What are your Mr. Potato Head tips?

[Taylor'sMom]

Heading down in less than 2 weeks and planning on getting a box (or 2?) of the stuff-it-yourself Mr. Potato Head parts. I know some of you are EXPERTS on maximizing how you fit everything in. Please share.... Be as specific as you'd like (Bend piece A and twist into piece B, etc!) and any other tips, like what little pieces can always fit in just when you think you're done, or what goes in first, last, etc.
I'm SO looking forward to doing this! Thanks guys!

 

[JessieWoodyBuzz]

Too fun! Great question! I'd love to hear strategies, too!

 

[coolbeans]

The only tip I have is to buy the actual head before you leave (Wal-Mart or Target they run about $6) that way you only fill the box with pieces, and the kids can play with it on the way there.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

If you have to buy a head, first fill it with as many small parts as you can get in it.

Then don't put it in "oblong" (top of the potato to the top of the box)

Cram it in sideways.

This give you more room for arms and larger pieces.

 

[englishrose47]

How much does the box cost?Where do you get them??

 

[Taylor'sMom]

It's about $20 for a box and you pick and choose which pieces you want. You don't have to get the head (many don't and will just pick on up at Wal-Mart for $5 more). It's special at Disney because they have so many unique Disney-themes pieces (think Mickey hats, Mickey-shaped ice creams bars and balloons, Minnie shoes, Goofy hats, Tinkerbelle wings, etc.
Do a search, you'll find many other threads explaining and listing the options. I was just looking for some specific tips from those that have maximized "the pack"

 

[daisyduck123]

When I go to yard-sales every spring/summer....I usually see about 5 or 6 Mr. Potato Heads every Saturday. They are usually about .50cents apiece.

That is my recommendation for getting some of the heads...what a bargain!
(esp. if you have several kids to buy for!)

 

[englishrose47]

Thanks wher is the store located??

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney has the largest selection, but each park has some in a store. In MK it's at County Bounty in Toontown if I'm not mistaken
Not sure where in MGM, though I'd appreciate if someone would tell me

 

[Mrs Potato Head]

I would also buy the basic potato at WalMart or Target. I have about 10 PH's and now buy all the seasonal ones and special seasonal parts at discount stores. I buy the WDW specific parts at WDW only.

If you are having difficulty getting the parts in, the folks at Once Upon a Toy in Downtown Disney have always been more than willing to help out.

Stay clear of extra arms, basic eyes, noses, etc. Get the pieces that you can't get elsewhere....

 

[T. Lynn]

I'm taking my DD to NY in a couple of months on a day trip. They had Mr. Potato head parts there and I'm hoping to pick up some extras.

We purchased the head on our last trip and stuffed what we could inside and the remainer of the box. Now they have some nice accessories and I'd like to pick up a few more.

 

[kileybeth]

remember the top of the box does not close flat, it steeples up.

ditto to cast members help. they see it as a challenge I believe! last time the CM saw my frustration with not being able to fit one extra pirate parrett in and said "oh, that's okay, you can have him too"

never buy the "potatoe" at the world! best tip. also no regular parts.

The $10 and under store rigth around corner in DD had a different pirate pack of parts (think I've seen it at resorts a season or so ago) for $6 I think.

the tink and princress parts take up the most room. turn them upside down and fill with parts.

stock up on little (size wise) disney things to give away at potatoe head birthday parties with your yard sale potatoes. every kid at our party got a head and tons of parts and thought it was so cool to take home. we also had a play station of parts and potatoes set up for play. best idea ever! sorry, OT!

buy two boxes full! hehe while you are there. they are lots more expensive on line when you get home!

have fun. Mr Incredible is so adorbale! as is Tink!

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

In January I was obviously doing a pathetic job of loading a box and a castmember helped me. She got at least twice as much as I was getting in there, if not more. Ask someone there to help you, they will!

 

[kimis]

Heading down in less than 2 weeks and planning on getting a box (or 2?) of the stuff-it-yourself Mr. Potato Head parts. I know some of you are EXPERTS on maximizing how you fit everything in. Please share.... Be as specific as you'd like (Bend piece A and twist into piece B, etc!) and any other tips, like what little pieces can always fit in just when you think you're done, or what goes in first, last, etc.
I'm SO looking forward to doing this! Thanks guys!

