Souvenir Buying... What Are Your Automatic Must-Purchases / Plans?

[alievans719]

I think the only thing I now have to buy is a shot glass with the year on it. Done that three years in a row, and I love seeing that.

Maybe a pillow pet. I seem to always get one when we're down there!

 

[PurpleKomodo]

We collect pins so that is always most of our suveniers, but DH and I have gotten into finding a cool art print each trip. We have a set of Tinkerbell in the four seasons and last trip we got a really cool black and red beauty and the beast print. We don't buy the super high end ones, but the prints are fun to add a Disney touch to our house. DS really liked collecting pressed pennies and we let him pick a "bigger" playset. Last trip he picked the EPCOT one. We also were working on re-doing a bathroom in Mickey and Minnie last trip so we picked up several towels and other bathroom accessories. Oh... and DS always wants a balloon (which last forever BTW).

 

[bookgirl]

It changes trip to trip. This October it's a MNSSHP pin, a POP pin/magnet, PO pins (have the combined one but want the new ones that are separate for the resorts) and a new Antenna Topper since mine was lost in a tragic car wash experience. LOL Other than that it's whatever I see that takes my fancy.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I understand your feelings on the price for the Pandora. My DFi gets them for me so I am lucky in that aspect. If not I wouldn't have any. I picked up a coffee press at HWS and I got a hot pad or whatever they call them and it's great. since F&W is coming up I am sure I will get another kitchen item. I also saw that on the press machines you can actually go to a map of where they are all located so you don't end up duplicating if you go often.

Oh, lol, don't worry.... I'm on top of all of the Press locations and which locations have what. Including resort locations. Some dies are only at certain resorts. I forget which exact one, but I know I have to go to a certain resort to get a couple of my Seven Dwarf Dies.

Good for you with the charms! Hope they keep coming!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

My last couple of trips I have taken pics of souvenirs in the shops if I liked it but know it would just collect dust, or maybe it is a shirt with a funny saying on it or something. I did this a lot with the SWW merchandise. I haven't framed them but I have included the pics in my scrapbooks.

Ah, great minds think alike!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

The coffee mugs are a must for us. We always have a ton of them at home! They look cool, and hold a ton of coffee which is key for me.

I know. I have to stay away from those things or they'll send me to debtors prison.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

We have no 'must buy' souvies. We have occasionally purchased mugs, but the last several years we don't like the ones we see so mostly enjoy the moment and keep the memories! Enough for us!

I wish they would bring back the "Resort Specific" refill mugs. Just makes for a better keepsake to me. Hoping they'll bring them back.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

A T-Shirt with the year on it. I have an extensive selection that I treasure.

A dated TShirt is ALWAYS a must for me.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I so love this thread! So many great ideas!

DH and I just got married in April and are now starting a lifetime of Disney vacations together! We have made a couple short trips to Disney in the past as well though. Our big souvenir spends are definitely PINS! We love pins and bought and traded many on our honeymoon trip. I like doing themes, so I have all of the Up pins, many Muppet pins, and then a set of wedding pins for our honeymoon and a F&G Festival pin since we were there during that.

DH and I are not Disney clothing people, so no t-shirts for us. DH collects Starbucks mugs though, so he was so excited to see the Disney Starbucks mugs! He got everything but AK, which was not open yet during our trip.

We also buy a Christmas ornament and are working towards a Disney themed tree. I'm loving the idea a PP had about "themed" souvenirs too!

Congrats on your newlywed status. Many years of happiness and Disney trips to you!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I want the 4 WDW Starbucks mugs, You are Here. I got the DL and DCA ones in August. I usually buy a few t shirts, and maybe PJ pants. I do not buy too much stuff for my house anymore. I will have to look over the Star Wars stuff closely though. 4 weeks to go!

About five weeks for me! Can't wait!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I always have to get a few new ear headbands every trip! We also get at least one new Christmas ornament as well

I am getting new Minnie Ears this trip because the kind I have from 2000 they dont really make anymore (just a plain hard black plastic). But once I get the new one in in Oct... all bets are off for buying more until they stop carrying the traditional one that I wear (regular black with red polka dotted Minnie bow).

 

[LadyDiznee123]

DW likes the ceramic character coffee mugs but i prefer the resort mugs (still use some from 10+ years ago!) and yea, the graphics are gone, but I use at least 2 a day so they get washed a lot.

LOVE the character mugs. Promising myself not to purchase any unless they are Seven Dwards, Tiana, Tink, Alice, or Merida. I refuse to go to debtors prison! (*_*)

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Have not read the whole thread yet, but:

TOWELS!!!! This is my must do. I love them. I am getting an AK one this year and I will choose one or two more. We have a dozen currently and they are all anyone wants to use!!

A magnet from the hotel we are staying at.

Those are my two must dos. For my daughters they always do Pick a Pearl and Epcot passports. This year they know they want to get chopsticks and sushi plates from Japan for using at home. For my dad I always get him an antenna topper. My brother the chocolate covered pretzels. My hubby grabs candy.

