Do you buy your kids...

[riley2008]

Our twin boys will still be four too when we make our first trip in August!

They typically don't ask for things - we are even able to check out at the grocery store in the "candy and snack" lanes. I'm afraid that I will be the one to want to buy them everything.

I can't wait to here how your trip goes.

 

[eaj1228]

I love WDW but it is amazing some of the random stuff that kids want. I went last year and my aunt brought her two granddaughters who were 4 and 7. One of the girls was facinated with the plastic treasure that was sold at the gift shop for PoC.

I almost think it is easier to say "no" in WDW because something better is always around the corner. When the girls were going "I want this" or "can I get this" we could distract them by hurrying to the next ride or parade. By the time we got the kids off the next ride the ridiculous stuff is forgotton.

 

[crusoe2]

I had originally planned to give our 5yo money or Disney Dollars and let her decide how she wants to spend it. But she received a Walmart gift card not long ago and it took her FOREVER to decide what she wanted to buy with it. She wanted everything she saw and wanted to have money leftover too. Don't we all? It took about an hour for her to decide how to spend $10. I shudder to think what it would be like if we took that approach at WDW. I think what we're going to do is tell her she can have one item a day or every other day, something along those lines. If she picks out something too expensive I'll tell her it costs too much just like I do when she's allowed to get a treat at the store here. She understands that pretty well and since she's too young to know better, I can use the "it's too expensive" excuse when it's something I'd rather she didn't have. (Won't be able to get away with that too much longer tho. )

 

[WantToGoNow]

I'm going to be the odd one out here. At home, my kids just don't ask for stuff when we're out - they might want a candy bar or lollipop but most times we can tour the toy isle and leave with nothing.

However, at Disney I let them have one souvenir a day - my son (now 6) got a autograph book/pen, a pirate Mickey hat, a lightsaber, a Buzz Lightyear gun, a pirate gun, a light up swirly thing, a stuffed animal and a Stitch backpack. I don't even remember what my dd (now 4) got other than a stuffed animal and an autograph book/pen.

 

[Frankiesmom]

I have to go with the above poster;we tend to let them have what they want while @ WDW. I buy new tee-shirts and sunglasses and little items before we leave- and them let them pick what they want when we're there. And sometimes it's cheap and sometimes it's expensive; but that's what we do- I figure this vacation is primarily for them and I like to spoil my kids!

 

[RMulieri]

I have actually started a Disney reward chart for DD4 ( we go in Sept)Every time she earns 25 stars , she earns $10 dollars for Disney .She understand even at this age that her reward money is disney money.I of course will help her in her choices when we get there.After all we need to be able to get it home by plane .( i am having my souvies shipped...but I am planning on Xmas ornaments )

 

[stopher1]

Not at all. They are each given a small amount from mom & dad (each year is different, but usually about $25-30 cash) to spend. Anything extra they spend comes from b-day or other savings they have for the trip. Once grandma sent them another $20 for splurging. The only other money we provide is to buy one new pin each trip for their collections.

Even though from the day the ressies are made we talk about the next trip on and off again, we always sit down in a family meeting the week before we leave to talk about the trip and what to expect, specifically in the shopping area. We remind them of their budget, and encourage them to use their eyes first, and then their wallet. Typically they'll check out various stores the first few days, and then make their decisions the last few. Since the majority of the merch can be found all over the resort nowadays (vs. the old days of say Star Wars was only found outside of Star Tours, as an example), there's hardly ever a worry that they won't get what they really want. It definitely helps cut down on the impulse spending - which my oldest struggles with. My middle and youngest are fine with waiting to buy later...if at all. My middle son usually comes home with half of his money each trip!

 

[design_mom]

We usually let the kids pick out the one item they want most (under $25 or so) for their souvenir. Then, if we see something small that we think they'll like. Or something small that they passed up, DH or I might sneak back into the store and buy it for them as a surprise. But we don't go crazy with buying things -- either at home or WDW -- so my kids don't usually *ask* for a ton.

 

[eeyoremum]

My kids spend their own money at Disney. I pay for the trip that is enought money already. They provide their own spending money by doing things for grandparents or others. I find they will think about a purchase more if they have to use their own money to buy it. Also, we are planning our 4th family trip and I have found that most of the stores sell the same stuff which my kids are not usually interested in. They don't really spend much.

 

[TinaLala]

We let the girls earn Disney Dollars months before our trip then use that money and only that money to buy things when they are at the parks. Once the money is gone they have to behave in order to earn items from there.

There is an issue of being on vacation - however there is also the issue of having a spoiled child. I'd start now and 'visit' the Disney store and the girls walk around and when they ask for things I say no. If you can't say no now then you won't be able to say no at Disney.

Maybe you can purchase little 'pixie dust' gifts to have on the table each morning the child has been good. These little gifts can release the pressure of buying right then and there.

