If You Don't Mind Sharing; What is the age and souvenir allowance for your kiddos?

[eliza61]

Sometimes the material things continue the experience for years. One of the days my then 5 year old son chose a Splash Mountain tshirt. He is now 13 and years ago that shirt was made into a pillow that he uses every night. Almost 9 years later that souvenir is still used every single day.

lol, Don't folks make you feel so terrible. like you're priorities are all screwed up if you dare to say you spend a lot on souveniers.

I have a collection of disney pins that are on my bookbag. I love looking at them, I can remember where each one was brought and why the kids picked them out.

 

[RainSW6]

We've only taken the kids on one trip so far (they're 5 and 1), but plan to take them every 2 or 3 years, finances willing. This first time around we got some things for them beforehand as part of the surprise on Christmas morning, and that cost about $150/200. When we were in the parks, the kids didn't really want much. My five year old really wanted a Buzz Lightyear that was $35, so we got that (saw it at the online store afterwards for less, urgh). Then we bought our younger son a plush.

We did do a couple of other extra things while there, like Pirates League, so more souvenirs were gotten that way. I think we'll do the same next trip, just buy one souvenir each and focus more money towards fun experiences in the parks rather than toys. They have so much already anyway.

 

[scrapquitler]

I would simply tell my kids "Her mom is giving her more money to spend becuase that's her budget. She doesn't have all the Disney souvenirs that you already have at home because this is her first visit here." Then I'd remind my kids "you have a Buzz Lightyear XYZ from our last trip, and a Mickey XYX fromt he year before, etc. etc."

 

[kj2mom]

lol, Don't folks make you feel so terrible. like you're priorities are all screwed up if you dare to say you spend a lot on souveniers.

I have a collection of disney pins that are on my bookbag. I love looking at them, I can remember where each one was brought and why the kids picked them out.

He takes that pillow on every overnight. It is actually quite common to hear me doing the double check when walking out the door on a trip, "do you have Splash Mountain?" Ha, if only we could pack Splash Mountain for our weekend get away !

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Okay, my DD is going to have just turned 3 when we visit, so her souvenir cost limit will be, "Whatever DH and I can restrain ourselves from buying for her."

That being said, once the kid reaches 6-7 (grade school) and can do basic math, we won't buy souvenirs. That's what allowance is for.

 

[cjbcam]

It depends. Our first trip to Diney World I thought would be a one and done thing. The kids spent about $200 each. Then we found ourselves going not even a year later. They each got to spend around $75. Now we are going again (3 trips in 3 years we are hooked lol). They are earning their souvenir money. My kids are 5,7,10 and 12 so doing chores around the house is not unreasonable. So they will spend what they've made.

 

[Goofy'slady]

For our upcoming August trip my two girls (by then 17 & 10) will get gift cards for souvenirs. My older one has expensive taste - she loves the pavilions in Epcot, especially the one in Japan. She's getting a 100 Visa gift card in case there is anything left over she can use the card anywhere she chooses. The baby will receive a 50 Disney gift card. Both of them have birthdays before the trip so any money they get as gifts they are more than welcome to take and use at their discretion.

 

[JennysSeven]

I plan on providing each of my children with an autograph book (those who want them anyway), a lanyard and starter set of pins for trading (again, only the ones who are interested in that), and a roll of quarters and pennies for the pressed penny machines, as some of mine collect those when we travel. I'm also giving them opportunities to earn extra money for the trip. They will be responsible for any souvenirs they want, and any snacks over what they will already get with our DDP. Based on past experience I imagine our older kids will go with around $200 (and choose not to spend most of it, lol) the middle ones will go with about $100 and spend every penny, and the littlest 2 won't earn much, will ask for everything in sight, and will have to be content with maybe one small toy each at the end of the trip.

Oh, I also plan on picking up small things, especially Disney-themed items I find on sale/clearance out our Disney Store outlet or Dollar Tree, and giving those to the kids throughout the trip. That way they won't feel quite as big a "need" to buy so many overpriced souvenirs in the parks.

 

[Pesky]

My kids were 4 and 6 when we went to DLR. Instead of a fixed dollar amount, I told them they could each pick a t-shirt, a pair of ears, and one souvenir no more than $25 (DD picked an animator's doll of Elsa and DS picked a small stuffed Olaf). That worked perfectly and I even got them little RSR cars as a surprise which they loved. I am not sure they'll get ears this time unless they ask for them, but definitely one shirt and one souvenir. They got some extra from grandma who was along. This trip, they will have their own spending money to add to it and I might add some other items on like a pearl from pick a pearl. So your amount seems perfectly fine.

 

[DizMe]

About $25 each (gift card). There are also additional items that might be purchased for them by dh and me, but it doesn't happen too often. We've done this since age 4. They supplement the gc with their saved money; they are now 12 (twins) and 14. I have no plans to increase the gc amount, but they do earn more money so it works out. We're not big on souvenirs--we're more into the experience

I forgot something important! We go to Disneyland, and our typical stay is 4 nights. We go often (at least once a year with the kids, and about 5 times/year for me). I think WDW would probably be an entirely different type of trip.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Our kids generally have about $25 of their own money to spend, either from chores they've done, money my mom gives them, leftover birthday money, etc. That is their money to spend as they please. Then, we allow them to each pick one souvenir up to $20 that we purchase for them.

