Favorite Gifts received as FE

[dahuffy]

fold up /paper fans.

 

[dahuffy]

Oh wow that is a REALLY hard question to answer... so many delightful things. Some very useful, some very cherished, all just a delight to receive... I can't answer this question sorry.

Good answer! Good answer!

 

[cmclaura]

We just returned from the Magic Western Caribbean with a bag filled with FE stuff.

It was fun and exciting and way too much stuff! I most appreciated the little foodie gifts such as mini-size Hershey bars (although someone did a lovely full size bar with a customized cruise label which was fantastic!) and I will forever be indebted to whoever gave us Ferraro Rocher's! Someone else also did a cruise label on individual sized bags of the yummiest vanilla caramel popcorn I've ever tasted. These were great gifts because we didn't have to pack them to take home, lol.

I also liked the magnets because they were flat and easy to pack.

We gave out cooler bags which were embroidered with the cruise and date; I thought they'd come in handy and were pretty reasonable to buy (if I had bought other things, it would have cost more and taken up way too much time). I did worry that I'd be giving people something too big to take home, but they do fold up flat. I had them sent to the boat and was glad I did because the box was at least as big as one of my suitcases!

I think gifts you can use on the cruise and/or eat are probably the best idea in light of the amount of stuff you have to pack to go back home.

 

[mammacaryn]

I hope I don't hurt anyone's feelings here, but I'd like to say something that was NOT useful to us anyway.

We got 3 different photo frames that all had some kind of either foam or diecut wood decorations on them. Now, my home is not highly decorated or anything like that, there is no real theme, but that kind of crafty stuff just didn't work for us. I felt awful about it too, because it was obvious a lot of time and work was put into them, and at least one was pretty big (larger 4x6 frame)

I did enjoy the magnets that folks made though, and my kids LOVED the trinkets and especially jewelry-even my son (boy type bracelets etc.)

We also got a mesh bag for the beach that was SO handy-kept a lot of extra sand out of our room

They are fun, I enjoy them as much as the kiddos do! (Its like a christmas stocking on vacation)

 

[Lauralooneyfordisney]

The FE gift exchange is something you do because it is fun and because it is something you CHOOSE to do. It is voluntary so no one is twisting your arm. It can be as little or as much as you want. I can't wait to trade fun gifts on our first cruise.

 

[jenseib]

How much money do you typically spend? Also do you deliver every night? I am only planning on delivering once...though I have no clue what I will be getting yet. But I like the gum and candy ideas.

 

[kreedham]

On our last cruise we got a really cool cruise music CD! I still listen to it leading up to EVERY cruise we take! I love it! It has the DCL horn, Jimmy Buffett, Pirates in the Caribbean songs, Disney songs, and other tropical music on it. It was the neatest FE gift we got and we are 2 adults!

P.S. Have a MAGICal first cruise!!!!! And be prepared for the addiction to DCL that follows! And be sure to book onboard if you're thinking of taking another cruise in the next 2 years, great discounts and an awesome OBC!!!!

While I didn't do this one, I've done 1 for the MV of the Dream next week for some of the cruisers. 3 versions of When You Wish Upon a Star-Cincinnati Pops, Boston Pops and Los Lobos, followed by lots of fun 60's music, a couple of favorite tv themes and ending with Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room and What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong. I'm hoping it will be well received.

 

[tiggerb]

kreedham~ I would love that sort of CD! Since we are talking about gift ideas, would recieving a journal type book the size of 6"high and 4" wide be useful even? I know most print pics in 4x6, so, if used they'd have to crop or print smaller if I were to give something along the lines of this. 5x7, and the price does start to rise.

Please give me your thoughts... Thanks!

 

[kreedham]

We're on the Maiden Voyage for the Dream! As you would expect the repeat cruisers are many for this one! Several families have gone together(not ours) and made lanyards for all that signed up and there are many. Also someone is making honorary Aquaduck Fast Passes.

With the large number of repeaters there is a larger than usual FE list. I didn't sign up for that though. I will have CD's for many though...friends we have met before, Dismeet folks that have rooms close by and we'll see often, as well as the fine folks putting together the lanyards, fastpasses and organizing the room tour!

Some folks in our dismeet group are quite generous and are giving to everyone in that group while others, and I quite understand, are giving to only those that signed up for the FE.

