How much do you spend?

[sbkline]

We're on the dining plan, so our meals, our tickets and our hotel room will all be paid in full by March 7 (45 days from our check in day). However, I'm trying to get a rough estimate of how much more we will spend so I can know how much money to plan on taking. It looks like it may be alot. Here are some of the expenditures I can think of:

Gas there and gas back. I just got a new van and it has a bigger tank, but most likely, less gas mileage than the old car. I put 18.3 gallons in the other day, costing about 38 bucks. So I will assume three fillups there and three back at 35 to 40 bucks depending on gas mileage. So, rough estimate $240.

Motel there and motel back. Probably close to another $100 bucks.

Food there and food back. I don't know if we'll splurge on sitdown or just do fast food. Probably some of each. So, I'll assume 50 bucks there and 50 bucks back on stopping for food. So another 100 bucks.

Tipping at the resorts. Does 20 bucks sound about right for 7 days of tipping mousekeeping and the people that take our bags? It's our first time on property, so I'm not sure.

Mini-golf at, probably 3 different mini-golf courses, both on property and off. Say, 40 dollars.

Carraige ride. 30 bucks

Souveniers. Now that's the really tricky part. My son's 1st birthday will be the day after we arrive back home. So the wife wants to buy alot of his b-day presents there, as well as whatever souvies that we might buy. I'm really not sure what to estimate on this one, especially since the wife wants to shop at the Florida Mall in Orlando while we're there.

So, I have $530 bucks, not counting souveniers. What do you usually spend on souveniers while you are down there?

Maybe I should just plan on bringing a thousand down and hope that we have a surplus left over to use for Six Flags this summer.

 

[sbkline]

So you check in April 21? We do as well! Where are you staying? Maybe we'll bump into one another! As for the money thing: This will be the first time we have gone in quite a while so splurging is on the menu. We are also on the dining plan and will have our room paid in full before arrival. We are carrying 2,500! But I have three children and that does include our gas, tips, etc.! Anyway you go about it have fun! Hope to see you there! Ill be the guy dragging the circus with me!:wave:

We check in Monday April 23. I'm sure my confirmation thing said I need to pay it in full by March 7, but I'll double check. As for where we are staying, can't you read my signature? :lol: :wave:

Actually, I just double checked and it is March 9 that we have to pay by, not March 7.

 

[cmatt]

ALWAYS budget for the unexpected - i was caught out last year on the way back from a heavy rock/metal festival because i only budgeted £300 for the weekend (food, booze, and band tshirts). I got the wrong train (it was an hour before the one i was suppossed to get) and had to phone an irate mrs cmatt because i had to pay the difference to the ticket conducter (and i had the worst hangover from not eating much and drinking too much pear cider).

Soveneirs - well i dont really buy tshirts or novelty items, normally i buy the scrap book and scrap booking stuff for mrs cmatt for our photos. I did buy a tshirt this time around to wear something dry after a downpour mind you...

I also bought a photo cd $100 for well over 100 photos wasnt really that bad imho (but thats a whole different thread).. :lol: .

As long as you have food and all the formal things out the way I personally say the best thing your going to walk away with will be the memories *load up with digi cam and 2 gigs worth of memory and your sorted!) so dont panic if you cant afford exspensive items. If you miss something i think you can buy it by calling a number once your back home - i could be wrong though....

I tend to spend more on cd's and dvds, i spent over $200 in virgin dtd, that store had one of the BEST metal sections oddly!

 

[Mori Anne]

As far souvenirs go, I set a limit. Really, I love WDW, but I really feel that most of the stuff at WDW is just overpriced Walmart things. There are a few things that are neat. However, I'd rather pay half the price for the stuff at Walmart. The only thing that gets me everytime is the Disney Pins.

My advice to myself is to STICK with my limit. Plus, instead of buying the items at the store each time we see them, we make a list (Kids and us do). Then, at the end of our trip we narrow it down and spend the second to last day making the purchases.

Other Disney items that seem to add up on our trips:

• We have occasionally bought pictures coming off of rides.
• We bought sweatshirts one night to kill our chills (2 adults, 2 kids) and it was 160.00 .
• We had to replace lost sun glasses, & batteries once $60.00.
• We usually spend about 20.00 on drinks alone during the day not including drinks with meals (important to stay hydrated).
• Disney Passport (124.?? for all on CD)
• Dole Whips, Tomorrowland Smoothies, and Rice Crispy Treats.
• Stroller and Locker Rentals (I don't use these service).
• Hair cut on Main Street USA.