Great choices!!! I am getting the chocolate covered pretzels for the crew at work.
Resort Magnet is ALWAYS a must!
TOWELS!!?? HELLO! I'm not sure which towels you are talking about but I do plan to start a collection for my kitchen with dish towels. Nothing fancy. I'll just get one each visit!
Pick A Pear... yet gonna do it!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Dated tee shirt; dated Christmas ornament; Mickey's chocolate covered pecan clusters and Chip & Dale's PRETZELS! DGD's enjoy those pretzels for months (they freeze well) and if I'm having a "Disney withdrawal" day, I'll break out the pecan clusters and it takes me back to DW. I've recently added pins to the "must have" list...both DGD's have started collecting and there's always 1 gift under the tree with pins for them...and a picture frame for the family picture and shower gel from the shop in the CR...oh my goodness...no wonder I need an extra piece of luggage to get my "must have's" back home....

The luggage.. .I know, right!? I bringing my large suitcase when all I really need is a pretty small one.
Picture frame sounds nice. That's going to be my special purchase for myself. There is one that is dated that I plan to get.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Ohmigosh, so much stuff to buy, so little time!

I always buy:

A t-shirt...well, if I'm being honest several t-shirts, because I wear t-shirts all year round especially my Disney shirts. One of them always has the trip year on it.
Christmas ornaments.
Something Sorcerer Mickey because I collect him.
a Daruma figure from Mitsukoshi in Japan at Epcot.
A pin or two.
Refillable mugs (we don't buy these, they come with the dining plan)
A tin of some sort to eat the goodies and then I keep craft supplies in them.
Pens.
Fridge magnets.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head-I'm sure there's more. And I'm sure I'm going to be in *Major* trouble at that new Haunted Mansion store.

It's nice that those mugs come with the dining plan. I lucked into the free dining plan and I don't drink beverages except water. But you can bet I will get waters worth from that mug and it will be a great souvenir to carry home.

 

[jerseygirl82]

Dated pin to add to dd(5)'s shadow box and a dated pin to start dd(5 weeks!)'s pin collection
Personalized mickey ears for newest dd
At least one Christmas ornament
Resort refillable mug(s) - they make me so happy when not at Disney
Unique hot/cold mug - I have a ToT one from DHS that I loooove
Potentially something DVC/Saratoga Springs
Maybe a new Alex and Ani bracelet for mommy

This trip, dd(5) needs a new zip up hoodie, I'm hoping they still carry the style she has had for the last few years. I'm also on the lookout for any new cute apparel, specifically anything having to do with Dole Whips

 

[LadyDiznee123]

I always get a stein from Germany. This thread reminds me to take a picture of them all so I won't accidentally buy a duplicate when we go back next month!

Probably an ornament as well, and we'll see what Star Wars stuff they have. The boy is old enough now that he'll probably want EVERYTHING.... Now that we are staying (slightly) off-site without delivery we have to be a little more selective with stuff since we'll have to carry it with us the whole day. Plus we have been going during Food and Wine a lot lately, that usually sucks up all the surplus cash, leaving little left for souviners.

Hope you'll post some pics for us as well!

 

[LadyDiznee123]

It changes trip to trip. This October it's a MNSSHP pin, a POP pin/magnet, PO pins (have the combined one but want the new ones that are separate for the resorts) and a new Antenna Topper since mine was lost in a tragic car wash experience. LOL Other than that it's whatever I see that takes my fancy.

"Tragic car wash experience." lol.

 

[LadyDiznee123]

Dated pin to add to dd(5)'s shadow box and a dated pin to start dd(5 weeks!)'s pin collection
Personalized mickey ears for newest dd
At least one Christmas ornament
Resort refillable mug(s) - they make me so happy when not at Disney
Unique hot/cold mug - I have a ToT one from DHS that I loooove
Potentially something DVC/Saratoga Springs
Maybe a new Alex and Ani bracelet for mommy

This trip, dd(5) needs a new zip up hoodie, I'm hoping they still carry the style she has had for the last few years. I'm also on the lookout for any new cute apparel, specifically anything having to do with Dole Whips

Christmas ornaments seem to be the most popular in this thread.

 

[Elevationist]

Hmm. I'm not a big shopper, even at Disney. I buy at least one new set of Minnie Mouse ears every trip. That's really my only "auto-must."

My personal Disney vacation auto-musts are more experiences than things... I'd rather splurge on silly stuff like facepainting and cocktails. If they let 34-year-olds do the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, I'd be all over that.

But all that being said, I do buy a few things to bring home as momentos too! I'm usually drawn to jewelry, but the inexpensive stuff. I'm not a Pandora girl or anything. (I did buy a gorgeous tiara at Arribas Bros last year, though!) I usually buy myself a nice picture frame or two, also. On this upcoming trip, I might spend a little extra time in Art of Disney, as I have an empty wall in my living room that needs some love. I might pay a bit closer attention to the dishes and other kitchenware this time, too.

To be honest, I really enjoy just "window shopping." I love to just browse and look at all the neat STUFF. I don't often pull the trigger, though. It's not that I'm super frugal while on vacation, but if I can't think of practical use for it once I get home, I'm hard-pressed to make a purchase. My kitchen is full of mugs and water bottles, I'm not a hat person, I'm happy with my current keychain, I already have a Minnie Mouse antenna topper, I'm a bit too Pooh-sized for their t-shirts, I adore Disney plushies but I just don't have room or use for them in my apartment, I live alone and I don't mess with the hassle of a Christmas tree just for myself, I'm not a collector of trading pins or pressed pennies, etc.

But none of that prevents me from having fun with admiring these things in the stores and going "Ooooh, that's niiiice!" ...Then leaving to buy a Dole Whip.