Daughter's Sr. Trip

[nycdebt]

Does she need general spending money as well or just food money?

If it's both, I think $50/day is more than reasonable. Gives her a little extra cash to play some games, lunch/dinner, random snacks/drinks and a little souvenir shopping.

[disneysteve]

I have no clue what things cost down there.

Why is that anyway? Have you not been? Come on now. Get with the program. If you're free in August, you can tag along with us and we'll be your tour guides. This will be DD's 17th visit (she's 15).

[DebbieL]

$24/day? Really? I would probably send my kid with at least $100/day.

Why would your kids need that much for food? My daughter is 18 and I don't think she could finish a whole meal there (Disneyland, California) if she tried. The portions tend to be large. I'm a big eater (which daughter is not), and even for me $30 is plenty for food on most days I'm there. For the one day I might eat at a nicer restaurant I'd probably budget about $60 per person (for the day). DH and I don't drink alcohol (which isn't available in Disneyland, but is served in the California Adventure park and Downtown Disney restaurants), so that tends to keep the prices lower for our nicer meals, lol.

[DebbieL]

Thanks all. I was anticipateing 200 and telling her to wait until the last day to buy souvineers. That way she wont starve. So I am glad to be reassured that will be probably more than enough.

btw she got a book from the library called "The Unofficial guide walt disney world 2011" lol trying to make the most of her trip.

I actually think waiting until the last day to buy souvenirs is a good idea. That's what we tend to do (well, I don't really buy much there anyways, but DH and DD18 buy some stuff). She can find a few things she really wants that way, instead of just on day 1 thinking "I have to have everything in sight" lol. I'd probably buy some mouse ears on day 1 though (if she's a "mouse ears" kind of girl).

ETA: Since it's Disney World she's going to and not Disneyland (where we go the parks are right next door to each other and so easy to hop between them), it might make sense to buy a souvenir from each park as she goes there if she'll only be there once (if they only go to Epcot one day, etc).

[disneysteve]

Since it's Disney World she's going to and not Disneyland (where we go the parks are right next door to each other and so easy to hop between them), it might make sense to buy a souvenir from each park as she goes there if she'll only be there once (if they only go to Epcot one day, etc).

I was going to say the same thing. Although Disney has greatly homogenized the shopping experience (which many of us really hate), there are still items that can only be found in certain locations. I do not think she should wait until the end to shop. If she sees something on day one that she really loves, she should buy it then because she might not see it again.

[irmanator]

Why is that anyway? Have you not been? Come on now. Get with the program. If you're free in August, you can tag along with us and we'll be your tour guides. This will be DD's 17th visit (she's 15).

Oh so tempted, unfortunatly not able to get time off.

[DebbieL]

I was going to say the same thing. Although Disney has greatly homogenized the shopping experience (which many of us really hate), there are still items that can only be found in certain locations. I do not think she should wait until the end to shop. If she sees something on day one that she really loves, she should buy it then because she might not see it again.

Yesh, mostly it's the same junk all over the place there. I miss the Disneyland of my younger days that actually had unique shops and not just the same stuff everywhere. I really don't buy much of anything there myself. It just doesn't tempt me. DH and I got our portrait done by someone in New Orleans Square last trip - that turned out great and was a fun thing to do. Really reasonable too. I also like getting silhouettes done on Main Street. It's been the same lady doing them there for over 35 years now! She's so talented (and lightning fast). Again, they are really cheap souvenirs too.

[minnie1928]

Thanks for posting examples, L2P. As you can see, if you knock off the ridiculous $2.50 water, each of those meals comes in under $10.

I for one, will pay the ridiculous $2.50 per bottle. I find FL water absolutely NASTY!! We don't even brush our teeth with it!

Another option would be to have her pack a refillable bottle and some flavor packets to make the water more palatable. I also pack granola bars, fruit snacks, etc. I would give her $100 for the trip, and tell her you expect change .

[disneysteve]

The water that comes out of the taps in Orlando tastes like mold or sulfur to me.

I find FL water absolutely NASTY!!

I haven't been able to document this but I strongly suspect that this represents a human genetic variation. The vast majority of people report that water in Florida tastes just like water everywhere else but a small sub-group (including L2P and minnie) consistently report that it tastes like sulfur. The science background in my head tells me this must be genetic with that minority having some gene that causes an altered taste sensation.

So if you are one of the folks who tastes sulfur, I can see where you wouldn't want to drink that water. For everyone else, though, tap water is free and plentiful. If you are among the group that can't tolerate the water, you'll be needing a lot of extra money for your trip. If you are driving to Disney, bring your own bottled water. If you are flying but will have a car or have a driver from the airport, stop at a WalMart and pick up a couple of cases of water to avoid paying Disney's prices.