Teens charging to the room?

[grinningghost]

Has anyone let their teenager charge things back to the room? I am seriously considering it, but I need to know if I'm insane.

My DD is very responsible, but I'm afraid the lure of all things Disney might be too much for her to handle. Is it possible to start off letting her charge to the room, and then canceling that option with Guest Services if I find it's a problem?

 

[seashoreCM]

Sure you can do it that way.

But for me (I am single) I do not use room charging and in fact have room keys made with no charging allowed right from the start. If I had a family, I would use Disney dollars or real money instead of room charging.

Others have suggested getting a copy of the room folio (list of all charges) every night and going over it with the family.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[kaybird]

We were given the option of setting an ammount, that way only so much the kids could charge. This worked o.k.,
but I still favor a envelope a day, if they don't use it all the first day, they are allowed to "bank it" for the last few days.

TTFN
k-ican't believe we're going next week-bird

 

[Eeyore2U]

WE've let DS charge for a few years. We make sure we get copies of the receipts and have never had a problem.

 

[BCV23]

I think our eldest was probably 12 or 13 when we first added charge privileges to his room card. We've never had a problem.

Since your daughter is responsible, I think you can teach her a great lesson in trust by allowing it. Children usually rise to meet high expectations in my opinion.

 

[ducklite]

I also started giving charge privileges at about 12 or 13. I used to check the folio daily just to make sure he wasn't charging up a storm, but I don't bother anymore. Now I just ask that he always get a receipt and give them to me every day. Not that I worry about what he's charging, but to have a record in case there is a discrepency on the bill. (I also want to make sure he's eating--he somethimes gets so wrapped up in "Disney" that he'll forget to eat! )

Anne

 

[Kellyh123]

We always let our teenagers charge to the room on their own cards. My son is 14 and my daughter 17. It really is a good lesson for them. They know how much cash they have and they know they have to settle up at the end of the vacation. When you get your bill you will be able to see which card charged what. We have done this 3 times and never had a problem. I think it helps because the kids see that charging something one day means you have to pay it back.

 

[Sunshine2U]

Another vote for allowing room charging - for all the reasons listed above plus it's easier to keep up with one room key.

 

[>>^..^<<]

My DD8 had charging privlidges at Universal and Disney last year - she really got a kick out of being able to have her own card and sign her own name on the receipt

Of course ~ as she was only 8, I was always somewhere nearby although she would beg to go in to a shop on her own and make me wait outside while she picked something.

I wouldnt worry about your teenager - you can periodically get a print out of your account to see what has been purchased so far.

You are definately not insane ~ and I am guessing your teen will love it!


>>^..^<<

 

[musicmom3]

I make it clear what is a "charge-able" item and what is not at the beginning of the trip and I've never had a problem with my kids. For example, souvenier purchaces are not charge-able in my scheme of things, while food (at a pre-approved "level") is. This last trip I went to Epcot while the kids went to Blizzard Beach, and I was really glad for the charging privileges. The kids like the freedom, and have always lived up to the responsibility. Try it!

 

[mikesmom]

I agree with Musicmom. We allow charges for food, drinks, etc, but not souvenirs. This allows us to bring less cash on the trip. Have never had a problem with DS at all. If he has some doubt about whether lunch out is going to be too expensive, he rings me on the cell phone for clearance.

 

[DeeP]

My kids have been charging on Disney room cards for years and I have never had a problem. I laid the ground rules down from the beginning that charging was for food and drink only and any souveniour purchases had to be pre cleared with me before purchase and they must save and give me all receipts. It has worked like a charm!

 

[grinningghost]

Thanks so much everyone! You're making me feel alot better about my decision. My plan was to allow her to charge food and drinks only. I like the idea about calling me on the cell phone for "questionable" items. I'm going to do it, but since we have a 2 day drive to WDW, I'll have a LONG, DETAILED conversation with her so she can't say she didn't understand the rules.

 

[cindala]

I have two teen DD's, and we never let them have charging capabilities.

I know if I laid out the law for what they could and couldn't charge that wouldn't be a problem. But each trip, someone misplaces/looses a card, and if that was a charging card - then more problems!

During this past trip, I charged alot to our room, and in only one instance did a castmember even check the signature. If you lost a charging card, and didn't realize it immediately, anyone could pick it up, and charge away until you cancel it.

 

[ducklite]

Wow! My experience has been teh opalways check the signature.

Here's an idea for teens who misplace their cards--buy them a plain laynard at a sporting goods store (about 99 cents) and punch a hole in the card (the front desk will let you borrow scissors for this, a corkscrew also works well) and hook it to the laynard. In probably a dozen or more trips since we let him have his own card and cahrge priveleges, DS has never lost it using this method And he's lose his head if it weren't attached.

Anne

 

[jimmalru80]

We allowed our DS to use the charge option at 13 years old and our twin DD's began last year at age 12. We preach the "choice and consequence" philosophy and they have never abused their privileges.