Kids and money in the park

[EjandMD]

In February my mom and I are taking my neice and nephews (Feb 15-20) and yes I know the crowds are going to be horrific. My sister-in-law is going with us to and I don't want the kids bugging her for a coke every 10 min. Now I already am giving them $80 in Disney Dollars but I thought that could be for any keepsakes they want to buy. The kids are 14, 9, and 7. How much will it cost per day for those snacks and cokes? Lunches will be eaten together so I'm not considering that. Does anyone have any creative ideas in dealing with these things?

Thanks

Dec 2-9 2005 Yacht or Poly
Dec 9-11 2005 Hard Rock
Feb 15-20 2005 (?)

WE will have our green ears out!

 

[Troy08]

Sodas and water runs 2-3 bucks, popcorn 2-3, rice krispie bars shaped liked Mickey 1.89. etc......Give them each 10.00, when it;'s gone, it's gone. Or give the oldest child 20.00 and tell him/her that this is snack money for the three of you. Choose wisely!

 

[babar41]

Came up with this idea years ago when I was taking my DD's to the State Fair. Every year when we went I spent soooo much $$$$'s because it seemed like we couldn't walk past anyplace with food or drink that one of the girls didn't want something. Same thing held true for souvies. One year as we got out of the car heading for the Fair I handed each girl $20. Told them that I would pay for lunch, but anything extra that they wanted (snacks, drinks or souv.) would come out of their $20. They could spend it on anything they wanted. My youngest asked "If we don't spend it all do we get to keep the change?" I told her yes.

Oldest came home with $15, youngest came home with $20. Neither one asked me for anything because they had their own money. Wish I had thought about this a few years earlier!

 

[katebeth]

I would give so much per day. Instead of giving them a huge amount all at once. The first day can kind of be a trial run of how much you should give them for the rest of the days that you are there.

 

[kilee]

I'd bring water bottles-- or something of the sort. Essentially I don't think thats something you can limit them on. However, for the soda and snacks we tell DS it's 1 snack in the park per day. We don't do soda in the park because it doesn't keep you hydrated as well. He can have that w/ his lunch or dinner.

As for spending money-- he too gets a set amount for the whole trip. If he truly were to want to waste it on snacks and soda he could but he hasn't yet. Also, he works for that money in the month or two leading up to the trip. I usually will match what he earns. I do have to say most of his ends up getting wasted on video games.

 

[EjandMD]

Thanks I love those ideas I really like the way you guys presented it to the kids, it really makes them feel responsible for their own spending. I also like the idea of not giving it to them all at once. So I think I will give them each money each day. Cool!

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

Even as someone who is child-free, I have to say how much I like threads like this.

I had an aunt who did much of this economic teaching when I was small. My mom was a spender, so I didn't get my money sense from her. Although I appriciate the nicer things and don't mind spending money for them when I have it, I have to say the interesting economic responsibility I learned at a small age (5-6) has really helped me as an adult.

Your kids will thank you!

N.E.D.

 

[fanofmickey]

My kids will receive a certain dollar amount per day to be spent any way they wish. We will buy one snack in the afternoon, and will buy all meals. My rule at home is anything you want to drink with your meal, but water in between, and they will be expected to follow this rule at WDW as well. We will bring water bottles, and if my info is correct, ice water is free at any CS restaurant, right?

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

I see threads like this fairly often, and we have four kids so I always look for good ideas.

But, fact of the matter is, my kids have not asked for much in the parks. I don't know if it was creative placement by Disney or what, but it seems like you're so busy with rides and there isn't a lot of stuff around for snacking unless it's somewhere you're going to sit still for a while (like, there are carts by the castle - where people sit for parades and fireworks).

They kids were so captivated by everything we were doing, they never wanted to stop to sit down for something. By the time we knew it, it was lunch and we'd all sit down for that. Then, we'd stop sometimes in the mid-afternoon for a mickey bar, or popcorn on the way out the door for naps/rest.

Our rule is that they have a set amount to spend on souveniers and that they cannot buy it until the end of the trip. Otherwise they want something at every park/in every store and then when they get it, they regret it.

It was worth going BACK to the contemporary resort to get DDs the "American Girl" princess costumes at the end of our trip - any time they'd see something in a window I would just say "okay - if that's what you really want to spend your Disney Dollars on, that's fine - but then you aren't going to get the Princess Costume - you have to pick what you REALLY want".

Worked like a charm!