Disney spending money

[Michellexxx]

I know this is a 'how long is a piece of string' type question.. but we are off to Disney in FLorida in June. We are doing one week in Orlando then driving to one of the islands to stay in a villa for the second.

We have tickets etc booked and am hoping to book 2 special meals. I think we will go to the parks 4, maybe 5 out of the 7 days.

We have a hire car too.
How much spending money will we need for food and some random purchases- theres 2 adults, 6yo and 2yo. Will probably do easy breakfasts before we go and won't eat out all the time.

Thanks!

Here now. We've found the parks to be a bit 😳 price-wise. Lunch at one of the nicer restaurants was 153 for 3 people today. Two glasses of wine, a beer, a milkshake and 3 mains. Most places have kids menus which are a lot cheaper.

Portions are big though and we don't usually do a big lunch as breakfasts are huge in our hotel, so we usually settle for room snacks pre siesta.

Sorry, not helpful really.

I’m going June too 😁 I read to budget $100 per person, per day but there’s no way I could afford that so will have about 2k per 2 weeks for me and my child.
There’s a lot of Florida vlogs that show prices on YouTube - particularly with the kershaws x x

It was..$$$ even years ago. Snacks, empty water bottles you can refill etc save but you are looking at $30 per main minimum though you can get some snacks meals for less. It's cheaper to eat in downtown Disney than in the parks. Take costumes if your kids want them, we paid .$60 15 years ago

And Danny dalimore has a few re Disney on a budget but kids meals seem really good value and they all comment on the size of the meals! X

Go to Walmart and buy packs of small ish bottles of water. Then freeze them in your villa/apartment and take them with you to the parks. They'll defrost through the day and be icy cool. June is HOT and very humid. Not sure if you're doing Disney but magic kingdom is the hottest place on earth and you'll need lots of water. You can refill the bottles for free in the parks.

I'd also buy cereal bars to take with you or at Walmart while you're there, and take to parks too for snacks.

I'd also recommend cool towels.

Sorry, I know that didn't answer your question but was more about saving money as the parks are expensive. We usually budget about $70 per person per day but fill up on big breakfasts in the hotel and then only really need an evening meal plus a couple of snacks during the day.

All menus are available to look at online to give you an idea of cost. Sit down restaurant meals are obviously more expensive and then there is the expectation of a tip.

"Quick service" basically like a counter service you collect on a tray and sit either indoors or outdoors. One of our favourites is Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom and the ribs and chicken combo served with baked beans and coleslaw is $15.69. (mine came with fries and a drink but we were on the dining plan so it might be different than what is offered now.)

Portions are big, very big and there are lots of photos online of these meals or videos on YouTube so very easy to share.

Lots of quick service do children's meals or a child could share an adult meal. The biggest thing is that there are water fountains everywhere and you can get free ice water from the quick service counters. Stay hydrated. Snacks are large too, especially considering the age of your children.

www.disneyworld.co.uk/dining/animal-kingdom/flame-tree-barbecue/menus/

Thanks for all of these tips! I will definitely take refillable water and buy snacks to take too. I definitely don’t want to feel like I’m spending a lot on sugary, rubbish food!

I will definitely look at the videos too- I’ve been watching genie + videos so far

Our hotel is lovely, just at Disney springs b it there’s so many hidden costs there too- I think we’re looking at 350 for the week to cover resort/parking fees.

It feels like everywhere will try and make money from you, even if you’ve already paid thousands! My husband says that’s America though..

We’re hoping to do Cinderella’s round table and topolinos character breakfast on a rest day. Both of these will be pricey, but we have to pay on booking, so not included in spending money..but feels like it is! Then I think just the quick meal option.

Are supermarkets reasonable? I know inflation is a bit mad there too- my husband was in NY for work and paid $10 for some sensodyne
If anyone has any other tips, so happy to take them!

If you are near Disney Springs for your Disney week, I’d consider ditching the car. If you’ve to pay parking at your hotel as well as parking at the parks, it’s going to add up. When we go, if we need to get somewhere we just take an Uber. Really cheap and quick. To get too and from the parks just go to Disney Springs and use the bus service or take the boat over to Saratoga Springs and pick a bus up from there.

Yes we’re taking water bottles too! And snacks for the day time like mini cheddars, cereal bars etc - will be quick service mainly too for us! But I definitely think it can be done without paying over the odds.
So true re the extra money! Everything is just so much extra on top of pricey tickets isn’t it! Knightsrider does a video on Walmart and their prices you could watch (can you tell I’m obsessed) 😅
I’m giving my son his separate spending money too so he can’t go too crazy in the shops haha x x

I would also ditch the car for the first week if you're staying at Disney springs. Parking is so expensive but Disney transport is free! You can catch an Uber to Walmart or international drive area if you want to leave Disney too - will be cheaper than car/parking/fuel/insurance.