We've been often and have a lot of Disney stuff already (birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, previous trips) so I don't feel like they need to spend a lot. I usually buy shirts at Disneystore.com or at the Disney Store outlet near us before we go, I order pins from Ebay (selectively) for trading. I will say that my husband often buys a pin or lanyard for each kid per trip - that's a "dad thing," and doesn't factor into their $20 souvenir purchase.

I do think spending $500+ on souvenirs for one kid is excessive, but I'm cheap that way. I'd rather take trips and make memories than have more stuff. We're taking the kids to DC next month and they're excited because I told them if each saved their birthday money from my husband's parents ($50 each), I'd match it and they'd have $100 to spend over the 8 days we'll be gone. They think they're rich! I just wanted them to be able to buy a little something at a lot of the places we go without having to bug me to buy it all the time!

 

[keelyhealthnut]

We are planning on giving our two kids (ages 4 and 6 at the time of the trip) $100 each. Maybe $150 each. This will likely be their only trip there...at least for a long while. They will definitely be getting a set amount and I know that their cousins will have no limits so it will be interesting. I think that they'll appreciate what they get more though and the realize that we have to stay on budget or we don't get to do fun things like that.

 

[DisMommyTX]

My kids will be 7 and 10 this summer, but have been to Disney about once a year forever. Neither are good at saving or delayed gratification, so they usually get one or two small souvenirs each day but rarely over about $10- $20 per kid, per day.

I would try explaining the difference as she has 7 trips worth of souvenirs to buy.

 

[MissDisneyDora]

For me it depends. I usually do a gift card for $100 but if I'm splurging on other things like BBB or Pirates League, I reduce this as my DD is already getting enough kit through these experiences. I always want her to bring a few memorable things home with her but find that if you overdo it, it all loses its lustre. I had a gift basket sent to the room last holiday and I won't be doing that again. I felt like she became overwhelmed with stuff and didn't appreciate it in the end. All things in moderation works best for me.

 

[JenKate]

On our first trip (to DLR) we gave them $50 each. They were little, probably 5 and 7? It probably wasn't enough between Disney & Legoland. As they've gotten older they've had more.

For our upcoming trip they'll be 13 and 15. We've found a GREAT way to earn souvenir money in the last two years. We give them the opportunity to earn a certain amount and then we match it. Over the summer I'll give them lists of special "vacation" chores. I'll keep track and then give them cash when we leave. This year they have the opportunity to earn $100 and with our match have up to $200. Plus they will each have at least one gift card. Then it's up to them to decide how to spend it. It's their choice to buy 100 churros or save it. (Ok, 50 churros for $200. But still.) My 15 year old will go with $200 and probably come back with at least $150. The 13 year old? He'll probably earn the max amount too, but he'll be the one that's eaten his entire budget up the first day.

 

[JenKate]

Oh! We have a baby now. (He's almost one and we're still surprised sometimes. ) He'll get whatever the heck he wants, because he's spoiled rotten but doesn't know it yet.

 

[indimom]

First trip, 10 days, kids were 5 and 7 and each had $50.
Second trip, 14 days, kids were 10 and 12. We gave them $50, and they each brought some of their own money from odd jobs. I'm not sure how much? Maybe another $50.
Last trip, 5 days, kids were 13 and 15. They each had about $100 of their own money.

So, for us, it varies.

In your case, OP, I would just inform the kids ahead of time. The older two should understand. The youngest may need reminding during the trip. But, I wouldn't feel like you have to give more just because you are traveling with family. Have a great trip.

 

[aaarcher86]

We gave each kid a $25 GC (7 and 9), but we bought them a few other things.

We don't buy a ton of stuff there - a Christmas tree ornament, a figurine or two, they get BBB'd so they get dresses and all that, a Tshirt and hat or ears, they have their wands from CRT and clips from cups. Nothing major.

The pictures are really our favorite takeaway.

 

[jeepnjudy]

Okay, my DD is going to have just turned 3 when we visit, so her souvenir cost limit will be, "Whatever DH and I can restrain ourselves from buying for her."

That being said, once the kid reaches 6-7 (grade school) and can do basic math, we won't buy souvenirs. That's what allowance is for.

I can relate... our DS11 spends whatever he has earned over the year in completing chores around the house... so I guess I am ultra cheap since we do not give him any $$$$ to spend toward souvenirs. Besides, he spends all his money at the Lego Store at DTD so his souvenirs are not even Disney related!

 

[Minnesota!]

I get each of my kids a $50 Disney gift card before each trip. they can use it on ANYTHING they want and when it is gone, it is gone.

I only voice my opinion if they are deciding to spend it all on day 1.


My older son usually uses his for a hat and then a bunch of iced coffee drinks throughout the vacation.

My younger son tends to forget he has it and comes home with a full card...