Items to purchase before trip?

[mommyof2boys1girl]

I was reading a post from a Dad who bought his daughters a whole bunch of Disney stuff before they ever left for their trip. I had never even considered that side of the trip, and I think I should get that stuff organized.

What types of items should I plan to have with us? (for example, I had never even considered autograph books, and though the kids are a bit young, I thought it might be a nice touch for when they are older -to have autographs from their first ever trip to DL)

Another strange question - can we bring food/snacks into the park? I've noticed some reports that say outside food cannot be brought in, but other reports say that some people grab food from hotel continental breakfasts to eat at the park. I am thinking more in the line of crackers and snacks for the little ones - is that allowed or not?

Thanks again! I think I am getting more excited than the kids!

Carmen

 

[B9erSteve]

Carmen,
We'll often make a trip to the Disney store for a few items. Light spinners while they are on sale is a biggie. Then once everyone starts breaking out the spinners: I just give the kids theirs. Money saved. My kids are still pretty young. I don't really deal with the autograph books. My son couldn't care less (age 6) and my daughter would not wait in some of those long lines very well (age 3) On our next trip she may be more interested in waiting though... she's big into Princessess and she's got a better attention span.

We've brought food into the parks in the past. Unless they've been getting stricter over the past year you should have no problem. The best thing that I have found which will raise the fewest eyebrows are the Lunchables. You can even get them with juice pre-packaged. Security will balk at bottles and they won't allow coolers. We use a soft sided cooler bag.

 

[silence]

YES...outside food is allowed. You can't bring a full on meal/cooler in the park, but small snacks and beverages are allowed. no glass or cans, plastic bottles only. we have never once been questioned about the food we have brought in. my son is a VERY picky eater, so we always bring fresh fruit and peanut butter crackers for him during the day.

i recommend autograph books. my DS was scared of the characters for sooooo many years so i refused to buy them. then i realized, having something in his hands and a PURPOSE to stand in that line helped him. i buy several each time the disney outlet store is near buy for like a dollar just so i have a new one for each trip. i have one good "set" for scrapbooking, the rest are theirs to play with.

we buy some souvenier type things before we go so we don't have to spend as much in the parks. light up type toys, t-shirts, etc.

enjoy your trip!

 

[BELLEDOZER]

I myself would not be inclined to buy the kids too much Disney stuff before we go in Jan/09. I would rather pick up a few small, but handy things that you can use enroute (such as crayons, colouring books, and perhaps a treasured stuffed animal). If you get onto the DIS planning section of this website, they have tons of ideas on what to pack, what to bring, etc. I think it's more fun for the kids to buy stuff down in Disneyland, that way it connects the item they have purchased with the trip. I also think the autograph books are a good idea, and will be something that they can look back on when they are older. It is a nice momento of the trip. Good luck in the planning of your trip.

 

[DangerMouse]

Not sure if you have 99 Cent Only or Dollar Tree stores in Canada, but that's where I get a lot of my pre-Disney trip supplies.