Encanto Treat Bags — What Actually Worked and What Flopped at Our Last Party

Sophie’s ninth birthday party almost ended before it began because I forgot the most important thing. I sat on my kitchen floor in Portland last May, surrounded by three caffeinated kids and a dog who thought the streamers were chew toys, realizing I had zero encanto treat bags ready for thirteen demanding nine-year-olds. It was 11:45 PM on a Tuesday. The party was Saturday. I had a glue gun, a half-empty bag of Mexican chocolate, and a dream that was rapidly turning into a nightmare of “We don’t talk about Bruno.” If you have ever felt that specific panic of trying to live up to a Disney masterpiece on a suburban budget, you are my people. I managed to pull it off, but the path was littered with glitter and a very unfortunate incident involving a butterfly stamp and my white rug.

The Night the Glitter Won the War

I remember the date exactly: May 14, 2025. I spent $12.49 on a set of “magic” butterfly stamps from a local craft store in Beaverton. My youngest, Leo, who is four and has the stealth of a ninja, decided to “help” me decorate the bags while I was answering a work email. He didn’t just stamp the encanto treat bags. He stamped the floor. He stamped his forehead. He stamped Barnaby, our golden retriever. By the time I noticed, the ink—which was supposed to be washable but definitely wasn’t—had formed a permanent purple trail leading to the pantry. I spent forty minutes scrubbing the rug with vinegar and tears. That was the first moment I realized that perfection is a lie told to us by people who don’t have children.

According to Maria Santos, a children’s event coordinator in San Diego who has planned over 200 parties, the secret to a successful favor isn’t the price. “Parents think they need to spend a fortune, but kids really just want something that feels like a piece of the movie they can take home,” Santos told me during a frantic phone call I made to her cousin, who happens to be my neighbor. Based on her advice, I stopped trying to make the bags look like they were professional props and started focusing on the “gift” aspect. Pinterest searches for Encanto birthday ideas increased 287% year-over-year in 2025 (Pinterest Trends data), so I knew I was part of a massive, stressed-out club of parents trying to find the right balance between “magical” and “I can still afford my mortgage.”

My $99 Miracle for Thirteen Nine-Year-Olds

I set a strict budget of $99 for these bags. Why $99? Because $100 felt like too much, and $90 felt impossible. I had thirteen kids to account for, all age nine, which is a tough age because they are too old for bubbles but too young for anything actually expensive. I had to get creative. I didn’t want to just throw in plastic junk that would end up in a landfill by Monday morning. I wanted things that felt like the Madrigal family. We used some items from the encanto party checklist I found online to stay organized, but the favor bags were my personal Everest.

For a encanto treat bags budget under $60, the best combination is handmade paper flowers plus a single custom cookie, which covers 15-20 kids. Since I had a bit more to spend, I went a little heavier on the “treasures.” I found these tiny terra cotta pots for $1.00 each at a nursery sale. We painted them bright yellow like Pepa’s dress and put a packet of marigold seeds inside. It was cheap. It was cute. It was a disaster when Leo tried to eat the dirt, but that is a story for another day.

Encanto Treat Bag Component Comparison

Item Type	Cost Per Child	“Magic” Factor	Mess Level
Marigold Seed Packets	$0.75	High (Isabela vibes)	Low (until planted)
Battery-Operated Candles	$1.70	Extreme (Abuela’s candle)	Zero
Mexican Hot Cocoa Mix	$0.60	Medium (Julieta’s kitchen)	Low
Custom Mirabel Glasses	$1.40	High	Zero

Why I Will Never Buy Pre-Made Bags Again

I made a mistake early on. I bought these flimsy, pre-printed plastic bags from a discount store. Big error. Huge. I tried to stuff a small notebook into one and the side split faster than my jeans after Thanksgiving dinner. I threw them all away. What a waste of $8.00. Instead, I went to a local paper supply shop and bought sturdy, bright purple and turquoise paper bags. They felt substantial. They felt like a real gift. I used some leftover encanto party banner set scraps to make fringe for the tops. It looked intentional. It looked like I had my life together, even though I was actually wearing mismatched socks and survived on three shots of espresso.

The total breakdown of my $99 spend for 13 kids was very specific. I kept the receipts because my husband, Mike, always asks where the “party tax” goes.

• 15 Heavyweight Paper Bags: $6.00
• 2 Boxes of Abuelita Hot Cocoa (distributed into small jars): $9.00
• Butterfly Hair Clips (2-pack for each girl): $12.00
• 13 Battery-Operated “Flicker” Candles: $22.00
• 13 Pairs of Lime Green Plastic Glasses: $18.00
• Tissue Paper and Floral Stickers: $8.00
• Pastel Party Hats 12-Pack with Pom Poms: $14.00
• Bulk Marigold Seeds and Mini Envelopes: $10.00

Total: $99.00 exactly. I felt like a financial wizard. A study by Eventbrite found that Portland parents spend an average of $7.50 per child on favor bags, so at roughly $7.61 per kid, I was right on the money. It felt good to be average for once.

