Money, Kids, Disney

[ty93850]

Ok I have 2 daughters. oldest is 13, and yougest is 10. Questions are do you give your kids chargeing ablity on there cards?. Do you give them money? Do you give them Disney Dollars? Or do you make them come to you to buy things. We have the Disney Dinning Plan so the food and snacks are taken care of. I have been trying to decide on letting them have charging to the room access or not. Give me your thoughts. PS our girls are fairly responsible so I dont think I would have to worry about piling up on the room. The other question is letting the girls off by themselves My wife is not for it at all. But I would like to let them go off and have fun but only for a short time what are your thoughts on this. They do have phones.

 

[GoofyFairie]

You are going to get a variety of answers on this one. My personal opinion is no charging abilities- cash only with a budget. Once it is gone- its gone. They will learn to put thought into what they purchase. Second- phone or no phone- there are sick and dangerous people everywhere and WDW is no exception. It isn't just about trusting your children- you can't trust all the strangers. I'm with your DW on this one-the family stays together. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[roscoepc1]

Our girls had their own spending money...they saved their prize money from last year's Fall Fair. About $100 U.S. each.

I left it in the room safe, and each day we'd write down what they saw, where it was, and how much $$ it was. Then on our last day, they decided what they wanted the most, and we went around and bought the stuff...we also did their favourite rides "one last time" before we left.

Dh took one dd, and I took the other....then we met for supper that night. It worked REALLY well!

No tears or regrets over buying one thing, then seeing something better, etc.

My girls are 10 and 6.

 

[LWatson]

I was just about to come share something my friend sent to me with you all that has something to do with this. She emailed this to me today. She thinks they will help me with my kids also. I dont know where she got the info from though.

Budgeting Kids at Theme Parks

Start Kids Saving for the Trip Early
Give them time to save. Once you start your planning, tell your kids when and where you are going. You can give them ways to earn money ahead of time for the big trip. Get a jar or bank where they can keep their money. Keep it age appropriate. You may ask your two year old to put all of his toy cars back in his room to earn a dollar. But a ten year old would have more responsibilities and earn a little more money. Remind them each time they get the money, that this is going in our savings for our trip. You can also set goals and offer to match. Let us say if they save 50 dollars, you will give them 25 to go along with it.
Set Trip Budget Parameters
Talk about the stuff they will be able to buy once they are at the theme park. Let them know that the family budget will cover their lunch for the day, but if they want candy or a snack, that will come out of their budget. The same concept goes for souvenirs. Let them know what the family budget will cover and what will be in their budget. For example, you may have in the family budget to buy them a tee shirt. But toys will come from their budget. Be clear and lay it out ahead of time to avoid any miscommunications later.
Set Your Child's Trip Budget
As it gets closer to the time for your trip, count out and see how much money each child has. Set up a budget for each child and give them a certain amount to spend each day. Again, keep their age in mind. Your older ones may get a bit more to spend each day than your younger ones. Explain to all the children that this will be their money. They can spend it however they like, but once it is gone, they cannot buy anything else that day.
Pack Ahead: Cheap Souvenirs
Another great money and stress saver is to shop before you go. You can usually find small items cheaper before you get to the actual theme park. Purchase these gifts and take them with you. On the morning of your adventure to the theme park, show them one of the items. Explain that if they behave responsibly that day, this gift will be waiting for them when they get back. This will not only encourage good behavior, but lessen the desire to buy a bunch of stuff they do not need and cannot afford.

Think about what you already have. Most smaller children will get caught up in the excitement of any theme park and want a stuffed animal of their favorite character. You know your child already has one, but it is at home, miles and miles away. So, think before you go. Pack it and bring it with you. If you child knows their favorite plush is waiting at the hotel, it will be easier to remind them why they do not need to buy another one.
Bring Along Glow Sticks
Pick up glow sticks ahead of time. You can find them in a discount store for a cheap price. When it gets dark and others are pulling out their wallets to dish out big bucks for a glow stick, you simply pull yours out of your bag and continue on with your fun.

Theme parks should be fun for the whole family. But even your youngest need to understand the value of paying for fun. If they do not have it, they can not spend it. No credit for your kids, cash only.

 

[mjkacmom]

I gave my kids gc's for their spending money. I'd let my 2 oldest go off alone with their phones - they are allowed to walk across town here with their friends, without the benefit of CM's all over the place. They've been walking to school without adults since about the 2nd grade, and are very confident, street savy, and independent. It depends on the kids.

