Souveniers/Stuff

[TxKimmie]

I'm new here. Husband and I are heading to WDW for Spring Break w/our 8 year old daughter. Neither one of us has been since a HS band trip back in the 80s. We have a TON of questions, but here's a quick one.............how much do the mouse ears run and the other usual souveniers (shirts, etc). We are trying to nail down our budget and we need to figure in an amount for stuff like this.

The food choices have us overwhelmed. OMG, where do we eat? I had gastric bypass 5 months ago, so I hardly eat anything and what I do eat has to be low fat/low sugar. Are there any places that offer good healthy foods??????

We are staying at All Star Movies for 10 nights, so we're excited about that.

Any general tips, info, advise for us first-timers? We would appreciate anything you can throw our way!!!!!

Kim in NorthTexas

 

[HaleyB]

I am starting to feel like a mousesavers cheer leader. I love the site. I reread it all the time. It may be a sickness.

You need to read the info on this site. Not that it relates entirely to your question, just one of the best Disney links I have to offer you.

www.mousesavers.com

Also here is a link to the menus of WDW, you can find something healthy in every park. Salad and carrots at least. Plus veggie burgers I think. Also fresh fruit is avaliable and I think the best food deal in WDW (yummy Florida fruit!)

http://allearsnet.com/menu/menus.htm

The hats are not too bad. I can't remember exactly but under $20 I think. I always pick up a few tee shirts at the Disney Store on sale and surprise everyone with them. Those spinny light thing a ma gigs are what will kill ya. Just break down and buy one right away (so you get to use it for the whole trip), I think they are about $20. Closer to $20 than $10 (which would still be too much). But every kid seems to have one after dark, yours will want one too.

Our misc./stuff budget is pretty tight (I think) I budget $100 a trip per person for our trips, but our first time (and our older son was 8 back then) it was more like $200 per person.

Consider reading up on the connection vouchers (thread on this board, stuck to top). Remember you can split meals...

I think that is all but if I think of more you will hear from me!

 

[HaleyB]

I already thought of something else.

Read lots of trip reports (on the trip report board here) and read the entire Tips board (okay read a lot of it).

Speaking of trip reports, here is another really fun/great Disney link...

http://www.badshoe.com/index.htm

and search for the delswife trip report (here or I think badshoe may have it linked) it is another must read!

BEST book about touring WDW is The Unofficial Guide to WDW. Buy it and bring it with you. Make sure to get 2004 edition.

Okay I think I have posted all my favorites now. Mousesavers, Allearsnet, Badshoe (Zurg's site), and The Unofficial Guide...

 

[mom2threeboys]

Congrats on your upcoming trip!!
We just got back and had a great time! I agree the food chioces can be overwhelming. I think most places did offer salads, and some "fast "food" type places you could even get carrot sticks instead of fries! Check out the menus posted though, they helped us a lot.
As far as souveniers go, Mickey Ears are $7, the light up toys are $13.14 (strange price, so I rememebered), and tshirts were $14 (kids0 and $17 (adult), at least the ones we got, they may vary by styles.
HTH!

 

[Dismom63]

You are in for a great time! My dear friend had gastric by pass in July so I have watched her eat and I think you will be fine in WDW! Just make your choices carefully! You must be feeling great in your new body so that will make the trip that much nicer!
We have spent all different amounts on our trips but we always budget at least $1500 for our week for food, sounvenirs and extras. We have more child (teen) than you though so maybe $1100?
Also if you are going during the peak Easter spring break time (like us!!) you will need PS's (priority seatings ) for most sit down restaurants. Counter service is generally cheaper but not by alot!
Everyone above has given you great advice. Maybe pick out 1 special meal and try to make a PS for it. You call 1 407 wdw dine and it is "kind of" like a reservation, "kind of".
You said you DD is 8 and that sge is perfect!
What about trying for the Princess Breakfast in Norway at EPCOT?
or a meal at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary? Garden Grill in Epcot has good character intereaction but isn't overwhelming and has good food choices!
Sorry so long- your post just struck a chord with me!
Have fun
Sharon

 

[shatzjsl]

Hi all! Almost down to two digits on my WDW countdown! (just don't know how to get it in my posts)

My DD wants to get an official WDW autograph book for character autographs. (She's 10 and this is her first trip to WDW.) She has her own spending money so I am going to let her do this.

Question: How much are the autograph books at WDW?

I have seen some on ebay and they are going for around $10 plus shipping. I thought I saw somewhere that at WDW they were under $10 but want to make sure before I place a bid.

One more thing! She says the only character she MUST meet is Minnie. Does she usually make an appearance at Chef Mickey's? I'm pretty sure we can run into her at AK but would like to see her in her original costume.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[KatieLovesMickey]

Minnie is our favorite, too, and she spent a ton of time with us at Chef Mickey's in Dec. 2002. I'm pretty sure she's still there.
We paid $6.00 for autograph books in the POR gift shop (they were everywhere for that price), and we brought big fat ballpoints that we bought at Wal-Mart (the characters have a hard time holding thin pens with those big gloves on.)

 

[Dismom63]

Minnie is at Chef Mickey's and she is at Garden Grill, Donald's Breakfastosauris (sp?), AK Camp Mickey and Minnie (right outside Festival of Lion King)and Liberty Tree Tavern Dinner!

 

[shatzjsl]

Thanks Katie and DisMom!

I thought $10 for the autograph book was higher than we could get one at WDW.

Glad Minnie is so many places.

DD wanting to see Minnie reminds me of that commercial where the little girl was at MK all day and was still sad until she saw Mickey and told him she had been waiting her whole life to meet him.

 

[waughzee]

Autograph books are approx. $6 at WDW.

As far as your Gastric Bypass issue, if you would like to try a certain restaurant, or buffet, call the reataurant and let them know, they will be more than accomodating with you.

 

[Littleroo]

I went to the Disney store at a local mall and bought my family tshirts! Adult tshirts were $13 and kids were 2 for $16 and they had $10 off with a $40 purchase! So, for 2 adult and 2 kids tshirts I paid just $32!!

AND the adult tshirts were the classic mickey ones. We had people come up to us asking where we got our tshirts!!