Best souveniers for young children??

[Tinkaroo]

I have 3 nieces and 1 nephew (all under the age of 3) that I will be buying souveniers for on our trip in April. Here's the background:

Family #1:
Girl - 3 yrs: is OBSESSED with the princesses. Has just about all of the costumes, and many toys from the Disney Store. Also has pajamas, dolls, books, and movies. Very active and smart for her age.
Girl - 18 months: follows in big sister's footsteps. Has no real personal interest in Disney stuff yet. Very active, short attention span - but will sit still for books.

Family #2:
Girl - about to turn 3 yrs: very quiet, and not very interested in "girl" things. Loves animals, science, etc. Has expressed some interest recently in the Aristocats.
Boy - 3 months: tiny baby boy, doing baby things.

They all have personalized mouse ears already (even though none of them have yet been to WDW), and tend to have more stuffed animals than they know what to do with. I'm looking for any great, orirginal souvenier ideas, and am probably looking to keep the amount spent to $20-25 per child. I've heard about the Mr. Potato Head and My Little Pony thing at DTD, but would love to hear other ideas! I am not yet a parent, so don't have that knowledge to fall back on...

Please help - thanks !

 

[DisneyMomx7]

All my kids loved the spinning/light chaser things - about $14. GIrls have princess ones ds has Buzz lightyear and Peter Pan one. 3 year old girls - tiara, princess pillows, princess lip gloss and nail polish, princess pens and markers. You won't lack for things to buy - the hard part is making up your mind!

 

[kirbsam]

I was also going to suggest the spinning light things. I know they come in different characters. Every kid seems to play with them when they are in the stores.

 

[jckdisneybound]

My daughter also loved the light chaser, but in World of Disney, they have this crayon set with like 20-30 crayons, they are shaped like different characters. DD (who was 2 at the time) LOVED them!

 

[zurgswife]

Another vote for the spinning light things...lots of variety and the little kids love them

 

[Tinkaroo]

I'd forgotten about the light up things. Keep the ideas coming!

 

[TinkerBess_SnowTori]

I don't mean to butt in -- BUT what are the My Little Pony things - I have heard of the Mr Potato Head - I haven't ever heard anything about the my little ponies - which my DD love

Could someone enlighten me??

Thanks

 

[Amy&Dan]

My three year old nieces loved the spinning things too. Also they have these Disney Princess stencil set coloring book things. I gave them to my nieces and my 8 year old dd loves hers too. I have seen them at World of Disney and also at the art shop in Epcot. They were around $10 I think.

 

[tjkraz]

I was also going to suggest the spinning light things.

That was my first thought, too, but I wonder about the diminished effect by not seeing them at WDW. When those carts go rolling down main street after dark, the kids just go crazy for the light chasers. I don't know if they would have the same impact to someone who doesn't see them in that setting.

One suggestion for the older girl might be a princess t-shirt with autographs from a couple of the characters. I've read that they have no problem signing articles of clothing as long as they aren't being worn at the time. At the princess meet 'n greet in Toontown you can usually get three of the princesses in one shot.

For family #2, a box of the potatohead pieces might be nice for both kids to share. I can't think of anything offhand that would be too small / inappropriate for the 3month old...and he'll grow into it over time.

 

[disneyaggie]

I have 3 nieces and 1 nephew (all under the age of 3) that I will be buying souveniers for on our trip in April. Here's the background:

Family #1:
Girl - 3 yrs: is OBSESSED with the princesses. Has just about all of the costumes, and many toys from the Disney Store. Also has pajamas, dolls, books, and movies. Very active and smart for her age.
Girl - 18 months: follows in big sister's footsteps. Has no real personal interest in Disney stuff yet. Very active, short attention span - but will sit still for books.

Family #2:
Girl - about to turn 3 yrs: very quiet, and not very interested in "girl" things. Loves animals, science, etc. Has expressed some interest recently in the Aristocats.
Boy - 3 months: tiny baby boy, doing baby things.

They all have personalized mouse ears already (even though none of them have yet been to WDW), and tend to have more stuffed animals than they know what to do with. I'm looking for any great, orirginal souvenier ideas, and am probably looking to keep the amount spent to $20-25 per child. I've heard about the Mr. Potato Head and My Little Pony thing at DTD, but would love to hear other ideas! I am not yet a parent, so don't have that knowledge to fall back on...

Please help - thanks !

