During the first year of my marriage to Mr. B, I took a two day solo trip to Walt Disney World. For the record, the trip was on the books before we got engaged and it was Mr. B who insisted that I still go, even though I was now a Mrs. I was very excited, among other things, to bring my husband home a unique, magical souvenir that he would cherish forever, a memento of the first year of our married life and a trophy to prove he survived two days away from me.
What he got was a round, fluffy Winnie the Pooh and a book of stickers.
Is he a fan of Pooh? Not particularly. Does he love stickers? Not that he’s ever shared with me. So what happened?
Disney happened!
There are so many shopping options at Disney that it can be overwhelming. There are stores in the main areas of the parks, stores near specific rides, and don’t even get me started on Disney Springs. And don’t forget, between all this shopping you’re also supposed to be riding the attractions, watching the shows, sampling delicious dishes, and partaking in the general merriment of a Disney vacation. Is it any wonder the souvenir game can get a little hectic?
On my most recent Girls’ trip, the ante was upped because not only was I bringing home a gift for Mr. B, but I now had my three princesses to consider as well.
By sticking to a few rules, I think I managed to crack the code on souvenir buying.
Choose Something from Your Resort’s Gift Shop
The Mercantile Store at Wilderness Lodge has some distinctive and notable gift options.
Especially if your resort has a unique theme (Port Orleans, The Polynesian) or hosts an amazing character meal (Wilderness Lodge). While many of the resort gift shops carry similar items, you can find some unique, theme specific ones only at certain spots. I grabbed Mr. B some chicory coffee from Cafe DuMonde at the Port Orleans French Quarter gift shop.
You can’t get this anywhere else on property, and it was perfect for Mr. B because he loves coffee. Which leads me to my next tip…
Choose a Gift that Leans into the Things They Like Beyond Disney
It’s easy to ask family and friends, “who is your favorite character” and then throw a Tinkerbell plush at them when you get home. But Disney is about so much more than characters! Sports fans, movie buffs, animation stans, home chefs, collectors of various and sundry goods. There are options for all of these folks at Disney World! Mr. B is a huge soccer fan, so I made sure to visit the Sportman’s Shoppe in the UK Pavilion. They’ve got tons of gear there for fans of European football that you can’t find anywhere else stateside! He got a shirt for his favorite team, Manchester City, and I got a friendly banter with the Cast Member about which Manchester Team was the better team. (PS: It’s always City. Sorry United. I said what I said.)
Choose a Souvenir that Reminds You of a Special Experience
Okay, it is well documented that my favorite ride is Splash Mountain. At Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, my buddy Hillary and I literally walked. Not only did we walk on, but we were two of only four people in the entire ride. The dudes we rode with didn’t even need to share a row. The reason? We decided to ride during the fireworks. Which meant we got to spend all the outdoor portions of the ride with the most stunning view of the fireworks. As we plummeted down the final drop, there were the most gorgeous burst of fireworks that my breath caught in my throat and I literally started to cry. A magical experience. Which unbelievably got better when, soaking wet, we chanced upon Brer Rabbit in Frontierland. Fulfilling a life long dream, I took a picture with the icon. And now every Christmas, I’ll get to remember than magical moment.
That’s the face of dream fulfillment, friends.
There are lots of beautiful things at Disney, but picking something specific to a special moment of your trip helps keep the trip alive for years to come.
Choose a Unique Item for a Popular Character
My Frying Pan loves all the princesses, with her ranking changing daily, but Ariel is usually in the top three. I toyed around with bringing her home a doll or a dress or a wand, but she has dolls and dresses and wands. I wanted something that was unique for the character as well as unique for girl. Which is why I fell head over heels for this dinglehopper bow. If you’re going to go the character route for a souvenir, find the most unique thing you can for that character. It elevates the gift to a whole new level.
Choose a Product You Can Get Some Use Out Of
Listen, I’ve got a shelf of beloved Vinylmation that I dust regularly, but as I get older I see the value in gifts that serve a purpose. Not only do they not take up space, but they remind you of the excellent trip you had. In Mr. B’s case, every time he drinks from this Starbucks espresso cup, he is reminded he survived four days alone while I was living it up at the Castle.
And for me, cooking seems to be a little more fun when I can do it with Figment by my side.
There’s a ton of debate over how much money you need for Disney souvenirs, but I would argue that you don’t need to spend a mint in order to bring home the perfect reminder of your family’s magical memories. All you need are a few good tips.
What is your souvenir strategy? What’s the best Disney World souvenir you’ve ever gotten?
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey three years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!