 

[kldmom2000]

My girls each get Disney Dollars for their bdays and by the time we get to Disney, the each have an equal amount of $... usually $100 each. They know that's all they get and they are quite frugal with it They usually wait until toward the end of the trip to make their purchases so they've seen "everything" already and know what they want to buy

 

[disneymom2one]

We give our 12 year old about $10 for every day we're there and she has a little bit extra saved up. For this trip, it'll be about $110. That has to cover souvenirs PLUS smoothies, candy, etc that we would normally not buy. She's great with that and will be fine. I believe in elminating power issues and turning the spending over to her works like a charm.

 

[asktriplets]

didn't read everyone's posts, but here's what we do:

prior to the trip, we make a big production out of gettting our pressed penny coins ready...each kid counts out the 2 quarters and 1 penny for each day they will be there (we have the whole family room floor covered in coins, and the kids love it), then the kids shine them (first rub in ketchup, then rinse, then buff with baking soda, then rinse, then dry), then another round of playing them, then putting them in the container to go, and decorating the container (previous years we've done plastic bags, this year we're going to cover and decorate the big Airborne tubes).

They are excited about their OWN money (and this money counting is something they can handle at 4 y.o.), and they know that they get to pick a souvenir penny EVERY day of the trip...i think this alone limits our "i wants" in the stores. If they are in a store asking for something, it can be sometimes very easy to distract them with a suggestion to go look for the pressed penny machine, instead.

I also surprise them with something that they have been looking at during the trip (never on the very last day, though...too long for little ones!), so we don't mind them looking, but they know that if they whine about something, or keep asking for something, they will NOT get it (and we practice that a lot at home!).

Most days, in addition to the pressed pennies, we'll get a treat/snack, or Epcot masks, DVC stickers, placemats from character dining, etc, so they ALWAYS have something during the day as a special souvenir. At this age, this is usually enough to make my kids happy, thank goodness!

Have fun,

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Anytime I go someplace like that I buy my kids stuff ahead of time other places that's less expensive and I pull it out and give it to them various times at the visit.

The only thing I did make sure to get at the parks were personalized Mickey ears.

 

[Amy5000]

I like to hear what everyone does...but it really does make me think of my few trips to WDW when I was a child. You know what my parents got me...a trip to Disney World!! That's right, no mouse ears, nothing that glows in the dark, no t-shirts!!

I always think about that when I hear people talking about what they do to make their trips to WDW "special"...Part of me thinks it all sounds awesome and part of me says..."It's a trip to WDW...what else does it need to be special!?!"

I'm in a situation where DH and I have somewhat more financial resources than my parents did when we're going to WDW. And I've decided to let the kids save some $$ for the trip, but I'm hoping that I'll be strong enough to stop any large purchases. (Although I think autograph books and some dollar store glow in the dark stuff will be purchased prior to the trip)!!

 

[DawnM]

NO! Don't buy them much at all. I have let them spend their own b-day or holiday money at the Lego store, and I do take at least one trip to Character Warehouse while in Orlando, but beyond that....NO! It cost enough to go to Disney, they don't need more crap that will end up not played with after we get home.

Just a Mom who is tired of the clutter.

Dawn

 

[LisaZoe]

I definitely won't let DD get whatever she asks for for many reasons but mostly because we're on a budget and she really doesn't have room for much more in her bedroom. She'll usually get a hat, a small stuffed animal as a souvenir and some pressed pennies. Beyond that, our only other "must buy" is a Christmas ornament. We started buying one on any vacation we take and it's such a nice way to bring back fun memories when we decorate the tree each year. On our DLR trip in May, she'll have some money of her own for the first time. I haven't decided if I'll get Disney dollars or a gift card but that will be her "fun money". She does pretty well understanding when I say "we can't afford it" since she's already heard it before. LOL Even though much of what she asks for I could buy, I think it's a good lesson to start early.

 

[EllaDisney]

We actually did. But the girls were only at MK for one day on our last trip.

 

[eliza61]

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?

Disney world is a 4 year olds dream and the folks at WDW are marketing geniuses. If you notice every ride dumps you into a store. There are a million ways to seperate you from your money. I would set aside a specific $$ amount. let's say 70 bucks and once he hits that, that's the end of shopping. I would make my boys wait until we hit every park to see what they really wanted. Are there things they really like at home? Try to stick with those. Nothing worse than buying stuff they think they want only for it to collect dust.

 

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

I purchase Disney Dollars at our local Disney Store in the mall. My 8 yo DD earns them for extra chores, behavior mods, etc. She can earn $2 or $100. Then she can spend it on what she wants. I always encourage her to look around and shop wisely and to remember that she will ahve to carry it around for the day! When the Disney Dollars are gone, that's it! Then I always treat her to Disney jewelry or hat (tradition). This process helps her earn and budget throughout the year! Works for us!