10 Disney souvenirs that are big on memories, easy on your wallet
Disney vacation memories are priceless, but like everything else at the parks, the cost of tangible souvenirs can really add up.
Walking into the Emporium Shop in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom or Creations Shop in EPCOT can be downright dangerous for a Disney lover’s pocketbook, never mind the world’s largest Disney character store, World of Disney in Disney Springs.
But some of the best souvenirs at the Florida resort cost less than $30 and are either customizable or experiential, so they can be remembered for years to come. A few don’t even require park entry.
Here are 10 great Disney World souvenirs that won’t break the bank.
1. Autographed anything
Cost: time.
The only limits on these souvenirs are time and creativity. Just line up at any of the Disney character greeting locations across the parks and kindly ask for an autograph. Many guests bring things from home to sign, like photo frame mats, reusable water bottles and even mouse ears.
Make sure the item is sturdy enough to write on and not too cumbersome to carry all day. Clickable Sharpies make signing easier for characters and help the signatures pop.
To find character greeting times and locations, select the map icon at the bottom of the screen on the free My Disney Experience app and then select Characters.
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2. Pressed pennies
Cost: $1.
Pressed pennies are among the cheapest collectibles at Disney World, and finding them is half the fun. There are coin press machines scattered all across the resort, including at hotels. And they all crank out different designs.
Each pressed penny costs $1. Discounted bundles are also available, like a set of eight for $5 at Magic Kingdom’s Emporium.
3. Personalized LEGO Minifigures
Cost: $11.99.
These one-of-a-kind toys may not be Disney, but they are available at the LEGO Store in Disney Springs, a dining, shopping and entertainment complex open to the general public.
Guests use computers to choose from a library of features for each Minifigure and can even draw designs for their clothing. They're 3D printed right there in the LEGO Minifigure Factory, so each one is truly unique.
4. Pins
Cost: starting at around $12.
Pin collecting and trading have long been popular pastimes at the parks. Many guests proudly show off their collections on lanyards they wear around the resort.
Individual pin prices vary widely but generally start at about $12. They’re available at various shops on property as well as at ShopDisney.com.
Some shops have pin boards or mystery boxes for pin trading. Guests can also trade pins with fellow guests and cast members, but there is never an obligation to trade.
5. Silhouette portraits
Cost: starting at $12.
Hand-cut silhouette portraits are classic Disney souvenirs that have been around for decades. They can be made in minutes at portrait carts in Main Street U.S.A. and Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT’s France pavilion and the Marketplace in Disney Springs.
Guests can sit for custom silhouettes in person or show the artist a profile picture of the intended subject. Prices start at $12 per person or pet and may vary by season. Discounted rates may be available for group silhouettes. Frames cost extra.
6. Popcorn buckets
Cost: starting at $13.
Popcorn buckets serve a real function and allow guests who purchase them to get discounted popcorn refills for $2.25 throughout their trip. But they also serve as collectible works of pop art. Some fans have shelves full of the plastic containers shaped like Figment, Cinderella’s carriage, Star Wars’ Millennium Falcon and more. New designs roll out throughout the year and vary by location.
Standard popcorn buckets cost $13, while premium buckets start at $18. They’re available at carts in every park and at Disney Springs.
7. Real pearls
Cost: $20.
A unique experience at EPCOT’s Japan pavilion is picking out an oyster at Akoya Pearls. Each oyster costs $20 including tax and is opened with fanfare to reveal a surprise pearl, which can be taken home.
A different pearl-picking experience is available at the Pearl Factory kiosk in the Marketplace at Disney Springs. The Peach Factory is “Hawaii’s Original Pearl-in-the-Oyster company.”
Pearl color and size vary at both venues, which are not related. Optional jewelry settings cost extra.
8. Custom candles
Cost: $28.
Guests can make their own candles at Bowes Signature Candles in Disney Springs. The DIY experience costs $28 per candle and does not require reservations, though reservations are recommended for parties of six and up.
Ready-made candles are also available in scents that evoke fan-favorite places across Disney World.
9. Holiday ornaments
Cost: varies.
Many guests buy ornaments so they can remember their Disney trips year after year. Prices start at about $23 at ShopDisney.com and vary at the parks. They’re available all year round at Ye Olde Chrismas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Days of Christmas in Disney Springs, which both offer personalization “for a small fee” based on word count.
Some guests also like to personalize things like celebration buttons and popcorn buckets at these locations.
10. Ear hats and headbands
Cost: varies.
Disney fans can find all sorts of ear hats and headbands at ShopDisney.com, but some styles are exclusive to resort properties. Ear hats start at under $20, while ear headbands start at about $30.
Guests who want personalized ear hats can get them embroidered at Curtain Call Collectibles and Fantasy Faire in Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Wonderful World of Memories in Disney Springs. Embroidery starts at $3.
A special set of commemorative ears is also available for little ones at Harmony Barber Shop in Magic Kingdom’s Main Street U.S.A. They’re included in the My First Haircut package, which starts at $28.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Disney souvenirs you’ll remember for years, without costing a fortune
