What to get for the kids for their 1st trip?

[triplefigs]

I have 5 year old triplets (2 boys and a girl). This is their first trip to Walt Disney World. I know they'll want autograph books. Do they need lanyards to carry the room key, etc? Anything else that would be a must have?

thanks!

 

[BlondeAlligator]

How old are your kids?

 

[triplefigs]

How old are your kids?

Oh, sorry. That might help! I have 5 year old triplets (2 boys and a girl). This is their first trip to Walt Disney World.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hi Triplefegs, funny seeing you off the T shirt thread

You have to get mouse ears!!!

 

[triplefigs]

Hi Triplefegs, funny seeing you off the T shirt thread

You have to get mouse ears!!!

Should I get them ahead of time (concierge) or let the kids pick them out? I'm afraid I'd choose and then they'd see different ones they'd rather have.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Let them pick. We are doing it our first day as soon as we check in. We plan on getting them at the Chapeau at MK but I think they are other places in MGM with a bigger selection and different embroidary choices....

 

[susykt4]

My daughter (almost 5 at last trip) loved the pressed pennies. They sell books to hold them, which she loved. The pennies are a pain to get into the slots in the books so it would be easier on you to convince them to share one book. If I remember correctly, most of the penny machines had THREE choices.

I agree with previous poster about waiting to let them pick mouse ears. DS2 loved his regular ones but DD opted for a soft tiara with "snaps" that princess and jewel charms could be attached to.

Both of my kids were really into the characters and we spent far more time in character lines than in lines for rides. DS2 cared FAR more about hugging the characters and DD5 loved getting the autographs. Again, (probably not possible) if you can convince your kids to share an autograph book it will save you tons of time. Some of those poor characters took forever to sign. Pluto had to rest the book on his snout right by his eye hole and sign above his head!

 

[The Sweetness]

A trip to the world is a tremendous gift in itself! If you are going to be carrying a little snack(crackers), they may like wearing a little fanny/ hip bag to carry them in. Some have a water bottle holder on the side, if you want them to each have a water bottle. The ears are adorable. How about letting them each have a disposable camera, to take their own pics? My DD the 14 y old did this once and loved making a little photo book to show off her pics

 

[kg66]

I don't know if you are looking for gifts for them prior to leaving home, or when you get there. Our first trip was 2004, DD's were 6 & 3, and we went right after Christmas/New Year's. Everyone gave the girls stuff to do for the trip down to WDW(we stayed at FW in our Motorhome-22 hour drive). Most of the crafts/activities centered around Disney items(puzzles, stickers, books,etc). When we left Grandma gave the girls money for the parks, and I wouldn't let them buy just anything, so they put their money together and bought a Pal Mickey for the family to share. So far he's been to WDW twice with us, and 2 other times with other families, and the Disney Cruise(though he doesn't work there).
A fun thing to do but VERY, VERY addictive and expensive is pin trading. We received 2 lanyards for the girls with our pkgs when we checked in both years. Pins get expensive when you are buying 3 at a time(Mom is the biggest Disney nut after all).
For a special keepsake after you're home, make sure to purchase a few Disney Dollars to bring home as a souvenir.

 

[Mobly]

We get blank books ahead of time and either stamp or put Disney ABC stickers in it (one on each page). Then on the trip the kids take pictures and try to fill their "alphabet book". Once at home we glue the pictures in and write a little something......H is for Hippo and Happy (pictures of the kids smiling and the Hippo off the Jungle cruise or It's a Small World). X is for eXcited.... the kids love making stuff up. The kids love to take the books to school, and look through them often. They turn out like mini scrapbooks, but not so much work. Just an idea.

I would also wait and look around for a day or so before buying the hats. There are SO many to choose from, and that is a great thing to keep. My five year old runs around all the time with old hats from Disney.

 

[FairyAuntMother]

Does anyone know the name of the shop in MGM that sells the embriodered Disney hats (mouse ears, etc.)?

Thanks!

 

[Rella Bella]

Oh what a perfect age! You all will have SO much fun!!

You're so right about the autograph book! It didn't occur to me that my DS would be in the least interested but he loves them! He was just 6 on our first trip. Now we have to get a new one for every trip, I think he's afraid if the characters open it and see thier sig they won't sign again.

