What are "must buy" items before we go to Disneyworld?

[RockyMtnMaria]

My children are 3, 5, 8, and 10 and this will be their first trip to Disneyworld. What should I consider buying before our trip. I was thinking about a princess dress for my 3yo daughter (the older three are boys). How about a autograph book or anything special for them?? Any suggestions on where to shop would be appreciated too.

Is there a Disney story book that I could use for autographs, rather than a tradional autograph book?

TIA!

 

[720L]

Definitely get a Princess Dress! I usually buy a few Disney things for DS and DD for the airplane ride there. I've found Disney pens and notebooks at Walmart. I go to the Disney store and get small things like those play telephones they have. I always include a Disney book for them to read. This year I bought the Birnbaums Walt Disney World For Kids by Kids book. In the back there is an autograph section, so they could use that for an autograph book, but the autograph books you buy at DisneyWorld are smaller (less to carry). Maybe some Disney socks to wear at Disney.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Disney Dollars!! My kids love to have there own spending money in the form of Disney Dollars.

 

[familyfirsttimer]

glow-sticks from DollarTree. We opened a pack every night and never had the kids asking for the #18 (or whatever they cost) spiinning things being sold!

there are lots of great threads on here, especially in this forum, I would just read all you can!!! Yesm it can consume your waking minutes LOL!

 

[mlwear]

I have to second Birnbaums Walt Disney World For Kids by Kids book. Your 8 and 10 year old will especially like it. DS loves to look through it (so do I, it has some neat stuff in it). There is an autograph section, but last year DS (then age 10) wasn't interested in getting autographs. Let them have it a bit in advance of the trip though.

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

Thanks! All of those seem completely doable. Any other suggestions?

 

[brymolmom]

How about misting fans? Depending what time of year you're going...they're invaluable in the summer. They sell WDW there but they are pricey. I just got some on sale at Eckerd for $5.88 each.

Are you doing matching shirts or even same-colored shirts to help keep track of your kids? Might want to check out sales at Disney Store or even Penney's for Disney character shirts.

I also bring glo-sticks from dollar store and the kids love them.

Don't forget a marker for your autographs. We bought these huge markers (can't remember where) - but they're really round and large. The characters really seem to like them because I think they're easier to handle with the costumes on.

Something to wear on the rides where you'll get wet for your tickets - a small waterproof or zipped bag of somesort.

Water shoes for the kids if desired. We always bring ours for when the kids run through the sprayjets at the various parks.

That's all I can think of right now. Good luck!

 

[mrstomrice]

We brought some snacks, such as fruit bites, licorice, and goldfish (we drove, which made it easier). We also brought large and small ziploc bags to store things that needed to stay dry, such as our cameras. I totally agree on the mister fan. How about some stuffed animals from the disney store..they are much cheaper there then in the parks. I know that the have the beanie size for 2 for 10 and the large ones for 2 for 20. Also, Disney store also has some nice family theme shirts and patriotic shirts for $5.00 a piece. Have a great trip!

 

[ObsessedwithWDW]

don't forget the ponchos from the dollar store

 

[MeLaNie9]

Glow sticks/bracelets/necklaces are a great buy from WalMart before your trip. My DS(2) loved having these each night and we gave our extras to 2 little girls on our last night since once they saw his they wanted some too! We also found a little battery operated fan that we stuck Mickey stickers on. The blades lit up, DS loved this too at night and we also used it to cool him during the day.
We found some Disney character clothes for DS, also at Walmart (cheaper than buying a bunch of stuff at WDW for sure)
Ponchos are a necessity - but don't get the super, super cheap ones that are really thin - we had these and they ripped which wasn't good on the day of constant rain we had. We had some others that were still fairly cheap but more substantial.

 

[Marinerbaby]

We have the Disney Storybook collection and we choose a book or two to bring. They are quiet big but have a bunch of different stories in them. We ask the character's to sign in them by their picture. Many times they write a special note or date their siggie. That way when we get back home the kids can look through the book and as we read to them we can point out the character's and ask "remember when..." The kids love them and we save them from trip to trip and bring them each time.

We usually purchase about 3-5 new pins for the kids before we leave so they have some to trade right when we get there as well.

We have also tye-dyed matching t-shirts before leaving and bring a few disney (dollar store/Target) things to have Tinkerbell leave in the room the first night.

