ryan840
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2005
- Messages
- 2,432
I just wanted to start a list of things you might need for your trip that you wouldn't think of getting at the dollar store- it saves a ton of money. I don't have much to start with, but as we all add on we'll have a good thing going!
1. Stroller cover- We got our rain cover at the dollar store instead of spending $15 on one! They are perfect for a smaller stroller, and if your kids are wearing shorts/sandles they would work for a larger stroller too but their feet would get wet. They also have mosquito nets...
2. Ponchos- I know most of you know about this, but we found two packs at our dollar store, so keep your eyes open!
3. Beach toys for the resorts- they have really cute pail/ shovel sets, with sand sifters and molds included- the smaller size is great to pack in a suitcase.
4. Toys- some dollar stores actually have good toys, especially for little ones- lots of boardbooks, puzzles, etc... and if you lose them, you're not out a ton of cash or a favorite toy.
5. Disposable bibs- we got ten for a dollar at our store, and they're great. Cheaper than Bibsters, they are a decent plastic and have a food catcher. They can even be used over and over again because they wipe up so easily. They also have disposable sippy cups.
6. Cute autograph pens- they have lots to choose from.
7. Disney stickers- tons of 'em!
8. Comet- if you clean the bathrooms when you get there.
9. Shoe organizers- great for hanging toiletries on the door at value resorts and on cruises. (Here's a non-Disney tip: they're also great for keeping track of winter hats, gloves, etc)
10. Swim masks/flipper sets (they have cute ones for younger kids like sharks and frogs too) and goggles- be sure to wipe them down first, they've been known to leave marks from the coating.
11. Swim toys- rafts, floaties, swim rings, sinking sticks, noodles etc...- last year we got our son a cookie monster swim ring, it's so cute!
12. Glo-sticks for dark rides- lots of options, even sunglasses! Some people have had bad luck with these, and others have found them to work fine.
13. Ring pools (blow up) for infants/toddlers- great for cruises and even at the resort and it hardley takes up any room in the suitcase.
14. Flip flops for the pool areas
15. Little notebooks/ stationary- there are lots available, including Disney ones- great for travel journals and autograph books (use those Disney stickers!). They also have Disney pencils and sharpeners.
16. Mouthwash- you can often find twin packs of the trial size ones, usually name brand.
17. Scrapbooking Items- again, don't forget those Disney stickers. I've seen dollar stores with two aisles dedicated to scrapbooking, they have everything you could imagine!
18. Picture frames- have I mentioned Disney stickers yet? You can often find wood ones that you can paint/ decorate however you like- even the plastic ones can be dressed up!
19. Small bottles of Tide- easy to pack in your suitcase if you plan on doing laundry.
20. Hampers- both collapsable and drawstring were mentioned.
21. Small backpacks- they sling over one shoulder, not both.
22. Plastic cereal bowls (4 packs)- for breakfast in your room (Wal-mart has these too for the spring/summer season, and they are $0.88).
23. Travel games
24. Batteries
25. Disney toys- window clings, kites, paddle and ball, Polly-pocket type things, etc... Also Pooh or Lion King travel checkers, and Pooh and Friends collectable figurines.
26. Water bottles w/ carry strap- they also have water bottle holders in a couple of styles, neoprene being one of them.
27. Night lights- they have some really nice/cute ones too! Dollar Tree has ones featuring Mickey, Minnie, and Mickey and Minnie together and Disney Princess ones!
28. Foot powder- they actually have pretty any type of personal care items from shampoo to shaving cream to "feminine hygiene" and everythig inbetween.
29. Hair ties/ headbands, etc...- they have ton's of really cute hair things, especially for kids.
30. DVD's
31. Containers for toiletries- lots of possibilities from the in shower kind to something to set on the sink, even a mesh one that attaches to the shower curtain to stay out of the way (and out of reach of little hands
).
