Down to one week....a few questions

[Zoemakes5]

Next Sat. we'll be in DL!!! Yay!
A few questions for people.....
At what age do you let your kiddos out "on their own" at all? We used to do it at a fairly young age, but I'm more cautious about it now.
How much money do you appropriate for souvies and other "stuff" for the kids?
I got a whle bunch of pins from ebay and mousepins online, is the trading still going on, do people still do this?
We are big pressed penny people. We have a little "book" for them from our last trip to Sea World. Do they have them at DL? If so, how much are they?
Is the water fountain that the kids get drenched in still in Tomorrowland?
If we get a stroller at DL, will we be able to take it over to DCA and back again? We were thinking of going first thing to DL, and then trying some of the bigger rides for the boys while Zoe was napping in the stroller, but if we have to get rid of it, won't work. That's one of the big plusses of bringing our own stroller, but Zoe has outgrown the regular ones. I hear the DL ones are bigger/more sturdy and will work for her. (I've seen pic's too.)
Will we need sunscreen this time of year?
Is the princess story time still happening? Will it be likely to happen on Sat. and Sun?

Thanks to all!

 

[iceskatejen]

I'll answer as many questions as I can.

Don't have kids, but I wouldn't let kids on their own until at least teen years (maybe 11 or 12 if they know the parks really well).

Again, no kids.

They sure do still trade pins.

They have books--not sure of the price. The pressed pennies themselves are 51 cents.

Sorry, but this has been gone for some time now. The big ball is still there, but no more fountains.

Yes, the stroller can go back and forth between parks. You just can't take it into DTD or onto the Monorail.

I usually don't bother with sunscreen this time of year and I'm very fair, but I'm also used to the S CA sun. But I should--it's just sheer laziness on my part. I don't get sunburned though, but I'm sure damage is still happening

Yes, I believe it is.

 

[slp87]

We're arriving next Saturday too!! My DD is 11 and we're meeting her friend there, but I don't think I'm ready to let her out on her own yet. Thanks for asking about the pins, we got into them at WDW in '02 and DD was excited to continue trading. DD has to earn all of her souvenir & snack money and for 5 days she has $75. I think that will be more than enough. Have a great trip!

 

[Albertan mom]

Yay for you with going so soon!!

I personally wouldn't let my kids on their own until they are like 13 or older. But that may be selfishness on my part, as I want to see them enjoy everything!! And send those walkietalkies with them if you have them.

I am giving my kids each $100 as an early Christmas present. They can choose to spend it all there if they want, or bring some home.
I hope they each buy a t-shirt with it too.

I don't know about the water fountain in Tomorrowland, but they can get drenched in CA at the Sprinkler Maze in Bugs Land. My son was totally soaked last year there. And there is fire hoses over by that Big boat (SS Rustworthy) where two kids can soak each other while they hide behind fire man cutouts. Kids also got soaked there. And of course Grizzly River Run will get you good and wet!

 

[KeBen]

We are big pressed penny people. We have a little "book" for them from our last trip to Sea World. Do they have them at DL? If so, how much are they?
QUOTE

We picked up a pressed penny book (they have them at World of Disney in DTD and at many of the shops in the park) for $6.99 plus tax. Like you, we became totally addicted to collecting them.
In fact our last stop in the park for our whole trip was to run back to the Pirates of the Caribbean to see if they had fixed the pressed penny machine!

Other than pressed pennies, there were a few pressed nickel machines in the Pressed Penny arcade, and also the book has 6 pockets for pressed quarters. They end up quite large and look great - we got the ones of Tinkerbell in various poses. They cost about a dollar each I think (three quarters [might have been four?] plus the one that is pressed)

 

[Zoemakes5]

We are big pressed penny people. We have a little "book" for them from our last trip to Sea World. Do they have them at DL? If so, how much are they?
QUOTE

We picked up a pressed penny book (they have them at World of Disney in DTD and at many of the shops in the park) for $6.99 plus tax. Like you, we became totally addicted to collecting them.
In fact our last stop in the park for our whole trip was to run back to the Pirates of the Caribbean to see if they had fixed the pressed penny machine!

Other than pressed pennies, there were a few pressed nickel machines in the Pressed Penny arcade, and also the book has 6 pockets for pressed quarters. They end up quite large and look great - we got the ones of Tinkerbell in various poses. They cost about a dollar each I think (three quarters [might have been four?] plus the one that is pressed)

I actually did a pressed quarter in Vegas last summer. I still like the pennies best.
We are picking up a roll of quarters and roll of pennies before we go. How terrbile is that!

 

[samkj]

Here's info on the pnny press machines. http://www.parkpennies.com/

We'll be there next week too!

 

[Tink33]

I let my DD11 and her friends go alone on the rides. One ride on California Screamin' (or TOT or Maliboomer) is enough for me. I wait at the exit of the ride and people watch or shop at a nearby store. My DD knows her way around the parks well as she has been visiting for 11.5 years.