For most families that are planning trips to Disney World, it’s a big deal.
It’s also an expensive deal.
This is a good chance to get extended family involved and have them get gifts that will make the trip even more special and reduce some of the costs for you.
Here are some ideas…
Disney gift cards
You know those racks of gift cards that you see at grocery stores, Target, Wal-mart, etc.? They often have Disney gift cards as well.
These cards can be used at Disney Stores, Disney theme parks and Disney Cruise Line.
Books
I’ve written before about my favorite books for kids who will be heading to Disney World and these books make great gifts as well.
Things to keep busy along the way
Keeping busy while on the plane or in the car makes the time go by faster for kids. My favorite way to entertain kids is with Klutz activity books.
My kids have owned almost all of those books at some point over the years. Be sure to check what is required of each activity book as some may not work well in the car (unless you really like the idea of glitter on your car’s seats).
Autograph book (with fat pen)
Disney has a few of their autograph books online for $7-12.
Sharpies are great for characters to sign with because they can grasp them easily.
Sharpie offers personalized markers online that make great gifts and can say something that references your trip.
Beach towels
Consider getting personalized beach towels from DisneyStore.com.
Ponchos
You can pick up ponchos in a lot of places, but there are some especially cute ones online that would be great to pack for a trip to Disney World. The ponchos pictured below can all be found on Amazon.
Misting fan
Misting fans are reallllly handy when you’re going during a warm time (which is most of the time). The ones you can buy at Disney World are actually really great quality, but also much more expensive than the ones you can buy elsewhere.
You can buy the fan pictured below on Amazon. Many are also available seasonally at stores like Wal-mart.
(Be sure to check reviews on the fans before you buy them. Some just don’t work well.)
If you have a child in a stroller, I highly recommend stroller clip fans as well.
The blades are made of a soft foam that won’t hurt a child’s fingers.
Swimsuits
During the winter months, DisneyStore.com doesn’t have much in the swimwear category, but eBay actually has some great options.
Little girl clothes are so cute. I wish I still had a little one to buy these for.
Costumes
Kids often wear costumes at Disney World, especially when attending character dinning meals.
(Did you know that adults are kicked out for wearing a costume? It’s true.)
Costumes come in a wide range of prices and detail. All of the costumes below are available from DisneyStore.com.
These kids kill me. So cute.
Mickey ears
Of course, Mickey ears are a classic and fantastic gift for anybody headed to Disney World. When ordering, be sure to pay attention to the size; some are intended for kids and some are adult-size.
DisneyStore.com has all of these ears which can be personalized.
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Amanda
Monday 3rd of August 2015
We are going to Disney in Febuary, I have 2 daughters, 10 and 11. I am letting them make their own gift bags, where should we shop(online too) other than the disney store? What would you recomend for their age? One loves books... the other one likes coloring... Thanks for all advice!
Kristi Shimmin
Monday 30th of March 2015
I just thought I would let you,know on the Sharpie order you can not reference Disney. You can do WDW, but I just tried to order and was told Disney is trademarked. :(
Shannon Albert
Monday 30th of March 2015
Yeah, that's been happening a lot lately with people trying to customize things with "Disney World" on them. WDW is a good alternative that always works and it's why this site is called WDW Prep School and not Disney World Prep School. ;)
Renee
Friday 21st of March 2014
The large park ponchos will also cover a stroller really well during rain. They kept our kids dry rolling around the park when it was pouring one year. They thought it was a blast in their rolling hide out. Haha
Eileen
Monday 24th of February 2014
Photo albums and Disney-themed binders for organizing the trip seem like good gift ideas, too. Also restaurant.com gift certificates that the recipient can use to purchase restaurant-specific certificates for places in/near Orlando.
MaxS
Tuesday 10th of December 2013
I just want to point out something. Many, many (and many more) people think that they will save money on rain ponchos by buying them at discount stores before their trip - but what a LOT of people do not know is that Disney offers a lifetime warranty on their in-park ponchos. It's true! If you accidentally rip a poncho (or if it gets torn at all, say a snap comes out, or something like that), all you have to do is take it to any Disneyland or Disney World park kiosk or store (that sells them), and they will GIVE YOU A NEW ONE with NO questions asked! (As far as I know, this works only at park/resort shops, not at mall-based Disney stores.)
Kelsey
Friday 31st of January 2014
Good point! We have also discovered that the ponchos they sell in the parks just work better for us. They are lighter and easier to fold/carry around than the regular ponchos I had bought at home, but they don't fall apart like the disposable ones (and they don't feel like trash bags!). We originally swore we would never buy one from the parks, but we are certainly glad we did!