How do you handle limiting souveniers for small children?

[Steve's Girl]

It's vacation why say no all the time?? Our vacation is going to be fun and not filled with so many NOS. We figure on spending $100 a day or more just on stuff they want. I have a seperate envelope for it. If we come home with some great if not, oh well thats what is was ment for. Life is too short to always say no, on vacation no less.

I've tried to teach our kids responsibility in that these types of trips are only possible if we all save and contribute. And that means having a limit on what we can all purchase. I want my kids to understand that foregoing the "junk" means more money we can save to do nicer things - like extending our vacation by a few days each year. To us, our vacation time together is priceless and we will all forego a lot of other things to add to that time together. But every family has to do what is best for their own financial situation.

 

[Brian Noble]

We ask our kids to save a percentage of their weekly allowance towards their Disney spending money. We pay them the full weekly amount, and they make a big show of putting their travel money in their "savings jar". If they meet their savings goal, we match it. We do this with charitable contributions, as well.

Then, when we go to WDW, they have a set amount they can spend over the course of the trip. We encourage them to look at things in the first few days, and not buy anything right away, to make sure they know what they *really* want. With a few exceptions, this is easy to do, as all the stores carry the same stuff these days.

It's still a constant stream of "Can we go shopping now?" requests, which are a challenge in themselves, because at WDW we have to budget time as well as money. Our general rule is mornings are for touring, after lunch and evening can be spent shopping.

 

[jnordan]

We're also not big on souvenirs. We travel a great deal as well (not as much since the birth of our second child, but she's now 2, so hopefully that will change again!), and also agree that the EXPERIENCE is what we want our children to value. Our daughters will be 2.5 and 4.5 when we go, and so I think I'll let them each pick out ONE souvenir at the end of the trip. I'll carry a little "wish list" for each of them, so that if they see things that they want, then I'll jot them on the wish list and say "great, at the end of the week maybe that's what you'll pick out to take home"! We do that anyways, and have had a wish list going for birthdays/christmas. . . At this age, at least, just seeing you write it down somewhere seems to satisfy them and make them feel like you care about what they want.

Having said that, our trip isn't until May 2007. So maybe under the Christmas tree I'll have some mickey ears or something -- I haven't decided yet. Also, I'll be taking my oldest daughter to the BBB and tea with Aurora. That is an experience that I think she'll love, we can afford, and that I'd like to share with her. That is "extra", we're working it into our trip budget, and it will not count as her one souvenir. . .

 

[WantToGoNow]

I let my kids each have one small item a day. They really don't play with or want stuffed animals so usually the item they pick is rather small -- candy, a ball, etc. If there is something that they really seem interested in, I will buy it for them or pick it up to save for Christmas. When I plan my vacation, souvenirs is one of the categories that I budget in -- I like to get stuff (t-shirts, photo album, Christmas decorations, etc.), so why would I expect the kids not to want to as well.

 

[HLDisney]

I've been thinking a lot about this since we're going to WDW for Thanksgiving and it'll be my DD's first trip to WDW (she's 4 3/4) She doesn't really have a good concept of money yet (she'd rather have a more substantial-feeling quarter than a flimsy dollar bill ) so my plan is to either allow her to get one small thing each day or one item per park. I myself will probably pick up a t-shirt for her (since I've started a tradition of getting her a t-shirt on all of our trips....want to make her a t-shirt quilt from these shirts when she gets older) but that won't count as her souvenir.

I've also picked up some little stuff already that I'll give her gradually through our trip. I've bought her a small Thanksgiving Mickey doll from ebay (since we're going to be there on Thanksgiving Day) and I've also gotten some pins for trading, some glowsticks and a light-up wand. I figure she'll probably want the glow/light-up stuff when she sees the other kids with them so since I could get them cheaper at home, I picked up some of those things.

I haven't decided if I'm going to do this on this trip or not but what I've been doing at home is, if she sees something in a store that she wants (and it's something that I wouldn't mind getting for her, if needed), I'll ask her which of her current toys/games/videos she's going to give up in exchange for it. Oftentimes, when I ask her this, she'll change her mind about wanting the item. If she really is willing to give up something reasonable for it (not a "I'll give up a dinky Happy Meal toy for a big playset" kind of exchange but something reasonable), then I'll let her get the item and then when we get home, I'll take/put away the item she has decided to give up.

Anyway, just my thoughts....

