What will $100 each buy my kids at WDW?

[Priorityonecb]

If you are buying shirts, I think $100 is plenty. We have a rule that we don't shop for souveniers until the final day. They spend the whole vacation window shopping with no stress. Then on the final afternoon, we go get the thing they wanted the most. It's taught them to be patient, to not spend impulsively, and to really think through their purchases.

 

[moniot]

I think $100.00 is plenty. I had the kids carry a notebook and pencil. They wrote down what they wanted and where they saw it. Then at the end of our stay they could choose what they really wanted after seeing everything. This worked out so well that they always bring home most of their spending money. They usually have anywhere between $30.00 and $100.00 depending on how much they have earned.

 

[kerry34]

I also think 100.00 is more than enough. On our last trip my kids didnt even bring that much and were satisfied with their purchases. My rule is that when it is gone thats it. It made them consider their purchases carefully. For this next trip each of them have 100 disney dollars plus whatever they managed to save on their own. My oldest daughter has around 200 dollars to spend and has already told me she doesnt think she will come close to spending it all. It is a whole different story when it is their money and they dont like to spend frivolously. I am sure your kids will be more than satisfied with 100.00.

 

[cymomtx]

We found cute t-shirts, jackets and small trinkets (almost the same) at Walmart for half the price. The t-shirts at Walmart were only $10 and my kids were perfectly content with them. My daughter got a tink jacket there for $20 and could care less that we did not buy it at WDW, but it did come from Orlando.

 

[golfgal]

When we went each of our kids had saved at least $100 (DS13 had about $150 saved). None of them spent even close to that. DS13 bought some Star Wars Legos, spent about $40 on those and didn't buy anything else. DD10 bought a couple stuffed animals, some small trinket things for a couple friends and spent maybe $50 total. DS10 bought a sucker, that's it.

I bought shirts for them and a lightsaber from the Star Wars store at MGM.

 

[rie'smom]

I'm beginning to think my kids are freaks. Or - maybe it's me. My kids don't ask for things at WDW nor do they ask for things in stores at home. That's just not part of our life. I rarely ask them what they want for birthdays or Christmas. I get them what I think they'd like - and since I know my kids, I'm usually right.

We go for 10+ days and my kids take their own money that they've saved plus a little from dh/myself. I think they had less than $50 each (ages 7 and 9) and one came home with change. They bought:

9yo - $12 set of character figurines from World of Disney, 2 pirate swords, $3 light-up necklace (night of Spectro).

7yo - $12 set of character figurines from World of Disney, 3 books (I think dd9 pitched in on one), $3 light-up necklace.
the op and others reading this thread to know that kids don't have to be lavished upon at WDW in order to have fun, feel loved, or whatever.

LOL. My DD is the same way. DH and I are asking," Rie are you sure you don't want a souvenir." WE end up buying her a t-shirt or a sweatshirt. She's at WDW and Universal for the rides and the pools,etc. 100.00 is plenty of money.

 

[msklcassidy]

I also agree. My son starts "saving" his allowance ($3 per week) well in advance of the trip. We usually kick in "matching" money and we buy him a t-shirt and a hat (we always seem to forget the old one). He's 7 and he usually can scrape together $30 to $40 bucks which we match...so he generally has $70 to $80 to spend. He has is "own" wallet that we carry for him in our back pack. The CM's are great when he has a purchase. He takes his item and his own wallet and we let him handle the transaction (with our supervision) and the CMs always make a big deal out of handing him his purchase and some (the grandmotherly types) ask him if his change is right (when there is time). I think $100 per kid is more than enough. Just stick to your guns. Tell your kids that this is "their" money and make sure when they ask for something you say sure, I'll get your wallet since you are spending your money. It's amazing how much I want turns into nah...I think I'll wait. Our other secret is that we don't go into the shops much. We usually do our shopping mid-way through (for a first look) and then in our last few days. I also help DS and tell him OK...we're going to be at Disney for X number of days...that means you can spend $X per day or save it for something special you see. Never had a tear or a melt down yet (after 6 trips).

