What special surprises do you take for when you get there?

[cwnhokie]

I am trying to think of some little things to make the trip extra special for my boys 3 and 5 and my nieces 8 and 12 and nephews 9 and 12. What are some little surprises you take to give them when you get there to make it a little extra special? Thanks

 

[mjh8955]

At the top of this board there is a thread for printable kids' activities. I think I went to disneydollarless.com. Our kids (11 and 14) absolutely LOVED the little trivia printouts. I printed each park's trivia sheet (they fold up into a small sized brochure) on a different color paper, one for each of them, on a little heavier weight than copy paper. They had a blast looking for things. For my 4-year-old nephew, I created a letter from Mickey with clip art and stickers. Something like, "I hope you have a wonderful first-time plane ride" and "I can't wait to see you at Disney World!". I had the gate crew deliver it to him when we got to the airport; they actually called his name over the loudspeaker and when his dad read the letter to him he kept saying "Mickey knows I am coming! Mickey knows I am coming!" Boy was that fun Then each morning I made sure the Disney Fairy left something for him as a surprise; another letter (from different Disney characters) and a little sticker book or a little car or some small thing that would help occupy his time while waiting in lines. Have fun!

 

[Laurajean1014]

My son has been to Disney over 27 times in 10 years. He's just estatic seeing the hotels, pools, buses and attractions that we have never needed to do anything but plan the trip!

 

[mommyceratops]

We went to the Disney Store and got some lollipops before we got there and some little toys. But there is enough stuff to buy there that I don't know if I would take to much.

Since your kids are older you might want to think about a customized autograph book or premake a scrapbook and let them journal in it?

Or a hidden mickey book and they could have fun finding them.

 

[Paxtrist]

I always have a big bag of Disney goodies for our trip. I usually leave something at the end of their bed daily. Some items they have received are disposable Disney camera, Disney pjs, Disney t-shirt and sweatshirt, Disney pins, etc. It's just a little surprise to start their day and they truly love it!!

 

[smwf71]

We always have had "mickey mouse" leave a little something in the room for our girls. I can buy stuff on sale and I believe it curbs the "I wants" while you're at the parks. The key is to plan your trip far enough in advance that you can pick cool stuff up when it's on sale. Last time, I did Disney Dollars for my DD6 each day - she loved it! I gave DD 10 months bibs and useful stuff we needed anyway. Next week, when we stay offsite, the "Florida Fairy" will leave things each day - DD7 (now) will get clothes, a towel, new sandals - mostly Limited Too bargains I picked up. The DD 20 months will also get clothes - won't she be thrilled???!!! Oh well, it's just for fun! We don't do this on all trips, but all Disney ones we do - just a little something special, you know?

 

[Vickie46]

Tinkerbell always comes by our hotel and leaves little things and sprinkles pixie dust (that is easy to clean so housekeeping doesn't have to)

You can get cheap stuff at the dollar tree... they have tons of disney stuff!

 

[Enchanted]

My aunt always gives us a goody bag as soon as we're settled in the hotel room. I'm almost eighteen, and I still look forward to those bags! Items that have come in the bags before:

Pool toys
Colorful beach towels
Disney pins she got off Ebay for us to trade
Bubbles
Jewelry (for me, and it's usually cheap but fun summer jewelry like anklets, toe rings, etc.)
Disposable cameras or film for our real cameras
Disney Dollars
Disney stickers
Disney coloring books and crayons
Sunglasses
Bottles of sunscreen and lotion (the shimmering kind for girls)
Flip flops
Candy
Disney t-shirts

These are some ideas, and know that she doesn't get ALL of these things for our bags every year. She always grabs stuff when it's on sale or at the Dollar Store or Dollar Tree or whatever. She has been known to start making up the bags as early as April for our trips in September! But then, she has no kids of her own, so I guess it's easier on her. Hope that this helped, and I hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I do find that having a few suprises does help the "I want that" in the parks. I always bring my kids new Disney PJ's and Disney tooth brushes. On my last trip I brought them each a large stuffed animal I had purchased at the Disney Store for $10 each. They would have been about $30 in the parks. On prior trips I've brought them beanies or plastic toy sets.

I do bring a few Disney story books, coloring books and stickers for the plane as well.

I do have another idea for you too. My kids all loved the pressed pennies. You need 2 quarters and a shiny penny to make the pressed pennies. The quarters fit perfect in a mini M&M canister. SO... you could buy them all mini M&M canisters and quarters and pennies. After the eat the M&M's they can stack the change 2 quarters and a penny, 2 quarters and a penny...in the canisters and be all set to make their pressed pennies. A lot of the gift shops have pressed penny machines so it was a good way to get the kids out of the gift shops for just 51 cents. They also sell books that you can put the pressed pennies in. I think the books are about $6.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I have gotten disney tooth brushes, bubble bath, Pj's etc, and laid them out for the first nights bath. Always brings a smile.

