Do you give each of your kids a set amount of money they can spend on Suveniors and treats or let them pick a few out?

About how much do suveniors run? like mouse ears? stuffed animal types? etc. is there a site where I can see the prices so I can estimate how much $$ to give my kids. I have kids ranging from 2 to 13. Not sure what the 13 year old would be into? Maybe a shirt or hoodie?

Not quite sure how to do the suvenior part of the trip?? What have you done that works well for kids?

We give our little ones a set price ($30) each. We also don't let them buy them till our last day as we are leaving the park. There is always something cooler than what they saw 10 min. ago. I figure that by the last day if they still want it then it's a keeper.

How it works in our family: I have said I will buy one souvenier for Charlie. Something I approve of, like a t-shirt or sweatshirt, or other comparable item. Anything else, he needs to bring his own money for. He can spend his own money on whatever he wants. Junkie little stuff that I would never buy for him or a new pirate sword or whatever.

We go at least once a year. If we went less often, I'd be willing to spend more money for souveniers for him. Plus, I think it teaches him a good lesson. Last trip, he asked me if I would make a list of all the things he said he wanted so he could think about which ones he really did want. He didn't buy anything until the 3rd or 4th day (5 day trip). I was really proud of him. Already for this trip he has over $70 saved from birthday money and money he gets from doing extra chores.

Thanks for the great ideas. I need spell check, I guess I should have checked the correct spelling of souvenirs. My 1956 edition has it spelled souvenir, that could be outdated.

We have travelled quite a bit with our girls, now teens. From about age 4 (maybe even 3), they were allowed to choose three souvenirs and only three per trip. They knew they couldn't go crazy. No on the lifesize stuffed toy dog. Yes on the small stuffed toy dog.

They have always enjoyed choosing their three souvenirs and have never pleaded for more than three because they know it's not happening. I think that limit is comforting both to them and to us.

Thanks for the great ideas. I need spell check, I guess I should have checked the correct spelling of souvenirs. My 1956 edition has it spelled souvenir, that could be outdated.
Hey, we knew what you meant. I spelled it wrong throughout my post. Just wrong in a different way. :D

I am still debating what to do??? I think giving my older kids a set amount of money while the younger ones just let them pick out a couple of items. Do all kids need to get ears it seems like that is a given?? or is that something from the past.

I am still debating what to do??? I think giving my older kids a set amount of money while the younger ones just let them pick out a couple of items. Do all kids need to get ears it seems like that is a given?? or is that something from the past.

When our son was 8 I had him earn little disney dollar tokens for our trip. He got them for doing chores, being especially polite, or when I caught him "being good". Then, when we got to Disneyland, he had maybe $30 or so dollars. Now the funny part: I exchanged the money for Disney Dollars. He was in tears. He just could not wrap his mind around that funny looking money. I just gave him cash back, and he was happy.

When he was 12, he saved and earned money and then we bought him one or two little things. The rest, he bought himself, with the exception of the big Lego set his big brother got him for his birthday.

Both trips were for his birthday, but we made it clear that the trip itself and the meals out to fun places like Rainforest Cafe were his present. The t-shirt and whatever we got him were just bonus presents.

Whatever you do, I think the important part is just having a plan. One t-shirt and one other reasonable souvenier, or X amount of money each, spend it however you want.

I am still debating what to do??? I think giving my older kids a set amount of money while the younger ones just let them pick out a couple of items. Do all kids need to get ears it seems like that is a given?? or is that something from the past.

I just remembered that I wrote an article once on this very topic, LOL.

Here it is. (http://www.mouseplanet.com/akrock/akrock4.htm) it's a tad out of date in that the merchandise won't be the same, lockers cost more but provide in and out privileges all day long and Package Express is no longer available, but...

The basics are:

For toddlers and preschoolers, I recommend helping them a lot. Turning them loose on a store can be just too overwhelming for them. I would go to a store, narrow down the choices to two or three things, MAX, and let them choose from your choices. This will also allow you to control budget.

For older preschoolers through early elementary age, I'd give them broader choices to start: Would you like clothing or a toy? Then narrow it down a bit, 'A shirt or a hat?' "A stuffed animal or a gizmo?" "A cup or a book?" Etc. Again, keep the choices within your budget choice for them.

Third grade and up is when I'd give them a budget to spend and turn them loose. Older children may have saved allowance to spend to supplement the budget you give them. As others have said, wait until your last day so you all have had a chance to scope the parks. By then the little ones may have seen something they'd like so that could help you steer their choices.

Ok, I was a bit slow to come up with an answer but I hope it helps!!

Adrienne

Adreinne, great article with great helps. Does DL still offer package express? I am afraid of getting stuff stolen out of my stroller but like the idea of shopping in the afternoon before the kids are too tired.

I lalso like the idea about the kids doing extra chores, and helping around the house for disney money. That is funny about your son and the disney dollars.

Adreinne, great article with great helps. Does DL still offer package express? I am afraid of getting stuff stolen out of my stroller but like the idea of shopping in the afternoon before the kids are too tired.

No, they discontinued it, but the lockers have all day access. If you get there early in the day, you can get a locker and stick your sweaters or things you might not need all day in it. Then when you shop, stop back and add your goodies to pick up later.

You don't say how long you're staying. If you go back to your hotel for a mid-day nap or swim, that would also be a good time to drop off purchases.

