Inexspensive WWOHP souvinier for my brother.

[Miss Marie]

I have just started to see how much a lot of the different HP items cost. My brother (who we are still not sure if he will go or not) has been asking me questions like "Will you get me something there if I can't go?" ad "What HP stuff do they have?" Because I have yet to go, I have no idea what they sell (I have heard about the wands, Hogwarts house merchandise) and I'd really like to get him something in case he cannot come.

I showed him a few things, and he's really interested in anything that involves Slytherin, and also wants a Sorting Hat ($30, YIKES!!) or something Dementor or Death Eater Related. I was thinking about just getting him something from Zonko's (It's his type of store) or maybe buying him a Sytherin lanyard. But I don't want to spend too much on his souvinier.

Is there anything you can recommend I look for? I really would like some ideas before I go, just so I can have an idea of what to look for.

Thanks!

 

[Akwafunk]

I have just started to see how much a lot of the different HP items cost. My brother (who we are still not sure if he will go or not) has been asking me questions like "Will you get me something there if I can't go?" ad "What HP stuff do they have?" Because I have yet to go, I have no idea what they sell (I have heard about the wands, Hogwarts house merchandise) and I'd really like to get him something in case he cannot come.

I showed him a few things, and he's really interested in anything that involves Slytherin, and also wants a Sorting Hat ($30, YIKES!!) or something Dementor or Death Eater Related. I was thinking about just getting him something from Zonko's (It's his type of store) or maybe buying him a Sytherin lanyard. But I don't want to spend too much on his souvinier.

Is there anything you can recommend I look for? I really would like some ideas before I go, just so I can have an idea of what to look for.

Thanks!

How old is he? I'm kindof a practical soul when it comes to gifts, and the house baseball caps are both cool and likely to be worn. The scarves are good too - for the colder months.

A sneakoscope? Some candy? The wands are very cool, but not cheap. I think there's a dementor T-Shirt... I can't find it online though. The house t-shirts are good also.

Shopping in the village stores can be cra-a-a-a-azy. There are a bunch of stores as you exit the park with stuff too.

 

[RMulieri]

Chocolate Frogs are $10 .They have Mugs,keychains etc.

 

[zack123]

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

I bought a really nice drinking glass with the Hogwarts crest on the front. It has designs from each house on it. It was about $9, I think. I like it since I can use it all the time. It makes me happy.

My son got the chocolate frog. It comes in a really, really elaborate box and has a collector card in it.

They have HP stamps for sale.

Butter beer comes in a souvenir mug for an extra fee.

If the lines are insane at the stores in the HP area, there are some HP souvenirs at the big shop as you go in Universal (had chocolate frogs and wands for sure). With no lines. The shops in HP have lines out the door, almost as long as the rides.

 

[derekburgan]

In some other threads the chocolate frogs have taken some heat for the $10 price tag but I think they are a great piece of merchandise to get someone who doesn't make the trip. It is really sharp looking, straight out of the movie, and has a pretty cool card as well that you can't get anywhere else. I send up a chocolate frog and a park map to people getting ready to come down as I really think it whets the appetite for the WWoHP experience.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

There's a ton of Slytherin and Death Eater keychains and pins to choose from They're all round $10 or a little less. The Slytherin lanyard I believe is $10. There's a TON of items to choose from in all the stores, especially Filch's Emporium (I find something new in there all the time, and I'm in there a lot!).

 

[Miss Marie]

My brother is 12. The only reason that he is on the very edge of going/not going is his grades. If he didn't have such bad grades there would be a very high chance that he would go.

Right now I am working hard to try to bring $100 on this trip with me so that I can bring home some nice things. I have thought about a wand, but I've explained that if he wants anything higher than $10 he will have to pay for most of it (I'll chip in some for him).

He is not much of a money saver, but he has thought about switching out an easter basket for cash. If he does that he might be able to get a wand or something like that. He was kind of attracted to getting a sneakascope and/or a Rememberall, as he saw them in the films. I thought about how he is headed for Jr. High next year, and I saw a Slytherin drawstring bag online (which is the type of bag he'd need for Jr. High) for $20 and told him that if he wants it I would pay for 1/2 of it.

Other ideas are appriciated!

 

[macraven]

i'd go with postcards.
then frame them when you get back home.

use the clear no frame types.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

My brother is 12. The only reason that he is on the very edge of going/not going is his grades. If he didn't have such bad grades there would be a very high chance that he would go.

