How to spend $200

[crocko]

Looking for some spending advice (this could get interesting)

For our upcoming trip, we're staying at a DVC resort thanks to my DVC-sister. Well, obviously that saves us a lot of money (9 nights total) but she didn't want us to pay her money, she just asked that we pay for her flight. No prob! Well, her flight ended up being well-priced and I don't feel like we've "reimbursed" her enough.

So, as of right now, I've got another $200 that I'd like to pay her back with....and would prefer to do something Disney/trip-related with it.

So, put your spending hats on and help me out. What are some great ideas on how to take this $200 and do something cool for my sister.
(Accepting ideas that include anywhere from spending all $200 at once or spending it in little ways to do different things...)

 

[MsCoz2000]

Looking for some spending advice (this could get interesting)

For our upcoming trip, we're staying at a DVC resort thanks to my DVC-sister. Well, obviously that saves us a lot of money (9 nights total) but she didn't want us to pay her money, she just asked that we pay for her flight. No prob! Well, her flight ended up being well-priced and I don't feel like we've "reimbursed" her enough.

So, as of right now, I've got another $200 that I'd like to pay her back with....and would prefer to do something Disney/trip-related with it.

So, put your spending hats on and help me out. What are some great ideas on how to take this $200 and do something cool for my sister.
(Accepting ideas that include anywhere from spending all $200 at once or spending it in little ways to do different things...)

Is she really into Disney? Maybe one of the tours?

Maybe a Show? Cirque du Soleil La Nouba?

Is she a Spa person? There is a nice spa at the Grand Floridian.

Or maybe souvenir’s??? In MK on Main St. there is a really nice store that has statues, maybe something to remember her trip by?

I'm sure what ever you do she will be more than thankful. Good Luck!

 

[alyssa810]

You could get her a WDW gift card while down there that she can use as she pleases!

 

[MelanieC]

Disney Jewerly? I wear my Disney Jewerly every trip (reminder to me to get mine put aside in my Disney bag for our upcoming trip so I don't forget).

All of these are a white gold/platinum color with diamond color crystals.

I have the following -

Swarovski Mickey Earings - The mickey shaped head is covered in crystals.
A mickey head shaped necklace with crystals, a watch with mickey head crystals on the band, a mickey head shaped crystal toe ring and my newest that I bought in March and haven't worn is a bracelet with the same mickey head shapes.

 

[cindycastle30]

A fireworks cruise for all of you
or
Dinner at Victoria&Alberts for the adults(more than $200 I know but hey thats one heck of a thankyou)

I think that either of these would be an awesome thank you suprise to get.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

These are the things that loving families do for one another. I would provide her with something to remember the trip and her generosity - perhaps a nicely framed picture of the group traveling together, with "Thank you" notes written around it by the family?

 

[skywaywaver]

I second the fireworks cruise or the spa treatment (massage?) at GF, SS or AKL.

 

[AmyBWV99]

No better gift than 20 pints of Guinness at the Rose and Crown ($10 each would include tip, too)!

 

[Belle102498]

Hi!

I would get the Disney Florist to deliver a special Thank-you type basket to your sister's room. They have all sorts of things that you could pick from, and then have a plush of her favorite character put into the basket. They have food (munchie food, fruit, cookies, etc) or flowers, or a souvenir baskets. I got a fruit basket for our anniversary for my husband, and it was fabulous! He was so surprised!

 

[wdwnut]

Hi: One of the nicest "thank yous" I ever got was a reversible DVC lightweight jacket several years ago from some friends.

 

[DMKEDM]

This is the best thank you ever!--I took a group of 5 college kids to WDW last March (to celebrate my DS' graduation)...we all rode AK's Dinosaur (one of my top five favorite rides) together...we got off, looked at the pix as we always don (I paid almost no attention--we now go to Disney often enough that pix of rides are no longer something I want as a general rule...but the kids decided they wanted the pic...)

As we were walking out, after they bought it, they presented it to me...and pointed out that each of the kids had formed a "heart" with their hands and were looking straight at me when the pic was taken...

