Souvenier shopping for friends and family ~ what to get, reasonable $$$

[SandraC]

Hi, last year we only bought souveniers for a few people, 4 friends, MIL, FIL, teacher. What can I get them all this year, without spending too much time or money? THX S

 

[Halle]

In the past I've purchased mickey and minnie pasta and mugs. We fly nad the apsta is easy to pack and lightweight too!

 

[SandraC]

Cool idea, where can I buy Mickey pasta, do you remeber the cost?

 

[Humpbacks1962]

I always found the most adorable knick knacks at Epcot. They made great, classy presents for teachers. For example, I bought some beautiful elephants carved in soapstone for under $5.00 (smallest size were $3.00, I believe), beautiful crystal bird figures for under $4.00 and paperholders with flowers inside for under $6.00. I can't recall the country but it was either China or Japan.
Then I had them wrapped in those absolutely adorable WDW gift boxes for free!


Wanda

 

[poohraedopey]

Great Question a nd good thread! I hope a lot more of you have suggestions!

We are going just us for the honeymoon we never had/our 6th anniversary. We have to children and they are stayingw ith my inlaws so we need soemthing NICE as a thank you to them as well as we are sorry we feel kinda guilty we left you kids behind LOL! Then we have a few others on the gift list!

 

[SandraC]

As I posted previously, we didn't have too many folks to buy for last year. It wasn't until I got back that I realized that I really should have picked up a few more things for friends and family. This is what we bought last year.

MIL: a beautiful embroidred tea mat from that lovely foo-foo shop in the castle at MK. $11 (I think)
FIL: DTD Disney Store a set of golf balls with Disney images ~ castle etc.,. ($6.00)
2 School girl friends of dd: DTD Disney Store, Piglet and Minnie necklaces. ($5.00 each)
Teacher: a tasteful small Mickey Mouse pin. ($5.00)
Neighbours 2 kids: Character pins. (set of 6 $5.00)


We ended up with tons of boxed bars of Disney soap from CBR, so I gave one to a lady that works at dd's school, she's a big Disney fan and it was a last minute thought as I really don't know her well but knew she would get a kick out of it, and I got a hug out of it!

Keep the ideas coming PLS! THX S

 

[crusoe2]

This is a great thread - I can always use new ideas for gifts to bring home for everyone.
Some of things we've gotten were:

bags of chocolate covered Mickey pretzels (about $5)
a Mickey shaped bowl for my nephew (about $5 or $6 I think)
magnets (lots to choose from for less than $5)
a silhouette of my ds for his grandparents (I don't remember the exact cost but I do remember that they did 3 of them for one price and it was a great deal for something that grandparents will love)
cast metal ride vehicles (about $5 I think)
for younger kids, maybe the plastic versions of the ride vehicles - I saw a lot more of those on our last trip

Seems like the housewares store at DD had lots of little items like soaps, hand towels and stuff that were not terribly expensive. Should be able to use Disney Club discount there also.

I would love to hear more ideas from the shops in World Showcase since I haven't gotten to really explore those yet. Seems like there would be lots of things to choose from there.

 

[KaraJade]

Yes, collecting up the disney soaps and shampoos makes fun presents for little kids! I loved getting stupid junk like that when I was a kid, lol. My good friend's son is a big Buzz Lightyear fan, and I searched the whole of WDW looking for something unique and couldn't really find anything. In the end, I ended up making a goody bag using one of the small gift shop plastic bags, and putting some mickey soaps and shampoos from the hotel, with some simple stickers and cheap souveniers stuff I collected, and he liked that a lot

 

[Meagansmom]

I am a room parent for my daughter's classroom. This your for a Christmas gift for the teacher, she asked us to spend the money on the classroom - books, games. So this year for the teacher, I think I may go to the Read n Rite (?) book store in DTD and get something for the classroom. I do like the idea of the pin - Thanks SandraC. Maybe I will do both, my daughter has an exceptional class.

KaraJade - We are going in May also. We were looking for a Jessie doll on our last visit. No one had them. Then I was told to try the DisneyQuest gift store. They had them. Just an idea. I don't know if you are still looking for one. Worth a try.