 

[turnlisa]

$100 is reasonable. I think what we have found is that when they have their own money not as much impulse buying goes on. We ask them if they are willing to spend their money on the item. Usually my kids have $100 or a little more -- depends on grandparents. They usually come home with some. I also buy the t-shirts and the autograph books.

 

[Mish]

I think that would be enough. We go for 10 days an my son hardly ever asks for anything. What we usually do is wait until the end and let him pick out a few things and it has never added to $100.00. Michelle

 

[Laurabearz]

I also think $100 is fine..... More than enough. I buy Disney Dollars for my girls and they earn them doing extra chores and such. This time around they will ahve earned close to $80. Outta that, they must buy their ice cream treats, and trinkets. We shop around and talk about how much thinks cost, add stuff up and then buy the things they really want.

Works out nicely.

 

[tink too]

I think $100 is fine. Last year DD only wanted an $18 t-shirt and a $20 Disney Bear. I bought her the Mr Potato Head stuff and although she was delighted with that, it was my choice to buy it. I also bought her autograph book and pen on the first day - but that came in at less than $10! On the last day of our stay, she bought a $6 Sourcerer Mickey light-up necklace from a store on I-Drive, too.

Next year, DD will be 5 and I was thinking of allowing her $10 per day, of course she can always save it up to buy "bigger" items. We won't let her buy just anything, though.

Now, DH probably would like to know how to stop me from impulse buying!

 

[dreamalittledream]

I agree 100.00 is probably more than enough. It depends on how many stores you go into, either by choice or by getting off a ride. Philarmagic always hooks us! I also always get an ornament for the tree, it is a nice way to remember the trip.

I already started saving for our trip by getting Disney Dollars when we go to our store. We go in to look around I'll get a few dollars instead of buying something for no reason. It seem like we are "buying" something and DD understands that she will be able to spend it on the trip. I have envelopes to divide it between my girls so they will have their own money to spend. Hopefully they will follow all of your kids footsteps and be wise about their purchases. I think that will be the case since DD (4yrs) has decided to use her "own" money to buy Christmas gifts at the school's Holiday store for us and her sister.

 

[crisi]

We gave our kids $20 to do with what they wanted. They are six and seven. They surprised me. If I'd projected, I'd have said my daughter would blow it immediately on candy, my son would hold onto it and find the perfect thing. My son blew most of his the first day on pirate gems outside PotC, and finished the rest off a few days later on Swedish Fish. My daughter bought herself glow in the dark Minnie bobble ears and a small pink dreamcatcher - took her days longer to blow through hers.

We buy them something as well. My daughter got a princess costume ($60), my son a nightmare before christmas sweatshirt ($30).

We also gave them $5 each to blow at Seashore Sweets (we were staying at the Boardwalk).

 

[bear74]

I think that will be plenty. I am allotting about $40 for my DD. but she will be 3.

 

[BarbWB]

I also think $100 is PLENTY. But, I'm not a souvenir shopper. My souvenirs are pictures. We have enough "stuff" for 15 families. We've been 2x and my kids have had $25-40 each to spend. If they want an extra snack that I don't think they need, then they pay; any little souvenir comes out of their own money, too. Do you really want $300 worth of kid souvenirs to deal with???

 

[bettyann29]

I agree that $100 unfortunately doesnt buy much.. but if thats all you have, then they just need to be aware to chose their souvenirs carefully.. When I took my 2 older children in 2000 they each got $100 .. I bought them each 1 tshirt and 1 stuffed animal so they didnt have to use their money for that and they did pretty good, but there is so much cool stuff for kiddos out there that they want everything.. Me and DD7 went in September this year and I started out giving her $150.. I told her that was all she was going to get and once I saw how fast it was going, because again there is soooo much cool stuff then I gave her some more.. I did buy her a tshirt and stuffed animal besides that.. (she bought a buzz lightyear costume with a hood for $90!!)) yikes... but she really wanted it and she wore it for Halloween this year and around the house playing (she is a tomboy.. ) We are all going again in May/June and I plan on $200 each.. That may be too much, but they dont go all the time and who knows when they will go back, so I dont mind spending a little more.. I plan on putting some Disneydollars in christmas stocking and then my DD7 birthday Im gonna give her some and then theres Easter too.. so I will figure out how much they have and then give them the difference up to $200..

