info! I think we will stick to Crystal Palace and cancel Chef Mickeys after all...

Thank you!

 

[lbrad]

As others have said....just do 1 character meal....2 in 1 day is way too much for anyone esp. a wee one.
I would go with Crystal Palace over Chef Mickey...you are more likely to see Mickey easily elsewhere.
Enjoy your trip!!!

PS...It's okay to be frugal...esp. with todays economy

 

[JillC LI]

I have a question. Don't you have to request the dining plan for your entire stay in order to get the free dining promotion for part of it? Don't you just have to pay for those first two days of the DDP in advance? If so, then your room key will have all the meals on it, and you can apply them to whatever meals you like and not pay out of pocket for the character meals the first 2 days. I must be missing something.