A lot of restaurants you can ask to have the’lunch’ size meal ( which is a better portion size as well a cheaper)or share a main as there is no way you can finish a meal and I end up taking doggy bags home.It’s perfectly acceptable to order one main and ask to share-and don’t bother with starters!😂

Thanks! I did suggest an Uber but my husband wants to go to the space centre etc on a rest day. He’s quite set on the car and doesn’t want to wait around for buses or deal with car seats/longer Uber wait times for a car seat.. so he can pay for that!
These videos sound great!
I’ve added up that I think about 3500 for the 2 weeks for food and parking and random buys..
it’s scary looking at the total spend including that! 🙈

Put Tupperware in your case and take lunches into the parks or for a day round the pool? Much cheaper and the save your spending money for a few nice meals out. It’s food that costs a bomb in the parks.. be prepared

It’s so scary isn’t it!!! But will be so worth it.
Honestly the videos have put my mind at ease loads re budget etc.
mummyoffourdoesdisney is another good one, and Disney in detail :)

I think I read somewhere that instacart do grocery deliveries so can have a look at prices beforehand etc but I’ve not done that myself yet so not sure xx

Get lunches / main meals to share. For example two mains between four people, plus two desserts, can often be enough when the portions are huge. If you can, grab a few pieces of fruit to bulk it out. You could pay half the price for your meal but sometimes they give you so many fries, maybe double what you’d get here so no need for a whole meal each! I’d also buy stuff at a supermarket where you can. Don’t give in to stuff in Disney shops that will be a five minute wonder.

Fair enough about the car however your kids at their ages will be bored senseless at Kennedy. Also and I am just being honest, Kennedy isn't a rest day sort of place. It's a whole day visit plus at least an hours drive each way.

Have you checked car hire quotes? The prices are insane now. Take snacks and drinks in with you, it will save a lot of money. I bring some over from U.K. to get us started. Take squeezy squash to flavour drinks. In the supermarkets I would buy pastries, bags of cookies to take into the parks to avoid all the really overpriced sweet treats. I find fruit really expensive there and try and buy that in supermarkets along with pre boxed salad to eat in parks.

We’ve been to the space centre before- my children won’t totally understand, but they’ll still enjoy it.

We’ll definitely share meals- will look at some menus to get an idea. I’m going to have a look into the hotel to see if we have fridges etc and will take cool bags with us too. The kids would be happy getting a fun snack over a proper meal anyway

We’ve already booked the car- managed to get one for 800 for the 2 weeks, which for just now, is good.

@saturdayhelicopter

Here now. We've found the parks to be a bit 😳 price-wise. Lunch at one of the nicer restaurants was 153 for 3 people today. Two glasses of wine, a beer, a milkshake and 3 mains. Most places have kids menus which are a lot cheaper.

Portions are big though and we don't usually do a big lunch as breakfasts are huge in our hotel, so we usually settle for room snacks pre siesta.

Sorry, not helpful really.

I hope you’re having fun!

Have you been using genie +? If you have, do you think it’s worthwhile?

@Michellexxx

Thanks! I did suggest an Uber but my husband wants to go to the space centre etc on a rest day. He’s quite set on the car and doesn’t want to wait around for buses or deal with car seats/longer Uber wait times for a car seat.. so he can pay for that! These videos sound great! I’ve added up that I think about 3500 for the 2 weeks for food and parking and random buys.. it’s scary looking at the total spend including that! 🙈

I appreciate this doesn't help your question but the space centre is a must visit. We were there for a rocket launch and it was fantastic (even without the rocket it would have still been a great day)

If your hotel doesn't have a fridge as standard sometimes you can hire them from the hotel or some people buy from Walmart or somewhere similar a polystyrene cool box. There should be an ice machine in your hotel.

If you haven't already discovered "The Dibb" forum for all things Disney but also Orlando stuff then head on over. It is a UK forum where we all gush about how much we love it over there.

TheDibb

Specifically the food section which also has at the top Food Thread, post your photos.

Also whilst there are a lot of sugary snacks there are also lots that aren't. One of our favourites is a tub of frozen lemonade or frozen strawberry lemonade which are sold in some of the carts on the streets of Disney, you don't have to buy the Mickey ice cream bar. Same with food, there are lots of places that have really great food, for us lots at Disney Springs so Blaze pizza, Earl of Sandwich, Wolfgang Puck are regular haunts for us and Satu'li Canteen at Animal Kingdom.

Agree about costumes. Buy in Asda/matalan for under £15 hide until you've been in the parks one day. The same things are $80 over there.

We went in June 2019 - It's far too hot for costumes and bringing lunches and snacks - they just wouldn't edible by lunchtime. Everywhere has free ice water that you can grab if you're going past. Going back in Feb 2023, it'll be much cooler so hopefully more enjoyable this time.

We only saved money by having breakfast (just cereal and milk) as we could eat it in our room. We found merchandise to be prohibitively expensive so didn't spend as much as we thought.

£2000 for the Disney week.