How many Disney $$$ do you give YOUR kids??!!

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

My DD has already earned 41 Disney Dollars and we have 7 more weeks till our trip and could earn more! She will be responsible for budgeting them and using them for her own souveniors this trip. I usually spend about $100+ on her each trip though. How much do you give your kids for spending? Keeping in mind she is 8 and will be in charge of this her self! I am thinking of capping her off at 50 and being in charge of the rest.

 

[GothTink]

My DD7 has earned 70 Disney Dollars, and my DS14 has earned 65 Disney Dollars. Plus, DS is bringing an extra $200 with him.

 

[Minnie_me]

I didn't give them any. They had to earn their money: they had a big garage sale, washed cars, sold cookies and lemonade and made $150 each.

We didn't do Disney Dollars, either - -we put the money on Disney gift cards. No fumbling with change then, or worries about getting the money wet on rides, or losing it. I kept their cards in my wallet.

They were so good about making purchases! THe first day, they each wanted a 4-foot tall Minnie Mouse that cost $60. I said, "FINE! As long as you realize that you'll be spending almost half of your money on the first day." They both walked out of the gift shop with Beanie-sized Minnies instead! They were able to buy a lot with the $150 - - each bought stuffed animals, a t-shirt, a hat, a purse, cups, jewelry and more! They even bought gifts for their friends at home with their own money.

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

We are going to DisneyLAND at Christmas- the kids aren't getting presents, they are getting the trip. They'll get $100 for their birthdays (DD will get a loan since her birthday is in January) and then $100 in their stockings. Their cash will be for souvenirs AND snacks (we'll only be there 3-4 days, so that should do them just fine).

At WDW, we didn't give them cash or DD- we let them pick out a few things they liked and purchased it ourselves. Otherwise, it really does depend upon YOU, your child, and the age of your child as well

GL!

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

What are disney dollars?

 

[aimeeg]

My DDs are 2 and 4 so we did things a little differently. The babes does not count really. The girls were allowed to get a thing a day. It was always reasonable. Like a hat, a beanie, lollipops etc . . . DD4 is earning $50 for the BBB. We have a chart on the fridge. I have been putting a couple bucks here and there on a Disney card. I think since March I have saved like $135. Everytime we go to the mall I add $5-20. It has been great! My inlaws also have been giving the girls a dollar here and there. That too will go on the card.

Finally we have a Mickey bank. The girls have been saving change in it. Whatever is in the bank is theirs to blow. Last trip it was close to $100 so yeah for them!!!

 

[Ohana90]

I give my kids $200 each total for the whole week. I give them all $30.00/day to spend on souvenirs/snacks and once that $ is gone they have to wait until the next day. It prevents the whining and complaining that they "blew" all there money too fast. (Especially the 16yrold )

 

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

I like the idea of maybe turning in the DD and putting it on a Disney card instead! However, with the actual dollars in her hand, she will know how much she has left at the end of each day...trying to teach her to budget through all of this too!!! We are on the DDP, so her snacks are covered! I want to remind her too that whatever she buys...she has to carry!!!! Yea for Mom!!! Either way, I think she will do well with her money and now I am leaning more towards the $100 or $150 range!!! Too much great stuff each year to be cheap...afterall...is the WORLD!!!!

 

[ThruTheEyesOfMyChild]

What are disney dollars?

Disney Dollars are atcual money (with Disney design on them)....that cost/spend dollar for dollar! You can purchase them at WDW, WDL, or any Disney Store and use them at any of the same spots as currency!

I used them as incentives for my DD throughout this past school year for chores, etc. They come in $1, $5, $10 and I think $20 denominations!

Here's a great website with tons of info for you!

www.disneydollars.net

 

[Minnie_me]

I like the idea of maybe turning in the DD and putting it on a Disney card instead! However, with the actual dollars in her hand, she will know how much she has left at the end of each day

Every time we made a purchase with the gift card, the receipt indicated how much was left on the card. Easier than fumbling with coins and bills when you're young!

 

[GothTink]

Every time we made a purchase with the gift card, the receipt indicated how much was left on the card. Easier than fumbling with coins and bills when you're young!

Yeah, but what I like about the dollars is that you can change them in for real dollars at the end of your trip...not so with the card.

 

[twinsplusone]

My kids will be saving for 3 years before we actually go. They started saving when dh and I started saving. It's been a great budget lesson for them. They ask for disney $$ for gifts and they are required to save 1/2 of their allowances for their disney money. So far they each have a little over $100 and still have until Feb '09 to save. They are 7, 5 & 5. I'm looking forward to saying, "Go ahead and buy it if you want. It's your money."

 

[christianne]

The whole family has been saving loose change since Oct- we told the kids we would divide it up for their spending $$$ Now we saved over $400, so they will have about $150 each. The problem is all Disney stores in the area do not carry Disney Dollars anymore. Does anyone know if I put their $$ on a Disney gift card they will be able to check the balance after a purchase? I know w/ Visa GC & AmEx GC, you cannot do that at the stores/parks, only online. TIA!

 

[vcgirl925]

This is great info!

I never thought to do this for my kids! I think it will help ME budget what we are spending on Souveniers. I can give my my kids a card each and write their names on it and then have a card for myself for anything i want to buy for me and dh, for their little cousins, post cards, etc.

GREAT IDEA!

Now to figure out how much to give to everyone. We will be there for 7 days so maybe $100 per kid (they are 2 and 4) and maybe $150 for me. Do you think that's enough? I usually go with my parents and they buy the kids stuff! This is the first time i have to buy them souveniers!

