What do you put in kids "Welcome Basket"??

[R4Suns]

I have read that many of you make or have baskets for your kids delivered to your room upon your arrival to WDW. I want to do something like this for my boys and wonder what kinds of things you put or have put into them?
My boys are 5,9,11 and 13.

Thanks for your help.:bounce:

[FLgirl1203]

My boys are on the younger side (3 and 6) and the last time we went I went to the Disney Store and got this big box (with Mickey on it, of course). It was about the size of a hat box. I had ordered GOH badges for them (a big hit - but a pain to keep track of each day), autograph books, the fat pens, a character PEZ Dispenser, a character T-shirt. Then I got creative and wrote a letter from Mickey Mouse welcoming them to his world. It was the first time there for my youngest...he loved it! We're going back in a few days and I haven't been that organized this time around. Hope his memory isn't that great. Maybe I'll find something little while we're there to send back to the room. Have a great trip!

[Dawna]

I gave my girls (4 and 5 yrs old) disney gift bags when we got to the airport. I had crayons, notepad, disney magic pen book (couple $), gum (for chewing as we took off), small "Princess" toys, and Minnie Mouse Pez dispenser. It kept them busy on the flight down! Your boys might enjoy Disney dollars, Disney T-shirt or cap, blank white cap or plain T-shirt and fabric pen for character autographs, autograph book w/big pen, quarters (for hotel arcade or pressed penny/quarter machines), Disney cookies/candy.

Good luck!

[Meagansmom]

I do alot of the same things above. One thing we did is I picked up a Minnie Doll at the Disney store prior to leaving plus I picked up some special candies. Each night we would go for a special walk before bedtime. I would sneak out last. I would put the doll and some candy it a different spot each time. When we got back to our room, my daughter would have more fun finding Minnie. Next time I am going to pick up a Mickey doll plus take her Minnie doll with and do the same. She really thought Minnie came in each night to get her bed ready.

[sogger1]

I gave DS disposable cameras, a disney bank, disney dollars, GOH badge, Wonder Ball (hollow choc. ball with character shaped sweet tarts), and a Pirate Pooh with a little piece of paper attacted to invite him on the pirate cruise at GF and Epcot Passport.

[bobcat]

Disney beannies

Disney character fruit roll-ups

sunglasses

camera

disney story book

travel games for the car/plane

[Pluto]

I am in the works for making DD a box right now since we are leaving 2 weeks from tomorrow! Here is my list: Disney fruit roll up, Disney wonder Balls, Disney Pez Dispenser, Disney activity book(try the book store, Toys R Us, and sometimes Wal-mart), disposable camera, Disney game boy game for her game boy, and the Birbaums guide book for kids(I gave this to her last year and she loved it). Have a great time!

[sablair]

How much do the autograph books cost, and does anything make them unique (besides the cover)? My DD just bought a little pack at the disney store.. it has a plastic pack with a clipboard clip, markers, and a plain white paper tablet. I thought this would be good for autographs.. it was $8.00.

~sheila

[J and E's Mom]

Last year we did "the 10 day countdown 'til Disney". I bought two, small colorful baskets and used Disney themed wrapping paper to wrap up 10 little presents for each of my two children. Ten days before our departure, the kids picked one gift from the basket and opened it up. Each day they would open up a gift, and when they got to the last gift, it would be time to leave for our trip.

My kids loved doing this. I even took pictures of them each day and made a scrapbook page for our family album. We are going again this year and they are begging me to do this again.

Here is what I am wrapping up this year:

Disposable water proof cameras

Disney PJ's

Disney travel games---the Disney store had cute little travel game tins. Checkers and cards--4.99

A wallet with 5 Disney dollars

A Disney princess light-up rose---Disney store--$1.49

Penny press book and a pouch of quarters--I need to order this item.

Snacks for the plane

The countdown is a great way to get psyched up for the trip. We leave in 17 days.

[6_Time_Momma]

What is a Penny Press Book, J and E's mom?

[Mady/Sophiemom]

We purposely forgot the kid's toothbrushes, and then when they started to freak:
Disney toothbrushes appeared on the counter. I just told them it must be Disney magic.

My kis are only 5 and 2. It prob. would not work for older kids.

We also got them mickey suckers, water toys, goggles, and swimmies for the pool, and stuff for the airplane ride, and to keep them busy at restaurants.

Have a great trip.

[ceecee]

I bought Mickey and Minnie beannies before we left, on our first night I left them on my daughter's bed with a note from Mickey and Minnie thanking her for visiting. At the next character meal she thanked them for the note and beanies...she talked about it for days...Mickey & Minnie left a surprise on her bed!

