Bringing back gifts from a holiday

[Jackolanterny]

My family has always brought home gifts from holidays and I’m not talking little things; pens made from shells or fridge magnets, I’m talking high numbers of expensive gifts…it can seriously feel like Christmas.

For some reason this is even more exaggerated when family goes to Disney World.

I’m now at Disney World and I’m worrying as we just haven’t budgeted enough to bring back gifts for nieces, nephews, siblings and parents. In fact, it’s really too expensive to buy gifts at all. We are having a great time, but it’s taken a lot of saving.

My family have said not to worry. They aren’t grabby at all, but I can’t shake the feeling of guilt. I’ve told them in the past not to buy for us, but they still do. I know I’m going to feel so embarrassed bringing back nothing.
WWYD?

Thank you

I’d bring back nothing and not feel bad! I always travel really light so the most I ever bring back are pens 😄

Enjoy your holiday and don’t stress any more

Send them each a postcard with their favorite Disney character?

Maybe somebody needs break the family souvenir habit. It's not as if you were away for many years and returning home with gifts from far away lands. 🙃

This is very cute.

I wish we’d travelled a bit lighter! Brought all these clothes and hair straighteners, makeup etc and not used any of it!

Take what they've said at face value. Giving people 'high numbers of expensive gifts' from a holiday is not normal and certainly not something you should aim or feel obliged to match.

If anyone should be embarrassed it's them buying a load of stuff that's probably not wanted or needed and also the associated obligation you're feeling about keeping up with this.

It's not generous but quite the opposite because they're indirectly controlling what you spend your money on if you try to reciprocate.

If you see something small and affordable that you think they'd like, buy that. Otherwise enjoy your holiday and don't give it a second thought.

Expensive gifts is not a sustainable cycle. Someone has to break it some time.

We only ever bring back token gifts for dh's niece and nephew. This year we went to Morocco and did bring mil and sil some argan oil but we don't normally buy for adults and I certainly won't be setting a precedent.

If you can afford to get key rings, fridge magnets, postcards, pens or placemats I would for the nieces and nephews but tbh it depends on how many you have. If it's too expensive, I wouldn't bother. A holiday is for you to enjoy, not worry over what to buy other people.If you decide not to bother don't feel guilty.

We don’t have a car to go off-site, but the Disney World key rings are around $15 - $20 each before tax 😮 I looked today.

We are having an amazing time, and I know that my family won’t mind at all. It just feels so mean. But buying gifts here would cost hundreds at a minimum, and thousands if I tried to match what they do - although they haven’t been here in around ten years and I believe the prices have soared since then.

It’s been a learning curve in travelling light for me , believe me 😂

How mean to not buy a child a keyring, for all the keys they have....., honestly kids who are on the holiday in a gift shop are excited to buy something but it's all tatt and they have forgotten once they're home.
I'd much rather auntie takes them out once they're home and spends time with them and buys an ice cream than expensive crap that they won't care about x

I travelled to the UK a few years ago & wanted to travel lightly, took only carry on - & then got so carried away with wanting to bring gifts home to family here in NZ I ended up having to buy a giant suitcase in London to fit my smaller bag & all the gifts I'd acquired - excess baggage is another cost you never think of when you buy the gifts.
If I was you I'd think the best bit you could do is have the best holiday & then share your stories with them all later on. None of us need fluff & stuff to sit in a drawer for ever more.

$20+ for a key ring is insane. Just don't bother. Most people would prefer you didn't buy tat like that at any cost and especially not when it's such a rip off.

We were there last month. Prices are crazy. If you can budget for an Uber/Lyft to the outlet at Vineland you may get a few bargains. And have a cheap meal while you're there to save a few quid.

We didn't even buy much for ourselves - a lot of stuff is not park exclusive and can be bought in the UK Disney store!

Get a taxi to Walmart and get some Disney stuff for a few dollars, key rings, pens, biscuits etc.

Order cheap token gifts from Amazon to arrive before you get home and give those out!

Honestly depending on the age of the family DCs - a few random treats from the shops (we do weird flavour oreos, some prime drinks, nerds, sugar cookies, that sort of thing) and one park think (postcard, magnet or similar) would be just as exciting! Kids don't always associate £££ with good presents and if the family are saying don't worry then I'd be taking that at face value.

First time we went we stayed on International Drive. There were stores selling reasonably priced Disney bits. Get useful stuff like pens, notebooks, cups, Christmas decorations if you must buy something? Otherwise do nothing.

This was a thing for my family in the 80s. We all used to bring back gifts for each other (aunt, uncle, cousins, nan, grandad) when any of us went abroad. We've not done it since the 80s now, thank goodness.

The only person I shop for on holiday is my grand daughter, my adult kids would be lucky to get a pen 😂😂 but they don't care. Seems a bit mad to be making a huge deal with presents for the whole family from a 2 week holiday.

This, get some weird and wonderful lollies, chocolate or biscuits. Everyone loves these as much as expensive presents

Why do families put so much pressure on each other? What about doing an American very minimally themed bbq when you return to say hello to your nearest amd dearest when you get back

Don’t feel bad. Think of how your helping the environment because one day all the that expensive tat they’ve bought everyone from places they’ve never been to will just end up in landfill. I absolutely would be happier knowing my loved ones were spending their money enjoying themselves rather than on some shit I don’t want or need.

Thank you all. Have decided to go to a Walmart and stock up on sweets after reading your responses.

Most of the ‘kids’ in the family are between 13 and 22, with just the one baby. This makes the gift buying harder as pens etc won’t be exciting. But they are good kids so I’m sure an edible treat will be appreciated.

There is or was a Disney shop in the malls in Orlando which is cheaper

Honestly, gift giving is largely for the giver. It makes them feel good. But most people don’t want other people’s holiday tat for a place they didn’t go themselves. Definitely small American sweets and treats are the way to go.