GIFT IDEAS are so fun to do. Here are some of the ideas I have done over the years (DD is now 12 & DS is now 13) I will try not to repeat other ideas:
1. I printed out a Royal Decree on handmade paper to invite children to CRT (works for Storybook & 1900 too). Rolled it up a sealed it with wax to make it look official.
2. (This one takes time) Handmade autograph book. I took acid/lignon free scrapbook paper and printed out clipart of individual characters on the computer. (movies like lion king, pocahontas etc. had group photos). Then I cut them down to 5x7 size and had it bound at kinkos with a transparency on the front & back to make it sturdier. I had this wrapped on their bed the 1st morning... Each character had their OWN space to sign... but I warn you. Make sure you have a photo of all of them. On my pocahontas page... I forgot the villain Ratcliffe. He made a BIG deal out of it to the kids and refused to sign. So we drew a sketch of him... and he signed under it! NOTE: make sure the characters only sign ONE side of the paper.
This book was perfect when we got home... as I simply took it apart and placed it right onto my scrapbook next to the photo of the character signing that page!
8 years later... this is STILL the favorite part of our vacation book to the kids. AND the moments thei remember the most!
3. DRIVING: When the kids were 1-3rd grade... we gave them a map of our trip from
AAA. I had marked mile markers with a sharpie. When we passed those mile markers... the kids were to let us know. When they did correctly... they got to get something out of the TREAT bag. It was either a gmae to play on the trip... or a snack to enjoy. either way it was fun! The key is to give them something that is immediate gratification. otherwise they have to wait.
4.FLYING: the above works great with a few modifications of airport/flying over things/ or when the captain speaks /seatbelt speech etc. instead of mile markers.
5. FAIRGODMAILERS - If you can get someone reliable...have them send a postcard/letter/invite from WDW saying your childs fav character is waiting.
6. LEAVE BEHINDS: Duck feathers in the door; cut outs of Mickey/pluto/donald footprints on the floor; Box of fairy dust; or simply a fairy dust trail;
7. SUPRISE GIFTS: (I got this one from the fairy godmothers) at the end of muppets 3D I threw a gift wrapped in a crepe paper ball into the kids laps. It had a small container of bubbles inside. they thought it came from the movie!
8. "I DID IT" gifts: Have a gift ready when your child does something they have never done before! Like tower of terror or rockin' roller coaster. Something like a "I rode it" button.
9. PIN TRADING: I REALLY like to give the kids cheap disney pins I buy beforehand to trade. Remember to buy pins that they DO NOT LIKE! Otherwise they will not want to trade them! This is easy and provides a vacations worth of fun!
10. BIRTHDAY/PRINCESS SASH: I did this for my DD 5th birthday. She wore it all day and was a STAR! It simply had her name GIANT in glitter on the back... and 5th birthday in glitter on the front! It was a HUGE hit with cast members because it was different than the store bought ones. If you DO get a store bought one... change it up with glitter! Catches their eyes. Because of this we got special passes to see Mickey & Minnnie in the autograph rooms!
11. BE PHOTO READY: (yes... I know... this may be a bit anal retentive) You don't have to all wear matching shirts... but DO make sure they are coordinating colors. WHY? You will always be ready for a photo op! You never know which one will be THE one! You know?
GIFTS THAT WORK WELL:
Silly bands
bubbles (Think about the wedding bubbles)
waterproof games
snacks (not crushable/melting ones)
glow things
pins for trading
REMEMBER: give out cast member appreciation cards!
I have a few little surprises planned for DD4 like my own "Welcome Home" mickey package that will be waiting in the room when she gets there. Plus, Cinderella is going to "magically" come to our room the night before we go to MK and leave a Cinderella shirt, crown, and wand for her to use in the parks. Does anyone else have an idea of things I can have waiting for her when she wakes up each morning?
) so I don't want to pack any extras. My idea is to buy her something in the park that she desperately wants but we say no to then sneak it on her pillow so she wakes up to a special gift from Mickey! I love designing things too so I'll be making notes from her favorite characters maybe giving advice for the park of the day or special things to look out for.
