Spending money....

[scrapjem]

So I'm wondering how much money I should budget for our trip for just spending money at the parks for the kids to get a shirt, hat, souvenir type things that they are bound to see. I have three kiddos.

 

[HollyAD]

I am going to try to hit the Disney outlet before we go and knock off a few items at a lower price! But my son can't pass up anything with wheels so I am sure we will bring home a new bus, train, disney ambulance/firetruck or boat.

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

Last time we went we budgeted $100 per kid - for take home items it worked out well - as they all wanted some toys to bring home, hats and/or ears and lanyards with pins. This trip we are thinking around $100 from chores (have to teach them early) and $50 from their own savings - they are saving their birthday money - as they remember that they wanted more but "the budget had no more money." I think this helps for them to understand that it takes us a long time to save for the trip and give some responsibility. My children are 10, 8 and 6 when we travel this fall - not sure how old yours may be but we found ours loved collecting and trading pins and getting them started was not cheap. However, I found it to be the best souvenir as our children love to show everyone their "sashes" of pins from Disney.

You can buy those pins (in bulk - about 10-20 of them) online like Amazon.com for around $20-$30 and then they can just trade with the ones they see on the "cast members" - It will save you a lot of money as they now range from 7.95 to 15.95 for some.

 

[DiSnEyF@n]

When we went last summer with DD 10 and DS 13 we gave them each $100 personalized gift cards. This worked out well bc they had their own money and my DH and I did NOT over spend on things for them. It made them be a little more pickier when choosing things they wanted to buy. It was a great success though I highly recommend it.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

I have 2 kids ( boys) and we usually bring 500$ to spend, but sometimes just put anything else on credit and pay it later.

I agree with $500, which is what we do. We load up a gift card at Epcot, use that for any incidentals. We use that for souvenirs, adult beverages and tshirts and Christmas ornaments. It helps keep track on how much we spend. Very rarely did I go over $500 to be honest, but we do the same thing @bethymouse does, just use the credit card for other purchases

 

[Cindee75]

You can buy those pins (in bulk - about 10-20 of them) online like Amazon.com for around $20-$30 and then they can just trade with the ones they see on the "cast members" - It will save you a lot of money as they now range from 7.95 to 15.95 for some.

Thanks I will look at this - they liked trading as much as showing off.

 

[ShookieJones]

Well if you start setting up a meth lab now, get your product on the stree ASAP and save ALL your profits you MIGHT have enough to get them all those things at the World.

Can you tell I've been watching Breaking Bad non-stop??

ANYWAY - I think if you budget a 100-150 per kid you should be able to pull off what you're looking to get there.

 

[rob45]

We normaly give our kids 100 in Disney Dollars when we get to the parks. I tell them it's your money but when it's gone it's gone!

 

[Hot Lava]

but we do the same thing @bethymouse does, just use the credit card for other purchases

A Disney cc, hmmmmm?

 

[SMS55]

The best thing I can say is to budget yourself. If they are old enough you can give them x amount and they spend it on what they want. If they are small, make a budget, because they will want alot. Disney makes a lot of stuff that little kids will want but will never use again once they return home. I can't give you any advice other than that because we are regulars. Since we go often, we pass on the souveniers, so we can save for our next trip. I'll tell my kids that coming back is their souvenier.

 

[itsbetsyh]

i'd probably do about $100 each kid.