Souvenir Tips

[Kim M]

We are taking our 3 girls (6, 4 and 2) on our first Disney trip in June of this year and I was hoping to avoid paying some of the high prices for souvenirs and extras. My plan is to buy a few small surprise souvenir items before we go and take them along-we'll just pretend they are a gift form the characters while we were out. Any tips on specific items that can be bought at home that are really popular in the park? Or just any items that might be fun? They do each have a gift card from Christmas to buy an item of their choice while we're there but I'm not planning to buy much else. Thanks!

 

[pktbMouse]

Dollar Tree has some cute Disney things right now like little note books, pens, packets of crayons, pencil cases,key rings, playing cards, jigsaw puzzles

 

[dprincessmom]

If you are going at night, hit the light up stuff at home. Our Walgreens has a light up necklace on Easter clearance right now that has the princesses and light up flowers. They also had some cute light up cups. I had read before we went the first time to take glow in the dark bracelets, necklaces or what ever. Found them for a dollar and bought a couple of tubes. We were on a bus home one night and there was a family that you could tell had had a long day. The little ones were taken with the bracelets and we ended up giving several to them. They laughed the whole way to the resort and the adults were so thankful. Since then my daughter asks can we take a tube and she likes to pixie dust other kids with them.

Other things that will be in every gift shop your ride empties out into will be stuffed animals and toys.

 

[poohfriend77]

Yes, the light-up/glow items are great to buy ahead and take! Also, get a couple t-shirts (or even princess dresses, if they're into that). Target, Walmart, and even Disney Store have shirts for about 1/3 of the price of the ones in the parks. My girls (even still at 12 and 10) LOVE stuffed animals, so I've gotten those in advance to give them on our trips. Kohls has nice-sized ones for $5 right now! Those are the biggest things we've done to cut souvenir costs.

Not exactly souvenirs, but we also got new Disney toothbrushes, pajamas, lip balm, pool towels, coloring books, fruit snacks, etc. as Tinkerbell gifts as well. And since it will be hot when you're there, maybe a misting fan that you could decorate with Disney stickers? The fans in the park are close to $20. There are also tons of ideas online for collecting autographs, some of which are very inexpensive.

 

[tzeitel]

Target has a bunch of Disney themed items in the $1 spot. I always bring little things for DD when we go and this upcoming trip my nieces will be with us so I am really stocking up I got the little packets that have coloring pages, crayons and stickers (the had princesses, Monsters U, Sofia and Minnie), Frozen hair accessories, Frozen bracelets, Disney books. The coloring packets are great for keeping them entertained during TS meals.

In the Summer section of Walmart they always have bubble blowers (they are like $4-7) and the light up spinners that look like the ones Disney sells. At WM I found light up wands with princesses and Sofia in the clearance section. I also get the light up bracelets/necklaces, I got them online but have seen them at the $1 store.

If you have a DS nearby check them out - they usually have some great sales/clearance stuff. I know they had the Toy Story mini Tum Tums on sale for $1.99 - and they are super cute. Shirts at the DS are a great deal compared to the parks.

 

[andiraye]

What a fun question!!!

I agree about dollar tree. Autograph books, markers, Disney puzzles, glows sticks/bracelets/swords/wands (but but extra - sometimes they don't work), even Disney tissues and wipes.

Are you near a Disney store outlet? We got t-shirts, buzz Lightyear fans and even mnsshp ears!!! They were from a different year than our mnsshp visit but my kids didn't know the difference.

 

[Kim M]

What a fun question!!!

I agree about dollar tree. Autograph books, markers, Disney puzzles, glows sticks/bracelets/swords/wands (but but extra - sometimes they don't work), even Disney tissues and wipes.

Are you near a Disney store outlet? We got t-shirts, buzz Lightyear fans and even mnsshp ears!!! They were from a different year than our mnsshp visit but my kids didn't know the difference.

Thanks for the suggestions. We are near an outlet. I was going to check them out. I've seen some glow stuff at Walgreens so I'm going to check there. Thanks!

 

[Kim M]

Target has a bunch of Disney themed items in the $1 spot. I always bring little things for DD when we go and this upcoming trip my nieces will be with us so I am really stocking up I got the little packets that have coloring pages, crayons and stickers (the had princesses, Monsters U, Sofia and Minnie), Frozen hair accessories, Frozen bracelets, Disney books. The coloring packets are great for keeping them entertained during TS meals.

In the Summer section of Walmart they always have bubble blowers (they are like $4-7) and the light up spinners that look like the ones Disney sells. At WM I found light up wands with princesses and Sofia in the clearance section. I also get the light up bracelets/necklaces, I got them online but have seen them at the $1 store.

If you have a DS nearby check them out - they usually have some great sales/clearance stuff. I know they had the Toy Story mini Tum Tums on sale for $1.99 - and they are super cute. Shirts at the DS are a great deal compared to the parks.

Thanks for the tips! I will definitely check these places.

