Bringing character toys?

[irene_dsc]

Ok, so this is sort of a weird question. I keep thinking about what stuff dd should bring with us, as far as character stuff, in order to reduce the begging while we are there, as well as helping her be in the spirit of things. Also, will it be weird if she brings non-Disney charater stuff? I'm thinking specifically of her airplane carry-on, since she has a big Dora backpack that also rolls. She has a small Disney Princess backpack, but it doesn't hold very much, and since we are doing the Magical Express, I wanted to have a change of clothes, pj's, bathing suit, etc, besides stuff for the airplane ride. Is anyone going to give her a hard time about having a Dora backpack? (The girl has about 5 backpacks - I'm not about to buy another one! But, both of her largest ones are Dora.)

Also, I was thinking of stocking the little Princess backpack with some of her Disney stuff, and having that in our packed stuff already stocked. She has a Cinderella "Barbie", a baby Mickey Mouse (not sure if he will fit in there), assorted Winnie the Pooh stuff, a couple of small Princess books, and probably more stuff I can't think of right now. I saw a suggestion to bring packable dress-up clothes - I may need to buy a smaller one, since the only Princess one she has is huge, both from a packing standpoint and that she is likely to trip on it.

I'm already assuming I need to bring Baby Mickey to meet Mickey at the Garden Grill, and Cinderella to 1900 Park Fare to meet Cinderella, at the very least...

(A related question then goes to what am I actually going to be bringing into the parks each day, and how am I going to carry it - but I think that needs to be a different thread!)

 

[brymolmom]

How old is the little one?

I bring SOME Disney stuff with us - but since our first time I have way cut down on how much I bring. I now bring core stuff for the plane (crayons/coloring books, little figurines, and DVD player), plus I bring one or two small brand new things (so it feels like we're buying more soveniers even tho I got them cheap at home) - like a character fan, light up toy or small stuffed animal. I don't worry about bringing things to character meals - just the autograph book and camera. But it would be cute.

On bringing to the parks - I have way cut down here too - it is way easier not to have to keep track of so much stuff.

My advice is this - bring the least possible amount of stuff you think you HAVE to bring.

 

[bjscheel]

We bring airplane toys, but other than that they only bring their loveys to sleep with. For DD6, that's blankie, for DD9, it's Clifford the Big Red Dog. Last year when we came back to the room Mousekeeping situated Clifford on the bed with the remote in paw and the TV on. We left a note the next day that he would probably need a walk rather than TV. Then DD got nervous about anybody handling Clifford and she hid him away the following days!

We don't take toys to meet characters but might mention to the character that we have a toy of them.

No one will give you a hard time about the Dora backpack!

 

[irene_dsc]

How old is the little one?

I bring SOME Disney stuff with us - but since our first time I have way cut down on how much I bring. I now bring core stuff for the plane (crayons/coloring books, little figurines, and DVD player), plus I bring one or two small brand new things (so it feels like we're buying more soveniers even tho I got them cheap at home) - like a character fan, light up toy or small stuffed animal. I don't worry about bringing things to character meals - just the autograph book and camera. But it would be cute.

On bringing to the parks - I have way cut down here too - it is way easier not to have to keep track of so much stuff.

My advice is this - bring the least possible amount of stuff you think you HAVE to bring.

Oops - forgot my siggie here doesn't include ages! Dd is 3.5, and is waay into playing with her dolls & stuffed animals. I've found it advisable to have at least 2 around whenever we are playing, so she can be one doll and I can be the other one, lol. (This was our best solution to watching ds6's flag football games, for instance!) Hm - just remembered she has the Megablock Cinderella, too - that might be a little more portable, without all those little things to lose, like the crown, shoes, etc.

(For ds, we are probably getting him a Nintendo ds for the holidays - we may not need to bring anything else for him, other than his favorite stuffed dog, which he has already reminded me to pack numerous times, lol.)

As for the park, I think I'm largely worried because it will be January with goofy changeable weather, so I may have layers of jackets to deal with, on top of everything else. Plus, if they get wet (from playing in a fountain, for instance), it will be crucial to have dry clothes to change into so they don't get chilled.

 

[Whosemom]

Its vacation at an amusement park, not a pilgrimage to mecca or something. Not only can you take Dora, you can wear your favorite tshirt from Universal.

 

[irene_dsc]

Ok, so it sounds like I don't have to worry on this too much - way overthinking this part! But then, knowing my dd, once she realizes all the characters are there, she'll start asking for her toys - and their "families". This is the girl who at one point had 4 different Winnie the Poohs out as big Pooh family!

I'm also trying to figure out how to reduce the begging factor once we are there. But, I hear everyone on bringing as little as possible...