HLDisney

 

[bopper]

It's vacation why say no all the time?? Our vacation is going to be fun and not filled with so many NOS. We figure on spending $100 a day or more just on stuff they want. I have a seperate envelope for it. If we come home with some great if not, oh well thats what is was ment for. Life is too short to always say no, on vacation no less.

Each family should decide what they can afford/want to do but should plan it ahead of time. Yours is a plan! What we do is cash in all loose change that my DH puts in a jar over the months...and we split that up for spending money. I do buy some extra things for them because I want them to have them...like i like to buy everybody a silly/disney hat, or sometimes I will buy them a special pin or shirt.

 

[Katieplus4]

I have 4 kiddos (8,8,7 and 5) This year we are trying something different. Each child earns allowance and can use that money to buy things that they want or if they save it for the Disney trip we will match it $ for $. They earn $ 4 a week-which can be less with bad behavior. My oldest has about $56 dollars so she will have about $$112!!!! They are thrilled. Trust me they are alot more careful with what money they spend when it is theirs and not mine.

They have been saving all year so i can't wait to see what they buy.

 

[tjmw2727]

Our rules are similar to yours Not Ursula so I won't be repetative. One difference is that we do allow a postcard or a magnet even at the museum or acquariam and even if its a repeat visit. MY kids love postcards and now collect them from the places they visit.

As far as saying no, sometimes I have to even on vacation. For us the vacation itself is the treat not the stuff we can buy. When my kids want something my first question is "would you be asking for that if we were at home, or would you wear it to school" most of the time the answer in a WDW gift shop is no. Its difficult as lots of the rides and shows let you out into a gift shop. FWIW we have a great vacation and if I know my dd really wants something by the end of the trip we usually end up with it. Its more likely to be a game, a book. a CD or something lasting rather than a glowing set of bobble ears

So for the OP with children your ages I would decide what you think is going to work for your family. From your OP it looks like you have already set up rules on regular outings so I would do a "thing a day" or a set amount of $$. You can do disney dollars or just print your own "script" for them to give to you each time they make a purchase. Either way the first couple days are going to be the most difficult so if you stick to what you decided on the first few days the rest of the vacation will be easy peasy.

Have a great time,
TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

Each family should decide what they can afford/want to do but should plan it ahead of time. Yours is a plan! What we do is cash in all loose change that my DH puts in a jar over the months...and we split that up for spending money. I do buy some extra things for them because I want them to have them...like i like to buy everybody a silly/disney hat, or sometimes I will buy them a special pin or shirt.

Well said!

We do the coin exchange as well and we usually decide on a family "bonus" event. Once we did an illuminations cruise, once hoop de doo and this trip it think its going to be either a day of water sports (sprites and or fishing et all), Dixie Stamped, Cirque or maybe swim with the dolphins. (I know some are not Disney, sshhhhh). Closer to the trip we will cash it in, see how much we have, explore the options and decide on the option that the whole family will enoy the most.

TJ

 

[mickeyfan411]

Both of our children had a set amount of money that i put on a visa gift card for them (so i didn't have a bunch of loose change and bills everywhere). Each time they asked for something I would tell them they had to buy it themselves, how much it cost, and how much money they had left. It worked wonderfully. In fact each child came home with some money. One came home with 40.00 and the other 31.00. They did amazing, only purchasing things they really wanted. I was very proud of them.
I hope you have a wonderful trip as well.

 

[monorailsilver]

I didn't read any of the other responses but can you give them coupons prior to the trip & tell them that each coupon is worth a gift & when the coupons are gone, there are no more gifts that they can get?

My kids go thru that I want stage too but they are good in Disney & don't ask for everything & when they do we tell them no & tell them what they can pick out, OK that isn't just for Disney but everywhere.

 

[MSSANDRA]

You have gotten some really good ideas. i think what is most important is that you have a deal before hand and then stick to it. if they are really give me kids, waiting till the last day is going to be really hard. i think I would plan one specific item for each day. One day might be any shirt they choose, one day a stuffed animal, one day a ballon and the night you do fantasmic or illuminations it might be a light globe. Make it clear to the children what they will and will not get. Any fits pitched would nuillify the gift that day. I also would make the purchase the last thing of the day. I hate to carry anything. My DS has never been a give me kid so we pretty much got him something if he really wanted it and many trips he came home with one item or sometimes nothing at all. What works for your family may be differnt.

