Gift Ideas

[LisaAJ]

Hi everyone

Now that everything is booked I am looking at the finer details of our trip. We will be travelling over Christmas and will arrive in New York on Christmas Eve (around 6pm). Since the trip is so expensive, we won't be buying too many presents for the kids but I'd like them to wake up to a few presents on Christmas morning even though we aren't at home. I will be bringing a cheap little tree with us that I will probably leave behind.

I really don't want to bring lots of toys that will have to be carted home again. I'd more like to get things that can be used during the trip and/or won't take up much space in our luggage. I thought of ordering some things online to be delivered to the hotel (if they allow that?!) but I'm not sure I will have the energy to wrap them after travelling for 2 days!

So these are the ideas I have so far, I'd love some feedback and ideas from you all

* camera - this is one we are definitely getting but 'Santa' will be delivering it a little early so they can photograph the whole trip

* trading pins - now I bought a bundle of these from ebay before I knew about the whole 'scrapper pin' problem! Sadly I think they are scrappers so I am unsure if I will be giving them these. I've pulled out the terrible ones and there is still a decent amount left, I'm just uncomfortable with letting them trade scrappers! I can't be sure the ones that I've kept aren't genuine but for the price I paid, I doubt it :-/

*autograph/photograph book - I'd like to give them a real Disney one like this http://www.disneystore.com/disney-p...o-album-walt-disney-world/mp/1330763/1000252/ but I don't want to pay the shipping! This might be something I order to arrive at the hotel.

* homemade voucher for Toys R Us and/or FAO Schwartz

AND that's all I can think of!! HELP!!

I've bought them a couple of books on Disney but I'd really like to give them to them before so that they can read up on where we are going before we go. I'd rather not use trip time for that.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[BecBennett]

Disney gift cards would be good. Or vouchers for things (shows/tours) at Disney.

That sucks about the pins

 

[LisaAJ]

Can you get Disney gift cards on Australia? I thought you had to order them online. Is rather give them US cash if I have to pay exorbitant shipping costs but Disney cards would be great!

 

[mindy32]

How old are your kids?

Depending on ages some ideas:

-a cheapie Christmas movie on DVD to watch in the room?
- iTunes vouchers if they have iPods to get new music to listen to whilst travelling?
-new Christmas pj's?
- some USA style lollies/treats?
- are you going to any water parks or anywhere that an underwater camera could be useful, I got just a disposable one as a teen for a trip and loved the novelty.

I'll keep thinking!

 

[newkie]

I'll face a similar issue when we go away next year on a Christmas cruise (with Royal Caribbean, not Disney unfortunately). I want to make Christmas special, but with minimal space in a cabin (not to mention lugging it in the suitcase in the first place!) I don't want big gifts either.

So far for our 4 kids kids (who will be 12, 10, 9 and 5), I've thought of watches and jewelry. Also as our cruise finishes on Boxing Day, I think we will do a few gift vouchers to places like EB games and Smiggle for when we get back. Also itunes vouchers for their ipods.

I'll be watching this thread for ideas also!

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Unfortunately I don't think you can get Disney gift cards shipped internationally anymore. Up until about 3 months ago you could buy them off the Disneyland website, but not anymore. If anyone knows otherwise I'd be keen to hear about.
We took a lot of giftcards on our trip last year and it was a handy way to pay for meals etc at WDW.

As for gifts, I think any kind of giftcard (real or homemade) is a lovely idea. Kids on holiday love to be able to go shopping and select their own present.
Another idea (if you can get gifts delivered to the hotel) is a Disney Christmas Tree ornament for each of them. DS helped me pick out a little Pinnochio ornament during our Sep/Oct trip last year. At Christmas he was so excited to hang it on the tree and discuss precious memories. Every Xmas from now on we'll make a small occasion out of hanging that ornament up.


My son is having his birthday on our upcoming trip and I'm being extremely unimaginative and giving him a small amount of US dollars to buy souvenirs. It's pretty unexciting, but in his mind money is probably the best gift we could give him

 

[PrincessInOz]

Pandora are teaming up with Disney and releasing a new range of Disney charms in early November. If you have girls, it might be worth considering getting a bracelet (and I would get them in the US) and see if you can collect some Disney charms whilst you are there.

Depending on how old your kids are, there is the option of Build-a-Bear or Build-a-Dino. You can buy the skins in the US and bring them home to get them stuffed here. Just remember to get the birth certificate whilst you are there. You might find that if you pick the right bear or dino, it won't be available here in the Aussie stores. So the birth certificate will ensure that you have the right bear details on it.

My son is a gamer. So, we let him take a look in Gamestop. We might not buy games but they may have additional merchandise that you might not get here.

 

[aussie shaz]

I wouldn't worry about the pins. I did exactly as you did and then read about scrappers. I too took out the really bad ones, but the kids and I traded the rest. Mine looked absolutely no different to other we traded, but also no different to ones we purchased at Disneyland.
We all had an absolute ball with the pin trading.

 

[LisaAJ]

Sorry everyone, I should have given more details about my kids! I have one of each, DS will be 9 and DD will be 7.

I like the underwater camera idea. I do plan for us to visit a water park but it will be very dependant on the weather. There is a regular camera that I am eyeing off for them that is waterproof to 10 metres so I may still get that.

I like the jewellery idea, will add that to the list for my daughter. She doesn't have a Pandora yet (I do) but it may be time to get her one. Or even a necklace of some sort.

My son would love Gamespot so that's a good idea too.

