Surprise ideas

[Ahhhhshley]

Hello! We are surprising my son for his 5th birthday in May with a trip to Disneyland. Im looking for surprise ideas that he can open up the day before we leave at his party. He can't read yet so id like to avoid scavenger hunts and puzzles. I was thinking a suitcase packed with disney themed things (mickey and disneyland) but I'm having a hard time finding boy items. Disney store is loaded with girls stuff Help please! thank you.

 

[chickapin parterre]

there is a lot of disney items at the dollar store, more than a shopper would think for a highly licensed brand

 

[Ahhhhshley]

Thanks ill have to check them out for a couple of fun items! Im looking more for items that he can use on the trip. Like a mickey suitcase and disneyland shirts and mouse ears etc...

Or completely different surprise ideas that might be more fun.

 

[robin2588]

I did daily items for each day we were at disneyland themed for what we were trying to do/ride/or watch that day. You can do Mickey shirts, Star Wars shirts, stuffed animals, coloring books themed(found at .99C store) for disney or starwars. Glow sticks(then you do not have to buy any while at Disneyland) If your going to DCA you can do Cars items as well

 

[tlovesdis]

Most $ stores and .99 stores carry a ton of Disney stuff. You could try and find a suitcase and then fill it up. I've seen kids Disney shirts at Target and Wal Mart. When my niece was little I would always do a little box or basket for her before our trip mostly filled with $ store stuff!

 

[agamble]

Walmart sometimes has Disney shirts. Also check Childrensplace online or in store. They have Disney shirts for boys, girls, and neutral.

 

[CandMmommy]

We gave our girls $25 gift cards to Disneyland. They used it to it to buy souvenirs. I got some shirts at the Disney outlet store.

 

[A Small World]

Are you leaving more or less right away or is the trip several weeks away?
We did a similar thing a few years ago with DD when we surprised her on Christmas Day with a trip leaving the next day to Disneyland Paris (We are in the UK)

We got her a new suitcase and packed her normal clothes in it to go away but on the top put some new Disney items to take - Pyjamas, tops, plush etc.
This meant it was full and ready to go but we didn't have to fill it with new Disney items - this only works if you are going within a day or so though.

If you want all new items you could look for Disney themed toiletries, small toys for the journey, pen, autograph book or photo album, a small cheap camera (disposable one), a disney toothbrush, pyjamas, sticker books, socks, tops, hat,

 

[Ahhhhshley]

Are you leaving more or less right away or is the trip several weeks away?
We did a similar thing a few years ago with DD when we surprised her on Christmas Day with a trip leaving the next day to Disneyland Paris (We are in the UK)

We got her a new suitcase and packed her normal clothes in it to go away but on the top put some new Disney items to take - Pyjamas, tops, plush etc.
This meant it was full and ready to go but we didn't have to fill it with new Disney items - this only works if you are going within a day or so though.

If you want all new items you could look for Disney themed toiletries, small toys for the journey, pen, autograph book or photo album, a small cheap camera (disposable one), a disney toothbrush, pyjamas, sticker books, socks, tops, hat,

Ooh I love the toiletry idea and the camera one! we leave early the next morning. so on 5/14 he will open his surprise around 6pm and then we leave 5/15 at 5am! I want to get a new suitcase for him and then some clothes for sure!

 

[Ahhhhshley]

so far I have these picked out

 

[corinne76]

That mickey travel pillow is cute!

 

[disneyfirsttimer18]

We bought our kids new duffle bags. Inside the bags were Disney pajamas, Disney plushes, Disney snacks and new Disney swimsuits. We bought all of the Disney stuff at Wal-Mart and Target.

 

[luulu1999]

I think I would do his autograph book also, the last time we went the Easter Bunny and Santa brought lots of stuff for our trip Santa just brought a gift card but the Easter bunny brought disney flip flops swim suits towels with their names on them their autograph books and little drawing kits for them for the long drive out there all disney, I think i got a lot of it on sale at disney store onlilne

 

[Chris9ty]

Do you plan to do any pin trading? I bought my 6 yr old a cheap lanyard and found some good resources for quality cast member traded pins. At the parks he didn't want to trade his pins, but helped me trade some of mine for him.
We also got our autograph book and pens in advance.

