Buying souvenirs at home?

[DHisaDisneyScrooge]

I've heard this is a good plan. I've purchased a Disney stuffed animal for each kiddo.

What else? Are prices at disneystore online really better than the parks?

 

[Kogo Shuko]

Oh goodness, if I was going to Disney with children, I'd stock up on some Disney items at the dollar store. The dollar store near me sells all kinds of cheap Disney stuff, like figures, pencil kits, puzzles, crafts, etc. I'd stock up on those and hide them in my suitcase and hand them out while we were down there, to avoid spending too much on souvenirs in the parks and stores.

Mind you, there are some things I'd never NOT get when at the parks - ears, charms, watches, etc.

 

[chalee94]

Oh goodness, if I was going to Disney with children, I'd stock up on some Disney items at the dollar store.

yep - also the light-up necklaces and such to avoid paying park prices.

if I had a little girl, I'd probably hit her with some bibbity-bobbity glitter and princess dress before we got to the parks...

 

[ajwolfe]

I always buy glow sticks and little trinket type surprises to take along. But for the most part our actual souvenirs come from the parks; ears, t-shirts, stuffed animals, light sabers, whatever. We just sent an amount they are allowed to spend and give them a gift card with that on it. Then it's up to them to decide what they want.

 

[Sagginit]

i find disney store prices are better but the products vary and the quality/ way they are made is hit or miss in both places. i got myself those clip on barrette mouse ears at my local disney store a few years ago for my trip as I wanted to bling them out. i put swaroski crystals on some of the polka dots before i went. well when i got there i got lots of questions about where i got them as they were better quality than the style in the parks. i do find shirts i buy in the park tend to be better quality and more detailed than the ones in the disney store though (even if they do cost more). toys there can also vary but as for trinkets i think it is totally worth buying before you go as they charge a fortune for a pen or bouncy ball.

for cheap stuff also check out walgreens/duane reade. they carry a lot of disney stuff especially at the holidays. last year i found some disney things after valentines day for 90% off, including a light up heart mini-ring, mini-character buttons, and stickers. the ring was just 9cents and i wore it at night in disneyland when i went this past fall. made my husband happy as not once did i beg for a light up toy from a cart

 

[cinnamon-sugah]

I always buy the tubes of glow sticks from the dollar store. My kids love wearing them and sharing them with other kids around us. When they were really little, I also bought the light up spinny things at the Disney store because they were SO much cheaper than in the parks!

 

[Mom2Kids2003]

We always go to Target or Walmart before our trips and we each get to pick out a Disney shirt to wear in the parks. We also bring glow sticks for nights in the park and when my kids were younger, we would get stuffed animals at the Disney Store too. Now that they are older, we get them a pre-loaded Disney gift card ($25 each) and that is their souvenier money for on our trip.

 

[MommaBerd]

In the past I have done what PPs have suggested in terms of trinkets and glow sticks. But, as for true "souvenirs," we gave our kids about $10 in quarters and a BUNCH of pennies and let them go "crazy" with the pressed penny machines! They loved it, though none of them spent all $10. There are some cute ideas on how to display them or even turn them into jewelry.

As a tip, the first year we followed someone's suggestion to use the tubes from mini-M&Ms to hold the quarters (and the pressed pennies). But, the lids kept popping off and the quarters would fall out. So for the next trip I saved empty prescription bottles (removed the labels), and it worked beautifully. A little awkward, admittedly, but nothing a few stickers couldn't remedy.

 

[tzeitel]

Target and Walmart have the glow sticks/necklaces/bracelets for $1 (or a little more for the more elaborate and/or multi packs). At Target they have little Disney things in their Dollar Spot. I get stickers, coloring packs (great for TS dinners), hair clips, socks etc. Not a souvenir per say, but something a lot of people buy in the parks is the misting fans. I get those at Walmart super cheap - especially at this time of the year. They also have these small fans (non misting) in fun colors (pink, blue, green) that don't look like they would do much but we loved them on our very hot trip last May. They are small, with foam blades and have a clip. Got them for $1 each.
At the Disney Store I get one shirt for each of us and look for themed light up toys.

Ears and Christmas ornaments are bought in the parks. Usually DD gets a plush and I get a little something (or not so little as on our Oct trip to DLR I got a D&B 60th anniversary bag), DH doesn't normally get anything.

