Anyone try to supplement toys with Dollar tree

[pixiewings71]

Oh please, your Mom is being silly. I buy things from the Dollar Store, the Target Dollar Spot, Michael's Dollar Spot and use them for GIFTS for my kids! LOL I've got a box in the closet with stocking stuffers I bought from those places, you just can't beat it.

 

[DisneyAndRedSox]

I just came from Target and they had out new Cars and Princess stuff in the dollar area.

Socks
Hair access
Temp tatoos
Notebooks and pencils
Markers
Magnetic 'scenes'
Stickers
Bracelets

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I won't have the popular answer, but here goes. Don't stress over meltdowns too much. Its OK for kids to learn that they don't get something everytime they want it. That's an important lesson. And you are doing them a huge favor if you teach it to them at a young age. You don't have to scramble to give them a toy just because they want it right at that moment.

I completely agree here! When we go on vacation, my kids get a t-shirt and one nice souvenir. Although that has changed a bit as my kids have gotten older and into pins, they get 4 or 5 pins to go on their lanyard instead of a souvenir.

 

[henry72]

I've been collecting items from the Dollar store and Target for the past month. I figure a few new things will keep them busy on the plane and in restaurants. We will still buy a few souviners while there but they will have a set amount before we leave on how much they can spend. Also check out Wal-mart. They have Disney (Princess, Nemo, Tink and Cars) glow sticks (battery operated) in the toy sectoin for $3. These will be great for evenings in Disney!

 

[cmaee]

We try to avoid meltdowns from happening by being honest with the kids about what they have to spend on stuff. They know at the beginning of the trip, they have $20 to buy whatever they want with it. They aren't allowed to spend it until last day....that gives them all week to decide what it is they really want. They like to look at the balloons and have expressed interest in buying them. I tell them that is their choice, but they should really think about what their plans are to do with it when they get home. They have always decided to get something else. I did buy the kids trading pins off of ebay before we went, so they had 15 pins each to trade and we saved up enough quarters and pennies for them to each do 4 pressed pennies a day. Those two things really meant more to them than the stuff they bought with their $20. They show people their pins and pennies all the time...they still play with the item they bought, but not as much as the other. Buying something to ward off a meltdown is something I do not do. If my kids have a meltdown over me not buying something, we leave. I have had to do that before in Wal-Mart or the grocery store when the boys were all around 3 and recently with my DD. They are still kids and want stuff, but they know just because they want something, does not mean they get it. I don't remember looking to see if you indicated your child's age or not, but I know it is a lot harder to reason with a young child/toddler about why they are not getting the balloon and it would be easy to just hand them an already purchased item, but that is a lesson you might want to think twice about teaching them...IMHO.

As far as being cheap for buying stuff from the Dollar store, that is just silly. That is smart on your part to buy things as cheap as possible. I know that I buy the Disney stuff from the Dollar Store for our long car ride. It really gets the mood into gear when they get into the car and find all kinds of new Disney stuff to play with.

Either way, have a blast at WDW.

 

[la_la]

I too have been 'collecting' 'cheap' disney items to take on our trip. I'm not doing it so much as to stop the meltdowns, but to just make the trip more magical, same as the OP later explained. I found a bunch of necklaces and bracelets in the Target dollar spot, and I just know DD is going to be so thrilled with those! I also bought those light up wands at Dollar Tree. DD used one on Halloween Night to match her Tinkerbell costume and it was a hit!!

 

[Darcy03231]

On our last trip I bought a bunch of stuff ahead of time and brought it with me (Disney store clearance, Target, Michaels, AC Moore, Dollar Store, etc.). Tinkerbelle left a gift each night. This cut way back on the wants.

I told my niece that she could get something from WDW on the last day. We spent the week taking pictures in the stores of what she thought she might like and on the last day she chose her souvenir. She ended up getting a Polly Pocket type Tinkerbelle doll for about $10.