Purchasing Disney "goodies" before the trip... from WDW or a Service About This Page:

[ShannonW]

Hello!
I am hoping to get some of the Disney expenses out of the way before our trip, such as the Pal Mickey, EPCOT passports for the kids, autograph books, etc. Has anyone used the Mail Order service for things like this? I have looked at a couple of the "personal shopper" sites, but they seem pretty high priced..... One of them will put together a gift basket and deliver to your WDW resort on your first night, which I thought might be a clever treat for the kids (but pricey). Has anyone done anything like that? I'd love feedback!

Thanks,
Shannon <font color="purple"> </font>

[iamgrumpy]

[img]/ubb/images/graemlins/welcome3.gif[/img] to the Boards!

The Giftbasket is a neat idea to do that with its pricey but a nice surprise for the family.

But if its not really something you care for then I would just wait until you got to Disney to buy some of those things as if you were to buy them before and have them shipped to you at home you then have to pack them in the suitcases and carry them with you. Buying them at the hotel or parks when you get there would save that.

I say if you wanted to do something special for your family get the gift basket otherwise just put the money aside in a savings jar, bank account or such and buy them when you get there.

Just my thoughts Have a Magical Vacation!

[Pris]

I'll have to agree that I would wait until I arrived to purchase the items. Just put the money aside in an envelope or something. Nearly all of the items mentioned can be picked up in the resort store before you enter the parks.

[Caldercup]

I think it would be very fun to have Pal Mickey before you leave - he could tell you jokes and sit on your lap during the flight or drive. My son always holds his PM up as we land and says "Welcome home, Mickey!"

But I don't think I'd spend money on a gift basket or on ordering and shipping things like the passports or autograph books to your home, only to carry them back down with you. (I personally like to make my own autograph books because the Disney paper isn't very thick and ink bleeds through them. I just use small drawing pads from an art supply store and then customize them with stickers and other scrapbooking supplies.)

I like to make goodies bags of stuff that you CAN'T get at Disney (or are way more expensive), but generally need. Things like clickable Sharpie markers, lip balm, Purell, carabiner clips (for clipping things to your bag or stroller), hats, water bottles, fruit snacks, granola bars, gum, moleskin, etc.

There have been lots of posts on goody bags - you could use the search function to find other threads like that with tons more ideas than I can come up with now! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img]

Good luck - planning for Disney is half the fun!
Eileen

[thedarksyde]

I actually wanted this to happen for my trip. It is the gf's birthday and so I wanted a bouquet and pal mickey waiting in the room when we got there. www.disneyflorist.com But alas they can do the flowers, but not the pal mickey. I am going to try to call the resort itself and see if I can get them to do it for me, but I am in a value resort and I am not expecting that level of service, so will not be upset if they say they can not do it.

But they do have this... http://www.disneyflorist.com/product...4086AA:Snack15
the disney welcome package...

I think what I might do is buy a used pal mickey from ebay before the trip, and sneak it into her carryon bag, so when she gets her book or whatever, she will find it in there. Then i will do the flowers for the room.

[SHEANA1226]

Have you thought about calling the World of Disney and see what they have in stock and can ship to you? If you need the number just pm me.

[lisamarch]

Why do you need Sharpies at WDW?

[TroianRae]

[ QUOTE ]
Why do you need Sharpies at WDW?

[/ QUOTE ]

For the characters autographs. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Retractable sharpies are the best!!!!

[Shell_of_the_South]

The shipping is really high ordering from WDW mail order. I also would wait until you arrive at WDW to purchase those items. You might try disneyshopping.com for some tshirts. And you can check with the Disney outlet stores in Orlando when you arrive for discounted souvenirs.

[ShannonW]

Thanks for all of the good feedback! You can buy the pal mickey from giftsofalifetime.com or Laughingplace.com. But, I think it is more expensive (how much so, I don't know...).

Thanks again! I have plenty of time to decide what I want to do, but trying to think ahead!!!

Shannon

[Caldercup]

By the way, as far as I know, you can purchase Pal Mickey in the gift shop of the Disney resorts (we got ours from the AKL gift shop.)

That way, you wouldn't have to run all over creation to get him before your first time at a park.
Eileen