 

[Kim M]

Yes, the light-up/glow items are great to buy ahead and take! Also, get a couple t-shirts (or even princess dresses, if they're into that). Target, Walmart, and even Disney Store have shirts for about 1/3 of the price of the ones in the parks. My girls (even still at 12 and 10) LOVE stuffed animals, so I've gotten those in advance to give them on our trips. Kohls has nice-sized ones for $5 right now! Those are the biggest things we've done to cut souvenir costs.

Not exactly souvenirs, but we also got new Disney toothbrushes, pajamas, lip balm, pool towels, coloring books, fruit snacks, etc. as Tinkerbell gifts as well. And since it will be hot when you're there, maybe a misting fan that you could decorate with Disney stickers? The fans in the park are close to $20. There are also tons of ideas online for collecting autographs, some of which are very inexpensive.

I've heard many tips for light up items so I will definitely look for those. I think Walgreens may be carrying some right now. I had been thinking stuffed animals also because they would be a little easier to smash into a suitcase when we travel. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Kim M]

If you are going at night, hit the light up stuff at home. Our Walgreens has a light up necklace on Easter clearance right now that has the princesses and light up flowers. They also had some cute light up cups. I had read before we went the first time to take glow in the dark bracelets, necklaces or what ever. Found them for a dollar and bought a couple of tubes. We were on a bus home one night and there was a family that you could tell had had a long day. The little ones were taken with the bracelets and we ended up giving several to them. They laughed the whole way to the resort and the adults were so thankful. Since then my daughter asks can we take a tube and she likes to pixie dust other kids with them.

Other things that will be in every gift shop your ride empties out into will be stuffed animals and toys.

Good to know! I will definitely get the light up stuff. I'm going to try and check out Walgreens today! Thanks!

 

[4under4]

Kohls $5 charity stuffed animals are really the BEST! They are very well made, and if your kids are younger you can get the books to go with them. If you're lucky, mousekeeping will do fun stuff with them too. Last year we got back to the room after our first long day to find Buzz cradling a baby Simba while our other stuffed friends were tucked into bed

 

[4under4]

I didn't know they did this, but I just hopped over to Kohls to see what the current stuffed animals were and they have a bunch online on CLEARANCE for $3.50!

http://www.kohls.com/search.jsp?search=Kohl's+Cares&submit-search=web-regular

 

[Happyinwonerland]

If you are planning on doing ear hats and autograph books, you can buy them at the Disney store online for a discount if you buy 4 or more parks items

 

[justafigment27]

When you go to the Magic Kingdom, sign up for the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Even if your kids don't play, the cards are cute to look at and make a neat souvenir.

I think less is more in terms of Disney trinkets. Your kids are young and, if they are anything like my girls at that age, I think that you will find yourself collecting all sorts of random free crap throughout your visit - stickers, first visit buttons, paper Duffy to color in Epcot, glossy park maps that the kids have to have, Mickey lotion from the hotel room, etc. If you eat at CRT or do the BBB, you'll end up with trinkets from there as well. I do 100% agree about light up toys if you are going to be there at night though - and princess dresses. A princess dress in the parks will run you $70.

 

[verleniahall]

wdwprepschool has an article called "tinkerbell gifts" that you should read -

 

[Kim M]

When you go to the Magic Kingdom, sign up for the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Even if your kids don't play, the cards are cute to look at and make a neat souvenir.

I think less is more in terms of Disney trinkets. Your kids are young and, if they are anything like my girls at that age, I think that you will find yourself collecting all sorts of random free crap throughout your visit - stickers, first visit buttons, paper Duffy to color in Epcot, glossy park maps that the kids have to have, Mickey lotion from the hotel room, etc. If you eat at CRT or do the BBB, you'll end up with trinkets from there as well. I do 100% agree about light up toys if you are going to be there at night though - and princess dresses. A princess dress in the parks will run you $70.

Thanks for the input. My girls aren't ones to ask for much so I was just thinking of a few small things to take along. I was thinking maybe a few light up items, jammies and maybe a stuffed animal. We are definitely bringing princess dresses from home. Thanks again!

 

[Kim M]

If you are planning on doing ear hats and autograph books, you can buy them at the Disney store online for a discount if you buy 4 or more parks items

Thanks! I had a friend make them autograph books.

 

[Kim M]

Kohls $5 charity stuffed animals are really the BEST! They are very well made, and if your kids are younger you can get the books to go with them. If you're lucky, mousekeeping will do fun stuff with them too. Last year we got back to the room after our first long day to find Buzz cradling a baby Simba while our other stuffed friends were tucked into bed

Good to know. Does Kohls often have Disney ones? I didn't see any Disney ones when I stopped in today.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Our kohl's always the Disney animals/books just past the registers on the way out.

 

[dprincessmom]

It varies but they always have books/animals. Disney seems to be about 2 times a year. Check kohls kares for kids on their website to see what is current.