Inexpensive gifts for classmates?

[Abra Cat]

Hi! I've been lurking on these boards for several months and have read a lot of great advice here (thanks!), but now that my trip is coming up, I want to start asking some last minute questions.

So, one thing I need help with is gifts for my daughter's kindergarten classmates. We'd like to bring a little something back, either something for the class to share, or individual gifts. I really don't want to spend more than a couple dollars for each kid, so I'd love some suggestions. I was thinking about Mickey pencils, stickers, etc. Plus I've heard about Disney giving out free promotional pins— is that something they do frequently? How do I get some?

Any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks!

[Rebeltinkle]

:Pinkbounc What comes to my mind for the whole class is a fun photo frame that would be nice to put the current class picture in. It would be kind of hard to buy individual gifts for the class, even magnets can add up!

[Abra Cat]

Thank you, Rebeltinkle— that's a great idea!

[RumpleMom]

We like to purchase a bag of Mickey-shaped pretzels at the World of Disney store, chocolate coins with the characters' pictures and also the character shortbread cookies. These could be used for snack time in Kindergarten.

[RhondaS]

Pressed pennies would be a fun thing your daughter could get for each child. :)

.51 each

They are available all over WDW.

Your daughter could get a pressed penny book for herself to keep hers in and bring back duplicate pennies for her classmates.

[WDW2002]

There was a heated thread (and a debate) on this vary topic not too long ago.

If you are set on doing this, I would lean toward making it a class gift instead of a individual gift.

I was going to provide you the links but search isn't working for me...

[mforbach]

We picked up a Pooh Book/CD set (about $6.00) at the outlet mall for my daughter's kindergarten class. The teacher was thrilled and actually used it in class unlike all the other books which we donated from the book fairs. We also brought back the Mickey cookies for snack time.

[Minnie824]

What about some kind of candy or snacks....someone mentioned the pretzels, or maybe some Mickey suckers or something?

[Abra Cat]

I'm definitely leaning towards bringing back Mickey-shaped snacks. I just hope my daughter's teacher doesn't mind all the little darlings hopped up on sugar. Thanks for all the great suggestions!

[Cara]

We brought back a box of the character chocolate coins for my daughter's first grade class to enjoy. The Mickey pencils are $2.50 each!!!

[Abra Cat]

The Mickey pencils are $2.50 each!!!


Yee-OUCH! Thanks for the warning. Snack foods are sounding better and better all the time!

[ellyn2000]

My DS always buys his entire class postcards from WDW and they seem to love them. We buy the 10 for $1 or whatever we can find at the souvenier stops near WDW and then buy a large bag of Mickey suckers at Dollar General so they get a sucker and a postcard. He has fun choosing which card for which friend. Have a wonderful trip!

[disneyjunkie]

Do they have cooking time at your daughter's school? If so how about bring back a box of Mickey shaped pasta.
(I teach pre-k and we have to have a cooking experience each week.)

I love the post card idea!

[DisneyPoly]

We usually buy the lollipops wrapped with Mickey's face. I believe you get 10 in a bundle. They are varied colors, shaped like Mickey's head and have Mickey's face on the celophane. They are sold throughout all of the parks.

Have fun!

[idontknow]

We usually bought the pretzels and pencils. They had pencils that came in a package of 5 or 6 for a couple of dollars. The shaped pencils can get very expensive for an entire class. What about going to a local target or walmart and getting mickey pencils there? BTW, I really like the postcard idea. Your child could pick out the cards and you could write something on the back from Mickey.

[Abra Cat]

Wow, thanks for all the great ideas, y'all! Would I be able to get any of the food items at the Character Warehouse at the Belz Outlet?

[D,L and K's Mom]

When we were in Disney last year we were lucky enough to have dinner at Cinderella's castle. My DD got a Mickey shaped straw in her drink. DD thought this would be the perfect gift to bring back to her classmates. I asked the waiter if we could buy 20 of the straws and he said he would ask. When he returned he had 21 straws (all one color to avoid fights) for DD in a little bag. I can't remember how much they we I think they were 5 cents, DH thinks they were FREE. I know they were CHEAP and the kids loved them. DD also brought back some chocolate coins for the class. I am a teacher and I think the idea of postcards or a class book etc is a great idea. I have a special book that was a gift from a former child that I allow the children to take turns taking home to read to their families. . If you do buy a book for the class remember to write and inscription in the front cover.

[Abra Cat]

Great ideas, D and Ls Mom! Especially the straws. We're having breakfast at the castle our last day there, so I'll be sure to ask about the straws.

[CarolA]

You can ask one of the CMs for the free stickers they hand out. They will tear you off a bunch. Even if the first CM did not hand you enough you could hit up a few more!

[stevepete]

We never bring back food because some of the children in by DSs class have diabetes. Some of the things we have brought back are pens, they sell them in packs of 5 for maybe $6, books for the teacher to read to the class, stickers or ink pads for the teacher to use on their papers.