Thanks for some of the ideas on this thread.

 

[tink2dw]

All Star Resorts sell for $.50 Character Straws. I thought they were cute!!

Offsite at Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores we found
Disney trading pins $1.99
AK Tin w/Charaters-$.99[use it to keep hair ties,barrettes in]
The Die cast Character Vehicals-$.99
Ak leather tooled Purse-$.99
MK Castle w/fireworks and Characters Shirt-$4.99

 

[Kaa]

One of my favorite places to shop for Christmas gifts is the Days of Christmas store in the Marketplace. They have some ornaments that aren't Disney related for those people that just don't get it. They also have Disney related ornaments. Most are between $5-$10. They also have ornaments directed at relationships (Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, etc...) and professions (teacher, doctor, etc...). It is one of my favorite stores and I NEVER get away without spending a bundle there! Of course, most of what I buy there goes on MY tree!!

Another idea are those neat writing pens shaped like characters. I know they have Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto. They may even have Pooh characters as well. Those usually run about $4 - $5. I have also found pencils shaped like Mickey for around $2 - $3. The World of Disney store has a section with all of these items along with other inexpensive gift ideas like magnets, keychains, photo frames, coffee mugs, etc...

I think I am going to start looking at those shops around the World Showcase. It sounds like there are unique gift ideas in those places.

Great thread!

 

[Belle1962]

Buy a package of pins/markers and split them up.

World of Disney has magnets for around $1.25

The outlets are a great place to find stuff too.

 

[hockey mom]

Christmas store gets my vote also. They always have a big sale section. I am always one year behind on the christmas ball, because last years dated ball is always on sale.

For any little boys I get the pirate hat, $6, and have it embroidered for free with "Captian ----". My son loves his.

Last year I also got great deals at the small kitchen place in MK. Mickey salt and pepper shakers on sale, and margarita glasses with little mickeys all over them for $1.99 each.

 

[scanmom]

I think the obvious gift is a set of mouse ears with their name embroidered on back. They are 6.00 and the name is free! Alot of people will NEVER go to WDW! ( hard to imagine, huh?) and these are classics that anyone would recognize and enjoy! Just remember, only a couple of places do the name! We got our DS's ears at a stand in Epcot and had to save the reciept and get his name done in a shop in MK. The only downside to that was that we waited in 2 lines instead of 1.

 

[tonilea]

One of my favorite souveniers from our last trip is a plastic Sorcer Mickey attached to a suction cup by a thin wire so it dangles. I attached it to my rear view mirror and I smile every time I get in my truck. $4.00

We also pick up a Christmas ornament each trip. under $10

 

[cindala]

Small notepads, available in all the parks, are inexpensive and useful. I use them myself all year round.

The department store in Japan has some really different gifts: pretty chopsticks, small satin change purses ($5.00), Japanese candy, Christmas ornaments, small colorful plates (they use for eating, I keep jewelry on or small items) etc. This is a must stop store for us each visit.

Norway also has some pretty Christmas ornaments, and jewelry.

Love the DTD World of Disney store! There are so many different items. A small photo album is a great souvenir, and they also have Disney jewelry. I bought a SS Mickey ring for $15 last year.

I am really bad when it comes to souvenirs, because I just don't want to stop buying!!

 

[WDWfanatic288]

i woudl recommend going to one of the outlets and getting stuff there...you could still get t-shirts but instead for like less than 10 dollars! and they have a bunch of little things that are cute to give!

 

[Kallison]

Personally I wouldn't spend my vacation time shopping for others, you are a much nicer person than me - lol!

One year I did have all the princesses sign a birthday card for my DD's Godmother, she was 30.

We always buy a new Christmas ornament from our trips.

Near Canada they have a stand that has leather bracelets, you can have the kids' names embroidered on them. Don't remember the cost but it was reasonable.

The glass shop on Main Street you can get mugs etched with a name or initials, they have the Disney characters eched on them also.

I really like the silhouette idea for the grandparents.

 

[Halle]

SandraC, I purchased the pasta at DTD. I think it's called Mickey's Gourmet Pantry. I also saw them at the Boardwalk at the gift shop.