Bad Idea to spend most of souvenir money before trip

[stellastar23]

I have around $200 set to spend on disney souvenirs. Since most of the stuff at Disney is really expensive, I've been making most of my own souvenirs before the trip.

So far I'm up to $190 for these things (most are handmade too!)
-window decorations
- plush mickey and Minnie for the window
- 2 shirts, scarf, dress, and skirt
-mickey hat that i'm blinging out
-pins

these will be the same things I'd buy at the parks as souvenirs, but I'm saving quite a bit more buying it before the trip. i.e the plushes were 50% off. I'm also not a huge fan of most of the clothes disney sells, so I've improvising. (tie dye mickey shirt, iron on mickey head, yellow dress for "belle", etc). However, it feels a bit off buying "souvenirs" ahead of time. Maybe I should increase my budge by $50, and buy small things like pens at the parks so I don't feel so off.

 

[Marionnette]

I have around $200 set to spend on disney souvenirs. Since most of the stuff at Disney is really expensive, I've been making most of my own souvenirs before the trip.

So far I'm up to $190 for these things (most are handmade too!)
-window decorations
- plush mickey and Minnie for the window
- 2 shirts, scarf, dress, and skirt
-mickey hat that i'm blinging out
-pins

these will be the same things I'd buy at the parks as souvenirs, but I'm saving quite a bit more buying it before the trip. i.e the plushes were 50% off. I'm also not a huge fan of most of the clothes disney sells, so I've improvising. (tie dye mickey shirt, iron on mickey head, yellow dress for "belle", etc). However, it feels a bit off buying "souvenirs" ahead of time. Maybe I should increase my budge by $50, and buy small things like pens at the parks so I don't feel so off.

A souvenir is supposed to be a remembrance of your trip. That's what the word means. I know that a lot of people buy things for the kiddos ahead of time so that they can save money in that area but I don't see the logic in trying to distract the little ones with pins, light ups and t-shirts that you got on ebay and at Walmart when what they want is the very specific pins, light up and t-shirts that they see in the gift shops.

But OTOH, I would not increase my souvenir budget just to include some inexpensive whatnots just because it feels "off" to not purchase something in the parks.

 

[Kellydelly]

I don't consider the things you have made to be souvenirs, just trip themed items . A souvenir is something you buy when you are actually on the trip. I would knock it off and keep some money set aside for spending on actual Disney or FL souvenirs .

 

[marmalade]

A souvenir is supposed to be a remembrance of your trip. That's what the word means. I know that a lot of people buy things for the kiddos ahead of time so that they can save money in that area but I don't see the logic in trying to distract the little ones with pins, light ups and t-shirts that you got on ebay and at Walmart when what they want is the very specific pins, light up and t-shirts that they see in the gift shops.

But OTOH, I would not increase my souvenir budget just to include some inexpensive whatnots just because it feels "off" to not purchase something in the parks.

This!

It's not really a souvenir if you buy it prior to the trip.

 

[stellastar23]

meh, it's all mine, no kids. It's so hard not to spend now, when I know I'm getting a better deal, but I'll stop. Already stopped the order on the plush animals, going to spend double when I get there.

 

[crusoe2]

On some of our trips I've bought stuff for the kids ahead of time in order to save some money. On one trip we let DS invite a friend and I found cute plastic Mickey canteens at the $ store before the trip - those were a fun but inexpensive way to get the boys to carry their own water in the parks and saved us having to buy bottled water all day. And they also made a fun souvenir. Win, win. On another trip we were attending the Halloween party and I bought DD's princess costume on sale at the Disney Store rather than buying in the parks. And we rarely buy t-shirts at the parks. Back when my kids wanted character tee shirts to wear, I'd order them a few when the Disney Store had a really good sale and save them for the trip. But I've never considered the clothes and costumes to be souvenirs and I've always set aside some money to buy a few things while we're there. I agree with Kellydelly - the stuff you listed is really just Disney-themed stuff to wear or use on your trip. I'd pass on buying stuff to decorate the room or window and save that money for some real souvenirs. I've found that it doesn't matter how much cute Disney stuff the kids already have, they always see something at the parks that they just can't live without.

....Just saw that you're buying just for yourself, no kids. In that case, I say do whatever you feel comfortable with. But it kinda sounds like you're going to feel let down if you don't have any money to spend after you get there. I know I would be.

