Hellobee Boards

My friend is a hardcore Disney fan and she basically trolls flash sales, Hollar.com, the dollar store, Target Dollar Spot, etc. to find cheap Disney merch (so she never buys things on property or at the parks). She has it for them in the morning before they go to the parks in reusable Disney character shopping bags. She focuses on cheapy things that aren't a huge deal if they get lost during the day at the parks (common) and/or things that will keep her kids occupied or happy during long waits in line. Notebooks/pads with pens or crayons are a good one, since they can draw and also they can get autographs if they run into a character. Sunglasses, small stuffed animals, character t-shirts, socks, water bottles, cheapie coin purses, stickers, etc.

She generally saves the more expensive Disney merch for holidays/birthdays after the trip.

She also allows her children to pick 1 pin to commemorate the visit at the end of the trip.

One of my favorite things about vacation planning is the vacation gifts. I do it for all vacations (it sounds like overkill, but really it's once a year and it helps spread out the birthday/christmas month for us). I use a basic gift bag (I am not organized enough to do a decorated/themed one) and it's always super fun for me to compile and my son to open.

I typically buy a new set of themed pajamas, a tee shirt, coloring/sticker book for each trip. I will add in things like bath paints or bath crayons, fun bubble bath, sunglasses, a visor/hat depending upon the destination. I love learning manipulative, so I will often include things like an extension of Rory's Story cubes or math dice. I also do art supplies, like a set of watercolor paint brushes and a palette. Sometimes, I will do things like themed socks or a personal care item, such as a wallet. My focus tends not to be on all themed and inexpensive, but more towards skill building or related to my son's interests.

I also will do a new family game of some kind to help pass the time in the hotel room.

We recently went to Universal Studios and I bought a pack of HP playing cards and a paper airplane kit. I also for this trip let him buy a book to bring back that I would read for a mystery reader day and then donate to the class.

I also purchased a scrapbook kit so he could put his photos into a book on his own. I specifically picked the theme to coordinate with the character breakfast.