Gift card to the kids for spending money?

[Disneylover99]

If they end up wanting to buy something they saw at a certain park or something though, don't you run into the risk of not being able to get it? Like if she sees something at Epcot or AK, we're only there for 1 day, can I find that same item elsewhere?

That's why we don't leave it to the very last day. Plus we park hop. Most of the items they want are available at the World of Disney in DTD. A few items they wanted were only available in World Showcase.

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

We do some gift cards for our boys. Santa and the Easter bunny each leave $25 gift cards for each of the boys. We also let them take about $50 of their money that they've saved, but they usually don't spend all of the cash they take with them.

 

[bumbershoot]

I never thought it would work, but DS was 5, I believe, during the birthday celebrations where you got a free day's ticket or equivalent GC if you had an AP if you went ON your birthday. I think at the time it was $75 for the GC, and he did brilliantly with it. He followed the balance carefully with our help, he listened to us as we told him how much he would have left if he bought something, he really thought about it and made some terrific decisions. It was amazing, like he grew up right in front of our eyes. This is a kid who, when dependent on our wallets, would ask for another thing not a minute after we bought him something.

The only downside is actually keeping up with and using the cards - it would be much more convenient to just swipe the band, haha.

When you use a card, your balance is shown on the receipt. SO helpful.

My only fear might be if a child had a vacations worth of money and lost the thing on the first day.

No need for kids to carry their money.

If they end up wanting to buy something they saw at a certain park or something though, don't you run into the risk of not being able to get it?

This is indeed a risk. The other risk is that they'll run out; DS got a pirate musket from the POTC shop at Disneyland, and it was delivered to DLH the next day. It didn't work. I went to exchange it, but everyone was out of those muskets. I had to track it down over the next couple days and found it at one random spot. If I didn't have the time to hunt it down (if I were at WDW where that would take huge amounts of time) it would have been a big pain or impossible.

You can always buy, then return. And with the receipt I don't think you have to return it to the same place where you bought it.

 

[100acreHiker]

I think it's a great way for them to have some control of their spending and also learn the consequences of their choices. We purchased each of our boys a soccer jersey from the world showcase as a gift from us to them (this had been promised months in advance), and then they each had small gift cards (I can't remember if it was $25 or $50) to buy something else of their choosing. There was definitely some expressions of regret on their part at some point on the trip, but they lived with their choices and my husband and I were able to enjoy our vacation just a bit more without the kids asking us every hour to purchase x, y, or z souvenir, because they understood that once the money was gone, it was gone.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Keep a copy of the number on the back of the card in case she loses it.

 

[mchelle77]

Our first trip, our daughter wasn't even 5 yet, but her grandmother matched what we had helped her save, so she ended up with $50 per park (regardless of how many times we went to each park) She spent maybe half of that, so last trip (she was 8) we decided to just let it be more relaxed. This upcoming trip (she's 10) she was smart and asked for gift cards for her birthday and Xmas when asked by family, so she's all set. I think she has more spending money than I do LOL

 

[avic77]

I budget $50 per child. Most things are novelty keepsakes and the kids quickly lose interest in them after returning home so I wouldn't put too much money in it.
I prefer to spend more on experiences while on the vacation than the stuff we bring home and forget about

 

[Stacey Stewart]

We took my son for his 5th bday and attended 3 parks (3 full days including the Halloween party). We found the souvenirs to be pricey. I think we spent about hundred on things to bring home.

 

[momimouse27]

We do gift cards. They work really well with keeping that separate from everything else. I give my kids anywhere from $50-$100 depending on how much our trip sets us back. But it makes it easier to say "no souvenirs on the Magic Bands-only food"

 

[ColonelHathi]

We get our kids gift cards. Last trip (their first) $150 each, or about $25 per park day (6). DS was also obsessed about getting a Lego set, so he had a Lego gift card too that he saved. This year they will have $100 each, or $20 per park day (5). We help them manage and pay with our MBs, and then pay off the bill with the gift cards. That way we don't have to take them in the parks with us and risk losing them. It also allows for some more flex. DD wanted a big Minnie in Epcot for like $40 which meant she has a smaller balance when it came to other park days for instance.

We got many from the Disney Store online too. We collect them throughout the year vs. all at once, birthdays, Christmas, Easter basket, etc.

 

[senadler]

We used to use gift cards before the magic bands. Now we just give them a budget and manage it as they purchase. They each get $100 per trip and can add their own money or gift cards to their total.

 

[Mikie]

If they end up wanting to buy something they saw at a certain park or something though, don't you run into the risk of not being able to get it? Like if she sees something at Epcot or AK, we're only there for 1 day, can I find that same item elsewhere?

I learned that there are many items that you see "everywhere" but also many that are unique to a particular park or store. You can return anything bought at any Disney shop to any other a Disney shop though. Keep tags and receipt and you can return a stuffed animal from one day back to your resort gift shop if they find a dress up outfit that would bust their budget and they decide to switch items.