If there is one must have souvenir....

[rumblytumbly]

It's gotta be a christmas ornament!

 

[HappyMommy2]

Those are great ideas! I vote for the Christmas ornament, and also, if your family rides the Disney buses a lot during your stay, get the little Hot Wheels-type Disney bus they sell at WDW! I know that's kind of silly, but we rode the buses a lot during our recent Disney resort stay and my kids cherish their souvenir Disney buses! Next time we hope to stay at a Monorail hotel, and then we will have to buy one of the cute toy Monorails!

 

[bearloch]

Hey its my first time here too!!! were going this fall first time back in 16 yrs ( been to land though inbetween) BUt im a scrapbooking nut and i want autographs too so to save myself time and money i already bought a photo album 5X7 sized with rings and have been cutting up scrapbooking ( acid free) paper into 5X10 size sheets and binding them at my local ISd school for very cheap making on for each day (incase god forbid one is lost) then when we get home all i got to do is Cut the binding off and slide into the page protector with the photo on the other side. AND the best is the craft stores jo-ann and michaels carry disney paper and sticker borders etc you can get so cheap to decorate with!!


LOL and have a blast im gonna!!

 

[escapetodisney]

Photos are my family's favorite souveniers but the sillouhete (sp?) cut-outs of my children that I had done at a cart in downtown disney is my personal favorite souvenier.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

best souvenir - mmmm depends on if its for you or if its for your kids and what ages the kids are -

you will be buying lots of souvenirs at WDW hahahahahahahahaha - my Visa is still smokin from the last trip

if you have young ones - the autograph books... they love those things... my 7 year old did it first when she was 6... I figured she'd have it out of her system - NOPE - she did it again this last trip... somewhat compulsively... we could be going to here favorite ride and she would go the opposite direction if she saw a character to get an autograph - she framed one book open to the Cinderella autograph

and I would have to agree with those who have said coffee cups or Mugs or refillable cups... I have a 100 years of Disney hot Chocolate mug from walking through the Osbourne lights the night after Christmas - whenever I used that mug I got a warm feeling all over, brought back great memories... used it so much I finally put it up on a momento shelf so I won't wear the paint off.
still makes me feel better lookin at it.

and PICTURES

and last time I got a very classy heavy weighted pen...

but I would have to say - a mug or cup or glass and the autograph books

 

[AKbabe]

Wow! How to narrow it down to one?

I am a WDW shopaholic (thought I was making up words, but I looked it up and it does exist, LOL)! I love to buy things at WDW so that I have reminders around me ALL day. I am more of the "buy things I use anyway, just with a Disney theme". Things I have bought:

Frames are great. For all those pics you will take of the kids.

I have a few blankets. A really nice throw and some fleece ones to snuggle up with while I am watching Disney videos

We bought lots of stuff at the AKL. I redecorated my bedroom in a safari/African theme so this stuff really came in handy!

Suitcases! I bought some great ones in DLP. But got a few good ones in WDW too.

CDS. Always nice to listen to WDW music, and I really don't listen to much else. Drives my family nuts

Jewelry. I have several watches. Earrings. And I bought 2 great silver bangle bracelets last year. They have a little Mickey head that is so subtle, you have to really be close to see it. But I know it's there and that's what counts.

Coffee mugs/glasses. Especially the ones you can get engraved with your name.

Bought a nice kimono from the Japanese pavillion and a terry bathrobe from the GF. Sure makes getting a shower worth it!

Have a great trip!

 

[Muffy]

I LOVE the Italian charm braclets (45.00) sold in Italy in the World Showcase (Epcot) The charms range in price from 15.00 to 35.00 ea. They have disney charms and any other type of charm you can imagine! Very cool!

I also love buying the photos from the rides along with a matching frame.

Happy planning!

 

[BluOrchid2]

We always buy lots of tshirts and pins. And we always buy a few Christmas ornaments, too, because I'm an ornament nut!

But the most special things we have all bought, as a family, are watches and jewelry. In 2000 when we went, each family member picked out a NICE watch as a special souvenir. Last time we went, I got another really nice watch. I'd like to continue the practice and eventually have a whole jewelry box full of Mickey jewelry and watches.

 

[jeleebeene]

My favorite souvenir is from last year - I finally got Mouse Ears with my name on it! When we go this year, I am gonna get some for my nephew.

I also look for a figurine or stuffed animal I know I won't find at home. Maybe even buy a T-shirt with my favorite character(s) on it.

I have just started to get into pin trading and have 2 lanyards full for our upcoming trip. Can't wait to do it!