[minniemmom]

We brought back Mickey candy sticks for each of my DS's classmates, along with stickers they gave out at the parks. We came home with so many stickers we didn't know what to do with them all! (and they're free!) The candy sticks were bought in the Main Street Sweet Shop; I think they were 10 cents/each. They had Mickey on the wrapper, and came in all flavors. Hope this helps! I always spend a good deal of time deciding what to bring back for friends, family, etc., so I know what you're going through! Have fun!
:Pinkbounc :D :Pinkbounc :D

[twinz]

I work in a daycare and I usually bring something back for the kids from my trips. The book is a GREAT idea. I have bought a bag of suckers at Wal-mart for .97 cents. You get about 10 suckers in them. I agree with checking the stores outside of WDW...they tend to be cheaper, and the kids will NEVER know that you didn't get them in a park. I also like the straw idea...I may be doing this on my upcoming trip.

[DVC-LEROY]

I really like the idea of hitting up the CM's for stickers and then buying something for the classroom that the kids will enjoy all year! Probably going for a CD of Disney tunes or a book and CD combo.

[Disney-Junkie]

We bought little button pins, about the size of a quarter. There were about 10 of them in one package. They had several different ones in each package like TOT, BTM railroad, Space Mtn., etc.

If you are looking for great gift ideas for best friends or teachers we bought some postcards and had characters sign them. If you have been to WDW more than once you know you see Pooh, Mickey, Goofy, etc, several times. So after they signed our books the first time they started signing postcards instead.

Good luck

[momof2OH]

We just returned and Luckly my son only has 9 kids in his class, so it made it a little easier and cheaper for us to bring back something for each of them. Each child got a character pen and a bag of mickey pretzels. Then when we were in Epcot at the World Showcase, we got sometime of food from every country for them to all share. So far all the kids and the teacher love it. They are eating something different each day.
Gina

[nats]

There is a strip mall on Palm Parkway. In 2000 they sold Mickey and minnie pens that have heads that light. At that time they sold for 50 cents.

[Ithastobe]

You guys all have really great ideas! I too was wondering what to bring back for my children's friends. I think the pretzel snacks sounds good, and to donate a book to each classroom. The pre-school is focusing on reading so this will fit into their theme nicely!

Great ideas everyone!

[osugrad148]

Last year I had bought big Mickey suckers at the Belz character outlet for .99 cents a piece. When I told the CM they were for my twins Kindergarten class she got so excited and proceeded to individually wrap each in tissue and their own WDW bag. Inside each bag she put about 5 various stickers and then a Magic Kingdom map. I took that idea at each park I put in a map too. They were such a hit that about 5 mothers in the class told me they booked Disney vacations because of it!

Liz Day

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Great ideas from visiting WDW, but how about if you are going on the cruise?

[LvsTnk]

This was a huge hit in my DD's 6th grade class, she got the HUGE Goofy taffy's they were .60 cents a piece.

[Yvette Q.O.D.]

My DD received a Mickey shaped lollypop in class from a student returning from WDW. It was just a small clear pop in the shape (outline) of Micky with a long stick. She loved it. I believe they can be purchased in a bundle of 5. If you make that purchase at the right store in DDD then you can use your Disney Club card. Or buy them from a Disney Store before you even leave and you can be sure to get the discount.

I like the chocolate coin idea very much as well.

133 days till we are off!!!

[twinz]

We actually just did the straw idea. We were in MK on our last day and we noticed the straws in the confectionary. We talked to a great CM and asked her if we could buy some straws without the marshmallows. She phoned a supervisor and asked how many we needed (we needed 50 the three adults work in a child care centre). She went in the back and came out with 50 straws and we asked her how much and she said..."Don't worry about it." We thanked her then went to City Hall and let them know how much of a help she was! We never expected to get them all for free! Thanks to the great CM.
Twinz
PS the children loved the straws...one even sleeps with his!

[Muffy]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. Last year i got all the kids key chains but not his year! this year they are getting straws!

[Disney845]

All these ideas sound so cute. I do not have children yet, but bringing something back to share with the class seems like a nice gesture. In my personal opinion, I think something for the whole class to share (book, snack food, activity) is a better idea than individual gifts. I thought the idea with the park maps in the bags was nice, especially since some other mothers said they were going to WDW now because of it, but it made me pause and think. You don't want to be flaunting your family's good fortune to be able to take vacations in the face of the other kids and parents. If a family could not afford a trip to WDW you might be unintentionally causing problems by putting that seed of desire into a childs head. Just something to keep in mind!

[Ithastobe]

Just returned, and we decided to buy the Mickey shaped pretzels for 79 cents a bag. My DD brought them in today in a WDW bag and the kids were very excited.

Thanks for the ideas. This was inexpensive, and everyone could share.

[Fridye]

I copied this from another post I read -- don't know if these activity books would be appropriate as gifts, but maybe. Does anyone know?

"Instead of getting the Passports at Epcot, check with a CM at the gate, and see if they have any of the Kidcot Activity Books. These take the kids through Epcot, (FW and WS) and best of all, the price can't be beat... FREE!"