can't live without treasures

[bearloch]

Can anyone give me a idea of any can't live with out suvioners that my 4 yr old might hit me up for? im trying to get a suvioner budget going? and for myself how much are the " pictures with mickey etc going for now?

thanks bearloch

 

[skiwee1]

Well, recently coming back from WDW with w 4 y/o I'd have to say that EVERYTHING is something they cannot live without! Emma wanted everything she saw and who could blame her. I wanted everything I saw too! LOL! I didn't go with any kind of budget for us. The only thing I did put my foot down on was any more playsets. We were there 12 days and she had managed to finagle 3 playsets out of me within 4 days. When she wanted yet another I said no! I was tired of stepping on that stuff in the room! At WDW there is a playset made for every character Disney has! Other then that I would put off her buying frenzy by telling her that we would wait and get something at World of Disney in DTD. We love that store! That seemed to lower her buying a bit as she waited for some things there. You could always tell your DD/DS that they can get a souvenier at DTD and make that halfway through your trip. That way they will have something to look forward to and then stuff to play with halfway through the trip. I'm a bad one for budgeting stuff with my DD though. Can't help you with the pics as I haven't gotten them in years.

 

[Scarlett & Rhett]

Mickey Ears and one of those little light flashing things that swing around when you push a button.

 

[mjvans]

all the kids want them..........in answer to your question, this is how I handle it........I have 4 kids, three sons 13, 5 and 3 and a daughter who is 7. I usually buy the three youngest the light flashing toy soon after we arrive, then I tell them each, if they see something they like to let me know and we will pick it up right before we leave........they each get one big thing and I usually pick them up a small thing as well.
Example..........I took my daugther with me to the downtown disney store and told her she could pick out 1 big thing.......she picked out the cutest tinkerbell costume for halloween........it is adorable and she was really good about not asking for another thing.
My boys, 5 and 3 were a different story.....they wanted everything.....but when it was all said and done, they knew just one thing to pick out.......my five year old son picked out a buzz lightyear toy and my 3 year old picked out a mickey car.
My oldest son picked out those big mickey gloves !! He said just don't tell anyone!
I did do additional shopping for Christmas for stuff they really wanted but did not expect.......like the monorail set for my five year old son, and for my daughter, this version of an american girl doll dressed up in WDW attire, with a matching tinkerbell costume that looks identical to the costume my daughter picked out.
I also bought my sons the peter pan figurines set they could play with together in the room. Overall, they did not get too crazy with souveners this trip!! Thankfully!
Michelle

 

[BevS97]

I'm terrible for buying stuff, just because I love it, my dd probably asks for less than I buy!

We usually go for one beanie in each park, cause otherwise we would buy 100's of them because that is one thing she does like.
Also one pin per day, again she would have 100's.

I also got her the Princess Ears hat which was $20ish and is adorable, and one of those lighty up things, I think they all want one of those. The one we got was a pooh bear one that doesn't spin, it just kind of twinkles - most kids had the spinning ones so I am sure they are fine, but I was just worried I would get hit with it! The lighty up thing is great on dark rides, if you child gets nervous in the dark. Just be sure to choose one that works, because it's hard to tell in the daylight and a lot of them have flat batteries in them (We found out the hard way, they did swap it for us though)

I think the photos are $8 for a small one and $12 for a bigger one, but it's been a while since we were there, so they could easily have gone up. I think they are great photos though, we always buy a bunch.

Bev

 

[Boo'sMom]

8 x10 pics were $16.95 in MGM last year!

