Need help with cheap souvenirs

[loralie]

We will be in WDW in 22 days and I am trying to budget our spending money while we are there. My friend at work just came back from vacation in Mexico and she brought me back a little souvenir shot glass. I know some people collect them but it really is not my thing. It made me think I might have to increase my souvenir budget because at first I was just thinking about the things my DH and my 2 boys and I would want to buy. Now I am realizing that I have to get little things for the people at work (about 10 people) plus get something for my dad, his girlfriend, my MIL and my BIL. I think that is about it. So...does anyone have any advice. I really don't want to spend too much, especially for the people at work. I also wanted to add that we will not have a car so going offsite to the outlets is not an option.

Thanks,

Loralie

 

[mmorris72]

As far as work people. I know that they sell packs of pens for a reasonable price. Not sure if that helps you at all or not.

Michele

 

[buzz2400]

In japan pavilion they sell little cats that are for luck. They were only a few dollars each. I bought them for my co-workers. Also if you have a car and want to buy disney related items, go to walmart. They have keychains and such that are disney.

 

[mom0299]

Don't feel obligated to buy everyone a gift. I could see getting something for the person taking care of your pet or watching your house, but just because you know them? Think about it, would you have really cared if your co-worker hadn't brought you a shot glass? Also, you can buy things much cheaper in Mexico than you can at WDW.

If you really want to look for cheap souvenirs: Collect the freebies with Micky heads on them from the hotel or around the parks. How about taking a picture of something that would be special to a particular person? Send them an e-mail from Epcot. Pressed pennies only cost $0.51. If you're on the dining plan use some snack credits and get some Mickey snacks to take home. There is a store at DTD, I can't remember the name, that has inexpensive Disney items. I think everything is $5 or less.

Good luck, and have a great trip!

 

[tar heel]

Do you really NEED to get something for all these people? Do they want something as a souvenir of your vacation? You can tell I don't bring home souvenirs for other people, don't you? I love Disney but wouldn't really want/expect people to bring me something from there unless I had asked them to. I would want/expect things from the trip only when someone I'm close to went somewhere exotic I hadn't been and Disney doesn't really qualify. The Japan cats sound interesting, though.

If you really want to bring people something, I would consider a box of candy, pretzels, or the like for the whole office to share. These could be Disney shapes or something from an Epcot country. Unless the co-workers and family members are Disney fans, they probably wouldn't appreciate the small things I would like -- pens, pencils, the cloth shopping bags with Mickey on them, dishtowels, kitchen tools, etc.

 

[loralie]

I hear what you guys are saying about not NEEDING to buy the people at work something but over the past year almost everyone who I work with has brought me something from their vacation whether it is the shot glass or a key chain or a magnet for the fridge. I would feel bad not getting them something when they got me something. So...that is why I am looking for inexpensive items. I like the idea about a package of pens, I will look into that. Any other ideas?

TIA,

Loralie

 

[trinchick]

I used to work someplace where everyone would buy souvenirs for everyone else. When it started to get out of hand, someone made a great suggestion.

The person going on vacation would bring in breakfast for the office on their last work day before vacation. Nothing extravagent, just bagels or doughnuts or a homemade coffee cake. It gave us all the chance to wish the person a nice trip and saved him/her from having to find (and transport) gifts for everyone. It was lots of fun, too!

 

[woodkins]

They sell small character shaped notepads that were really cute & useful too. The chocolate covered pretzels are in the shape of MM heads are really cute as well. Sometimes you can get drinking glasses for under 3 each & that would be a cute gift. If the people celebrate Christmas you can buy a multipack of ornaments (they have a big tube of mouse ears in diff. colors) and you can split them and give each person 1 ornament.
If you are on the dining plan you can use your snack credits for some cute candy novelties (rice crispy mouse ears) and give those as well.

 

[secretpantssam]

I got the pens for my coworkers last year. They're cute, practical, and not too expensive. I also like the idea of bringing back a group snack.

 

[myprincessgirlisa]

another vote for pens!! cheap & useable

 

[tuliptwirls]

I like the suggestion of bringing in breakfast. I am really not a fan of buying things that people don't really want/can't use. Maybe use this as an opportunity to make a change in office tradition.