 

[PerfessorZ]

As a tip, the first year we followed someone's suggestion to use the tubes from mini-M&Ms to hold the quarters (and the pressed pennies). But, the lids kept popping off and the quarters would fall out. So for the next trip I saved empty prescription bottles (removed the labels), and it worked beautifully. A little awkward, admittedly, but nothing a few stickers couldn't remedy.

I'm dating myself here, but if you have any old film canisters, they're less suspicion-arousing.

 

[BelleBriarRose]

I think Disney Store prices are pretty much the same as those at the park, but you can get reasonably priced Disney stuff at the dollar store, Target, or Walmart if you're looking to stock up before a trip. That said, there are some things you can only get at the parks, and to me that's much more worthwhile than Disney plushes etc. which you can get anywhere. A little planning ahead goes a long way in stretching your dollar at Disney.

 

[msmama]

That never worked for us. We don't just want stuff to have it, we want stuff FROM the vacation.

That said, my son has never really been one to ask for lots of stuff and the stuff he has asked for is the stuff that is only available at the parks (like build your own lightsaber or droids).

The one time I brought stuff from home, it didn't end up saving me any money in the parks so I just spent more overall!!

 

[DHisaDisneyScrooge]

I'm dating myself here, but if you have any old film canisters, they're less suspicion-arousing.

Please allow me to date myself as I admit that I do have fail canisters, film, AND,a camera with which to use said film if I could find a place to develop it and wanted to sell a kid or two to pay for it!

 

[Aelgifu]

It's two hour flight from where we are, I usually have something for the flight down and for the flight home. I put it in a bag with a special snack and sweet treat. It gives them something to look forward to during the boring traveling part of the trip and saves me money. Personally, beyond budget, I hate wasting precious vacation time on shopping. If I am going to let them get souvenirs, I give them a budget beforehand and they know not to pester me after that amount is spent. That may or may not work depending on how old your children are.

 

[Pinfeathers & Golly Fluff]

With the Shop Disney Parks app we've been purchasing items on the app and having them delivered to our home We did this with the Hollywood Tower Hotel bell when it was out of stock .. waited until it was back in stock when we were back from our vacation and purchased it through the app. They're offering free shipping on all orders through the end of January as well. So total for the bell it was $7.95, free shipping and no sales tax.

It's a great way to see what the prices of souvenirs you're interested in before you get there so you can budget accordingly. Even if you don't use it to send a souvenir to your home it really comes in handy when you're there if you're looking for something specific since it will tell you every location on property that sells that specific item.

It's also dangerous because it makes me want to buy seasonal items when I'm not there lol

 

[DreamIsaWish]

I buy princess dresses in advance. There's one place I like that has super comfortable dresses and they're way cheaper than the ones in the parks. But even more important than cost is comfort. The official ones are itchy and my daughter won't wear them anymore. The ones I bring are as comfortable as a normal dress and she can wear them all day.

I also recycle souvenirs. When we get home from a trip, the light-up toys, ears, etc., go in a box in the suitcase. When we go back the next time, they're all there waiting for us. It's not like the kids really need a new light-up toy every time we go there. And it's not like they play with them at home either.

 

[tasha99]

I always bring glow stuff because they're like a dollar at the dollar store and super expensive after dark at Disney.

Last trip I didn't get souvenirs for the kids, but I brought gifts home for a couple of my friends. I bought one before even leaving home on ebay (too perfect and specific for him to find in the parks) and the other one I ended up ordering while at Disney. It was impossible to find any big hero 6 items on my trip, and I wasted a lot of time looking. Really sad because it's the perfect souvenir theme for people who work in healthcare. I ended up buying a pain scale mug off of etsy.

 

[PerfessorZ]

I buy princess dresses in advance. There's one place I like that has super comfortable dresses and they're way cheaper than the ones in the parks. But even more important than cost is comfort. The official ones are itchy and my daughter won't wear them anymore. The ones I bring are as comfortable as a normal dress and she can wear them all day.

Where do you get your princess dresses?

 

[DreamIsaWish]

Where do you get your princess dresses?

littledressupshop dot com

Awesome dresses! Machine washable. No glitter shedding.