Disney for Christmas - One Special Gift?

[SharpMomOfTwo]

So the whole family is going to Disney from 12/17 - 1/3. We plan on suprising our girls on Christmas morning (they will be 3 & almost 5). They may have one or two gifts that morning, but the bulk of it will be bought at Disney. We will be getting them the little stuff they ask for, but we also want to get them something really special that they can look back at for years and years. Theres that crystal store in DTD that I was thinking of getting something at, but its really expencive. What do you suggest???



TIA

 

[EthansMom]

Just my opinion, but my young kids (7 & 5) wouldn't appreciate a high-value gift that they couldn't PLAY with or USE. So, $$$ spent on something that has to sit on a shelf or in a box or something would be a complete waste for my kids. And I try not to spend too much money on something that could easily be lost or broken. So, while the "one big ticket gift" is a nice idea from your point of view, it's significance might be lost on young kids.

That said, I would consider getting my DD5 a charm bracelet (maybe even going for one that is a little nicer... say real silver or gold, if I could get it); a necklace; or a pair of nice earrings. DD5 has a dancing balerina jewelry box and LOVES it.

DD also loves going to the toy store at Epcot (in Germany) that carries the Steiff bears. She and I both got Steiff bears on our last trip. That store also has some gorgeous dolls (my DD isn't into dolls).

 

[reservations4five]

it is too funny that you posted this!! I was just looking for/getting ready to post a similar question~

I think what I am going to do it get a photo mat from Crafts 2000 before we go and have it autographed secretly when we go to our character meals. When we get home get the pictures devolped and frame with the special mat to hang in their rooms. My kids are a little bit older though.

We are trying to decide just how much Santa will be bringing as part of the trip. Call me selfish but I don't want him to get all the credit for this gift.

 

[Pixieflip]

We've been taking our kids to Disney since our DS (almost 15) was an infant and truly, the best tokens for remembering the trip has always been the scrapbooks I make them. All the other "stuff" we buy, no matter how expensive, always takes a back seat to snuggling on the couch together (okay the teen doens't really snuggle like DD12, DD 11 and DS8, but he does love to look back) and reliving the memories of entire trips.

Now that they are a little older, I let them make their own (while I still do the big one of the entire trip). You could do it for your 3 and 5 year old. An 8x8 album with photos of just her? My kids LOVE that, every single trip is special. And when we're planning our next trip, like we are now...they love looking at the old albums a LOT.

If you really want to buy something, my girls still love the charm bracelet stations that are everywhere. Buy the bracelet at the first one and then pick up a charm for each day or special thing you do. We pick the glossy colorful charms, not the plastic/rubber ones, and they have lasted years. I even love mine!

Breakables that have to live on a high shelf where they don't interact with it, helping them to remember the trip? Meh. Wouldn't be my first choice, but if you really want to, you can sure do it. It's your memory.

 

[StitchFanZ]

Each of our trips has a pin theme. My kids love pin trading. They remember some trips by pin themes. i.e. Remember the trip where we collected Chip and Dale pins or Dumbo Pins or anything with Stitch on it. You can put a few pins around that trips picture frame and let them keep of few to hand in theri rooms or hats. Its a good idea to buy disney pins online for trading as the packages at Disney are pretty expensive.

 

[woodkins]

When my dd was 4 and we spent cmas at WDW we got her the Magic Kingdom Castle Playset (it is like $89). It was the best gift we have ever gotten her. She stil plays with it at age 6.5 & remembers that Santa left her her very own princess castle at disney world.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

When my dd was 4 and we spent cmas at WDW we got her the Magic Kingdom Castle Playset (it is like $89). It was the best gift we have ever gotten her. She stil plays with it at age 6.5 & remembers that Santa left her her very own princess castle at disney world.

We got them that last time we were there - actually I think it was the grandparents that got it, but whatever, we have it. I think its sitting in DD4s room right now.... no one plays with it any longer

 

[dizneechic]

I was also going to suggest a music box. My dd4 has one and loves just watching it, my boys even steal it from her