Souvenir Question and Your Must Haves

[lindyv321]

Each trip we end up with loads and loads of park merch. Sometimes it's useless and sometimes it's treasured. On our upcoming trip I would love to get less of the useless and more of the treasured! I would love to find some Disney books but am not sure where to find them. Also maybe some park music.... anyone know where I can locate any of these? I also collect the ceramic ear hat ornaments. I have only ever seen them at World of Disney but that store is a time and money suck so I'm hoping to avoid it! Can these be found in the parks? I'm also for going to get some ToT stuff since the ride is being rethemed! I also want to get my son a Star Wars name tag that I've seen around on the web.

What are your must haves??

 

[Darkbeer1]

While I would shop online for books online instead of the parks for multiple reasons, including price and carrying them around. At Disneyland, the "specialty shop" that carries books and unique items is Disneyana on Main Street.

Edited to add, the Music Shop is next door to Disneyana if you are looking for things like CD's

 

[5forMickey]

I hear you. We started the "Pandora" park exclusive charms to try and avoid the useless which seemed like a good idea at first, but then it became an obsession and back fired . They do have the music CD's, we purchased at the DLH gift shop so I'm sure they are in the parks, just not sure where. There used to be an ornament shop in New Orleans squared but not sure if it is still there.

Reminds me of the years my son would buy the oddest gifts. One year it was a display you put together of the fun wheel (lost pieces before we got home) then there were the goofy hands that he wore the whole trip and then you thought "what am I gonna do with these"............those were actually some really good days and bring a big smile to my face when I see them in the storage room!

TOT stuff is a good idea. Once this same DS bough me the biggest pin you have ever seen of "Millionaire" when they used to have that in DCA. I thought wow what will I do with this (it was a little big to wear on your lanyard)......pretty sure it's a collectors item now so just goes to show you never know.

 

[lindyv321]

Good ideas! The Pandora charms seem right up my alley! Where can I find them and are they SUPER pricey?

I DO NOT want anymore stuffed animals! They are cute but no thanks and my hubs can't seem to understand this lol!

 

[Disney_Princess83]

I only purchase merchandise I can "use" - mugs/tumblers, pens, bags, phone covers.

At the Main Street Emporium they have a section of CD's and DVD's. The Star Wars name tags are in Tomorrowland.

 

[gatorlisa]

There's a Pandora shop in New Orleans Square. From what I've seen, the Disney Pandora charms run around $60-$75 per charm.

The main thing I get on Disney trips is pins. I'm not that much into the trading, but I do buy pins that I like on each trip. I have them displayed on cork boards in my home office. They are not useful, but I enjoy looking at them. As souvenirs go, they are not all that expensive (though it can be if I get many on one trip), you don't have to worry about them breaking, and they don't take up much room in luggage

 

[julesann]

I love seasonal decorations at my home that I bring out through the year. I love my Mickey Halloween countdown calendar; my hitchhiking ghosts and my Mickey multi-colored light mini Christmas tree. I also treat myself to 1 pin a trip and a pair of earrings.

 

[aidansmother]

We try to find a pin that relates to our current visit. Maybe we rode a particular ride several times, we are there for a holiday or something memorable happened and the pin reminds us of it. We don't trade but like a previous poster said, they make me happy to look at them later on. They are also easy to travel with!

 

[spokanemom]

I now pick up kitchen stuff. I love that I can actually use it everyday and when I do use it, it really makes me smile. I have plates, silverware, spatulas, spoon rests, collandars, salt & pepper shakers... you get the idea. I really love that I am getting a souviner but I am also getting something useful.

 

[Butterfly123]

I agree with the stuff you use. Mugs are number one for me...I use them all the time and love them. I also love my wall calendar and my Vera Bradley hipster purse. Great Disneyland reminders!

 

[figment_jii]

I agree that you can often find both books and CDs at better prices online and then you don't have to carry them around. If you do want to buy them, I've found the best select of music at the 20th Century Music Company Shop on Main Street (next to the Magic Shop) and the best selection of books at the Off the Page (next to the Animation Academy) in DCA. For the ceramic ear hat ornaments, the China Closet end of Main Street, near the Corn Dog Wagon) and Off the Page have a pretty extensive selection. I got one of the personalized Star Wars name tag at the little tiny shop across from the Tomorrowland Lemonade Stand/Star Wars Launch Bay.

 

[Nonsuch]

...We started the "Pandora" park exclusive charms to try and avoid the useless which seemed like a good idea at first, but then it became an obsession and back fired ...
...There used to be an ornament shop in New Orleans squared but not sure if it is still there...

The ornament shop in NOS is now the entrance to Club 33, located across from the Pandora shop.

 

[Angrose]

As figment mentions above, you can find the ear hat ornaments at the China Closet and Off the Page. BUT, you can also get them at disneystore.com. Right now they are promoting the ear hat and shoe ornaments, 3 for $59.99 and they are usually $24.99 a piece. You can watch for them to go on sale in November as well.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Now that they sell Pandora, I'm sure I'll buy a Pandora bead every trip. Also we buy a pin every trip, related to something that was memorable about that trip.

We have a tradition that everyone buys something for someone else on each trip. We limit it to about $10 and the kids spend their own money. So this year, for instance, DD12 bought DD16 a small Tigger stuffed animal when she saw she was sad about something, DD16 bought DH a Grumpy cup, DH bought me a Mickey wine stopper, and I bought DS12 a necklace.

 

[seth_r]

I get pins every trip. It's been a tradition since I was a kid. I also get a mug every trip too. Usually for both I tend to get something with the year on it or if there is a celebration going on.

 

[lindyv321]

These are all great ideas!!! I've never thought about pins just to display!!

 

[kristabelle13]

I like to buy scarves. They always have ones that are subtle. But when I wear them I know and am reminded.

 

[Disney_Alli]

As figment mentions above, you can find the ear hat ornaments at the China Closet and Off the Page. BUT, you can also get them at disneystore.com. Right now they are promoting the ear hat and shoe ornaments, 3 for $59.99 and they are usually $24.99 a piece. You can watch for them to go on sale in November as well.

They were running the same promotion in the stores inside Disneyland (the last one before the camera store on the right hand side of Main Street for sure). Adding in my AP discount and removing the astronomical cost Disney chargers for shipping to Canada made it a truly awesome deal in the parks.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I get pins every trip. It's been a tradition since I was a kid. I also get a mug every trip too. Usually for both I tend to get something with the year on it or if there is a celebration going on.

We started this tradition with our kids. I got them each a 60th pin last trip.

 

[StayClassy]

I just buy what makes me happy, a lot of what I buy is used as decoration. I like to buy picture frames from Disney because they're perfect for trip pictures and also give a cute Disney touch to rooms. I have a few of the Mickey shaped frames & love them.

I bought the bigger 60th Minnie plush and she sits on a shelf in my room... Some see that as useless but I see her every morning and it makes me remember my trip. There's also a pic of me with Minnie next to it. (;

I bought the 60th Minnie ears & framed them in a shadow box which again is really cute Disney themed decor.

I love getting mugs especially the you are here mugs.

Pins are nice but I've found myself buying less of those as they're too expensive and I never wear them in the parks out of fear of losing them.

I love Disney park essentials like autograph books, pens, sweaters, Mickey ears, etc...