Money spent on souvinirs

[purpledisneyprncess]

Hi all! How much do you budget for souvenirs? And then how much do you actually spend?

My family & I just came back from our trip and I totaled it on merchandise type stuff and we spent $160. To me that seemed a bit much..... part of it was my fault. I wanted to visit Art of Animation resort and instead of going thru the entrance of the hotel, I accidentally wandered into the gift shop, where mommy wanted a couple of things and the kids did too.. Good designing on WDW's part. So $50 later we found the AoA grounds, and front desk area...

I am getting the urge to go back again this year, and this time will limit the souvenirs for everyone to one or two each, tops.

 

[Darcy03231]

For me, it all depends on the trip. Some trips I've spent as little as $20 (some pins and postcards), other trips I've spent a lot more (Dooney & Bourke handbag, chamilia beads, scrapbooking stuff, kitchen stuff, etc.).

 

[msmama]

To me, $160 doesn't sound like a lot, but I don't know the size of your family (especially at Disney prices that doesn't sound like a lot).

I try not to budget $$ but actually budget the "stuff" instead. I know my son is going to want to build his own lightsaber. And (unfortunately for me) he's remembered the train set in Germany that I managed to make him forget about last trip (since it's his birthday I promised him a big present and it's coming back to bite me in the tush).

We won't do shirts. Maybe a stuffed animal. Maybe something little for school friends. I'd like a tea pot if I can find one and tea from the UK store.

Knowing that I will only buy stuff we actually care about, and no impulse buys, helps me feel a bit better about the money spent, even if it's more than I wish.

 

[fr spodo komodo]

We don't spend that much money in Disney on souvenirs but then could easily spend 200/300$ in universal/IOA as we like the stuff there much better

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[worm761]

It really just depends on the trip. The last trip was a super budget trip. We might have spent $20 but that is pushing it. Another trip we spent over a thousand but were buying gifts for other people. I can't find the Prada perfume that I like where I live so I buy it at Disney in the Italy pavilion.

 

[LynnTH]

We don't spend much anymore either. When the kids were younger it was easier to spend more. At that point they were into the characters, princesses, potato head, power rangers etc and so of course it was a shopping frenzy.

Now they are 14 and 12 (we are going end of May). And they just aren't into the souveniers anymore. They would rather spend their money in the arcade and on snacks. DD12 may buy a shirt or snowglobe or purse and I doubt DS14 will buy much of anything.

So, I guess it depends on the ages of your kids on how much to spend. But, $160 doesn't sound like too much to me either - especially at Disney.

 

[BabyFu18]

It doesn't seem like to much for souvenirs to me. You can easily spend a lot more with all the things available and their prices.

 

[bookgirl]

I don't budget for souvenirs on any vacation as my personal sense of "holy crap they want how much for a cheap piece of imported from the third world item with icon/name of resort/town/destination stamped on it" is pretty well developed.

I tend to buy a few small practical items (magnet, key chain, etc) and maybe a teeshirt.

I think I've spent maybe $150-$200 at the most on any of my trips if I was buying for others. And that was offset by the times I've spent less than $50.

However for a family of 4 $160 doesn't sound bad at all. That's only $40 per person.

 

[crayon3448]

DH and I spent more on our first trip than we do now- we got ears, lanyards with some pins and a backpack that we bring back each time. But now that we have these things, we don't need to buy anything- last trip we went the only souvenir we got was a picture frame.

 

[purpledisneyprncess]

Thanks for your responses.

It is a family of four, however I just realized the souvenirs really were for the kids, so it was over $100 just spent on our 2 kids. I got a magnet, and a Little Mermaid set but everything else was for the kids-- although it was my son's birthday and the things he picked out (like an Indiana Jones gun from the gift shop) acted as his presents. I guess when I think about it like that, it's not so bad.

Next time we go down, I definitely do not want to do impulse buying!!

 

[SC Minnie]

For me, it all depends on the trip. Some trips I've spent as little as $20 (some pins and postcards), other trips I've spent a lot more (Dooney & Bourke handbag, chamilia beads, scrapbooking stuff, kitchen stuff, etc.).

ITA.

When we went at Christmas I didn't buy a thing for myself. Didn't see anything I really wanted. We were there a few weeks ago and came home with a large D&B tote for myself.

 

[elgerber]

I can spend that easily in 1 store, with several more purchases throughout my trip. I can't hardly ever get out of WoD under $400 LOL. But I do buy a lot of stuff, I like my Disney stuff.

 

[Darcy03231]

ITA.

When we went at Christmas I didn't buy a thing for myself. Didn't see anything I really wanted. We were there a few weeks ago and came home with a large D&B tote for myself.

Which one did you get?

 

[SC Minnie]

Which one did you get?

The brown sketch. I have been wanting one since last year. They finally had them in the stores this time.

 

[chris31997]

Thanks for your responses.

It is a family of four, however I just realized the souvenirs really were for the kids, so it was over $100 just spent on our 2 kids. I got a magnet, and a Little Mermaid set but everything else was for the kids-- although it was my son's birthday and the things he picked out (like an Indiana Jones gun from the gift shop) acted as his presents. I guess when I think about it like that, it's not so bad.

Next time we go down, I definitely do not want to do impulse buying!!

To try to limit our impulse buying, we "plan" or talk about what we want. Then we won't get it the first time we see it. We usually wait till one of the last days to buy anything.

 

[crisi]

Well, there was the year I came home with the original production animation cel.....

And other years where we come back with a $20 Christmas ornament (my tradition is a Christmas ornament).

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We will take $400 in "shopping" money for DH and I on our upcoming trip. DS will take $750.

Sounds like a lot, but we do a ton of shopping on our Orlando vacations. We bring home a whole whack of clothing, as prices are super cheap compared to what we would pay back home (t-shirts at the Nike Clearance Store in Kissimmee will sell for $10 or less, while we would pay between $30 and $40 for a similar item here at home). DS will buy multiple pairs of shoes, particularly basketball shoes for his upcoming season (styles that aren't available in Canada) at prices that are 25% less than here in Canada (sometimes even more).

As for park souvenirs, I bet we won't even spend $50. Some stuff at DTD but that's it.

 

[DisNerd12]

When DH and I go we make it a point to each get something we really want that can only be found in Disney. We shop shop shop and usually don't purchase until one of the last days. Shopping around and seeing everything before we decide really seems to help! 1st trip together DH got an EPCOT Germany pavilion shirt and I got a Princess 1/2 marathon shirt (I was a runner). Our DisneyMoon was a little crazy. We easily spent $200.00 on ears, thank you gifts for family, and other things! Also DH surprised me with my first Duffy and an Arribas Bros crystal necklace-so that shot the spending up a bit!

Also-I am a longtime lurker-not sure of the mechanics of posting-but anyone know why my posts are doubling?

 

[3PrinceMom]

I'm a fan of the 20% off coupons given by quick service establishments. AP no longer gives 20% off. I use these for major purchases at WOD. Things I might not buy without a discount. My $100 dollar Mickey and Minnie dressed up for Halloween...was $80. Now...I need to get WOD to stock the pumpkins!

 

[Cobern]

I'm a fan of the 20% off coupons given by quick service establishments. AP no longer gives 20% off. I use these for major purchases at WOD. Things I might not buy without a discount. My $100 dollar Mickey and Minnie dressed up for Halloween...was $80. Now...I need to get WOD to stock the pumpkins!

Do elaborate. 20% off coupons are right up my alley. Where can you use them at?