32. Disney Key-chains
33. Mickey and Minnie suckers
34. Clorox disinfecting wipes- again, for those of you who clean the bathrooms when you get there.
35. Sunglasses
36. Air pumps- very small ones located by the inflatable pool toys.
37. Playing cards- regular size and mini, as well ad Go Fish, Old Maid, etc...
38. Small keychain flashlights- a great alternative to the glo-sticks which may/may not work they are los great for finding dropped items in dark places.
39. Disposable Diaper bags (100 ct)- the box is small and they are great for putting stinky diapers in until you can get rid of them.
40. Lap tables- the beany kind with the hard top, even had crayon storage and page clips.
41. Window Shades- the suction cup kind. Everyone get's caught in the sun some time!
42. Cute plastic bibs- Candy themes like Sugar Daddies, Junior Mints and Blow-pops- they also have a pocket. They have entire walls of baby stuff, you're bound to find something that you need from clothes and diapers to bottles and bibs, and everything inbetween!
43. Suction hooks- for wet bathing suits, bath poofs, etc...
44. Sunblock- you can usually find name brands, just check for an exp. date- they have often have sunburn treatments too.
45. Palmolive dish wipes- for cleaning the refillable mugs! Also great for sippy cups and water bottles.
46. Padlocks- Three in a pack, perfect for suitcases!
47. Bungee cords- Great for strollers at the airport or even the buses at the end of the night
48. Shower curtains- Use as a room divider!
I decided not to list some of the more obvious things like hand sanitizer, snacks, bug bit creams, etc... but if you think we should, let's do it! Share your great dollar store finds and I'll put them on the list for easy referance.
ETA- If you have trouble finding things at your dollar stores, let me know, I may be able to pick them up and send them to you- of course if you're only getting one thing, it probably wouldn't justify the shipping cost, but if you get a bunch, especially smaller things, you might still come out on top- especially the stroller cover, it couldn't cost more that a dollar or so to send, so you're still saving a lot of money.
1. Stroller cover- We got our rain cover at the dollar store instead of spending $15 on one! They are perfect for a smaller stroller, and if your kids are wearing shorts/sandles they would work for a larger stroller too but their feet would get wet. They also have mosquito nets...
2. Ponchos- I know most of you know about this, but we found two packs at our dollar store, so keep your eyes open!
3. Beach toys for the resorts- they have really cute pail/ shovel sets, with sand sifters and molds included- the smaller size is great to pack in a suitcase.
4. Toys- some dollar stores actually have good toys, especially for little ones- lots of boardbooks, puzzles, etc... and if you lose them, you're not out a ton of cash or a favorite toy.
5. Disposable bibs- we got ten for a dollar at our store, and they're great. Cheaper than Bibsters, they are a decent plastic and have a food catcher. They can even be used over and over again because they wipe up so easily. They also have disposable sippy cups.
6. Cute autograph pens- they have lots to choose from.
7. Disney stickers- tons of 'em!
8. Comet- if you clean the bathrooms when you get there.
9. Shoe organizers- great for hanging toiletries on the door at value resorts and on cruises. (Here's a non-Disney tip: they're also great for keeping track of winter hats, gloves, etc)
10. Swim masks/flipper sets (they have cute ones for younger kids like sharks and frogs too) and goggles- be sure to wipe them down first, they've been known to leave marks from the coating.
11. Swim toys- rafts, floaties, swim rings, sinking sticks, noodles etc...- last year we got our son a cookie monster swim ring, it's so cute!
12. Glo-sticks for dark rides- lots of options, even sunglasses! Some people have had bad luck with these, and others have found them to work fine.
13. Ring pools (blow up) for infants/toddlers- great for cruises and even at the resort and it hardley takes up any room in the suitcase.
14. Flip flops for the pool areas
15. Little notebooks/ stationary- there are lots available, including Disney ones- great for travel journals and autograph books (use those Disney stickers!). They also have Disney pencils and sharpeners.
16. Mouthwash- you can often find twin packs of the trial size ones, usually name brand.
17. Scrapbooking Items- again, don't forget those Disney stickers. I've seen dollar stores with two aisles dedicated to scrapbooking, they have everything you could imagine!
