Disney Themed First Birthday Gift Ideas

   

My little guy is already 10 months old – which is really hard to believe because it seems literally like just yesterday that I was having my Disney baby shower and preparing for his arrival! He babbles and feeds himself (sort of) and crawls and gets into anything and everything – and it’s been an amazing journey so far!

I’ve already begun preparations for his first birthday party – which I am trying to keep low key (not an easy feat in the days of pinterest and over the top kids parties!). It will be at a local park lodge, and we will have pizza and cupcakes, and I opted for an easy zoo animals theme with fun blow up zoo animal beach balls and baggies of animal crackers as “favors”. Even though I know he will receive a TON of gifts, I still want my husband and I to get him something, and I was trying to think what he might like, and I was of course thinking about how I could start that love for Disney at an early age too….

So here’s what I came up with for possible Disney gift ideas for a 1 year old:

This 4 in 1 Mickey Mouse Ride On can be used as a walker/rocker, and transitions with them as they grow older. It features their favorite Disney characters, and even lights up and Mickey talks and plays music too!

John has this Disney Wooden Train and he loves it – and by loves it I mean “loves eating the pieces” – but I am sure once he gets older he will enjoy actually putting it together

Stuffed animals are great for kids of any age – and I love this Disney My First Duffy Bear – he’s nice and soft and the perfect bedtime cuddle buddy in his adorable pajamas

Playsets like this Disney little people Mickey and Minnie’s house Little People set are great for their imagination and role playing skills – which admittedly at 1 they don’t have much of, but for now they can play with the houses and little people and enjoy the colors and textures

A note about suggested ages: I always read the suggested age range on a toy before I buy it, but I don’t always follow it – if a toy says ages 2 and up but it doesn’t have any small or sharp pieces, chances are pretty good I will let my little guy play with it. However – that’s totally up to you as a parent or gift giver, so feel free to do whatever you feel is best!

I can’t wait to celebrate my boy turning 1 – and I can’t wait to watch him start to really “play” with toys. They may physically grow a LOT their first year, but this upcoming year is going to be a big one for developmental milestones, and I can’t wait to witness each and every one!

What about YOU – what do you like to give as gifts to your favorite tiny Disney fans?

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – All Time Favorite Disney Moments

There are some vacation memories that stand out in our minds as being the perfect moment – and throughout all my trips to Disney, I have definitely had a BUNCH of these – moments where I just stop and think “wow, this is amazing and perfect and I wish this could last forever!” Of course, it can’t last forever – but the memory of it can, and so can the pictures (my personal favorite souvenir of all time!). Check out some of my top Disney moments:

When my husband and I went to Disney for our honeymoon, I hadn’t been there in over 7 years – and when I stood at the start of Main Street and stared down at the Castle in the distance – I got a little misty eyed – and the only thought I had was “I’m FINALLY home”

My parents, husband and I spent the week of Christmas at Walt Disney World two years ago – and we had SO MUCH FUN! Waking up at Disney on Christmas day has to be the ultimate in Christmas dreams come true (thanks Santa!), but I have to say the best moment of the whole trip was when we went to see the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights on Christmas Day. We went early so we could see them be lit, and it was an amazing experience – the music, the lights, the (fake) snow, it was the absolute perfect thing to do on Christmas Day and I think of that memory often

When Duffy The Disney Bear came on the scene, I just thought he was the cutest thing – and I loved the backstory of how Minnie made him for Mickey so he wouldn’t be lonely on long trips. So I knew I had to meet him – pronto. I made my way to his character meet and greet in Epcot, and was saddened to see that he wasn’t there – but after only a few minutes, he appeared and I got to meet him! I was so excited, and I would say this was definitely one of my favorite character encounters ever!

I have been lucky enough to get to travel to Disneyland once – and it was such a great experience! I love how different it is from Disney World, and yet how similar it is too (yeah, that seems weird to say, but it’s true!) and I love that it was a place where Walt actually went and took his family there, and that he created from the ground up

Vacations are a perfect place to have fun, relax, and make memories with the ones you love! I am so grateful and lucky to have gotten to travel to Disney and have these moments with my family – and I can’t WAIT to bring my little guy to Disney so he can start making memories of his own!

TGIF

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Cuddly Stuffed Friends!

I don’t know about you – but when I was a kid, one of my favorite toys was my stuffed animals – I had a pile on my bed, and they were my companions, audience, tea party guests, game opponents…and the list goes on. That love of cuddly stuffed toys has followed me into adulthood – and when I go to Disney, I have to restrain myself from buying all of them…

   

Me and Duffy – I actually do have one of these guys (and a mini one too!) at home – I love the story about Minnie sewing Duffy for Mickey and Duffy going on all of Mickey’s adventures with him!

Everyone needs at least one Mickey to hug – this classic one is adorable!

It’s hard to say who looks more pathetically gloomy – my husband or Eeyore

I love this little Minnie with glasses – I totally would have bought this when I was a kid!

…he really does smell like strawberries – isn’t that something?

Stuffed animals are great for those of all ages – from infant to toddler to child, to teens and adults too! Disney has them all, in all sizes, and they are all adorable and cuddly! Hmm – maybe next trip I should bring an empty suitcase so I can purchase a few new furry friends…

TGIF!