asked to buy this and that..

[laui]

my husband is taking me to WDW for the fist time next week. we are taking our 2 year old daughter and i will be celebrating my birthday there.
my husband has recently had three different people ask him to buy certain things for them. a friend asked him to pick up three sets of mickey ears for his kids, another coworker asked him to pick up a glass ball xmas ornament for his daughter, and another coworker asked him to buy a camera for him. all these people said they would pay us back when we return.
i'm just not sure about all this - we don't really know these people very well, and i really want to just have a care free vacation with my family and not have to worry about spending my time hunting down specific items for people. what can we do??
any advice is much appreciated

 

[disneymomof1]

Somewhere on these threads is a 1-800 number for Disney World Merchandise, I suggest you find the number and have your husband give it out to his co workers. With airlines charging extra $$ for luggage, it is very important to watch the weight of your bags. Maybe your hubby could explain it that way; there is no way I would want to go shopping for other people during your precious vacation time. Have a good trip.

 

[PattiPooh]

You know, you are going for a vacation for your family and your memories, not for a shopping trip for others. I would say no way. I agree, tell them to call Disney or go on the website and pay the shipping. Or, have them pay your $2500 shipping fee Have fun!

 

[laui]

thanks! , i will look for that number

 

[pyrxtc]

I may tell them that I'll pick them up if I see them but otherwise I can't promise anything. i would also ask for the money upfront to make sure I didn't get stuck wiht something I didn't want.

What kind of camera can you only buy at Disney??

 

[laui]

I may tell them that I'll pick them up if I see them but otherwise I can't promise anything. i would also ask for the money upfront to make sure I didn't get stuck wiht something I didn't want.

What kind of camera can you only buy at Disney??

we are heading outside the resort to the outlet mall for some birthday shopping. i'm not sure where we'd even find a camera shop. we'd have to look for a place. that was by far the most unreasonable request.

 

[LittleFlounder]

I would maybe pick things up for people I knew well, but for other I'd probably tell them you don't have the time/money to be buying lots for other people. I had to say that to a couple co-workers just before my last trip to WDW.

 

[GBShorts]

we are heading outside the resort to the outlet mall for some birthday shopping. i'm not sure where we'd even find a camera shop. we'd have to look for a place. that was by far the most unreasonable request.

Who in their right mind would purchase a camera there anyway? (unless you left yours at home-and even then, there's photopass now)

Jee whiz. We're experiencing a bit of the same thing for our pending trip to Germany. The craziest request was for lederhosen for my 9 month old niece. >_>

I'd tell them that you just don't have room and then buy more souvies for yourself.

 

[Magic2000]

When someone asks, just say that you'll see if you have the time, but unfortunately, you really can't make any promises.
Two years ago, I had a coworker ask me to pick up a scarf for her daughter while I was at Disney, whatever color I could find would be great. I foolishly said I would. When I got back and showed her, she didn't think her daughter would want that color (it was pink), but thanks anyway. And I paid $12 for something that I really wasn't interested in, but I still have. She didn't even offer to pay me back.
Since then, I just say that I can't make any promises.

 

[ZoZo]

Ooooh, I can relate to this thread! Went to WDW last month, and one of my co-workers said, "I'm going to give you some money so you can buy me a Mickey plush animal." Not, "Would you mind doing me a favor?" but "I'm going to give you some money . . ." Pretty presumptuous, huh? She's a very nice lady, but she's not a close friend, and I don't think she realized that it was asking too much. I was so caught off-guard, I didn't know what to say at first (so I didn't say anything, hoping she'd forget about it).

When she asked me again, a week before my trip, I asked her what type of Mickey she wanted. "One of the big ones." (Jeesh!) I told her that I was sorry, but I just wouldn't have enough room in my luggage (I was flying, and knew I'd be stuffing my suitcases to the brim with my own souvenirs). She seemed kind of shocked, but said she understood. [I should have told her that I'd be happy to pick one out for her, if she wanted me to ship it home for her!]

I can't believe people have the gall to ask favors like this, especially the people who say they'll pay you when you get back! What nerve. I say, stick to your guns and just say that you won't be able to do it for them. You don't have to give any reasons -- if you do give a reason, it's a chance for them to argue with you and try to convince you to do it!

 

[palmickey2005]

Ok I have one to share...

Last year someone actually asked me if I can look for scented drawer liners and not just "any" brand. She showed me the specific brand and scent she wanted. The store she bought them from told her they were sold out and wouldn't be getting anymore as it was just a one time purchase and not their regular stock. So she noticed they were made in the US and figured that I could find them anywhere including Disney World.