 

[roscoepc1]

Oh, and there's NO WAY I'd let a 10 yr old and a 13 year old go off alone at Disney. Sorry, but my vote is with your wife.

 

[PrincessBetsy]

Ok I have 2 daughters. oldest is 13, and yougest is 10. Questions are do you give your kids chargeing ablity on there cards?. Do you give them money? Do you give them Disney Dollars? Or do you make them come to you to buy things. We have the Disney Dinning Plan so the food and snacks are taken care of. I have been trying to decide on letting them have charging to the room access or not. Give me your thoughts. PS our girls are fairly responsible so I dont think I would have to worry about piling up on the room. The other question is letting the girls off by themselves My wife is not for it at all. But I would like to let them go off and have fun but only for a short time what are your thoughts on this. They do have phones.

I wouldn't give them charging abilities, especially for the 10 year old, even if they are responsible. I would give them each the same amount of cash to spend throughout the entire trip - that way they don't spend a ton and they learn how to budget their money. I wouldn't let them go off by themselves. Me and my brother didn't start venturing off on our own until I was 16 and he was 13. If this is your first time to WDW, then it might be hard to find each other, even with phones. WDW is supposed to be about spending time with your family, so I would take advantage of it while you can. Hope this helps! Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[ty93850]

I dont think I will let them take off alone for a whole day. But was thinking about letting them go do a ride alone and meet up at another ride or something like that. I agree that there are alot of people out there that are not good people so that worries me aswell. The oldest daughter is pretty money savey she has her own set of cows she owns and runs so she knows the value of money dd10 is learning aswell. I have been thinking of going to the local Disney store and getting some disney dollars for them to use as spending money. They both love to do pin tradeing so that would be what most of it would used for. I just think my wife is alittle to protective, I know things are not the same as when I was young, but I was out alone when I was the oldest age. Thanks for the words so far. I may not allow them to have charging ability that way they can see the money leave there hands and be gone.

 

[scottish mum]

I wouldn't give them charging facility or let them off by themselves.

For my kids spending money they know how much they have and then it is just put in with mine and we have a piece of paper with each of the kids names and amount of money on it. If they want something during the day I buy it for them. At the end of each day we see what they have "spent" and subtract it from there money. This way we know how much they have left but we don't have to worry about them loosing money or me carrying 3 extra purses.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

My answer to your two questions -

NO WAY JOSE
and
NO WAY JOSE

Way way way to young to be out in WDW my themselves IMHO. And since (if they were my kids) they would never be out alone, theres no need for them to have a charge on their card.

 

[shoney]

Only you know your children...
I wouldn't give them access to charging...just cash in small increments to spend.

As far as going off alone, I don't see anything wrong with responsible kids going on a ride or two in a given area and meeting back at spot. I would be just fine with that if I knew my kids could handle it. To say you have to be age X doesn't work with me. You have to take each kid individually and make that decision based on how well you think the child will handle it.

 

[dougsmom98]

Given that your kids are on the cusp of becoming full blown teenagers, I would take advantage of the fact that they are still young enough to hang out with the parents and feel okay about it. You have very few years left before your kids probably are not going to want to hang out with you. My 8 and 10 year olds are starting to want freedom when we go places around here (i.e. go to the restroom alone, check out the video games at Wal Mart...), so I understand your wanting to let them have freedom. If I were to let them do anything alone at WDW, it would be to go through a line such as Thunder Mountain and then I would meet them at the exit. Good luck.

 

[DJFan88]

I vote with the not let them off alone crowd. 10 is simply too young. This is not a case of over protection. You are not going anywhere that is familiar to your child (like the local park, nearby store, etc., ). Your wife maybe overprotective in some instances, but in this case she is just plain smart. What if they lose each other, how will they handle it, etc.,
Maybe in another trip, like 2 years or so from now, when both are of a more mature age. That seems like an awful lot of responsibility to place on the oldest child right now.
Just my two cents.

 

[LadyDeb72]

I must agree with the others............

Your children are WAY too young to go off by themselves....Disney is a large place with a lot of different type of children. Responsible or not - things can happen PERIOD and Disney with the crowds of people....I just can only imagine.

As far as spending - when we went in 2006 we took Disney Dollars for spending and what a great way. Money was divided up and that was the spending $$ for the day. Everyone (including me) had a budgeted amount and it would not include "extras" - if you want it and spent your $ all at once...it made for a long trip later on......needless to say my 4 yr old spent all her $$ and my 6 yr old brought some home.

Have fun...and enjoy your trip and good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[DonnaBelle06]

I'd say a big no for your kids going off alone....I have a 9 & 7 yr old...and could not ever think of allowing them to go off alone at Disney - even if I knew I'd be right next door.....

