Spending Money

[Shelleylu]

Hi Dibbers.

I know this will have been done to death, but I am trying to make some firm plans for my trip in July and struggling a bit. Im going with a 16year old and 3 adults.

We are in the US for 15 nights...

Miami Beach for 3
PRFQ for 6
Offsite near Disney Springs for 6 nights in SC accommodation.

For our disney stay, we have the free meal plan, so 2 service meals and a snack, however, we will want at least a couple of table service meals (as an aside, can I use the meal plan vouchers after my stay?)

Does anyone want to stick their finger in the air and hazzard what we might spend? Or even direct me to a sensible figure, or a way to find a sensible figure?! We tend to not spend on suvenirs, and the kids will have their own seperate allowance for this.

I've never been to America before, and I'm more used to Euproean prices. Any advice would be so welcome!

[white room]

How long is a piece of string?

It all depends where you eat high end mid range take out etc.

If you use chain restaurants ( Millers Ale house, Longhorn and outback etc) reckon about $40 per person for that, including a drink. Breakfast can be up to $15 per person at Dennys and IHOP.

McDonalds burger king chick fil-a etc would say around $15 for a meal.

Have a look at some of the trip reports on here, Dixonsontour has just returned, she is fantastic at showing the menus and receipts from places.

[Softy]

The dining credits expire at midnight on check out day.

[D1939]

I’m travelling with my 12yr old son for 13nights, same as you not getting too much merch. I’m putting aside $2000 spending, about $150 a day. Staying at the Drury Plaza, so will have breakfast and dinner for free some nights, so might spend less one day, more another day. Hopefully it evens out to $150. Mainly will be for food, drink and Ubers/ lyfts.

[Dabootie]

Originally Posted by D1939

I’m travelling with my 12yr old son for 13nights, same as you not getting too much merch. I’m putting aside $2000 spending, about $150 a day. Staying at the Drury Plaza, so will have breakfast and dinner for free some nights, so might spend less one day, more another day. Hopefully it evens out to $150. Mainly will be for food, drink and Ubers/ lyfts.

See more...

We stayed at the Drury last year, breakfast was great, especially the cook yourself mickey waffles. 3 adult beverages per evening was good too. Evening food might get a bit repetitive but you are a short walk to IHOP, Denny’s and Olive Garden among others.

[redemma13]

Hiya,

It's such a tough question as everyone holidays differently.

We stay in a villa so don't always eat breakfast out but the cost of food shopping can be quite high in American. We don't take stuff in our suitcases as we don't want to. Many do though.

We do take snacks from the villa in a rucksack and we buy water / juice while in the parks. We will also buy anything that might take our fancy such as ice creams etc.

We go out for most of our evening meals. Usually places like longhorns, ford's garage , cheesecake factory , outback etc with a few special meals thrown in. In 2022 for 3 adults and 2 kids for a main course (2 steaks, 1 salmon and 2 kids meals, juice and a few beers) it was $132.70 excluding tip. I don't think that's bad at all.

We are budgeting $300 a day for 2 kids and 2 adults. Kids will have some of their own money and we buy some stuff but not loads.

Em

[Robyn89]

We are 2 adults and 1 5 year old. He's pretty fussy and doesn't have a huge appetite (nor do we) but he often falls victim of a gift shop!

We bought a cooler rucksack from Costco which my husband takes on the plane as hand luggage. We then add a couple of ziplock bags of ice to the cooler each morning and pop in snacks, water and a couple of cans of coke. That allows us to save a little bit of money on big meals and works really well for us as we're grazers. Gives us the flexibility to share a quick service meal and get some ice creams in the afternoon. We'll then usually have a sit down meal either in Disney Springs or somewhere off site.

We love Garden Grill so that's a must at least once per trip and we love to load a gift card for food and drinks around the world at whatever Epcot festival is on.

$150 per day is usually about right for us - we drive so no Ubers and we don't have to pay parking due to staying on DVC points/AP holders. That certainly helps drive down the daily costs.

[Shelleylu]

Originally Posted by white room

How long is a piece of string?

It all depends where you eat high end mid range take out etc.

If you use chain restaurants ( Millers Ale house, Longhorn and outback etc) reckon about $40 per person for that, including a drink. Breakfast can be up to $15 per person at Dennys and IHOP.

McDonalds burger king chick fil-a etc would say around $15 for a meal.

Have a look at some of the trip reports on here, Dixonsontour has just returned, she is fantastic at showing the menus and receipts from places.

See more...

I didn’t think to check our trip reports - great idea! Thank you 🙏🏼

[Shelleylu]

Thanks everyone for some great tips, and to Softy for the info on the dining credits - we’ll make sure they’re used up!

Going to have to do a few sums and some reading, but this is a great start. Thanks all.

[JP81]

We've taken from $190-$300 per day for our group.
Used to be 2A3C, that changed to 2A2Big C.
Now it is 3 Ad, 1 big kid and a Grandson.
We are staying in a Villa.
No one is a massive eater.
So we will still aim for $300pd, or less.
And I am sure it will be fine.