how much do you spend?

[kdibattista]

This year is the first year we are going to Disney with the Discovery Magic Package so breakfast and dinner each day are already paid for. I am trying to figure out how much money I should plan on bringing for my husband and myself. We need money for:

- tips
- souvenirs
- food court (lunch and snacks)
- miscellaneous

What do you think and what was the most you ever spent?

 

[figmentmom]

It depends on how long you're staying, of course, but I always seem to go through exactly the amount I had budgeted (if buget is the word I want, and I don't actually think it is...) I'd probably allow $100 a day, but other people may think I'm way off base. Better to bring more than you need, and go home with change. Get travelers checks, though, in any case - I find charge cards are too dangerous (too easy to overspend!):lol:

 

[VillianFan]

Just a note on the Discovery Magic package, we used it last year and loved it. Your tip is included in your meal bill so you do not need to budget for that. The only ones we tipped extra were for exceptional service, and that was only twice during our stay. Also, if you make sure that you take the full advantage of the meals. Like for breakfast you get a pastry item as well as your entree, therefore, they would give us the Jumbo cookies to take with us. We would put them in our belt packs and eat them as snacks while standing in line. If you are going back to your room after eating, take dessert to go. That way you have a snack for back in your room!

Enjoy!

 

[DanStat]

We are big Disney collectors, so we spend a lot on souviners.

Last year we maxed our credit card, and we all took cash, and spent it all.

 

[Scooter]

My family and I always stay at deluxe resorts when we go to Walt Disney World. We usually stay for one week.

When we took our 3 kids we spent $5000. That included air fare, resort costs, tips, food etc.

When my wife and I go alone (my kids are grown now) we spend a little over $2000 for a week...same accommodations.

So figure $1000 per person per week and you should be fine...of course you'll need less if you stay off property or are closer and drive there.

Good luck..and have fun !!

 

[hockeymom]

It always seems like you spend more than you actually think you will when you're on vacation. There's a lot of good info out there (on this board and on some other sites as well) on the prices of snacks etc. in the park. It also depends on just how big of a souvenir shopper you are, if you are an avid collector or an impulse buyer, you will spend a lot, there really is a lot of stuff out there!

have a great trip!

 

[Mr.MouseFan]

We went to WDW this past April. We stayed 6 days and 5 nights..for the two of us, we spent a total of $364 for breakfast, lunch, dinner and souvenirs. I know it's not a whole lot, but you'll be amazed at what kind of deals you can find when you're on a budget.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I would suggest that it is going to be impossible to guesstimate how much anyone would need at WDW. Everyone has different spending habits, dietary needs, etc, etc.
All I can really say is have a great time, regardless of how much or how little you decide to spend, either way - you're bound to have fun.

 

[The Mom]

Look at the guidelines offered...Scooter's was pretty good; just subtract the daily average cost of your transportation,meals, hotel...figure out what you'll need, then double it!

You really need to take your own habits into consideration....and also it depends upon who you're travelling with! When I just have the children, we do lots of counter service/snack type meals. My husband will ONLY eat at full service restaurants, and will order wine, beer, or cocktails. (sometimes all 3! )

However, he is stingier about letting the kids buy souvenirs, snacks, etc. so it sometimes evens out.

We also have never spent more than 4 days at any time...I suspect the pain of the money flow gets worse as the days go by....or else you recover from sticker shock, and it doesn't seem so bad.

 

[dreamer]

If you're staying on site at a deluxe hotel, Disney World costs about the same as staying slopeside on a ski trip. It is incredibly expensive. The food is marked up, but not as bad as you'd find in a major airport. I think it's great that DW has built moderate and budget resorts. That is one of the "nicest" things they've done in the past two decades. You can save a bundle and still stay on site.

I just went to our local county fair and realized there is no doubt that even though you have to shell out a lot for the tickets, what you get for your money at the DW parks is unequaled by any other entertainment venue. Even more so when you compare the Disney CM's to some of the staff at other amusement parks. There really is no comparison actually.

 

[Chris]

We usually budget $200 per day for spending money (food, junk, tips, etc,). This does not include Lodging or park tickets. We generally do not spend the $200 but it is nice to have it becuase there is always something that you want to get. The $200 is for 2 adults and two kids (7 and 5).

 

[Married@WDW]

Well, right now is the time to go if you want to stay at a Deluxe Resort. One of my sister's coworkers is going to WDW in November and her travel agent got her a rate of $119/night at AK Lodge. I don't know the details of the room, but I've never seen rates this cheap. We just got back from WDW, and a family we shared a table with at Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki got a standard view room at Grand Floridian for $149/night. At least right now, the deluxe resorts are a bargain -- in these some case not as bad as they used to be.

And I think if you eat wisely, the food prices really aren't that bad. We usually plan on a breakfast a "fast food" type breakfast, since you get similar food (eggs, pancakes, french toast, etc.) for about half what you'd pay at a sitdown place, then we pick a really nice sit down restaurant for either lunch or dinner. The other meal of the day is usually a snack somewhere.

Having just been to WDW for 10 days (8/16-8/25) we (just my husband and I, no kids) spent around $1500 on food, souveniers, DisneyQuest, two days of water park entries, one game of mini-golf and our rental car. We are DVC members so we got a discount on DisneyQuest, the waterparks and the mini-golf. We ate at fantastic restaurants (Wolfgang Puck's, Tony's for the Pooh character lunch, Ohana's, Cape May Cafe, Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki, Whispering Canyon Cafe, ESPN, Mythos at Island of Adventure, California Grill and Kona Cafe for Tonga Toast on our last morning). We ate whatever we wanted, had drinks at several meals (though we were too full for dessert a few times), and we blew $140 on dinner at California Grill, which was totally worth it. We didn't buy many expensive souveniers this time, though we did buy a painting of the beach at the Beach Club (which is where we got engaged) which cost us $100.

I hope this helps!

 

[figmentmom]

...and remember, my guesstimate of allowing $100 a day was based on the fact that your room, travel costs, breakfast and dinner each day are already paid for! (I can spend big money at Disney on souvenirs, believe me - lunches, however, can be had relatively cheaply!)