Post your ideas for inexpensive bring-your-own souvenirs!

[CardinalsFan]

I told my wife about the idea some of you on this board posted about bringing your own souvenirs in an extra suitcase, and then surprising the kids with them at opportune times. She especially likes the idea of having "Tinkerbell" visit the hotel room each night, leaving a special gift for each of them.

So, we're passively looking at the clearance section of the retail stores when we have the chance, looking for inexpensive bring-your-own souvenirs. We have two daughters, ages 7 and 4, and they're very much into Disney and especially Princesses.

So, my wife gets this catalog in the mail today, from "The Lakeside Collection." Inside are a few licensed Disney products, moderately priced for Disney, and I wanted to get your opinion on them.

These can be viewed at www dot lakeside dot com.

First, a complete princess doll set, with Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel, Belle, and Rapunzel, for $12.95:

Second, Ariel, Tinkerbell or Princess overnight bags, $7.95 each:

Third, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, or Belle dress-up magnet sets, $4.95 each:

And lastly, Disney Princess handheld game, $9.95 each:

Are these good choices for bring-your-own souvenirs, instead of purchasing what I assume will be overpriced stuff in the parks? Especially if Tinkerbell "delivers" some each night?

I'm also combing eBay for:

• mickey ears hats
• autograph books
• jackets/sweatshirts (we're going in December)

Let's use this thread to post other ideas for inexpensive bring-your-own souvenirs!

 

[godalejunior]

Great ideas!!! Mickey visited our room everyday while we were at the parks. These are some of our gifts: Dollar Tree had disney color books for $1, also had glow sticks, bracelets, necklaces, etc. for $1. Found some Disney Nascar cars at KB Toys on clearance for $2. Swim trunks on clearance at disneyshopping.com for $7. Also a Cars flashlight or night light for a few bucks at Walmart. Disney character books at Walmart for $3.
We packed items that were small so they would not take up much room in suitcases.

 

[Misskitty3]

Those are great ideas. I love the magnet dress up dolls.

Tinkerbell has been planning her gifts recently for my kids and so far "she" has gotten: Captain Jack figure from Target, MHT tickets and glow necklaces.

As for the Mickey ears, I would totally buy those at the park for under $10 bucks it is a really fun thing to go pick out the exact ears you want and then watch them get embroidered. They have so many choices you could easily spend 30 minutes or more just on that alone.

 

[CardinalsFan]

Wow, Mickey Ears hats cost less than $10 in the parks? Rats. I thought I did great by getting a Tinkerbell one on eBay for $8.45. Lesson learned. Glad I asked! I won't bother searching for a matching one now for my other daughter.

 

[zakasmom]

We are leaving Friday and my kids ds 5 and dd 2 will also be getting presents from Tinkerbell. Actually we have a long drive and her first gift will be given at home and it is the Color wonder sets from Crayola (A Cars and a princess theme), Then upon arrival I have gift baskets that I have made and will sneak into the hotel room before they see, in ds is a Cars wallet with $10 in disney dollars, a Cars watch, coloring book, crayons, new pajamas for the trip, misc candy, erasers and stickers bought at the dollar store, and a Cars magna doodle. In DD (remember she is just 2) a wallet also with $10 disney dollers, pajamas, stickers, a foam tiara which I painted her name on it, a pink stuffed Minnie and some small disney fake jewelry. The gifts that will be brought to their room are a disposable camera for ds, a "wristlet/leash" thing so I can keep dd close, a large sports bottle (1 Cars/1princess) - Target $1 a little tupperware set each themed Cars/princess -Target $1, Fleece pillows, Okay I think that is is, oh and i also painted some suncatchers (Mickey/Minnie) to put in their car windows. Okay eys my husband thinks I went way overboard, but i have had so much fun!

Jenn

 

[trekkie2]

what about ideas for older kids, My daughter would love disney surprises but she is 16 and I would love to have ideas for older kids.

 

[CardinalsFan]

what about ideas for older kids, My daughter would love disney surprises but she is 16 and I would love to have ideas for older kids.

High School Musical stuff?

Or maybe car accessories, like seatcovers and steering wheel cover? I saw those on lakeside dot com as well, with Tinkerbell, Mickey, and Pooh as options.

 

[PrincessSitka]

I love the bags and the price is write. I just tried to get a catalog but they wont send items to Alaska.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

what about ideas for older kids, My daughter would love disney surprises but she is 16 and I would love to have ideas for older kids.

School supplies. Hot Topic also has a lot of Tinkerbell and other Disney stuff geared towards teenagers.

 

[BearsBabe]

Keep your eyes open at your local Target, they often have some Disney things in the 'One Spot' where everything is a dollar. This past weekend I bought a Jack Sparrow notebook and a matching fat pen on a lanyard to use as an autograph book next month, total cost $2. Last Christmas I found a bunch of old school type Mickey stuff, like juice glasses, stickers, various containers, etc. and have also gotten princess stuff from there.

 

[DangerMouse]

Since when is Repunzel a Disnney Princess????

Call me a Disney snob, but I won't buy a disney princess doll unless it is from Disneyland or the Disney Store (often found on clearance there). They just don't look authentic from other sources -- even if they are "licensed by Disney."

 

[Misskitty3]

Wow, Mickey Ears hats cost less than $10 in the parks? Rats. I thought I did great by getting a Tinkerbell one on eBay for $8.45. Lesson learned. Glad I asked! I won't bother searching for a matching one now for my other daughter.

I just checked my daughters ears that we bought last November and the price tag say $8.50. She has the standard ears but with a pink hat instead of the all black.

 

[stampinshauna]

You may want to also check out disneyshopping.com. If you go to the outlet part (disneyoutlet.com) you can often get great deals on official Disney merchandise. We ordered t-shirts for the whole family last year for under $4 each.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Part of the fun of being there is getting souvenirs from the parks! To me it's just not the same if I bought them before hand.

I have however bought cartoons/movies that were Disney for the car ride down. I also will buy something for in the car to play with that is new. Used to be a small toy, this last trip we bought him the Pirates DS video game so he could download the extras at DL. Makes the car ride easier when they have something new to entertain them! But the rest of it has to be bought there, wouldn't be fun or memorable for us otherwise!

 

[Husker Mickey]

Great ideas!!! Would you adopt me? (Just kidding) Your girls will love that Tinkerbell visited each night. How magical!!!: Have a great time!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

We did a Tink visit as well, I found some things in the Dollar Spot at our Michael's and grabbed those for them.

Just an FYI, Lakeside takes forEVER to ship.....seriously, it has taken me months to get stuff from them. I'm going to visit the website this week to order for Christmas...if I'm lucky it will get here in time. LOL the last time I ordered from them it took me 6 weeks to get my products.

 

[annieb727]

I like this idea! My boys always want STUFF when we go...but if we have little things that Mickey brings - when they ask...we can say, "well, let's see if Mickey brings anything tonight first"

Was looking at some of the stuff they have on that lakeside website...some cute cars stuff.

 

[annieb727]

We did a Tink visit as well, I found some things in the Dollar Spot at our Michael's and grabbed those for them.

Just an FYI, Lakeside takes forEVER to ship.....seriously, it has taken me months to get stuff from them. I'm going to visit the website this week to order for Christmas...if I'm lucky it will get here in time. LOL the last time I ordered from them it took me 6 weeks to get my products.

Wow...that's really good to know...I was thinking of ordering a few things...but we leave in just under a month.

 

[annieb727]

Anyone know how long the disneyshopping website takes for it's shipping?

 

[pixiewings71]

Disney shopping ships pretty quickly. Within a couple of days.