How much $pending money for 15 yo?

[KelliLee702]

How much money for meals would you give your 15 yo son?

It would be to cover snacks, lunch and dinner for Friday & Saturday.

He will be going with a High School group and Breakfast is provided.

I was thinking $60.00? Too much? Not enough?

What do you think?

 

[jlwhitney]

Doing some quick research on the menus for counter service (fast food) at DLR and it looks like meals run from 10-15 (meal and drink) and some a litter lower.

I would say 60 may cute it close if he is a big eater, but if he is a lite eater you may be fine. Personally I would not go over 70. It will be a great learning adventure for him to budge his money.

I would say the hardest will be making sure he spends it on meals and not souvenirs and to bring home any extra if it remains.

 

[jory29]

$30 bucks a day may not go far enough, I would be inclined to give $80 and state that you're hoping to get back some change, maybe $10-$20. Appetites in boys that age can increase HUGELY when in the park, plus you want him to have enough $$ to buy sodas if thirsty, etc., and churros, etc. to keep his blood sugar up.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Most counter service entrees are going to run $10-$15. Soda is almost $3. Then there's tax. Snacks such as a bakery treat, churro, pretzel, or ice cream are going to range from $3-$6.

$80 would probably be quite comfortable. If it was me though, I would probably tell him to pack some granola bars and small snacks and drink water with some of his meals. Then I would give him $70 or $75 for two days and remind him to bring home the change.

 

[blackjackdelta]

When my daughter did this a few years ago I gave her a $100 Visa card with some spending guidance. I worked well.

Jack

 

[DisneyLovin]

I think it depends on your son and how much he eats.

I agree that it would be a good a idea to get him some snacks to bring into the park. You also have to take into consideration that he will mostly likely be walking around and on his feet all day. Some people, such as myself, get extremely queasy unless they have enough nutrition. I was just in Disneyland on Tuesday and was constantly eating something almost every 20 minutes because I feel queasy if I don't.

I also think that $80 would be a good amount. With $40 a day he can buy some snacks and eat at least 2 meals a day.

Disney can be draining if you don't have enough food and nutrition in you.

 

[KelliLee702]

When my daughter did this a few years ago I gave her a $100 Visa card with some spending guidance. I worked well.

Jack

Thanks for ALL the replies.
Jack,
Did your daughter have any problems using the VISA anywhere in the park?
Where did you purchase it? I find that most of them charge $4 -$6 to purchase/activate them. Was this the case with your purchase?

Thanks

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks for ALL the replies.
Jack,
Did your daughter have any problems using the VISA anywhere in the park?
Where did you purchase it? I find that most of them charge $4 -$6 to purchase/activate them. Was this the case with your purchase?

Thanks

She did not say she any problems with the Visa but I did not delve into many specifics. She had some cash($10) and the card. We bought it at Walmart and there was no charge at purchase that I remember. Our kids when they were younger traveled to DLR alot with different choirs, bands, parades, etc we always used the cards. If they need more cash there are the cash machines. I just did not think they need the problems that come with cash.

Jack

 

[KelliLee702]

She did not say she any problems with the Visa but I did not delve into many specifics. She had some cash($10) and the card. We bought it at Walmart and there was no charge at purchase that I remember. Our kids when they were younger traveled to DLR alot with different choirs, bands, parades, etc we always used the cards. If they need more cash there are the cash machines. I just did not think they need the problems that come with cash.

Jack

Can he use the VISA to get cash? Just checking . . . Thanks

 

[blackjackdelta]

Can he use the VISA to get cash? Just checking . . . Thanks

She said she used a cash machine, do not know the rules for the Visa pre-loaded cards. I suppose they can be looked up on the Visa website.

Jack

 

[Thundergod]

I would recommend you giving him a couple hundred bucks. I know when I went on trips with school(one of the Disneyland) I was always worried about running outta cash. Who knows he may wanna get his mother something special for mothers day with the extra..

 

[starry_solo]

Or you could give him a Disney gift card with $100.

 

[M&C]

We have a teenage girl, so it might be slightly different. We got her a debit card through Wells Fargo as part of a teen account. We transfer her allowance to it directly. When she goes out of town, we add to her account so we can monitor what she's spending.

 

[CrazyDuck]

Give him $200 and tell him to guy you a souvenir!

 

[Kittyskyfish]

We have a teenage girl, so it might be slightly different. We got her a debit card through Wells Fargo as part of a teen account. We transfer her allowance to it directly. When she goes out of town, we add to her account so we can monitor what she's spending.

I like this idea. Lost cash is unrecoverable. I would send a 15-year old out with a debit card, along with some small pocket cash for nickel and dime things. If he loses his debit card, he can call and cancel the card (put the bank's 800 number in his phone). And as back-up, there's a Travelex in Downtown Disney. They do Western Union transfers.

 

[Cagirl767]

I thought some kiosks won't take debit/credit cards?

 

[christine*]

I don't take the people selling balloons and glow sticks take debit/credit cards but I had no trouble buying bottle water or a churro from random carts using my card.

 

[KelliLee702]

I would recommend you giving him a couple hundred bucks. I know when I went on trips with school(one of the Disneyland) I was always worried about running outta cash. Who knows he may wanna get his mother something special for mothers day with the extra..

Give him $200 and tell him to guy you a souvenir!

Thanks for the advise! I will be at the parks, too. So, I think I have all the info I need.

It will be a great trip!