Souvenir Tips??

[tina_la]

hats! That is the first thing we look for. DH is folically challenged and requires head coverage.

just had to say that is funny!

We do the ornament thing and I buy the kids 1 pin for their collection. Anything else they are earning thier money now and they have to purchase themselves.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

My daughter is still using the black Mickey-ear plates that the kids meals are served in. We took them and and she uses them at almost every meal. She loves to put her food into the ears and they wash well in the dishwasher. The best part, they were free (or at least they came with the food we were buying anyway).

 

[suzimar57]

i'd say if you see something specific to a theme park (and you're not planning on going back there) and you really really really love it, buy it - it will save you the trouble of either going back there, or otherwise buying it online (or thru WDW merchandising) once you get home (provided you have the ISBN#) - we like pins and souvenir booklets - and the yearly t-shirt

 

[disfan07]

i usulaly dont have a problem deciding what to get when we go

last december i bought thing that would last me a while....
i bought a dumbo stuffed animal ( i always get a stuffed animal when i go)
2 photo albums
a mickey mouse figurine( i collect those)
and a crystal figurine from arribas brothers

thats what i usually buy on every trip (just a differnt stuffed animal)

we usually go to world of disney after we have gone to all the parks so i do most of my shopping there

 

[05MM08MM]

Unlike many on here we don't travel to WDW often. Actually it will be my DD & DH first visit ever and only my second. Most likely will be a few years before we are able to go back. I started a souvenir list in word that I plan to sync to my handheld (better than having a bunch of paper print-outs to keep up with). Here is what I have so far:

- 2008 Christmas Ornament
- 2008 4x6 or 5x7 picture frame
- 2008 scrapbook accessories
- pins (have a want list set up in word to sync)
- Pal Mickey for my DD
- a little something for my neighbor
- a little something for 2 other sweet girls I know
- Ears Hat, probably the "create your own"
- something for the new baby

I also prepurchased my photopass CD and we plan to do the pressend coins too. I will be taking pictures with my personal camera as well.

We have $272 worth of gift/rewards cards to use for the trip so none of our own money will be wasted for sure. I plan to set a budget for my DD so she doesn't go too crazy.

If you have a planned trip coming up in the next year or so I would recommend putting Disney Gift Cards on your Christmas or birthday list as they can be used not only at the Disney Store but most anywhere in WDW or DLR, even for food or to pay down your balance for your trip

 

[justplaingoofy]

i like to get photo mats autographed....

I go to our local craft store and purchase a mat that would go around a picture.. (if you use 4x6's or 5x7) etc. I bring it with us and a couple of sharpies to have the characters sign. Then we put our favorite photo in it and frame it.

 

[kyhardy]

i like to get photo mats autographed....

I go to our local craft store and purchase a mat that would go around a picture.. (if you use 4x6's or 5x7) etc. I bring it with us and a couple of sharpies to have the characters sign. Then we put our favorite photo in it and frame it.

Ooooooo! This is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Lorettainny]

I'm not big on trinkets but my husband is. I buy one big thing when I go on trips. Last time we were at Disney, I bought a Mickey Mouse cookie jar. I love it and use it every day.

 

[buggyfam4]

This will be my 2nd time going and this infomation is very helpful.

Renee

 

[justplaingoofy]

I've also gone to our local pottery store... (one of those places where kids can paint things)..

I get a peice of pottery (i use it plain) and have them fire it. Then I bring a couple of porcelin pens (Michaels crafts) for autographs...

Last year I brought a coffee mug & small plate.. every morning when I have my coffee and toast I think of Disney...

Past years I've brought platters etc... found this works best to bring to a character meal so you don't have to tote it around the parks..

 

[blondinkaya]

We really got our kids into pressed pennies. Inexpensive to do, and they enjoyed the hunt (although I did have the locations put onto cards--they didn't know that, lol). It really saved us from the "I want that. Pleeeeeze?" badgering. They didn't ask for a single thing while we were there. We gave them each an M&M minis container of quarters and pennies, and they were set! The first day, we bought each of them a pressed penny book to put them in.

We did do the build-your-own-lightsaber thing for the boys (dh's decision, they didn't notice it until he brought it up ). I did the pick-a-pearl in Japan (it was my Mother's Day gift), we bought mil a bracelet, and we bought a scrapbook album and some papers to put our pictures and memories in.