Right now I am working hard to try to bring $100 on this trip with me so that I can bring home some nice things. I have thought about a wand, but I've explained that if he wants anything higher than $10 he will have to pay for most of it (I'll chip in some for him).

He is not much of a money saver, but he has thought about switching out an easter basket for cash. If he does that he might be able to get a wand or something like that. He was kind of attracted to getting a sneakascope and/or a Rememberall, as he saw them in the films. I thought about how he is headed for Jr. High next year, and I saw a Slytherin drawstring bag online (which is the type of bag he'd need for Jr. High) for $20 and told him that if he wants it I would pay for 1/2 of it.

Other ideas are appriciated!

I wouldn't recommend the drawstring bag- I have one from there but it started falling apart after only a couple months of use- and it wasn't under the strain of carrying a student's average school load. It's the only drawstring bag I've ever owned so I'm not sure if that's typical or not. I think a t-shirt or even a wand (which are wonderful), would be more worthwhile for your money.

 

[newdrama12]

I bought a really nice drinking glass with the Hogwarts crest on the front. It has designs from each house on it. It was about $9, I think. I like it since I can use it all the time. It makes me happy.

I second this opinion. My friend's two boys (10,11) love the ones that I bought them! Love the price and the design on them!

 

[Sandy321]

Because you can get a wand on Amazon for so much cheaper - DD friend went when WWoHP first opened, and Bless her, she brought DD a wand back - we were very surprised, and grateful... but it really isnt worth $30 - the whole experience, maybe... but to bring back a box with a plastic wand? I'd seriously just get a wand - and spend the other money -

a chocolate frog, a souvenir mug... maybe a promise for when his grades improve, you can buy it online?

what a hard choice!

 

[zack123]

Because you can get a wand on Amazon for so much cheaper - DD friend went when WWoHP first opened, and Bless her, she brought DD a wand back - we were very surprised, and grateful... but it really isnt worth $30 - the whole experience, maybe... but to bring back a box with a plastic wand? I'd seriously just get a wand - and spend the other money -

a chocolate frog, a souvenir mug... maybe a promise for when his grades improve, you can buy it online?

what a hard choice!

The wands from Ollivander's are currently listed for $35-$39 on Amazon . . . they are only $30 at WWoHP. And for people who are really interested in HP collectibles, they are a nice gift. I didn't buy one because I was afraid I'd smash the box trying to get it into my suitcase.

Although I do agree you should wait until his grades improve before giving him the souvenir, if they are really that bad.

 

[njziggy]

Don't forget about the postcards. You can send it from the little stand behind the HP shop (by the owlery) and it will postmarked from Hogwarts. Pretty cool.

 

[Sandy321]

The wands from Ollivander's are currently listed for $35-$39 on Amazon . . . they are only $30 at WWoHP. And for people who are really interested in HP collectibles, they are a nice gift. I didn't buy one because I was afraid I'd smash the box trying to get it into my suitcase.

Although I do agree you should wait until his grades improve before giving him the souvenir, if they are really that bad.

I meant any other Harry Potter wands can be found on Amazon for $10 - $15, I wasnt suggesting getting a Universal Wand... to me, its all about marketing, and since they are nothing but plastic, it is a bit disappointing to fall in to the hype for the plastic wand. However, I do understand that it is about hype, and it is cool...

I do love the suggestion of sending a postcard thru the owl post!

 

[damo]

I think a wand is the most iconic of gifts. There are a ton to choose from, so you can pick his favourite character. Since he is 12, he won't be playing with it, but just displaying it, so the fact that it is resin shouldn't matter.

 

[zack123]

 

[Miss Marie]

I just asked him what the one thing he'd really want from the WWoHP was, and he said a wand. I explained that he'll have to pay for half of it, and that it will be a reward for getting his grades up. He's kind of upset about having to bring his grades up for it, but hopefully it will give him something to look forward to, and a reason for him to bring them up.

I was thinking about sending an Owl postcard too. But how long would it take for the card to get back home? I will only be down at IOA for a day, but I don't live that far from Orlando. Only about 3-4 hrs away.

 

[zack123]

 

[mcjw2011]

i'd go with postcards.

Same here. If you want to get an inexpensive WWoHP souvenir that's not a postcard (and you're of age), you can fill out a Amex credit card application on the CityWalk. They'll give you a bag and a 10% coupon off merch in select stores.

The 10% coupon isn't good in the actual WWoHP stores, but most of the CityWalk/US stores sell a lot of HP merch anyway. You can use that coupon there.