 

[PrincessAbby'sMom]

I had princess costumes for my 5 year old - she wore them for the character meals we had.
I packed a snack bag for everyday: cereal bar, cheese & cracker package, fruit snacks/roll ups, lifesavers & gum. I packed them individually & each morning (or the night before if I was still energetic enough) I could just grab a bag instead of asking her what she wanted to take that day.
The mister fan may be a good idea. I couldn't believe that it was $17 or $18 dollars, but it did keep her busy!
I made her an autograph book w/the character's pictures in it. It kept her busy in line looking for the character (just make sure you have a certain order that you can remember in case you need to find one quick. I went by movie title: Beauty & the Beast, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, etc) Don't use markers though, find a really good (fat) pen. The markers get all over those expensive costumes too easily!
I took alot of glow necklaces, braclets & wands - We did buy her a light up one - one night, but it was our 1st trip! She really didn't ask for anything & it was easy to see her!
Hope this helps!

 

[pookybean]

First off, i can not echo enough what everyone said about the glow sticks/bracelets/necklaces etc....from the dollar store. My kids loved them, and i actually brought so many that we shared them with who ever happened to be around. One nite we were on the boat coming back from the hoop de do and we handed a ton out to all the kids on the boat. Another time we were taking a break at MK and there was a mom with 2 young boys and we were opening them and gave her a whole tube, it was our last nite and wouldnt need them anymore. It was nice that my kids liked them but it was cool that i made someones elses trip just that much more magical. Oh and once they are on, they looked just like the disney ones everyone else had.

Another thing i am glad i bought first was the light up spinners. i bought them from the disney store and i was talking to the manager about what i should buy ahead of time because i was starting to feel like i was buying so much that i wouldnt have anything left to buy there (i found stuff though!) she told me they were like $20 each in disney, i dont remember how much they are in the store but she ended up giving me 2 for $20 so i got a deal!

It didnt rain much when we were there (in may) but the $ store ponchos came in handy and took up no space at all. and the mister fans would have been nice to have but we bought regular hand held fans at the $ store as well and they worked fine. didnt even run out of batteries.

And yes the princess dresses. my dd wore hers all day and nite in the parks and wouldnt take them off, but i did bring a change of clothes and ziplock bag just in case.

One thing i wish we did have that we didnt is a bottle holder or good cup with a lanyard that didnt leak for the kids. we tried to make them share a hotel mug but it didnt work, and when we filled up the cups i always had to hold them cuz they spilt in my bag.


Hope you have a great time! I can't wait to go back!

Megan

 

[lpbm4]

Subscribing, thanks for all the ideas!!!

 

[hockeymomoftwo]

Definately love the ideas about the glow sticks and the book.

 

[Lets go to disney]

I agree with the fan misters. I have seen them at walmart for 3.00. I also bring small activities for them to do while waiting for ADR,s or just waiting for the food at a sit down restaurant. I bought cheap smmal items from wal-mart and the dollar store every time it was something new so they were occupied. We actually got to eat a full meal twice!!! Yipee. Some examples were the toys you would hand out in goodie bags for parties; like the pens with paper four to a pack, the mazes with the little silver balls, chalk with small boards( at the dollar store, cheap so we threw them away when done, the best for my three year old was the dollar store calculator keeps her busy all the time.

 

[Eeyore_girl]

Definitely sunscreen. Misters are nice to keep you from the heat, but they wont stop you from getting a miserable burn. A really bad burn could ruin your vacation!

 

[MayMom]

My DS will be almost 7 when we go in September and i went to eBay and purchased a Toy Story (his favorite) lanyard with 4 pins for $15.00. Then I went to mousepinsonline and purchased 10-12 pins for trading. The pins I bought aren't great, but I know that he will want to get rid of them and trade for Buzz pins! I think pin trading will be something he will really like.....

I also went to the Disney store and bought DS and DD each a matching Mickey Mouse shirt and a set of PJ's (these will be tinkerbell gifts when we get to the resort.) If you do a search for tinkerbell gifts, you may get some other ideas! Have a magical time with your children!

 

[Michelle R]

You all have such great ideas! I'm keeping a notebook to jot down all of the great info. We're not going until 12/06 and i've filled 3 pages already!
This board sure is addicting!
Thanks!

 

[hockeymomoftwo]

Pin trading is my oldest's fav pasttime at hockey tourneys. I definately plan on getting him pins to trade. I like the idea of ordering them online and then letting them find what they want and trade for them.

Cm's must trade their pins still? Do all the CM's have pins on or just in the merchandise area?

I'm assuming it won't be hard to find people to trade with.