I found some Disney shirts at our local kids consignment store.
We also took glow sticks - those were perfect for at night and walking in the parks. Stickers are cheap and easy entertainment too.
Does he wear hats? or you could even order ears online if you plan to get them.

 

[Ahhhhshley]

Do you plan to do any pin trading? I bought my 6 yr old a cheap lanyard and found some good resources for quality cast member traded pins. At the parks he didn't want to trade his pins, but helped me trade some of mine for him.
We also got our autograph book and pens in advance.

I found some Disney shirts at our local kids consignment store.
We also took glow sticks - those were perfect for at night and walking in the parks. Stickers are cheap and easy entertainment too.
Does he wear hats? or you could even order ears online if you plan to get them.

I just thought of the pins last night!! I bought a lanyard and I'm looking into some pins, just trying to make sure i don't end up with counterfeit ones. I also love the glow stick idea, he will love that thanks! My friend is in disneyland right now and is grabbing me some birthday ears

 

[nolenbelledavis]

In September, when my kids were 3, 5, 9 and 10 I did a scavenger hunt to surprise them with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge. I made up little rhymes and put them in each room with a clue. So the first one there was a little lego pirate set and I talked about their treasure hunt and where the next clue was, then in that room there were wands from GWL with a clue about the next spot, then googles, then beach towels, then gold coins, and finally a puzzle to put together with the name on it. It was darling. They were beside themselves. The big kids didn't even figure it out. We're surprising them in March with a DL and Legoland trip so I'm going to do something similar. My 5 year old constantly talks about the scavenger hunt and it will be his bday while we're there. I think I'm going to have it end with a big box of balloons that float out and have one be a mylar balloon with Mickey on it. I'm not sure yet...

 

[Alex-H]

I just thought of the pins last night!! I bought a lanyard and I'm looking into some pins, just trying to make sure i don't end up with counterfeit ones. I also love the glow stick idea, he will love that thanks! My friend is in disneyland right now and is grabbing me some birthday ears

I'm fairly new to pin trading but I've picked up a lot of pins from this eBay seller: http://www.ebay.com/usr/423disneypinfreak?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754

Have never had a problem trading them at DL/CA.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

They have buy one get one for a dollar plush toys on the Disney store website right now. The plushies aren't all for girls.

 

[DisneyMommy403]

I did a scavenger/pirate themed treasure hunt when my girls were four. It was just with arrowed clues, and we made a map of our house, and the backyard... each clue was leading to the next and had a small trinket like sticker set, pencil, glowstick... it all lead to the treasure chest, which was their toy box, that I had emptied, and filled with Disney trip goodies. In order to open the treasure chest they had to "repeat the pirate password" and I made a small poem up and the last line was "Now I'm going to Disneyland!" and they FREAKED when they realized what they said.

This time, I bought them all suitcases, clothes, etc. But, we share custody of my stepdaughter, and I'm worried they may blow the surprise, so we are doing a switch-a-roo. Like we're going on a trip to the outer islands (we live in Hawaii) but really, we're headed to Disneyland.

Since he's having a birthday party, I would either - buy him a suitcase, and wheel it out at the end and explain why he'll need it...

or at the end of the birthday song, and the wish... ask him if he wished for Disneyland... cause if so... and bring out the loot! Or maybe sing it into the birthday song as the last line!

 

[DLfan4]

what disney movies or characters does he like? i would buy things that are from his favorites . ie. A Lightning mcqueen shirt for CARS , a mickey t-shirt. i agree the dollar store is good to check out. they sometimes have disney character coloring books and crayons etc, which are good to take on a trip . and of course get him a new disney stuffy to take on the trip.