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Regarding the beggin factor....
This is what we were told to do from a friend and it sounds like a great idea. Buy some things a head of time at the disney store, dollar store, Target etc... types of things that you would get in the parks. Then hide them away and maybe carry a few things each day in your back pack. Then when the begging begins you can have one of you run over to "get something" and bring back one of the little items.
Sounds like she is still young enough to maybe go for this.

Also, you can bring and wear anything you want. You will see many Non-Disney things there.

I"m sure when we go my daughter will be covered in Dora LOL

 

[LadyShea]

I'm also trying to figure out how to reduce the begging factor once we are there.

Hmm, how old is she? Perhaps give her Disney bucks and let her know that's all she can spend on souvenirs, so she can budget for herself. This works wonders in our family (so far nieces and nephews)...it's amazing how discerning they are when it's their own money.

DS isn't 2 yet and so far hasn't learned to beg, knock on wood!

 

[irene_dsc]

Regarding the beggin factor....
This is what we were told to do from a friend and it sounds like a great idea. Buy some things a head of time at the disney store, dollar store, Target etc... types of things that you would get in the parks. Then hide them away and maybe carry a few things each day in your back pack. Then when the begging begins you can have one of you run over to "get something" and bring back one of the little items.
Sounds like she is still young enough to maybe go for this.

Also, you can bring and wear anything you want. You will see many Non-Disney things there.

I"m sure when we go my daughter will be covered in Dora LOL

I've heard this trick, too - but not so sure she'll fall for it. (Besides, I don't want to encourage the begging by giving her stuff! It's more about the annoyance factor than the money, in a lot of respects!) I was planning to do something Disney for her airplane toy, tho - not sure what yet. She saw an ad for a little folding Princess house thing that would be ideal if it was a little smaller than it appeared on tv.

Btw, she has an older brother (6 y/o), too - but he has a better understanding of money and such things. I think his downfall will be the Lego store (if I elect to let him know if its existence, lol), more-so than the Disney stuff, but otoh, he can get the oddest stuff into his head to beg for!

(I am planning to find some glow necklaces ahead of time if I can, tho!)

Another poster mentioned Disney Dollars - I was actually considering having some in their stockings, but wasn't sure how much would be a reasonable amount to allow them to get something. Is there a thread somewhere with typical souvenir pricing?

 

[LadyShea]

It depends on the souvenirs really. A T-shirt will run 15-20, a keychain under 10, pins are reasonable at anywhere from 7-20 , plushes are close to 20. There is an entire store for souvenirs under 10 at DTD.

I should think for most kids 40-50 is more than enough discretionary funds. We usually give the child 40 to spend however he or she wishes, and then we buy the kid one souvenir of our choosing. All this is explained up front to the kids and begging is prohibited.

As I said it works really well for our family.

 

[irene_dsc]

It depends on the souvenirs really. A T-shirt will run 15-20, a keychain under 10, pins are reasonable at anywhere from 7-20 , plushes are close to 20. There is an entire store for souvenirs under 10 at DTD.

I should think for most kids 40-50 is more than enough discretionary funds. We usually give the child 40 to spend however he or she wishes, and then we buy the kid one souvenir of our choosing. All this is explained up front to the kids and begging is prohibited.

As I said it works really well for our family.

And here I was thinking about $10 for each kid...hmm. Tho, I wouldn't expect them to pay for any clothing type stuff with that. Hmm...

 

[LadyShea]

Unfortunately prices are high at WDW. I have seen some of the same or similar items in the Target 1.00 bins that would be 5.00+ at the parks...so we give them a larger budget.

Granted, when we go it is my DH and I as well as the child in question's grandparents, so each couple contributes 20.00. Whatever works for your family!

 

[irene_dsc]

Well, it's all about managing expectations, really. I think I'll post another question about favorite souvenirs. But, they really can surprise you. Last year, we went to Cape Cod, and the only thing ds asked for was a glass ball at the Sandwich Glass Museum! (He was sooo fascinated by the glass blowing demonstration - he even recently decided that's what he wants to do when he grows up!)

 

[momsoftwins]

just my 2 cents ... for my last 2 trips i have gotten all my souvies from the disney store here at home and then take them with me to disney world. then every morning when my girls wake up the have a gift left from mickey. that way i wont have to "SAY NO" all day long or waste time shopping. i have been lucky to get stuff so much cheaper at home. on clearance helps alot. i even use tshirts as gifts too. that way it isnt taken up anymore room in the suitcase. now i am not saying that my kids get no shopping on the trip, they well we hit the 10 dollar or less store and they are happy with that.
i hope this helps

 

[kxmeeh]

My idea started 2 years ago. My girls have been saving up for disney dollars right after our last trip. they earn 20.00 for each straight a report card. both are going with almost 200.00 each. they have been saving for the BBB, which is 160.00, and will have some left over for whatever they want, and they earned it on their own, which makes it even more special.

