How much to Budget for Souvenirs?

[Rainforest_Elf]

So, I don't like to shop. I'm kinda a get in, get out kinda gal. However, when on vacation, I've been known to go a bit crazy buying things for myself to remember my trip. I'll get knick-knacks. And I'll spend oodles of money on them. It's a problem. Haha. Hopefully with Disneyland, I'll be a bit better and buy things that are functional but still remind me of my trip (I'm especially a sucker for good pens and stationary!)

So, realistically, let's say your buying gifts for....maybe 7 or 8 people, then you know you're going to buy a good bit for yourself. How much do you think you should budget for Souvenirs? $100? $200? More if you can't control yourself?

 

[NWPrincess]

You could try the outlet mall in Fullerton (never been, but I've heard it's good) to buy souvenirs if you want to save a little dough. We're doing this the first day we get to Anaheim so we get our souvenirs bought before I "get a chance" to go hog wild!

I'm kind of wondering the same thing too. I don't think I can afford to do pin trading, but I am interested in doing the checklist of pressed pennies, but I want a coin book because I've lost all of mine from last time. Does anyone know how much a pressed penny book at Disneyland will run ya?

Another thing that I found helps is to buy a lot of the "clothing" souvenirs before you leave. Try Disney Outlet or even Walmart is known to have some Disney clothing. That way, you can wear it to the park and it becomes a kind of souvenir.

 

[LynnythePooh]

I'm not a huge shopper either - but can't help myself at Disneyland!! I go completely overboard and use the excuse, "I don't know when we'll be back!" I would budget about $400 for 8 people. The Fullerton outlet store is well worth the trip.

We went last year during our spring break trip and saw things there that were still on sale at the park at much lower prices... My kids are huge into pin trading so we always go there to pick up a few pins for them to trade for what they really like at the park.

I also save up by buying Disney gift cards each month before we go - it helps me feel better about spending - don't worry I know I'm only fooling myself... it's part of the disney magic!

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I'm kind of wondering the same thing too. I don't think I can afford to do pin trading, but I am interested in doing the checklist of pressed pennies, but I want a coin book because I've lost all of mine from last time. Does anyone know how much a pressed penny book at Disneyland will run ya?

Pressed Pennies? And a book to keep them in? Okay, I want!!!!!!!!! Is there a thread about pressed pennies anywhere so I can plan about how much loose change to keep readily available? Haha.

I'm assuming they sell scrapbooks somewhere inside DL, yes? I'm planning on buying a special one just to keep my pictures and my little momentos (like coasters from resteraunts and stuff. I steal those. Yeah, I'm weird.) Anyone know about how much those are? I'm probably guessing $20-$30

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven't been impressed with the scrapbooks I've seen at DLR; I'd rather get a basic one from Creative Memories.

The penny books are something like 5 bucks. Not much at all!

Disney has info here about locations of the penny (and quarter) machines. A penny will cost you 51 cents. DS was going crazy in December about getting just any old penny, but this trip he wasn't so into it, and we got him one (the only one he asked for) from the Tower of Terror shop. He had been incredibly brave in asking to go on the ride, and he was very brave while on it, even though he was scared, and he wanted that TOT pressed penny for his bravery.


We don't buy souvenirs for others (selfish, I suppose), and since I've been a few times this year I know what things I want and would buy... In December I got cold so I bought a sweatshirt and now I'm done with clothing purchases...if you think you'll want something like that for yourself, leave a coat at home and bring about 50 bucks for it.

Pins, I budget about $10 each, though they aren't always that cost. Check out disneypin (or disneypins?) dot com for info on new releases (being sure to check that they are sold at DLR...) and cost, so you have an idea of what you're looking for. The pins are just SO cute when you see them. I'm not normally a collector, and I don't really budget for pins for myself, but I've had to really restrain myself with the pins. So cute!


disneyshopping.com is good to check out, especially the outlet section of the site. I've found good stuff for my son on there, as well as clearance blankets to go along with the $30 blanket we bought at DCA in December! I like shopping there to "pad" the souvenirs I want to get at the parks. I don't nkow if you have kids, but it's a good budget way to get more stuff for them (if you like getting stuff) without breaking the bank entirely.

I've only been to the outlet store once (one of the traveling ones) but we weren't "into" Disney at the time and I didn't buy anything (silly me). We meant to go to the Fullerton store this time, but ran out of souvenir budget money quickly, and didn't get there. But that store can be a good help financially as well!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

werre budgeting 300 for the three of us for 4day in dl. where is the out lit store and could a cab get you there?

 

[Queenbillabong]

Disney Shopping has some awesome deals at times. I bought about 20 t-shirts there (for various people - not all for me ) for $3.74 each. These were nice t-shirts too. I'm glad I did, because they were certainly FAR more expensive than that at the park.

The pressed penny books are $6.95 at Disneyland - these are great souvenirs though. However, we learned that you cannot use Canadian pennies in them (I didn't think it mattered!!), but the Canadian pennies stick from the metal in them (magnetized), so they do not go through the machine. Do you know how hard it is to find a lot of shiny American pennies at one time??? Yikes!