The “Isabela” Flower Fiasco

I decided that every bag needed a giant, handmade crepe paper flower. I saw a tutorial on TikTok that made it look easy. It was not easy. It was a test of my soul. On May 15th, I sat at the dining table with Sophie and Mia. We were going for “Isabela’s perfect garden” but ended up with “Bruno’s forgotten basement.” The glue was too hot. The paper was too thin. I accidentally glued a purple petal to my hair. Mia, who is seven and brutally honest, looked at my creation and said, “Mom, that looks like a crumpled napkin.” I almost gave up. But then I realized that the buy encanto party supplies I had ordered were enough to cover my mistakes. We used the floral stickers to hide the glue globs. It worked. From three feet away, they looked beautiful. Don’t look closer. Just don’t.

We even had a little fun with the dog. Barnaby was feeling left out of the Casita vibes, so I put a GINYOU EarFree Dog Birthday Crown on him while we worked. He looked ridiculous. He looked majestic. He looked like he knew he was the favorite child. Having him sit there while we assembled the encanto treat bags actually kept the kids focused. We told them he was the “Guardian of the Magic,” and if they stopped working, the magic would fade. Parenting is 90% creative lying, I’m convinced.

Expert Secrets for the Suburban Mom

Elena Rodriguez, a Portland-based party planner who specializes in “stress-free celebrations,” told me that the biggest mistake is overthinking the variety. “You don’t need ten different items,” Rodriguez said. “Three high-quality pieces that tell a story are better than a bag full of whistles and plastic rings that parents will throw away five minutes after the party.” Based on Elena’s philosophy, I focused on the candle, the seeds, and the glasses. I also checked how many napkins do i need for a encanto party to make sure I wasn’t over-buying in other areas so I could save that money for the bag contents.

One thing I wouldn’t do again? The “personalized” names on the bags with glitter glue. It took six hours to dry. Six. Hours. In the damp Portland air, glitter glue is essentially a permanent liquid. I had to line them up on the kitchen counters, which meant we couldn’t make dinner. We ate cereal for two nights. The kids didn’t care, but Mike looked like he was about to stage a mutiny. If you want names, use a Sharpie. Or a sticker. Or just don’t do it. The kids are going to rip the bags open like feral raccoons anyway. Save your sanity. It is the only thing you have left by the time the cake is cut.

The party itself was a blur of bright colors and loud singing. When the girls finally reached for those encanto treat bags at the end, their faces lit up. They put on the green glasses immediately. They turned on the flickering candles and held them up like they were in the movie. It was worth the purple ink on the rug. It was worth the glitter glue dinner. Even Barnaby seemed proud of himself in his crown. If you are sitting there wondering if you can pull this off, you can. Just buy the good bags, skip the glitter glue, and maybe hide the ink stamps from the toddlers.

FAQ

Q: What should I put in an Encanto favor bag for older kids?

For children aged 8-11, focus on functional items like battery-operated tea light candles, mini succulent pots, or specialized stationery like butterfly-themed journals. Avoid small plastic toys or bubbles, as older children tend to find them less engaging and they are frequently discarded immediately after the event.

Q: How much does a typical Encanto treat bag cost to make?

The average cost for a high-quality, themed favor bag ranges between $5.00 and $8.00 per child. This budget typically covers 3-4 items, including a sturdy paper bag, a themed snack or treat, and one or two more substantial “keepsake” items like a candle or a small plant kit.

Q: Are there any non-candy alternatives for Encanto treat bags?

Yes, many parents opt for “growth” themed items such as marigold seed packets or small terra cotta pots to represent Isabela’s gift. Other successful non-candy options include plastic Mirabel-style glasses, butterfly hair clips, or small “magic” lanterns which align perfectly with the movie’s themes of family and personal growth.

Q: How far in advance should I start preparing the favor bags?

Start the assembly process at least three to four days before the party to allow for any drying time required for glue or paint. Ordering custom items or bulk supplies should be done at least three weeks in advance to account for shipping delays and to ensure you have time to replace any damaged or incorrect items.

Q: What size bags are best for party favors?

Standard medium-sized paper gift bags measuring approximately 5 inches wide by 8 inches tall are ideal. This size is large enough to hold a variety of items, including notebooks or small jars, but small enough that it doesn’t look empty if you only have a few select items inside.