Daily allowance ideas for kids while in Disney

[DonaldDuckFan]

We decided we want to give our kids, ages 11 and 13, $25 a day while we are in the parks as spending money. I was going to give them a $25 gift card each day, but that may be more difficult for me to manage, remembering how much they have left on cards and holding them/getting them out each time they need them. I'm looking for suggestions, what have you guys done?

 

[Alesia]

We've never done a daily amount. My daughter brings her own money and spends it as she sees fit. You'd be amazed how little kids spend when they're spending their own money. On our last trip (which was 10 days) she brought $100 and came home with $65.

 

[Dinohood]

Don't give them $25 a day. Just tell them they can get three things on this trip and they can not go over 200 dollars.

 

[Happyjen27]

I wouldn't want to tie all that cash up into gift cards that might not get used. Well, I guess you can use them to pay the hotel bill at the end of the trip if they don't use them up?

Just give them cash, it's accepted everywhere, and a tangible way for kids to deal with money. Gift cards can be an abstract concept.

 

[tabrizia]

We're giving ours gift cards at the start with a total amount they can spend for the trip. If they don't use it all, we'll finish them off and give them cash when they get home.

 

[Tiffylv]

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[skuttle]

We usually give our oldest $20 cash per day to spend however he wants. He can spend it all or save it to buy something bigger later on.

 

[DisneyOma]

When my kids were little, they earned Disney dollars. That was their spending money on our trips. When they got older, they had a set amount for the entire trip, and I kept a running tab on a slip of paper in my wallet. I really didn't have to do that, as they were both keeping an eye on what each other got!

 

[Thing 1]

Letting my 9 year old spend money everyday in WDW would drive me crazy. I really try to not let the trip be about buying things. Most trips I say he can have one thing at the Star Wars gift shop, purchased the last thing before we leave the park that night, and maybe one other thing on our last day if he sees something he really wants. We are not stuff people and we travel a lot and I just don't want to create that mentality in him. We avoid gift shops in general. I really don't think he realizes that there are gift shops at the end of rides. We walk directly through them while discussing the next ride. We do on a rare occasion do DTD and we do allow a purchase at the lego store and sometimes another purchase or two.

 

[Blackadder337]

For anyone here that has an 11/12 year old daughter, how much $$ was enough for her very first trip to WDW ? We're going next October. My wife and daughter have never been before, but the only time I was there, they had just broken ground to start building the Disney/MGM Studios park.

I'd love to hear how much your kids around that same age had to spend, and whether it was enough or not.

Also, on the subject of kids $ at WDW, I've heard conflicting reports that you CAN get a disney gift card and link it to kids' magic bands, and I've heard some say you can't do that. I was wondering if any of you know for certain if that's something that can be done or not?

 

[Mousemommy1]

We give our kids $50/each for spending money for the whole trip but we are there annually so 1) they do not need to bring home a bunch of crap and 2) we typically stay for 10-11 days and $25/day would be crazy!!

Anyway, we have them "shop around" during the course of our trip and get an idea of what they would want to get and we don't allow them to make the purchase until the last day, so that they are sure it's what they want.

It works well for us.

 

[tikitorie]

Same here, $50.00 to spend for the trip plus an extra $25 for candy around the world at Epcot. DH, oldest DS and myself love to walk the countries at Epcot, but the 2 younger ones do not. We're hoping the $25 for candy in the different countries will encourage them to walk longer and complain less!!!!

 

[kohlby]

We buy them one shirt or hat and then they pay for anything else they want usually. Sometimes, we'll change our mind and let them each get something small - but only chip in about $10. Otherwise, they have to save up money for the trip. As for how much they spend - I don't think anyone has ever spent more than $50 by themselves, usually less. (Our last trip had kids ages 5, 8, and 11. We've had several trips before). When it comes to spending their own money, they're more careful.

I totally agree about not giving so much for spending every day. We go to DTD for the reason of looking around and shopping. That way, we can spend less time in the stores in the park.

 

[Shellyb84]

We gave our daughter $20 a day and we bought her one more expensive item (she picked a giant Stitch plush)and a t-shirt and ears. She mostly bought pins and stuffed toys. Next trip we will probably only do the t-shirt and ears and one item of (mostly) her choice - she has been saving tooth fairy, report card, and birthday money for next year.

 

[buzznina]

We give our DDs GCs since we can save 9-12% off on them, every little bit helps We also have gotten them in the habit of not buying something the first few days, because they can always get it later if that is what they really want.

 

[dreamit]

We gave our dd (8) a coupon book containing coupons for things I knew she'd enjoy (Mickey ears, Epcot passport book, pressed penny book, plush, Christmas ornaments, and souvenir of choice. I also tossed in one for a Mickey premium bar and maybe a few other snacks even though I fully intended to purchase other snacks throughout the trip.) She then saved her own money to bring, as well. Truthfully, doing the pressed pennies seemed to stave off the the desire to make extra purchases.

 

[dizzy daisy]

We gave our dd (8) a coupon book containing coupons for things I knew she'd enjoy (Mickey ears, Epcot passport book, pressed penny book, plush, Christmas ornaments, and souvenir of choice. I also tossed in one for a Mickey premium bar and maybe a few other snacks even though I fully intended to purchase other snacks throughout the trip.) She then saved her own money to bring, as well. Truthfully, doing the pressed pennies seemed to stave off the the desire to make extra purchases.

I love the idea of a Disney coupon book and might have to make one for my youngest DD

OP, we've never had a set dollar amount before, but I have to say my kids are really good about not asking for all kinds of things. I buy hats/ears, a tee or hoodie, maybe some fun little odds and ends but that's about it. Last trip the older kids saved their money for Mitsukoshi in Epcot and they splashed out on all kinds of stuff, lol (I carried their money). I might spend a $300 over a week for 4 (or 3 depending on the college kid's schedule) kids souvenirs. We don't buy something every day, we are too busy doing other stuff!

I like my older kids to have some pocket money so if they want a random Coke, some candy or a churro I don't have to dig in to my bag and hand it over, lol. I usually make sure they have $10 on them, and it's always enough.

 

[texasroni75]

I gave DD(13) a $50 allowance for "souvenirs" for our last trip (in total, NOT per day). And a $10 Starbucks card. She spent $25 and half of the giftcard. Amazing how frugal kids can be with "their" money.

 

[blackpearl77]

Can you set a dollar amount or limit on their magic band? Or is the limit you can do on the magic band for the whole party for that day (and not different for each individual)?