Anyone used Visa loadable cards for kids' spending money?

[cjackearl]

When we go to Disney next our dds will be 11 and almost 10 and our ds will be 4. We'll probably give our ds Disney dollars to use, but we're wondering what to do with our girls' spending money. Since we're combining our trip to Disney with a few days at grandparents in NC, I hesitate to put it all on a Disney gift card. Has anyone used a Visa gift card for their kids' spending money? Not sure exactly how they work, but I like that the money is available for things other than just Disney stuff.

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

When we go to Disney next our dds will be 11 and almost 10 and our ds will be 4. We'll probably give our ds Disney dollars to use, but we're wondering what to do with our girls' spending money. Since we're combining our trip to Disney with a few days at grandparents in NC, I hesitate to put it all on a Disney gift card. Has anyone used a Visa gift card for their kids' spending money? Not sure exactly how they work, but I like that the money is available for things other than just Disney stuff.

We also have thought of doing the same thing, but instead of doing it for the kids money, we thought of doing it for the majority of our spending money as well. That way you don't have to keep up with cash or leave it in the hotel safe while you are at the parks... Any thoughts/suggestions anyone?

 

[dzneelvr]

When DS and DD were little, here's what we did: 1) we had a spend-down sheet on both of them. They listed the total amount they'd earned/been given to spend at WDW and DH jotted down their purchases. Once the amount was gone, no more choices. 2) their currency: their room key--they could charge most everything they wanted at the resort on their room key. That way, they could make choices in the gift shops and if I'm not mistaken, most anywhere in WDW will let you charge to the key; or DH just paid it off and then we'd have them pay us when we got home. That way, all purchases eventually ended up on our VISA (to earn Disney Reward dollars and there was no cash to lose or carry around for anyone! DS and DD grew up to be excellent money managers, so I know it works.

 

[DevilDuckie]

I don't like the idea of spending the fees associated with those cards so we generally help our 10 year old by keeping his cash.

 

[carrie1626]

During Thanksgiving 06, I purchased each of my kids ( 13,16 at the time) a
$ 50.00 prepaid Visa check card for our 8 day trip. I told them that was what they were to use when they wanted pop/water/ice cream/etc. (I did not want to be fishing in my backpack all the time.)
They used them without any problems at all the parks. A few times, a CM asked for ID since you are supposed to sign the back and if lost would be just like cash in hand.. I made sure my kids had their school ID's anyway. The only time it was denied was at MK when my daughter wanted a treat from the ice cream cart and they were done tallying up receipts for the night and accepting cash only. That's what we were told anyway.

 

[brehan9403]

I was just thinking today about getting my son a AAA card for our trip. I'm curious to see what others say. I'm not sure if I trust a teenager with charging privledges, though I know it would mostly be junk food and not merchandise.

 

[momsgoofy]

Having this same problem in our house...DS is 15 and will be with the marching band in a few weeks at WDW, while DH & I are going, we are not chaperoning so we'll be separated for a lot of the trip.

When DS was 7 - 11, we used travelers checks for 2...he and I would both sign and he knew the exact amount of money he could spend on the trip. Once he got older, we felt comfortable with him charging on the room key. (He's a smart shopper after having to spend his own alloted funds over the years.) He did fine.

This time I was going to give him the Rewards card from the credit card, but if it's lost or stolen then it's gone. I asked DS if he wanted to use travelers checks and he adamantly said "no". DH said to just give him cash...uh, don't think so. Not that I don't trust DS, but cash is history if it's lost or stolen. So I checked with our AAA office about the Visa cards and that is what I'm pretty sure we'll be giving him. It can be preloaded...minimum of $100...and reloaded easily. My concern was what happened if it was lost or stolen and I was told that it was replaceable just like the Visa travelers checks we used to get from AAA. I was also told that the only fees associated with using the card would apply IF he decided to get cash from an ATM machine.

I think we'll give DS one of the cards plus some cash so he can use it at vending machines and such if he needs. The good thing is that he knows we'll be there as well for part of his trip time and he can just hit up the parental units for more funds. Note to mom...take extra cash for DS just in case...

 

[brehan9403]

Having this same problem in our house...DS is 15 and will be with the marching band in a few weeks at WDW, while DH & I are going, we are not chaperoning so we'll be separated for a lot of the trip.

When DS was 7 - 11, we used travelers checks for 2...he and I would both sign and he knew the exact amount of money he could spend on the trip. Once he got older, we felt comfortable with him charging on the room key. (He's a smart shopper after having to spend his own alloted funds over the years.) He did fine.