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think $100 is more than enough. Here's what we did. I told DS(6) that if he earned money before the trip I'd match it when we went shopping at DTD near the end of the trip. I couldn't believe how much of an incentive this was -- he had a yard sale and raised a lot of money, saved his birthday and toothfairy money, and babysat the neighbor's cat, ending up with $110!.

During our first days at the park I didn't let him bring any money. I did buy him an autograph book and a pen and one of those mister fans, but that was it. A couple of times he'd comment on something in a shop if we had to walk through one and I'd remind him that we were waiting until DTD, there was no whining. When we got to DTD on day 6 (of 9) he had $220 to spend. He chose a $4 beyblade and announced that he was saving the rest. On the last day he bought a stitch toy for maybe $12 at AK. He came home with a little more than $200. He then saved that money until Black Friday, added some more and bought himself a video camera, which he'll use way more than any of the junk they sell at Disney.

I don't really enjoy shopping, so I was pleased to figure out a system where we spent very little time in stores, and there was zero whining. I was also pretty proud of my little guy for earning the money in the first place, and then for having the self restraint to save it for something he really wanted.

 

[disneymac]

We just got back and DS8 brought about $50 and DD5 brought about $35. It was money they had saved since we told them about the trip. DS bought a Mickey pirate pkg w/a cutlass, an old fashioned pistol w/plastic darts, targets and a hook hand ($6 at Epcot - Mouse Gear) a hat from the Rock n Roller Coaster ($20) and some candy. DD bought a princess hat ($18) and some candy. They also spent some money on pressed pennies - they really loved discovering those machines! I bought them pressed penny albums ($7) that they used in the parks and a T-shirt ($18) each that I will give them in the morning to wear their first day back at school. We also bought Christmas tree ornaments ($10 each) and Stitch Santa hats ($15) for the family. The kids each had their own fanny packs. (I got those at WalMart for $1) They carried their wallets ($2 Disney Store clearance in Sept.) and autograph books ( their aunt gave them for the trip) and pens and snacks in them. They loved being independent & carrying their own "important stuff". They were very happy with their purchases and the only thing that DS asked for me to buy was the Stitch Santa hats - he doesn't know that I bought them yet - they are a surprise for our family Christmas party. Well, that's a lot longer than I thought it would be! I just thought that the prices of things that we bought might help you decide how much you all might spend! They were so busy with everything to do and see that shopping wasn't really a big priority. Have fun planning and on your trip!!

 

[ch261]

We just got back. $100 is more than our kids had. Each one of ours had $60 total, money from the grandparents, from us, and their own money they had saved. We do not buy anything in any of the parks- don't even really go in those stores, but we took one morning at the end of the trip, went to Downtown Disney and let them spend their money. DS, age 10, bought pins and a lanyard. The other 2 DS's, aged 6 and 2, bought toys (the $12 figurine sets) and stuffed animals. Nobody wanted t-shirts or hats at all. We flew and didn't have room in the luggage to haul lots of stuff back home. It worked out great for us. Have fun!

 

[Gymbomom]

Well, we have two children and the oldest one has been several times and only gets to spend the money she has that she brought. Well, she has saved quite a bit this time around, $150. She asked her main present at Christmas to be Disney $$ so we will give her around $75. I can't imagine her spending that much money there. But, she knows she can take it home and spend it here if she want to.

Well, my 4 year old, doesn't have the chances she does at earning money. So he will only take about $100, I plan on adding a "little" on tshirts and such if needed.
But, I plan on him buying only one thing a day. I know he is going to go nuts in the Star Wars store, Buzz stuff, etc. But, I figure if he leaves with one thing every day he will be happy...and maybe on some days we can skate out with nothing!!

I also plan on bringing his light saber, Mr. Potato Head (from the last trip), and Power Ranger outfit from home. I just have a fear he will ask for some of the same stuff already!!!

I already had a DIS friend pick up our penny collector books, autograph books, and pens, so those will go in their stockings.

I thought about buying the light up toy here, but there is something about getting them there, even though they are SO expensive!!!

I might rethink that one.