Couponing and saving your way to a Walt Disney World vacation? Chances are, you’ll be spending a lot of time in gift shops and bringing home souvenirs from your trip. Whoopee..shopping is fun! Now Disney World souvenirs are both expensive, fantastic, and unavoidable, not necessarily in that order.
What is my all time favorite Disney souvenir? The Disney key chain, and here’s three reasons why.
1. The Cuteness Factor
Disney key chains are good quality items and just as cute as can be. They come in all characters, all shapes, all sizes, but the price remains between about $8 to $10. They look good accessorizing your car keys. They look good hanging from your child’s back pack. They look good hanging on a nail in your kitchen, as a reminder of good times had or good times to come. They look good on your desk at work, or hanging from your purse. They look good anywhere, and they will take a beating and hang in there.
2. The Low (ish) Price
At $8 to $10 each, key chains are some of the more affordable, ever-adorable souvenirs found in any Disney gift shop. Compared with Mickey sweat shirts starting at $49.95, a key chain looks like a real bargain. My beloved chocolate-covered caramel Mickey apples are at least $9, and they certainly won’t be making the trip home.
3. The Ease of Availability
I have spent some lovely time in a lot of Disney gift shops. Window shopping is practically a sport in my house. Fantastically themed, air-conditioned, clean, the air full of Disney music, and the isles are full of happy customers. There may be no better place to kill some time in-between rides. I can’t think of one gift shop where there hasn’t been a full rack of key chains just sitting by the door, luring me back to the counter, coaxing that Visa out of my wallet.
Headed back home from vacation? There’s a key chain display in the gift shop before you check out. Headed back to your resort? There are gift shops at every entrance/exit to the parks, just in case you need a last-minute gift. Hey, they make great gifts and last practically forever.
Those three DVC and Cruise line key chains pictured above? I purchased those from eBay, at about $4.50 each including shipping, for a Disney cruise I will take six months from now. Why so early? I’m assuming that’s less than half the retail cost at Castaway Cay, and they stand as a promise of…you know it, vacation and good times to come.
So the next time you’re wandering the gift shop wonderland, take a closer peak at the key chains. Easy on the eyes, and a little easier on the wallet than many other Disney souvenirs.
Thanks for coming along for a photographical Disney ride, and we’ll see you in the check-out line!
Amanda M. is the creator of Mouze Kateerz.com and writes for Meet the Magic.com.
Love Disney World photography? For a virtual Disney vacation in pictures, stop by Mouze Kateerz on Facebook and Mouze Kateerz on Pinterest.
stacy padgett says
We just took our first cruise last month and being a December cruise we found so many 2015 items marked way down, half price or less even. We bought 2 mugs for $5.99 each normally $12.99 ( I think), magnets were $1.99 I don’t remember how much they were, and my favorite was the 300 picture photo album that I paid $9.99 for instead of $24.99. They had the smaller 180 picture one for $6.99 but I went with the bigger for the value. We bought quite a few 2015 items, so remember, if you sail in December you take away huge discounts while they make room for the next year. :)
hannah says
i love disney keychains and i think i will start collecting some every trip!
Lorie says
I hang Disney Key Chains off my purse and tote bags like charms! That way, when I reach into my bag, I am reminded of my savings goal!
Lisa says
This is what I do with the anttenae heads. Every time I go I purchase a few for different times of the year and then change them out as the year rolls on. It gives me a little piece of Disney every time I get in the car…..which seems like always with 3 children.
Janna says
I also use my keychains from Disney on my Christmas tree. Cheaper than the ornaments they sell at the stores and a great selection too!
Amie says
Just put this on my souvineer list for my 10 year aniversary no kids one day trip this summer! :)
Jiya says
I really like the idea of getting them off ebay in advance — I keep my eyes open at thrift shops & yard sales, too, for them.
Jill says
My daughter and I each got our own Disney key chains last summer. There were so many to choose from, we each picked one that reflected our personalities. I just hooked mine on the bag I take to work each day :-)
Megan says
I have not ever gotten a Disney Keychain. When I was smaller and we took family vacations to Disney I always bought postcards of all my favorite spots in Disney. I like the key chain idea. We are hoping to take our 3 kids to Disney within the next year and more affordable souvenirs will be a huge help since it the expense times 3!
Amber says
I’m glad to hear that other people have bought long-lasting Disney keychains, because ours (metal and plastic) break within a few weeks with little use. Maybe we should stop getting the ones with tiny things dangling off them. ;)
Lisa says
I have one that I bought at Grad Night 16 years ago that’s still on my keys. Now that I live in another state, it serves as a daily reminder of one of my favorite places. :-)
jamie serna says
Thanks for the great idea.
Kristen says
I have 2 myself and i put back so many more! I didn’t know what I would do with all of them. Too many cute ones though!
Debbie says
Here’s another idea for the keychains. Use them as christmas tree ornaments. I have been a coke collector for over 25 years. My collection has over 100 keychains & 1 year I did my tree with just lights & the keychains. Was a really cute tree that year.
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
I really like that idea!
Mariah says
PS- adding to the castaway club stateroom gift comment- I have also received rice Krispy treats, an embroidered bag, and also sport cups. (2 each sailing) and free lanyards. If you are DVC members- there’s even more free gifts in your room once you board. And always book your next cruise off the one you are sailing- 10 percent off and inboard credits min $100.
Mariah says
Love Disney keychains! If you sail on the Disney cruise more than once and become part of the castaway club, those keychains are free. They have been left in our room as stateroom gifts every sailing.
brenda says
Here’s another souvenir idea. I recently went to Disney and bought a small Mickey charm for my charm bracelet. It was only a few dollars, it was small enough to fit in my luggage (ha!) and everytime I look down at my wrist I remember our wonderful vacation!
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
That’s a good idea!
Aileen says
We do the same thing – we always get a charm for my charm bracelet to commemorate our family vacation spots and also an ornament for the Christmas tree …. from the pictures posted, I see that these keychains also make cute ornaments! :)
Jane says
That’s a great idea!! I want one!