This time I was going to give him the Rewards card from the credit card, but if it's lost or stolen then it's gone. I asked DS if he wanted to use travelers checks and he adamantly said "no". DH said to just give him cash...uh, don't think so. Not that I don't trust DS, but cash is history if it's lost or stolen. So I checked with our AAA office about the Visa cards and that is what I'm pretty sure we'll be giving him. It can be preloaded...minimum of $100...and reloaded easily. My concern was what happened if it was lost or stolen and I was told that it was replaceable just like the Visa travelers checks we used to get from AAA. I was also told that the only fees associated with using the card would apply IF he decided to get cash from an ATM machine.

I think we'll give DS one of the cards plus some cash so he can use it at vending machines and such if he needs. The good thing is that he knows we'll be there as well for part of his trip time and he can just hit up the parental units for more funds. Note to mom...take extra cash for DS just in case...

Good to know. I think this is what I will do as well.

 

[cjackearl]

Having this same problem in our house...DS is 15 and will be with the marching band in a few weeks at WDW, while DH & I are going, we are not chaperoning so we'll be separated for a lot of the trip.

When DS was 7 - 11, we used travelers checks for 2...he and I would both sign and he knew the exact amount of money he could spend on the trip. Once he got older, we felt comfortable with him charging on the room key. (He's a smart shopper after having to spend his own alloted funds over the years.) He did fine.

This time I was going to give him the Rewards card from the credit card, but if it's lost or stolen then it's gone. I asked DS if he wanted to use travelers checks and he adamantly said "no". DH said to just give him cash...uh, don't think so. Not that I don't trust DS, but cash is history if it's lost or stolen. So I checked with our AAA office about the Visa cards and that is what I'm pretty sure we'll be giving him. It can be preloaded...minimum of $100...and reloaded easily. My concern was what happened if it was lost or stolen and I was told that it was replaceable just like the Visa travelers checks we used to get from AAA. I was also told that the only fees associated with using the card would apply IF he decided to get cash from an ATM machine.

I think we'll give DS one of the cards plus some cash so he can use it at vending machines and such if he needs. The good thing is that he knows we'll be there as well for part of his trip time and he can just hit up the parental units for more funds. Note to mom...take extra cash for DS just in case...

Sounds good to me, too!

 

[momsgoofy]

Okay, I found some extra info about the Visa Travel Card.

According to my AAA office, it will cost me $5.95 for the card, but no fees unless it's used at an ATM. If I want a "companion card" it's an additional $1.95 and both cards will have access to the same funds.

(One of my banks also offers the Visa Travel Card, but the cost for the card was $7.95).

Also, the travel card can be used online. The rep told me that they have many people come in to buy (and reload) the cards for that purpose only so they don't have to give out their personal credit card info online. DS was wanting to know this since he doesn't have a credit card and we're not thrilled with shopping online for him.

IF DS uses the card at one of the table service restaurants (or any such restaurant that a gratuity can be added), the travel card AUTOMATICALLY includes a tip of 20%. The rep told me some parents really like that feature so their kids don't have to worry about figuring in the tip. She told me that IF you don't want to leave the 20% tip or prefer to leave a cash tip, just write "0" in the tip line and the 20% tip will be credited back to the card within 24-48 hours. She said the card would not automatically add the tip for a place such as a counter service location or fast food...the card recognizes a specific code for what type of establishment it is the same as a regular credit card.

The rep also warned me that if the card is used as a "prepay" (for example used to hold a hotel room deposit or prepay at the gas pump) the card automatically "holds" that amount. She said regular credit card companies do this also, but no one usually realizes it because the credit card has a much higher limit than the travel cards might have. She said one member had used the card for the hotel room deposit, the 1 night was deducted (or held back) and when the man went to check out his card was declined for insufficent funds, but he knew the funds were there.

So, this is what I'm going to use for DS. He was really concerned about the fees because a friend of his has one of the Visa cards that you can get at Walmart...guess those are the Money cards and they do assess fees for transactions according to his friend.

So, if you are interested in using the travel cards, I'd check the bank you use, AAA, or any other place that may have them and see which one has the lowest inital purchase fee. For me it's AAA. Also, make sure you understand the way the card works...I don't think it would be different from place to place, but better to be forewarned.

 

[Judy WI]

We purchased the Disney gift cards every year from the on line disneystore for the kids in what ever amount works. I guess the worry about what if they loss it --well they can loss money also and no one replaces that. If concerned with losing money break the cards up into smaller amount and only use one each park. Our grandKids age from 7 to 19 and it worked very nice for everyone. Each time they used it it gives them how much is left and for the younger ones it was easier because they didn't have to count out change and carry around lose change. Don't remember if there is montly charge if they are not used with in a time frame and when we brought them last year there was not any extra charges to purchase and using them was not a problem no one had a balance when we came home.