I had originally asked her for a pedicure and when paying her she didn't want to accept the money but instead asked me to look for these scented liners. I told her that it might be hard because I was staying on Disney property we weren't going to leave the property during our visit but if I came across them at Disney I would get them for her.

So anytime I was at a gift store the thought crossed my mind...so if they showed up on a shelf in front of me then yes I would purchase them but I didn't run around looking for them. Sorry but I would have preferred to pay for the pedicure and not have to worry about locating these liners.

Hope she liked the coffee mug, key chain and chocolates I brought her anyways.

 

[Tammysue5]

When we went in Setp. I found out how hard it actually is to get souvies for everyone. This took a great deal of time and not much fun. (I mean nieces/nephews) We did it but ... when my dad went to Florida a month later I assured him NO ONE In our family would get upset if he decided to enjoy his vacation instead of searching for the right souvenier for all of us.

Good Luck!

 

[Disney1976]

I agree with what's been said already. You've got no obligation but to enjoy yourselves! Either tell these people to call Walt Disney World (even the main number can get you to merchandising) or go on ebay -there are plenty of locals who sell theme park stuff from WDW on there.

 

[dimimi]

I agree with the others. I am pretty sure you aren't going to be spending time in gift stores with a 2 year old! Even if you buy the items, you now are responsible for making sure they don't break/bend, etc. I would suggest disney.com. They even have free shipping deals! Enjoy your trip.

 

[poohfriend77]

I'm already stressing a bit over the gifts I want to buy for people. I sure don't want to add to the list with other people's requests! We plan to get a little something for our neighbors. Our DDs are all best friends, and they're going to watch the house, check mail, feed fish, etc., while we're gone, so I think it would be nice to bring back a little thank you gift. Then there's Grandma, my niece and nephews, and my best friends' two kids. I love shopping, but I'm a little worried I'll pick things up along the way, then realize as we're leaving that I've left out one kid. Guess I'd better add a souvenier checklist to my ever-growing notebook of vacation lists.

 

[letthewookiewin]

Normally the only people, outside our family of 4, that I buy for is my nephew and a thank you gift for my in laws. The one for the in laws is a thank you for taking care of dog, watching the house, and putting our mail on the table. The one for my nehpew is a Mickey Mouse plush doll that reflects the time of year that we went. This is something that I started on our last trip. I buy my DS's and nephew a Mickey plush based on the time of yeat we go. For instance the last time we went, we went during MNSSHP, so they got Mickey dressed as Captain Hook. Actually I paid for those twice b/c I left our souvenir bag in the MCO airport. I just called the number for the WL and they gave me the merchandise number and I was able to get the same plush dolls. This next year when we go at Christmas, I am going to buy one Christmas ornament per family with their last name on it.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Yikes. Sticky.

But this is one of those things that happens. DH is really getting irritated with me because I won't tell people "NO." Where it gets problematic is when we buy things for several different people and they are slow to reimburse us. I don't budget HUGE amounts of money for "other people's souvenirs" so it can cut into our spending money. When we come back if I have $50 or $60 worth of stuff for other people and they take 6 or 8 weeks to pay me back DH gets very testy.

I have asked other people to bring things back for me - usually pins that are limited edition or for special events. But ONLY if they are stopping to buy pins for themselves and only if it's not inconvenient. If they forget it's not a big deal. And I pay them as soon as they tell me how much it cost for the item and postage if they mail it to me.

Our trip in 2 weeks will be VERY short and we are only doing carry-ons so I am not bringing things back for people.

 

[seashoreCM]

asked him to pick up a glass ball xmas ornament for his daughter, and another coworker asked him to buy a camera for him. )

Change your mind and say no as soon as you can.

What happens if the item gets lost of damaged or stolen?

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

That's pretty nervy.
I had one person at my last job ask me to bring something back.

She is a very good friend though so I did after joking around with her about my being her personal WDW shopper so it there was a 20% shopping fee. (I didn't really charge her - I was kidding).

I sure would say No to anyone else though.
You don't want to get stuck with something if someone changes their mind and I bet you don't want to spend your vacation tracking down things for other people.

Good luck!

 

[Kim1964]

wdw.mail.order@disneyworld.com

407-363-6200

That's the info printed on a receipt from WDW for ordering park merchandise directly from WDW. Pass it along to the coworkers and be done with it.