Inexpensive "souvenirs" to buy ahead.

[crazymomof4]

Since joining these boards I've learned about the great idea of buying Disney things for the kids while still at home (much cheaper), packing them, and giving them as surprises while at WDW. Since I've heard this eases the nagging for pricey souvenirs from the WDW shops, I will have my eyes open for these things from now until we leave. Today I picked up a couple of packs of Mickey Mouse playing cards at Target. They had small, travel size decks for $.99 and full size for $1.89. They are really cute. They have Mickey on the backs and various other Disney characters on the face sides.

Has anyone else seen anything Disney that would appeal to moms looking for small gifts to pack for the kids?

 

[buddyboo]

If you have a disney store near you, they are having a great sale! Their souvenir section is 75% off. Here's what I got:

magic washclothes about $0.65 ea
light up portable fans $0.99
gel candies $0.49
princess pens $0.99

 

[Cinders]

My TDS had little round tins of candy. Its only about 1 3/4" with a character on top...the candy varies by character. I have Belle with mints and the boys both got Tigger with sour candy. Regular price was $1.95 but ours were 70% off. The tin when empty would be great for something small like a few pressed pennies or earrings.

Another thing to watch for thats not Disney themed is any sort of glowing item....bracelet, necklace, sticks. These are great for avoiding Disney light up toys at the evening programs. These can be found at Dollar Tree stores and WalMarts birthday aisle. For a freebie: If you're driving down visit the Disney.com website to print a few coloring sheets too. Or a calendar to countdown the days until your vacation.
Free Disney Printables

 

[marciaj]

Today at TDS, 6-12, I bought 9 light chasers. Regular $10 (much more at park) for $2.50/ea. Bought them for a b'day party this summer. This was the store in Troy MI, if anyone from this area is looking.

 

[MaMudduck]

Dollars stores- coloring books, & stickers, sometimes key rings & clearence stuff, shampoos, toothpaste & toothbrushes, hair stuff for girls (ponytail holders)

Wal-Mart; disney pens & pencils, backpacks, umberella's, small travel games sometimes, shampoos, toothpaste & toothbrushes
underware ("Gotta be Disney even down to your drawers!")
towels. Disney image chapstick. If you sew- there's disney fabic there. CANDY ( disney gummies & lollipops) & COOKIES (not all the cookies taste good, so try before taking a box with you)

Party supply stores: glow sticks, loot bags with Disney stuff on them, novelity prizes...balloons (not filled)

Of couse the best is Disney stores: sale items: T-shirts, Kids guide to Disney World book, pins, plushes, spinners

I could go on & on but once you start looking for Disney stuff in stores....it will start calling to you in the stores "Come over here...I'm a disney item" Sometimes restraint is the best.

 

[crazymomof4]

WOW! I'm so glad I posted this thread. Getting some really good ideas. I have been just wandering the stores, waiting for items to jump out at me (and not being very successful). Now I know more of what exactly to look for, and therefore where to look for it. Thanks!

Keep the ideas coming!

Originally posted by MaMudduck
If you sew- there's disney fabic there.

I saw the Disney fabric there and got this brainstorm about making a little handbag for my DD. She loves to put her things in little bags and carry them around. She is only two so if it's not perfect she won't care, as long as it has a Princess(es) Maybe, if I get really ambitious, I'll sew a nightgown.

Originally posted by MaMudduck
... once you start looking for Disney stuff in stores....it will start calling to you in the stores "Come over here...I'm a disney item" Sometimes restraint is the best.

I hope the info. from this post will help kick in this syndrome for me.

 

[frannn]

Or all the souvenier items? My DS told me only the christmas Mickey light spinner was on sale. I would've bought the Sleeping beauty one I saw....

 

[MaMudduck]

The light spinners depend on which TDstores you try, I was looking for some but couldn't get 2 of anything- I've only seen Monster Inc., Mickey (Xmas?), Buzz lightyear, just not alot right now with the semi annual sale on.

 

[Cindy B]

The spinners that were 50% off at my store were:

Stich, Sulley, and Belle.