I also found a great apron - looks like Mickey (red, big buttons, etc.) for $20 that I got for my husband in DCA. I knew he would not wear a t-shirt, but he would use the apron. Heck, he uses my flowered aprons, so I KNOW that a Mickey one is a step up in his eyes

 

[bumbershoot]

werre budgeting 300 for the three of us for 4day in dl. where is the out lit store and could a cab get you there?

Disney's Character Warehouse Outlet Store



9-8 Sun
9-9 Mon-Sat;

Orangefair Marketplace
243 Orangefair Mall
Fullerton, CA 92832
714-870-9363


I'm sure a cab could take you there, and I think even a bus could.

Here's a coupon good through next April for the Fullerton store: http://www.anaheimoc.org/banner_admin/ads/DisneyCharacter08_v1.gif


And don't forget to check your area for the traveling stores at http://www.ams-liquidation.com/stores.htm

 

[Plantlady]

We're cheap.

Each kid gets $20 and a pair of mickey ears.

I spend nothing. I take a lot of photos.. I consider those my souvenirs.

DH doesn't spend much.

so.. that's it.. about $80.. that's all we spend. But, I admit.. we're cheap.

I should add, that we do pin trading. I buy them in advance, and don't consider that part of souvenir money. Every day they come back to the hotel room, and admire their new pins, and that is just as exciting as new souvenirs.

 

[mom4princesses]

I was just at the Disney Store today and they had a ton of pins for 50% off. So I got a bunch there for a little less that $3 per pin. Then you can trade them when you go to DLR but I know my girls will want to keep them so I got 2 or 3 of the same (keep one, trade one). Can pass up a deal like that even if you don't like the pins since you can trade them.

 

[tortugaverde]

We are usually cheap shoppers. The most my kids get is usually a post card or a small under $5.00 item when we go places. However, we allowed them one item of their choice (within reason) at DL and ears. My daughter picked out a Minnie and Mickey stuffed toy that plays music which was $25.00 and my son picked out a pirate toy (that is super cute!) for $18.00. The grandparents came and spent about $20 bucks more on each kid. The grand total between ears and "stuff" (including treats in the park, which we consider a "souvenirs" as well) was probably about $110.00 dollars or so. The adults did not get any souvenirs. If you are buying for 7-8 people... I would guess you should budget about $50 per person?? If you want to buy a "nice" something for them!

 

[ironpig70]

we are also cheap shoppers and this year we will go to the outlet midweek and then as tradition dictates we go into ddt on the last day. this way the kids have gotten out the impulse shopping. we always get the kids 2 things. 1) is what ever they really want. 2) is a keepsake ie snow globe or special mickey ears. usally spend about $50 per person. this year i think we'll cut that in half by doing the outlet and or bringing stuff bought at home and they get it the morning when we go into the park.

 

[Dobie]

DH wears Disney shirts to work (elementary special needs teacher), plus he is a notorious under packer, so he always buys 5-6 shirts, which adds up. But he needs clothes anyway.

DD17 is a teenage girl and likes trinkets and she's spoiled. There's 50-100 bucks for you.

I typically buy a figurine for a close friend who collects them, and I always get a housewares trinket from Acorn Gifts at GCH for myself (25-50 bucks.) I have a wonderful little clock, set in a wooden hidden mickey silhouette, that makes me smile every time I see it.

For dispensing to the masses, I buy mickey antenna balls. They are not very expensive and people really like them.

 

[sunshinemummy]

We went way overboard when we were there in April, probably spent $1000 if you include the Mickey and Star Wars watches that DH NEEDED to get!!LOL
A few clothing items, candy, keychains, cups, etc... it adds up quite quickly.

 

[kylieh]

werre budgeting 300 for the three of us for 4day in dl. where is the out lit store and could a cab get you there?

Here is a recent post about the bus to the character outlet. Pretty simple, I think we can even manage it
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=25026575#post25026575&highlight=fullerton+bus

 

[kirstie101]

We're taking DD to DLR for the first time in October...by then she'll be 20 months. I know I'm going to have a hard time controlling myself on buying stuff for her!

 

[tortugaverde]

We went way overboard when we were there in April, probably spent $1000 if you include the Mickey and Star Wars watches that DH NEEDED to get!!LOL
A few clothing items, candy, keychains, cups, etc... it adds up quite quickly.

WOW ! That is half of what our entire trip cost! Fun to have new Disney stuff though ... and a Star Wars watch sounds pretty nifty

 

[ArielAdventurer]

We do pressed pennies..and pins...My dd also has to get a stuffed animal..and/or..a princess item..I spend my year doing Sunshine Rewards just to get my spending money..I made over $100 in Disney Dollars..so I don't feel so bad spending..

 

[JadeDarkstar]

We do pressed pennies..and pins...My dd also has to get a stuffed animal..and/or..a princess item..I spend my year doing Sunshine Rewards just to get my spending money..I made over $100 in Disney Dollars..so I don't feel so bad spending..

wow i signed up for that but never made anything. how did you make it work for you?

 

[RuthieT]

we went to the outlet while we were at DL in December and there was alot of t-shirts, pins, etc.... that were great prices and where we got things for the kids in our family. we spent about $125 there and then between DL, DCA and Legoland we spend another $300 I would say. I thought I would do worse cause I tend to go crazy with shopping for things to remember places by, but I did ok I think.