How much do you normally spend on suveniors???

[Twinprincesses]

I am wondering how much I should take for all the extras. I have twin 3 year old girls so I know they are going to want alot of stuff. I also do not want to buy alot of junk but since we do not do much vacation wise any other time during the year I do want to splurge a bit.

So I am just curious how much others spend.

 

[catherines_mama]

I think it really depends on your normal spending style and your budget.

My DD will be 5 this trip, was almost 3 on our last, but we've done short trips whenever in FL since. I always have a 1 purchase rule. YUP.. I'm a mean mom! BUT Before we leave I stock up on lots of Disney stuff (little teddy bears etc from the Disney Store) and lay them out as we leave the room that day so its there when we get home. That way she gets a surprise every day BUT I'm not spending LOTS of money on stuff at the parks.

This trip since she's a little older and understands a bit better I'm giving her $40 Disney Dollars to spend however she wants during the week. We're not leaving til June and I'm already explaining the process to her. I'm still going to get some little things before we go, but not as much since she'll get her own spending money.

Again, its all about your personal style and how much they are used to getting.. ME I'm NOT a shopper much, esp. at Disney. I'm there, I want to enjoy Disney, not the shops. So planning ahead keeps me out of the stores. But that is just me, a friend of mine basically goes JUST to shop, so its all about how you are.

Good luck and have a blast with your girls, they will LOVE IT!

 

[mytwotinks]

I have to admit that we bought something every day we were there. I didn't think that we would on our next trip, but we did then too. My girls started collecting these little stuffed Minnies and they had the cutest stuffed princesses and then Mommy just couldn't leave without the castle and we HAD to have the frames etc.......... I budgeted $100 a day for food and $100 for spending money. We did about that on food, but much less on spending. I am a pretty cheap gal in the real world, but I just can't help myself when I get around the magic!

One thing that really seemed to work with my daughter was giving her a daily allowance. She had $10 a day. If she begged or whined or just acted obnoxious she would loose $0.50 or $1.00. It barely ever happened. This REALLY helped her remember to act right. I DO NOT bribe my kids in the "real" world, but it helped there. You have to give a kid a little incentive. The whole place is designed to make them want EVERYTHING!!!

 

[la79al]

It really depends a lot on what your girls are like in stores. We took our barely 4 year old last year and we had to really pressure her on our last day there to pick something, anything for a souvenir. She finally picked out a Nemo purse and I'm pretty sure that's it. Of course now, 8 months later, she shows no interest in the purse. She is MUCH happier with the numerous pictures we took, the autographs from Chef Mickeys and especially the 1 1/2 hours we stood in line to get pics with the princesses. But she is not one to beg for things in stores in general. Overall I think we spent less than $400 for the four of us (we had to push DS 8 to pick out a souvenir as well) and most of that was souvenirs for people back home. We did take somewhere around 400+ pictures though which has turned out to be the nicest souvenir.

 

[bubba73]

There are a couple of ways to do this. I do agree with the previous poster in the fact that it depends on your budget and spending habits. I typically by a lot of little things. We have a collection of magnets, playing cards, coffee mugs (my parents), pins, hats, and of course t-shirts. I wish my budget would let me be more extravagant but it hasn't. At the same time, you can set a side a Disney fund for your girls. You know. Everytime they do good or anything that you can reward for, give them a little bit of money to put towards a souvy that they want while they are there. I know that they are young but I did this with my DD when she was about 3 as well and it worked very well. She was able to save up almost $20.

 

[Cameo]

On our last trip and on our next one we are letting DS6 and DD8 spend $60 each on whatever they want, plus we will buy them some pins and maybe a t-shirt. This seemed to be a good amount for them last time. It seems like things add up so fast and even though we (adults) don't get much we end up spending around $400. We always buy some posed pictures and drink mugs so that is included in there. And, yes, as someone mentioned, the cost of photo copies when you get home is a lot - about $150 for us.

 

[riopooh]

Beware the pins. We were able to keep on budget but then my son spent his own $ on pins - so I relented and got some for my daughter. They run from $6 to 12 each!! (more then I make an hour!!)

