WDW birthday present ideas

[2005michelle83]

We are coming to WDW in November -wahoo only 304 days!!

My son's birthday is in September and he will be 4. We plan to get him holiday / travel presents in readiness for our big adventure.

So far we have bought him a gruffalo trunki and I plan to buy a children's camera and some clothing bits in the summer (hopefully pick them up in the end of summer sales!), anyone else have any good ideas?

Thanks

Michelle

 

[MSSANDRA]

I would rethink the kids camera. We did the research and bought one for DS before our trip when he was 5 and it just was a disappointment. They are all too big to carry around and they are sometimes more difficult to manipulate than a regular one. I would buy a very basic, inexpensive but trusted name brand regular camera for him. Same or less money and it will grow with him and hopefully be less frustrating.
Other ideas:
A mid-size rolling duffel bag in a pattern he can use for a while. We travel a lot and we got DS one in camouflage that he will be good for quite a few years rather than a kiddie print he will out grow soon. Also bought a size he can grow with for a while.

Consider a gaming system IF you are ready for him to have one and you have a longish trip. We bought the leap-pad system at four and it was not a good investment for us. He wanted a DS and we were not ready for him to have that yet. He had no interest in the leap-pad and it went unused till be broke down a bit later and got the DS. It is an awesome travel tool and because we restrict use at home, that unlimited travel time play is great. There are games for 4-5 year old but that is about the youngest I would consider. Another idea is an itune card so he can help choose a few new apps for your pad or iphone. If you REALLY want to spurge.....I was good with my little guy having an ipad at that age and they are GREAT travel tools.

Other travel toys: Magnetic scene toys, etch-a sketch, magna-doodles, color wonder.

A new Car Seat- We are huge car seat safety people and 4 is about time kids start to our grow some of the convertible seats. I love the 5 point harness booster that hold 65+ lb kids. If you are driving......so worth the investment.

Happy Planning!

 

[2005michelle83]

I would rethink the kids camera. We did the research and bought one for DS before our trip when he was 5 and it just was a disappointment. They are all too big to carry around and they are sometimes more difficult to manipulate than a regular one. I would buy a very basic, inexpensive but trusted name brand regular camera for him. Same or less money and it will grow with him and hopefully be less frustrating.
Other ideas:
A mid-size rolling duffel bag in a pattern he can use for a while. We travel a lot and we got DS one in camouflage that he will be good for quite a few years rather than a kiddie print he will out grow soon. Also bought a size he can grow with for a while.

Consider a gaming system IF you are ready for him to have one and you have a longish trip. We bought the leap-pad system at four and it was not a good investment for us. He wanted a DS and we were not ready for him to have that yet. He had no interest in the leap-pad and it went unused till be broke down a bit later and got the DS. It is an awesome travel tool and because we restrict use at home, that unlimited travel time play is great. There are games for 4-5 year old but that is about the youngest I would consider. Another idea is an itune card so he can help choose a few new apps for your pad or iphone. If you REALLY want to spurge.....I was good with my little guy having an ipad at that age and they are GREAT travel tools.

Other travel toys: Magnetic scene toys, etch-a sketch, magna-doodles, color wonder.

A new Car Seat- We are huge car seat safety people and 4 is about time kids start to our grow some of the convertible seats. I love the 5 point harness booster that hold 65+ lb kids. If you are driving......so worth the investment.

Happy Planning!

Thanks for this. This has been really useful, I like your comments regarding the camera. I have since looked online at ones that are waterproof and shatterproof, like the Nikon Coolpix. Its double the price but will last him a lot longer and he will probably get more use from it. Plus we can use it for DC!

He was fortunate enough to get one of the leapfrog tablets for xmas, so hopefully that will keep him entertained on the long flight from the UK, and I will probably take my ipad too?

I've noticed that Trunki now sell little waterproof back packs so I'm thinking that would be a good present too.

 

[msmama]

You're flying a long way so it may not be an option, but we went for my son's birthday (we were actually there on his birthday) so I let him go a little more crazy with souvenirs then I normally would. I was even willing to buy one thing to be shipped home if it didn't fit into our luggage (luckily he went with small stuff).

Granted, you want to give him things ON his actual birthday, I'm sure, too.

Maybe you could plan gifts that are half at home, half trip presents, for instance, I gave my son my old camera (he's 5 so slightly older) and while there we got him a lanyard so he could wear it around his neck. Would he be excited about gift cards, money or IOUs?

Hats and sunglasses? Small swim toys?