daily "surprises"? About This Page:

[Suzie&Jay]

I know I've read a lot of trip reports where people leave gifts from Mickey or Tinkerbell in their room for their kids. I want to do this for dd but don't have a ton of ideas. I did order an autograph book from disneystore.com, and then got some sleeping beauty barretts and princess sunglasses (which were $1.99 at TDS today!). Other than that I'm not sure what Mickey would leave as a gift . Any clever ideas?

[materstater]

Walgreens did have the little Disney wash cloths on clearance along with bubbles, I also found at Target Mickey and Donald raisins and dried fruit snacks.

[tdhc]

Disney Outlet online sometimes has good deals. We found some sleepwear and small mickey and minnie stuffed figures. The dollar store has puzzles and coloring book sometimes. We are just keeping a look out and stocking up. Good luck. On our first trip we did not do this and the kids did not seem to mind. This year I only got a few things. I just love being at disney with them.

[lyonmommy]

Our surprises this year will be tee shirts (Disney Outlet $2.99), glow sticks (dollar store), candy ("Mom and Dad would never leave candy for us in the morning..."), colored pencils (Christmas Tree Shop), note pads, and other little things we've picked up cheaply. Also - glitter - aka "pixie dust" to spread on the table or pillow.

We will also be giving little surprises on the LONG car trip from upstate NY.

[ANGSWIN]

Before our trip to Disney last year, I went shopping at the Dollar Tree and Dollar General. They both have tons of Disney stuff for $1 - $3. I left each of the girls something on their pillows everyday. They had little jack & ball sets, paddle ball sets, card game sets, coloring books & marker sets, and little figurines. I was able to find my daughter, Ariel, all Little Mermaid things. Anna, my niece, had Tinkerbell items. Also, before we left I was able to get them Tshirts, jackets, and nightgowns with their favorite characters (ON CLEARANCE!) from the Disney store. Since they had all of these little toys, they didn't beg for souvenirs all the time. In fact, they only thing that they asked for (and received) were Minnie Mouse hats.

[gr8nurs1271]

Do you think this would work for 17 year old girls too?

LOL!!!!

[Suzie&Jay]

Originally Posted by gr8nurs1271

Do you think this would work for 17 year old girls too?

LOL!!!!

of course! Even if they know it's not from Mickey they'll still enjoy getting a surprise I would love it and I'm...well...not 17

[YOLANDA]

I always pick up one of the mini plush from the DS and put it in the bottom of my suitcase. Then the first time we leave the room for our first full day in the parks, I pretend that I forgot something in the room and go back and prop one on each bed. They are always surprised but I'm sure they now realize that I'm the one doing it.

[materstater]

Walmart has tons of cute mickey or disney character pjs and bags. I'm 30 and I'd throughly enjoy getting little stuff from the dollar store. I squeeled when my friend bought me a washcloth of mickey that expands in water and yes I opened it without the kids!

[PamelaK]

When DD and I went, her Fairy Godmother left her a blank Cinderella journal and pen set the first day, then after that she recieved an Official Pin trader Pin, a necklace, a charm to go on the bracelet she had purchased for herself, and I forgot what the other thing was. She had a note from her Fairy Godmother each day with the gift. All of the gifts had some significance to what we did in the parks that day or planned to do.

She was 11 on thatt trip and will be 14 when we go back in November. She is already talking about what her Fairy Godmother might leave her. I guess the FG needs to get busy fiuring out what she needs to stock up on for DD.

[truenancy]

"Mousekeeping" leaves things for my kids each day. A little plush (cute, but smaller than the $5 ones at the DS), note pad or diary, pens or crayons, card games, DS is getting a pinball game and DD is getting a Minnie Mouse headband with ears. I found a couple Pirates figurines at Marshalls for $1 each. Then when we're there, I'll pick up a couple special candies or a RK treat - as you say, it's clearly not from Mom if it's sweets! Just one small thing each day - it really cuts down on the shopping/whining!

[ArielsMomto2]

I have picked up a few things for mine that mickey and tink will leave for them. Less this year than last year. I find stuff at the dollar store and target has lots of disney stuff for a dollar. We made our annual trek to the Disney store here and got them each a stuffed character that they picked out. They were buy one get one free but they won't get them until we get there. I'm not sure they even remember them. I also pick up something new for the plane ride to ward off meltdowns from waiting so long. Usually a cheap new video or game for the electronics.

[DisneyLuv]

Love this thread. Definitely plan on doing this for my boys this trip! Already thinking about how we can leave the "surprises" each morning...

[Caldercup]

I like Dollar Store stuff -- they have tons of Disney-themed things, but also other fun stuff like toys, squirt guns, jump ropes, etc.

I just traveled with a friend who did "surprise bags" for the kids traveling and she themed the items to what was going on that day -- for Hoop Dee Do, she got them bandanas; for Sci-Fi, she got them alien toys and things to go with the horror movies they show, etc.

Eileen