How much cash?

monkeysammich

monkeysammich

Active Member
So, my wife turned to me last night and asked "How much cash should we have on hand for disney?"

And I honestly couldn't answer her. I use my debit card for everything, I -never- carry cash... however I know its customary to tip the housecleaning and baggage attendants at the resort... and some places may not take my debit card....

How much cash is recommended to have "on hand" for your trip? I primarily want to use my debit card for transactions (as to not carry around or store a large amount of money)... but I would like to not miss out on anything.

Help? :veryconfu
 
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WDW 3

WDW 3

Well-Known Member
My husband and I had that exact discussion today at lunch. We only need cash for the towncar service. We figure we can bring $200 and have more than enough. Credit cards, Disney rewards card and the ATM are all we need!
 
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RiversideBunny

RiversideBunny

New Member
We usually take $100 each and end up bringing most of it back home.
Charge everything to the room where possible and then we leave about $5 a day in an envelope for Mousekeeping.

:)
 
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WishIWasAtWDW

WishIWasAtWDW

Well-Known Member
i normally take around $200 in cash. i use my disney visa for everything but i like to have some cash as a back up just in case something happens. i also bring my debit card and an additional credit card just in case. never know what crazy circumstance could happen so i like to be overly prepared.
 
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wdwwdeagle

wdwwdeagle

Member
What I've found works really well for us is to have the cash divvied up for the cash expenses we know we'll have:
-envelope of $5 bills for mousekeeping, one for each night of stay
-roll of quarters to be used for tolls on the orlando roads on the way down and back, as well as for any laundry we might have to do while there
-some $1 bills and a few more $5 bills in the wallet for little things like penny press machines, quick candy/vending machine purchase, arcade game or other small cash-only expense that might come up
-and now that we are doing TIW, I think I'm going to add another envelope of $5 bills for "extra" tip for servers at the places we have our ADRs (just 'cause now that I read this board, I feel kinda guilty for leaving it "as is" with the 18% added in. Chuckle.)

Everything else goes on the card. Isn't it amazing how things have changed in regard to cash in the last decade!?!?
 
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harveyt0206

harveyt0206

Well-Known Member
I took $250 on my last trip because I wanted to give all of my tips in cash. I gave $5 a day to Mousekeeping. I did come home with cash, which was great, but for the most part everything was paid for before we got there - which I loved.
 
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RobnRachal

RobnRachal

Well-Known Member
There's four of us and we usually go for 11 days. We used to take lots of travellers cheques (pardon the canadian spelling, lol) and some cash, but now we only take about $300 and put the rest on our Disney Visa. . . gotta build up Disney dollars for the next trip. This year we're starting our trip with the 4 night cruise, but I don't think we'll change anything because we still get the "key" card so everything goes on the credit card.
I actually like putting everything one the KTTW card because we get our descriptive statement on the last day and can verify our purchases. Besides, with all the Disney dollars, we pay for a lot of stuff and don't have to put too much on the Visa.
My Sis and her family are joining us this time and they were asking the same question. They haven't been in 8 years so their souvenir purchases will probably exceed ours. We're having gift cards sent to their room for each of the four kids but it's a surprise. We're all on the dining plan so it's just tips, treats, and souvenirs.
 
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Raven66

Raven66

Well-Known Member
We take about 200 cash with us and a debit card. I make my mousekeeper tip envelopes before we leave home, so I don't have to worry about that. We don't buy many trinkets anymore. Our daughter never asks for anything, I suppose we are lucky there:D
 
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mousebymarriage

mousebymarriage

Active Member
I think $200-$250 is appropriate for the 2 of you. We usually buy 1 souvie each (DH & I) and my kids always have their own money for their souvies. The get Disney dollars in their Christmas stockings and from some of the relatives for Christmas along with a bit of cash. They know how much they have to spend and when it's gone it's gone.
 
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Mori Anne

Mori Anne

Active Member
In the Parks
No
Just carry alone about 150.00 cash with you at all times. This way if your CC gets frozen at dinner, or whatever, your covered. I am not saying take 150 x the number of days you are there, just replenish at the atm to keep the 150 on you. If you loose it, it would stink, but it is not going to break the bank. Just make sure to keep tabs with how much you are pulling from your atm. It can add up
 
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P

Philo

Well-Known Member
For a period of about 10 days, we would general take something like $500 - $600 for the two of us.

It seems like quite a lot but I like to know we have enough cash on hand to pay for taxi's etc if needed and to ensure we can items from food carts. Generally speaking, if we're in the parks, we will make sure we have around $40 on us and the rest would be kept in a safe.
 
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