Special treats for the kids?

[jc2003]

Hi everyone! I'm new to DISboards and I'm loving all of the information I'm getting from all of you!

We are currently planning our first vacation to WDW at the end of April and we are all sooo excited! I really want to make the trip special for our kids (DS9, DS7, DS4 and DD3months) but I also don't want to break the bank buying souveniers and treats. I love the idea of the coupons I've been seeing but since I've never been to WDW before I have no idea what kinds of things to include. I'm thinking I would like to give them each 1 coupon each morning for something DH and I will get for them and they each also received Disney giftcards for Christmas to buy their own things as well.

I was wondering if you could suggest some things for each park to give me some ideas of what's available and what might guys might enjoy? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Hannathy]

What we always did when the kids were younger was we didn't buy souvenirs till the end of the day or even the week. Now that didn't include doing the pressed pennies or the occasional little trinket but their big thing wasn't till the end of the time, unless we were absolutely sure it couldn't be bought at any other park and they were sure.

Like my DS was a Star Wars fan (still is) so I knew he would want something from Star Tours so the day we went there he got something But I also know my kids and when they make up their minds they are set.

 

[Aliceacc]

For starters, know that the trip WILL be special without any of those extras. Your kids are going to be excited to death just to be at WDW-- no extra coupons necessary for them to have an amazing trip!!!!

I would get each of them a $25 gift card, and let them find that something special on their own.

Our first family trip, my then-5-year-old desperately wanted a pair of Mickey gloves. I have absolutely no idea why, but she kept coming back to them day after day in the shops. After a few days, we agreed that it was something she really wanted, and they're one of her favorite momentos of that trip... and I still have no idea why.

As far as other stuff goes, I would make sure each has an autograph book, and stock up on retractable point Sharpies. Get extra sunglasses-- consider Oriental Trading. And consider ordering a box of glow bracelets-- it makes it easy to keep track your kids in a crowd at fireworks if they're the ones with the blue and green glow bracelets.

I think that sometimes on the Disboards, we see so much that we think that it's necessary to have more, more, more for our kids to enjoy a vacation. And I think that we're sorely underestimating our kids. Most of the kids I know would be happy to sleep on a park bench if that park bench was in WDW. They'll have the time of their lives with the vacation you have planned, exactly as you already have it.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[4xmom]

We usually save our last day as a DTD shopping day. This is the day that they can pick something that they have been eyeing all week. On the first day though each one of us gets a new hat. Great for the FL sun and something great to have back home (my kids love them for any hat day at school). When my girls were there for their first trips, I got them the Disney charm bracelet (can find them in a lot of shops). Each trip we add a few charms, always a year charm. For each new ride that they conquer, they get a pin. These pins are on corkboards in their rooms.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I agree, trips are special on their own but coupons can help keep spending at bay if you choose to allow them something everyday. Of course that can get expensive with 4 kids, though the baby would not need to be included. Some coupon ideas:

An ice cream cone
A snack of their choice
Order dessert at dinner
A t-shirt of their choice
A light up toy for a night time event
A balloon
A pen to trade
To get to do one pressed penny
A stuffed animal under X $.
Choose the next ride
Get to ride with mom or dad on a ride.
Any souvenir under X $

It can cost a ton or very little. We also take things from home like new WDW themed PJs and pillow cases and snacks and tooth bruses etc

 

[jc2003]

Thanks for all of your ideas! They are very helpful!

 

[msquoted]

I agree, trips are special on their own but coupons can help keep spending at bay if you choose to allow them something everyday. Of course that can get expensive with 4 kids, though the baby would not need to be included. Some coupon ideas:

An ice cream cone
A snack of their choice
Order dessert at dinner
A t-shirt of their choice
A light up toy for a night time event
A balloon
A pen to trade
To get to do one pressed penny
A stuffed animal under X $.
Choose the next ride
Get to ride with mom or dad on a ride.
Any souvenir under X $

It can cost a ton or very little. We also take things from home like new WDW themed PJs and pillow cases and snacks and tooth bruses etc

Great list! Thanks

 

[ajwolfe]

My kids have just started getting into the pressed pennies. We've always avoided those machines at WDW before. I'm curious if anyone knows how much they cost to make, so I can make sure and have the exact change.

Thanks!!

 

[mom2cinderella]

I agree, trips are special on their own but coupons can help keep spending at bay if you choose to allow them something everyday. Of course that can get expensive with 4 kids, though the baby would not need to be included. Some coupon ideas:

An ice cream cone
A snack of their choice
Order dessert at dinner
A t-shirt of their choice
A light up toy for a night time event
A balloon
A pen to trade
To get to do one pressed penny
A stuffed animal under X $.
Choose the next ride
Get to ride with mom or dad on a ride.
Any souvenir under X $

It can cost a ton or very little. We also take things from home like new WDW themed PJs and pillow cases and snacks and tooth bruses etc

Great list! The only thing I'd add is face painting. I think that's around $12-20 depending on design.

Pennies used to be two quarters plus the penny.

Oh - just remembered - souvenir cups & light up ice cubes!

 

[MandiC]

My girls LOVED doing the pressed pennies, super inexpensive way to let them 'get' something. We also promised them early in the trip (once they figured out they liked pin trading, I bought pins and lanyards before our trip on amazon, much cheaper that way) that on the last day of our trip we'd bring them to the pin store in downtown disney and they could pick any one pin they wanted.
My girls loved the pick a pearl in Japan, but that can add up ($18 to pick a pearl, the setting they each picked was $22).
I've seen the personalized parasols in China (Epcot).

