How to set up something special for some special kids?

[GEM]

I am taking a group of my high school theater students in early June - 10 kids total, 6 girls and 4 boys. This is a very, very special group of kids. They have worked together in our theater program (a very serious children's and youth theater run through our university) since they were in kindergarten! Now, they're graduating from high school in May and will be going their separate ways to schools all over the country. So, in June, we are taking a big Disney trip together to celebrate!

We are doing the Disney Youth Education Program, so they will be doing some special theater classes, backstage tours, etc. These kids are very serious theater students and they are so excited about this trip! They have worked all year to raise every bit of their expenses themselves.

We will be there for 7 nights staying at All Star Movies, and they are so excited! I have to tell you that I really love these kids like my own. I've worked with them literally since they were 5 years old and I've watched them turn into not only amazing actors, playwrights, designers, etc - but also really wonderful, interesting people! Now university theater programs all over the country are literally fighting over them. There are other kids coming up behind them, but this was our first group, so their graduation is very special.

I want to put together some neat gift bags to give them either at our meeting the night before we leave, or shortly after we arrive at our resort. I'm looking for fun suggestions of what to include, but I know I would love to have Guest of Honor badges, Mouse Ears with their names on them, and a t-shirt for everyone. Does anybody have any suggestions for how I can get those things without spending an arm and a leg for a personal shopper or something? Also, what other inexpensive little things can I include that I could pick up around here before we go - sunscreen, etc? And, how can I package them all up in a cute way? Any thoughts?

These kids are totally into the whole Disney thing and are definately not "too cool" to have some Disney fun. You should see how excited they are about having breakfast with Mickey Mouse and they all want to get Mouse Ears to wear in the pictures. You'd think they were a bunch of 5 year olds at our planning meetings! So, I really want to make some special memories for them. None of them have ever been to Disney before.

I know there are lots of creative people here, so I'd love to have your ideas! Thanks!

 

[CastMemberDWA]

GEM,
Sounds like you are a wonderful teacher, and I am sure your students are quite fond of you too!

Why not make sugarcookie in the shape of mouse ears and put names on them in icing? (cheap and yummy suggestion!)
I think you can find Mickey shape cookie cutters where they sell wedding cake supplies.

Also- perhaps come up with a digital camera scavenger hunt or a video camera "act out a scene" and film it while at Disney? Then assemble these when you get home. Would sort of extend the magic up on returning.

There are many places they could do some public "acting" just to check the reactions of the general public. (keep it clean adn in good fun of course)

Shirts: have a tie dye party and create them together before you go.....
I have seen elsewhere on this site where someone had instructions on how to tie dye so that a mickey head shape is the result.

Badges: Try your local Kinkos copy shop..... find some great clipart....print them on your computer....have buttons made for each person. Cheap and fun.

Give them fun ideas of how to pass time in the lines....my brother and i have played the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon while in line.....they could do something similar or have them do some of those acting games like "Whose line is it?" where you have to make your line begin with next letter of the alphabet etc.

You might try to go one further and see if you can arrange for a "special mtg" with the World Showcase players at EPCOT or "streetmosphere" at MGM.
I bet those actors would really enjoy talking with your group.

I hope this helps. Have a great time!

 

[challada]

Check online at Disneyshopping as the personalized shirts were on sale (at least yesterday when I checked...LOL). You could also do your own iron-ons w/your printer, but that might be more work than it is worth.

I would also recommend getting small scrapbooks at the Dollar Store or such for each of them to get autographs, put in pictures and keep their memories...you can add a sheet of Disney stickers for them to start their books with for a relatively small amount.

You could also get Disney pens for them each for their books...check ebay for packs.

Maybe a lanyard each would be fun too so they can get their own pins to put on them. They don't need to be Disney lanyards...I would even say ones from Disney Travel or such would be fun for them (and hold their tickets too).

Finally, I would say a water bottle (cheap at the dollar store) for each kid would also be handy down there and can go in their gift bags. They can make water bottle holders w/thick string and some macrame knots.

 

[LauraAnn630]

Theres some great ideas! Keep them coming!

Im going to make t-shirts and buy all the kids ballcaps for the characters to sign. Since we already have the autograph book. Ill take incase we meet someone new!

 

[GEM]

Great ideas! Thanks so much, everyone!!

A special thanks to CastMemberDWA for your kind words and your email! I will definately keep your information.

I really appreciate all the wonderful suggestions! We are doing some neat things - a production class at MGM, and acting and improv class at Epcot, a backstage tour of the Cirque theater before we see the show, etc. It should be a really fun trip for everyone!

I'd love to hear other thoughts, if anyone has them!