FE gifts for older teens

[cyndik1111]

I'm a mom of a 5 year old DD. We are cruising Jan 24th, doing the FE thing with about 12 families. I am clueless as to what to get older teens. (besides money) What is this group into? Is HSM and Hanna Montana too young for them? Anyone with teens out there that could make some suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

 

[lbgraves]

Are you doing a secret Mickey with them or a FE exchange? We have always given the same thing to everyone in a FE exchange....personalized pencils, notepads, pins, etc...anything with the date and special cruise info on it.

 

[kcashner]

I may be sticking my neck out here, but I don't think money is appropriate as a FE gift. THe idea is little treasures, not anything of real value.

For the 9-12 year olds, you're ok with Hannah Montana, etc. Definitely too young for teens.

The things my 17 year old liked were the mickey pencils and pens, the fake tattoo (yeah!), anything with a guitar theme (they're all into Guitar Hero and it is big in The Stack). She used the highlighter, but I can't say it was a favorite item. Someone did magnets with the cruise logo and dated on them. Many of them don't want to admit it, but classic Disney characters are a favorite...so anything with a classic character is good. Avoid the princesses (too little girl) or the newer characters (they'll either love or hate them). So...a pencil or pen with Mickey or Chip is great, Cinderella or Wall-E may not be.

Magnets that can be used on school lockers are good. A magnetized mirror was a major hit (and the woman who did it said she got them for 50 cents and decorated them!).

Think fun, not expensive!

I did separate "little kids" from adults and older kids when I did our FE. The "little kids" got a few more treasures. It's really up to whatever your FE group decided to do.

 

[tinkluvr12]

I teach the middle school set and they still like glo stuff too. The glo bracelets etc would be fun for a night and they are cheap and easy to pack.

 

[coasterfiend]

I agree with kcashner, money would probably not be a good choice, and HSM, etc would be too young.

A couple of suggestions - the rubber wrist bands with a Disney or cruise theme, small notebook with pencil, pirate themed trinket (eye patch, bandana, etc), candy and snacks (teens do like to eat!).

I think on the cruise even the teens feel a bit more like "kids" again, so I think most would like the surpprise of getting just about anything.

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

I've got two teenage sons that love to have gum, fake tatoos, glow necklaces and bracelets, etc. I also bring their favorite candy bars so they have snacks in the room and if they want to go to the movies.

P.S. I've found the glow things at Michael's in the $1.00 section!

 

[coasterfiend]

Tinkluvr12 - Just saw your post after mine hit, sorry about the copycat bracelet idea!!!!

Enjoy your cruise!!

 

[cyndik1111]

I may be sticking my neck out here, but I don't think money is appropriate as a FE gift. THe idea is little treasures, not anything of real value.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I was actually going to GIVE money. But based on my experience with teens, that is the only thing I know they like. So I was asking what else do they like. After paying for the cruise, I have no cash to give anyway.
But based on the posts, that gives me some ideas. thanks

 

[lakerz5]

candy and glo necklaces, bracelets are always welcome..we did actually give out our state quarter since what is on it is within viewing distance of our home (with a blurb about why the scene on it was chosen and the controversy when the scene was chosen), but I doubt a quarter could've been spent anywhere on the ship. It was more about telling our dismates a bit about our state. It was pretty funny having people we knew look for enough state quarters to dole out to our fellow cruisers prior to our trip

We also gave koolaid single units with another blurb since koolaid was invented in our state as well. If they chose, the teens could save it or stick it in a bottled water.

 

[Mindibellcm]

candy and glo necklaces, bracelets are always welcome..we did actually give out our state quarter since what is on it is within viewing distance of our home (with a blurb about why the scene on it was chosen and the controversy when the scene was chosen), but I doubt a quarter could've been spent anywhere on the ship. It was more about telling our dismates a bit about our state. It was pretty funny having people we knew look for enough state quarters to dole out to our fellow cruisers prior to our trip

We also gave koolaid single units with another blurb since koolaid was invented in our state as well. If they chose, the teens could save it or stick it in a bottled water.

I wanted to give our state Quarter last year and after looking thru about $50.00 worth of quarters and only finding 5 I gave up!!!!!

 

[lbgraves]

You can get tubes of 100 glow sticks on ebay for a very reasonable rate. We have taken them in the past to not only put in the FEs, but also hand out at the pirate party to any kids who don't already have them. DS loves doing this.

 

[cyndik1111]

candy and glo necklaces, bracelets are always welcome..we did actually give out our state quarter since what is on it is within viewing distance of our home (with a blurb about why the scene on it was chosen and the controversy when the scene was chosen), but I doubt a quarter could've been spent anywhere on the ship. It was more about telling our dismates a bit about our state. It was pretty funny having people we knew look for enough state quarters to dole out to our fellow cruisers prior to our trip

We also gave koolaid single units with another blurb since koolaid was invented in our state as well. If they chose, the teens could save it or stick it in a bottled water.

Love those ideas. I'm from Buffalo NY- I could either give snow or chicken wings. lol Hey, wait a minute, buffalo bills attire is drastically discounted. But I bet they wont want that- not even people from Buffalo want to wear that logo.

 

[keishashadow]

spf clear lip gloss

a different colored highlighter for everybody in cabin

small ball for play on castaway cay

 

[dizzi]

Odd ball candy........Like bottle caps or wax lips or dips, candy necklaces,
girls......hair barettes, ponytail holders, lipgloss, lipstick eyemakeup, nail polish
boys....keychains, cards, sunglasses, aftershave, tiny watergun

 

[cyndik1111]

keep them coming....these are great!

 

[Mindibellcm]

spf clear lip gloss

a different colored highlighter for everybody in cabin

small ball for play on castaway cay

I love this we are going in October and will look for beach balls at the end of the summer!

 

[tinkerbellmom1]

I'm a teacher as well, and when I taught 2nd grade, we did a beach themed party at the end of the year. I bought each child a blow up beach ball and they spend the afternoon signing them (kind of like a yearbook signing party) and playing with them. That may be fun for the older kids as well . Cute keepsake anyhow! I got them pretty cheap from Oriental Trading Co.

 

[lindaso]

Love those ideas. I'm from Buffalo NY- I could either give snow or chicken wings. lol Hey, wait a minute, buffalo bills attire is drastically discounted. But I bet they wont want that- not even people from Buffalo want to wear that logo.

Hey Cyndi, I vote for the chicken wings...mmmmm!! Our last DCL cruise, Diversions served bbq wings...what a disappointment!!

 

[stitchlovestink]

can't speak for older teen boys as we had older teen girls in our FE exchange. I got them the bath scrunchies (found them on clearance in the Target dollar spot and paid 50 cents for a set of two) I also got some of those little bottles of shower gel or lotion (they got one or the other) from bath and body works when they had the small trial sized bottles for $1. ea. I can always find other stuff in there too to get to $30 and then use a $10 off of $30 so I kinda rationalize that as long as I keep it to $30, I'm getting 33% off of each item, making the $1 bottles 66 cents. Also, gum was a huge hit as you cannot buy it on the ship or anywhere on WDW property for that matter. Chapstick or lip balm w/ spf was a big hit too. HTH.

 

[Tink rules]

Disney Pez dispensers...

You can find them 12 to a box for about $15.00 online... I'm doing that for the kids in my family next year... they will get a kick out of it and they will eat ANY kind of candy...

Oh and someone also did the colored M&M's... if you feel like splurging... you can get them personalized...