No Clue about Souvvie Spending

[Millie12591]

Remeber,
You've just finished have a grand ole time on the attraction and whaddya know, you're let off right into a gift shop. The folks at Disney are crafty. My sons like sweatshirts so we always get one for everyone and I always pick up a photoalbum every trip.
Last year we gave our sons $100 each once that was gone they were through.

Ditto on the $100 per kid. I really thought this might be a bit much and a little over the top for the kids but believe it or not this isn't a lot when it comes to the "things" of Disney. I hadn't been to WDW so I wasn't sure, I wanted to make sure when we went May 2007 that I didn't have ANY out of pocket costs. Everything was paid for when we went, food (Did the DP, had breakfast items delivered to resort), tickets, resort you name it, it was paid for, except for souvies. So I only took $500 on the trip thinking besides souvies what in the world would we spend money on? The kiddos got a hundred each to spend on what they wanted, they ended up spending a lot of it on doing the pin thing (lanyard, weight, and pins).

I did however make sure that the kids didn't spend it on the first thing they saw, you will almost alway see the same things all over the park (minus the world showcase stuff, but kids don't usually want to much from there). I told them we can always go back if you saw something that you couldn't find anywhere else.

My dd wanted a stuffed.... well anything girly, i.e., minnie, baby princess, that sort of thing, so I made her wait it out the whole time we were there so she made sure she was getting the stuffed doll she wanted the most.

It paid off, she ended up wanting just about everything she saw, but making her hold off in the end she got what she really wanted at least for the big item, that sucker cost 35 dollars! LOL She found little things here and there, but in the end for the biggie item she was glad she waited.

I was able to spend the rest on some Christmas things to hold back, stocking stuffers that sort of thing. In the end it wasn't half bad if I say so myself.
This time I will have take some extra money for tips for our TS dinners. But other than that I don't think I will need much more.

 

[Millie12591]

Here's a thread regarding the lightsabers. I probably would never have known about them if it wasn't for this board. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1617633

I'm leaning towards just giving the boys cash. I think the concept of seeing it disappear when my youngest buys something would be more understandable to him than using a gift card. It's more visual, kwim? I know they're definitely going to want those lightsabers and some Legos, and since this trip is certainly a real treat (a combo birthday gift--they're b-days are in April--oh, and they STILL don't know about the trip; I'm doing much better than I thought I would in keeping this a secret! ), I'd like to indulge them a little.

OP:
Since this is the first time your going, do you know about the Fairy Godmailer? There is a place on the boards that you can find someone to send your little guy a post card from Mickey or whom ever they can find while at WDW. So little one thinks that they are really getting a card from Mickey and that Mickey's really excited about your boy coming to see him! I did this for my daughter before we went, she got a post card from Cindy , and a bunch of the other princesses. Then in turn when your there you turn around and send a card to someone who is yet to come to WDW. It's a lot of fun, I made sure that mom and dad got one too. I personally think the best palce to buy souvies and post cards is Mousegears in Epcot. Did I say that right folks? It's a huge store, I had fun buying everyday cups for my daughter for Christmas, they have the cutest selection of plates and bowls and cups there, not to mention a WHOLE lot of other things.

 

[DisGal520]

Here's another suggestion that could be considered practical too. If your kids are Crocs lovers, then you could let them pick a new Disney pair your first day that can be worn the entire vacation. Then if so inclined with their own money they could seek out Disney Jibbitz in the various stores and kiosks.

This way they have cool reminders of their trip that can be continued to be worn once they are back home. Disney Crocs are sold at Mousegears, carts in the parks and also probably at every on-site resort's gift shop (POP Century has them).


DisGal

 

[Aliceacc]

We're saving all our change for a year. For birthdays, relatives are giving the kids Disney Gift cards.

When August rolls around, we'll split all that between the 5 of us. Right now we have over $300 in gift cards, and we usually manage about $300 in change per year. Hopefully the change will be even a bit more, since this is something the kids REALLY want.

 

[collcass]

75% of our kids allowance each week since we booked the trip is in Disney Dollars. (the other 25% they can't bring with them). for each special occassion they are getting DD, too (bdays, v-day, st, patty's day, good report card, etc)

We explained to them (and each time they misbehave remind them:Op)
that any extras are on them. (age 10,9,6,4). This includes ice cream and treats. With four kids (plus the other 4 that will be with us) we just can't afford for them to want to goto Goofys three times a day for a $3 Rice krispie treat. Sure, $3 isn't a lot of money, but it sure will add up quickly

We have certain things we are doing (welcome cake at CM, CRT for DD bday plus cake, bday party and pirate cruise for the boys.

We also are allocating $100 toward each child for things we want to get them. They also receive a bit more for certain "extra chores" but negate the extra DD if they hit 3 behavior X's for each week.

So far....they each have between $60 & $90 (depending on the kid). By the time we leave, they will most likely have $150 each.

we also save our change. Dont know how much that will amt too, but we split that equally.

if I get myDSLR for my baday, I have no funds left over for souvies :O)

 

[mikamah]

We went for my son's 5th birthday, and he was sick one night and didn't get to DTD, so most of his shopping was in the hotel giftshop. He loved the little characters with magnets in their hands and feet, and bought about 6 of them at around 3$ each, and a set of plastic mickey figures, 15$, and he also liked the antenna toppers at around 3$ each. I didn't have a set amount in mind and did not spend as much as I thought I would have. I got us each tshirts, and myself a scrapbook, magnet, christmas ornament, and some cheap earrings.

I think for your older son it would be good to have a set amount in mind, and then he can see and plan his souvenirs through the trip.

This trip, my son has collected 75$ over his b-day and christmas, and that will be what he spends on souvenirs, and I'll probably buy him a tshirt. I have about 70 disney rewards dollars for my souvenirs from the scrapbooking store.

 

[CinderellyCinderelly]

I usually just got one souv. per trip. Usually it was something small like a Minnie coin purse or a cup. I was excited enough just to be there and was taught the the vacation is kind of like a gift itself, and that you buy a small souv. to remember the trip. Have fun!