I buy a box of mr.potato head parts every trip. On the last trip a cm noticed I was buying the suitcase which i had bought before. He had me open the suitcase and put items in it. Yes there are items that fit in that little suitcase like the ticket or the name badge. I know now to double check all items to see if there are any little spaces I might be leaving empty on accident. I am a grandma so we have lots of potato heads and parts at my house.

 

[AngieWin]

remember the top of the box does not close flat, it steeples up.

ditto to cast members help. they see it as a challenge I believe! last time the CM saw my frustration with not being able to fit one extra pirate parrett in and said "oh, that's okay, you can have him too"

never buy the "potatoe" at the world! best tip. also no regular parts.

The $10 and under store rigth around corner in DD had a different pirate pack of parts (think I've seen it at resorts a season or so ago) for $6 I think.

the tink and princress parts take up the most room. turn them upside down and fill with parts.

stock up on little (size wise) disney things to give away at potatoe head birthday parties with your yard sale potatoes. every kid at our party got a head and tons of parts and thought it was so cool to take home. we also had a play station of parts and potatoes set up for play. best idea ever! sorry, OT!

buy two boxes full! hehe while you are there. they are lots more expensive on line when you get home!

have fun. Mr Incredible is so adorbale! as is Tink!

Love this idea!! DS will have his 2nd birthday 2 weeks after we get back. I am going to start going to garage sales for the heads and buy parts at the parks for party favors! Hopefully I can find enough eyes/ears/noses at home and just get the mickey pieces at the parks!!

 

[barbarabee]

I love stuffing those boxes! I've probably stuffed four or five of those boxes in my Disney shopping career. Here is my Potato Head Part Stuffing 101:

The trickiest thing are the extra big parts, like the Buzz Lightyear ride vehicle base, Aerial base, etc. Always start with the biggest pieces first, then go smaller.

Avoid standard pieces you can buy at a non-Disney store.

Check any Character Warehouse stores, I've found many of the Disney parts there for 25 cents each! (At WDW this is the store in the nearby outlet mall. At DL, the nearest permanent store is in Fullerton - about a 10 minute drive from the park).

If a piece has any "pockets," (i.e. inside hats, under the bases) stuff those pockets with one of the small items. (Mickey Bars are my personal favorite, you don't even need a potato head to love those. They work with dolls, beanies, gift package toppers, you name it!)

Look at your box as several layers. Put your first big piece in the bottom, fill around it, then put in your next big piece.

You must be able to close the lid. Don't be shy about stuffing the box so full that the sides of the box are bulging out.

Some parts seem to be only available at certain parks. The best selection I've seen is at the Once-Upon-A-Toy store in Downtown Disney. Start there.

If you find one piece in a park that you couldn't find anywhere else, ask a CM nicely if you need to buy a whole box for just that one piece, or if you can buy it separately instead. Many times they will let you have the piece, depending on their mood and yours.

Check for any of the packages of parts that are sold separately. There are some that can be bought through Amazon or other places (they are called "Spud Parts & Pieces) it's almost always a better deal to buy these on their own. The stuff a box for $20 is not much of a bargain, even after much creative, time-consuming stuffage.

Most of all, have fun! I have to take inventory of my pieces before my next trip. I know there are some new ones out there (different arms, etc.) so I'm really looking forward to my stuffing excursion!!

 

[KBerly]

Thank you for posting this! My four year old is a super potato head freak and I know that he's going to want to stuff a box. Thanks for the tips! I'm taking two of our potato heads down there (one for him and one for his 7 year old brother) so that they can play with them at the room! There's no way that he'll be able to wait until he gets home to play with them.

 

[Taylor'sMom]

Thanks barbarabee, thanks exactly the kind of info I was hoping for!

 

[annie1995]

Thank you so much for this! We were planning on stuffing a box in September! I love all the tips!

 

[WDW1st-timers]

I can't wait....I just bought this tonight for the baby when she gets older for Easter so it's going to be so much fun to get the Disney parts for her. Can't wait to stuff a box also in September.