Originally Posted By Kala I will be traveling to DLR 4/5 - 4/8 with my DH, DB and his 2 sons ages 11 and 5. I am so excited and want to make this trip extra special and perfect for them. Any ideas? I should mention we are staying at the DLH and we will order the milk and cookies. I am going to ask if they could arrange for some signed photos of the white witch from Narnia since both are big fans.
Originally Posted By fidoprincess Hit the Disney Store before you go and pick up some tshirts and sweatshirts they can wear. They always have something on sale and it is about 1/3 of the park price if not less. Last week I bought pjs on sale for $4.99-yes, tops and bottoms-lol. A few months ago, I got the spinning lights, one Tink and one Buzz, for just 3.99 instead of the 12 or 16 at the park! Mine are almost 11 (Friday!) and 6 and they think Tinkerbell comes each night and leaves gifts while they are sleeping. I always get one stuffed animal for them to sleep with and an assortment of different stuff. I also buy the candy too because it is so much cheaper and our DIsney store has a little corner of really marked down stuff like keychains and little things for 99cents! They love it and it is so fun for me too. I also hit the dollar store and get the light up necklaces and bracelets that come all together in a pack. I think you get 3 necklaces and 6 bracelets for $1. They always have some kinds of Disney stuff too. I got the 6 year old a few Disney "workbooks" that she just loves. Also even Kmart and Target have disney stuff too. We did the "deliver treats to the room" each night and my kids did not really love the treats and it really ended up being quite costly. Most everything had chocolate (like dipped ears) and they thought the chocolate tasted weird. They did like the rice crispy treats but left the ears-lol. I ended up eating the strawberries-lol-I thought they were delicious! A better choice would be for you to pick up something and sneak it back into the room. I know that this time I will hit the "pooh corner" store and get a bunch of treats to put out myself and it will save me a ton of money! Now that we've had a chance to try a lot of the treats, I know what they like best and won't waste my money on stuff they won't touch. Plus, so many nights they were so tired getting back to the hotel, they did not want to eat so if you get wrapped stuff, they can eat it the next day. Have fun and I am sure they will love everything you do for them! (Just a note: we've stayed at the DH and asked many times and not once did we get the autographed pics!-don't know why but don't count on it) At PP, we never even asked and got them so who knows how it works?!
Originally Posted By momof4boys fidoprincess- our experience with VP was the same as yours. My boys didn't really care for the cookies, strawberries or rice krispee treats and they were too tired when we got back to the hotel to enjoy them. This year I have bought things to leave out for them each morning. We don't live close to a Disney store so I haven't been able to get anything from there and our Dollar Store just had girly Disney things. But they love food. Wal-mart had different snack cakes that had Disney characters on the boxes ( I never buy that stuff for them so they will be thrilled). I also thought I would go by Pooh's corner to pick up a couple of things to surprise them with. Kala- last year my sister gave each of my boys a gift card. They absolutely loved it and then they could pick out what they wanted. They loved having extra money to shop.
Originally Posted By Kala Excellent ideas! I love the pajamas idea and glow necklaces and lights. I'm off to the Disney store today. I think they will like the rice crispy treats better than the cookies as well. Thank you very very much!
Originally Posted By Kala Gift cards especially for the oldest is perfect! I'll check out Pooh's corner too. When I stayed at PPH I got an autographed pic too. I'll cross my fingers on DLH and ask guest services if they can work their magic with the White Witch at the park. I was able to do this on one of my trips when I didn't see Mickey mouse. I inquired at guest services, they asked me to stop back by befor I left the park and when I did they had a nice B&W photo signed photo of Mickey! That was in 2002. Hopefully they are still do this.
Originally Posted By momof4boys Kala- I thought of one other thing. 4 years ago we pre-ordered Guest of Honor name tags ( through LP). On our first day in the park, my husband distracted the boys after we first went through the turnstyle while I ran up ahead and found a CM standing around ( I think she was out front of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln). I kindly asked her and when the boys came around the corner, she stopped them and "presented" them with their name badges. It was magical. They wear them every day of every trip now. They love it- even my has to look cool now 13 y.o. Many CMs call them by name and welcome them by name when they enter the park.
Originally Posted By crazy4mickey2 On our trip last month I stocked up at the Disney outlet store near us and prewrapped the gifts with name tags for my DS and his friend (both 10). I included a T-shirt, a Pirate sword (a must for boys), and some pins. I snuck back in our room one night pretending I'd forgotten something and left the goodies on the bed. They were very surprised when we returned that evening. I also purchased Disney Dollars for them through VP. The wonderful folks at VP had some autographed pictures for them as well. We actually received a voicemail stating that the front desk had a package for the boys. I sent them down by themselves to pick it up. They were so excited. I ordered the California Packs from VP for them but we ended up bringing most of that home with us. I've done the cookies, strawberries, etc. and while the love getting the treats they don't seem to eat much.
Originally Posted By Kala OOOooooOOOOOO such excellent ideas! Okay name tags, pirate sword, I agree a total must for boys Keep them coming! Thank you again and again!
Originally Posted By dzy76 My kids are big (19, 17, 14) but they still love surprises. Last time we were there, each day I'd buy something and leave it out on the counter in the morning for them. Mostly treats, candy from main street, carmel apples from Marcelines in DTD, pins for their lanyards, disney dollars from the bank, smashed pennies from various places. Their are tons of great things to get for them and I have fun looking each day or something new! Of course it might be harder with little ones because they are with you all the time. We don't live anywhere near an outlet or Disney store, so I just do it in the parks. This year I'm going for key chains for my oldest two! This is getting me excited to go shopping Disney style!
Originally Posted By Kala Okay I've gotten some things. Pj's, gift card for the older nephew, glow lights and necklaces, guest of honor name tags, disney shirts, some twirly lights for the ELP, ordered crispy treats and milk for one night from VP. Gotta love the dollar store! I bought things that won't take a lot of space. The twirly lights are the bulkiest. But they fit. Sooooo I have a bit of a dilemma Should I have VP send over the golden mickey ears to the room or buy them in the park so they can watch the names being put on? What say you LP'ers? I liked going to the store, but I don't know if they will want to wait and I like the idea that they can have them before we go into the park. Still not sure. Thanks all for the wonderful ideas!