Adrienne

Don't forget that while they don't have package express like they used to, they still have a "do it yourself" version. That will mean you have to take your packages to a designated location (I know the kiosk at the exit is the main one - I can't remember which other locations are in use), fill out some forms and then leave your packages there, and you can pick them up any time through park closing. That gives you another option other than just getting a locker or leaving it in your stroller.

The boys each get $50 from us, and then they can earn money at home, on top of that. $1 for picking up pinecones etc. Of course if they want something and their money is gone, I usually, ok always, cave and get it for them.

We are planning on staying at DL from opening to closing on a Friday and Monday. We are staying at the Residence Inn on Garden Grove so it is an option for a break but knowing my family they can go, go, go. The little ones are great about taking naps in strollers.

What about taking packages to the car? Is that dumb? Too far? I think we will rent a locker but don't want to take the time first thing because of the low crowds on rides during the early mornings. So we'd run the risk of no more lockers, I guess we could just use the do it yourself kiosk. Just don't want my kids souvenirs stolen.

What about taking packages to the car? Is that dumb? Too far? It is too far. Take the packages to the Newstand. If you were leaving the park, it is on the left side just before you exit. Tell them you want to drop them off for later pick up. You will fill out some papers, they will staple teh receipts to the packages, give you a receipt to pick up with, and you can take them all at the end of the day.

My four year old does not yet have a handle on spending money, so we buy her small things, but she has a little bit of money, and a purse, because her big sister has her own money. My eight year old brings her own money, and I give the kids some Disney Dollars before the trip. We were just there in August, right after my older daughter's birthday, so I gave her some Disney Dollars for a present. One of her friends, knowing she was about to go to Disney also gave her some Disney Dollars. I encouraged her to wait until the end of the trip to make big purchases, but she insisted on buying a kimono at the Japan pavillion. Not a bad choice, it packed easily, and she did not request anything else. For an eight-year old, about $30 is right, supplemented by any savings they choose to bring. I might buy a sweatshirt, or something like that for them. Both my girls love pin trading, so I get inexpensive small batches of pins on Ebay, and give them out right before the trip, or as soon as we get there. They are so busy with pin trading, they don't do a lot of shopping.

Both my girls love pin trading, so I get inexpensive small batches of pins on Ebay, and give them out right before the trip, or as soon as we get there. They are so busy with pin trading, they don't do a lot of shopping.

That is a wonderful tip!

Hi, I just got back and they can send your packages to the gate, so you can shop all you want (allow 3 hours to pick the packages), they will send them to the gates, no matter size or price, and after you pass the turnstiles there is a package pick up in a store, so don't worry too much. You can either leave stuff on the lockers if you're coming from somewhere else, or if it's not valuable (like sweatshirts) you can leave them in the stroller in a bag, we did that all week long and never had a problem.
Tip for toys and stuff: depending on your budget and the age of your kid, separate an amount for each of them, i.e. $100 usd for each for your entire stay. For the younger kids tell them they can have a small toy each day, or a bigger toy each 2 days. That worked great with my kids, 5 & 7 years. My daugher wanted a $22 usd Ariel in MGM, I bought it and told her that was good for that day and the next, she was OK with it. My 5 year old son wanted a $24 usd Star Wars ship, and we did the same with him. Perfect, the only thing is that we couldn't send it to the gates or the hotel (stayed on property) because he want it right away. It was ok though since he played with it all day long.

Please note that DisneyLAND does not have Package Express, though it appears from disney09's post, that Walt Disney WORLD does offer a version of it.

Just wanted to point that out so nobody got too confused ('cause I was for a minute :D )

Thanks for all the advice, I think we will send our packages to be picked up later. I think my older kids will get a set amount of money while the younger three will get to pick three items. It will be interesting to see what they pick and what the other three spend their money on. Three more weeks until we leave, I can't wait!

It will be interesting to see what they pick

When you're back home, tell us? It's fun to see them choose.

The first time we took the girls to Disneyland, our then almost 5 year-old picked one of those umbrella parasols in NOS with her name painted on, a mama stuffed elephant with a baby from the Adventureland Bazaar, and one more thing I can't remember. At the time, each of those things cost about $20. My dad was with us on this trip and I remember him saying he thought she chose quite well.

Our older daughter, then 8 years old, bought an inexpensive Mickey Mouse watch, a blown glass slipper on a little necklace chain, and an Aurora barbie doll.

The second visit, the girls were 12 and 15. The 12 year-old got into pins with moving parts (like Tink's wings) very quickly and put them on her backpack when she got home. The 15 year-old wanted a Disneyland t-shirt to wear to school and two things from DTD's Sephora (exotic store for a rural kid).

About a month before our trip, I put up a list of extra chores (things they are not normally required to do) and how much each job is worth. This way, they can earn as much as they want to and I get some extra jobs done. I do this with our camping and beach trips too. That way, they usually have plenty of spending money and since it is their money, they get to decide what to spend it on.

About a month before our trip, I put up a list of extra chores (things they are not normally required to do) and how much each job is worth.

I absolutely love this! We have a trip to Chicago coming up ...

We've been doing the chore idea for the past couple weeks and it has worked great! My older DD's are already at 41.00 and even the little ones have around 15.00. (Although I am going to let them just pick a couple things.) And my house has been extra clean!!! Thanks for the tip. We leave in six days!!!!!