When we go to
Disneyland our young kids are told they will get 1 thing at the end of the trip so keep your eyes peeled and choose what you want to buy the last day.
Our extended family usually has great success taking the opposite approach. If the kids buy something the first day, early, then they have something to play with already and are far less intersted in looking at other things. It works especially well if the thing is small and something everyone gets- so they can play together. Like one trip we all bought inexpensive charms. It was a rainy day, and we all had on windbreaker raincoats. Everyone put one on their zipper pull. We got a ton of bang for that buck.
I can't say we're a huge fan of the dollar store per say, but we have been known to bring plenty of items from home. It is great fun, if youa re staying on preoperty, and even if you are not- to play witha Disney doll or stuffed animal in the room. This is another GREAT reason to buy something early. Usually, if you leave something like dolls or stuffed animals in your hotel room the staff wuill do somehting cute with it. I've even seen it at offsite resorts.
You may come back to find Mickey watching tv - say. If a child discovers such poses....they are absolutely going to gravitate towards playing with that toy. If you bring a Mickey from home, then you remove the temptation to buy another one.
Another travel toy I love is somethign like a magnetic drawing board. There are SO many things you can do with such a device. As an adult, you could even use it to make yourself a reminder note.
Oh, there are lots of freebie toys at WDW. In Epcot, do the Kidcot stations. They are great freebies, anda wonderful way to distract kids. Pressed pennies are alos great for avertain age group. Also, all over WDW, your children will get free coloring pages. Look for them in resort lobbies, and at places like resort food courts. You also may find staff handing out free stickers at various places. near RNRC, there is - or used to be a station that gave out free sitckers. Autograph boos are another relatively inexpensive, somewhat educational thing fr children that age. you don' have tostop for every character, just a few. You don't have to buy a book at WDW, you can bring a notebook. (thoughWDw ones are kinda special)
It's also possible to shuttle kids quickly through the ride exit gift shops. You can also avoid entering many gift shops. Evne though the kids are young, you can also set a price limit on what they get. Maybe the 3 year old won't understand a hard number but they will understand if you tell them they can only get 'something small.'
then agian... we usually cut the kids a little slack if they opt for somethign educational. One favorite gift shop is the one in Japan. We've gotten sme excellent stuff there. another thing to consider, is having the kids look specifically for somethign they must share- either among themsleves or witha friend back home. so maybe they buy a pack of stickers. another favorite gift shop is the one fot Star Tours. Lots of inexpensive thgins there.
Oh - in the things to bring category- check out the party isle. Much of it is junk, but you an get inexpensive temp tattoos, and sometimes decent enough stuff.
LAst- and this is of two minds. One part says, you are pitting a child against master marketers. the other suggestion- before you go- tell the chld that the trip itself is the treat. Remind them of the fun things they are getting to do. My parents used to always say, "You are lucky you are here." We hated that line...but respect the point it made. Maybe one time remind them that they are at WDW, while their best friend is back home. Again, I think it's wise to have them pick out something to give away. Without nagging, it gets them thinking about the idea that they are at WDW while their friend is not.
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