 

[susykt4]

Our last trip (Feb 2007) DD was 6 and DS was 4. Begging was hardly an issue because there was sooooooo much to see and do that we spent very little time shopping. Our shopping downfall was the resort gift shop because it was attached to the food court (Pop.) Still, the kids would much rather have gone swimming (or to the arcade if it was too cold) than shop for souvies. Maybe you'll be surprised. (Not that we didn't bring home plenty of stuff...)

The Lego store is awesome but it doesn't really have anything you couldn't order online. DD really enjoyed filling a cup of assorted Lego pieces. ($12 ?) She got TONS of little pieces into that cup. They also had a station where you could fill a pouch with Lego people and their parts. This was a fairly inexpensive and small way to fulfill the Lego craving without spending tons of money or taking up all your suitcase space! My kids love that store. It's a must do on our trips.

The characters did interact with the character stuff, but it didn't matter what character it was. If your child has a special character toy (that's small) by all means take it to meet that one character. Otherwise, don't worry about it. My kids had these silly Tigger and Piglet pens I bought at Dollar Tree (kind of like snowglobes- had "snow" that fell around the char's) and used them for autograph pens. The characters loved those pens and shook them and watched them and played with the pens with my kids- a total accident- I was just looking for "fat pens" for autographs. Tons of character interaction for something we carried around anyway!

 

[Momvic5]

Everyone has fabulous ideas about bringing souviners from home for their children. You can find some great buys ahead of time if you watch The Disney Store sales and clearances. The problem in our home lies within my husband and me more than our children. We absolutely love browsing the shops. They are very attractive and a very large part of the magic of Disney. In other words, they are very hard to walk past. Even though we may or may not purchase anything, we still love walking through them and playing with things. This is where the problem begins because our children are browsing and playing too. They find "really cool" things that they would love to have. Having prebought souviners would help, but there is also something really magical about picking out something yourself and taking it to the counter to purchase and knowing that when you get back in your resort room, it will be waiting there for you. My husband and I loved watching our children chose very carefully their items. We have sweet memories of their excitement. Our youngest son was four at the time, and he did great. Being six now, he stills talks about all the "cool" things he saw.

I would say don't worry too much about it. You know your children best and what you can afford to spend. If they beg for things frequent outside of Disney, then they will definitly beg at Disney. Adults do too! But if they do not usually beg for things, then I think you can expect some begging but not enough to interfere with your plans or budget.

Have fun Disney shopping!

 

[wmom88]

This is not my original idea, my cousin suggested it but I have two boys, but anyway-

Buy some small cheap Disney stuff ahead of time. Each morning "Tinkerbell" will leave you child a little gift. Then your child will have something Disney to play with and it can cut back on the begging for souveneirs. Plus it will be special because Tinkerbell left it for him/her!

 

[irene_dsc]

Everyone has fabulous ideas about bringing souviners from home for their children. You can find some great buys ahead of time if you watch The Disney Store sales and clearances. The problem in our home lies within my husband and me more than our children. We absolutely love browsing the shops. They are very attractive and a very large part of the magic of Disney. In other words, they are very hard to walk past. Even though we may or may not purchase anything, we still love walking through them and playing with things. This is where the problem begins because our children are browsing and playing too. They find "really cool" things that they would love to have. Having prebought souviners would help, but there is also something really magical about picking out something yourself and taking it to the counter to purchase and knowing that when you get back in your resort room, it will be waiting there for you. My husband and I loved watching our children chose very carefully their items. We have sweet memories of their excitement. Our youngest son was four at the time, and he did great. Being six now, he stills talks about all the "cool" things he saw.

I would say don't worry too much about it. You know your children best and what you can afford to spend. If they beg for things frequent outside of Disney, then they will definitly beg at Disney. Adults do too! But if they do not usually beg for things, then I think you can expect some begging but not enough to interfere with your plans or budget.

Have fun Disney shopping!

Yeah - I have to admit, the idea of pre-buying souvenirs does seem to take some of the fun out of it. I think I'll stick with plane toys (a family tradition), glow sticks from home, but let them pick something out as a souvenir (probably using Disney Dollars in their stockings - maybe bumping the budget up to $20 each).

Btw, where's the $10 and under store?

 

[wmom88]

The $10 and under "store" is at Downtown Disney, I think near the Disney Art Store. It is not really a "store", no carpet, etc., but you can find things that are under 10 that you will have seen all over the parks.