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Tag Archives: Souvenirs
A Great WDW Souvenir – Before You Even Get There
If you are a first time traveler to Walt Disney World or are going “home”, then you realize there are a ton of different WDW souvenirs to be had. T-shirts, mugs, magnets, hats, you can even order an awesome Chip and Co. shirt the list is endless and it’s so hard to choose.
One of my favorites is a customizable map. WDW has a website where you can order maps of all the Kingdoms, customize them with your favorite rides and even put your name on them. There are categories of attraction suggestions for different age groups to help you along if needed. Once you have completed your map you have the option of printing them at home or delivered right to your front door.
We love these and each year I order a set. They come printed on a heavy duty card stock in full color. The maps are big enough to read easily, but not so big they take up a lot of room in the suitcase. My kids love to look at them and they feel really special having their own personalized map. We bring them home and I have used them in scrap books, or when the kids “play” Disney World they walk around with their maps. I have also used them to surprise the kids when they didn’t know that we were going, just open the mailbox and something from Disney World is just waiting for them, a map showing everything they want to do.
They are a great help while you are there and also a great souvenir when you get home. Just remember when you order it can take up to 6 weeks for delivery, so leave yourself plenty of time for them to get to your “castle”.
Have you ever ordered a map from Walt Disney World? Did you love them as much as I did? How did you “reuse” them?
Erin is a lover all things Disney, especially Disney World. She loves to share the many things she has learned over the years of traveling to Disney World, reading about Disney and learning about everything Disney.
Related articles
- Top 10 Activities for Adults at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
- Mickey Mail! Sending Disney Postcards to Friends & Family (chipandco.com)
The dish on Disney Buttons
button
One of the most popular pieces of advice given by savvy Disney travelers is to get your “Disney Button” . You may ask what could possibly make you want to look like you work for a restaurant chain while visiting Disney? Well, Disney is its own little “World” and wearing Disney Buttons and Mickey Ears on your head are all OK. So here is the dish on Disney World Buttons.
What are they?
Well, they are a 3 inch round button provided by Disney at no charge to you. They promote different occasions you might have come to Disney to celebrate. Currently there are buttons available for the following:
- First Visit (Can be personalized)
- Happy Birthday or Feliz Cumpleanos (Can be personalized)
- Happy Anniversary
- Just Married
- Just Engaged
- Family Reunion
- Generic “I’m Celebrating”
More info after the jump…
Cheapest Souvenir in Disney: A Pressed Penny
Penny Machines
Photo Credit: Ashley Metz
What kind of souvenir can you get for 51 cents in Disney World? A Souvenir Penny. Every attraction in the country seems to know the power of the penny machine and Disney is no exception. What sets Disney World apart is the sheer number and variety of pennies available. There are blogs devoted to the collectible penny values and updates on locations of the machines. I’m going to keep it simple and give you the low-down on pressed pennies at Disney World.
What are They?
Pressed Penny Machines are typically a crank-type machine which will elongate your penny and stamp a selected image on the front. At Disney most of the machines have a button instead of a crank. The cost involved is two quarters, plus the one penny you wish to smoosh. Although not as prevalent, there are also pressed quarter machines ($1.25, 4 quarters, plus the one to be pressed) throughout the parks and resorts. After depositing your coins, you select an image from several choices and then turn that crank or press the button. For kids, this is their favorite part. Hence the appeal of the penny machine.
Where are They?
Just about everywhere! All the Parks and most of the Resorts will be happy to take your 51 cents. Most of the attractions have a penny machine located near the exit or the gift shop. They will feature images and the name of the ride or attraction which is what makes them a great way to remember your visit.
How to Do Mouse Gear and Not Go Home Broke
Photo via Disney Parks
I know what you’re thinking. That title is misleading; that is just not possible! Especially if you’re at Epcot with kids, right? I used to agree. However, I’ve been visiting the World since my youngest was an infant, and I’ve learned some ways around all the “I want!!!” (That’s my husband I’m quoting there, by the way, wink-wink!)
- Set a budget. It’s one of the hardest things for us to do, but if we know we have only so much money to spend, it makes it easier to say NO to those non-essentials.
- Pre-purchase Disney gift cards. You can get one for each member of your group. Parents can hold onto the ones for kids who are not ready for the responsibility, of course. But, this goes along with the budget point. If you have only so much to spend, when you run out of funds, you have to stop spending.
- Make a wish list. Before your trip, have each family member write down the things they’d like to buy at Walt Disney World. If you’ve been before, you probably have a rough idea of each item’s cost. If not, look them up at the Disney Store online. Refer back to your budget to determine how many of those items, if any, you’ll be able to purchase.
Saving on Souvenirs at Walt Disney World
For many of us the trips we plan to Disney are about making memories, family time and good old-fashioned fun. For our kids it’s about all that…and the souvenirs. Let’s face it Disney is pretty good at tempting us adults too! They have exclusive Park Only merchandise and the cutest little sweatshirts, stuffed toys, trading pins…OH MY! I could go on and on. They have not been in business for this long without knowing how to merchandise. Here are a few tips to keep your wallet happy as well as your kids (and you).
1. Buy Before You Go. Check out the Disney Store or Disneystore.com for small gifts you know your kids will enjoy. The key here is small as you are going to bring them with you on your trip. Little princess cell phones, McQueen bouncy balls, stuffed Tiggers are all good ideas. Looking for these items on sale is the objective. Even other stores like Target, Kohl’s or Toys R Us carry Disney items. Pick up what you can and put it aside. Tip: If you are flying and have so much of this stuff that you require an extra piece of luggage, you probably aren’t saving money. If it makes sense you can also mail packages to your resort ahead of time. Again weigh the cost here of shipping.