I don't expect anything cause putting the CD together was fun for me! If we get anything that will be cool but if we don't that's OK. It will be fun regardless!

On our last cruise we weren't sign up either but received a couple of nice things with some new friends on one of our tours!

 

[TJGorman]

Why in the world would you exchange gifts with strangers on a cruise? I have enough stuff to pack and don't really need additional items in my suitcase on the way down and I want to buy stuff I want at the ports to bring back!

Because it is a lot of fun!

 

[pluto1979]

I too am on the MV of the Dream and think that a CD is a wondEARful gift! I think anything anyone gives is a nice gift, remember its the thought that counts!

 

[maggie blossom]

Are there microwaves available? I am wondering if I could give packets of microwave popcorn (among other things of course). Kids could pop up some popcorn and bring it to the movie on board.

OK I am pretty sure I know the answer to this but can't hurt to ask

 

[KrisannB]

So, those with teenage boys: Any advice??? They are my biggest challenge.

gum and candy - mine is 13 and he loves that stuff

Are there microwaves available? I am wondering if I could give packets of microwave popcorn (among other things of course). Kids could pop up some popcorn and bring it to the movie on board.

OK I am pretty sure I know the answer to this but can't hurt to ask

the only place that has one is the Roy and Walt suites that I know of for sure

 

[MomsOf2boys]

My favorite was a scrapbook that was completely decorated except to add in a few pictures of our family. As a scrapbooker, I know they spent a lot of time on those. It was a family gift and I love it.

We also enjoyed the CD we received, we traveled with 4 teens and gum, breath mints, and ear plugs, and candy was a hit! We got all sorts of things from other places and that was fun. We got cheese from wisconsin and maple syrup candy and syrup from Canada. We also got a recipe book (homemade) that had many of the ship specialty drinks and foods. I still have that.

 

[quentina]

So, those with teenage boys: Any advice??? They are my biggest challenge.

My 12 year old got comic books, he loved them. I thought it was a great gift as, I had no idea what to get that age group. I heard gum is a big hit for the tweens/teens.

 

[tdizzle]

I probably will, too. "No, boys, I don't have any idea how those got there. Must be the concierge staff......"

Of course you should!! This will be my family's first cruise and I've got a couple of three things for our door (okay so it seems to be growing but we'll stick with "a couple"). My DD (20) is rolling her eyes and my DS (11) doesn't understand it at all but I'm doing it and it'll be epic.

 

[drparoo]

Of course you should!! This will be my family's first cruise and I've got a couple of three things for our door (okay so it seems to be growing but we'll stick with "a couple"). My DD (20) is rolling her eyes and my DS (11) doesn't understand it at all but I'm doing it and it'll be epic.

I had to laugh at this.....only a parent of teens would say this.....

 

[tiggerb]

Since we are talking about gift ideas, would recieving a journal type book the size of 6"high and 4" wide be useful Please give me your thoughts... Thanks!

Any thoughts on this yet? I want to order a set of journal type books, but don't know if I should be looking for something a bit (not much) bigger than this. Thanks!

 

[drparoo]

Any thoughts on this yet? I want to order a set of journal type books, but don't know if I should be looking for something a bit (not much) bigger than this. Thanks!

My DD12 would LOVE this. Even my DS18 would use it to keep a log of his pictures from that day. My DS16 would toss it on the table. And I adore journals.

 

[mellers]

Any thoughts on this yet? I want to order a set of journal type books, but don't know if I should be looking for something a bit (not much) bigger than this. Thanks!

If you are on the August 16th cruise to Alaska, don't read this, nothing to see









I know a lot of adults like journals, but I picked up some lovely, Disney-themed journals from Michael's for the kids and teenaged girls. They weren't expensive at all (about $1). My daughter (a young teen) observed that the older kids would like to use them as journals, and the little kids could use them to keep their character autographs.

For adults, I think it depends on the adults. I can think of adults who would love them (like my husband, who must have his journal at all times), and those who wouldn't (like me--but I would give it to my husband, who would appreciate it ). I think any gift you give will be useful to some and not as useful to others, but I think that a journal has broad appeal--it's on every "must-bring" list that I've seen, and it seems to me that it would be a good choice for that reason alone. I don't think it will matter much what the size is.