Do you buy your kids...

[Mickeyherewecome123]

everything they ask for when you are on vacation in WDW? I fear my 4 year olds wanting something in every store at Disney!! We normally dont buy our boys something everytime we are out shopping on a normal day, but on vacation, they seem to always want everything.

What do you all do about it?

 

[december]

dd8 is a shopaholic! ds10 is not so bad. For each of our trips I gave them each a Disney gift card-ordered from disneyshopping.com. They knew when the money was gone, it was gone. I didn't have any problems with either of them. And they liked having their own "credit" cards.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I made my own Disney dollars for our 3 boys to earn before trip. They each had $75-90 dollars. They each had different amount because they each did different chore. For example I gave them a .25 a day if they made their beds and only one wanted to. They could use these to buy anything they wanted. We did buy them each a pin starter set and a hat (ears). They did a good job budgeting their money.

 

[canadianmom2three]

We bought a lot of things ahead, from the dollar store and the disney store. Each kid had 2 disney shirts an autograph book and pen set, enough blinking pins and glow bracelets for each night there, plus a whole slew of other disney trinkets that I had picked up. They got the autograph books and the pens when we arrived, and one of the shirts. Each day they got one of the smaller trinkets, and the glow things to wear at night. On the last day they got the other disney shirts. They were really pleased with all that, we are usually pretty moderate spenders, and we were on a very tight budget. We would not even have been there if not for our wonderful inlaws who paid for the trip. We spent some time the day of arrival explaining to the kids that we were NOT going to be buying a lot of things. We told them they could pick one pin from each park we visited, and we started them off with a lanyard and one of those larger medalions. We told them ahead of time they could each pick one larger item as a memento (they had been given spending money by their other grandparents), but if they picked it the first day, and saw something better later, they would be stuck with it. This meant that they spent a LOT of time looking, and ZERO time asking to buy things. They were very happy with the pins they picked out, and on the last day, they each picked out their "big" gift ($25 dollars they each had). They loved the trinkets, and surprised DH and I by sharing the glow bracelets with other kids near us. For us, it worked great, we were very pleased that they were not asking constantly to buy things that we could NOT afford.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

They save up their own Disney Dollars from birthdays, Christmas, whatever they earn by doing chores and they spend that first. That usually gets us through at least half of our trip, then if they want something we usually give in and buy it for them

 

[abirdd]

Years ago, my parents sat us down right when we arrived at Disney - and explained we both had $50 to spend on anything we wanted. However, when the money was gone, it was gone. No exceptions.

So, for days into the trip - I clearly remember my brother and I checking stuff out but "waiting". On the 2nd to last day all I really wanted was the toast presses (I don't think they have them anymore) and one of those huge lollypops. I guess looking back, I had no clue how much money my parents saved... My mom laughs when we talk about that story - since my toast presses and lollypop came up to less than $20 bucks. A score back then, I guess

As for my brother, no one remembers what he picked... guess it too was el cheapo!

 

[skuttle]

In 2006, we brought DS for his first WDW trip at 2.5 years old. Not a problem because he was young and it was his first time so he didn't really "get it."

In 2007 when we brought DS, then 3.5, he was just awful with the crying for everything. He wanted everything he saw. It was awful.

This year we went again, this time he was 4.5 years old. We had a chat with him before we left, explaining that we expected him to behave a lot better than last year and that we weren't going to buy him everything he saw. He was old enough to understand money a little, so when he'd ask for something, we'd tell him that he could use his money and we'd explain how much he'd have left, etc. That seemed to work. I didn't count the "normal" stuff like a T-shirt, hat, etc.

I also didn't walk through all of the shops this time like I normally do. I usually go through each and every shop (even though it's the same stuff! LOL!). This time, I cut back on that and it really helped.

 

[jessica52877]

I just say no. DS5 knows no means no. He doesn't ask for a whole lot, but will usually always ask for a gun in every store. We don't usually buy a souvenier either, the items are so expensive compared to regular items.

 

[Lucky'sMom]

Absolutely not. My kids get about 2 things each, like a stuffed Mickey or Minnie and one other smaller toy. My 10 year old son liked the pressed penny collection, passport through World Showcase and then one toy (under $20). We are not really "into" souveniers, the only thing I ever purchase is the photo album for that trip's pictures and some chocolate pretzels. Since my kids are older now, and we've added 2 teenagers (through the miracle of international adoption ), I think we will give each child a certain amount of money before we leave, and when it's gone, it's gone. The only problem with this, is that I think all 3 of my sons will just the save the money to buy something else at home! (like a DS game, etc).

 

[taitai]

Goodness no. I will be surprised if we get them anything besides one t-shirt each and even that is a big question mark. My kids simply do not need anything and I am certainly not going to get them a bunch of "stuff" that will just clutter their rooms more. We will rely on our stories and pictures of the trip for memories...not a glitter Mickey head.

If your child has trouble with the word "no" and will still ask/whine/beg for things in the stores that you are not prepared to buy then simply do not bring your child in the stores. Can't be tempted by what you do not see.

Have a great trip.
taitai

 

[momto2inKC]

Oh no, mine don't get everything they ask for at Disney! They each usually have about $130 or so to spend however they wish. We also will buy them a couple of small things. My son usually comes home with money, my daughter spends hers quickly!

