How much?

[melmacd]

This will be the second time we'll have visited DL since Dec 2005... HOWEVER, this is only our second vacation ever and we won't be going back for 3-5yrs.

So, for people who visit multiple times (2-4x) a year who give their children $25 each per trip over a 3yr span that would equal in the neighborhood of between $150-$300. About the same, really.

Obviously we're going to hold on to the money for her and it's not like we're going to encourage her to spend it all, but if she finds something special, why not? This trip is for her birthday.

I'm not sure why I feel like I have to defend our giving her the amount of money she'll have. I guess all I was hoping for from this thread was "Yeah, that will be more than enough" or "No, it's not enough". Ah well.

~mel

 

[hlbtimes2]

I'm not sure why I feel like I have to defend our giving her the amount of money she'll have. I guess all I was hoping for from this thread was "Yeah, that will be more than enough" or "No, it's not enough". Ah well.

~mel

Mel, dont feel bad. I think its natural to feel a bit defensive when people seem like they are questioning your choice. But, I dont think that is what anyone was trying to do. I think we were all just trying to tell you our experience and way of handling the money issue while there. Have a great trip! She'll have more then enough money to spend. I actually found that when our dd was spending her own money rather then ours, she was much more careful about what she spent it on. She didnt take a lot with her and came home with some of it!

 

[FallDisney]

I agree. I wasn't trying to question your decision, but give our experience so you'd know how it worked with us.

I too found that my kids didn't "want"/"need" so much when it was their money on the line. My oldest thinks that Mom and Dad's money is a renewable resource, whereas her's is not. It makes her much more careful.

I think you'll find the amount your daughter has is most likely sufficient. She may even splurge on snacks during your trip too.

Have a great time!

 

[beckanoah]

Thank you for the Build-A-Bear coupons...

This will be GREEEEEEEEEEAT

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We go once a year, to me that's not very often. If we lived close and went several times a year I wouldn't feel the need to have so much spending money for him.

But for us it's a vacation. A time to splurge. Besides I'm not sure what a kid could buy with just $20. A shirt costs more then that there! LOL Even though my son get alot during DL trips, you should see how much he treasures everything. He spent 2 hours last night playing with the little pirate Mickey ship he got LAST July from there. So I don't feel it's wasted money. As an adult I can't justify spending $100+ on myself for a snowglobe, and turn him down when he sees something special he wants. With the prices at DL I don't expect him to always pick out these that don't cost much.

But I agree, if we went all the time, or my son was just buying stuff to buy it and throw it in his toy box it would be a different story.

 

[wvnative]

On our last trip, we didn't buy many souvenirs. She usually just takes whatever money she has earned. It is hers to spend afterall. Now that she has a job, I'm sure she'll be spending more money at the park. lol

I think $200 will be plenty for your DD.

 

[ChrisMouse]

I think it's hard to say. My last Disney trip was my honeymoon (11.5 years ago! Yikes!) so I am expecting prices to freak me out.

That said, this is a very special trip for us...my first trip with my kids...I can't wait! I just know I will want them each to have a t-shirt & maybe a sweatshirt...something special like a plush Mickey or Goofy...my DD will need "something Princess"...PLUS, they HAVE to have Mickey Ears...I never had any of my own, and I can't wait to have a picture of my kids wearing theirs by the castle. This could get scary!

This is also a "surprise" trip. We aren't telling our kids until the morning we leave, so I'm not giving them much chance to earn extra money before they go. They will have a little bit of pocket money from their grandparents to use, but I'm sure I will need to supplement.

By the time I blink, I'm sure I will have spent the farm.

I'm with other posters...

When you don't get to go often, you might give the kids more spending money than someone who gets to go every year, or multiple times in a year.

(Remind me I said that when I come home broke! LOL)

 

[Mich Mouse]

Obviously we're going to hold on to the money for her and it's not like we're going to encourage her to spend it all, but if she finds something special, why not? This trip is for her birthday.

I'm not sure why I feel like I have to defend our giving her the amount of money she'll have. I guess all I was hoping for from this thread was "Yeah, that will be more than enough" or "No, it's not enough". Ah well.

~mel

Enjoy your trip and don't worry about what other people think.

It is a very special occasion for your little princess!

 

[NVDisMom]

That should be plenty of money for her to spend. My advice would be to let her window shop during the day and purchase before going back to the hotel (don't try to do this when the park is closing tho...what a nightmare). I say this from experience, packing stuff around the park is not my idea of fun. My girls are 7 and 9 and yet I still carry their stuff. The plus side of this is that she will have had a chance to think over her purchase, rather than it be an impulse buy. Whatever sticks in her mind will be what she will cherish.

 

[melbarkwith]

Don't feel you have to defend the spending money your DD will have.

Like you, we will not be coming back for quite some time (takes too long to save the $$ to go! lol!) DH and I last went to Disneyland 7 years ago and this will be the girls' first trip.
I would prefer them to have a certain amount to spend on things like stuffed toys & other non-practical items than bug me about it all day, every day. Hopefully it will cut out quite a lot of whining (that's the plan anyway).
They know that they will have their own $$, but not the total amount. We will dish it out to them daily. It could be quite interesting...

Mel

 

[noladave]

since both of our kids are into the Disney pins, we (mom and dad) but 1 pin per day (usually between 7 and $16), plus 1 "big" gift. That usually keeps them happy. They can substitue a small gift for a pin, but that rarely happens. Every time they get into the "can I have that?" mood, the reponse is - that's your 1 gift, is that what you really want?

Somewhere along the line, they usually get money from Grandma, or someone else, so they can do whatever they want from that. Add in the midway games that we inevitably end up playing (and sometimes winning), and the kids have more than enough.

Based on you said you have in money, I think you have enough..