Be forewarned, it's nearly impossible to get off a Disney ride without going thru the shops on the way out.
This is a very important point. Talking to your kids ahead of time about spending-expectations is important; if you wait until they're surrounded by "all the shiney stuff", you're lost.
Hustle them through at the end of the rides...say 'we have to get to Peter Pan!' or whatever to keep them moving.
Yes, that's a good strategy.
When we went, my kids always had souvenir money from their grandmother. I thought it was a big waste, as others have said, but she felt strongly that it was her prerogative to spoil her grandkids.
Yes, being a new grandmother, I agree it's her prerogative to spoil her grandchildren -- but that doesn't give her the right to cut into your vacation time, especially when you're spending literally hundreds of dollars per day for your family to be in the parks -- and when you let the kids spend grandma's money in the parks, that's what's happening: she's cutting into your expensive park time.
If you want your children to be able to spend grandma's money, I'd insist that they do it at Disney Springs on a non-ticket day.
What we found was, our kids were much more careful shoppers when they had a budget and it was "their" money.
Yes, but that lesson can be taught at home in your local stores.
I remember one of my oldest child's first "light bulb moments" in terms of money: we'd gone to the movies, and I hadn't bought any candy for my purse. Of course my oldest, who was in kindergarten, wanted a tube of M&M minis, which cost something like $3 or 4. I gave her the money and explained to her she could buy one tube right then at the movie theater, or I would stop at the grocery store on the way home, and she could buy 3-4 tubes for the same amount of money. She didn't believe me, questioned me about details, but she was willing to try. In the event, she got 4 tubes and had change left over. Kid was gobsmacked; she had no idea that buying from the right place /at the right time could equal more for your dollar. For the next week she asked me questions about money -- smart questions.
Today that kid is 28 years old, married, debt-free, drives a paid-for car, lives in a paid-for house. She had her husband have worked hard for everything they have, but -- just as importantly -- they've worked and spent smart. And that tube of M&Ms was the first time she really "saw" money as more than a matter of spend-and-get-right-now. But if you really want to see a kid who's sharp with money, it's her younger sister. That kid is ninja-level frugal; she's 24 years old and could pay cash for a house right now.