[phins_jazy]

I'm starting to get a backpack full of items for our March trip. So far I've got Mickey suckers, a minnie mouse pen, a pooh pen, a minnie bubble pen, a stuffed 102 dalmation puppy, and a pooh night light. I'm bidding on some pooh pez dispensers on ebay right now!! :D I hope to have the backpack full by the time we leave.

[dizneenut]

WOW! Those are all wonderful ideas!! Thanks! I am going to save these and do them for my boys when we go next July!!

[jennypetal]

I read on here to go to Walmart and get those glow in the dark necklaces for parades and Fantasmic for the kids. Those would be neat in the goodie bags and are cheap as well.

JennyPetal

19 days to go for me!!!!:) :)

[phins_jazy]

I've looked high and low for those glow in the dark necklaces at walmart. I just can't seem to find em. :( I did find a website that sells them individually though. I haven't ordered from them yet. Has anyone else heard of this company....http://www.selfpowered.com/neonglow.htm

[Praise2Him]

Haven't heard of that company, but at WalMart they are in the section with the party favors. I've also found them at party supply stores such as PartyCity, PartyLand, etc.

Just a warning: Even though you get these for your children (and they'll love them), they will still want to buy the expensive light-up things when they get there! So decide ahead of time what you'll do. We let ours buy them with their own money.

[J and E's Mom]

Kristy--

Have you ever seen those machines where you put in a quarter and a penny and the machine presses the penny, stamping a design into it? Well, they have them throughout the park. The book is designed to hold these pressed pennies.

I know, it is a gimmick--but we love to collect things.

Tracy :D :D :D

[Ninilchicken]

I got our DD's 10 & 14 WDW beach towels and some other Disney things that were mentioned, ordered GOH badges from Gifts of a Lifetime and mailed them the things I had bought, they delivered them to our resort. The girls were surprised when they picked up the bags at the check in counter.

[Toni]

I went to WalMart and got small backpacks with Pooh characters for $10 ea. Filled with Mulan and Little Brother beanie babies, Princess stickers, hard candies, traveling Etch a Sketch, disposible camera, crayons and small activity books. Used them again six months later. Now its a tradition for any family vacation that these backpacks are filled and ready to go on the kitchen table when the girls wake up on departure day - usually with the same toys. Got the idea from this board way back in 1999. :cool:

[R4Suns]

All of these ideas are great. Thank you. Also wanted to let you know we found the light up necklaces last night at Wal Mart and Target. Both in the kids party area. Wal Mart was cheaper but Target had a better selection. Also found the Disney Wonder Balls and Disney Pez dispensers at Target also (in the snack food area). They were in wire bins. Target also had the little activity and coloring books that I got for my younger ones. They were $1.50 ea.
I like the idea of getting Disney shirts for the characters to sign instead of an autograph book since my kids are older. Does anyone know where I can find them cheap? Also where did you get the Disney fruit roll ups?

Thanks

[angelina]

R4Suns, you can find the Disney princess and Mickey roll ups and Winnie the Pooh Gummies at Target. Also, look for the glowing neclaces/bracelets at the Dollar Tree or Everything's a Dollar store. Our Disney Store has had great character T-shirts for $7.99.

[mikenlisa1]

Here is what we do for something special might work better with older kids. Keep in mind we do this with kids at heart. DH, 33 me 34 DSister 29 and now our son 2.
We do this every year for anyone going with us.
For Birthdays, Annver., mothersday, fathers day we do not buy cards or gifts we give Disney Dollars.
one year our God Daughter went with us we found a holiday every month and gave for 5 DD.
Then the Sat before we leave we have a Disney Dinner and last min planning. We cook for from Disney cook books, make a cake a Decor it with Disney. I give everyone going a day by day schedule. We look forward to the Cook out before so much some times we just do the cook out.

[SooziQ123]

I am also gathering "stuff" to present to both my kids when we get to the airport. The Dollar Tree has a ton of Disney things like little note books, key chains, fans, etc. I bought a small 6" 3-ring binder with Minnie on the front to use as an autograph book. It has photograph pages in it, so when we get the autograph I will take a picture of the character with my kids & put it opposite the signature. I got that in Walgreen's for $5.99. I am having more fun doing this! And I am not done yet!!! Oh yes, the glowing necklaces are not going to be given to the kids until the actual nighttime festivities. They will think we just bought them there (money saving tip)

[wendyww]

If I send things down to disney for a suprise for my kids will the put it in the resort room or have it a check in?

[R4Suns]

From what I understand...you can send items to Gifts of a Liftetime. They will then "package" it and get it to the hotel on the day you arrive. It is my guess that it is given to them at check-in since most often your room is not know until you get there.
Can anyone elso offer first hand experience with this?