I like the ornament idea. I may do that if the hotel says I can have parcels shipped there (I've emailed) as we do that at home. I'm guessing we will miss the Christmas stuff if we arrive at Disney 12 Jan? It may be on clearance though! I do love a bargain! I'd hate to miss out though

I'll probably sneak some US candy at LAX or when we arrive. That would be a good filler.

My kids are used to waking up to a heap of gifts under the tree and even though I'm sure they will understand that we can't afford much after this I still want to have a few things under there!

 

[LisaAJ]

I wouldn't worry about the pins. I did exactly as you did and then read about scrappers. I too took out the really bad ones, but the kids and I traded the rest. Mine looked absolutely no different to other we traded, but also no different to ones we purchased at Disneyland.
We all had an absolute ball with the pin trading.

Thanks aussie shaz, that makes me feel a lot better. The ones I have kept lok real (according to all of the websites I scoured!) but I have this fear that someone is going to berate me for trying to trade a scrapper! I'm sure it would never happen but it's a real fear, lol!

 

[ssour]

Last time I bought Disney gift cards I used a consolidator. With free shipping from the Disney Store the consolidator shipping wasn't much more than the old Disneyland site shipping.

Guide to the Magic books are available on Amazon I think which might have better shipping rates than Disney Store. They aren't official Disney autograph books but there's lots for the kids to do and a place to record what happens each day.

What about a book or two? If they're readers there'll be plenty of time to kill when travelling. Does your DS have a Nintendo DS? Maybe a new game to kill the time?

 

[Luisa]

Can I make a suggestion for your tree? Rather than buy one that's going to be left behind and probably just thrown out you could make one for only a few dollars that would take up almost no room in your luggage. You just get those small, clear removable decorator hooks, some tinsel and a string of battery operated led lights and you can use them to make a tree shape on a wall. It's bright, festive and easy to pack up and take home to re-use. You could also hang any special ornaments for your kids on the hooks.

 

[teambeaman]

How about a handmade scrapbook from Etsy? My friend makes 3"x3" and 5"x5" scrapbooks so if you bought something similar it wouldn't take up too much space and could be a fun little souvenir for your trip.

 

[LisaAJ]

Guide to the Magic books are available on Amazon I think which might have better shipping rates than Disney Store. They aren't official Disney autograph books but there's lots for the kids to do and a place to record what happens each day.

I've bought these already but plan to give them to the kids before the flight. I'd like them to be able to 'research' before we go. I have a few books put away (both kids are big readers) but will probably get a few cheap DS games.

 

[LisaAJ]

Can I make a suggestion for your tree? Rather than buy one that's going to be left behind and probably just thrown out you could make one for only a few dollars that would take up almost no room in your luggage. You just get those small, clear removable decorator hooks, some tinsel and a string of battery operated led lights and you can use them to make a tree shape on a wall. It's bright, festive and easy to pack up and take home to re-use. You could also hang any special ornaments for your kids on the hooks.

Kmart sells little tress for $5. I have one I bought last year for my classroom. For $5 I can't be bothered making one!

 

[LisaAJ]

How about a handmade scrapbook from Etsy? My friend makes 3"x3" and 5"x5" scrapbooks so if you bought something similar it wouldn't take up too much space and could be a fun little souvenir for your trip.

We are going to scrapbook when we get home, I'm planning on getting them a smash book style journal. I was going to give it to them at home but maybe I could give it to them there. It wouldn't take up much room and they could start putting the things they collect (tickets etc) in there while we are away. Will add that to the list I think!

Thanks for all of the suggestions everyone. Lots of ideas flowing now!

 

[losfp]

I got a bunch of pins online as well. I suspect probably half of them are scrappers or non-genuine, but I certainly can't tell the difference. Cost me probably $2 a pin or thereabouts (I was very wary of the big lots of ebay that were something like 50c a pin) but I'm reasonably happy with them. Each of us (minus the 1 year old, who was most interested in eating them) put some aside to keep and we'll trade the rest at the parks next year. As far as I'm concerned, if you like the pin, then keep it and who cares whether it's a fake or not. I've also got some that were bought at the parks and bought singly on ebay with the original cardboard backing that I am confident are genuine... those ones are to keep and not to trade

 

[LisaAJ]

I paid about $2 a pin too. The things is when I complained to the seller that I had (at least) a dozen scrappers she immediately refunded my money and didn't want the pins back. Pretty much confirmed it for me!

I suspect my kids will want to keep most of them anyway. I've bought lanyards and they can wear them on those and then hang them in their room when they get home. We'll probably buy a few more in the parks. Trading was just an extra activity I thought might be fun

 

[elphaba91]

I know it's a little bit boring, but what about clothes? If you give them stuff they will wear on the trip then you can pack a little bit lighter for them to start off with; e.g. if you planned for them each to take 3 jumpers, pack 2 and then give them a new one as a present.

Light paperback books. They should come in handy for the flights.

Australian chocolates and lollies would be fine too (e.g. you could do a Cadbury stocking) as they will be eaten before you leave and presumably the souvenirs you're planning on buying over there will outweigh a few chocolate bars! Otherwise you can sometimes get American candy here, at shops like Sweet Bee (those lollies stores that sell chocolate very close to its use-by date and lollies like freckles and musk sticks in clear plastic bags). I even found a US$1 million chocolate bar there!

For your daughter, jewellery, hair stuff, lip gloss, etc.

Those face washers that expand in water?

And, of course MONEY!

 

[LisaAJ]

Actually clothes are a good idea! I've just heard back from the hotel and I can get stuff sent to them before I arrive so I could order some cute Disney stuff
Any ideas where I can get good cheap clothes from? Walmart?

Thanks, don't know why I didn't think of that! Lol