Not trying to say this is what you should do - this is my opinion. I just cannot imagine a 10 yr old being mature enough especially if something came up (God forbid).

As far as money - do not let them charge. I'd get them to save whatever will be there spending money - and then let them know that is the money they have to spend. With us going in Aug - my kids will have separate spending money and of course we are in charge off all foods, etc. (we did Deluxe dining - upgrading to the free dining plan that is being offered).

Good luck and have fun on your trip!
Donna & Crew in NC
2nd fam trip 2009 but will be my 4th trip - I LOVE DISNEY!

 

[mom2meiko]

there is no way i'd give kids charging abilities - it's way too easy to spend more than you realize when you just hand over your card vs. cash. i'd give them cash or disney dollars (preferably have them earn it or most of it before the trip) and let them know once it's gone, it's gone.

as for going off on their own - that's really a hard question and it depends a lot on your kids. i don't think i'd be comfortable with that for the most part - but at that age they'd be ok to have some time around the resort by themselves as long as they checked in regularly and knew (and could be trusted) not to go off anywhere else. i definitely don't think i'd let them go to the parks by themselves or dtd - there are just too many creeps out there for my comfort. and i have to say, if your wife isn't comfortable with it, she will not be able to enjoy her time while they are gone because she will likely be so worried about them. it may just not be worth it.

just my 2 cents worth - good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[Queen of 3 princess]

I would never give my kids charging privlages no matter how old they are or how responsible I think they are. If they want to buy souviniers they earn money before we go. They do chores, help out, good behavior. Even our youngest who is 5 will do this. We do however help with the amount out so they are all even. They are still young. But then they have a set amount to spend and if they spend it then it's gone. This teaches responsiblity and you arn't shelling out money left and right or hearing the I want's.
I would in no way allow my children at that age to go around a theme park by themselves. I don't care how responsible they are for their age they are still to young. I'm sorry I don't understand people who do this This is of course only my opionion.

 

[mjkacmom]

I would never give my kids charging privlages no matter how old they are or how responsible I think they are. If they want to buy souviniers they earn money before we go. They do chores, help out, good behavior. Even our youngest who is 5 will do this. We do however help with the amount out so they are all even. They are still young. But then they have a set amount to spend and if they spend it then it's gone. This teaches responsiblity and you arn't shelling out money left and right or hearing the I want's.
I would in no way allow my children at that age to go around a theme park by themselves. I don't care how responsible they are for their age they are still to young. I'm sorry I don't understand people who do this This is of course only my opionion.

I one who would let my kids. I allow them to walk a few miles across town, with no adult supervision (around here, there are always tweens/teens walking the sidewalks), so I don't know why I wouldn't allow them to walk around WDW without us, with a map, and their cellphones, instructed to ask a CM for help if they needed it. Way back in the day, my parents let me go to WDW alone at that age, while they stayed at the resort. I think one of the reasons we have so many fat kids is because parents drive them everywhere.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I don't think I'd let a 10 and 13 yr old out alone. Disney is very safe, but I think I'd wait until they were older unless you had walkie-talkies so you could reach them in an instant. It's not that I wouldn't trust my kids... I just don't trust other people...

As for the money aspect... are you having the girls earn their spending money vs. just handing it over? Regardless of how responsible a kid is on the outside, they may not realize how much they spend if you allow them to charge purchases to the room. Disney dollars are a great idea vs. a charge card. Also, if the girls had to earn the money, they might be a lot more careful of how they spend it.

Even if you don't have a lot of time for the trip, what's to say they couldn't earn $25-50 for doing a week's worth of chores before the trip versus their normal allowance, being that it's a special occasion.

See if they could do something extra... If you have a lot of time before you go, have them save aluminum cans for recycle. They could ask friends and family to help them save them (my cousin saved for a horse that way). They could be responsible for keeping them all together (and tidy!) and help haul them to a scrap yard. Their profit could be EXTRA spending money.

My parents always did that with me and I felt really good about earning my own spending money on top of my regular chores. I'd also rake leaves or mow lawns for the neighbors for extra trip money too. I've even known people to help haul groceries for people in need.

Best of luck with your decisions and I hope you have a great trip.

 

[fussymonkey]

Heck DH doesn't let me have charging privlidges and I don't let him wander off alone! ;-)

In another couple of years they may be ready for the going on thier own thing. I'd be more ok with a 15 yr old and a 12 yr old, than 13 and 10. I can't say I'd ever give my kids charging privlidges, though.