I can't think of anything else at the moment, but we always end up spending on things other than souvenirs. So, don't forget those "easily" forgotten about items that usually add up to the most.

 

[duck_daddy]

We are at POR as well! Well I guess it's true "It's a small world after all!":sohappy:

 

[MaxsDad]

sbkline,

I think you might have the right idea with 1000. I know, "easy for me to say" when it's not my money, but being your son's first trip, when you get there, it may be hard to hold back.

Your numbers looked good IMO for the most part. My thoughts, assuming the trip is for two adults and a 1 year old:

100 total for rooms coming and going sounds just a hair low. 70/night maybe? I reserved a place in Jacksonville one time which came with 2 complimentary cop cars in the parking lot. Don't go too low here.

FYI, gas in SC right now is 1.75-1.85. Who knows what it may be then, but we are always less than NC due to their state gas taxes, and usually better than GA too.

Mini-Golf on Property runs about 11 bucks per person. (2nd round on same day is half off). Also, if you want to play the one at Fantasia Gardens (near Epcot resort area) that looks like a really small golf course, I suggest you call ahead for tee times. Yes, tee times at mini-golf.

Souvies- we usually buy: about 3 on-ride photos for 15-20 bucks each. A new T Shirt will also be about twenty. Some type of photo album = 25-30. I can also count on seeing something that I will just have to buy for my children= 40-50. Obviously, we are not too big on souvies based on some of the reading I have done.

And now for more stuff you proably already know:
I highly recommend Disney's PhotoPass, as you can pick and choose the best shots after your trip is over from sanity of your home, instead of having to buy them on impulse at the park with your poket money. Even better, Disney Photographers will take your picture for you with your camera for free. Also, buy rain poncos from Wal Mart before you go for under buck each. And finally, insure your trip by buying small hand sanitizer and take it with you everywhere. Nothing like getting ill to the stomach during the 2000+ vacation you have looked forward to for so long!

 

[sbkline]

Just to clarify, our son isn't going with us on this trip. He's staying with the wife's parents, but it will be his 1st birthday the day after we get back. So not only does the wife want to do her usual shopping on this trip, but she also wants to buy alot of goodies to bring back for the baby. An estimate of 50 dollars a night for the motel coming and going may be a little low. Probably 60 to 70 bucks. We usually stay at a Super 8 or Ramada, which could be as low as 50 a night, or as high as 70, depending on location and time of year, I suppose.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

For a family of 4 we reckon on about £1000 per week (thats about $600 on current exchange rates) - that includes all food, drink and souvenirs etc

 

[davewasbaloo]

Last trip we were there for 12 days, and on the dining plan. We used Magical express from the airport. We spent about $2000 for the 5 of us on souvenirs and christmas presents.

 

[kev1000]

we take about $4000 for our 14 day trip this is our main trip so the last thing i want to do run out of $$.
if we don't spend it all we just save it for our next trip so that is a good reason to go back.

captin the exchange rate is about 1.89 ish so for about £1000 you would get about $1890.

 

[monorailguy01]

Well I don't buy much in Disney, although I have, maybe a cd or something small, I usually bring spending money somewhere around 600 just for one person, and it will be for everything that I need money for while I am there, food, entertainment, drinks, mouse boating, fishing, everything in DTD. I think you get the idea... But yea If your bringing a family with you I would suggest bring some more money.. at least 700. When I go with 3 of my friends 4 total, we spend alone close to 500 alone just on food, not including spending money for whatever else. but yeah, I would bring more cash money...

 

[Nut4Disney]

We go down about 3 times a year. Were just there in Oct, and leave for WDW again in 2 weeks. We typically stay about 6 nites and spend about $2500, which includes air, hotel, meals, and souveniers. We are AP holders which run us about $1300 each year, and we use the Disney Dining experience.

 

[JimboJones123]

Beware of extra $$$ for food. Sometimes the meal isn't enough. Snacks, and especially drinks on hot days really add up. 4-5 extra drinks (not unheard of above even the 3 you planned for) can easily cost you an extra $15 per day per person. So extra drinks can be almost another $100-$200 for the trip. That's only drinks. Add on a late night snack $20-30 a day. A few pretzles or ice creams every other day, another $20 each.