The rest were still full price.

 

[Mermaid02]

Yesterday I bought: 2 Stitch light chasers for 75% off
I bought ds (6) a "Disney Fun Seekers" tshirt, I'm thinking of making them Disney pillow cases and presenting them with them on the train!!

I really love the idea of pre-buying the souvenirs! I have told EVERYONE I know about it!!

 

[mickeysaver]

We had a strobing light necklace from Target last year that everyone was asking us where we got it. I think we got it on clearance for $1.99, but I saw them again at Target the other day for $4.99. The light part has fiber optic fibers that change colors and flashing patterns. It's really cool at night. I like it better than any of the stuff Disney was selling. Best of all, it was unique and obviously eye catching. Mickey

 

[cyfan]

When I went with my 2 younger nieces this year, their favorite surprise I bought them was the Mickey and Minney Pez dispensers to carry in their fanny packs with plenty of refills. Have fun!

 

[Danemom]

My favorite thing I've found so far is...
squeeze flashlights shaped like Nemo and Dory!
They are so cute. I bought them at KMart ($3.49 each) but they are made by Eveready so I'm sure they're widely available. They even have a Bruce version too. They have an added benefit - I've read that these little lights are good for kids who get nervous in completely dark parts of rides.
It's a lot harder to find little surprises for my children now that they're older - 8 and 10.


edit: saw the same squeeze flashlight in a Tigger version today at ToysRUs.

 

[lalapodip]

There are TONS of great ideas here! I've done very well with "stocking up" during TDS sales, especially those light chasers and little fans. I also bought the DISNEY logo shirts online, and the Dollar Store glow things. I bought two journals for my DDs from the Dollar Store, along with stickers, and I cut up 4 Disney Catalogs to paste pictures throughout the journals. I thought that they could use them as autograph books, too.

I am hoping that the WDW outlets will still have some of the 100 YOM stuff when we go this August. Last year it seemed weird to me to buy a souvenir from a year that I didn't actually go to WDW. I won't have that problem this year! I just have to restrain myself from the shirts at the Disney Store before we get to WDW..... Can't wait!!

 

[MaMudduck]

Originally posted by Danemom
It's a lot harder to find little surprises for my children now that they're older - 8 and 10.

I hear you on that one!
dd was 7 last time we went, but it was her first time to WDW- so she had no idea what to expect, and was so thrilled with the surprise gifts. This year we'll be taking my nephew (12)- his first time and of course he's "too cool" for some of the things I could get for dd, so this year's trip is a little harder finding things. I'm going to keep my eyes open for those flashlights!

 

[ceecee]

My SIL just got back and she bought my niece a Disney Kidclips player and everyday surprised her with another clip related to who or what they saw that day (Lion king, Little Mermaid, Princesses) she loved it and carried it around the park (at 4, she's still in a stroller). Everyone kept asking where they got them. I bought these for my DD last Christmas and she is still playing them (mostly in the car, but since it's Disney tunes and they're short I don't mind listening!).

 

[lalapodip]

I am pretty sure that the Kidclips cartridges were on sale at TDS for 75% off - I just didn't know where to buy a player!

 

[FFerret]

hmmm--I'd like to know where to get the player cheap too

lalapodip
My little boy is four and autistic. Yesterday was a first for him--we went to go see a movie for the first time as a fam--"Finding Nemo"-- with his little 3 yr old sister--and they both did just fine

(happy ferret dance)

I hear there's a 75% sale at The Disney Store--I'll try to get there soon!

 

[lalapodip]

Great news about your son! My son is eight, and he's not good with a new movie/video. I only took my DDs to see Nemo. I'd love to take my son to see Toy Story at the movies - that's one that I KNOW he'd sit through!

Anybody know about the Kidclips player? Now I will regret not buying the extra clips at the Disney Store, esp. now that I realize that this is a toy that my son would love!

 

[ceecee]

Try Ebay, I sold the jukebox player I had...because DD got the retro for Christmas...the players alone don't sell too high. Better than retail was for them!!! And if you can get the clips at 75% You already are saving a lot!