Is it just me..or

[DISNEYFOS]

Does anyone else really love shopping for souvenirs in the parks???

I see a lot of posts about shopping at the dollar store/target or even the disney store before you leave to get souvenirs for the kiddos.

Of course, I'm all for whatever works for each family...But I'm just wondering if I'm weird cause I love love love going to the stores in the parks.

I do draw the line if DD want to get something that she already has (or similar). We typically bring a bag with all the figurines that we've collected in past trips so she doesn't try to ask for those. And of course we have a budget that she's aware of..

But seriously sometimes I have a hard time saying no to that really adorable tigger pin or Mickey Mouse Bottle stopper. And really feel bad if I didn't get a new sweatshirt or t-shirt to bring home.

Anyone else??

 

[jessica52877]

I love looking but keep my money in my pocket. Too much of it is overpriced. It if it something I like and think it is reasonable then I might consider it. I can go in disney shops all day long though!

 

[pixiewings71]

I love Disney shops!!! But I also know that if I want to actually use my DL AP I must budget well so I also shop at the Dollar Store or Target Dollar Spot for cute little souvenirs. Also, many times we simply skip the souvies all together and keep that money for next time. My girls have both had $30 Disney Dollars on our last 2 trips....the same $30 dollars, they are both saving it for later.

 

[earthfaries]

I have always wondered that also. I guess it just depends on how much you want to spend.
I personally don't feel it isn't a true souvenier if I don't get it on my trip. I'm not going to buy a shirt at Goodwill or ebay for WDW because it won't be special to ME. I know it is different with everyone, but I personally always wonderend that also
Buying stuff at Disney is one of our fave things to do on vacation
No matter where we go, esp. Disney, my kids love their finds and for years later say..."This is the Stitch I got at WDW..." Not everyone can say that. It wouldn't be the same to us to get it at the Disney Store or somewhere everyone else could get it.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'm with you OP.

I love shopping for souvenirs in the parks.

I could never pre-purchase stuff at Target, the Dollar Store, or anywhere else just to bring them to WDW & give them to the kids as souvenirs. I understand why some people do it....but I never could.

 

[npmommie]

Do you budget a certain amount for park souveniers? I have a number in my head for each child, but I just know it will go over and i can already hear my frugal hubby complaining...LOL

 

[earthfaries]

Do you budget a certain amount for park souveniers? I have a number in my head for each child, but I just know it will go over and i can already hear my frugal hubby complaining...LOL

I don't. Well, my budget is put all the money I will need for strollers, ECV rentals, gas, parking, etc. aside and everything else is free for the spending until it's gone

 

[Schmeck]

People buy stuff at the Dollar Store and give it to their kids on the trip as a souvenir? Do they pretend to buy it in a store there with the kid present, or what? Do they lie to the kid and say I bought this for you while you were on the ride? Do they ask for a WDW shopping bag or something? That seems so odd and weird to me!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

People buy stuff at the Dollar Store and give it to their kids on the trip as a souvenir? Do they pretend to buy it in a store there with the kid present, or what? Do they lie to the kid and say I bought this for you while you were on the ride? Do they ask for a WDW shopping bag or something? That seems so odd and weird to me!

My kids (esp. my DS4) does not want a souvie as a memory of a priceless vacation. He wants STUFF. He does not care where it is from or whom it is from. I have a few Disney items that I was able to get on sale and give him a few things when we are at WDW. I will tell hime here is a Disney ...whatever and he will be happy. My kids are going to buy some souvies that they cannot get at home but they do not need 20.00 plastic figures that only cost 5.00 at home. My DD10 insisted on Elizabeth Swan figures on her last trip to WDW that cost almost 30.00. They were exactly the same as the ones at Target for 15.00

 

[DISNEYFOS]

I personally don't feel it is a true souvenier if I don't get it on my trip. I'm not going to buy a shirt at Goodwill or ebay for WDW because it won't be special to ME. I know it is different with everyone, but I personally always wonderend that also
Buying stuff at Disney is one of our fave things to do on vacation
No matter where we go, esp. Disney, my kids love their finds and for years later say..."This is the Stitch I got at WDW..." Not everyone can say that. It wouldn't be the same to us to get it at the Disney Store or somewhere everyone else could get it.

Yeah this is what I mean. I know I'm definitely paying a premium at the parks ..but Its from the trip..and DD says the same things.."This is the Nala frm the Animal Kingdom." Or she has a stuffed stingray that she got at the "Bee HA MAs" (she has a very funny way of saying bahamas).

Granted I'm not going to buy her everything she sees obviously..but I tell her to find something special she wants to get.

We definitely have a budget on these things. Of course, when we are there with my parents or my aunt there is no such thing.

