Hiya Brian,
Welcome to planDisney! Visiting during the holiday season is one of my favorite times to visit. I love the decorations and just the overall magical take on the merriest time of year. Be sure to take advantage of the free offerings during your visit, such as crafts at your Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, the
Christmas Tree Stroll, and the various gingerbread displays at the resort hotels.
Now speaking of budgeting during your visit, a visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth can be as inexpensive as you want. My family of 4 generally spends most of our budget on dining, with a few
Enchanting Extras sprinkled in for extra magic. We also prefer table-service dining to quick-service, and we eat one large meal a day, so we can spend anywhere from $50 to $150 on dining alone per day. We also factor in merchandise, and that price can quickly balloon to $250 a day, depending on the itinerary. With that said, we have become pros at stretching our dollar and lower that budget by bringing in our refillable water bottles and drinking complimentary water from quick service locations, sharing at least one meal at quick service locations, bringing in one meal to enjoy in the theme parks, and using
Disney Gift Cards for merchandise with set amounts for our toddler so we don’t overspend.
Brian, I know that is a big range, so I wanted to give you a tip that always helps me fine-tune my budget. First, I look up the
menus of the quick-service or table-service locations that my family would be into. All menus show current pricing, which can help you estimate your dining needs. Then add around $30-$50 extra, just in case, for unexpected costs or additional wants throughout the day. That typically helps me to get pretty close to my actual budget. One last tip for you is one I mentioned earlier: bring Disney Gift Cards. You can use them to help you stay on budget and track your spending. I hope this was helpful, Brian. If you have any additional questions, please come back and see us. We would love to help you ensure your family has a truly magical vacation.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.