Imagine. You’re in the parks, it’s hot, and everyone is famished. You buy a couple of sodas, a pretzel to share, and a Mickey-shaped ice cream bar for the kids. The total is $50.00. You gulp as you hand over your credit card. You haven’t even made it to lunchtime on your first park day and have already spent an unintended $50.00 for what feels like a necessity.

“It will be okay,” you say to yourself. The day continues. You have lunch, and then it’s snack time again! The reality of how much things cost begins to sink in as you start to worry about how much you’ll have spent by the end of the week. Luckily, the rest of your family is still on vacation. But, for you, it’s a different story. You’re no longer present as your mind shifts to which credit cards to use to get you through the week or whether or not your bank account will be drained when you get home.

I know you probably weren’t expecting another example, but I visit Walt Disney World regularly and know how little things like snacks can wreck havoc on your bank account. As you begin the process of totaling your expenses, it’s so important that you are honest and realistic about how much you’ll spend. I get that you probably just want to go on vacation and have fun with your loved ones.

But you’re not going to have fun if you’re stressed about your finances at Disney World.

However, if you take the time to plan and create a realistic budget, you won’t end up sitting outside a ride exit checking your bank account while everyone else is having fun.

Below, we’ll discuss calculating the expense list you began preparing in our last lesson.

How to Calculate Costs for a Disney World Vacation

You have two options.

• Option One: You can create your own budget on paper or a spreadsheet.
• Option Two: For a minimal fee, you can purchase our paid budgeting spreadsheet. You will still have to research some of your expenses. However, it contains built-in averages for every table service restaurant (including character dining), the average cost of quick service meals, beverages, snacks, and Lightning Lanes.
  
  For dining, all you have to do is select the restaurant, enter the number of guests in your party, and the spreadsheet does the work. >>Learn more about our Disney World Vacation Budgeting Spreadsheet.

If you’re unfamiliar with how a cost calculator or spreadsheet works, don’t worry. We’ve provided step-by-step instructions and screenshots to help guide you through the process.

Tips for Creating Your Own Budget

If you choose to create your own budget, here are a few tips:

1. Plan Out your Trip on Paper First (or a Spreadsheet)
   Create a loose itinerary for each day that includes park plans, ideal dining reservations, etc. Then include the costs related with those day-to-day reservations.
2. Add Contingencies
   In our budgeting spreadsheet, we list the average cost of a meal at every table service restaurant. For character meals, we list the exact price because those costs are typically the same for everyone. The thing is, your family might be prone to ordering more or less than the average cost of the meal. Of course, if you order less, you’ll be under budget. Not a big deal, right? However, if you order more, you could go over budget. That’s why our budgeting spreadsheet adds a 10% contingency to every restaurant you add to your plans.
3. Don’t Forget Tips
   You’ll also want to account for tips. While these amounts are small, they can add up. (Our spreadsheet also adds a 20% gratuity to every table service restaurant.)
4. Account for Transportation Beyond the Basics
   Transportation costs may include flights, airport transfers, rental cars, parking, or ride-share services. On-property transportation is included, but getting to and from Walt Disney World often isn’t.
5. Adjust Your Budget Accordingly
   You might start with adding up the total of everything you or your family wants to do on this trip. So add everything up to see how much it will realistically cost. Then, adjust your budget until you reach an amount you’re okay with spending. Remember, a budget doesn’t “mean” cheap. It’s a plan for what you’re comfortable with spending.
6. Don’t Dismiss Expenses and Forget to Add Them
   If you decide to eliminate something after adjusting your budget, remember to add it back later if you change your mind. For example, you might decide not to purchase tickets to the Halloween Party. As your vacation approaches, you keep seeing headlines about dates selling out. Before you know it, you’re checking your dates and see that it’s one of the few remaining ones available. Fear of missing out takes over and you make an impulse purchase. I’m not here to judge. Just don’t forget to add them back to your budget. (You might want to remove a few other things in the meantime if needed.)
7. Treat the Budget as a Planning Tool, Not a Rulebook
   A Disney vacation budget works best when it helps you make decisions, not by restricting them. Seeing the numbers clearly in front of you is eye-opening. It will also help you decide what feels worthwhile and what you can put on the back burner for a future trip!

Again, you can always try creating your own budget. Just know that for a minimal fee, our paid version will save you a ton of time (and money), especially when coming up with the average price of each meal and accounting for Lightning Lanes.