Oh how I heart Disney World and as a kid, I was there a lot and as an adult even more. I have run out of fingers to count how many times I have been there in my lifetime. Everytime we hop on the plane from Pittsburgh to Orlando, I know fun is waiting for us.
What I will share with you today is a story of the luxury of a souvenir and the built-in value. Luxury is about having a souvenir, but the story of how you get this souvenir in Disney is more luxury. Usually, I do not make sentences like that contain ALL or Every, this is ONE exception because it is true!
A luxury of any vacation is not only bragging rights, which we use our social media for, but it’s also a souvenir. Lavishly live travel out loud and get the inside secret that no one is telling you about. Learn what purchase makes the best Disney World souvenir that everyone can afford!
Best Disney World Souvenir That Everyone Can Afford
My story today is based on my personal experience with Disney World and Disneyland. I have traveled to each destination often and love them dearly. I do have insider scoop that I can share with you to enhance your trip and still have the luxury of a souvenir. Don’t worry, sometimes luxuries come with a small price tag and yield the biggest grins!
My kids love Disney World and my daughter Kallie is a Disney World enthusiast. In fact, she wants to get married there one day with the Minnie ears veil and all! (oh that will be a luxury wedding right?
The Truth About Souvenir Shopping
You all know how much I love shopping, but there are a time and place for everything. If I am shopping while we are on our Disney Vacation, I am not riding the rides. Simply put, I can not get off track with why we are there and honestly the kids hate to shop! A family trip is about family and riding and experiences in Disney and the experience I do not want is paying too much for a souvenir.
With all the love in my heart for Disney, I can not support the price tags that accompany ‘stuff’ in their parks. I believe any Disney traveler says the same, the souvenirs are simply over-the-top priced. You can find licensed Disney clothing in so many stores and while it may not be ‘that piece’ you saw in the gift shops, it is still Disney. Chances are, no the reality is, anything NOT bought inside of Disney properties will be less expensive, fact and truth!
Did you know that there is even a ‘Disney Outlet’ store right in the shops in a plaza close by that offers merchandise on behalf of DISNEY at really low pricing? Use that knowledge if you have to have Disney stuff while you are there. We have purchased attire in there for under $10 and that is worth it!
Make Every Penny Count On Your Disney Souvenir Purchase
We did the princess thing with my daughter, the dinners, the dress-ups, but those dresses are something she outgrew and then we donated. What good was all of that for a few simple pictures? Honestly, she looks at photos and can hardly remember what happened. We more remember her looking for our ‘white rental car’ in the Disney lot. Why is that so funny? What rental car in the Disney lots is not white? It seems the lots are loaded with white cars, so write down or snap where you park, lol!
My Boys Changed Everything
MJ is totally about hands-on stuff, and he loves baseball caps as does Niko. The two of them, love Disney and really loved the Dino Land USA. I think that is when I noted how important a gift of so little value can be.
With 3 kids and 4 Disney parks, it gets expensive. Yet the kids still wanted something to remember their trip by and that is when we discovered the Pressed Penny Machines. Here is where you can make every Penny, Dime & Quarter count. The kids loved this. They hand pressed their own souvenirs but wait, there’s more (sounds like an infomercial right?)
Suddenly the phrase, “See a penny pick it up, all the day you will have good luck” will have a new meaning. Collect those pennies and a .50 to them and for just .51 CENTS the souvenir that is ONE size fits all is about to make an appearance from their hands to their hands! Also, A penny found is a great game for kids to hunt for everywhere they go, so you really keep them busy. We all (again quantifying) love finding money right?
Locations of these pressed penny machines are throughout the parks and I think if I remember correctly we found on in the Disney Springs plaza (we are all over the place when we are there so I can’t remember, sorry.. a sign of getting older or being worn out!)
Now you may understand why everyone can afford these. Even if you are down to your last budget ‘pennies’ and your kids want a souvenir, your pennies can be transformed for just .51 cents! What an amazing luxury of travel to Disney!
Dana Vento is a globetrotter, who travels both with and without her family, seeking the best of the best in all destinations. Make sure to subscribe to be part of all the adventures so your family can enjoy the same kinds of trips! ~