 

[Kim1964]

I love looking around the stores, but I've cut way back on what I buy. The kids have their own Disney Dollars now, so they are responsible for buying their own stuff, and when the Disney Dollars are gone, they're done. Unless something really special catches my eye, my souvenir list for next year's trip will be my refillable mug, two resort pins (doing a split stay), and the Photopass CD.

The only things I've bought ahead of time to give the kids on the trip are tiaras for the P&PP and glow bracelets. I got two tiaras at Claire's for $9 and a 6 pack of glow bracelets at the Dollar Store.

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

Dh and I love shopping at the parks...and buying from the dollar store or target or disney store before we leave and then giving it to the kids when we are in Disney World just doesn't seem right for us. I don't have a problem with those who do it, but just isn't for us. We want to get our kids souvenirs from our trip, something from the park that the kids pick out themselves...during our last trip, my 2 yo picked out a set of Disney Pixars Cars and he has played with the set every single day, and even say that he got it at Disney. Just wouldn't be the same if I had given him something from the dollar store, or target..he can't say that he got it when he went to Disney.

 

[nena]

I have been saving my reward dollars from my Disney Visa and I plan to spend all $295 on souveniers. I like getting the family a sweatshirt, so that's my pick. Then I let the kids each choose 1 item without my input, just as long as its within $20-$30. Plus we always get a hat. I am sure my reward dollars will mostly go towards the sweaters. But at least I will have splurged on something for each of us, that we will use over and over again!!

 

[jcc0621]

Do you budget a certain amount for park souveniers? I have a number in my head for each child, but I just know it will go over and i can already hear my frugal hubby complaining...LOL

I only have the one DS(4), he was allowed to pick one thing in each park at the end of the day. He loved looking at everything but he always wound up with a stuffed animal to add to his collection. We did EPCOT, MGM, AK once and MK twice. We also did one day/night at Sea World, so he cam home with a total of 6 stuffed animals.

We would guide him away from the REALLY expensive things, but he would always turn to us and say but I am just looking at it mommy!

 

[poohfriend77]

I plan to do a combo of the two. I have purchased some Target/Dollar Store stuff for my girls to give them on the plane and as little gifts from Tink when we're at WDW. So far, I have disposal cameras, sunglasses, and a bunch of stickers/notebooks/coloring books/crayons. These things aren't meant to replace souveniers from the park, but they're just little surprises to make the trip even more special.

I'm really looking forward to getting Mr. Potato Head parts, Legos, shirts, and photo album (and probably a stuffed animal or 10 ) so we can bring a little piece of WDW home with us.

 

[Dawn68PA]

I'm with the masses in this thread I think. It's not a souvenior if it's not bought on vacation at vacation. Now my DDs are 16 & 18. They don't want a lot of stuff from other stores. They love things they get ON vacation as it's sentimental to them. I know some things cost more in the park but I don't care. If it's something that will bring them fond memories for years to come or even if it's a sweatshirt they think is cool to wear, it's theirs. Now we don't spend boodles, but I do take a fair amount for us all.

 

[bushdianee]

I tend to buy way too many t-shirts when I visit WDW! I also don't have kids to buy for so I tend to buy my souveniers at Downtown Disney or wherever I see something I like.

 

[momsoftwins]

well my 2 cents on the subject ...i do get stuff from home and take with me so every morning when my girls wake up "mickey" has left them a surprise. they love it. they each have disney dollars to spend as they want. but for me shopping is hard with a double (wide) stroller. so i try to save that for when they fall asleep on the nights with extra magic hours. but we love to save our shopping for last day of trip in DTD

 

[earthfaries]

I love to shop at the big WDW outlet aka character outlet. It's an official WDW store so it still counts as getting it from WDW. I just like to get the T-Shirts and ornaments there, maybe some postcards. The stuffed toys the kids get at the parks. Usually we stop at the outlet first and get the kids some small toyish stuff and then they get stuff they want from the parks. We always get potato head parts, stuffed toys, the boys can't wait to get legos next time

 

[Momvic5]

My family and I have only been to WDW 1 time, and we are so excited to be going again this December. We absolutely loved the souviner shops in WDW so much that we have budgeted for them all year. I can't imagine bringing home a souviner that was not from WDW. I can understand the reasoning because we spent w..a..y.. too much $$ on our first trip, but part of the magic and memories for my husband and I was watching our children's excitement as journeyed through the shops. "Whaaat??!! ...it is not Christmas or my Birthday and I get to pick out something special!" It was priceless. Though most of the souviners were overpriced, they still hold treasured memories and sit out where all can see them.

This Christmas, my DH and I have budgeted $100.00 for each of our 3 (11,8,and 6) children. It sounds like alot and it is, but it is still saving us $$ in comparison to our 1st trip. We wanted each of them to be able to choose a few pins, find a favorite t-shirt, and discover something extra special. We are all so excited and can't wait to shop!!