One thing I saw that was unique and fun for kids was a pillow in the shape of Mickey or Minnie or Pooh. They doubled as pajama bags! The kiddos could hide their jammies inside, and use it as a pillow! I found the Pooh one at the Pooh store near the Pooh ride (big surprise, huh?). I believe I also found Pooh, Mickey and Minnie PJ pillows in the Emporium at MK.

 

[lovethattink]

I got my baby the Bear in the Big Blue House Bath toys at Mouse Gears and he loves them. (He's 10 months old.) This summer we got him the Nemo bath toys and he loves them too. They are just the right size for their small hands to hold.

 

[Tinkaroo]

I don't mean to butt in -- BUT what are the My Little Pony things - I have heard of the Mr Potato Head - I haven't ever heard anything about the my little ponies - which my DD love

Could someone enlighten me??

Thanks

I haven't really heard specifics on the My Little Pony thing like I have about Mr. Potato Head, but it's the same concept. Maybe someone can jump in and explain for the 2 of us.

 

[luv2nascar]

my daughters love the light chasers. still play with them at home. Do the girls have their ears pierced. They have cute earrings for little girls. How about princess sippy cups or cups with straws all kids need those.

 

[lovesdumbo]

My kids [DD(5), DS(4), DD(2)] all love the playsets of small plastic characters. You can also buy some hard plastic character seperately. We've got all the Pooh characters and Mickey & gang in safari outfits. On a practical more note how about beach towels? I always use beach towels for my kids baths. My kids also like the fabric balls that you can buy in Epcot that you put a balloon in. Those would be very easy to bring home. There are also very cute plastic banks. I also love the die cast ride vehicles but they might be better for kids who've already been to WDW.

 

[MomofKatie]

We went when my DD was 3, and she picked out a Princess jewelry box. It was around $12- $14, I think, and it had Cinderella music when it was wound up. She loved it- still has it for all her "treasures"!

Last year, DD was 6, and she got a Tink twirly light up thing-y, as well as a "light saber" from Epcot. Also a light up bouncy ball- can you see a theme? Those light up toys are addictive to kids!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

If the 3 yo girls are potty trained (or almost there) Princess (or other charcter) panties are a huge hit. My DDs are 6.5 and 3.5 and both love their princeess panites.

Spinning light things also always a big hit.

 

[dtsaos]

I think the best one for my DS 3.5 last time we went, was collecting the pressed pennies and quarters. You can buy the book that holds them at almost all the stores including resorts and then try to get as many as you can. There's a map at MK that shows where all the machines are in the park. Just remember to bring rolls of pennies and quarters with you!

 

[princesslulu]

The potatoe Head and My little pony are really cool! You get to pick out a ton of parts the go with toy. Like the potato head had Mickey Mouse shaped balloon, mickey mouse gloves, shoes. Just really cool accessories that you can't find any where else. If you already have the potato body then you can just get the pieces.

 

[asktriplets]

in nov., for our just-turned-2 yr. olds, we got the light chasers (NOT the ones with the little arms...i can only imagine the damage my toddlers could inflict upon each other with those things!!!!), and pooh sippy cups. we also got the pooh-shaped crayons, but we haven't given them to them yet...we like to really st--r--e--t--c--h things out around here!

we also picked up little metal "lunch boxes" with the castle and characters on them (they had some chocolate candy in them, but the kids were too little, so we ate them!!).... these are great because we still use them all the time when we travel- we put snacks, stickers, crayons, etc. in them. we also keep magnets in them for the kids to move around.

my mil (who went with us) got us a pooh/honey salt and pepper set. i thought it was cute, but not a real practical little kid gift UNTIL i put cinnamon and sugar in them....my kids use them frequently now.

my kids' favorite souvenirs? leftovers from dining in wdw...styrofoam cups with the castle on them, plastic plates and straws shaped like mickey's head, and napkins with mickey on them--we just kept what we were given, but didn't use, and brought them home..we ration them and break out a "mickey meal" every once in a while.

have fun shopping!

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

Personalized 'ears' hats are always a hit. You can buy those and have them personalized right on the spot. They have the traditional MMC ones, but also have Minnie, Peter Pan, etc. For the 'princesses', I bought parasols for my two little nieces. They sell them right before the entrance to Liberty Square at a little stand on the left side. For the animal/nature loving little girl, I would check out some of the animal toys at Animal Kingdom.