Spending $$ for son on school trip

[Carolnole]

My middle school son is going to WDW with a school group for 3 days. Meals are provided in his package via a card provided through the travel agency (not sure yet how this works). My question is, what’s the best way to provide him with some spending money for souvenirs, extra snacks, etc. besides cash? His group is not staying on site.

 

[kylenne]

My middle school son is going to WDW with a school group for 3 days. Meals are provided in his package via a card provided through the travel agency (not sure yet how this works). My question is, what’s the best way to provide him with some spending money for souvenirs, extra snacks, etc. besides cash? His group is not staying on site.

Give him a Disney gift card. If you have a warehouse club membership many of them sell them at a discount.

 

[Tink9721]

Yup, definitely a Disney gift card. He can use it anywhere on property.

 

[DisneyDillyDally]

If he loses the card, the money is gone. Maybe a few gift cards - one for each day?

 

[Haley R]

If he loses the card, the money is gone. Maybe a few gift cards - one for each day?

I would give him 2-3 cards and have him use the Disney gift card website. That way if he loses one he can move the balance to a different card that he has with him

 

[Belle1962]

Don’t forget money for meals or snacks when traveling. When my grandson travels I link my credit card to his iPhone. I check it daily so I can see what he’s up to.

 

[RangerPooh]

My girls (13 and 15) have a GreenLight debit card (VISA) that we can load money to for spending. They used theirs last spring for an orchestra trip to Dollywood and last month for an Orchestra/colorguard trip to Universal without any issues. I am notified with each transaction, and can load money from my phone if needed. They can also request money of needed, and include a note for why (ie. did xyz chores).

They have used their cards locally at McDs, Target, Kroger, and Torrid, as well as at various WDW locations, and the parks listed above without issue. It has provided more freedom than just a gift card.

One note about using Disney Gift Cards, make sure to verify the amount on the card (via the disneygftcard website) prior to sending it with your child. We purchased a substantial number of DGC at Target (to get our RedCard 5%off) for a trip last year and discovered that while they were all listed as being "active" only $200 of the $1000 actually had money placed on the cards. It was an ordeal to deal with, but was a problem with their system. I'd hate to send a child on a trip to discover that while active, the money was not placed on the card.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Does your son have a bank account? My kids have had checking accounts at USAA with us since they were small and they come with debit cards. Maybe open him a bank account if he doesn't have one and give him a debit card. Your name would be on it so you could transfer money to the account if needed.

Make him an authorized user on one of your credit cards and let him take that card with him.

Get him a Visa gift card.

I wouldn't do Disney gift cards since he may want food in the airport. He is also staying offsite so they could be stopping at different places.

When my son went on his senior trip he took cash and his debit card.

 

[bopper]

If you give him a disney gift card you can punch a hole (not on the magnetic stripe) in the card and put it in a lanyard. I would also make sure he has shorts/pants that have pockets that can be secured so his phone doesn't fall out.