Gifts for teenage son? (Inspired by yfraser's post)

[SillyOldBear66]

Any ideas for something special for a (just barely) teenage boy?


The post for teenage daughters suggested charms. What a great idea for my DD!
Now I need an equally special idea for DS.

Ideas?

Thanks,
Tabitha

 

[safetymom]

I don't want to get flamed but could I ask those of you that leave gifts in your room the reason you do this?

I have been to WDW many times and never left gifts for my kids. Maybe it is because I am a widow so I thought the trip was enough.

Isn't the trip enough or what does the gift do?

Thanks for your replies. No flaming.

 

[yfraser]

We travel fairly frequently with our daughters and we have stayed in many hotels - but we wanted this one to be different. Earlier this month we decided to take our teenage daughters to Disney World for the first time. We wanted them to have the opportunity to escape all of the stresses a junior and sophomore experience in HS - such as PSAT's, SAT's, AP's etc. We thought a trip to Disney would liberate them for a short time from all of their adult anxieties and allow them to enjoy the magic of childhood. So in order to make this special from the moment we checkin... I wanted to give them a gift - a gift that would give them permission to be a child again, to escape the trials of the teenage years. Instead of feeling as though they must maintain that tough facade of a teenager, the sight of a stuffed animal (an inspiration from one of the other board members) would stimulate and hopefully inspire thoughts of a carefree childhood... it would allow them to play and have fun! Something they rarely do with their parents...

And a gift that I hope will remind them in the future of the need to escape and have fun with one's family - especially when life surrounds you with the stress of just living!

Now back to the original issue of the poster... gift for a teenage son... do they have handheld disney video games? What about disney cash, or a DVD, or some kind of game to play at night with him, or if he likes to read - a book to read everynight before bed, and some teenage boys would also like a small stuffed animal... I know a plush toy brings out the biggest smile in my 19yr old son!

 

[safetymom]

Thank you for explaining your reasons.

My very first trip to WDW was an extended family trip several months after my husband died.

I wasn't sure how my kids were going to be since it was so fresh. I was worried if we wern't going to the wrong place.

It was the best thing I could have done for my kids. They truly escaped the burdens of their young lives at WDW. To see the look on their faces when they got to the parks was priceless. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

We also went on the 1 year anniversary of my husbands death again with my sisters and kids. We were playing around just have fun and I was laughing. My kids said Mom it has been a long time since we heard you laugh.

Disney is truly a magical place and your kids will forget their burdens and have a wonderful time.

 

[safetymom]

Thank you for explaining your reasons.

My very first trip to WDW was an extended family trip several months after my husband died.

I wasn't sure how my kids were going to be since it was so fresh. I was worried if we wern't going to the wrong place.

It was the best thing I could have done for my kids. They truly escaped the burdens of their young lives at WDW. To see the look on their faces when they got to the parks was priceless. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

We also went on the 1 year anniversary of my husbands death again with my sisters and kids. We were playing around just have fun and I was laughing. My kids said Mom it has been a long time since we heard you laugh.

Disney is truly a magical place and your kids will forget their burdens and have a wonderful time.

 

[JandT'smom]

Bump

 

[luvdzny]

When DS was younger (early teens) he wore a baseball type hat almost constantly. I don't know about your DS, but if he does there are lots of hats available in WDW - maybe that would work.

 

[DisneyHumbug]

What about a disposable camera (or two or three)? My DS is 19 now and always takes crazy photos on our WDW trips. Photos he took years ago still make him (and me) laugh.

 

[lizfromfl]

I think the camera is a great idea. I find that most kids really enjoy to take their own pictures and they often capture things from a very different perspective than adults. On one of our last trips I bought my DS a regular disposable and a waterproof disposable for the pool. Some of the pictures he took were priceless

I also agree with some of the other ideas....

- disney $$ to buy his own souveniers
- disney t-shirt and hat/visor
- mister fan for the parks
- disney tour book
- disney hand held game (it is in the shape of Mickey and
has about 10 different games)
- If he has a gameboy that he will be bringing there are a
few games you can buy for that with Disney characters.
- My Pal Mickey

 

[shakespear]

anything star wars?

 

[jiggerj]

How about spending some time at Disney Quest. He will have a blast there !

 

[franw]

There are some great specialty shops at the Marketplace. Everything from sporting goods to Disney art. If there is a special Disney movie or character he enjoyed as a kid you could get him a very nice gift from the Art of Disney that commemorates that time in his childhood. Also some of the Disney watches found at the World of Disney are very nice. Another gift that would take some time after the trip would be to buy a very nice album and then fill it for him with photos from the trip. He would only appreciate it more and more as time went on.

safetymom - From time to time on my trips to WDW with my son (and then his family) I have bought them gifts so that he (they) would have something special to remember our trips by. I was diagnosed with cancer ten years ago and each trip I have taken since my diagnosis has always had the possibility that it could be my last trip with my family. Memories, much like you have experienced, take on a whole new urgency and meaning. My favorite mementos are the photos and the memory books we have put together from our trips. I would say the trips themselves are far more valuable than anything you could possibly buy while you are there. Besides, maybe you should treat yourself to a special something. Thanks for all the time and effort you put into providing info on the CBR. It is our absolute favorite place to be.

 

[Madhatter266]

Gifts for teenage DS -

Try the villians store at MGM. We always find neat items there for boys - i.e. posters, villian shirts, etc. My 16 year old DS usually heads there first!

 

[TarraLee]

We took my 14 yo kid brother with us in August, and he was "eh" about all souveniers, except he LOVED the magic shop at DtD. He's pretty much a boy's boy (no plush or Disney clothing here , but he loved the card tricks-- bought two books. And boy was I thankful for that when we got stuck at MCO for 6 hours! He is still going strong, every time I see him he says, "Pick a card, any card...."


Safetymom, we also took a 5 and 6 yo with us (we don't have kids, just like to spoil other people's and then return them). We did the "presents from mickey" thing everyday of the trip. I did it for two reasons: (1) these kids don't have alot at home, and I wanted this trip to be absolutely magical for them-- and it was! I didn't want to say "no" when they hear that so often at home. (2) I wanted to pre-empt the whole souvenier buying thing. We made a deal that we would shop for souveniers the very last day, so we didn't waste time all week in gift shops. THis worked beautifully, and when the "I wants" would start, I'd just say, well, lets wait and see if there's a suprise from mickey! Plus, I hit some good sales at the Disney store in the months before our trip. Shopping for the kiddos helped me get excited too!

Honestly though, the best was just seeing them smile, and splash, and be silly, and be kids!