Must do unique souvenirs/gift shops to see

[ariamac]

Hi all,

I will be going to Disney World for the first time in February with BF... I'm super excited! I'm in the process of budgeting our spending money now and I'm curious to hear from all of you what your favourite gift shops and/or souvenirs are.

We are definitely getting a pair of Mickey Ears, I totally want to do Pick A Pearl in Epcot, and visiting Crystal Arts is also on my to do list... I really love the glass work on the arribas brothers website!

What other souvenirs/gift shops would you suggest as we're first time Disney goers and I really appreciate art e.g. the souvenirs available at Crystal Arts.

TIA!

 

[kwdw]

I love your Me and BF signature!!! LOL!!!

It's hard to resist the T-Shirt or Sweatshirt purchase. It's just SO tempting. That could cost you anywhere between 25-70 dollars. They are cute and ALL over.......

I gotta say - my FAVORITE take-home was the multipurpose glass mug I bought from Crystal Arts with my name on it. It's used everyday and it's practical and it cost me about $18 (15 + engraving). If you like art pieces - I was really tempted by some of their hand-blown glass items - but they are REALLY pricey......

 

[sdwrdt]

My favorite take-home (from any trip) is a Christmas ornament. (Remember each vacation EVERY year when we put up the tree).

DTD has a just-Christmas shop. Can get free personalization and they carry most of the ornaments the other stores have. Just remember: don't wait until the last minute to do so because then you won't have time for the personalization

 

[MoeFam]

Check the Disney Outlet type stores - I know there are two at two different outlet malls...Orlando Premium maybe? The prices are great and you can find some really cute T-shirts, housewares etc. My fave Disney souveniors are the Christmas ornaments and we have a picture with a picture/silver coin representing each park that we got at the outlet for $4!

 

[ratlenhum]

My standard souvenirs anywhere we go, Christmas ornaments and magnets.

I usually get the big Mickey head ornament with Mickey sitting on top and it's dated. Then I look for something else that represents my son at the time. One year we got a Mickey doing karate ornament, and last year I got a 3 pack with Nemo, Dory and Bruce ornaments because Nemo was my son's obession for a while.

I also need a magnet. I usually get one when we go places but at Disney, I get one from each park.

You could also do pressed pennies if you want. Make finding the machines part of the trip. I had a list of each penny I wanted from each park and it became part of the day to hunt down all the machines.

 

[DisneyDorkORama]

walmart....

you can NOT go to Disney World without going to the Disney Walmart (thats what we call it)...no trip is completely without a trip to walmart

 

[jnorman76]

you can NOT go to Disney World without going to the Disney Walmart (thats what we call it)...no trip is completely without a trip to walmart

This is true. Great place for cheap, decent Disney t-shirts and other goodies. Also, must stop at Character Warehouse. It's hit or miss there, but worth the trip.

 

[Nadjalu]

2 of my must do souviner stops that I budget for are Design a Tee at DTD. There you can make your own t-shirt. Love that place. We do this the first day and wear the shirt together on the same day later in the trip.

The next place is the souviner shop in the Wilderness Lodge. While most shops are all pretty much the same with a few pieces showing unique things, this store is quite unique. I always find a shirt or collectable that I haven't seen anywhere else on property. So definitely check that one out.

 

[sapereaude]

This trip we bought 2 sets of mickey hands and had all the characters at Chef Mickey's autograph them, the kids have really loved those.

We also picked up some really neat colorful ceramic animal pieces at the Mexican pavilion in Epcot that the kids really liked and they weren't terribly expensive.

 

[Vijoge]

We nearly always take a granddaughter when we go and our only "must buy" is a pair of 14K Mickey earrings on their first visit. I got mine the first time I went and now the girls do, too.

 

[librarygeek]

There are quite a few things that I love to buy. One year I went I got a Disney sweatshirt and I wear it all the time. In fact, I'm wearing it right now. I got it about 4 years ago so I'm thinking I might get a new one the next time I go back.

I also got a wallet, which I love because I use it every day. It's cute and useful. I love the design, it's black with Mickey on it. Just black, white, and red sparkles. I try to get things I know I'll use.