They will also need a fairly large fat pen for the characters to sign thier autograph's with. They do sell them right next to the A. books at every gift store in WDW but we've repeatedly had trouble with them breaking. Of course Disney always exchanges the parts for a new pen... but it would be so much more convenient not to have to deal with that.

We always have our son wear a fanny pack with two compartments. One for his room key, & spending $ and one for his autograph book & pen. I would think with three kids that you would really appreciate the kids carrying thier own stuff. I find anything I don't provide a way for him to carry "I" end up carrying! And I think he enjoys being 'responsible'.

The other thing -- if you're planning to give them spending money -- go to the Disney store and get them Disney Dollars. My son got some from an auntie right before his first trip and was thrilled!

Have a wonderful trip!!!

 

[triplefigs]

Thanks to all! We're making our own autograph books to take with us and I'll let them pick out Mickey ears in the parks. Haven't decided about a pressed penny book, but I'm leaning towards waiting for a later trip to start that. Also not planning on doing pin trading as it would be very expensive times three. I am going to take a backpack and fannypack into the parks to carry stuff. Thanks again for all the tips!

 

[ntburns22]

The trip itself was their gift. We did get them their ears and My First Disney vacation t-shirts. They were very happy with what they recieved and never asked for anything more.

 

[triplefigs]

For the trip itself was thier gift. We did get them their ears and My First Disney vacation t-shirts. They were very happy with what they recieved and never asked for anything more.

ME TOO! I was really talking more about the mouse ears, autograph books, fannypacks. I'm not buying them any big presents. They each get one thing to buy with money from the grandparents. The trip it too expensive to go spending a ton on junk to haul home!

 

[stschaefer]

Ideas for gifts or things to bring:

1. Light up toy for Wishes, Illuminations, etc. Will keep them busy during the down time. Maybe get them at Disney store cheaper then at the park.

2. Fake passports (Michaels or Wal-mart) - use to have the kids get stamped at Epcot.

3. If they are into potato head - get a box of pieces at the toy store at DTD. Ask the CM there to help you get the most out of it.

4. Mickey rice crispy treat or ice cream


Things not to forget:
Photopass on first day
Look for the paintbrush at Tom Sawyers island and give to the rafter
Try to get to Tinkerbell's shop to let Tink out first
Try to get to Christmas Shop first to help decorate the tree

As for the laynards - if they are dependable maybe let them use for fastpass - I just held onto DD's. She loved helping getting the fastpasses.

We got DD a glass that was personalized for DD's first trip to Disney, ears, first trip to Disney T-shirt, and potato head pieces.

 

[sandiegosusie]

My sister-in-law and I are putting together fanny packs for all of our kids before our family trip next year...I have started getting things now to add and my sister-in-law has purchased fanny packs at Walmart. The packs hold a water bottle and come in two colors, pink and purple. They also have black ones for the little guys with a water bottle holder inside.

We will be including a few "neccessities" in the packs like Disney Pez, glow sticks, Disney fruit snacks, gum, Disney disposable camera, Disney chapstick, Disney bandaids and Disney Dollars. We are going to personalize the bags with a Guest of Honor key ring or badge personalized with the kids name on them.

BTW: Our local Dollar Tree has a ton of glow sticks right now. Each pack comes with a 2 necklaces and two bracelets, best part...it's only $1.

On another note: We are taking a Disney book with us to have signed instead of the autograph books. We already a few autograph books around and never look at them. Someone suggested taking a book instead since we would be sure to use that again...

 

[TnTWalter]

We're leaving Monday and I'd love to get these for my 3 kiddos [less for mom to carry!] and I love the water bottle...we can fill up at water fountains! Thanks.
Trish

 

[sandiegosusie]

I bought kid sized fanny packs that I absolutely love...www.gearlabs.com. They come in a huge assortment of colors. My two girls are getting them for our trip in November. I also ordered Princess Guest of Honor badges a while back. They are going on the front of the pack to keep them apart. They don't have a water bottle holder, but I don't want them to wear that much weight, since we will have a stroller as well.

I would suggest a few Disney dollars...maybe a key chain of their favorite character to hang on the outside of their fanny pack. Disney chapstick and of course "ears".

Sorry gang, just realized I already posted this a while back!!!!

 

[sandiegosusie]

I saw them in with the purses and wallets...they were hanging on hooks. Good luck! They were adult sized but my sister-in-law bought them plans on tying them in the back for 8 and 10 year-old. I went with the child size ones from www.gearlabs.com