 

[secretpantssam]

If it's just you, i don't see any problem with buying and bringing some stuffed animals with you. I brought a mini mickey and minnie to bring on my trips too. That way you don't spend a ton and, as an adult, you can resist buying something like that at the park. But i would also save some money to bring. I always find fun stuff at Disney that I just can't resist...and like others have said, it's nice to bring something back with you from your trip.

 

[aprilgail2]

A souvenir is supposed to be a remembrance of your trip. That's what the word means. I know that a lot of people buy things for the kiddos ahead of time so that they can save money in that area but I don't see the logic in trying to distract the little ones with pins, light ups and t-shirts that you got on ebay and at Walmart when what they want is the very specific pins, light up and t-shirts that they see in the gift shops.

But OTOH, I would not increase my souvenir budget just to include some inexpensive whatnots just because it feels "off" to not purchase something in the parks.

I don't consider the things you have made to be souvenirs, just trip themed items . A souvenir is something you buy when you are actually on the trip. I would knock it off and keep some money set aside for spending on actual Disney or FL souvenirs .

I never got the logic of buying the stuff at home and bringing it with you to Disney then lugging it home again. If I was going to do that I would just buy it at home and leave it home, not transport it to disney and back. We never really buy much anyway, if my daughter wants pins we just buy them but neither of us is big on shopping there anyway because I don't want to have to pack the stuff and carry it home with me!

 

[NotUrsula]

We like to live by the philosophy that it isn't really a souvenir if you have to pay for it.

The best "souvenirs" IMO are meaningful little things that cost nothing -- some mickey confetti from a great parade experience; a napkin with a character's signature on it, the wrapper from your very first Mickey Bar, a park map, a leaf you found in the queue for HM, etc.

We limit the "stuff" budget to $40/trip; that's plenty for us.

 

[dizluvah]

We like to live by the philosophy that it isn't really a souvenir if you have to pay for it.

The best "souvenirs" IMO are meaningful little things that cost nothing -- some mickey confetti from a great parade experience; a napkin with a character's signature on it, the wrapper from your very first Mickey Bar, a park map, a leaf you found in the queue for HM, etc.

We limit the "stuff" budget to $40/trip; that's plenty for us.

What a great idea. You have inspired me for next trip!

 

[hsmamato2]

I think it's easy,reading these boards,for folks to get carried away making and bringing stuff for their trips.... unless something will save you significant$$$ I don't see the point....like when I got my kids the Pal Mickeys ahead of time on clearance,and they brought them....or a lot of pins from Ebay for them to trade....otherwise, why bother with all that stuff ahead of time? For me, a souvie is finding some special thing that I just want to remember a nice trip with anyway,and that can rarely be gotten ahead of time..... Like those pins....the kids can then trade for something they LOVE while on the trip....

 

[Izzy&LiamsMomma]

A friend gave me a great idea before our first WDW trip--to bring along items that "Mickey Mouse" (or tinkerbell or the princesses, etc) delivers to the door each morning. As I plan for our 3rd trip, I have ordered Disney Parks items from disney.com at significant savings for Mickey to give to the boys each morning. For us it works very well--we have three young boys so they get something new each day to use or play with while they are away from home and their normal toys, they get something magical each day from the big cheese himself, and they can use their saved up money on the bigger ticket items like the make your own lightsaber. My goal isn't really to have "souvenirs", but to create a fun experience for my children! They receive the items while on the trip, I don't see how it matters when they were purchased.

 

[momxx5]

Not sure of the age of your children, but my children understood that the trip to WDW was pricey and souveniers would be something small to remember the trip. Once that was agreed and understood we did not have any "can I have this, I want that" type of things.

We allowed them to do the pressed pennies, that was pretty inexpensive, and as a special treat each kid got to pick a t-shirt from their favorite ride....because that is something you can only get at WDW.

We explained that we would not be purchasing toys that you could easily get at Target, because then they were not special WDW things.

I also let them spend the week "window shopping" and then decide at the last night at Downtown Disney what they really wanted to get as a souvenier. We found that most kids would want something from each store and then at the next place want something else wishing they didn't buy the first thing.....if that makes any sense.

I think all your ideas are great and will make the trip fun, but as otheres have said I would not count them as actual souveniers (unless you children are real young) but even then I would allow then to purchase a little something.