Then, they bought me a gorgeous Disney frame for it...

Total cost was just shy of $75 (and most of that was for the frame), but the feeling it gave me was beyond compare ...

If you could orchestrate something like that on one of your favorite rides (you do need to know the point in the ride when the pic is taken...but I'm certain folks here on DisBoards could help you w/that if you post a request!) you can get the cost higher or lower depending on the frame you choose...or you could do more than one ride if you want to get it up closer to $200.

I can't begin to tell you how much I love that pic that "my kids" gave me!

Another (lesser) idea: a dinner at California Grill at fireworks time...that's an incredible experience!

Happy planning!

 

[vicki_c]

I'll take the fireworks cruise for $300, Alex!

More than your $200, but it would be for everyone to enjoy together. They're both nice, but we've enjoyed Illuminations more.

 

[yxe dad]

On our Feb 09 trip my Mother and Aunt joined the 4 of us in 2Brm at AKV/SSR.
Although they offered many times to pay for part of the room, I didn't take any cash from them for staying with us.

They did know our plans ahead of time and decided to take and pay for Aquatica tickets for my boys on the day we moved to SSR. They also got the boys 7 day WDW passes(through Airmiles) which I upgraded to 10 day park hoppers, it saved me a lot of money. They paid for our dinner at Chef Mickey's, Boma, and Ohana.

They probably spent more on my family then if they would have stayed at the All-Stars but we all stayed together and had a great vacation!

BUT

Enough about me, my vote would be to pay for her dining, or maybe her dinner's each day.

 

[jacksmom]

I think doing a tour would be nice!

 

[geenerbell]

I would suggest a gift card or a spa trip. Believe it or not a manicure and pedicure at GF Spa will knock out the entire $200.

 

[Nikisha421]

I think the gift card would be nice and then she could spend the money anyway she would like!

 

[jwhtewolfd]

The moment I saw the dollar amount I immediately thought of all the pictures I took of the enormous plushies that I could never afford (unless I limited myself to one souvie). If she is a plushie kind of person and has a favorite character, that might be a really neat gift. The gigantic Eeyore I wanted was $100. This would be one of those things I would never feel justified indulging myself, but would be ecstatic to receive. (Though you might have to buy it it's own plane ticket back home. )

 

[froggygrrrl]

This is the best thank you ever!--I took a group of 5 college kids to WDW last March (to celebrate my DS' graduation)...we all rode AK's Dinosaur (one of my top five favorite rides) together...we got off, looked at the pix as we always don (I paid almost no attention--we now go to Disney often enough that pix of rides are no longer something I want as a general rule...but the kids decided they wanted the pic...)

As we were walking out, after they bought it, they presented it to me...and pointed out that each of the kids had formed a "heart" with their hands and were looking straight at me when the pic was taken...

Then, they bought me a gorgeous Disney frame for it...

Total cost was just shy of $75 (and most of that was for the frame), but the feeling it gave me was beyond compare ...

If you could orchestrate something like that on one of your favorite rides (you do need to know the point in the ride when the pic is taken...but I'm certain folks here on DisBoards could help you w/that if you post a request!) you can get the cost higher or lower depending on the frame you choose...or you could do more than one ride if you want to get it up closer to $200.

I can't begin to tell you how much I love that pic that "my kids" gave me!

Another (lesser) idea: a dinner at California Grill at fireworks time...that's an incredible experience!

Happy planning!

Wow, that's such a special gift! I love that idea.

OP, what about spending the money on the photopass album? Then you could make a collectible item of all of your treasured moments together.

 

[squirrel]

I was just going to post a Photopass CD and or Book. Not sure if you were already doing that or not.

 

[emcreative]

I was just going to post a Photopass CD and or Book. Not sure if you were already doing that or not.

That's what I was gonna post!

If she scrapbooks you could use the "extra" as money for her at the scrapbooking store at DTD, if not, a really nice disney photo frame?