 

[AngelBabyJana]

My DD has already earned 41 Disney Dollars and we have 7 more weeks till our trip and could earn more! She will be responsible for budgeting them and using them for her own souveniors this trip. I usually spend about $100+ on her each trip though. How much do you give your kids for spending? Keeping in mind she is 8 and will be in charge of this her self! I am thinking of capping her off at 50 and being in charge of the rest.

My kids will be 16, 10, and 5 when we go to Disney World for the first time. We plan on surprising them (along with my nephew as well) with $100 Disney Dollars & a gift basket (from Mickey of course). The Disney Dollars will be their spending money for whatever they want to buy - we will buy their snacks, a t-shirt, and one souvenir that they choose.

The kids also started a "change jar" (actually a big apple juice jar) - everyone throws their spare change in there at the end of the day - it is already more than half full (and we still have a long time to save!). So they will get that money added to their spending money as well.

I will probably hold their wallets for them (especially the two youngest) - they are not big into carrying wallets around with them, and I don't want to risk them losing all their money - besides that, they will be in control of what they buy during those days.

Have any of you experienced a younger child losing their money? My oldest lost her wallet at the mall a few years ago with $230 in it. I just don't want this to happen at Disney.

 

[leagirl12]

We just got back and my dd9 and ds10 both had $100 each. They both wanted mickey ears so we told them we would buy a pair of ears and one pin for their lanyards (they already had several from our previous trip). We also covered their snacks throughout the trip but anything else they wanted was up to them. We just kept up with a talley of how much they had spent instead of giving them dollars or a gift card. We did that so if they didn't spend it all it would be easy to give them the money that was left over after the trip. They came back with alot of items.....it was easier on us since they knew anything they wanted had to come out of their pocket and it kept them from begging us for every little thing.

Although I wasn't so disciplined and ended up getting them baseball hats too just because they looked so cute on them.

 

[jenndisney]

Here is what we have always done for my daughter each Disney trip. She earns her own money to spend. Some from special chores, some from birthdays and such, and she picks up every coin she can find.

We then go the bank and get a check register. We log her deposit to bank Mom and Dad. She then gets X per day to spend. We log her withdrawals in the register as they happen. She can either spend all the day's allotment or she can save it for a larger draw the next day. She usually spends the first day and then saves all the rest until the next to last day. We just promise her that she can return to whichever park she found her dream item at. She has become very wise with how she spends her money. She just walks thru the gift shops, because usually by day three, she knows what the big item will be. One year it was the large Cinderella castle with all the characters. Another time it was a kimono from Japan.

The register still makes her responsible for the money, but we do not run the risk of her loosing any of the funds.

Have a great trip!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

My kids (7 and 12) each got $25 from us. Not that doesnt buy a heck of alot, but I'm not one to be having tons of stuff to "commerate" a vacation. (Pictures, yes, I take tons pictures- and of absolutely anything the kids want a picture of and make them their own album afterwards.) DS did build your own lightsaber and DD did the fill a box of My Little Pony stuff.

Their grandmother offered to buy them either a shirt or a hat. (Both have WDW shirts. DD opted for a princess ball cap. DS actually talked her into a book instead. {about kids that get trapped in WDW?}) She also got each kid a jibbitz or pin.

No offense to anyone, but I can't see giving them $100, $200. We've got enough stuff in the house already, honestly!

 

[CarolinaMomOf3boys]

my sons already have saved $100 each. they think its for their trip in April, but we are going in August
Anyway, I went on the DISign board and found cute disney money to print off in different amounts and that is what we have been paying them...their allowance. I have also made disney envelopes with their names on it to keep their money in....I dont think they will need more than $100 although my youngest is pretty aggressive in his savings. I have already made TONS of tshirts and gift bag goodies for our trip, so they may not even spend very much
LOL you can check out the loot i have acquired in the link at the bottom of my signature!!

 

[jamieT]

My kids (7 and 12) each got $25 from us. Not that doesnt buy a heck of alot, but I'm not one to be having tons of stuff to "commerate" a vacation. (Pictures, yes, I take tons pictures- and of absolutely anything the kids want a picture of and make them their own album afterwards.) DS did build your own lightsaber and DD did the fill a box of My Little Pony stuff.

Their grandmother offered to buy them either a shirt or a hat. (Both have WDW shirts. DD opted for a princess ball cap. DS actually talked her into a book instead. {about kids that get trapped in WDW?}) She also got each kid a jibbitz or pin.

No offense to anyone, but I can't see giving them $100, $200. We've got enough stuff in the house already, honestly![/QUOTE

I can understand you not feeling like giving the kids money just to have a bunch of little things around the house once you get home.... however remember that as adults we get the joy of planning the trip, and lets be honest no matter how stressful planning a trip can be it is a BIG part of the fun. Think about it we plan meals we plan itineraries, we really put a lot of thought and love into Disney trips. I feel that encouraging the kids to save their allowance and turn it into Disney dollars helps them be in on the excitement. Also, believe it or not, I have heard many people say that the Disney dollars help them keep their kids tuned into how much things cost. Kids seem to think we have this endless supply of money. the Disney dollars gives them a clear idea of money and they get to choose wisely because they know when it's gone it's gone. I think it's a good life lesson. Also there is no set amount to give. DS7 has saved $122 DD5 has $40. That is what they have decided to save for. Now if your budget is 25 or 50 then give them that! Also our deal is we are going to wait to buy souvineers until day 5. then we will have been to all the parks and they will know what they have seen and what they want the most! The kids already know the plan so we don't have 9 days of the gimmees..gimme this gimme that...etc! So in short you don't have to GIVE your kids a fortune just to spoil them, but can use them as great tools for your trip and even throw in some math and life lessons..Aren't we crafty parents?? HA Always teaching our kids something..Even in Disney!