18. Picture frames- have I mentioned Disney stickers yet? You can often find wood ones that you can paint/ decorate however you like- even the plastic ones can be dressed up!
19. Small bottles of Tide- easy to pack in your suitcase if you plan on doing laundry.
20. Hampers- both collapsable and drawstring were mentioned.
21. Small backpacks- they sling over one shoulder, not both.
22. Plastic cereal bowls (4 packs)- for breakfast in your room (Wal-mart has these too for the spring/summer season, and they are $0.88).
23. Travel games
24. Batteries
25. Disney toys- window clings, kites, paddle and ball, Polly-pocket type things, etc... Also Pooh or Lion King travel checkers, and Pooh and Friends collectable figurines.
26. Water bottles w/ carry strap- they also have water bottle holders in a couple of styles, neoprene being one of them.
27. Night lights- they have some really nice/cute ones too! Dollar Tree has ones featuring Mickey, Minnie, and Mickey and Minnie together and Disney Princess ones!
28. Foot powder- they actually have pretty any type of personal care items from shampoo to shaving cream to "feminine hygiene" and everythig inbetween.
29. Hair ties/ headbands, etc...- they have ton's of really cute hair things, especially for kids.
30. DVD's
31. Containers for toiletries- lots of possibilities from the in shower kind to something to set on the sink, even a mesh one that attaches to the shower curtain to stay out of the way (and out of reach of little hands
).32. Disney Key-chains
33. Mickey and Minnie suckers
34. Clorox disinfecting wipes- again, for those of you who clean the bathrooms when you get there.
35. Sunglasses
36. Air pumps- very small ones located by the inflatable pool toys.
37. Playing cards- regular size and mini, as well ad Go Fish, Old Maid, etc...
38. Small keychain flashlights- a great alternative to the glo-sticks which may/may not work
they are los great for finding dropped items in dark places.39. Disposable Diaper bags (100 ct)- the box is small and they are great for putting stinky diapers in until you can get rid of them.
40. Lap tables- the beany kind with the hard top, even had crayon storage and page clips.
41. Window Shades- the suction cup kind. Everyone get's caught in the sun some time!
42. Cute plastic bibs- Candy themes like Sugar Daddies, Junior Mints and Blow-pops- they also have a pocket. They have entire walls of baby stuff, you're bound to find something that you need from clothes and diapers to bottles and bibs, and everything inbetween!
43. Suction hooks- for wet bathing suits, bath poofs, etc...
44. Sunblock- you can usually find name brands, just check for an exp. date- they have often have sunburn treatments too.
45. Palmolive dish wipes- for cleaning the refillable mugs! Also great for sippy cups and water bottles.
46. Padlocks- Three in a pack, perfect for suitcases!
47. Bungee cords- Great for strollers at the airport or even the buses at the end of the night
48. Shower curtains- Use as a room divider!
I decided not to list some of the more obvious things like hand sanitizer, snacks, bug bit creams, etc... but if you think we should, let's do it! Share your great dollar store finds and I'll put them on the list for easy referance.
ETA- If you have trouble finding things at your dollar stores, let me know, I may be able to pick them up and send them to you- of course if you're only getting one thing, it probably wouldn't justify the shipping cost, but if you get a bunch, especially smaller things, you might still come out on top- especially the stroller cover, it couldn't cost more that a dollar or so to send, so you're still saving a lot of money.
Our Dollar tree has the disney princess ball and paddle toy!!! 
It's pink and has all the disney princesses on it ~ adorable... I couldn't believe it!!! Also at the check~out, the misty fan things! 
I have actually had one out of six work before, but for some reason I just keep buying them. I just buy LOTS of them knowing that over half won't work and we need extras so the kids won't be disappointed. So, if you're only buying one package and expecting them to work, you may want to consider getting more! 
cuz I'm one of em! (actually, I'll just use some clorox wipes) I'm not a germ phobe, but you just never know... (and it's really not the germs I'm worried about! 
) I'm not a "won't go barefoot" gal though, just give me clean bedding and I'll wipe down the bathroom and we're set! Keep 'em coming!