It will be special even without extras

 

[ltl engine]

Some ideas...autograph books, passports for Epcot, Targets dollar spot has a ton of things-I just got light up bracelets, gum, a mini Cars fan, etc. Enjoy!

 

[GMS]

Glass slipper from castle.
T-shirt from fav ride that year

 

[wiigirl]

My kids have just started getting into the pressed pennies. We've always avoided those machines at WDW before. I'm curious if anyone knows how much they cost to make, so I can make sure and have the exact change.

Thanks!!

 

[uccats97]

My kids have just started getting into the pressed pennies. We've always avoided those machines at WDW before. I'm curious if anyone knows how much they cost to make, so I can make sure and have the exact change. Thanks!!

The pressed pennies are $0.51 each. Check out parkpennies.com for great maps of the penny locations at WDW.

 

[tcherjen]

For my youngest dd what we did is buy things before we went. I got little things from Walgreens, Walmart, Dollar Tree ect and gave her different things throughout the trip. She had a $25 gift card which she bought some things with too. This worked great for us and I am doing this again on this trip.

 

[flutterby3744]

Our kids (16, 11, & 6) are earning "Disney Dollars". I have a chore chart with dollar amounts assigned to each chore. Each time they complete a chore we add it to the ledger. They also earn money on an "I see you" chart. They get a sticker each time they are caught doing good in an area they struggle with (DS 6: not having to be told something 50 times, and DD11: for being polite-she's going through a real snooty stage! ). Each sticker is worth 10 cents. Then when we are ready to go, each one gets a gift card with their amount on it.

I use it as a learning experience to earn their spending money and budgeting. They know exactly how much they have to spend, and they are usually pretty frugal with it since it's their own money!

Also, for Easter I plan on doing Disney "baskets". I always do a theme anyway (beach days, Hollywood, great outdoors etc) and this is perfect for planning for our trip! I plan on buying each their own carry-on suitcase (I never buy those silly baskets-they end up in the trash anyway) and filling it with trip essentials: new bathing suits, sunglasses, hats, shoes, small trinkets, etc all disney themed of course!

 

[jc2003]

Our kids (16, 11, & 6) are earning "Disney Dollars". I have a chore chart with dollar amounts assigned to each chore. Each time they complete a chore we add it to the ledger. They also earn money on an "I see you" chart. They get a sticker each time they are caught doing good in an area they struggle with (DS 6: not having to be told something 50 times, and DD11: for being polite-she's going through a real snooty stage! ). Each sticker is worth 10 cents. Then when we are ready to go, each one gets a gift card with their amount on it. I use it as a learning experience to earn their spending money and budgeting. They know exactly how much they have to spend, and they are usually pretty frugal with it since it's their own money! Also, for Easter I plan on doing Disney "baskets". I always do a theme anyway (beach days, Hollywood, great outdoors etc) and this is perfect for planning for our trip! I plan on buying each their own carry-on suitcase (I never buy those silly baskets-they end up in the trash anyway) and filling it with trip essentials: new bathing suits, sunglasses, hats, shoes, small trinkets, etc all disney themed of course!

Great ideas! Thanks!

 

[PeanutButterMom]

On our trip, we did the pressed pennies (I surprised them with their own little containers made from mini m&m tubes and Mentos gum containers for the pressed ones and the label from the Creative DISer). The kids LOVED them and would run through the gift shops for them. Super cheap souvenirs

My friend also did I thing that I copied where, when a child see something they want, take a picture of it on your phone. At the end of a day or a few days, or the trip, them go back and look and they can decide what they REALLY want. That worked great for us.

 

[sdkuhn77]

This is our 3rd trip with the girls (7 & 4) to Disney and we are flying so we told the girls we can't buy big souvenirs like years past.

My girls are excited to check out Pick a Pearl in Japan at Epcot and get their own pearl. It comes out to about $17 after tax. On ebay I have seen carriage cages to buy to place the pearl in, which we will do after we get home.

Also we might depending on time, check out Animation Academy at DHS where you can take a drawing class for free. You get to learn how to draw a Disney character and take it home. Nothing like a free souvenir to frame at home!

If you get stuff for fun goody bags for the kids ahead of time, check out Michaels. They have a dollar spot with Mickey, Minnie, Princess, Sofia and Star Wars Items. That would save you some $$ on items as well.

 

[Pesky]

I'd probably gear your coupon book for ages. Like with your 9YO, a "pick a snack -- any snack!" is likely a go while for the 3YO, I'd probably be more specific towards tastes like "you get a Mickey ice cream bar!" or "you get to have some popcorn!"

Other than that, agree with pps about buying in advance. Like for the 3YO, think of "I get a sticker!" kind of thing and have some stickers on had to give out. Or the same with tattoos.

I'd do snacks, pick the next ride or pick the next character meet, you've earned a pin purchase, you get to choose swim time, you get to choose when we see a movie at the hotel, pick the mode of transportation (great if you are somewhere you have a choice like Contempo, even if just passing through), pick the next PhotoPass pose (great for the older ones especially), etc. I'd probably mix in a lot of free ones like going to see a movie or remote control at the hotel in with the cost ones so they have some choice without running up your tab.