Walt Disney opens exhibit offering financial lessons

Even Disney World has begun offering up lessons on financial responsibility to some of its youngest visitors. Earlier this week, an exhibit called "The Great Piggy Bank Adventure" opened at the Epcot theme park.

Sponsored by Disney’s affiliate T. Rowe Price, the exhibit aims to teach 8- to 13-year-old kids some of the basic principles of saving and spending.

Although the current economic downturn has made most people more conscious of their financial habits, the timing of the opening of the exhibit is a little bit of good luck. Disney and T. Rowe Price began planning for "The Great Piggy Bank Adventure in 2006," well before the economy showed signs of decline.

"It is sort of a timeless topic but now you realize it's even more important," says Meredith Callanan, T. Rowe Price's director of corporate marketing.

Visitors participate in the exhibit by playing a game that allows them to set goals to pay for expenses relevant to the “tween” group Disney is trying to target. They can choose between setting aside money to redecorate their room or start saving for college, for example.

Players, represented by thrifty pigs, must hide money so the game’s villain, the reckless wolf, won’t steal it. The wolf also has the ability to raise inflation which highlights the importance of saving early.

Once visitors get home, they can continue practicing the financial lessons they learned at the exhibit’s Web site and parents can read more about "The Great Piggy Bank Adventure."

To try it out, click here.