Our last trip I gave each of them a prepaid Amex card and when it was gone - they were done. (for my contribution part - they has each brought some of their own $ - DD5 had $20 - DS 11 had $60)

My son messed me up with those pins though!

Their favorite souvenirs were the pressed pennies - well worth the $.51!!

 

[LadyZolt]

My DD (then almost 2) wanted a Minnie Mouse, so we got her that and she's loved it ever since. I think it's still sitting up on her bed and she just turned 16 last week.

My boys wanted things like light sabers from Star Tours, so we got them that. I think for three-year-olds, let them pick one special thing. As my kids got older, I gave them $20 or $30 to get what they wanted, plus everyone gets a T-shirt, too. My sons get the ones with a something like "Bad Attitude" on the front and then Grumpy the dwarf on the back. I get one that says the year on it. Anyway, I think it's a good idea to set a limit before you go because there's so much stuff there, it's easy to get carried away.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Sinderelli]

We went to WDW in September and I was on a shopping frenzy for some reason! The crowds were extremely light so we got to spend a lot of time in Downtown Disney....We wound up buying a $300.00 Lego table with accessories from the Lego store. It wound up being our best souvenir, though, because my DS6 spends HOURS at the table. On this trip I am planning on being a LOT more conservative. I like to buy the autograph books and t-shirts the most.

 

[mamacatnv]

Our 16 yr old had about $150 which he mainly used to bring things home to the girls and a few "Goofy" things for him. We bought all his pins and the hat & sweatshirt. Our DD had $110 which she used for her big Eeyore, her giant pixie stick (what is the point of those anyway?) her Mr. Potato head box of parts and a personalized parasol.

We spent approx:
3 family ornaments and had them personalized Total $75
Set of 4 classic coffee mugs $50
A sweatshirt for ea member in family $200
Hat of some sort for all $75
Asst. glow in the dark gadgets $50
Autograph books, pens and drink straps - $40
Pins, pins and more pins $400
Asst. gifts for family,friends, coworkers, teachers, housesitter etc $300
Daily mousekeeping 5 per day and 10 on the last day $50
DD;s hair wrap - $50 w/tip
Misc non food items $75
Valet-5/ME driver-10 and Porter at airport-20 tips $35 - only used 1 way
2-face painting sessions for DD $30
A lot of this obviously could have been cut down or curtailed if necessary.


So thats where all the $$$ went

MamaCatNV

 

[aunt kelly]

On this trip, the kids will be 13 & 11 and we will probably give them about $50 each to spend on whatever they want. If they ask us to buy them more we'll say exactly what we say when this happens at the local mall-"you can buy it if you spend your own money on it." It's amazing how fast my kids decide they can live w/out something if they must spend their birthday money to get it.

I don't feel the least bit guilty about not buying the kids a bunch of souvenirs-I am taking them to Disney World after all!

 

[Nicolepa]

I think it really depends on your normal spending style and your budget.

My DD will be 5 this trip, was almost 3 on our last, but we've done short trips whenever in FL since. I always have a 1 purchase rule. YUP.. I'm a mean mom! BUT Before we leave I stock up on lots of Disney stuff (little teddy bears etc from the Disney Store) and lay them out as we leave the room that day so its there when we get home. That way she gets a surprise every day BUT I'm not spending LOTS of money on stuff at the parks.

This trip since she's a little older and understands a bit better I'm giving her $40 Disney Dollars to spend however she wants during the week. We're not leaving til June and I'm already explaining the process to her. I'm still going to get some little things before we go, but not as much since she'll get her own spending money.

If you are a mean mom then I must be bordering on child abuse! My kids (3 & 5) get $25 each on the last day. They are allowed to window shop as much as they want, but they can't buy anything until the last day. This has always worked well. (I rarely buy them anything when we are out and about so they are not used to getting something each time they go into a store.) I do not do surpises for them thruout the trip etc. The only other thing they will get is a T-shirt if they ride a new big kid ride (TOT for 40 inches, Space Mtn 44 inches etc), and they only get one shirt per trip (there are a lot of 40 inch rides LOL).

 

[mhaley]

I buy a couple of T-shirts at the Disney Store before we go. They are usually only $6-$8 each. I also do this for hats. They each get $25 towards the end of the trip to pick out some stuff. I keep the shirts and hats for the next trip if they are going to still fit. We spend very little on souvenirs because I am busy saving for the next trip.