 

[golden1]

I really don't want to have a bunch of junk to bring home so I will definitely limit what we buy. I plan on getting the kids some basic souveniers like Mickey Ears and balloons but outside of that, my 4 year old will get some discretionary Disney Dollars - maybe 20 or 30 that she can use to buy what she likes. It will be a good learning experience I think.

 

[LynnTH]

The last two times we went my kids each went with about $150-$200 each. This was from Disney Dollars from Christmas, some Birthday Money and cashing in their change jars (which they get the change from us anyway).

My DS is 7 now and DD is 5. You would be surprised how much they can learn with having their own spending money. They each had their own wallets, which I hung on to.

When they found something they wanted they would ask me how much it would be. My DD was so funny. Everytime she wanted something (which was alot) she would ask how much, and I would tell her - then she would say "Is that all my money" and I would tell her "no", and then she would say
"Is that alot of my money" and then I would explain how much of her money it would be. (By the end of the trip DH, DS and myself were saying those words over and over). They each made their decisions and my DD came home with about $75 and my DS with over $100.

They knew if they wanted something it came from their money and I think it worked out great and will continue to let them be in charge of what they buy as long as they have the money. ( it sure helps with teh "I wants")

 

[ekball]

We also took Disney Dollars for DD to use - she was 1 month shy of 3 at trip time. Believe it or not, we actually had to encourage her to spend them! I think part of the reason was because we just didn't hang around in the gift shops much (easier with younger kids than older ones I'm sure). That helped. And also, it seemed like there was always just too much to do or see. She was too busy to fixate on a toy, doll, shirt, etc. Again probably the age. We had one afternoon where she was really "into" a PAL Mickey (of course...the $70 'thing'... mommy's shopping habits ), but it didn't take long before she had forgotten about it. Maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised like I was.

Oh, and by the way, I fully expect that this will not be the case when my kiddos are older. Then I will do the Disney Dollar "allowance", and when they're gone, they're gone.

 

[fakereadhed]

Since your trip is in a week, I suggest you hit Walmart, Target, dollar stores and find Disney merchandise and take it in a "Mom's Big Bag of Everything" separate duffel bag. The kids will think you are magic for being able to buy stuff without them seeing you do it in the parks! This time of year, you should be able to find Disney dress up "Halloween type" costumes half off after today, sunglasses on sale, maybe even flip flops. Dollar Tree has lots of stickers and stuff. Good luck!

I do this also. Most of the stuff we see at the parks for triple the cost.

Another suggestion is pin trading. My kids were actually making a beeline for the CMs to trade pins in the stores. They would trade and leave feeling they got something really special. Didn't even want to look around.

 

[2bearsmom]

We are going on our first trip to DW in a couple of months. It's a Christmas present for the kids so my sister has already bought them Disney Dollars and a Disney gift card. I'm planning on tucking a few DD into their stockings too. When their money is gone that's it!

 

[kmccain]

There is a lot of good ideas here but here is what we do.

First of all we don't hit all the shops. There is plenty to do and I don't want to waste my time in them.

I tell my kids to decide what they want and the last day we go Downtown and buy everything at once. I used to get the 10% discount with the Disney Club but I think you still do with the Disney Visa.

 

[kirstiebird]

Ok, I am the WORST example of economy ever -- we came home with about 25 stuffed animals from our last trip; however...

I find that the children have fewer "i wants" at Epcot -- despite the prominent shops in the world showcase -- because of the kidcot stations & passports -- they interact with the cm's and color and make their own free souvenier (mask w/ charm). If you need a respite from the gimmies, try epcot.

There is also a Bearenstein (sp?) Bears book about the "gimmies" that is great for young children -- I'm planning to read it every night until we go!

 

[katie111]

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all of the great ideas. I was amazed by the response. I think what I have learned is that the key is to just come up with a plan in advance, let them know the plan, & then stick to it. I haven't yet decided what that plan will be..... one item per day, Disney dollars, coupons, maybe bringing some small items with me. I have to give it some thought but all of the suggestions were great. I'm also thinking if they see something they really want & its not in "their budget" I could always buy it & surprise them with it for Christmas....actually I think that was one of the ideas someone posted! Overall they are great kids and I don't really think it will be that big of an issue. I realized today that they're favorite souveniers from 6 months ago were the stuffed dinosaurs that Daddy won them at AK. They were both carrying them around today & asking if I could win them something when we go. They were also talking about their Epcot masks. Of course I told them they could definitely get those again!!

Thanks again!!!

We're leaving in 3 days....yeah!!