 

[TikiIslander]

I remember my first trip to WDW, and I wanted this one shirt but my mom wouldn't buy it for me! In thinking about it now, I don't believe it was even my size, but life goes on. Sure, I remember that I didn't get everything I wanted there, but I still think of that visit as a super fun time.

I think that gift card/credit card idea is great. It helps keep you on a budget, and teaches the kids something about money too!

Such good ideas on this board!

 

[irishbacker92]

It is always a challenge to balance making your kids happy, not making them spoiled brats, and not going broke. One thing I do is to remind myself that disney has a platoon of 6+ figure salaried people whose job it is to make your child say OOH I want that!!!! Please!!! C'mon PLLLLEEAAASSSEEEEE!!!!!! Don't be to hard on them if they do. If they didn't all those people would not be earning thier money.
What I do when my son does this is to have him put it on a list and then he can pick something out at a designated time. I would say not to wait till the very end of the trip. Way to much torture on both of you. Pick out something for day 3 or 5 etc. You can also prebuy some things that you may think you son will want. Mcqueen shirt, light spinner thingys, pirate sword, etc. Buy it on ebay for a 10th of the price and take it along with you.

Just a couple suggestions from a guy with a 4 yr old a WDW.

 

[The Lion King]

We leave in 7 days!!! They have been earning Disney dollars since the beginning of the month. They don't have a lot because this was a "surprise" trip and I didn't want them to catch on to why they were earning them so early. I am planning to take them to the Disney store on Friday to get a gift card with the amount they earned plus a "bonus" so they have about $50.

I made personalized shirts so I don't think we will buy more shirts. I know my ds wants a new Power Ranger costume and my dd will want some princess stuff. I'll probably be the one spending the most-I want to get a Christmas ornament and some gifts for family.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I tell them that they have to wait until the end of the trip and then decide what one thing they would like. Usually I let them get a few extra small things too. This way I get the see what they actually want instead of what is just a "I have to have it whim".

 

[Mickeyluver37]

No way! I buy them things I approve of like T-shirts. This year the big thing I had promised them was a pearl in Japan and a setting for their pearls. Other than that, they each had about $100 in Disney Dollars to spend. And BOTH of them spent nearly ALL their money on stuffed animals. If I let them have anything they wanted, we'd have 2 huge stuffed animals from every giftshop/attraction in the entire World. But I digress....they were able to carry around their own Disney dollars in an envelope, and pay for everything themselves, so they could get a true idea of how much things really cost. I think it worked well. They knew ahead of time that I was only buying a few specific things, and really stretched out their $100 throughout the week.

 

[GoinToDisney]

It's funny but my dd really doesn't expect to get anything. She will ask for something once in a while when we are shopping, and sometimes I say yes, sometimes no. I have no idea how long it will last (she'll be 4 in June) and I really don't know how we accomplished this, but she just rarely asks. Disney was no exception. We only bought her autograph books, Mr. Potato Head parts (we do every year) and a new tiara when her tiara broke. She didn't ask for anything at all. It;s not that we don't buy her anything when we are out, but when we do, we usually save it for a gift or reward for something. Plus, we have many many more trips where we don't buy anything like toys for her than when we do. I also do not tell her that she can get something at the store if she is good. If she acts up in the store, then she knows we will leave... end of story. We all shop as a family (me, dh and dd) pretty often, so one parent will take her out to the car while the other finishes up. I guess that's how we established this. ???

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

Thanks for all the great comments. I love the idea of sitting them down and explaining to them that they can choose a couple of special things they might see at a store. And the Disney gift card idea is a must. I am definatley going to be doing that. I know my boys are going to be getting some DIsney Dollars for Easter and they are saving all the loose change they find (and DH has been putting all his loose change) in an old 3 gallon water bottle. So wewill cash that in and they can hav ethat money too.

If I had to guess I bet they each will have about 125.00 in spending money and I think that will be plenty of spending money for each of them.

 

[JackJack08]

Goodness no. I will be surprised if we get them anything besides one t-shirt each and even that is a big question mark. My kids simply do not need anything and I am certainly not going to get them a bunch of "stuff" that will just clutter their rooms more. We will rely on our stories and pictures of the trip for memories...not a glitter Mickey head.

If your child has trouble with the word "no" and will still ask/whine/beg for things in the stores that you are not prepared to buy then simply do not bring your child in the stores. Can't be tempted by what you do not see.

Have a great trip.
taitai

I agree about not going into the stores. I LOVE them all, and it just too much of a temptation for me too! We don't need any more "stuff" in our house....so DD collected the pressed pennies last year, which kept her busy and DS wanted the matchbox Disney bus. They also got a towel. There is just TOO MUCH awesome stuff there, and I know how little kids must want everything....because I want it too!!

 

[PEANUT1]

My hubby bought like $100 disney dollars and my 4 year old is doing chores to earn the money money. She has $32 now and I expect she will have the entire 100 by the time we go in May. I am going to put it in her special wallet and explain to her that when the money is gone....that's it. I figured that is about what I would have spent on her and this way, she learns about cleaning up after herself. It seems to be a win win situation.