If you've send a kid to WDW on a school trip......

[bopper]

Also, for drinks, cannot they get water for free?

 

[poohfriend77]

Also, for drinks, cannot they get water for free?

They can, as long as they know to ask for a "cup of ice water" at QS places. If you just say "water," they will assume you mean bottled, and charge you for it. My husband did that a couple times when ordering meals on our last trip and would just pay for it rather than correct them.

 

[kwdw]

Part of my answer is based on whether or not the kid drinks a lot of bottled water. A bottle of water at Disney is $2.75. Let's assume they want 3 of those per day. That's $9 per day on bottled water. So - $36. Florida water tastes horrible - especially if you aren't used to it - and the last thing you want a kid doing during a band trip in July is rationing their money on drinks. Free water for me doesn't work - I just can't drink it in the Orlando area. Also - what meal are they paying for? While they could spend less - I'd budget $20 on that. Yes - that is high if you are talking about a typical QS meal - But a drink, entree, and a dessert could easily be $17. $20 times four - $80. A snack - are you thinking about a candy bar from the hotel gift shop - or an ice cream sundae at MK? $5-10 per day - let's say $30 for four days. A Disney top (t-shirt, sweatshirt) - those range from $25 to $50 for reasonably priced ones. Mouse ears or a Disney baseball cap? $15-30. Now - stops while traveling (airplane/bus) - that might $20 bucks on who knows what.

So - I'd say a min. of $200 dollars. If the kid never gets to go to Disney with family and the family can afford it - I might take that up to $250 to account for more souvenirs.

I'd suggest just $50 in cash and the rest either on Disney gift cards or the pre-paid VISA card. The nice thing about the Disney gift cards - you could get three of them for $50 and they wouldn't have to carry all of them at once. BUT - if they tend to lose things like that - maybe one card is a good thing - though it's a bigger problem if lost. Also - you didn't say if they are staying at a Disney hotel. If not staying at a Disney hotel - I'd give more money in cash or on a pre-paid VISA card since some of their expenses won't be on property.

 

[Eastern]

I think I gave my son $125 and he didn't spend it all. Depends on the kid. I gave cash because I think it's easier to keep track of than multiple gift cards.

 

[McKelly]

My daughter went on a four day band trip with only one meal included. I gave her $200 for food on a Disney gift card and she wanted $100.00 of her own money loaded on to the Disney gift card as well, for spending money. So, she had $300.00 gift card and I also gave her $50.00 cash. She spent it all......

I also sent her breakfast food for the hotel and some snacks.

 

[Clifton Tesh]

Man, I thought this was going to be like a "if you give a mouse a cookie" type thing