Cash or Disney gift card for tweens to spend at WDW?

[Rory607]

We have always done gift cards in the past and helped them keep track of the balance. But I set an AppleCash account for my daughter last year at 13 when she went on a school trip. It has worked well for her in different situations. She and I can both see exactly how much money she has and it’s not charging my card, so she can’t overspend. It’s sort of a nice combination of cash/card. But they have to have a phone for that to work, of course.

My 11 year old does not have a phone yet and likes to see his birthday/Christmas money in cash, lol! I plan to do the same for him when he does get a phone.

 

[tvguy]

Disney gift cards are what my son and daughter in law asked for for our three granddaughters for Christmas to have for a Disneyland trip they took last month. I am not a fan for the very reason they are facing now. They have a little money left on the cards, and if we had given the girls cash, any remaining balance could have been spent somewhere other than Disneyland.

 

[Cfabar1]

For us, being easily able to use the cards, I would do the gift cards…

In fact, I would do it this way:
Assign a daily amount for each kid - say $10, $20, $50, $100, whatever it is
Transfer the amount each day onto their GC using the disney gift cards website.

At the end of the trip, give them in cash a refund of whatever is left - maybe even to encourage saving offer to double it.

Save the gift card balance to cover annual dues or our next Disney trip.

Saves you some money because they’re buying the cash from you at a discount.
Teaches them to have to “save up” and be patient throughout the trip if there’s that “one big thing” they really want. Do they still want it as badly after 4 days have past? When they see how they’ve had to “earn” that money?
Sets clear expectations and responsibilities with money.
If they lose the card, you can transfer the money immediately and not be out anything.

I wouldn’t care about money being left over as it wouldn’t exceed money I know I would spend anyways.

 

[Maxnesta]

A Disney gift card might be the way to go—less risk of losing cash, and it's easier to track spending. Your 12-year-old can check the balance online or at stores, which could help with budgeting.

 

[mamaof2💙]

We have a teenager and a toddler, we usually put their spending money up to $100 on a gift card each. But they also have 1 "special treat" spend from us, which we didn't include on their gift cards...my son used his for a star wars helmet and my daughter for princess costume with ALL the accessories! That way they still have the option to spend a little or a lot on their cards, once it's gone it's gone!.... We had no issues with the kids understanding this, and more importantly no issues with loosing any cash!!

 

[mamaof2💙]

We have a teenager and a toddler, we usually put their spending money up to $100 on a gift card each. But they also have 1 "special treat" spend from us, which we didn't include on their gift cards...my son used his for a star wars helmet and my daughter for princess costume with ALL the accessories! That way they still have the option to spend a little or a lot on their cards, once it's gone it's gone!.... We had no issues with the kids understanding this, and more importantly no issues with loosing any cash!!

And we bought the cards once in Disney!

 

[QueenIsabella]

Disney gift cards are what my son and daughter in law asked for for our three granddaughters for Christmas to have for a Disneyland trip they took last month. I am not a fan for the very reason they are facing now. They have a little money left on the cards, and if we had given the girls cash, any remaining balance could have been spent somewhere other than Disneyland.

Yeah, that's on the parents. I've been to WDW with multiple young children. When they have gift cards, at the end of the trip, we "pool" them and buy treats at Main Street Bakery or other candy store. The kids then share the M&Ms or cookies or whatever. We kicked in any overage. Voila--no gift cards with $4.21 left on them.

 

[mamaof2💙]

Yeah, that's on the parents. I've been to WDW with multiple young children. When they have gift cards, at the end of the trip, we "pool" them and buy treats at Main Street Bakery or other candy store. The kids then share the M&Ms or cookies or whatever. We kicked in any overage. Voila--no gift cards with $4.21 left on them.

Great idea pooling the leftovers!

 

[tvguy]

Yeah, that's on the parents. I've been to WDW with multiple young children. When they have gift cards, at the end of the trip, we "pool" them and buy treats at Main Street Bakery or other candy store. The kids then share the M&Ms or cookies or whatever. We kicked in any overage. Voila--no gift cards with $4.21 left on them.

LOL. I like them having the option of taking the $4.21 home and spending it on something else that giving cash offers.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

We give each of our kids giftcards. When the moneys gone it’s gone, but we also buy them each 1 thing they don’t have to spend their money on. I take a fine tipped sharpie and write very small the amount left on the front of the card after each purchase. It’s just easier than looking on the website constantly for the amount left.

 

[EACarlson]

Cash.

Around 13 on a fieldtrip I lost my cash for a brief moment as it fell from my pocket unbeknownst to me. Thankfully a stranger was kind, saw it fall from my pocket and returned it. Without it I would have had no lunch- so boy did I make sure not to lose it again! Have the kid bring the cash and manage it themselves. The guardrails are about to start coming off of your 12yo. If they lose it now- at least the only thing they'll miss out on is a souvenir and 100% they'll be more careful next time they need to manage their cash.

That only really works if they are going to have cash as a normal part of their lives. Very little is done in cash anymore.

I got both of my kids Capital One accounts with a debit card that they and I have access to through the app. I direct deposit their allowance in their account and they are in charge of what they spend their money on. When people ask about cash or gift card as gifts, I request checks. They learn how to deposit checks into their bank accounts and can see the money usually next day. Both of my kids have Android phones, and Google Wallet, so they have the ability to put their debit card on their phone and use it without having to carry the card as neither regularly carries their wallet.