 

[Jordan's MOM]

I think that the biggest thing is to decide what is workable for you and make sure that your child knows what is going to happen and that everyone is comfortable with the plan and then to stick with it. What can be a problem is that the parent is not clear on what he or she is willing or able to buy and then everything become a battle of the whines.
When my DS little he rarely asked for things and we just pretty much boght what he asked for or more often what I wanted him to have. Our last two trips we have had him to save money and we match what he saves. We buy the t-shirts. Setting an amount works for some folks, for others, one gift a day works. others just buy what-ever thier child wants, and to be honest, my DS ends up geting pretty much what he wants one way or the other. He however is still not a kid that wants everything he sees. If that was the case, this could not happen for us.
Have fun.'
Jordan's mom

 

[BevS97]

I think maybe I remembered those prices in pounds - doesn't sound so bad in pounds! We usually only get the 5x7s but I do love them, we always come home with 3 or 4.

Bev

 

[newtowdw1]

I'm thinking of having my kids earn Disney dollars for about 6 ms. before we go.
dd already does a responsibility chart, and for a certain number of 'x' she can earn extra story time, more time before bed, etc. What do you all think of switching over to Ddollars before we go? Then they could pick out what they wanted with their dollars.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Isabella and Breanna each had a specific amount of money that was "theirs". Bre who was almost 9 at our trip was better at budgeting than Isabella (who had just turned five) but they both did well enough. We bought each of them one thing too but they had to stick with their own money for the things they felt they couldn't live without. They had great fun shopping and came home with things they really liked because they passed up other things to have them.

 

[KatieKate16]

In the past I've told my daughter she gets one treat a day (she usually picks out small $ items), she understands that very well and makes good choices. This trip she'll be 4.5 and I was thinking of sticking to that rule, in addition to giving her some Disney dollars of her own. If there is something I say "no" to (ice cream, toy, etc.) and she has enough $'s she can buy it herself. I'm not sure how this will go over.
In addition, I have bought lots of treats (Disney pez, Nemo suckers, Disney trading cards, container full of quarters/pennies for pressing, glow sticks, Minnie barrettes, Dalmatian chap stick, etc.). Usually these little treats deter shopping in the parks.

 

[thumperjr9]

Before our last trip I decided how much I wanted to budget for all those things my DS-4 "had to have". I picked up disney dollars at the disney store and let him earn them before our trip. I tried to help him keep his purchases small so he wouldn't spend all of it the 1st day or 2. It worked pretty good and he got a little something at each park and had enough left to get a nice toy at Once Upon a Toy at DTD. Next time we go I think we will get some of the pressed pennies. He loves to "collect" things so I think that will be an inexpensive and fun thing to do.

 

[KaityBsMom]

I loved reading this thread. I was going to post an identical question until I realized this was here.

We are going very soon with a 4-year-old of our own; I can imagine the "Pleeease??" s now

Our plan is this right now.: This weekend we are emptying DD's piggy banks. It has been a while since we've done this and I imagine she will have a decent amount built up. We are going to let her take the majority of this money to WDW to spend on the things she can't live without. We usually put all the piggy bank money in her savings account, but this is a special trip we've waited a long time for, so... I am a softie and I'm sure we'll end up supplementing if she comes up a little short, too. I am planning to buy a tshirt and/or sweatshirt for her, though, and probably something small from each park. (Or, if she decides to spend her $ on the smaller things, I may buy a 'bigger' treat for her at DTD).

I can already guarantee you that some of her money will be spent on one of the light up thingys. She goes crazy for very similar sounding toys in the Disney Store.

I also plan to do some Christmas shopping there. Fun, fun!! I can see DH now. LOL

 

[Strings]

My DD3 is also earning her Disney Dollars for her trip in October. I plan on buying a few items for her while there. Of course. all attempts to not spoil her will be negated because my DM is coming too! Katie had to have one of those spinny things when we went to Disney on Ice. I'm bringing it with us. I hoping (Yeah, Right) she won't need another.

 

[kimbac3]

My family and I wiil be in WDW in December. I have three kids (5,8,11). I had planned on giving each of them $50 to buy whatever they want at the parks or outlets. Do this sound like a resonable amount of money? should it be more? This is my families first trip ever to WDW so I'm not sure how much things cost.
Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks,
Kimba