Ideas for giving a gift card for trip.

[Bethislucy]

First I'm not srue where i should post this.
I need some help. We are planning a trip to the world next Dec. There will be me and my sister (E) and then our other sister (L) & her husband (M) and 2 kids (A 5 at time of trip) L (9 at time of trip). As with most people money is tight. We really want to make this trip happen E & I normally buy stuff for the kids every holiday. What we were thinking about doing is starting with this Halloween put money on a gift card for each of them and just add to it for each thing we normally buy for (excluding Christmas) we figure between the 2 of them there will be enough to buy a kids 7 day pass with the gift cards. Now comes the part I am having the problem with. We want to give them the cards this Halloween and then just keep putting money on the same card (we know we can write the #’s down to do this) we are just trying to figure out a way to give the cards to them without telling them they are going to Disney next year in case it doesn’t work out. 2 things we have come up with is because the closest Disney store to them is where we live and they live 2 ½ hours away that we are just giving them money to save to go to the Disney store because the next few times they come down we have so much going on there’s no way we can go to the mall, or just tell them it’s like the change jar in mom and dad’s room that they are saving for a trip and can spend it then. Any ideas help suggestions? Oh and a side note there will be money on the card for them to spend at Disney too. Thank you in advance.

 

[TheRatPack]

My first thoughts are it's a very nice gesture. But then I think of my own children.....and how they'd react.

If I gave them Disney money that they had to turn around and spend on their own tickets for the trip, they'd do it of course if that's the only way they could go....but not necessarily be happy about paying for their own trip or tickets.

The second thought was what if your trip doesn't work out? Then they'll have a gift card they can only use at the Disney store, or they can put it back for another trip in the future if you have to reschedule.

I guess I'd probably put some money to the side for them and their trip and then gift them the gift cards as their 'spending money'. Maybe you could start both of them a nice decorated jar, call it a trip jar or something. That way if the trip falls through you can still gift them the money in the jar for a larger purchase, or just keep saving for the next trip.

You could even leave the jar at your house and text them pictures of it as it fills up, maybe they'd bring change with them when they came to visit and add to the trip jar....it would be a fun thing to watch as it grew.

 

[Missytara]

I did this a few years ago for my two stepnephews when they went to Disney. I put money on a generic gift card they could use anywhere when they were not sure if the trip was possible.

When they were sure, I got them the passports and special pens to have them signed by CM's from each country. It became a game for them; they were close in age and very competitive.

I hope they get to go!

 

[Bethislucy]

I'm not to worried about them using the money for the tickets, because it's part of what they are trying to teach them about saving for stuff you want and they really want to go to Disney world. Also with being 5 & 9 they can spend the money at the disney store and get something nice at the disney store if the trip falls through. They are already doing the change in the jar thing at home w/ their parents. I'm just trying to figure out a fun way to give it to them with out saying this is the date we are going.

The other part is we really want them to go with us on this trip that's why we came up with helping to pay for one of the kids tickets because that will save them some money.

 

[KonaKaiTom]

I surprised my two nieces with a trip back in January. Normally I get them several Christmas presents each, something sentimental, something practical and something that my sister and brother-in-law will look at, shake their heads and say "that stays at your house."

Well, last Christmas they were each given 1 large box, inside each was the itinerary for the trip they were going on in 3 short weeks. I had cleared with my sister and brother-in-law months before that it was okay, they were both still on winter break at school, so I simply bought the tickets without them having a clue. I don't know if Disney still has the deal with the passes not expiring -- I know the length of stay passes do expire at the end of your trip, but I thought you could also buy, for example, a 4 day park pass that didn't expire -- for a bit more money.

Maybe that will work?

Tom

 

[Bethislucy]

I surprised my two nieces with a trip back in January. Normally I get them several Christmas presents each, something sentimental, something practical and something that my sister and brother-in-law will look at, shake their heads and say "that stays at your house."

Well, last Christmas they were each given 1 large box, inside each was the itinerary for the trip they were going on in 3 short weeks. I had cleared with my sister and brother-in-law months before that it was okay, they were both still on winter break at school, so I simply bought the tickets without them having a clue. I don't know if Disney still has the deal with the passes not expiring -- I know the length of stay passes do expire at the end of your trip, but I thought you could also buy, for example, a 4 day park pass that didn't expire -- for a bit more money.


Tom

Maybe that will work?

Good idea Thanks