No Clue about Souvvie Spending

[blondinkaya]

Okay, I paid our balance off last month, woohoo! I just finished squirreling away money for meal tips, hooray! The last thing I need to figure out is how much money to allocate for souvenirs. Help!!! I'm totally clueless!

I have two boys who will be 13 and 5 when we go. I know they'll want to do the build-a-lightsaber thing at Once Upon A Toy. Other than that, I'm stumped. I know the kids are going to want more than those lightsabers, but since this is our first trip, I have no idea how much stuff they'll have to choose from. I'm planning on getting each child a Lego Store and a Disney gift card. I just don't know how much money to put on each card, though.

Other than that, we'll be buying my mil something exclusive from the World, as she loves Mickey. I would like to do the pick-a-pearl booth in Japan and have it put into a simple setting. Dh wants a new hat (yes, he's easy to buy for ). We're really not souvenir people (we like to use/wear what we buy), as we tend to lean towards the minimalist side of things.

So ... Can anyone help me out and give me a rule of thumb at how much we should put towards souvvies? I'm totally, completely clueless!

 

[misricsmith]

my quess is $500 to $1000.
if you don't need food....
we did the light saber, kids loved it
cant wait to go back!

 

[tzolkin]

i would think that whatever you allocate should be sufficient. if that's only $100, well than you'll only spend $100. if you allocate $1000 i guess you'll probably spend the whole $1000. i plan to buy my kids one or two things each, but i don't have a dollar amount in mind. (i have, however, been buying them things on clearance at the disney store to get during the trip--some clothes, a stuffed toy, and little items to keep them busy in lines and on the car trip)

i really don't understand the whole souvineer concept, but everyone has different expectations. when i was a kid my dad never made more than $12K--so to take 6 people to disney and feed us cut into the budget enough. my parents never told us we couldnt have things, but we just never asked for or expected anything. the first time we went to disney we got the mickey ears with our names on them. we were absolutely thrilled and shocked. that's the only souvineer i ever remember getting, but we always had a wonderful time at disney and never felt we were missing out by not getting "stuff".

i hope this doesnt come across as rude to those who buy many souvineers, i'm just saying that i'm sure your kids will have a great experience regardless of how much money you spend so just budget what you can afford.

 

[eliza61]

Remeber,
You've just finished have a grand ole time on the attraction and whaddya know, you're let off right into a gift shop. The folks at Disney are crafty. My sons like sweatshirts so we always get one for everyone and I always pick up a photoalbum every trip.
Last year we gave our sons $100 each once that was gone they were through.

 

[Native NYer]

While I'm not sure how much you'll need to spend, I do suggest coming up with a set dollar amount per child. Your kids are old enough to handle a budget. It'll make them a little more cautious when shopping for souvenirs.

 

[fireman1]

I plan on spending somewhere around $300 on my daughter (13) and I for sovernirs.

 

[blondinkaya]

Thanks for all the responses.

Okay, so I'm thinking of getting the boys $25 gift cards to the Lego Store and $50 Disney gift cards. Or would it be better if I just got each one a prepaid Visa or just gave them cash? I know my youngest would love having his own card, though (it'd be a novelty). Regardless, I've decided to spend $75 for each kid. I think that should be more than enough for the lightsaber, whatever Legos they want, and whatever other things they see (ds will probably pick out a t-shirt). I'm not sure how to budget for mil's gift because I have no idea what sorts of things they sell there. But probably $150 tops. I guess $500 would be a good, round amount to set aside for everything. If we don't spend it, it'll just go back into the bank when the vacation's over.

Thanks again!

 

[ang]

Well. My kids have to use their own money. So, whatever they save up they bring...usually is around $120 each.
My son loves his lego's and the light saver.

 

[JoanieS]

My kids can't wait for the make your saber!

Does anyone know how much it is???

 

[lovesdumbo]

I must be stingy because I limit my kids to $25 each. They are 8, 7, and 5.

 

[karters*mom]

My kids can't wait for the make your saber!

Does anyone know how much it is???

What is make your Saber? where is it? I have a 7 year old boy who would probably LOVE IT!

 

[Native NYer]

I would go with a Visa gift card or cash. That way your kids can spend it in any store at WDW.

 

[blondinkaya]

Here's a thread regarding the lightsabers. I probably would never have known about them if it wasn't for this board. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1617633

I'm leaning towards just giving the boys cash. I think the concept of seeing it disappear when my youngest buys something would be more understandable to him than using a gift card. It's more visual, kwim? I know they're definitely going to want those lightsabers and some Legos, and since this trip is certainly a real treat (a combo birthday gift--they're b-days are in April--oh, and they STILL don't know about the trip; I'm doing much better than I thought I would in keeping this a secret! ), I'd like to indulge them a little.

 

[GrammyJudy]

Good idea to set a $$ amount. I figure a sweatshirt, tshirt,and then $100 each. Do not give in to every impulse or you will go broke. My DD and I started collecting the snowglobes so we each get one of those. We have beem going to WDW since 1983, now have the new generation to take, and I have a large Disneyana collection. Oh we always get Xmas ornaments with the year on them too. We bought Pal Mickey last year and my grandson still likes to play with him.

 

[luvmy3]

We are going for the first time in September. I have already told my kids (10,7,4) that they are going to use their own money for souveniers. Of course, most of their money comes from us anyway
Dh and I will buy them each a shirt, as it is our tradition for every vacation but the kids will have to use their own money for anything else.
I am planning on finding very inexpensive disney items(pens, autograph book,etc) to make a welcome basket to deliver to our room so that they have it when we arrive.
Since I have no idea what is there I don't plan on making a budget for Dh and me. I just know that I can't come home without a coffee mug.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

We aren't big souvie people. We buy Disney shirts on clearance throughout the year. We buy glowsticks at the dollar store and bring them from home. DD gets to bring a little of her own money (all those dollar bills her grandfather sneaks to her during the year!) and can pick out something she likes but we definately don't spend a lot of money. In fact, during a week's trip, we typically spend under $200 and that's including tips, alcoholic beverages, extra snacks, etc.

 

[Smile4Me]

Definately don't let the boys forget what a treat it is to go to Disney! Plus I know there is a thread about all the free things you can do for free at Disney, like the Kidcot at Epcot-so check that out. Also I know there is a pick your own pearl at DTD so you might want to look there because I've heard there is more of a selection, possibly stuff more in your price range.
Im a tshirt and postcard girl myself when i go, but it never hurts to look at everything!!

 

[IHEARTNY]

I've taken quite a few vacations all over the country and a few in Europe and when it came to money and my moms...

...she would always let me get whatever I wanted but she'd keep the receipts and give me a bill afterward. When we first came up with that system I was hesitant b/c I was 13 and didn't have that much cash but I realized, how many times am I really going to get to go to --fill in vacation spot-- why not get the things I really want? How many times am I going to get to go to the Louvre?... How many times am I going to get to get a jersey from Yankee Stadium itself?...

 

[bopper]

Every night when my DH comes home, he puts his loose change in a jar. When we go on a vacation, that is the souvenier money for the kids. I often supplement that (like I like to buy them silly hats), but then they have a budget to spend. Any they don't spend goes back into the jar for next time.

 

[abrock]

We spent around $400 for mostly our DD. 2 princess dresses, princess hat, glass slippers, wand, autograph book, hat and the list goes on. I am a sucker for all of the pretty disney things. We were there for 4 days, so about $100 a day on souvenirs.

Next year both our DD's will be there, but the younger one prob won't care as much. We will limit it to 1 dress for each and try to keep it still to about $100 a day.

I spend more here than Christmas for my kids! But we all love Disney!