Hi, Jessica! We are having this very discussion in my house, so I thought I'd weigh in on how we are doing with this decision.
We are traveling in June with six children, aged between 13 and 17. We came up with some very compelling reasons to use the
Disney Gift Cards for the kids. To begin with, it forces them to be aware of what they are spending. With the charging privileges on the
MagicBands, it can be tempting to go over the budget - or you could do it without even realizing it if you don't stay on top of your spending.
With my own girls, with whom we have done the gift card route, it helped reign them in as far as souvenirs go. We always gave them gift cards when they were younger to prevent them from having a meltdown moment in a shop because we wouldn't spend the money on a "souvenir" that broke the bank.
We've also decided, among the adults going on our summer trip, that this gives the kids a bit of independence. It'll be nice if we decide to sit and watch a show to be able to have the kids go grab a snack or cold drink. They don't necessarily have to stay right alongside us at all times if they have their own gift card to do something.
It always worked with my girls when they were younger, and I think, thanks to your question, I've convinced myself it is going to work with this pack of teens we'll be with this summer.
Happy planning, Jessica!
Anna