type of "money" to send with daughter travelling with aunt and uncle ?

[ljones]

11 y.o. daughter travelling to WDW with aunt,uncle and cousin; just needs to bring spending money.

What "type" or combo should I send?

cash, Disney dollars, pre-paid AMEX gift/debit card or combo of what?

We were at WDW 2 yr. ago; she knows the value of a dollar (b.t.w. spending money is from savings from change jar,allowance, and Valentine's day rather than candy);responsible; Honor Roll student, all around good egg.

Thanks

 

[tinker625]

Hello!

My neices are going to Disney next week 12 yrs old. They will have disney money and disney gift card. ( the only thing about the disney gift card is some stores dont take it) ex: Epcot- Japan.
The girls(twins) think its cooler/different with the disney money. American express is taken everywhere but it may cost you $ to activate the card(look on the back of the card before purchase)
OR
If she is staying on property she can charge it to the room and pay at the end. (credit or whatever you want)
In the end maybe just ask her?
Hope she has a wonderful time

 

[DizneyNutz]

Cash is hard to beat anywhere. One reason I would prefer this over a card is there are room safes where she could put her money and only carry a certain amount with her each day. On the other hand if she had a card and it gets lost or heaven forbid stolen, then she won't have anything left. You don't have to put something down for very long before it will walk away. Just a thought.

 

[ljones]

thanks guys- I don't think the charging to the room is an option; I love her aunt and uncle- it's just that they won the trip and I can't see them charging ANYTHING to the room

I'll check the back of the AMEX gift/debit card to see if there's a protection like the traveller's checks; if so. I'll put most money on that and send some cash


Any more ideas I'd love them; maybe it will help others.

Oh, any others who have children travelling without parents, consult your attorney or notary as to what documents to send in case of emergency

 

[byoung]

You have to make the decision, you should know your daughter.

 

[PaMom001]

Check with your bank, they may have a prepaid "credit card"/gift card. My bank has this type of card. The minimum to get it is $25.00.

 

[ncbyrne]

The fact that she is responsible is a key factor. But, how much money are we discussing? Personally I think that some Disney dollars would be "cool" to have, but good old cash, if it's not a LOT would be my option. I agree with the poster that said she could just carry what she needed for one day and leave the rest in the room safe. Is the aunt or uncle your brother or sister? Maybe you could ask them what they prefer.

 

[avcchichester]

We are also taking our neice with us on our April trip there, and we told her mom that travelers checks would possibly be the thing to go with, that way if they get lost or stolen, they would be replaced.

 

[WillCAD]

I see several viable options for a fairly responsible 11-year old:

1) Disney Gift Card - you can buy it online or at your local Disney Store. You can get one now and add a little to it at a time (say, each week or two weeks, that's how I save for my trips), the cards are reloadable, and most important, they are replacable if lost, stolen, or ruined - all you need is the original purchase reciept. They are good almost everywhere at WDW, including parks, resorts, restaurants and eateries, but there are a few non-Disney venues that can't accept them, so a certain amount of cash is also nessecary.

2) Disney Dollars - fun money good at ANY Disney-owned venue at WDW, also available from your local Disney Store. However, DD$ are not replacable if lost or stolen - they are essentially cash.

3) Room charging - also good at ANY Disney-owned venue that has a card reader. Room charging is done with the room key, which is easily replacable if lost, stolen, or damaged. And you don't have to actually "charge" anything to enable room charging - you can put down a certain amount of cash, travellers checks, or even Disney Dollars at check-in, sorta like a pre-paid credit card. And you can have a list of all the charges printed by the front desk at any time, so you know how much you have left and where it's all gone. If you use it up a little quicker than you thought, you can put more down any time.

My recommendation: Save by getting a Disney Gift Card and adding money to it on a regular basis between now and the trip. Hold onto that original reciept and let aunt and uncle have it before departure, in case the card is lost.

When DD goes to WDW, give her the Gift Card and a certain amount of cash for those places that don't take the card; let her put the gift card down at check-in to enable room charging on her room key, then she will only have to carry the room key and a few bucks in cash around the parks with her. At check-out, aunt and uncle can get a printout of all DDs charges (and refund any left-over money); DD will probably enjoy having the printout as a souvenier ("Oh, I remember when we ate there! I remember what I bought there!" etc).

 

[themudd4]

thanks guys- I don't think the charging to the room is an option; I love her aunt and uncle- it's just that they won the trip and I can't see them charging ANYTHING to the room

Charging to the room...is not actucally being charge to the room bill. During check in the aunt and unlce will be given the option of leaving a credit card on file and then they can use the room key/ticket/meal card/credit "key to the world" for purcases.

I would suggest the Disney Dollars...and would ask the aunt and uncle to limit her to carrying only maybe $25 at a time. Disney Dollars can be turned back into cash when it is time to return home, and they are just a little more FUN than just plain ole cash.

My kids are taking a mix...Santa gave them both a $25 Disney Gift card, which as the PP stated can be replaced if lost or stolen just keep your reciept of where you purchased the gift card. Son has Disney Dollars coming for his birthday, and they both have been saving their moeny for our trip.

 

[themudd4]

My recommendation: Save by getting a Disney Gift Card and adding money to it on a regular basis between now and the trip. Hold onto that original reciept and let aunt and uncle have it before departure, in case the card is lost.

When DD goes to WDW, give her the Gift Card and a certain amount of cash for those places that don't take the card; let her put the gift card down at check-in to enable room charging on her room key, then she will only have to carry the room key and a few bucks in cash around the parks with her. At check-out, aunt and uncle can get a printout of all DDs charges (and refund any left-over money); DD will probably enjoy having the printout as a souvenier ("Oh, I remember when we ate there! I remember what I bought there!" etc).

I was with ya up until this point. I may be wrong but aren't all the keys linked to the room and it the aunt and Unlce have charging added on to their key the DD of the OP would either need to not have the charging added on or it would go onto the aunt and unlce's account. I didn't think each room key could have it's own charging account seperately.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Each room key does not have it's own charging account.

I love that option (room key charge) for my own trips.. But in this case I honestly dont' think it will work.

I'd go with a combo Disney Gift card and some cash. You could even give the Aunt/Uncle an emergency envelope with 20 or 40$ in it in case something comes up... or whatever.

J