Inexpensive gift ideas for coworkers????

[EHakkinen]

I'm heading to Disney in 10 days (YAY!!!) and I supervise a staff of 15. By me leaving for a week, it puts a lot of extra work and responsibility on them. I would like to bring back some small tokens of appreciation for them, but I can't spend a lot. (Even as a manager, in non-profit human services I don't make much!) Any ideas of small gifts i can bring back that wouldn't cost me more than a couple dollars apiece, or at least under about $40 total? I don't want to just do postcards or pencils, but I'm not very creative either...
TIA!!!

 

[lorijohnhill]

The first thing I came up with, off the top of my head, is to pick up a free button for each person. Maybe the Cars Land or Honorary Citizen... something that wouldn't be strange. With that you could get an assortment of different candy that could be put out for all to share.

 

[EHakkinen]

That's a great idea! There all kinds of cool free stuff i could probably pick up to add to it too! Thank you!

 

[tinkerone]

Not sure if this is what your looking for however we have brought home the soaps and shampoos from the resorts. If you have never seen them they are actually very cute, if you have then you know what I am talking about. The products are H2O stuff and good quality. If you leave a tip for your room host and ask nicely I'm sure she will gladly leave you enough over your stay to hand out. I always end up bringing tons home and gave them to people that I worked with for their children. When they would hear I was going back to WDW that was the thing that was most asked for.

 

[choover2576]

Love the button idea! Hubby and I gifted Mickey rice krispy treats with leftover snack credits for our coworkers.

 

[SMD]

I usually buy cookies or candy. Pre-packaged unless it's for someone I'll see later that day. If you're going for 10 days you could send people postcards or send a postcard to the group early enough in the trip that they'll receive it. Taking 15 free buttons or 15 sets of bath products is kind of a lot, even with a 10 day stay.

 

[Narnia_girl]

Giving gifts to that many people really reminds me of Fish Extender gifts (Disney Cruise Line gift exchange). If you do a google search for fish extender gifts I'm sure you'd get a lot of ideas. Those gifts are almost always Disney themed and inexpensive so folks can hand out a lot of them. They might not be items you buy at WDW per se, but they could be clever gifts you make at home that have a Disney theme. Just a little something to let them know you were thinking of them. (which is pretty nice of you!)

 

[lorijohnhill]

Taking 15 free buttons or 15 sets of bath products is kind of a lot, even with a 10 day stay.

15 may be a lot if you are taking a solo trip, but a family traveling for 10 days will easily amass a bunch of buttons. Unless our Disneyland experiences are quite different from the norm, CMs were giving my daughter buttons every time we turned around (without us asking for them). We were each given one at every character meal. She's very chatting with CMs, so maybe that makes a difference.... they would give her buttons for her Build-a-Bears (she is allowed to bring one bear to the park with her). Some even started writing different things on buttons to create new ones for her. At Anna and Elsa's Boutique, they decided her birthday button wasn't sparkly, so she must have a new one covered with glitter. It was quite comical at times.

 

[verleniahall]

I like the H20 idea - we were there for a week and we always left a note with our trip asking for extras - we came home with our carryon quart baggies STUFFED with shampoo - I still have plenty (i am making it stretch for another year) and a gallon baggie of the soaps - so 15 sets isn't outside of the realm.

I also was going to suggest rice krispie treats - my thought though was to purchase a mickey head cookie cutter and make them when you got back to give out.

 

[Aliceacc]

I think I would approach this differently. You can't get people a whole lot at WDW for $3 apiece.

What I did recently (I missed a week of work because my husband was in ICU) was to fill a foil lasagna pan with wrapped candies. It cost a lot less then you're talking about, and there was plenty for everyone to nibble on as they passed through the faculty room.

 

[2buzzboys]

If you have a way to get to the disney outlet ,they will have some nice things at a discounted price.
http://m.premiumoutlets.com/store.aspx?tid=94211&id=874

 

[Tinkermommy]

OP, I think you are really appreciative of your team for working extra hard during your vacation. But that's what teams do for each other and everyone deserves a vacation.

To be honest, I don't think a button or soap/lotion you get for free would make me feel appreciated. And not everyone is as Disney crazy as we are.

I would buy some Disney cookies/treats and bring in coffee to the office and thank everyone one. Or even buy lunch one day.

While thanking them is a great idea, I don't think it has to be Disney related just because that is where you went on your vacation.

 

[KarenAylwood]

Originally I was going to say get some of the rice krispy treats they sell in the gift shops- I bought some back for coworkers at my past job and they were a big hit. We had been on the free dining plan and I had some extra snack credits so I used those.

OP, I think you are really appreciative of your team for working extra hard during your vacation. But that's what teams do for each other and everyone deserves a vacation.

To be honest, I don't think a button or soap/lotion you get for free would make me feel appreciated. And not everyone is as Disney crazy as we are.

I would buy some Disney cookies/treats and bring in coffee to the office and thank everyone one. Or even buy lunch one day.

While thanking them is a great idea, I don't think it has to be Disney related just because that is where you went on your vacation.

I agree with this. Not everyone would like some small disney token- food always goes over well. I'd either bring them in snacks or donuts or Disney treats, or even lunch but I think that'd most likely be too expensive for that many people. Donuts and coffee in the morning maybe?

 

[powellrj]

I agree with the free things, I wouldn't go that way. I think getting a group snack would be better.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I bought packs of Disney themed pens for the people in my office. I think there were about 6 pens in a pack for $7 or $8. I opened the packs and gave everyone a pen. Working in an office, everyone always needs pens.

 

[Hikergirl]

I'm another poster that wouldn't do the free buttons and shampoos.
I would get some snacks and bring them in to the office when you get back.

 

[DnA2010]

Edible things- Mickey rice Krispy, those bundles of Mickey head suckers on the long straws, some chocolates to put out. What are they going to do with buttons?

 

[kymom99]

Make some goodies and have a cup filled with mickey pens to go along with it. You can make the treats Disney themed.

 

[unrequited23]

I would buy everyone a mickey straw ($.69) and then make root beer floats for the office when you return.

 

[usnuzuloose]

You could make the rice krispie treats in the shape of mickey and dip the ears in chocolate and put a stick in them. And if you can find some cheap pens that would be nice.