How much spending $ for kids?

[M&E]

We're going to Disney in August. We haven't really told our sons (3&5) yet, though they have seen me online making plans. I was thinking about 12 weeks before the trip that I start offering them Disney dollars to earn. I was thinking they could earn about 3 dollars a week ($36 total) by doing jobs above and beyond what is normally expected of them. I'm sure Grandma and Grandpa will also give them each about $20 for spending money. How does about $56 sound for a 3 & 5 year old for 9 days at Disney? Too much? Not enough? Of course we'll get them any snacks they need. This would just be things they want to buy at the gift shop. How much does a stuffed Mickey cost? What about those cups of legos at the DTD lego store? Thanks

 

[brymolmom]

My kids have been 3 & 5 on our last 2 trips. They are now 4 and 5. We are just starting to do the 'earn your own disney dollars' thing now....Before this - we would just designate a certain amount of souveniers. We usually say they can't buy anything until we go to Downtown Disney later in the trip. However, if they came across something that I know they will truly love and use - I would tell them they could have it earlier than Downtown Disney.

I usually bring a couple of new things from home for them that I buy for a lot less $$ - a new tee shirt and a new toy. THat way they already have 2 or so new things. Then we let them buy about 2 more (within reason on prices)- they get about 2 things in the $10 - $25 range each.

I think that much $$ is plenty for kids those ages.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

My kids have to earn all of their Disney spending money. So they save allowance and birthday money, etc. Each time we have gone they have each had over $100 to spend. And they usually spend most of it! The first time we went they were 3 & 5.

You're not going to get much cheap at Disney! Like last year, they each got a Star Wars Build you own Lightsaber for $20, and they each got a Fill your own Pirate Skull with Loot for $20. That's only 2 things and with tax over $40 each is gone.

It is a good idea to let them know ahead of time how much they have to spend and with each purchase tell them how much will be left. Then they can make the decision if it's worth it or not.

Have fun!

 

[brehan9403]

Both my kids had $100 each for a our 5 day trip last year for spending money. It came from family members since it was our first trip.

 

[brightvalleyjrts]

My boys are 2 and 5, and they each have $100 to spend while we are at disneyworld. We will be there for 6 days.

 

[gabriellyn]

Both of my older children had $200 each to spend - my parents saved up their Disney Rewards Dollars and gave them a wonderful Christmas gift with that, plus they saved up their allowances. My DD12 is the "spender" while my DS7 is the "saver" but he ended up blowing through his $$ by the end of day 3!!! DD had $$ left over after the trip! What a surprise. DS likes to collect those little Mickeys and Donalds and such - like Jedi Mickey and Darth Goofy, etc. - they start at 9.95 and up. It seems like every ride's giftshop has the cutest little Mickey ever - lots of rides, lots of Mickeys! LOL

Hope this helps in some way! Good luck.

 

[james'mommy]

my son usually ends up with a budget on $10 or so per day. we also sometimes supplement it by buying some small souvinears with mommy and daddy's money

 

[karajeboo]

Yeah, we tried that last time but the pixie dust got us - it seemed that DH and I were the ones suggesting things to our daughter!!! We went in with a plan to limit her souveniers and we all came home with so much it was ridiculous. DH just laughs and says "the pixie dust got me."

 

[Minnie_me]

My girls are 7 and 10, and they raised money by selling lemonade and cookies and having a garage sale (of their own items). They each had about $120 to spend at Disney. We put the money on Disney gift cards, and it was great! It seemed like just enough. Each girl got a stuffed character, a t-shirt, jewelry, a purse, a cup, a hat, pins, and gifts for friends!

 

[danx2plus3more]

last trip my kids recieved 180$ gift cards...this trip i plan on giving them about 225 a piece...and doing visa gift cards again...that way if they dont spend it all they can use it later

 

[Momvic5]

Yeah, we tried that last time but the pixie dust got us - it seemed that DH and I were the ones suggesting things to our daughter!!! We went in with a plan to limit her souveniers and we all came home with so much it was ridiculous. DH just laughs and says "the pixie dust got me."

The pixie dust got to us too!! I don't know who likes the souveniers more ~ my husband and I or the kids!

 

[kindra657]

We're going to Disney in August. We haven't really told our sons (3&5) yet, though they have seen me online making plans. I was thinking about 12 weeks before the trip that I start offering them Disney dollars to earn. I was thinking they could earn about 3 dollars a week ($36 total) by doing jobs above and beyond what is normally expected of them. I'm sure Grandma and Grandpa will also give them each about $20 for spending money. How does about $56 sound for a 3 & 5 year old for 9 days at Disney? Too much? Not enough? Of course we'll get them any snacks they need. This would just be things they want to buy at the gift shop. How much does a stuffed Mickey cost? What about those cups of legos at the DTD lego store? Thanks

In nov '07 we tried something different with our dd-6. every time we went to disney, my dd would ask for EVERYTHING under the sun! of course i didn't buy everything she wanted but we would spend a lot and it simply drove us crazy! i didn't want to do any shopping because i knew that she would say "mommy i want this, mommy, mommy,"!!!! URG!!!
so for this past trip i told dd to save all of her money for disney. she saved money from the tooth fairy, grandparents, & money she earned helping around the house. before we left she had saved over $40! i then gave her an extra $60 to 2 spend but we didnt want her to carry that much cash around so we went to toys r us & bought some really cool play money. we counted out $100.00 to her (broken down in 20's, 10's, 5's, 1's, & change) & we put it in her wallet. then we explained that anything special that she wanted, she had to buy. we further explained that we will only be paying for food, snacks, & things like that.

dd bought a mickey mouse collar for our dog, a princess piggy bank for her best friend (cause she is coming with us in '08 & dd wants to help her save) an autograph book, necklace, & mickey sorcerer's hat for herself. that was it!!! because she was spending her own money, she didn't want everything! this method also saved our sanity & the best part: she practiced counting money on her own

i believe she came home with $40 & we told her that she can save it for disney sept '08! it's amazing how kids change when they are spending their own cash!

 

[Coach81]

My wife and I have come up with "Disney Points". We reward every good thing they do (chores around the house, good grades, excellent behavior) with 1 or more "good points" and we give "bad points" for bad behavior. Both of my children (10, 5) boys had around 100 good points by the time we left for Disney last week. We converted those points into dollars and put them on a visa gift card for each of them. They got to sign for the items that they bought, and they are getting introduced to how to manage money, and how to earn money.

The new point sheet is back up for our trip in May!