 

[mommyintn]

We are going for the first time and I've been working on custom autograph book, picked up Disney dollars for each child, a mickey & pluto stuffed doll for each, customized name tags (from gifts of a lifetime), Disney pencils/notepads, lanyards (with 1 pin each) and who knows what else is in my closet. I just want it to be special and getting this stuff in advance and on sale I think in the end will lower our budget.

 

[o2bacelt]

I hit the Disney store the other week and picked up a little Nemo light, a Nemo water squirter, a couple of Disney beanies, and the I've been picking up Disney coloring books and story books to put in DD's carry on. I also picked up new colored pencils (I love the new Crayola big fat ones) and a couple of smaller crayon pads to keep with us for meals and stuff.

I also got some mini-bubbles so we had those as well to keep her occupied.

Can't wait to get there.

 

[java]

Lite sticks! Buy them in bulk at home- I bought necklaces last year and the kids loved it. I also got some other light up stuff from the target dollar spot(they had whistles, rings.....all kinds of things) and glow in the dark tattoo sheets.(also target $ spot) They loved getting a light up item every night and it was a crowd pleaser for 2- 11 year olds. Also tons cheaper than those that they sell at the parks.

 

[themudd4]

I love all of your all's ideas. I may even have to use a few of them. We do things a little differently though.
Since we drive roughly 16 hours to get to WDW, My kids load up into a car with a travel toy box filled with new games, no mess colorsheets and markers, books, DVD's, etc. It really does seems to help...at least for the first 4-5 hours.
Then they have their own money during our stay to buy the things they want. My DD12 is so tight with "her" money that she usually saves it until the last day. What I do is kinda pay attention to all of the I WANT's I hear all week. The one that the kids really really wanted but either didn't have the money for or decided not to spend their money on, I try to run out after we are back in the room for the night (whcich we try to do kinda early 9-10 PM, since we have a 16 hour drive back). If they have these things at the Resort Gift shop I pick them up and we have "Gift's from Mickey and the gang" to leave with. The kids wake up sad to be leaving, but happy with their new things.
I know that there are something that are specialty items that can only be found at one certain park or shop, so if that is the case I have been known to make an excuse to disappear for a few minutes, and go to the shop where the kids picked out something, and have it sent to the resort for me. I have even surprised my DH once or twice by doing this!

 

[Kimmumum]

My boys are 8 and 12. The thing that I think they liked the best is....I make "thank you for making our trip extra magical" thank you cards to hand out to CM's that go out of there way(it has my kids picture on it with different characters). They love these. They hold onto them like they are gold. I think it makes them "stop and smell the roses" because they aren't in such a hurry to go and do. They slow down and pay attention to who and what is going on around them.

I also by the glow sticks.

I also buy matching t-shirts for the family (some Disney) for us to wear everyday. This started when they were little so that if they got lost they could look at there own shirt and be able to tell a CM what there parents were wearing (instead of trying to remember while being freaked out). Now it works so they can find us at the exit of a ride if we don't ride together.

We also buy pins online. They keep their best pins at home so they aren't tempted to trade them. They also do the pressed pennies.

 

[cwnhokie]

My boys are 8 and 12. The thing that I think they liked the best is....I make "thank you for making our trip extra magical" thank you cards to hand out to CM's that go out of there way(it has my kids picture on it with different characters). They love these. They hold onto them like they are gold. I think it makes them "stop and smell the roses" because they aren't in such a hurry to go and do. They slow down and pay attention to who and what is going on around them.

I also by the glow sticks.

I also buy matching t-shirts for the family (some Disney) for us to wear everyday. This started when they were little so that if they got lost they could look at there own shirt and be able to tell a CM what there parents were wearing (instead of trying to remember while being freaked out). Now it works so they can find us at the exit of a ride if we don't ride together.

We also buy pins online. They keep their best pins at home so they aren't tempted to trade them. They also do the pressed pennies.

I love the thank you card idea! Better go get busy making those!

 

[CBoysMomLovesDisney]

This is going to be our first trip w/ our two boys 4&3 - so I am hoping for a truely magical time.

Really like the pressed penny idea and the new toothbrushs.

I have been buying small items at the disney store for the last few months = all were on sale. large mickey sucker, buzz & stitch cars, cups, candy roller thing, that super small towel thing, etc and also tee shirts, pj's and swim suits. Already have the glow items too.

I plan to leave their treats out by the bed so when they wake - they will have a small surprise and something new for the day. I am glad to hear some of you say this helps with the overall purchases at the parks. Trying not to spend so much on the little things.

 

[Juls]

When my DD was small I would buy those pressed, compacted washcloths at the Disney Store and take them with us to WDW. They had all the characters on them. She loved watching them get bigger in the tub, and there were no complaints from her when it was time to wind down from a busy day and take a bath.