Do you buy souveniers for others when in Disney?

[heartsy77]

Since I am a daycare provider I spend $$$ and bring every kid something! This is why I love the outlet I can being back t-shirts and colroing books for 10 kids for under $1oo. usually. When we were there just before labor day they had nothing! In the past I have totally scored!

 

[burnurcomputer]

I buy for 2 of my best friends. They always bring me something back from their trips....K even bought me a cool sign to hang this summer when she went on her honeymoon. Now that is love! we normally stick to magnets or small usefull things. I just returned Monday and they are each getting a Disney magnet and a House pin from IOA, WWOHP.

 

[StitchBuddy]

I never buy anything for other people, because just like you said, they didn't experience the trip/ Plus, my mom always did this when she went on trips and I always thought why are you giving me this and I always felt like I had to display the item so her feelinnngs wouldn't be hurt. Big waste of money in my opinion.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I buy for family and close friends. I try to get something that suits them not just something silly. Example: my brother collects shot glasses so I get him one of those. His girlfriend likes Japanese culture so my sister and I chipped in together to get her a geisha doll. My mom has a Chamilia bracelet so she got a Tink charm. And of course my baby niece got all kinds of stuff.

I enjoy picking out something special for my loved ones .

 

[Evi]

I bring back small items for everyone and always evil queen item for my sis.

 

[happydisneyfamily]

No, not everyone is a Disney fan and care for it. They do like the snacks/food/treats that they can eat and enjoy so that's the only souveniers I bring back for others unless my sister asks for something specific found only in Disney.

 

[cluvsdisney]

When I'm in WDW I always buy souveniers for family and friends. However, it occured to me that since they are not experiencing the vacation, perhaps they don't appreciate these gifts. They mean something to me, since I am there, but how do I know if they even want souveniers. Today, people are downsizing and de-cluttering like mad. Am I wasteing my money and time? I do enjoying giving gifts to others.

I'll pick up something for my niece & nephew and the person watching the cat otherwise, I don't really buy souvenirs for myself or other people.

If you are buying someone something thoughtful, then I don't think you are wasting your money and I am sure they really appreciate both the gift and that you thought of them while you were away.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Yes and No....
If I see something that I know one of my friends or family members will truly enjoy/appreciate, I have been known to get it for them. For example my last trip in June 2010, I saw something I just knew my BFF would flip for, so I got it for her. As expected, she LOVED it, but she loves Disney too (not quite as much as me, but a close second). I do get souvies for those who take care of things for me like my sister (who helps me a TON days prior to my trip) or my BIL who took care of our pool while we were gone. My parents take care of our dog while we are gone, but since they aren't really Disney fans, I tend to get them something else for watching their grand-doggy.

 

[disykat]

When I'm in WDW I always buy souveniers for family and friends. However, it occured to me that since they are not experiencing the vacation, perhaps they don't appreciate these gifts. They mean something to me, since I am there, but how do I know if they even want souveniers. Today, people are downsizing and de-cluttering like mad. Am I wasteing my money and time? I do enjoying giving gifts to others.

There's nothing 'wrong' with getting gifts for others, however it's good to recognize that the receivers don't always enjoy getting them. No, I wouldn't enjoy a souvenier from someone else's trip. I generally don't even buy them from my own. Like you said, too much clutter.

Just try to pay attention to your friend's preferences. Have a gift giving relationship with those who enjoy it, and lay off those who don't.

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

My parents always bought souvenirs for our relatives and they spent alot of money doing so. And do you think that our relatives showed any type of appreciation? Nope! But my parents are very kind and generous so they continued to buy them gifts every time we went on vacation and never once receiving any type of souvenir from them when they went on vacation. Well anyway, I felt that since this is how I was brought up, I should also buy souvenirs for our relatives back at home. So my husband and I, bought souvenirs for everyone on our honeymoon. However, my husband said this is the only time we will do this as his family isn't very big on doh dahs and he didn't want to obligate them into buying souvenirs for everyone when they went on vacation. Also, with extra baggage fees and overweight baggage fees, it just isn't worth it. We don't even really buy anything for ourselves either. So now, we just get a very small something to give to our nieces and nephews.

Oh and don't buy something for someone just to buy them something unless they will really appreciate it. I bought my dad a Disney tea sampler for taking us to the airport and picking us up. Well he still teases me about this as he doesn't like tea. But I had no idea. I thought everyone drinks tea or at least it was a nice thing to have in your house when someone comes over.

 

[benolathe]

No. And quite frankly, I've never understood the 'logic' behind giving someone something because YOU got to enjoy a vacation and they did not?? Just seems to be a bit of a 'show off' that you got to travel, and they did not.

 

[AndreaDM]

I work in a very small office, there are only 4 of us, all women. It's kind of a tradition that when someone goes on vacation they bring back something small for the rest of the gang, usually $5 or less. So this year I brought back the tins of mints, something everyone uses but won't clutter up the place. Usually everyone brings something edible, but my boss went to Costa Rica last year and got us each a small, beaded coin purse. Very cute and unique.

 

[Disnydad]

Nope. We barely even buy any for ourselves.

Same here. Used to, but we go so often now.

 

[2binak]

We always buy something that useful for our friend's son, like a set of plastic character glasses or a set of character plates. They watch our dog while we're gone and their son LOVES using the gifts and then talking about our dog and how he took care of her. When we go in Oct or Nov, we'll buy something for my MIL who loves Disney and give it to her for Christmas or if it's a decoration, before Christmas so she can have it displayed throughout the month.

 

[amylynne01]

We haven't been in a while, but I'll probably buy a couple of small things for my kiddos and nothing for DH and I unless we find something we have to have. We're not huge souvenir people.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

No. And quite frankly, I've never understood the 'logic' behind giving someone something because YOU got to enjoy a vacation and they did not?? Just seems to be a bit of a 'show off' that you got to travel, and they did not.

Maybe that's the way you would look at it but I really don't think that others view a nice souvenir as "showing off".

That's a really strange way of looking at things.

 

[pampam]

No. And quite frankly, I've never understood the 'logic' behind giving someone something because YOU got to enjoy a vacation and they did not?? Just seems to be a bit of a 'show off' that you got to travel, and they did not.

When I give these gifts, it's not to show off, but to show I was thinking of them while I was there. I don't buy expensive gifts, and I like functional things myself, so usually its something small, inexpensive, and useful, just to show them they were remembered.

 

[Halle]

I always buy something small for my husband's employees. Two years ago I bought the mickey plastic coasters....huge hit. When we went back the next time one of the women asked me to pick up a couple of sets for her DD who loved them. Our kids (who love Disney) told us to spend the money on us....I still buy them an ornament. It's just fun.

 

[robsmom]

For the most part, I tend to agree that people don't really want items from someone else's vacation. I think the exceptions to this are food or unusual items that are unique to the area and might have meaning to someone or would be a good Christmas gift. At this point so much Disney stuff is available outside of Disney that to me it is not rare or "special". (Yes, i know that there are things only available at the parks, but non-visitors are not going to distinguish that. ). I guess if I had serious Disney fanatics on my Christmas list, I would look for something unique!

Some things i have done are bring back chocolate or other candy. This goes over very well at work. Last year my son picked out rosarys at the Vatican for his ccd teacher and favorite nun and also brought them holy water at a shrine in Turkey. I saw a handmade sweater at a market in Estonia this summer which i will give to my baby neice as a Christmas present.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Nope, we never buy souvenirs for other people. Sometimes I see things and save them for a Christmas or birthday gift though.