Tips for housekeeping, bell services if you use them, etc.
Remember that souvenirs have to be brought home. And fake "blasters" and swords can't be brought in carryons (though we got a lax LAX (ha) TSA agent who took pity on us once). So you have to have a checked bag to carry all those sorts of things, and it really should be hard-sided to help protect them. We've carried the light spinner things in carryon no problem, and pins and such, though. Also note that snowglobes canNOT be carried on board a plane, because even the tiny ones do NOT have the ounce markings on them.
I'm sure your budget is fine...at first it seemed really high, but then I remembered that we buy stuff on most visits. if we were doing a One Big Trip, that's more along the lines of what the budget would have looked like.
Little tip, though...if you have a
Disney Store, or if one of those outlets comes near you (I am absolutely blanking on the phrase to google for the list, so please someone help me out here), or if you look on disneyshopping.com, you will often find cute souvenirs that are likely less expensive than you can find in the parks. Many people like bulking up with some cheaper souvenirs while there, to spring on their kids and lessen the "wants" for the expensive stuff.
Oh, little tip, there are a few versions of lightsabers. The least expensive one, and the one most age appropriate, is the SAME thing you can get at Target for about $2 cheaper ($5 if it's on clearance at Target). It's a great saber. No noise or lights, but it has a belt clip and you can absolutely abuse it. Next best, IMO, is a light up, makes noise, light blue lightsaber, with Mickey motifs on it. It's about $12, and also has a belt clip.
The other lightsabers I cannot recommend for a 5 year old, because they have NO beltclips, they are HUGE, heavy, and so on. The build your own? I went against my feelings (we follow age recommendations for everything but Legos) and let DH and DS make one for DS's 4th birthday, and it was lost inside of 2 full days. Too heavy, no clip, and he handed it off to one of us, then we forgot about it...when we went back to the bench a few minutes later? It was gone gone gone.
Ok that was a whole lot written on lightsabers!
If you buy him stuff that makes sound, know that the sound can get annoying. DH tends to carry a little bitty screwdriver in his pocket...coincidentally, sometimes when the sound is getting annoying and DH holds the noisy toy, the toy seems to temporarily "break"...seems to go along with him messing with the battery compartment. Funny, weird little coincidence, LOL.
Just walk him quickly out of Space Mountain, then, as it empties into a shop, and lightsabers are among the first you will see. That's if he goes on Space...if he doesn't, then just walk quickly past Star Traders store.
I get some debate over it then - "How can it be what I want if you have to agree...." ahhh, 7 year olds.
