Souvenir money

[CyndiLooWho]

I have 2 sons, 11 and 13. When we went to WDW, we planned about a year in advance, and both sets of gps got the boys Disney Dollars for Christmas and Birthdays. They each had about $50 in Dis$ and dh and I gave them each $20.

Our US/IOA trip was planned all of 7 wks out, well after bdays and Christmas. Ds1 is unlikely to ask for much in the way of souvies, but ds2 will drive me stark raving nuts asking for stuff. I want to give them $X and when it's gone, it's gone.

We will have 2 full and 2 partial days at US/IOA, one day at Legoland, and maybe a trip to Kennedy Space Center.

I know ds1 wants a wand, and they are still in the "we love Lego" stage. Those items I can price pretty well. What other things are there, and what amount of money would be appropriate for them?

I want them to make choices, not have money for everything they see. Ds1 will have money left over from bday but ds2 can't hold on to money to save his life.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Also, all the wands on the website say "fragile collectible wand - not suitable for play". Ds1 (13) is very responsible, but I'm not sure he would be able to resist the urge to play with one. Are there less expensive "playable" wands for sale?

 

[derekburgan]

Despite the warnings saying the wands are "fragile" I think it will take a lot of doing to damage most of them. That said, my nephew broke his elder wand while throwing it around a pool area and it crashed down on cement. Universal replaced it without a receipt and no questions asked adding that they are guaranteed forever (with the catch being I guess you need to go back to the park to get it replaced)

Long story short, I wouldn't be too scared off by the warning. This isn't some sort of breakable glass type souvenir you have to delicately handle.

 

[damo]

There are some links in this thread that should help....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2914324

 

[mjohnson96]

Despite the warnings saying the wands are "fragile" I think it will take a lot of doing to damage most of them. That said, my nephew broke his elder wand while throwing it around a pool area and it crashed down on cement. Universal replaced it without a receipt and no questions asked adding that they are guaranteed forever (with the catch being I guess you need to go back to the park to get it replaced)

Long story short, I wouldn't be too scared off by the warning. This isn't some sort of breakable glass type souvenir you have to delicately handle.

Good to know, ours from grand opening was broken when we got home and we never replaced it. I will make sure to bring it this trip.

As for spending money, DD raised $60 at the garage sale this week so she has that plus what was in her piggy bank. She usually has around $80-100 each trip but never spends it all. Last year we did a week at WDW and she had enough for $15 per day and she kept it at that. But she was 8 and is starting to understand the value of what she wants now a little more.

 

[jjl181]

Despite the warnings saying the wands are "fragile" I think it will take a lot of doing to damage most of them. That said, my nephew broke his elder wand while throwing it around a pool area and it crashed down on cement. Universal replaced it without a receipt and no questions asked adding that they are guaranteed forever (with the catch being I guess you need to go back to the park to get it replaced)

Long story short, I wouldn't be too scared off by the warning. This isn't some sort of breakable glass type souvenir you have to delicately handle.

That is good info to have! My son broke his about a week after coming home and he wasn't even handling it roughly. I'll have to bring mine with me as well.

For money we normally go to U.S. for 2 days and give my 12 year old about $15-20 a day. A lot of this also depends on his grades and behavior before we leave.