 

[disneyfan551]

I like to get Christmas ornaments too, but I also like to get one that is personalized! We always try to get one at the DTD Christmas Shop. One year, we had such a great time talking with the artist, that we got a "Magical Moment" certificate!

Oh, you guys are making me soooo Disney home-sick...

 

[HunnyPots]

Without a doubt, my best souviners are our pictures, which I am using to create my best scrapbook ever! Oh - but you wanted to spend some money, right? OK, here goes:

Picture frames: One from AK made of carved stone in the shape of Mickey ears, one from MK in the shape of the castle complete with Tinkerbelle and pixie dust.

Pictures we purchased: Tower of Terror ride photo and our Main Street family photo.

Castle Christmas ornament.

Mickey soup mug.

Assorted T-shirts. Kids each got one from their favorite ride.

The one souviner I use most often cost me the least. It's a plastic drink cup from AK! It didn't even cost extra! Most people were just throwing them away when they got finished, but not me. I rinsed it out and carried that thing around with me all day! I use it almost everyday.

Have a great trip and come back with lots of stuff!

 

[dturner]

Christmas ornament with the year on it - been collecting them since 198 __?? (something), my entire Christmas tree is Disney, also a T-shirt with the current year on it.

Have a great trip!!

 

[figment95]

We always buy a picture of us with Mickey Mouse. We have them hanging all over the house. It's great to see how my children keep growing and changing. In the first one, DD was 3 and she looked so afraid. Not anymore!

I also love my Mickey key chain and my WDW mugs. My kids and DH love their pins. The kids each have a lanyard and DH found a really cool safari hat at AK with pins already on it. He started by trading some of the pins that came on the hat and got hooked!

 

[princess lovers mom]

My DD loves her autograph book. We took her pic with each character after they signed and put it in the book on the page opposite each signature...

we also gave her some money to spend each day for her own souveneirs..I think it was $10/day...if she wanted something more expensive than $10 she had to take money from another day...hence less money tomorrow...she really understood this at 41/2 and treasures still today the things that she bought by herself...especially the minnie mouse ears hat and a winnie the pool spin around light chaser thing that she bought from a cart. I did not think that it was worth the $13, but it still gets weekly use 3 1/2 years later!!! So you never know what is going to be the best souveneir!!!

Have Fun!!!!

 

[manchurianbrownbear]

My family of six will also be there in November, the first week!

You've already got many good suggestions for souvenirs (my favorite is a Spaceship Earth that came with a Coke in it!). If you want to stretch your dollar here are links to the websites of a couple Outlet Malls that have "authentic WDW merchandise" .

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17

http://www.belz.com/factory/locations/orlando/orlando_layout.html#stores

 

[sarahj]

We buy a towel at every visit. We have a pool at home, and everyone who comes to swim and forgets a towel, gets to pick one to USE. They aren't allowed to leave with it!! We have quite an assortment and I look forward to buying my second one this year when we return in September! I also buy a Christmas ornament each visit!

 

[CarolynFH]

the best souvenier I ever bought was my Minnie Mouse backscratcher! She's holding both her hands over her head, and boy does she do a good job on your back. I use it daily!

RE family photos: I think Studio M is still located in DTD. You can go there and have a posed photo taken with everyone in your party AND with Mickey himself in front of a WDW backdrop. Get a nice WDW frame, and it's wonderful to look at every day. But of course you want to take lots of informal photos too and get an album for them.

 

[MLAinVA]

Oh my gosh--these are all great suggestions and I think we've done em all; check my Visa bill for proof. We even take home the Mickey Mouse coasters from the hotels. There are lots of things that we we bring back and turn into "hidden Mickeys" all over our house.

That shelf over our fireplace is our very own "Mickey Mantle".

 

[CindyBella]

I am new to these boards today too!

I am making my 5th wdw trip in August and I always buy snowglobes. I have always thought they were magic. They can be very expensive but some are so beautiful they are just ART! I loved the 100 years of magic snowglobe parade and loved that they made snowglobes modeled after the floats.

My second favorite souvenir is Christmas ornaments. I make sure and get one or two every year.

Lastly, I bought the mickey toaster and waffle maker this March. Breakfast has never been sooo much fun! For the kids, I collect WDW licence plates. You can that everywhere around the park and the resorts too (atleast AKL).

Have fun!

 

[KatelynnsAuntie]

How about Guest of Honor badges?

Pressed Pennies? (Inexpensive, and you'll have them forever!)

Also, last time I was there I got a Walt Disney World license plate holder that says
"Been There, Done That, Going Back!" It's been on my car for three years!

Two Weeks and Counting!