Spending Money

K

Kat Hazzard

New Member
Reposting -

Hi all :) Wondering how much spending money on average I should take? My sister in law went with her 3 kids and had £6000, (but that included money for food, souvenirs and shopping) for 10 days. (!!!) Hopefully be able to get away with a brave bit less than that!

We are going for a week to stay with family in Port St Lucie first (not sure if there is good shopping centres there or how often we will eat out etc) and then staying at POR for 16 nights. Figured I would set aside about $1000 for the first week for food etc. While at Disney we have the Disney dining package. I have worked out most of the TS meals, and have the QS for lunch, can use the snacks for breakfast so I doubt we will need to spend much if any extra money on food other than tips (setting aside $400-$500 for tips). Other than that any idea of how much we will need roughly? I plan on going shopping as well!

Thanks in advance :)
 
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Princess_Beatrice

Princess_Beatrice

New Member
How many people are going traveling with? Do you have children? I’d factor that in.
Our last trip was 8 days long, we stayed on property and had the dining plan. I want to say I spent $400 on souvenirs and extras (Starbucks, pictures, whatnot).
 
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sxeensweet

sxeensweet

Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
Total personal decision. Do you like to buy a lot of souviners or expensive souviners?? How many of you? How much will you tip each meal or extras with your meals etc? We go for 2 weeks and just 2 of us and have spent as much as $5000 on extras (we always have a dining plan so that’s not on food well mostly not on food some is )or spent much lower like $2000 this last trip. Greatly varies for everyone. ;)
 
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K

Kat Hazzard

New Member
Original Poster
There are 2 adults and 2 children in our party. We are from Northern Ireland and its been a few years since I have been to USA so how much is normal to tip for a meal? So hard to figure out how much I will need! My daughter turns 7 when we are away and I have a (will be) 4 year old son. I would like to buy them most of what they fancy if possible but don't want to go ridiculously nuts!
 
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sxeensweet

sxeensweet

Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
Kat Hazzard said:
There are 2 adults and 2 children in our party. We are from Northern Ireland and its been a few years since I have been to USA so how much is normal to tip for a meal? So hard to figure out how much I will need! My daughter turns 7 when we are away and I have a (will be) 4 year old son. I would like to buy them most of what they fancy if possible but don't want to go ridiculously nuts!
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Customery tip for good service is around 20% (can do 15% which is bare minimum most do, or higher than 20% for really good service) of the total before tax of your table services meals here in the US. ;)
 
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Goofyernmost

Goofyernmost

Well-Known Member
Kat Hazzard said:
Reposting -

Hi all :) Wondering how much spending money on average I should take? My sister in law went with her 3 kids and had £6000, (but that included money for food, souvenirs and shopping) for 10 days. (!!!) Hopefully be able to get away with a brave bit less than that!

We are going for a week to stay with family in Port St Lucie first (not sure if there is good shopping centres there or how often we will eat out etc) and then staying at POR for 16 nights. Figured I would set aside about $1000 for the first week for food etc. While at Disney we have the Disney dining package. I have worked out most of the TS meals, and have the QS for lunch, can use the snacks for breakfast so I doubt we will need to spend much if any extra money on food other than tips (setting aside $400-$500 for tips). Other than that any idea of how much we will need roughly? I plan on going shopping as well!

Thanks in advance :)
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I will be honest... there are two things about that post that puzzle me... The first and largest is how anyone can spend 6000 euros on Food, souvenirs, etc. I noticed that you didn't include lodging. If you did and it is onsite then I might be able to understand that. Without the lodging included it would mean many meals consisting of nothing but Caviar on solid gold plates. The second probably answers the first and that would be staying that long at WDW. What are you going to do all that time. Oh, well, not my business.

I know that this example is 10 years old now, but, I brought my immediate family consisting of myself, my girlfriend at the time, my two daughters and their husbands, and my three grandchildren (at the time). There were 9 of us. Since my Sister and her son were going to meet us there, I rented a 6 bedroom Villa, just offsite, beautifully furnished place with a play room that contained pool table and shuffleboard table plus other things. Every room had TV's. Exquisite fully equiped kitchen with breakfast nook and full formal dining room. Five baths, family room, computer room, a huge Florida Room with a large swimming pool and hot tub (enclosed and screened). I had rented two cars, Paid for everyones airfare from Vermont to Orlando, Bought all of them, including myself a 7 day, non-expiring, park tickets. Meals, I will admit were more pay for your own, but, we went to restaurants together and (not by plan) took turns paying the cost for the group, bought food that we could use to eat in the Villa if we decided not to go out. I paid for the gas and parking in all three cars, (two rentals and my own car).

That cost me a total of $7000.00 (5820 euros) and I wasn't trying to be frugal at all. To avoid the chance or accidental loss of cash I would recommend using credit cards wherever possible. You would need to convert it anyway and a international credit card would automatically take care of the exchange rate for you. I would never recommend having that much cash on you even in WDW, which is as safe as it gets, it still also gets dishonest people.

So I guess you have to be more specific about your spending habits for anyone to really tell you how much you need. The best way, if possible is to get, if you don't already have, a good credit card and keep track of your spending on a daily basis, get receipts and find an empty pocket where you can store them until a more secure place presents itself. Compare those receipts against that credit card statement.
 
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Mr Ferret 75

Mr Ferret 75

Thank you sir. You were an inspiration.
Premium Member
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K

Kat Hazzard

New Member
Original Poster
The 6000 was for food, shopping and souvenirs. I don't know what all she specifically purchased which is why I was wondering what peoples average spend is! I know they spent 2 days shopping so maybe they went mad in the shops, don't know! Believe me I don't particularly want to send that unless I have to given I am hoping to return each year as the children grow up!

We are staying for 16 nights as the flight from Dublin, Ireland, is pretty long and along with the time change I don't see much point in going for a week! Figured we could not only do the parks but also go shopping a few days and also stay by the pool at our hotel. The weather we usually get at home is woeful so I am looking forward to the nice warm weather! Pretty sure 16 nights will fly in, any other 14 night stay anywhere else has alway flew in.

Money wise we will need extra for a few meals off property during the 16 nights (how much would the average 3 course meal cost for 4 in a decent restaurant?), money for the malls, and as far as souvenirs go, I have absolutely no idea how much thing will cost etc cause its been so long since I have been there and am not sure of the variety available.
 
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K

Kat Hazzard

New Member
Original Poster
Princess_Beatrice said:
I’m not sure. Do you have a Disney store near by? If so, stop in and ask. If not I would check the disneystore website.
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Checked online (shopdisney) and they can't be shipped internationally. Maybe something to post to family over in US and pick it up from them. Nearest disney store to us is an hour or so away so not there very often, online shopping is my friend!
 
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