Hi Tamera, Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! Oh I'm so excited for your first trip to Walt Disney World Resort. Your family will remember this vacation for a lifetime!
When you book a Walt Disney World Resort Vacation Package, you'll be asked to pay at the minimum a percentage of the total amount of your customized stay, with the balance due at check-in. However, you are absolutely welcome to call (407) 939-5277 as many times as you'd like between booking and checking-in to pay some of your balance in advance. This initial cost will only include specific pre-purchased items, such as a resort hotel stay, park tickets, memory maker, or a dining plan.
As far as budgeting the rest of your trip, some
Enchanting Extras, such as tours and dessert parties, require full payment at the time of their reservation. Others, like a first haircut at Harmony Barber Shop, only require a credit card to hold the reservation, and when checking out in person you can swap the payment to another form, like cash or a gift card. Many guests, myself included, like to buy
Disney Gift Cards at home from grocery or big box stores to budget as their 'fun money' for souvenirs and extra snacks.
And speaking of food, budgeting for meals can be it's own headache because there are just so many variables. Luckily Disney recognized this and created three great
Dining Plans that allow for two or three meals, plus two snacks, daily! And best of all, you're able to add whichever plan you pick to your initial vacation package and pre-pay for it all before you arrive.
I hope this helped, Tamera, and we'll see you real soon!
~Kristen