You don’t want to leave Walt Disney World without souvenirs. You’ll always have your magical memories and for me, the best souvenirs is the hundreds of photos I bring home on my memory card. But how do you decide, amongst a myriad of souvenir choices, what to bring home with you? This decision is particularly difficult when you have children along. Of course, they want everything, right?
Every time we make a trip to The World, we come home with something. However, we try to base our decisions on a souvenir that will last, more of a memento from that trip. Some of my favorites include:
1. Etched glasses from Arribas. You can find Arribas Brothers at Downtown Disney. It’s a shop full of glass, so keep that in mind if you have littles shopping with you! Each member of our family has his or her own etched glass mug from this shop. Our name is on the front, and a favorite character on the other side. They also do glass blowing and glass cutting demonstrations during the day. They have many collectibles of crystal and glass that can be personalized.
2. Christmas ornaments from Disney’s Days of Christmas. Two trips ago, we purchased Christmas ornaments at Downtown Disney. Each of our children chose an ornament with either a Mickey or a Minnie on it, and my husband and I got one as well. If you’re a return traveler, perhaps you can add to your Christmas decor with an ornament or other collectible from Disney’s Days of Christmas.
3. Picture frames. I take a TON of pictures at the parks. I make sure that at each park , we get our family picture in front of the icon of the park. You know, Cinderella’s Castle, Spaceship Earth, The Tree of Life, and the Sorcerer’s Hat. When we return home, I have a 5×7 of my favorite picture made and it goes in my Disney frame. On our upcoming trip, another frame (or two) is on my “souvenir list”.
4. Disney jewelry. At the World of Disney, you can find beads for Pandora charm bracelets. I have a Cinderella coach and this year I’m hoping for a Minnie/Mickey head.
5. Mickey ears and autograph books or pin lanyards. Of course, the kids want something fun. So, monogrammed Mickey ears and autograph books have become some of our kids’ favorite mementos. Also, older kinds may enjoy pin trading. I know our nine year olds are already talking about the pins they’re willing to trade and ones they hope to get this summer. Why not add a new medal to their lanyard? Pin trading can be a fun, ongoing souvenir.
Of course, clothing, stuffed Disney friends, and a Pirates of the Caribbean sword are super fun. You’ll come home with a few “frivolous” souvenirs that eventually don’t last. I want to look back at our souvenirs, knowing that they were chosen for the fun memories they’ll conjure up in the future.
What is your favorite souvenir at Disney? Do you have any long lasting souvenirs from trips?
Magically Yours,
Carrie
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I like to buy things that will last too, and things that I can have out all the time and use often, to remind me of my fun visits. I have a plastic tumbler in the bathroom, Disney jewelry, hoodies, desk accessories, kitchen items, an antenna topper, pctures, frames and albums, cosmetic pouches, handbags and tote bags, throw pillows and blanket-throws, candle holders, salt & pepper sets … but my most favorite and totally frivolous are my snowglobes. We’ve amassed quite a collection, but I have a few extra-special ones that I especially love; the two-part set with Tiana, a rotating Princess one, a snow-blowing one, an hourglass-shaped Tinkerbell globe, and one that the monorail circles around on the outside of the snowglobe … they all bring back special memories.
My family and I have found that our favorite souvenirs are bulbs for our Christmas tree or small items that can be used throughout the year such as Mickey shaped cookie cutters.