Souvenir budget

[kingshockey04]

How much would you budget for souvenirs for two kids? One thing I want to get them are Mickey ears, how much are those? I'm just trying to get an idea of how much to put aside. I'm planning on buying them shirts from the Disney store and making autograph books for them. Can anyone give me an idea of some prices of must get things?

Also, do you think $200 dollars is enough for food in the parks for 2 1/2 days? It's just one adult and two kids who really aren't big eaters. I'm also planning on bringing snacks.

 

[silence]

We usually budget $50 for each kid each trip. They each get a hat and then they pick one toy. We do tend to get "sucked in" if we are there at night with those darn light up toys or flashing necklaces.

As for food, we have done trips both ways, on a strict budget or just buying whatever we feel like. If trying to stay on a budget, the hardest thing for us was beverages. Bring in waters, we even bought koolaid singles and crystal light singles so the kids could have something with "flavor" to drink. hot days we went through so many waters though, since they ahd to be COLD.

good luck, have fun!

OH..I think the ears are like 10 bux....depending on the kind you get.

 

[actionvaughn]

Cheapest ears are $8.50, (black basic Mickey ones) and can go up to about $16. Personalization is free, so no need to worry about that. You might want to get those for them and if they're old enough, maybe give both your kids Disney dollars to spend on their own. You won't have to say no or hear "PLEASE????" I'd say $50 each is more than enough for 2 1/2 days, and quite generous.

If you're doing counter service, and bringing snacks, I'd say $200 is more than enough. Better to have money leftover rather than be short. Good luck!

 

[kingshockey04]

Thanks for the quick response. That's a good idea with Disney Dollars. Can I buy those at a Disney Store or only Disneyland?

The water idea is good but it would only work for the kids. I need my soda (bad I know) or I can't function right . But I will try that out with the kool aid singles.

 

[actionvaughn]

Not 100% about Disney Store selling Disney dollars, but I do know they accept them. Here's some info on buying them through mail:

Disneyland Resort
Ticket Mail Order
P.O. Box 61061
Anaheim, CA 92803-6161

In addition to the exact denomination requested, please include your
full name, mailing address, phone number, and a check or money order
(payable to DISNEYLAND® Resort for your purchase amount) plus $10.00 for
shipping and handling (Domestic orders only). Please allow a minimum of
7 business days for processing. Your order will be shipped via Federal
Express. International Guests should call (714) 781-4025 for ordering
instructions."

My suggestion is to wait until you get to the parks. ($10 shipping?! Really.. Psh.) World of Disney is right at the tram stop, so you can always pop in there and get them before your trip.

 

[actionvaughn]

Nevermind, you can buy them at the Disney Store.

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you looked at the menus online, to get an idea of what you guys will want and how much it will be? That can really help to start to plan for the food budget (I do think that $200 for your group for those days should be fine).

Something I did was buy a gift card (or gift cards, rather, b/c they are cute with their different designs) in the amount I figured I would need. I did that each morning to get the different cards...I feel that it kept me more in my budget, to make the one purchase each day then (almost) nothing else, b/c one sum is easier to subtract in your head then 8 smaller receipts. I don't have a disney store nearby, so I just did it at the parks.

I also bought a $10 disney dollar at one of the giftshops; I wanted a Mickey bar, and knew that the cart vendors don't really take cards. I didn't have cash, so I bought the Disney Dollars with my debit card. So you could do that, too, if you don't have a Disney store nearby or don't want to risk losing them or forgetting them (they are just like cash, if they disappear, they are gone).

 

[kingshockey04]

Have you looked at the menus online, to get an idea of what you guys will want and how much it will be? That can really help to start to plan for the food budget (I do think that $200 for your group for those days should be fine).

Something I did was buy a gift card (or gift cards, rather, b/c they are cute with their different designs) in the amount I figured I would need. I did that each morning to get the different cards...I feel that it kept me more in my budget, to make the one purchase each day then (almost) nothing else, b/c one sum is easier to subtract in your head then 8 smaller receipts. I don't have a disney store nearby, so I just did it at the parks.

I also bought a $10 disney dollar at one of the giftshops; I wanted a Mickey bar, and knew that the cart vendors don't really take cards. I didn't have cash, so I bought the Disney Dollars with my debit card. So you could do that, too, if you don't have a Disney store nearby or don't want to risk losing them or forgetting them (they are just like cash, if they disappear, they are gone).

That's an awesome idea to budget our food so I don't spend more than I should. If I lose a gift card do you know if they replace it if I have my receipt?

 

[mindylovesmickey]

I'm so glad I read this thread. I think the disney dollar thing is a good idea! I was thinking about getting several gift cards and things, but I think my 8 year old is responsible enough to handle the disney dollars. I don't think my 3 year old could, though.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm looking at one of the cards right now.

Oh, an aside...if you get "too much" gift card to use at DLR, you can bring it home with you. Save it for next time, or if you shop on disneyshopping, you can use it there, or at the Disney stores. Very convenient. Even though I got $100 *less* than I thought we would need, I came home with $$ on the cards, and have paid for small portions of two Disneyshopping.com orders with them.

Anyway, it says:

Protect this Disney Git Card and treat it as you would cash. Lost, stolen, or damaged gift cards cannot be replaced without required proof of purcahse and complete gift card number."


So there ya go...write down the number and keep the receipt, and stash those separate from the cards, and if you lost the card you are protected.

Weird thing today...I was making an order of incredibly-reduced Ratatouille items for DS (I was going to get a play set at DCA on my solo trip, but then I saw these on major sale so I bought a ton more than just one set, for about the same price as I was going to pay), and then I thought of the gift card that still had 2.74 on it. Pulled it out, and it's a Ratatouille themed card. Weird!

 

[mystic_path]

about $50 a child I would think is more then enough. There are plenty of things they can choose from that are well under that. Pins $5, Piggy banks $10, shirts $25, Mickey Ears $14 etc.

 

[Sorcerer Mom]

Check out the penny presses. They're all over DL and DCA and in the hotels. They don't cost a penny but are a cheap souv./collectable compared to other stuff. The stores in the parks and in the World of Disney also sell the books that you can keep in. My DS started a collection five years ago - we get a couple of news ones each time we go. Have fun!

 

[MunkyMe13]

Check out the penny presses. They're all over DL and DCA and in the hotels. They don't cost a penny but are a cheap souv./collectable compared to other stuff. The stores in the parks and in the World of Disney also sell the books that you can keep in. My DS started a collection five years ago - we get a couple of news ones each time we go. Have fun!

DH and I do that and pins... lol... though last time we started buying Disney art prints which get expensive. Pins are my big thing and boy do they add up... lol... I have been good the past 2 trips though and only got 1 or 2. But smooshed pennies are great. They even sell books to put them in. Also I dunno if its still open but the disney character warehouse sells a lot of stuff discounted. There was one near us and they had autograph books like 2/99 cents.... So that may be something you want to check out. Hope this helps