Also, when we go on vacation we always try to get a magnet for our collection on the fridge and a Christmas ornament.

Another place I love to shop is the scrapbooking store in DTD. I love to scrapbook and they have so many fun items there!

Oh, and one time in Epcot I decided I wanted something from each "country" so I went around and bought a small item from each place. I only spent a few dollars on each one but I got some really neat little trinkets and souvenirs from around the world. I have a little pill box from Morocco, a postcard with my name written in Japanese from Japan, cute slippers from China, a print of Starry Night from France, etc.

 

[jacksmomma]

one free souviner that is great comes from Epcot. Ask someone in each country to sign your autograph book. We did this with DS on our last trip and what we got was amazing! Some people wrote his name in their native language, others wrote him a message. They were truly great and unique souviners.

To the PP...the scrapbook store in DTD is no longer there.

 

[sunshineNJ]

I found a great zip up sweatshirt at Sir Mickey's in the back of the castle. World of Disney has a great selection of everything and is the biggest gift shop. It's in Downtown Disney. I always get a sweatshirt and a magnet.

 

[ariamac]

Another place I love to shop is the scrapbooking store in DTD. I love to scrapbook and they have so many fun items there!

I LOVE scrapbooking and card-making! I definitely need to make a stop there! I had no idea that existed.

 

[pmb0417]

Oranments - actually had them shipped home . We still use the ones we bought when we went in 2000 for our honeymoon. I also stop at their kitchen/home store in downtown disney. I still have and use hats and sweaters that we bought back in 2000. My son (now 7) still sleeps and plays with his stuffed Stitch that he bought 2 years ago. I also still use a disney bag that I bought in 2000. We look at them and make a note of what we liked where in the mornings and think about it during the day, we will stop back and buy them if we really want them, it has cut down on a lot of impulse buying of things we would normally bring home and throw in a drawer never to be seen again.

 

[kiddo76]

The most unique souvenir I got on my last trip was a Wilderness Lodge throw blanket at the WL gift shop. I looked at it all week and decided as we were waiting for ME to buy it. I am so glad I did and love curling up with it while watching TV or reading.

 

[TinkerLori]

we ALWAYS get a shot glass.. no matter where we go. We have them from every state/park/event we go to.
Last time we were in Disney we bought one that had mickey and a firefighter (DH was a firefighter at the time)

ALSO sweatshirts that zip up! I bought a Tink zip up and wear it ALL THE TIME!!!!

 

[LockShockBarrel]

Only saying this because there was another post after it was said. The scrapbook store is no longer there. The larger stores have small sections with scraping stuff but the store is gone.

As for other souveniors, pressed pennies can be fun if you pick a theme. Like 1 that represents each park or the ones with Mickey on them. If the bf gets sick of shopping, or rather stopping at all the stores, try to just hit the bigger ones like World of Disney in DTD or Mousegear in Epcot. The WS shops have some good stuff in them, but the bulk of the Disney stores are going through a...well...generalization of merchandise. You'll see a lot of the same stuff in most of the stores. DTD has some unique things, but a lot of the Disney stuff is the same in all. Try to hit Magnetron on DTD, and the magic shop (I can't remember the name) fun a free demo. If sweets are your thing, try Goofy's candy kitchen. If the bf likes sports, Team Disney. You'll see a pick a pearl thing in DTD but don't be tempted, Japan is WAY better, if only for the experience.

 

[WLfamily]

I always get a mug on each trip...last time I came home with 6! I know...a little overboard, but they make me very happy. I agree with the pressed pennies, my kids love them. My daughter always gets one or two snowglobes. I don't know where you are staying, but my favorite souvenir is the replica of the totem pole in WL's lobby. I looked at it all week and finally bought it, soooo glad I did. Try to buy something that reminds you of the trip your on. Have fun shopping!!

 

[r_mccool]

Our family loves the hand painted ostrich eggs. We have bought two and hope to find another one we really like on our trip in July. I have three children and want to have one to give to each of them one day when they have their own homes. We bought the first one in the Animal Kingdom in the gift shop in Africa (my favorite shop) and the second one in the gift shop in Frontier Land in the Magic Kingdom.