 

[DisneyMarg]

On the other side of the spectrum you will find our family. If we have the dining plan, we would spend very little extra money while at Disney. Tips, yes. Gas, yes. Maybe one or two things not on the dining plan (like candy apples) and maybe one or two souveniers per person - but a total of less than $50 each. Heck, we could go and have a great time with only a few $$ in our pockets.

We never buy ride photos (just not our thing) nor have we bought the photo pass photos or any photo processing onsite.

As for gifts, we do buy them there sometime, but that technically comes out of the "gifts" budget not the "vacation" budget. One suggestion on that is to figure out how much it makes sense to spend on your son's birthday and then figure out what part of that you'd like to spend on Disney stuff at Disney.

Also, we charge everything and then pay it off when the bill comes in. That way we don't have to carry so much cash. If you don't have a charge card, you can also use your debit card from your checking account.

 

[sbkline]

So you check in April 21? We do as well! Where are you staying? Maybe we'll bump into one another... Hope to see you there! Ill be the guy dragging the circus with me!:wave:

I certainly wouldn't be opposed to meeting some new friends while down there, so closer to April, if you want, we could arrange to meet. Obviously, the wife and I would both rather spend most of the time down there alone, but I wouldn't be opposed to meeting up with someone for a supper, or perhaps the carraige ride or something. :wave:

 

[gjpjtj]

This will be our first trip using the DDP, in February. I find myself budgeting just like I usually do, forgetting that the meals are paid for. I also am curious to see how much we spend above and beyond the DDP.:slurp:

 

[loveyloo2]

How much for mouse ears?

As, I'm trying to not pass out from sticker-shock on my first day at WDW, how much do Mouse ears cost for kids--with embroidered names?

Thanks!!

 

[sbkline]

And on the subject of spending money on a Disney vacation, I just got my check in the mail today from selling my stock. I sold it to pay for our van, but I am also waiting for a tax refund and another big check from my Mom's accumulated sick time and vacation time since she passed away. Since today's check was the first to come, I used part of it to pay the balance of my WDW vacation package and put the rest on the van! WDW here we come!!! :sohappy:

 

[duck_daddy]

I certainly wouldn't be opposed to meeting some new friends while down there, so closer to April, if you want, we could arrange to meet. Obviously, the wife and I would both rather spend most of the time down there alone, but I wouldn't be opposed to meeting up with someone for a supper, or perhaps the carraige ride or something. :wave:

I'm all for that! We'll just get in touch closer to time. Maybe just to say hi! The wife an I will have three kids in tow dying to get in the parks, so time for me as well will be cramped. But never making it down for any of the official meets, it would be cool to say hi to someone from the boards! I'm thinking about buying one of the wdwmagic site shirts to wear while down there!

 

[FSUgly]

As far as souveniers go, we start ahead of our trip. We have a 5 y/o and 2 y/o, so the 'want' is always there, but because of our method of doing things, they rarely put on any fits when we say no.

We keep our eyes open at the local Wal-Marts, Targets, and Toys R Us for Disney items. Sometimes we even get lucky and find things on clearance. We pack those items in either black garbage bags, or an extra suitcase so that the kids don't know we have them. We then bring things out at the beginning/end of the day, depending on the item, if it goes with the park we are visiting that day, or how your kids are about waiting for 'surprises' back in the room.

If you let the resort you are staying at know that your child is having a birthday (even though it is the day after you get back home - remember Disney celebrates their birthdays for 18 months ), they will put an autographed card (your child's favorite character) and some balloons in your room sometime during your stay....no extra charge, unless you want a birthday cake brought in. We don't usually do the birthday cake because the restaurants will usually bring out some sort of special cupcake for the birthday child (we do a character meal usually every other night of our stay). As you probably already know, kids under 3 are free (stay free, eat free at character meals, not counter service places).

There is a Super Wal-Mart (check wal-mart.com for exact address/map/directions); even closer than the Wal-Mart is a fairly new outlet mall, Orlando Premium Outlets, they have a Disney character premier store here (http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17) Here is a write up from Mouse Planet (http://www.mouseplanet.com/sue_holland/____031010.htm).
For those travelling down I-95, there used to be a Disney Outlet Store in a mall in the St Augustine, FL area. I do not remember the exact location, but it was just north of St Augustine, or right in St Augustine. They had great prices on items when we were that way last time (~3 yrs ago).

Hope this helps.....