One of the only things that makes leaving Disney World or Disneyland a tiny bit easier after a fabulous trip is taking some of the magic home with you! Souvenirs are often a great and inexpensive way to keep your vacation memories alive, at least until you can book your next trip “home”! Here are some of my favorites from both parks!
Ear Hats
Nothing says, “I’m going to Disney World!” like a pair of Mickey ears! Ear hats are a rite of passage-for young and old! You will be amazed at the sheer variety! You will see everything from Baby’s First Ears to Maleficent horns, and everything in between!
Disney Parks has their own collection of ear hats that are available in the parks, on the Disney Store website and on the Shop Disney Parks app. Many people buy them from home and bring them into the parks, but if you purchase your ear hat from Le Chapeau in the Magic Kingdom, you can even have your ears personalized!
If you are crafty, there are a million tutorials out there to create your own ears. If you are like me (not crafty at all) then you have etsy! Etsy is THE place to find customized ears for any occasion, at every price point. Some of my fave Etsy shops include MakeMeMinnie, ModernMouse Boutique, the Bow Mama and HappilyEverAfterbyPatti.
Park Buttons
Celebrating a birthday or a wedding? Maybe you just graduated or are celebrating an anniversary! Tell a Cast Member-you may be gifted a free park button! Park buttons are available both in the resorts at check-in and in the parks, usually City Hall! The designs vary from year to year, but First Visit, Birthday and Celebration buttons are always plentiful!
Sometimes a Cast Member will surprise you with a button! While waiting in line to meet Peter Pan at the Magic Kingdom, my bff and I had a great interaction with character attendant Michael Signorello. He personalized “I’m Celebrating” buttons for Princess Jacqueline and Princess Tiffany! (I still have it pinned to my Princess Dooney!!)
In Disneyland this past May, my daughter and I were the first two people in Fantasyland as we made our way over to sign up for Jedi Training. Another Cast Member gave us buttons as Honorary Citizens of Disneyland! We were so excited!
Disneyland also gives out buttons for their character meals! We have buttons from the Plaza Inn, Ariel’s Grotto, Storyteller’s Cafe and the PCH Grill!
Etsy is another treasure trove for custom buttons! You can create your own buttons featuring your favorite characters, or purchase pre-made ones. We’ve ordered Star Wars buttons, runDisney themed buttons and even ones for Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration! (And at around $5-they are a great value!)
Ornaments
Next, ornaments are a popular souvenir that people buy year round. Available in every gift shop in every park, there are also dedicated shops like Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Days of Christmas in Disney Springs. Popular ornaments include dated ornaments, characters, and themed shoe and “ear” ornaments. Many others can be personalized with a name, date or event at an additional cost-just ask!
Pressed Pennies
My two children are crazy over pressed pennies! For the low, low price of 51 cents (two quarters to pay for your souvenir-you supply the shiny penny!) you can get an engraved Disney pressed coin! These machines are everywhere…at attraction exits, in the resorts, even in gift shops! (Which also conveniently sell the portfolios to store your pressed coins!) Pinterest has many updated maps that show the location of each machine, too. Some even allow you to press a quarter! (Hint: Recycled M&M mini canisters are great for transporting your coins, too, just be prepared to show them at airport security!)
Silhouettes
For years I have been trying to have silhouettes done of my children by the artists working outside on Main Street, USA in Disney World. However, our schedules never lined up. I rectified that this past May in Disneyland, which has its very own silhouette studio!
In case you don’t know, silhouettes are hand-cut profiles that are done by eye…and extremely accurate! In less than two minutes each, talented Cast Member had fashioned two silhouettes. The likenesses were amazing! Even more amazing…he had perfectly captured my son with autism, who typically has trouble sitting still!
The cost for the silhouette (which also included a mirror image) and the frame was about $20, and was the best Mother’s Day gift I’ve ever gotten!
Pin Trading and Vinylmation
Pins and Vinylmation are both collectable souvenirs that can be purchased, and sometimes traded, at the parks! Both also make for great displays once you get home…check out Pinterest for some inspiration!
Pin collecting and trading is fun for all ages! You can purchase pins in the parks or buy them from eBay or Amazon before you go. (Just make sure they are Disney Parks authentic!) Pins can be worn on lanyards, or even attached to shirts or hats-be creative! Cast Members wearing pins on a lanyard are allowed to trade up to two pins a day per guest, so choose carefully!
Vinylmations are small, plastic figurines of popular characters that are part of a series, usually eight or twelve. They are grouped by theme-Princesses, Star Wars…even Special Editions! Most are sold in blind boxes, so you never know what you may get. However, each series contains a “chaser”, which is a rare, mystery figure…no wonder it’s so hard to buy just one set!
runDisney
When you run multiple runDisney race challenges per year, you want to bring home more bling than just your medals! The most popular Expo souvenirs tend to be “I Did It!” shirts, pins, wine glasses commemorating your event, and themed New Balance sneakers! (Have you seen the Haunted Mansion ones??) Athletic apparel such as Sparkle Skirts and raw threads get snapped up, too! (Guilty as charged!) Themed Dooney and Bourke handbags are also available for some races…these are pricey (and very coveted!) souvenirs! Pre-order, or plan to arrive early at the Expo!
However, my all-time favorite runDisney souvenirs are shoe ornaments. Each “shoe” represents a princess or female character. Every time I run a race, I pick up a shoe ornament to either show the character I dressed up as, or to represent that weekend’s theme. For example, I brought home the Cinderella shoe ornament the first time I ran the Glass Slipper Challenge and Tinkerbell for my first Pixie Dust Challenge in California!
Mugs, Magnets and More!
There is no shortage of treasures to collect at the Parks! Whether you collect magnets, keychains, pens or shot glasses you will have hundreds to choose from! Candy apples and rice krispie treats from the Confectionary, mugs from Starbucks, baseball hats from the Emporium…there is something for everyone!
Just don’t forget your ears!
Jacqueline lives in Southbury, CT with her husband and two children. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie.