Hey there, Lizette!
I see you have an upcoming trip to Walt Disney World Resort. How exciting! Thank you so much for bringing your question to us. We love helping Guests plan the perfect trip. My pals and I here enjoy making sure that your magical getaway is practically perfect in every way.
I love that you're getting prepared and ironing out the details! When it comes to spending, it's smart to have a game plan to be as strategic as possible. There are so many options for shopping at Walt Disney World. I myself have a hard time resisting the urge to buy all the merchandise. I literally have to walk past the stores and make it a point not to look in the windows! There's something for everyone, from popcorn buckets to sweaters to keychains. There's nothing quite like shopping at The Most Magical Place on Earth.
With that being said, it's easy for spending to get out of hand, so setting a limit for each person in your party is a brilliant idea! I actually love doing this and often travel with Disney Gift Cards. I like to purchase Disney Gift Cards from a local retailer. Sometimes you can even find them discounted. After purchasing the cards, I write each family member's name on their specific card. Once I decide how much I want to allocate to each card, I go online and distribute the exact amount evenly among them. This can be done at the
Disney Gift Card website. I love that the cards are reloadable. You can also simply buy the exact amount you want and then pick a really cute gift card design from the theme parks or Disney Springs. Then just log in to your Disney Gift Card account and assign funds to each card. I have some super cute designs from years ago!
A huge tip I have is to make sure you take pictures of every card in your party. One time, after eating lunch at
Disney's Animal Kingdom, I accidentally threw my card away. After a brief moment of panic, I remembered that I had taken a picture of it, so all I had to do was purchase another Disney gift card and transfer the funds. If you choose to keep the gift card on your phone, just make sure you have the barcode ready to scan when checking out.
My sons love having their own designated gift cards. It gives them a sense of independence, and it's so fun to watch them make strategic decisions about how they want to spend their money.
I also love that Disney Gift Cards work at
dining locations, so you can even have a separate gift card just for food. My family and I buy a gift card every month and save it until we're ready to use it at our discretion.
Lizette, I hope this information has helped, and, more importantly, I hope you have a fantastic time with your family at Walt Disney World! Please come back and see me anytime.
Your personal planning companion,
Michelle