 

[AntePrincess]

I understand both perspectives. We plan on bringing the following things to the parks for "souvenirs:"

• Kid's digital cameras, so they can take their own pictures. These will be a Christmas gift. They start around $20. The kid specific ones are very rugged.
• Disney themed notebook for autographs and a sharpie or pen.
• Rolls of shiny new pennies, for the penny press machines. I suppose this is another hybrid souvenir.
• Glow sticks, necklaces, etc.

Things we'll get at Disney World:

• Pressed pennies.
• EPCOT World Showcase passport.

I really wouldn't pack a lot of stuff just to save money on souvenirs.

 

[elaine amj]

depends on what you want. I like to pre-buy Disney-themed stuff to bring along to us while there. Stuff like t-shirts, etc that adds to the fun and excitement of the trip.

I don't spend much on souvenirs to begin with - so all I hunt for is a magnet for my Trip Magnet collection. (I travel a fair bit and collect a magnet from each place I visit).

The kids will sometimes buy something - but unless it's something useful/something they really want - we don;t buy it just for the sake of buying a souvenir. That drives me crazy actually...way too frugal and practical LOL!!

 

[crisi]

The last few trips the grand total of souvenirs for us was a Christmas ornament for the tree.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

We like to live by the philosophy that it isn't really a souvenir if you have to pay for it.

The best "souvenirs" IMO are meaningful little things that cost nothing -- some mickey confetti from a great parade experience; a napkin with a character's signature on it, the wrapper from your very first Mickey Bar, a park map, a leaf you found in the queue for HM, etc.

We limit the "stuff" budget to $40/trip; that's plenty for us.

I always do this. I have napkins, unused fastpasses and even the plastic Mickey plates that the kids meals were served on. But by far the BEST souvie was the little dry pinto bean that my DS, then 4, found outside the Figment ride...yes I did say dried pinto bean. He called it Mr. Beany and it rode on every ride with him the rest of the week. I stilll have Mr Beany and he is the best souvie I have ever brought home from WDW...by far.

 

[shua321]

But by far the BEST souvie was the little dry pinto bean that my DS, then 4, found outside the Figment ride...yes I did say dried pinto bean. He called it Mr. Beany and it rode on every ride with him the rest of the week. I stilll have Mr Beany and he is the best souvie I have ever brought home from WDW...by far.

I LOVE this! How cute! Reminds me of the time my DSis and I (on a WDW trip with Dad a long time ago) found a tiny little green rubber alligator on the ground at an Orlando gas station. We promptly named him Figment and he lived in the never used ashtray of my Dad's car for years! We loved him and he was always such a great reminder of a great trip and our first time riding Journey to Imagination!

 

[sharon_wv]

The last few trips the grand total of souvenirs for us was a Christmas ornament for the tree.

I get a Christmas ornament each trip we go to Disney. I bring one home for my MIL since she collects ornaments from wherever she goes.

 

[dhdozier]

I have around $200 set to spend on disney souvenirs. Since most of the stuff at Disney is really expensive, I've been making most of my own souvenirs before the trip.

So far I'm up to $190 for these things (most are handmade too!)
-window decorations
- plush mickey and Minnie for the window
- 2 shirts, scarf, dress, and skirt
-mickey hat that i'm blinging out
-pins

these will be the same things I'd buy at the parks as souvenirs, but I'm saving quite a bit more buying it before the trip. i.e the plushes were 50% off. I'm also not a huge fan of most of the clothes disney sells, so I've improvising. (tie dye mickey shirt, iron on mickey head, yellow dress for "belle", etc). However, it feels a bit off buying "souvenirs" ahead of time. Maybe I should increase my budge by $50, and buy small things like pens at the parks so I don't feel so off.

I guess I am in the minority opinion here, but I love your ideas and can appreciate the budget-mindedness of saving money for the same type of souvies you would buy otherwise. My question is - are you taking kids on this trip? If so, don't show them these goodies and surprise them. And in any case, the souvie that my family absolutely loves (hubby, kids, and me) are the pressed pennies. You can buy a book ahead of time online or a disney themed one at the park for around 10 bucks. Each coin is 51 cents to make and my kids love to pick a diff design each to put in the book. It lets them feel like they have a keepsake to treasure and helps my purse and back not having to tote around other things. Have a great trip!