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Disney World is a hotspot for Disney merchandise, and taking the perfect souvenir home is an essential part of any Disney World vacation. With thousands of options to available, choosing the right ways to spend your money is important.
Since narrowing down the top items is next to impossible, so here are a few souvenir categories for you to consider for your shopping. These are some of the best souvenirs at Disney World.
Memory Maker
The number one souvenir to us is Memory Maker. With the purchase of Memory Maker, you receive not just a few, but ALL of your PhotoPass photos for download. Your photos can be downloaded en masse to your computer when you get home, or you can download them in real time on your smartphone with the My Disney Experience App – This is handy for posting the best ones to social media!
Having PhotoPass photographers take photos of your family so everyone can be in the picture is such a benefit that it alone is worth the cost of Memory Maker. It’s true that PhotoPass photographers will happily take your family photo with your camera or phone for free, but with professional cameras, tripods and external lighting, the quality of the PhotoPass photos is usually much, much better. An additional benefit with Memory Maker is that you also get all your ride photos and videos, too! (Yes, some of the rides now give you a video of your ride experience. The best ones are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Tower of Terror.
Another thing that you can’t get with your own camera is the Disney “Magic Shots.” With these photos, a PhotoPass photographer may ask you to make a certain pose such as pointing to the ground and acting surprised, and when you receive your photo, it will have a special surprise appearing in it, right where you pointed!
On top of all this, you can customize your photos adding frames, character autographs, stickers and more. PhotoPass photos are so fun and they will help your family remember their Disney vacation for years and years to come! Take PhotoPass photos in as many places as you can to maximize this purchase!
Mickey Ears
No visit to Walt Disney World is complete without a set of Mickey ears. There are so many variations available now, there is most certainly something for everyone. For little ones or those celebrating a first visit, the classic Mickey ears may be the best choice. You can even have them embroidered with your name on the back at some of the shops, including The Chapeau on Main Street at Magic Kingdom.
Couples celebrating an engagement, wedding, honeymoon or anniversary might opt for Brides and Grooms ears. Those who really love fireworks or nighttime shows might really enjoy the Made with Magic ears. There actually light up in a synchronized fashion with all the nighttime spectaculars!
Mickey, or Minnie rather, headbands are also incredibly popular. There’s a Rose Gold color that often flies off the shelves! Disney also offers a new line with interchangeable bows to customize your look.
No matter who your favorite character is, there is probably a set of ears for you!
Autograph Books
Another rite of passage for a Disney vacation is collecting character autographs. Most Disney characters will sign their autograph during meet and greets and at character meals. The autographs are not just signatures, they are creative reflections of the personality of each character.
They are quite fun and interesting, so children of all ages can enjoy looking back through their autographs books and remembering the experience of meeting these Disney “celebrities.” With this souvenir, you pay once and use it over and over to build the “value” of the souvenir. Remember to bring a big pen or Sharpie-style markers for the characters to sign with.
Disney Tees
Back in day, there were only a couple of styles of Disney vacation t-shirts, but today, the possibilities are near endless. You can get a classic Mickey tee in any number of colors, or you can get a high fashion shirt from Disney’s Tren-D shop, or anything in between. There are character-themed shirts, attraction-themed shirts, park-themed shirts, and even resort-specific shirts.
All Epcot festivals and hard ticket events sell specific merchandise, too. Visiting during a holiday (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, July 4th, etc.) opens up even more merchandise options. The point is, no matter what aspect of your Disney vacation you want to remember or celebrate, there’s most likely a tee available!
Collectibles
Perhaps your family prefers souvenirs that you can display at home. In that case, you, once again, have an incredible selection available to you. With everything from collectables from Pandora to gorgeous fine art paintings.
There’s a collectible for every budget. Personalized glassware and crystal are available at Arribas Brothers locations; Christmas collectibles and ornaments are available at Disney Springs and in all the parks; Disney Fine Art paintings, giclée, and reproductions are available at The Art of Disney at Disney Springs and several shops within the parks. Other items like pillows, throws and housewares may also be of interest if you like to display your souvenirs at home.
Disney Makes Shopping Easy
Don’t want to carry your purchases around? Disney has you covered with several convenience options. First, if you see something you like in the parks that’s not specific to an attraction or park, there’s a good chance it’s available at your resort gift shop. It’s a good idea to spin through there early in your trip so you have an idea of what’s available right at your resort.
If you aren’t sure if your resort carries an item you want, it’s best to get it when you see it because there are some things that are only available in select locations. To avoid carrying it, another option is to have your item sent to your resort. This is perfect if you buy a fragile collectible or something that’s too heavy or bulky to carry around. You can fill out a form at the time of purchase and have the item sent to your resort gift shop for pick up (usually the next morning).
Similarly, you can also have your item sent to the front of the park, so you can pick it up on your way out. Lastly, the Shop Disney Parks app allows you to purchase Disney Parks merchandise and send it to your resort, the front of the park or even your home! This is really convenient if you can’t or don’t wait to wait in line to check out or if you need a size that’s not available in your current location. Disney really makes it easy!
Do you agree with our recommendations? What are your favorite souvenirs?
