What do you save from WDW trips?

[CarolynK]

We go 3-4 times per year. We returned recently and as I was going through all the papers and maps we brought back from our trip, I decided to post this question.

When you go several times a year to WDW, how much and what do you save from your trip (not including souveniers)? Do you save all your maps and schedules and receipts, room bills, DVC welcome folder, etc? We have actually started a whole drawer with hanging file folders, one for each year, to keep our memories in. It's already getting full. I also type up a trip report and stick it in there for each trip.

Just curious about what everyone else is saving.

 

[PamOKW]

Sounds about right. I can't even bring myself to throw away paper plates, napkins etc. I've taken as souveneirs. Heck, I only recently have been able to toss out the DVC envelopes from mailings. About a year ago, I did throw out duplicates of brochures. I'm not quite as organized as you sound.

 

[DeeP]

I have finally gotten to the point where I can bring myself to not bring home every map (if it is the same as one I already have at home, LOL), but everything else I bring home: DVC welcome folder, plastic shopping bags, paper plates, napkins, Mickey shampoo & soap, the paper Mickey coasters, the plastic laundry bag, the room keys. I love using the plastic bags and paper plates, etc at home and being reminded of the land of Mickey!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

The thing I have always kept is the Key to the World cards. I have one from each resort stay. I also have various maps, postcards, receipts, etc that I've kept.

 

[kda]

I usually have one room key card in with my other plastic cards. It's so much fun to "find" it in there and daydream. Also love to reuse the plastic bags. People will see them and ask about Disney. The property maps are fun to look at (and day dream about room assignments). AND, I now keep the general WDW Transportation map and the National map of the Orlando area (and how to get to Disney) in my carry on bag so it will always be handy when we get to the rental car.

 

[DeeP]

I still save all my room keys but I used to really like the room keys when each resort had their own logo on the room key, just like different parks used to have differently themed plastic shopping bags, napkins, etc. Oh the good old days before cut backs! LOL

 

[disneyelaine]

I save all the plastic bags, my small trash cans are lined with them! I have tons. I like to shop I also save the room key and write on the back the resort name. Have a pretty big stack of those now too. I also keep the room charges sheet. I think someday it will be fun to look back at where we ate, where we shopped, how much we spent! (ooh maybe I should shread those so my husband won't see...heehee) He knows how much we spend, but sometimes seeing the total mths later makes him weezy. I think about filing them in order or something, but I'm not that organized yet!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I keep everything. I must admit that it is far from organized, but I just can't bring myself to throw it away. I have itemized resort statements from the Poly dating back several years.

Pam, I have not yet reached the point of throwing away the envelopes.

 

[tiggerguy2000]

I save everything in a box and have days when going thru them picks me up.It's hard when those around you don't understand . I think friends are the J word.
tiggerguy2000

 

[disneycrazed139]

I'm a little more moderate as a saver because I just don't have the room for things. I would say room keys, soaps and shampoos, and sometimes napkins from different restaurants. Also, the newsletter that you get at check-in. I never keep the receipts past the point that the purchase clears on the credit card and there are no more questions. I do try to keep a log/journal of each trip. (used the Passporter last time, which was great.)

 

[PamOKW]

It's feels good to know I'm not alone. Thanks guys!

 

[JimC]

Most everything is kept. My wife organizes it all into scrap books and more recently has been creating Magical CDs of our trips. Yet we still keep the hard copy of everything.

We also keep passporters, guide books and a spread sheet with all pertinent trip information.

 

[smvdelv]

I notice that a lot of you save the soaps and shampoos.
If you are looking for a nice thing to do with them, check out this link about the "Mickey SOS Soap or Shampoo for Children Project".
I have even gone up to a Mousekeeper in the halls of the resorts and asked for extra, explaining what it is for, and she has been more than happy to help out!

Mickey SOS Soap or Shampoo for Children Project

 

[JimC]

Smvdelv,

Thank you so much for posting that. It is the first I had heard of it and we are off to BCV in a month. What great timing!

 

[jimmytammy]

We keep all the stuff mentioned above. We scrapbook and put all the maps,etc. in back pockets. But most importantly what I save from those precious trips....my sanity! WDW and WLV help me to relax and forget the other world for awhile.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The only thing we keep are a bag of drink coasters.
2) By the next vacation, they are are used and we need more.

NOTE: This does not include a golf shirt or T-shirt souvenir.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

I keep everything!!! I have a Passporter for each trip and put as much as I can in that, all our receipts, maps, napkins etc.

I wish I had the time and patience to do a real scrapbook of each trip, but we put all our pictures in an album and make captions underneath for stuff. Some of the scrapbooks I have seen are incredible. Maybe our December trip I will do try for something creative, specially with all the Christmas decorations

 

[lsutigger2]

Another saver here - but I try to do so in moderation. Mostly it is the big items - resort maps, DVC folder of stuff, keys, etc. I don't do napkins, etc but I do save the plastic shopping bags. I've scrapbooked some of the items and they really do add to the pages.

 

[Paul in CT]

I save too much. I have a file from every trip that I keep in a file box in addition to the stuff that doesn't fit into those DVC folders that they give you at check-in. I do recycle duplicate brochures when I have time to look through them. Now that they don't put the dates on the park maps, I don't have to save as many.

I usually save my reseipts with dates on a spreadsheet so that I can see how much we spend. It's fun reliving the trip day by day as I add the receipts with the dates and times onto the sheet. I haven't done it yet for our last trip in August, however.

I wish that I wrote trip reports, but I'm afraid that they consist of only a few notes on this board after the trip. Maybe when I retire and I have more time...........????

 

[ReneeQ]

I don't necessarily save everything we bring home. I usually end up with napkins, paper plates, plastic bags, etc. I bring those home and use them. Love eating sandwiches off of Disney plates at home, or toting stuff in the plastic bags or putting the napkins in our lunches. A nice pick me up between trips.

I keep "most" of the paperwork. I don't keep any folders, but keep all receipts, the check out bill, etc. I also keep a map from each park we went to on that trip. (I like looking at old maps and seeing what has changed.) I then put it all in a gallon zip lock bag and write on it with a sharpie marker, the date of the trip, where we stayed and who went. Then I keep all of the ziplocks in a big Rubbermaid Box. A little compulsive, I know.

I also have a spreadsheet in the computer for every trip with a breakdown of all costs by category by day (room, food, shopping, etc.), info on the room number we got, if it was a good location or not, how was the weather, etc.

Then I have another spreadsheet with grand totals of each category, so I can easily compare trips.