 

[ncbyrne]

It depends on whether you are just talking sourvenirs for 3 year olds, or stuff for Mom and Dad too. On each trip we always buy something unique for the house: ceraminc floor cat ($50 Epcot), wooden kissing statue ($35 AKL gift shop), glass floral bouquet (I LOVE this! $90 China pavillion Epcot), WDW vacation matted photo frame, etc, etc. When we take our DGDs they each get $50 to spend however they want.

 

[MichelleChell]

I am going to sound crazy but my DD will be 3 when we go. So far she has $120 saved up of her $. Grandpa always gives her $ and her Christmas gift $. She is 2 right now and I just put it back for the trip. When she gets the Mommy I want that I will make her use her $. I am also saving up over $1000 for food and stuff.

I plan on going to the outlet mall for stuff rather then buy it at WDW. I hear it is owned by WDW and things are almost half of what they are at the parks.

 

[shelleyz]

When we go in August my 2 boys will probably have between $100-$120 each to spend on whatever they want. We have a disney jar that we throw all our change in and some dollar bills too and thats there spending money. Last year my then 4 year old bought more than my 6 year old. My 6 year old likes spending in the arcade. I usually by myself a t-shirt and a magnet, so I don't spend much.

 

[PolyAddict]

I don't leave home without at least $150 a piece for my kids. That's not including what my relatives give them. Last year we went twice and they probably spent a minimum of $200 each on each trip. This IS vacation. We do not splurge like that normally. Last trip some friends were there at the same time and they were not buying anything for their little girl. Once we all went on a ride except for my DH, DD5 and our friends DD6. My DD5 wanted and hat so my DH bought it and one for the other little girl to be nice and after that every time we passed a store she secretly wispered to us to buy her something, very irritating. I think on the last day they picked out her gift and it was a T-shirt. Just be aware of this if you are going with others with different spending styles.

 

[themudd4]

My DD & DS save there own money and that is their spending money for "WHAT EVER THEY WANT". I think last year my DD (11 @ the time) ended up with about $225, and my DS (5 @ the time) about $150. There money is for them (and or friends that they wanted to buy for. We pay for all the extra's. But, don't just think of how much you need for suveniors...You will also want extra's around the parks, like ice cream, drinks, pictures, film, whatever. It is those extra's that will eat you alive if you are not prepared for them.

Last year I think we spent a small fortune, but hey it is vacation and we work hard all year long to be able to live it up while we can. Plus it is special memories we are making...ie: Character meals, Mom and Daughter hair twist...Father & Son fishing...all extra's that I would not change for anything!

 

[mill4023]

Last year, our kids were 1, 4, 7, and 10.
We gave them each a $50 limit that they could spend however they chose. Then we also bought them a few other things that we wanted to buy them (piggy banks, t-shirts), not things they specifically asked for.
Overall, for me, DW, and 4 kids, we probably spent $400 on our 10 night trip.

Unless you plan on buying them everything they ask for, I'd highly recommend giving them a set limit. It worked great because they understood that once they spent their money, they were done. So there was no whining or begging for us to buy them anything.

 

[AnotherHappyHaunt]

We're just two adults.

Last weekend, we spent:
one men's hooded, embroidered zipper WDW sweatshirt $54
one women's hooded embroidered zipper Boardwalk Inn sweatshirt $49
one pair of WDW women's track pants $32
(above are things we did not expect to buy but had to for various reasons)

three Off Kilter CDs totalling $60
one Boardwalk Christmas tree ornament $20
one Ex. Everest shirt $22
(these three were planned for and budgeted for)

one historical "action figure" from the gift shop at the American Adventure $5
one walt & Mickey ornament $12
(totally impulse buys)


This was excessive spending for us. Normally we would not drop $100 on sweatshirts but it was absolutely freezing and we knew we'd wear them at home a lot too. The track pants were also a necessity due to me getting a large wound on my leg that made the jeans I had brought unbearable to wear.

The $60 on cds was something I had planned for and budgeted for, as was the resort ornament and the EE shirt.