That's the extent of what we bought. It was much, much less than what we were expecting. I had even brought an extra suitcase for souvvies, and we didn't even need it ...

 

[hjssk8]

I collect postcards. I buy them individually and in the sets. I have started a shot glass collection. Though the last time I was at Disney I didn't buy any.

 

[tooh8ful]

Unfortunately, we usually buy one of everything ! But without a doubt, the BEST souvenirs we bought were the 2008 calendar from WDW. I LOVE looking at that everyday. And a set of 4 plastic princess cups I found at the Splash Mt. shop. My dd ONLY drinks out of those cups and they were completely an afterthought!

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

One of the best souveniers we got for my DS was a Buzz Lightyear claw thing.
Oh my gosh, he played with it for years. He's 12 and still has it and every once in a while pulls it out and teases his friends with it.

I go with a list of things I want to get.
For example, this year I want a dog dish, Halloween pins, wine from Italy and Germany, different teas for my Mom, a picture frame with the year on it plus a few other things. I usually buy a pair of fun earrings too. I love those!

For the kids, we review each item they want together and look at it really close. If it's something that looks like it won't handle rough and tumble, it won't be good for my kids. They are so used to me reviewing toys that they usually agree with me when I point stuff out to them.

I have found that over the years I curb my spending by just thinking of where the item will go in the house or how often would I wear it?. Can something I already own go if there's no space for the new item? I hate clutter so that question works really well for me.

 

[haveitall]

I always get a charm for my bracelet. I have been doing this sinse I was litt.e
I find that I can also by a cheap charm bracelet with a lot of charms on it.

Last time DH and I went we got a soft blanket from DHS's and had out names embroder under the Mickey and Minnie.

I also buy a new scrapbook and any emblishments that I can't get at home.

Sylvia in MN

<a href="http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/timers/"><img src="http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/timers/tickers/vyau5zbpx6khv0lm.png" alt="magicalkingdoms.com Ticker" border="0"/></a><br> <a href="http://www.magicalkingdoms.com/timers/"> <font size="-1">Free Disney Tickers</font></a>

 

[ldadar]

My kids already have more stuff than I can keep organized so I really try to limit souvies. We stay out of the stores.

 

[GinCar]

We ALWAYS get a Christmas ornament and I love putting them on the tree to remind me of Disney. I get something for my kitchen, as well. I use my Mickey wisk, hand towels and Pooh salt/pepper shakers almost everyday.

One year they had wind-breaker jackets marked down, so I use that often.
For the 2yr old I bought a light jacket that can be worn almost year round in the climate we live in. Come to think of it, all of my family has bought sweatshirts or jackets at one time or another. (We go in Sept. so winter is starting for us.)

I am not much of a knick-knack person, so I buy very practical.

 

[ThunderMTexpert]

My mom's company does this: Whenever anyone goes anywhere out of state, they bring back a simple postcard from where they've been. This only works for others, mind you. Sometimes, we still manage to send bunches while we're on vacation, but bringing back a special picked, blank postcard is a little tadition they all started. And it's next to nothing in price! This works well for the people in the office, a collection to start for the kids, the grandparents, etc. My husband and I got suckered into starting the magnet tradition: a new one for each vacation we take, and I know that will bite me in the booty one day when I have a million of them! But, shh- it's better than the shot glass, or pressed penny collection!!

 

[auntfrannie]

If you have a Disney Visa or annual pass, make sure you head to World of Disney in DTD to do most of your souvenir shopping. You save 10% there when you show your Disney Visa or annual pass.

 

[Dopey420]

I go out at night by myself to HWY 192 East and shop at the tacky souvenir shops for things for my kids. I find the best bargains at the Orange World (store looks like a big orange, and sells citrus as well as T-shirts, beach towels, alligator heads, etc. ), and the shop that has the big wizard on top.

These shops will have racks of $5-15 tshirts with Disney characters. Many of them appear to be the same shirts that were sold in the parks previously. There are lots of bargains.

It also is kind of an adventure for me to go outside the "World" at night and get cheap stuff. The kids think we bought it in the park and had it sent back to the room!